Tarot for Writers

by Corrine Kenner

  The Strength card mind reminds you of the legend of Hercules, who killed the Nemean lion-despite the fact that its skin could not be penetrated by spears or arrows. After he strangled the lion with his bare hands, Hercules wore its skin as a protective cloak.

  The Strength card could relate to New Testament stories of the Christians who were fed to the lions, or Daniel, who was rescued from the lion's den.

  It might even remind you of the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, or Frank Stockton's short story, "The Lady or the Tiger?"

  Astrological Associations

  The Strength card is associated with Leo, the sign of lionesque courage and showmanship. Leos love the limelight; they are brave and courageous performers.

  Leo rules the fifth house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about fatherhood and creativity-procreation and recreation. Leo, in turn, is ruled by the sun.

  On a related note, the astrological sun corresponds to the Sun card in tarot.

  Leo is a fire sign.

  Literary Archetypes

  Strength can embody any number of literary archetypes, including the Amazon, the anima, the heroine, the innocent child, the maiden, the martyr, the virgin, and the visionary.

  The Strength Card and Your Writing Practice

  Writing takes courage. In fact, writing takes more fortitude and strength than most people can muster. Writing is an act of revelation that invites readers into your head and your heart-and that's a process that can leave you feeling bruised and bloodied.

  The Strength card suggests that writing isn't much different from lion taming. First, you'll have to subdue the wild, misplaced words that leap from your pen to your throat, choking and blocking what you really want to say. Then you'll have to tame your syntax and grammar, civilize your sentences, and train your paragraphs to lie nicely on the page.

  It's a process of self-discipline, and the reward is huge: with any luck, you'll wind up with a poem, story, or screenplay on your lap, purring like a kitten.

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a lion tamer

  • a virgin

  • animal passion

  • a pet

  • wildlife

  • self-control

  • cages

  • restraints

  • an urban jungle

  • courage and fear

  YOU MIGHT NOT RECOGNIZE HIM at first, but you've already met the Hermit. He's the Fool who leaped out of the first card in the deck. In this depiction, he's simply older and wiser. He has climbed the mountain of time and experience, and he's ready to serve as a guide for anyone who wants to follow in his footsteps.

  The Hermit isn't part of ordinary civilization, but he does keep watch over the world from his post on the mountaintop. He's reclusive, but he's not exclusive; his followers know where to find him. He even holds a lamp of wisdom to serve as a beacon and a guide.

  The Hermit card usually represents wisdom, prudence, and illumination, as well as philosophy, introspection, and meditation. The card illustrates the concepts of solitude, silence, and leadership by example.

  In a story reading, the Hermit may represent a librarian, philosopher, researcher, or scientist.

  Key Symbols

  Lamp of Wisdom. The Hermit holds a lantern high in his right hand, a symbol of light and leadership.

  Light of Time. The earliest renditions of the card were known as "Time," and they depicted Saturn-also known as Father Time-holding an hourglass.

  Solomon's Seal. The light in the Hermit's lantern is a six-pointed star, like the Star of David and Solomon's Seal. Historically, the shape symbolized the union of opposites, such as male and female, heaven and earth, and fire and water.

  Stability and Structure. In his left hand, the Hermit leans on a tall walking stick for support; it's basically a third leg, which makes him more stable when he stands. The walking stick is also reminiscent of the Fool's staff and the Magician's wand.

  Vantage Points. The Hermit stands at the summit of one mountain, and the distant peak in the background could be the place where we first met the Fool.

  A Hooded Robe. The Hermit dresses like a Capuchin friar, a member of an order that takes a vow of poverty and ascetic living. His robes suggest austerity and asceticism; he's living proof that a simple lifestyle can enhance spiritual development.

  Cloak of Invisibility. The Hermit's cloak protects him from the elements and from prying eyes.

  Numeric Significance. The Hermit is the ninth card in the Major Arcana. Because there are nine months of pregnancy, the number nine symbolizes selflessness, compassion, universality, humanitarianism, and spirituality.

