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Symbols Found on the Tarot Cards (Part 1 of 3)
by Thomas Muldoon,
ATH Co-Editor of Tarot

Editor's from Thomas Muldoon: As I settle into my position of Co-Editor, I intend to bring a variety of articles and videos on Intuition and Symbols for your education, entertainment and enlightenment. 

Understanding the symbols contained in the Tarot offers another dimension to any reading. The following interpretation of the symbols found on the Rider Waite Tarot (the world’s most popular deck) is given for your perusal and general interest. This glossary is by no means a complete or comprehensive list but offered as a guideline to the many subtleties found on the cards. Look for them in your world and ponder over what they say to you. To give you an example, I laid out my own reading for the year ahead (on my birthday) where the layout contained numerous Swords, and I’m now finding increased mental activity in my life along with having someone ask me to photograph a Sword she wanted to sell on Ebay, talk about Symbolism in Action...

Angels-: Raphael: Angel of Air (card number six): Michael: Angel of Fire (card number 14): Gabriel: Angel of Water (card number 20)

Ankh-: The Egyptian symbol of life, combining the male and female principles. (card number four)

Anubis-: The jackal-headed Egyptian god, representing the evolution of consciousness from the lower to the higher levels. Can signify self-consciousness, intellectuality and cunning. (card number 10)

Banner-: Also shown as a flag or standard, indicating freedom from material bondage; can indicate action. (card numbers 10, 13 and 20)

Cross-: The Solar cross indicates the union between male and female principles. Positive/Male represented by the vertical line. Negative/Female represented by the horizontal line (card numbers two and ten).

Crown-: Indicating mastery and attainment. (cards numbered: two, three, five,11,14 and 16)

Cube-: Often seen as a square, representing the earth, material matters order and measurement. (card numbered 15)

Cups-: Associated with the element of WATER, indicating love, knowledge, preservation and enjoyment, linked to the signs: Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio.

Devil-: Indicating false concepts, that we are bound to the physical, that we’re bound to the material and a slave to our passions, not true, we often feel we are but in truth are never truly ‘bound’ to them for the Devil indicates the ignorance of TRUTH. (card numbered 15)

Dog(s)-: Indicating friends, helpers and companions, indicating the struggle for evolution, the desire to know more.

Eagle-: The symbol of power. Associated with the sign Scorpio (the eighth sign of the zodiac). Look for the eagle on cards numbered 10 and 21.

Earth-: Indicating physical manifestation. (cards numbered 14 and 17)

Ellipse-: The Superconscious mind. (card numbered 21)

Figure eight-: on its side (called the cosmic lemniscate), indicating eternal life, the harmonious interaction between the conscious and subconscious, between life and feeling the interaction between desire and feeling, between life and death. Look for this symbol on the two of pentacles. Major Arcana cards numbered one and 11.

Globe-: Dominion over troubling matters, overcoming difficulties, strength in reserve. (card numbered four)

Heart-: All symbols in the shape of a ‘heart’ refer to the subconscious, the emotions and feelings. Card numbered three is where it’s most obvious, look for it elsewhere.

Horse-: The symbol of solar energy or, the controlled subdued life force. (cards numbered 13 and 19)

I H V H-:The ancient initials of the name Jehovah. (card number 10)

Keys (crossed)-: The hidden doctrine, one key of silver the other gold representing the solar (masculine) and lunar (feminine) religions. (card number five)

Lightening-: A masculine or positive symbol, indicating a ‘flash’ of inspiration, the word of God or, a new life-force destroying existing structure(s). Card numbered 16 shows this in graphic detail.

Lily-: Indicating abstract tough untinged by desire. (card number one)

Lion-: Raw energy, king of the beasts, pride and sometimes arrogance, linked to the Zodiacal sign of Leo. Cards numbered 10, 11 and 21 have this symbol contained on them.

Mirror of Venus-: A solar cross-surmounted by a circle, indicating fertility and fecundity. (cards numbered three and four)

Moon-: The feminine/subconscious principle within everyone, reflected light and those influenced by the ‘moon’ ‘reflect’ or ‘respond’ to their environment more than they know. (cards numbered two and 18)

To be continued...

About the Author

Since Thomas Muldoon, ATH Co-Editor of Intuition & Symbols, began his practice in Australia in the early 70’s, he has helped many people achieve their goals using Numerology, Tarot & Astrology as tools for transformation, self awareness, personal development and self-discovery. Author of four books (three out-of-print), numerous magazine and newspaper articles, creator of many e-books, personal appearances for corporate and charity organisations, he presents his material in an entertaining and enlightening fashion. His motto: "If you cannot have fun with your subject, you shouldn’t be doing it.”

What he hopes to bring to All Things Healing is his passion and ‘down to earth’ approach to subjects often considered ‘too esoteric’ for the average person to comprehend or apply in their everyday lives; sourcing articles from within Australia and around the world for your awareness and enlightenment. From his original approach to Numerology to his unique understanding of Astrology, Thomas will contribute his own articles of interest every so often, all he asks is you keep a sense of humour -"without such all is lost..."

In 2012, Thomas is creating Skype-to-Skype conversations for those seeking advice and guidance to help stay focused – stay tuned for when they commence. He also hopes to create more e-books, paperbacks and PDF downloads for those interested, along with commenting on your questions in our Intuition and Symbols Forum.

Contact:
tommuldoon@bigpond.com
thomasmuldoon@allthingshealing.com
Visit his blogs: www.astronumbers.wordpress.com & www.thomasmuldoon.blogspot.com
Visit his website: www.astronumbers.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/astronumbers
Twitter: twitter.com/thomasmuldoon
Sydney, Australia

Read his extended bio: www.astronumbers.com.au/bio1.htm

Purchase his Solar/Lunar Astrology book from Amazon here.

A variety of electronic books by Thomas for Kindle (etc) can also be purchased at a reasonable cost by clicking here.