If there is a downside to this sweetheart, it’s that she might have an overdeveloped sense of entitlement of which she is completely unaware, simply because she is used to living a very comfortable life. Still, she is a very good hearted, generous soul, indeed. If your crush is this woman, traditionally a blond or a redhead, then go for it. She will be an excellent companion, lover, and muse. Just be sure to treat her to little luxuries as you can, or at least overlook her own small indulgences. If you are the woman in question, enjoy and play up your most feminine aspects, as they will be highly valued by your romantic interest.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
Nice! This is one of the small groups of cards that tend to mean “And they lived happily ever after!” Look for these other cards to show up in the reading to confirm this: The Lovers, The Hierophant, The Sun, The Star, The Nine of Cups, The Two of Cups, Aces of Wands or Cups, and any of The King cards of any suit. In answer to “Will I have children?”, this card in the outcome position is considered the strongest indicator of “Yes!” in the deck.
4: THE EMPEROR
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Traditional Masculinity. Leadership. Oppression. Rigidity. Power. Overwhelming force. Conservative.
LOVE READING
Most of the time, The Emperor is a person in your life of great importance or influence to you at the time of the reading. This can be a good thing. This can be a neutral thing, if you get my meaning. This card can just represent The Man in Question, and nothing more, except signaling that he is important to you!
On the other hand, if you are reading about character traits, and wondering what kind of person you are dealing with, then I should give you both the good and the… less than good!
The Good
If you like traditionally masculine, protective men, well, it’s your lucky day! The Emperor is an excellent provider, often a leader in the community or his career, and oh, boy, would your mom approve. MANLY.
The Less Than Good
Did I mention manly? Well, it’s not cute, funny, and charming Nick Offerman manly. It’s usually the “I wash my hair with dish soap because shampoo is for girls” manly. It’s “I call women ‘gals’ or ‘females’, and wow, they are sweet, but irrational. Am I right?” manly, and that sort of masculinity can be a bit fragile. Brittle. Rigid. Conservative. At its core, it’s an insecure and precarious image to maintain.
Sure, he’s an excellent protector and provider, if you are someone who needs a lot of protection and provision, but your tears make him either angry or confused, and this kind of “protection” sometimes comes with a price, whether it’s something “small,” like resentment, or something large, like oppressive abuse.
In his more benign aspects, when you have a problem of any kind, he is sure he can solve it with graph paper and a pencil. His natural leadership abilities can get twisted up in the wrong hands and become his natural “Let’s oppress everyone to make sure I get my way” abilities. There are a lot of little Emperors in the world. Some of them even run for President.
Be particularly careful if this card shows up in a spread with The Five of Pentacles. This suggests a strong attraction to “bad boy” types who talk a very good game, but are really unavailable emotionally. They might look great on paper, but words are not deeds, and rare is it that the words and deeds of this combination match.
So, if you dig this guy, let’s hope he is that magic blend of traditional Knightly Protector and Sensitive Lover. He exists, but he’s a bit of a Manicorn, so good luck to you!
If it is clear that this is not a person, and merely a situation, then you can read it like this: you will be dealing with a steamroller of a situation. Get ready to resist, evade, or submit.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
Back to the beginning. A man who is currently insignificant in your life will greatly increase in importance to you.
5: THE HIEROPHANT
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Tradition itself. The Church. Authority. Council. Commitment. Marriage. Becoming an acolyte.
LOVE READING
The Hierophant is an interesting card in that it is greatly affected by the cards that are also in the spread. In this way it is much like pasta! If it is in a spread with many favorable romance cards, then it very often signals not only commitment, but a possibility of living together or even an engagement. This card paired with The Lovers, The Two of Cups, The Three of Cups, or any Knight or King (or Empress or Queen!) pumps up the juju on that being the likely future.
In the absence of these or a reading with many ill-favored cards, it can instead suggest the opposite: a desire to retreat a bit, focus on your traditional pursuits, and spend time with platonic friends.
It also can suggest a time of actual retreat! Going to meditate and drink cleansing juices for a week? This would be the card that suggests now is a good time for that and coming back renewed for a fresh start.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
As an outcome card in a favorable spread, a happy commitment is definitely in the cards. In an unfavorable spread, this one might peter out simply because outside pressures of conformity, and possible religious incompatibility, are too great to overcome.
6: THE LOVERS
TRADTIONAL MEANING
Love. Passion. Sex. Choice. Soul mate. Temptation. Desire. Lust.
LOVE READING
Okay, now we’re Taroting with gas! In a relationship spread, The Lovers card is, of course, unambiguously about love and all the goodies that come with. So, this meaning is very straightforward and does not alter much from a traditional definition. In other types of spreads, it can simply mean “a difficult choice, filled with temptation,” but here it’s all romance. Not insubstantial romance either, or the casual, playful, light romance of The Six of Cups, for example. This is hot and heady stuff, fraught with passion and possibly life-altering choices.