  Keywords

  Upright: Solitude, isolation, introspection, introversion, meditation, withdrawal, wisdom, philosophy, mysticism, prudence, deliberation, disguise, experience, guidance

  Reversed: Paranoia, introversion, agoraphobia

  Myth and Legend

  Some tarot readers compare the Hermit to the ancient Greek Diogenes, who practiced the philosophy of cynicism. He was a radical, offbeat character who roamed the streets and courtyards of ancient Greece like a dog: Plato described him as a "Socrates gone mad."

  Diogenes believed in leading-and living-by example, as he attempted to expose vice, conceit, and the errors of conventional thought. He was a master of self-control and abstinence who weathered extremes of heat and cold with only a coarse cloak to protect him from the elements. He carried a walking stick-and according to legend, he also carried a lantern through the marketplace during the daylight, searching in vain for an honest man.

  The Hermit also seems to embody the legend of Merlin the Magician, and even the wounded healer, Chiron.

  Astrological Associations

  The Hermit is associated with Virgo, the sign of mental and physical health consciousness. While Virgo is the sign of the virgin, most Virgos aren't always virginal in the usual sense of the word. In Latin, Virgo means "unmarried" or "self-possessed." Virgos give of themselves by choice, not out of a sense of obligation. They have integrity, and they always stay true to themselves.

  Virgo rules the sixth house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about work and service to others. Virgo, in turn, is ruled by Mercury, the planet of speed and communication.

  On a related note, Mercury corresponds to the Magician card.

  Virgo is an earth sign.

  Literary Archetypes

  The Hermit can embody any number of literary archetypes, including the gatekeeper, the guide, the magical helper, the magus, the mentor, the messenger, the miser, the mystic, the outlaw, the poet, the writer, or the scribe, the psychic, the self, the shaman, the sorcerer, the teacher, the visionary, the wanderer, the wise old man, the wizard, and the wounded healer.

  The Hermit and Your Writing Practice

  In many ways, the Hermit has a lot in common with writers. In fact, writers usually are hermits. When they work, writers close themselves off from the rest of society-but that's so they can ultimately contribute something of substance to the world.

  Traditionally, hermits chose a life of solitude and prayer away from the distractions and temptations of the world. Most hermits, however, would tell you that a life away from humanity isn't a life apart from humanity. In fact, the very act of leaving civilization behind tends to draw followers who want to do the same-just as your words will draw readers into the solitude and contemplation of your thoughts.

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • a magic lantern

  • a crutch

  • a walking stick

  • a pair of sandals

  • a cloak of invisibility

  • a hooded monk

  • a hermit

  • a philosopher

  • a cave

  • a retreat

  THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE IS the spinning wheel of destiny and fate. It moves through time and space, constantly cycling and recycling energy
and matter. It serves as a measure of existence, and implies that there's an element of chance in everybody's life.

  Traditionally, the Wheel of Fortune suggests that events are in motion, and that change is on its way. It's a vivid reminder that what goes up, must come down-and that what goes around, comes around.

  The Roman poet Juvenal described that spin during the first century: "Fortune can, for her pleasure, fools advance, and toss them on the wheels of Chance."

  Generally speaking, the Wheel of Fortune symbolizes luck and good fortune. In a story reading, the Wheel of Fortune may represent a gambler, investor, real-estate speculator, or risk takers.

  Key Symbols

  Target Practice. The wheel itself is the main focus of the card. It's orange, a fiery color that suggests energy and heat.

  Spelling Practice. The four Arabic letters in the disc's outer rim-T, A, R, and 0are the same four letters also appeared on the High Priestess' scroll. Read them clockwise, and they spell "Tarot." Counterclockwise, they spell tora, like the Hebrew holy book. If you start at the bottom and read clockwise, the letters spell rota, which is Latin for wheel. There are Hebrew letters on the wheel, too. The four letters, Yod, Heh, Vau, Heh, make up the name of God-pronounced "Jehovah" in English. They suggest that God is at the center of everything.

