🂿 Major Arcana

0. The Fool

!left lp! right lp0 = A Blank Canvas = Unlimited Potential = Infinity
The Major Arcana are considered to be the Fool’s journey through life. They are present in every card and therefore need no number.
A young person stands on the edge of a cliff, without a care in the world, as they set out to adventure! They look upwards at the sky, seemingly unaware that they are about to step into the precipice of the unknown. Also, they wear flowery colorful robes and carry a small pack containing everything they need - which is very little. Beside them a small dog seems to be as eager as the fool to take on this journey.
Rider Waite: He holds a white rose on his left hand, representing purity and innocence.
Modern Witch: She is holding a cellphone in her right hand - holding a lot more knowledge than her older version could possibly carry. However she has earplugs connected to this phone, potentially distracting her and making it difficult to parse her surroundings and the actually useful information she could get from the internet.

Interpretations

The start of a great journey - much greater than any Ace or Page.
Throwing caution to the wind. Having an open mind.
One must take a leap of faith. The time is NOW.
There is no time like the present.
Relax. Play. Have fun. Act as a child would. Laugh more, dance more, sing more.
Abandoning the mundane for something better.
Fearlessness.
No thoughts. Head empty.
Reluctance. Fear of the unknown. Overthinking.
Recklessness. Consequences should probably be considered.
Private and Quiet playfulness.

I. The Magician

! left lp!right lp1 = the starting point. Mercury.
They stand with the right arm stretched upwards to the sky with a white wand in their hand, and the left arm pointing down to the earth - like the Baphomet pose. As above, so below.
Above their head: The infinity sign. And in front of them: The Wand, The Sword, The Cup and The Pentacle. Representing the four suits of the minor arcana and the elements of Fire, Wind, Water and Earth respectively. All the tools of a Magick practitioner.
On the foreground: an array of foliage and flowers in full blossom.

Interpretations

Mages are the masters of manifestation, spiritual knowledge, and alchemy.
One has all the tools and skills one needs to manifest any thoughts they wish to become material. To realize one’s wishes. To bend reality to their will.
Doing The Work. Manifestation through thought and action.
Visualization is the most important aspect of a magician’s work. To completely focus one’s mind on ONE task and ONE task only. Which can only be done by deep meditation and weakening the ego.
The difficult yet vital task of differentiating the Ego from the Self.
Meditation. Spiritual Awakening.
Focus. Commitment.
Something is lacking to bring one’s wishes to fruition. Something internal.
Unrealized potential.
Frustration with ideas not coming to fruition.
Arrogance. Power without wisdom. Greed.
Hermetics.

II. The High Priestess

The High Priestess sits in front of a thin veil decorated with pomegranates (associated with Persephone), ensuring privacy. On either side of her stand two pillars. One pillar is black with the letter B (Boaz, meaning ‘in his strength’) and the other is white with the letter J (Jachin, meaning ‘he will establish’).
The High Priestess wears a blue robe and a lunar diadem. In her lap lies some form of knowledge partly concealed. And a crescent moon lies at her feet. Her dress also seems to turn into water.
Rider Waite: The knowledge on her lap is the Torah. The first 5 books of the “Hebrew Bible”.
Modern Witch: The knowledge on her lap is a laptop, with the infinite knowledge of the internet accessible only to those with a certain level of media literacy.

Interpretations

Hidden Mysteries. The subconscious mind. The other side of the veil and the veil itself.
The Crone. The Triple Goddess. Hecate. Witchcraft. The dark side of the empress.
Cycles. Samsara. Persephone. The underworld.
Secrecy. Stealth. Concealment. Wit. The dead of night.
Intuition. Inner wisdom. Perception beyond the senses.
Awareness of one’s own ignorance.
Ignore the outside world. Search for answers in the dark crevices of your own soul. Go to therapy.
Lack of faith. Ignorance of one’s intuition.
Hidden agendas. Ulterior motives. Mistruths. Gossip. (not necessarily a bad thing tho)

III. The Empress

The Empress is a beautiful, regal woman sitting on luxurious cushions amidst the wilderness. Her robe is patterned with pomegranates, like the high priestess’ veil. One of her cushions is heart-shaped and has the venus symbol over it.
Rider Waite: She also has a crown decorated with 12 stars, symbolizing the 12 planets of astrology and the 12 months of the Gregorian calendar.