Certain cards strongly affect how and in what way the Lovers will express themselves:
Paired with The Star
You might be a bit blind to the faults of your new love, but not in a negative way. Hold on to that blindness for as long as you can, as in that way lies peace! Flirt with abandon! Go for it! This is a yes if both of these cards are in a spread.
Paired with The Sun
JACKPOT, baby! Let hope reign supreme, but with its best and most sought after companion, FULFILLMENT. This is Happily Ever After time, and one of the most positive and sought after card combinations in Tarot!
Paired with The Devil
With most cards being positive, oh, my! You two are kinksters! Sexual astronauts! Enjoy your well-matched kink!
Paired with Negative Cards
Watch your tendency to become a bit obsessive and overindulgent. Don’t gobble each other up all at once, lest this burn hot and heavy, and then quickly sputter out in a pool of tequila, stale donuts, handcuffs, and sweaty regret. Also, watch out for issues of addiction!
Paired with The Seven of Swords
Temptation and possible infidelity, but of the shallow and selfish sort rather than Soulmate Lightning. Temporary pleasures taken that risk long-term pain. Watch out. Don’t ruin a good thing; think carefully before making a life altering choice!
Paired with The Nine of Cups
LOVE WISH FULLFILLED! ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!
Paired with the Two of Cups
You lucky dog. This is considered the most romantic of combinations in Tarot. If there is such a thing as a sure thing, you have drawn it. Enjoy.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
Hold on to your knickers! You are in for a fun time! Don’t blow it! Be present; don’t live in the future. Pay attention to how this romance makes YOU feel, rather than how much you want the other person to like you.
7: THE CHARIOT
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Triumph through might. Strong willpower. Good self control, culminating in victory. Making a choice.
LOVE READING
Whoo. You really want this bad. You want it
so bad you are somewhat willing to ride a bit roughshod over the feelings of others. There is a chance here that you might think that will sheer force of will you can make your desired outcome happen, but remember, lover, there are two in this tango.
Another, less aggressive interpretation is one of choice. A case where this card might show up in a love spread is under the dilemma of knowing that you have two strong options for love in front of you and knowing that it will soon be time to choose one. This can mean literally two people, or it can mean two lifestyles, such as “Do you stay uncommitted with the potential fun of having all options open to you, or do you take the plunge, commit, and reap the benefits of happy coupledom?”
Just remember, either way, The Chariot is a card of might and self-interest, and those are two things that need to be used very carefully in romance. A light touch works best!
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
You win! Be a good winner, and remember that others’ feelings matter just as well as your own.
8: STRENGTH
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Gentle force applied with skill. Strong character. The ability to master your impulsiveness and be effective in the world.
LOVE READING
The lover that possesses the characteristics of the Strength card is a wonderful partner indeed. As a person or a situation, the traits of calm, self-restraint, wisdom, kindness, strong moral character, gentleness, perseverance, patience, maturity, and attractiveness prevail.
The man who is represented by the Strength card is a dreamboat; the woman, a gentle, wise, sexy, confident and intelligent paramour.
This is the card of the grown-up. Possessed of high levels of emotional intelligence, this card represents someone you can introduce to friends and family with pride. This is someone who doesn’t run at the first sign of trouble; is gentle, but firm in their feeling; has learned from hard-won experience; and is no pushover. Gentle confidence is the order of the day.
Don’t mistake this for dull, and, if you do, carefully examine your own issues with intimacy. For some of us, when it comes to our love lives, the only thing that feels right is conflict, and the only thing that feels normal is feeling bad or confused or unsure. Sometimes fear of intimacy doesn’t show up as running away from someone, but running toward the wrong someone. That way, you can have the passionate experience of intense desire, longing, and “love” without ever having to worry about the terror of having this love actually returned.
As an experience, it means everyone involved is sane, kind, warm, and wanting the best outcome for all concerned.
This card boosts the good qualities of the positive cards it is near, and softens the dark aspects of the negative.
It’s a great card to have show up in a love spread.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
Everyone is going to play nice, or you will have the self-control, the maturity, to do the right thing, in the right way, and handle it like a boss.
9: THE HERMIT
TRADTIONAL MEANING
Meditation. Time alone. Finding a mentor. Intense study. Arcane knowledge.
LOVE READING
Well, there is no getting around it: The Hermit is not the very best card to show up in a reading, but where it lands, and what is near, impacts the meaning of the card a great deal.
In the past positions of a spread, it can speak of loneliness, or a desire to withdraw and focus on learning, personal interests, or education. Having this card show up in a past position can often mean this time of aloneness is about to end!