  Alchemical Symbols. The symbols inside the wheel are alchemical symbols: sulphur is the triangle, salt is the circle, mercury is the circle with horns, and dissolution is the wavy lines. The three alchemical elements were once thought to be the three basic forms of matter.

  Riders on the Storm. The riddling Sphinx at the top of the wheel is actually a combination of four creatures-he has a human head, a bull's body, a lion's feet and tail, and tucked behind his back, eagle's wings. The serpent Typhon, on the left, is an ancient monster who attempted to overthrow Zeus as the king of gods and men. He was cast underground, where he remained to cause volcanic eruptions and windstorms. The Anubis, a jackal-headed god who represented the Egyptian priesthood, is on the right.

  Apocalypse Now. The same four creatures that constitute the Sphinx's body-an angel, an eagle, a lion, and a bull-appear in the corners of the card, too. They are the four beasts of the Apocalypse the prophet Ezekiel saw in his vision of "Ezekiel's Wheel." They're also the four fixed creatures of the zodiac: Aquarius the Water Bearer, Scorpio the Eagle, Leo the Lion, and Taurus the Bull. The four creatures symbolize the four dimensions: width, length, height, and time. They represent the four cardinal directions: north, south, east, and west. They are reminders of the four seasons, the four winds, the four phases of the moon, and the four ages of man: infancy, youth, adulthood, and old age. The four creatures also symbolize the four elements and the four suits of the Minor Arcana.

  Pieces of Eight. The Wheel itself is divided into eight sections. The divisions symbolize the four cardinal directions-North, South, East, and West-along with the midway points, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest. The divisions are also a graphical representation of the wheel of the year, with the spring, summer, winter, and fall equinoxes, as well as the cross quarter midpoints of the year.

  Numeric Significance. The Wheel of Fortune is the tenth card in the Major Arcana. The number ten has primal, deep-seated significance for all of us. When babies are born, parents immediately do a quick tally of fingers and toes. When we learn to count as children, we use our ten fingers as tools. Ten is the number of culmination, completion, and perfection. There are also ten spheres on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, and ten numbered cards in each suit of the Minor Arcana.

  Keywords

  Upright: Good fortune, good karma, good luck, destiny, chance, success, expansion, perpetual motion, cycles, wheel of life, wheel of the year

  Reversed: Reversal of fortune, bad luck, instant karma, standstills, and delays

  Myth and Legend

  In myth and legend, three female goddesses-the fates-are responsible for spinning the wheel of life and weaving the fabric of every individual's life. The Greeks called them the Moirae, or "apportioners." Clotho spun the thread, Lachesis measured it, and Atropos snipped it with her shears.

  They didn't operate in silence: Lachesis was said to sing of things that were, Clothos of things that are, and Atropos of things that were still to be. You could do the same, with a simple past, present, and future spread for your favorite character.)

  The fates were supporting characters in a number of Greek myths: they fought with Olympians in a war against the Giants. They weakened Typhon when he challenged Zeus. They condemned the newborn hero Meleager to an early death, by declaring that his life would last only as long as a burning log on the hearth. His mother outwitted the fates, for a time, by pulling the log from the fire and hiding it until her child was grown.

  Astrological Associations

  Astrologers call Jupiter the Great Benefic, the bringer of luck and good fortune. The expansive planet is the perfect match for the Wheel of Fortune. As the largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter symbolizes growth-especially on a philosophical level. Jupiter represents the process of expanding your worldview through travel to distant lands, friendships with foreign people, and higher education.

  Jupiter rules the ninth house of the zodiac, where astrologers look for information about higher education and long-distance travel. Jupiter also rules Sagittarius, the sign of philosophy and adventure.

  On a related note, Sagittarius is associated with the Temperance card.

  Literary Archetypes

  The Wheel of Fortune, as well as the characters on the card, can embody any number of literary archetypes, including the creator, the destroyer, the fates, the god, the goddess, the teacher, the thief, and the trickster.

