Tarot Archetypal Associations

Sacred Meadow Circle Virtual Gathering Discussion Summary:

Thank you to those who were able to attend the Sacred Meadow Circle Virtual Gathering with the suggested topic of discussion, "Tarot Archetypal Associations".

Bryan led the meeting, focusing on tarot archetypal associations, specifically the Major Arcana cards and their connections to deities, gods, goddesses, and human archetypes. The group planned to review 21 Major Arcana cards, with Bryan sharing examples and encouraging participants to share their own associations.

A detailed overview of several tarot cards was presented, explaining their meanings, associations, and artistic interpretations. We began by explaining The Fool Card and its role in exploring the path of the higher arcana often associated with Dionysus, Hermes, or Loki. We discussed the Magician card as an alchemist and divine connector, connected to Thoth, or Hermes. The High Priestess as a keeper of mysteries, with primary deities as Isis, Hecate, or Persephone. The Empress as the Earth Mother symbolizing abundance, representing Demeter, Aphrodite, or Freyja. The Emperor as the father card focusing on authority and structure, resembling Zeus, Woden, or Odin. Bryan also covered the Hierophant as a bridge between the divine and earthly realms, associated with Jupiter or Chiron. The Lovers represent sacred union and are connected with Eros, or Inanna. The Chariot symbolizes willpower and victory, representing Ares or Apollo. The Strength card is about taming primal nature with inner power, as Sekhmet, and the Hermit as an introverted card representing inner wisdom, associated with Cronus.

Bryan further explained various tarot cards, including the Wheel of Fortune connected to the Moirai, Justice connected to Ma'at or Athena, and the Hanged Man Connected to Odin. Death is associated with Hades or Anubis. Temperance with Iris, and the Devil card with Pan or Bacchus. Whilst describing their meanings and associations with other deities. We clarified that the Death card represents ego transformation rather than mortality, and the Devil card represents personal adversaries rather than external evil forces. Bryan used specific tarot decks to illustrate his explanations and emphasized that many people misunderstand the true meanings of these cards.

Bryan took a moment to explain the differences between the traditional Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck and the Witch's Wisdom deck as an example of different interpretations, noting that the latter reverses the order of the Major Arcana, making it more focused on inner self-discovery rather than finding one's place in the world. He described the meanings and associated deities for several Major Arcana cards, including the Tower, connected with Poseidon or Shiva. The Star, connected with Nut, The Moon, connected with Artemis or Hecate; The Sun, connected with Apollo or Ra; Judgment, connected with Osiris; and The World, connected with Gaia or Shakti.

It was emphasized that readers should trust their own intuitive connections to deities rather than relying solely on traditional interpretations, and it was explained how to interpret combinations of Major and Minor Arcana cards in readings. Bryan led a discussion on connecting tarot cards with deities, explaining how different suits and court cards can represent specific archetypes and people based on physical characteristics. He re-emphasized that tarot readers should trust their own associations rather than relying on prescribed interpretations, and shared a personal example of how following tarot advice helped him navigate a challenging situation during the pandemic.

The conversation ended with Bryan providing information about a specific oracle card deck called "Triggers" by Lindsay Knight, and encouraging participants to suggest future discussion topics that would interest them, suggestions can be sent to greywitchbryan@gmail.com.

Please join us for the next Virtual Gathering of the Sacred Meadow Circle! More information is available at: https://www.askagreywitch.com/gatherings