Interpretations

Mother Earth. Pacha Mama. Gaia. The light side of The High Priestess.
Elegance. Sensuality. Fertility. Beauty.
The material world. The 5 senses. Luxury. Comfort. Money. Gold. Sex one actually enjoys - whatever that is. Good masturbation. Weed.
Nature. Chaos. Unimpeded growth. Wild energy. Women Who Run With The Wolves.
Nurture and care. Compassion. Support. Mother figures. Caretakers.
Pregnancy - literal or metaphorical.
Love. For oneself. For others. For creation itself. Love in every possible form and permutation.
LGBT rights and movements. Lesbians (remember why they are the first letter in the acronym).
Prioritization of self-love over the other forms.
Craving for a better connection with nature.
Creative block. Trouble “birthing” ideas.
Self-image issues. Especially ones regarding the body.
Being overbearing. Over-protective. Controlling. Codependency.

IV. The Emperor

They sit upon a large stone throne with a strong rock foundation beneath them. In their right hand, an ankh. They wear red, and a small river runs behind them.
Rider Waite: His throne is decorated with goats - symbol of Aries and Mars - and he wears plate armor beneath the red robe. Behind him, a mountain range.
Modern Witch: Aries’ horns are atop the emperor’s own head. Behind them, mist slowly blows away revealing the part of the city they were obscuring.

Interpretations

Father sky. Protector. Fatherly figures and roles.
Leadership. Authority. Status. Power.
Rules & Regulations. Law & Order.
Expertise. Masters of a craft. Generals.
Setting up boundaries and protections. Preparing for war.
Stoicism. Rationality. Analytical thinking.
Re-evaluate one’s relationship with control and authority.
Domineering. Rigidity. Bossy.
Does one wish to ascend the social ladder to help others ascend it too, or to keep everyone else down?
Tyranny. Possessiveness.
One might be shying away from a leadership role they must take on.
Defy power. Stick it to the man! Rage against the machine. Fuck your boss. Class hatred.

V. The Hierophant

A.k.a: The Teacher, The Pope.
The Hierophant is a religious figure sitting between two pillars of a sacred temple. They wear two robes: red and white, and a crown over their head. In their left hand they hold a scepter of religious status. And two fingers in their right hand point toward the sky, like one of Baphomet’s hands.
Two followers kneel in front of them, and beneath the hierophant’s feet lie the Keys to The Kingdom of Heaven. A symbol of authority that allows the hierophant to open or close the kingdom of heaven to whomever they wish.

Interpretations

Old and continuous religious traditions. Religious institution. The Church.
A religious guide or master.
Following convention. Sticking to “tried and tested” methods.
Group worship.
Learning from one’s elders or ancestors. Structured study.
One is one’s own teacher.
Challenging the status quo.
One could find use in evaluating their relationship with external approval.

VI. The Lovers

Two naked figures stand on a field beneath the wings of a great angel. In the left corner lies the tree of knowledge with a snake winding its way up the tree. In the left corner, a burning tree.
The “volcano” at the back could be about to explode.
Rider Waite: The tree of knowledge is on the woman’s side, and the fire bush on the man’s. Because christians don’t know how to have fun.

Interpretations

Meaningful relationships. Of any kind.
Sexual connection. Open communication. Vulnerability. Consent.
Authenticity in one’s passions. Clear values and ideals that ring one true.
Choice. Hard decisions. Moral Dilemma. Lasting consequences.
Unification of disparate parts. Integration.
Being out of sync with those around you.
Non reciprocity.
Self Love.
Even tougher choices.
War with oneself.