  The Wheel of Fortune and Your Writing Practice

  According to legend, the three Fates spin the wheel of fortune for everyone-just as a writer spins tales and determines the lifespan of fictional characters. It's no small feat to master your own universe, or to give life and take it away-even if your power is only on paper.

  It's also interesting to note that one of the animals on the card, the jackal-headed Anubis, was a variant of Thoth, the ancient Egyptian god of language and writing.

  When the Wheel of Fortune appears in the course of your writing practice, it can remind you of your unique position as a writer. You have the power of creation in your hands: all you have to do is spin the wheel.

  Writing Prompts

  Write about:

  • an unexpected stroke of luck

  • a sudden reversal of fortune

  • a winning lottery ticket

  • a Ferris wheel

  • a fortuneteller

  • a prophet

  • animals with the power of speech

  • alchemical symbols

  • a change of seasons

  • a change of heart

  AT FIRST GLANCE, THE JUSTICE card seems simple and selfevident. It's clearly a depiction of balance and fairness. It's also a metaphor for peace: when disputes threaten orderly civilization, a quick appeal to justice should be able to restore domestic tranquility.

  In real life, however, questions of justice are complex and thought provoking. While most people think of themselves as reasonable and fair-minded, there's no end to the debate about the meaning of true justice-or the best way to secure it.

  Generally speaking, the Justice card represents balance, fairness, reason, and equity. It could indicate an involvement in legal issues, such as contract and license issues, lawsuits, and arbitration. In a story reading, justice may represent a lawyer, judge, litigant, criminal, police officer, or a member of the courtroom staff.

  Key Symbols

  Karmic Justice. Most of us have seen depictions of justice in courtrooms and attorney's offices. This version, however, is missing the blindfold we've come to expect. Her eyes are wide open: she sees the whole truth, and she's not forced to rule based on technicalities. As a result, she dispenses spiritual and karmic justice, which is more reli
able and fair than legal justice.

  Double-Edged Sword. Justice holds a double-edged sword-a reminder that fairness cuts both ways. She holds the sword of justice in her dominant right hand, ready to cut through distractions and delays. She knows how to get right to the point.

  Scales of Justice. There are two sides to any argument, and justice is ready to weigh both in her perpetually balanced scales.

  Perfect Balance. Her pose is balanced, too: her arms are steady, and she is the picture of equilibrium.

  Holding Court. Justice sits between pillars, like her predecessors the High Priestess and the Hierophant. According to the deck's designer, however, she inhabits another realm of spirituality. "The pillars of justice," Waite wrote, "open into one world and the pillars of the High Priestess into another." The pillars probably symbolize the twin Kabbalistic pillars of Mercy and Severity; she sits between them, in a position of balance.

  Crown of Wisdom. The crown on her head symbolizes a keen intellect, a command of logic, and a well-deserved position of authority.

  Robe. Traditionally, judges wear robes to emphasize the neutrality, uniformity, and dignity of justice.

  Numeric Significance. Justice is the eleventh card in the Major Arcana. Numerologists consider eleven a master number, because it amplifies the power of a single "one."

  Keywords

  Upright: Justice, karma, equality, equilibrium, equanimity, equity, legal action, contracts, lawsuits, trials and judgments, fairness, balance

  Reversed: Injustice, delayed justice, bias, judicial misconduct, abuse of power, bribery, payoffs, red tape, complications

  Myth and Legend

  The Justice card is sometimes associated with Themis, the Greek goddess of Justice who helped keep the infant Zeus safe from his father Cronos, or Time. She was also a gifted prophet who served for a time at the Oracle of Delphi. Themis had the gift of prophecy, but she resigned from the shrine of Delphi to become the Greek goddess of Justice.

  The Justice card is also associated with Ma'at, the Egyptian who weighed the hearts of the dead for honesty, truth, and goodness. On her scales, a pure heart would weigh no more than a feather. While Ma'at was the Egyptian goddess of truth, she was also the embodiment of cosmic order: she was responsible for ensuring that the universe followed a consistent, predictable set of rules. She was also the wife of Thoth, the Egyptian god of language.