Etteilla Tarot: meaning of the "arcana"
Etteilla Tarot: meaning of the "arcana"
Although the meanings are written at the top and bottom of each card (see: Tarot Ettellia (I): "Arcana" or main cards), it may vary slightly if it is found near other cards or read in isolation. On the other hand, there are several meanings that have been forced to be updated, since they made references to issues of 18th and 19th century society that no longer make sense in today's world. Here are the extended meanings:
1- Chaos. General: Represents a male consultant. Positive.
If read in isolation:
- Right side up: Moral qualities, honors, kindness, benefits.
- Turned around: Intelligence and talent.
If read near other cards:
- Right side: With the 3 of cups (47) it can indicate a failure in communication. With the 7 of golds (71) a slight loss. With The Fool (78), it indicates that a mistake has been made.
- Turned around : With Force Majeure (14), Death (17) and the Traitor (18), it is a bad omen. Between Kings and Queens, it is a good omen, success, happiness.
2- The Light. General: Possibilities.
If read in isolation:
- Right side up: Clarity. Reconciliation.
- Turned around: Anger, arguments.
If read near other cards:
- Right side: With Marriage (13), great happiness, marriage.
- Turned around: With the 3 of gold (75), worry, disagreement. With the rider of clubs (21), betrayal.·
3- Plants or the Moon. General: Negotiations.
If read in isolation:
- Right side up: Lively and open discussion, with friends.
- Turned around: The desire for change must be controlled and repressed.
If read near other cards:
- Right side: Near the Traitor (18), you will be the object of slander. Near the rider of clubs (21), disputes. With the Page of Pentacles (67), possible theft. With the Page of Cups (39), inheritance. Near Chaos (1) or Rest (8), victory in a judicial process.
-Turned around: With the Page of Pentacles (67). Assault.·
4- Heaven. General: Losses, poor lucidity.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Revelation of a little unfavorable secret.
-Turned around: propensity to get sick. Avoid trips.
If read near other cards:
- Right side: Near Death (17), serious illness. End of a misunderstanding.
- Turned around: Near the Wheel of Fortune (20), bad reputation. With the 8 of pentacles (70), administration of assets, and with the 9 of pentacles (71), loss of money.·
5- Man and quadrupeds. The world.General: success in love and work.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: beneficial trip or journey. Reconciliation. Incentives at work.
-Turned around: Foresight and caution to avoid major difficulties with personal property.
If read near other cards:
-Right side: With the Ace of Pentacles (77), great happiness. With Justice (9), the King of Cups (36) and the Horseman of Cups (38), a new job or promotion in the current job. Victory in a judicial process.
- Turned around: With the Rider of Pentacles (66), winnings in bets. With the Queen of Cups (37), divergence of opinions. With Kings and Queens, great successes.·
6- The Stars. General: Mysteries and enigmas.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: For young people, a new passion. For the elderly, a long and happy life.
-Turned around: Surprise encounter, or an unexpected discovery.
If read near other cards:
-Right side: With the card of plants or the Moon (3), an excursion spoiled by a storm. With the Judgment (16), a prodigy.
-Turned around: with the Traitor (18), eye disease. With the 8 of Pentacles (70), a setback related to scripts, readings, writings.·
7- Fish and birds. General: Help and protection.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: For married people, a happy home. For young people, unlikely marriage. For a subordinate, protection.
-Turned around: Same as the previous ones, but less positive.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the 10 of Pentacles (68), winnings in bets. With the 2 of Cups (48), you will receive a small inheritance.
-Turned around: with the 7 of golds (71), entry of money.·
8- Rest. General: Represents a female consultant. Strengths and weaknesses.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Revelation, doubts are dispelled. Obstinacy.
-Turned around: Traps to avoid.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With Death (17), danger, serious illness. With the King of Swords (50), victory over enemies.
-Turned around: With the 7 of golds (71), a reversal of fortune.·
9- Justice. General: Justice, results of good and bad.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Loyal and reliable person, integrity.
-Turned around: A lawyer.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the King of Wands (22) and the 9 of Wands (27), justice will be done.
-Turned around: With the 8 of Wands (26), physical fight. With the 10 of Pentacles (68) and the 7 of Pentacles (71), no pact or business should be attempted at the moment. With the King of Wands (22), insecurity at work, for better and for worse.·
10- Temperance. General: Good advice will be received, outbursts of anger will be controlled. Control.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Self-control and dedication will cause great joy.
- Turned around: You will convince your interlocutors. A religious man wants to help you.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the 5 of Cups (45) or 3 of Cups (47). Risk of poisoning or food poisoning. With the Page of Wands (25), the person you love will contact you.
-Turned around: With the Judgment (16). Go to a doctor. With the 7 of swords (29), do not shy away from your responsibilities.·
11- The Force. General: Strength, endurance, power, success.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Your greatest advantage will be to reveal your character and your personality.
-Turned around: Don't be overconfident and don't abuse your power.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the Wheel of Fortune (20) and the 6 of Pentacles (72), absolute happiness. With the Queen of Swords (51), a splendid gift will be received, and if it is reversed, you will be the one to give it to others. With the Traitor (18), chances of losing your job. With the King of Swords (50), bad news.
-Turned around: With the Queen of Swords (51), beware of a widow or single woman, and if it is reversed, beware of an unpleasant friend.·
12- Prudence. General: Letter from politicians and diplomats. Recommends caution in what is spoken and written.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Don't trust anyone. Special caution with comments about money.