VII. The Chariot

Standing upright and dressed for battle, the charioteer proudly steers their vehicle using the power of the wand in their right hand to guide them. Above their head, stars show their connection to the world above - as a crown nonetheless symbolizing mastery over spirit.
They wear crescent moons on their shoulders, and a white square on their chest.
Two sphinxes lie in front of them, pulling the proverbial chariot. One white and one black, pulling in different directions.
Rider Waite: The chariot’s coat of arms appear to represent a lingam and yoni - an Indian symbol of sex.

Interpretations

Willpower, determination, strength, drive. One has found out how to live according to one’s ideals and passion in the Lovers, and now it’s time to act on those ideals.
Taking focused action and sticking to the plan. Getting shit done.
Controlling impulses. Planning up and showing up.
Assertion and courage. Expressing desire and laying boundaries.
One shall not be one’s own enemy. Winning the battle against oneself. Faith in oneself.
Travel. Moving. Driving around.
Banging your head against a brick wall. Do a U-Turn. Re-evaluate.
Overwhelming obstacles. Remember why you’re doing what you’re doing.
What is and isn’t within one’s actual control?
Micro managing everything only makes you lose control, not get more of it.

VIII. Strength

A woman dressed in a white robe adorned with a crown and a belt of flowers gently stokes the lion she’s tames. Above her, the infinity symbol.

Interpretations

Inner strength, determination, power and endurance. Through patience and inner calm.
Invisible strengths. Subtle influence and persuasion that can move mountains.
Facing fears, challenges and doubts.
Shadow work. The inherit connection between Self and Shadow.
Taming animal instincts, gut reactions and raw emotions so they serve you, instead of you serving them.
Imbalance in one’s feelings and thoughts.
Vulnerability. Set backs. Needing to reconnect with one’s inner strength.
Restocking on strengths by retreating for a while and recharging.
Explosive behaviour, aggressiveness.

IX. The Hermit

High up either on the mountains or a castle, the hermit stands alone. Their white hair shows their age and wisdom, and they wear a simple gray. A star illuminates their next few steps, but not the whole journey.
Rider Waite: His star is inside a lamp in his right hand. He also holds a staff in his left hand.
Modern Witch: Her star is within a necklace pendant. In front of her is a cupboard with a laptop on top of it she is only half opening.

Interpretations

Looking for truth in solitude. Letting go of the material to find inner reality without distractions.
Self knowledge. Self Discovery. Introspection.
Meditation. Contemplation. Self examination.
Turning away from consumerism.

X. Wheel of Fortune

The golden wheel is divided in 2 sections. The outer section has Latin and Hebrew letters. Starting from the top and going clockwise: T י A ה R ו‎ O ה‎
The 4 Hebrew letters יהוה‎ are the tetragram - the four letter name of God that can be transliterated as YHWH. The roman letters can be read as TARO if you go clockwise, or TORA if you go counter-clockwise.
The inner circle has 8 lines indicative of the medieval ROTA FORTUNA. Alchemical symbols are carved in four of the lines. Starting from the top going clockwise we have: Mercury/Volatility, Sulfur/Combustibility, Multiplication/Aquarius, and Salt/Stability. This is based on the Paracelsus theory of the Three Primes.
Atop and around the wheel, lie different persons. And as the wheel floats in the sky it is surrounded by clouds that carry 4 different celestial principles.
Rider Waite: Atop the wheel is the sphinx carrying a sword - mixture of beast and man asserting itself as the leader of this card. And around the wheel is a snake and Anubis.
The four beasts around the wheel carried by the clouds are: An angel representing the fixed sign of Aquarius or Luke the Evangelist. An eagle representing the fixed sign of Scorpio or Mark the Evangelist. A winged lion representing the fixed sign of Leo or John the Evangelist. And a winged ox representing the fixed sign of Taurus or Matthew the Evangelist. They are all reading the Book of Life, the Tora or the Bible.
Modern Witch: There are 2 women laying and sitting around the wheel, and the clouds simply carry the signs for the astrological signs of Aquarius, Scorpio, Leo and Taurus.