In the future positions, though, it can quite strongly suggest a breakup, especially when paired with traditional romance cards like The Lovers, The Two of Cups, The Nine of Cups, The Empress, etc. It is the archetypal rejection of intimate connection with others, emotional unavailability, and emotional withdrawal. It also can mean that you have fallen for someone who is emotionally very distant, or of an anxious/avoidant attachment style. This means that they are quickly overwhelmed by too much intimacy, or find it very difficult to access their emotions and express them. These people need love, too, and often seek it out, but sometimes they create pain and confusion for their partners, who are a bit starved for attention, and frustrated that their Hermit lover doesn’t seem to understand what they need emotionally.
Here is the good side to the breakup that results from this card: it’s good to know when something isn’t working. It’s very brave to say it out loud and make a change. Many couples, not happy, and not well suited, stay together long after they should have let their relationship go, because they fear change, fear loss, or sometimes, simply fear stating the truth! When a relationship isn’t working, it’s important to fix what you can, or realize what isn’t fixable, and move on, so you both have a chance at finding happiness elsewhere. Someone brave enough to step up and gently end the unworkable is a good person, and this ending can be a gift!
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
It looks like you will be uncoupled for now, but now is not forever! Take good care of yourself while you have this time alone. Do fun things! Learn a new skill! Rediscover yesteryear’s forgotten glory of Air Supply! Remember those hobbies you abandoned when you fell in love? DO THEM!!! Also, quit abandoning hobbies when you fall in love!
10: THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Change of luck, change in fortune. Usually positive.
LOVE READING
Good times are on their way! At least they are if they aren’t so flipping good right now. The most profound and basic meaning of The Wheel is that “this too shall pass,” and this applies to love spreads as well.
When this card shows up in a romance spread, it tends to mean that a shift in attitude or circumstance is about to happen, and most likely it will be a welcome and lucky change! This is not a powerful or deep card, though, when it comes to relationships. It’s more of a simple reminder that the road to love is never a straight path, and there will be twists and turns.
Having said that, these twists are usually good ones, when this friendly card shows up. Look for lucky circumstances to gently shift the tone of your romance toward a more lighthearted and pleasurable time.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
This is a lucky card in the outcome position. It tends to be of the “wish granted” variety, but don’t rest on your laurels here. This is a card of change, most of all, and remembering there is no constant and learning to go with the flow is important.
11: JUSTICE
TRADITIONAL MEANING
Legal issues. Winning. Issues of fairness. Equality.
LOVE READING
Justice, I admit, is not a sexy card. It often has to do with legal issues, which, in a love spread, can mean divorce, custody issues, and other super fun stuff. Bad news? You are in court. Good news? Looks like you win.
More subtly though, there are, in fact, interesting aspects to this card, as well, and they are important in a love spread! For example, having the Justice card show up, with its scales and measures, could mean that there are issues of balance in your relationship!
Are you both on the same page? Is there good give-and-take here? Do you both feel equally emotionally supported? Do you both contribute to the smooth domestic running of your home? Are you the only one picking up all the dirty socks? Who cleans the cat box?
The Justice card suggests fairness in relationship will be a theme in your life right now. Whether balance is achieved depends on the other cards in the spread. A lot of negative cards suggests that maybe you might be giving too much, but what does “too much” mean? Isn’t that subjective?
It is! What matters is how you feel. This is a time when your purely subjective feelings have a great deal of weight, if only as a jumping off point to get to the heart of the matter. Issues of balance only feel bad when personal boundaries are crossed. If you feel like you are being taken for granted, then you have two choices: change your circumstance or change your perspective and, therefore, your attitude. However, don’t ignor
e this feeling. That is the seed of a wicked, resentful weed that will grow in all weather. Time to pay attention and realize that asking for what you need is important. You deserve to feel cherished, respected, and understood, as does your partner.
POSSIBLE OUTCOME
Fairness reigns! You succeed!
12: THE HANGED MAN
TRADITIONAL MEANING
A pause in the action. Needing to let go of all attempts to control. Sacrifice. Peaceful waiting. Submission.
LOVE READING
This is a card of fascinating contradictions. Its message is one of needing to behave in a way that is probably the opposite of what is instinctual for you.
The Hanged Man is here to tell you that this is a time where you cause more problems the more you struggle, cause more loss the more you “try.” This is a time of letting go; not of the relationship, but of any attempts to control the outcome.
This is out of your hands. In a traditional Tarot deck, you will see that even though the man is suspended upside down, his face is serene. This is you. This needs to be you. In letting go, you win. In surrendering, you survive. If you are pushing someone hard to behave in a certain way, give you what you want to create a certain experience, or even to feel a certain way, then it will not succeed.
This is a delicate time, and whatever happens next will not be up to you. There are certain cards in the deck that strongly reinforce this idea. If The Fool, The High Priestess, Strength, or the restful Four of Swords show in the same reading, then you need to be cool as a cucumber: relax, be gentle with yourself, and let go of all demands.
Love Tarot for Beginners Page 2