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Explore the Meaning of Each Tarot Card from the Marseille Major Arcana
Perhaps the most controversial card of the Marseille Major Arcana is "la papesse." Understood to refer to the female pope which was a chief reason for discord with the Christian church, the card was a direct shot at the papacy itself. In other decks the papess is depicted as the high priestess. Exploring the meaning of each tarot card from the Marseille Major Arcana requires a look beyond the potentially explosive controversies that surrounded some of the depictions and instead a focus on their deeper denotations.
The Marseille Major Arcana is made up of the cards depicting the papess, the pope, the fool, the empress, the emperor, the magician, the lovers, the chariot, the hermit, justice, strength, the wheel of fortune, the hanged man, death, the devil, restraint, the house of God, the sun, the moon, the star, the world, and judgment.
The papess stands for intuition, patience, wisdom and the subconscious, while the pope denotes a certain naïveté coupled with either an outdated belief system of staunch conservatism; in some cases the pope also stands for established knowledge. The fool, on the other hand, is actually in need of the pope's knowledge although he does possess his own wisdom. In some cases he is considered base. The empress stands for nurturing and mothering qualities while the emperor may either point toward the fathering aspects or ego driven leadership.
Continuing on with the meaning of each tarot card, the magician is the face for creative energy and focused determination while the lovers in the Marseille Major Arcana stand for a choice that could border on an impasse. With the chariot for impulsive energy and willpower, the hermit for reflective separation, justice for cold rationality of impartial criticism, strength for serenity and composure, and the wheel of fortune for sudden opportunities, the next cards are somewhat more feared than revered.
The hanged man stands for surrendering something of value or giving up one's self while death does not have to mean one's demise but most certainly points to a loss or even an event that is impossible to avoid. While the meaning of each tarot card is in keeping with its depiction, the devil stands for the attributes of hedonistic tendencies. Restraint is the direct opposite, and the house of God may be considered as downfall or a sudden revelation that may be positive but more likely turns into a disillusion. The sun promises enlightenment but the moon hints at fear and illusion. The star speaks of trust and faithful hope, and the world seconds this by offering contentment; finally judgment is meted out and it may stand for rejuvenation, a new beginning, or hope at the end of a trial.
Copyright 2008, InfiniteAdvice.com
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