Interpretations

The wheel of life is always turning and turning. Nothing is permanent. All is in constant flux.
Ying and Yang. Totality. Natural Cycles. The Tao.
Karma. Samsara. The cycles and patterns of your personal life.
Magical practice as manipulation of fate. Spinning the wheel faster or slower.
Life turning up-side down. Things not going as planned. Entropy.
Turning points. Critical moments. Leaps of faith. Ultimate challenges.
Good or bad luck.
Resistance to change.
Breaking of cycles - good and bad.

XI. Justice

Justice sits in front of a loosely hung purple veil between two pillars. She is draped in red, as she holds a double-edged sword high in one hand, and scales on another.
Rider Waite: She wears a crown with a small square on it, and a small white shoe pokes out of her robes.
Modern Witch: Her chest bares an = sign.

Interpretations

Accountability. Justice. Fairness. Law.
Justice will be served. Or must be.
An important choice, with long lasting consequences.
Search for truth. Speaking of truths. Bringing truth to light.
Questions of morality. Regret. Unwillingness to take responsibility.
Out of control super ego. Is one being truly fair? Is the punishment appropriate?

XII. The Hanged One

Loki is suspended from a T shaped cross of living wood. They hang upside-down from their right foot, and the left foot forms a 4 shape with their legs. They are smiling and have a halo around their head. Their pants are red, their shirt blue, and their hair fiery.

Interpretations

Stop. Analyze. Be critical. Turn things upside down before you proceed with action.
Being fired, imprisoned, sick or otherwise unable to take action.
Find out where the stream of water is flowing, and follow it.
Take joy in simply living and accepting the world as it is. Let go of control.
One must imagine sisyphus happy.
Odin sacrificed himself to himself in order to gain knowledge. One could do the same. Taking a look at one’s reality from a completely different perspective. Upside down. In meditative pain and symbolic death.
Is one flowing against the current? Trying to control the uncontrollable?
The future is not obliged to go along with one’s plans. Does one know that?
Is one banging their head against a wall expecting it to break? Has one tried to look if there’s a way around that wall? Is the wall even that important?

XIII. Death

The grim reaper, clad in black armor, rides along the shore on a white horse. Beneath them lie a dead king, and before them 3 figures. A priest, a woman and a child. The priest seems to be pleading, the woman sad, and the child presenting it with a flower.
Behind them, a boat crosses the river styx, and the sun sets behind the 2 towers of the Moon card.
Letting go. Memento Mori. Remembering death to better enjoy the present.
Denial. Saying no to things one cares about. Letting the energies of one’s life be renewed, recycled.
Cleansing of what no longer serves one’s true essence.
Significant change. Radical transitions.
Literal death.

Interpretations

Death comes to all. All things must end. Every cycle has its dark part, followed by the light.
The Dao. The infinite cycle of night and day. Action and reaction. Death and rebirth. Misery and Joy.
Is one open to true change? Radical change?
Is one obsessed with death? With either dying or achieving eternity?
Is one denying death in more subtle anxious ways?
Is one ready to live, or is it safer for one to only exist in one’s own imagination where things don’t need to end and where one cannot fail?
Is one facing life as it truly is? In its complete horror and glory?

XIV. Temperance

An angel with fiery wings dips one of her feet in the water of a river while she mixes the contents of 2 cups held in both hands. Her breastplate shows a golden triangle on a white square (holy trinity and the 4 directions) and behind her stretches a path leading to a rising sun. 2 Yellows flowers rise alongside her.

Interpretations

The calm and unstoppable energy of a river that simply flows.
All things change and are cyclical. The more positive side of the previous card.
Alchemy. Mixing of different elements, techniques.
Action without effort. Wu Wei.
The patience needed to achieve long term goals.
Restoration of balance. Practice in moderation.
Something is wrong you can’t put a finger on.

XV. The Devil

A Baphomet like figure with bat wings, bird legs and a breastless body sits on a black pedestal. On his left hand the holds a torch, pointed to the ground. His left hand is raised in the sign of Shin - a blessing performed by jewish kohanim. Before him, 2 horned humans, chained to the pedestal by the neck - the chains are, however, loose.
In the Rider Waite version, the woman’s tail ends on on grapes, and the man’s tail ends on a flame.
In the Modern Witch version the two women have their backs turned on the viewer and have no tails.

Interpretations

The Shadow. The Id.
Unhealthy commitments. False confidence. Manipulation.
Codependency. Mutual self destruction.
Kinky sex. Sex for pleasure only. STDs.
Subversions. Rebellion against common morality. Peering through the veil of hypocrisy.
Spiritual awakening to “left hand” paths. One must realize, however, that the chains are an arbitrary weakness.
Shadow work.
Nasty secrets.

XVI. The Tower

A tower standing on a rocky foundation is brought down by lightning, knocking off the crown that adorned its roof. The three windows are in flames, and 2 people jump out of the building in desperation - in the modern witch version, one of the women is impaled by a rock below.
22 fiery drops adorn the sky. I don’t know why that is relevant.

Interpretations

Large sudden changes that tear one’s life apart.
Hubris. The tower of babel and the wings of icarus.
That which is built in rocky foundations cannot survive chaos. And chaos is inevitable.
Surrender to the destruction. Let what must be destroyed be destroyed. Let go.

XVII. The Star

A naked woman holds two jugs of water as she kneels in front of a pond and pours the contents of said jars into the pond and onto the grass. The scenery around her is lush and green, and a Stork can be seen in the background.
An eight pointed star shines above her, surrounded by seven smaller stars of the same shape.

Interpretations

Reprieve. The calm AFTER the storm.
Renewing energies, hope and faith.
Wishing upon a star may make it come true.
Rebirth. I stand on the ashes of who I used to be.
Charity. Generosity.
Has one lost faith in oneself? Or in one’s religion? Why?
Could one be in some form of test? Is the current situation a proving ground?
Are one’s stars shining bright in the sky or are they dimming?
Is one too tired to be able to rest?

XVIII. The Moon

The full moon, the crescent moon, and the sun are conjoined into a single thing up in the sky, showing a single annoyed face. There is no sun in the Modern Witch version.
Underneath, a dog and a wolf howl at the moon. The modern witch version shows two naked women in canine masks.
A lobster comes out of the lake to gaze at the moon. The modern witch version shows a shadowy figure instead.
The golden seeds from the tower show again in this card. Not in the modern witch version, however.
The winding path between the two canines comes out of the lake and stretches towards the horizon, going between two ivory towers. In the modern witch version, however, the path leads to a far away cave in the mountains, and there are no towers to speak of.

InterpretationS

The embrace of the shadow. The dark things that lurk in one’s soul must come out lest one be controlled by them.
One’s deepest secrets and desires. Fantasies with no limitations. Boundless imagination.
O Mundo da Lua

XIX. The Sun

The sun has a face! And shines down into the sunflower field. The field is walled, and a child sitting on a white horse plays with a red banner held high.

Interpretations

Life is awesome! True inner energy, strength and abundance.
Child-like optimism. The world is one’s playground, and life is worth living.
Powerful inner strength directed towards kindness and maximizing happiness.
An invitation for the inner child to come out to play.
Looking at the bright side.

XX. The Judgment

Archangel Gabriel trumpets or sings of enlightenment in such a manner as to awake the dead. They carry the banner of a red cross, and 5 to 6 colorless humans gaze at them with joy as they rise from their graves.

Interpretations

Revelation. Awakening. Higher callings.
Revelation is never individual. Community work. We are never truly alone.
Self judgment and self tough love. Important changes are needed to reach one’s highest self.

XXI. The World

Symbols

Interpretations

Wholeness, Achievement, Fulfillment, Completion.
Great success. Proper end to the journey.
Is there anything left to be done?!