-Turned around: Avoid arguments and fights for honor. Otherwise, you will suffer.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the 8 of Pentacles (70), loss of money or authority. With the Traitor (18), denounce. With Prison (19), loss of freedom, political denunciation.
-Turned around: With The Illness (15), strong verbal confrontation. With Justice (9), Temperance (10) and Strength (11), you should not deviate from the chosen path. With the King of Pentacles (64), you will act as a leader.·
13- Marriage. General: Marriage or relationship, with the good and the bad.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Signing of contract, good contract.
-Turned around: Breakup or change of plans.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With Force Majeure (14), a (brown) person will disappoint you.
-Turned around: With the Traitor (18), misfortune. With the 7 of Swords (57) and the 8 of Pentacles (70), a lot of happiness comes from affection and children.·
14- Force Majeure. General: Violence, danger. Uncontrollable impulses, vain efforts.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: You chase the shadow instead of the substance.
-Turned around: You or someone close to you will suffer rape, kidnapping, illnesses... a great evil looms over your circle.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the Rider of Wands (24), serious illness, surgical operation. With the Judgment (16), love that ends in catastrophe.
-Turned around: With the 4 of Swords (60), a journey or journey full of difficulties.·
15- The Disease. General: Represents physical and moral health.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Your nerves make you act irrationally. Find a doctor.
-Turned around: Memory losses.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the 8 of gold (70), you are being negligent and do not take care of what you do. With Death (17), danger of drowning.
-Turned around: With the Page of Wands (25), you must get rid of your morbid thoughts. With the Traitor (18), a breakup will lead to a mental breakdown. With the Queen of Pentacles (65), obstacles.·
16- The Judgment. General: Understanding and devotion, sometimes it can provoke suspicion and madness.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Your judgment is correct, stick to it.
Turned around: Consult a friend and his judgment will be approved.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the King of Cups (36) and/or the Queen of Swords (51), victory in a judicial process. With Death (17), a fight over an inheritance or gift. With the 6 of Swords (58), you will be called as a witness. With the Rider of Wands (24), difficult negotiations.
-Turned around. With the 3 of swords (61), if it is reversed, a trial will be lost. With the 10 of Pentacles (68), you will recover money.·
17- Death. General: One must remain alert, bad things are coming.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Efforts in illness. Suicide should not be thought about. Don't make hasty decisions. Don't make plans of any kind.
-Turned around: Chronic patients such as diabetics must be careful not to take risks to their health, or they could suffer attacks or fall into a coma.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: with Heaven (4), danger of death. With the Wheel of Fortune (20), take action against animal bites. With the Ace of Batos (35), violent impulses, apoplexy.
-Backwards: Death·
18- The Traitor. General: Like Judas, it indicates betrayal but also repentance.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: A trap is being laid against you.
-Turned around: Do not listen to proposals that are made to you, they are lies.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With The Plants/The Moon (3), do not expect gratitude from your children. With the Rider of Wands (24), a person of higher position seeks to hurt you. With the Judgment (16), you have fallen from grace. With Poverty/Prison (19), you will lose your freedom. With the Sun (2), you will unmask an imposter. With the King of Wands (20), satisfaction.
-Turned around: With Heaven (4), you will triumph over a defamatory complaint·
19- Misery / Prison. General: Anguish and Misery.
If read alone:
-Right side: You will need money urgently.-Inverted: You will make a dishonest transaction, but you will end up in prison.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the 2 of Swords (62), be quick to regain the friendship of an old friend. With Temperance (10), you will receive threats of arrest. With the Queen of Wands (23), your opinion predominates.
-Turned around: With the Illness (15), religious fights. With the 5 of Swords (59), shipwreck. With the King of Wands (22), especially if it is reversed, you must flee.·
20- Fortune / The Wheel of Fortune. General: Very good card, positively influences nearby cards.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Luck and destiny are in your favor. You are making profits.
-Turned around: You increase your income.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the Illness (15), infidelity. With Justice, Temperance, Strength, Prudence (9, 10, 11 and 12), you have unusual moral qualities.
-Turned around: With the Page of Cups (39), you are being robbed, check the prices offered to you.·
21- The Discord. General: It is not a good card, it reveals pride, revenge and ostentation.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Take serious legal advice before getting involved in judicial matters.
-Turned around: You are taking risks by getting into judicial matters with someone in a higher position.
If read with other cards:
-Right side: With the 8 of Swords (56), family disputes. With the Page of Pentacles (67), plans at risk. With Death (17), a small animal is sick.
-Turned around: With the 9 of Cups (41), you spend time in recriminations.·
22 (or 78)- The Fool. General: Madness, aberration, vigilance.
If read in isolation:
-Right side: Your attitude is stupid.
-Turned around: You are about to do something crazy.
If read with other cards:
-Right side : With the 7 of Swords (57), you have time to change your attitude. With the 9 of Cups (41), you cannot rectify.
-Turned around: With the 9 of Wands (27), the remedy will be worse than the action performed.
Pietro V. Carracedo Ahumada - pietrocarracedo@gmail.com
Bibliography:
-Cunningham, S. The Book of Thoth - Etteilla Tarot. Llewellyn Worldwide
Limited, 2003
- Hundley, J. ; Fiebig, J; Kroll, M. Tarot. La Biblioteca del Esoterismo.
-Llonch Segarra, S.; Mosquera, José M. Ludus Triumphorum - La Historia del
Tarot. Asociación Española de Tarot Profesional. (Lulu) 2017. -Salas, E. El
gran libro de Tarot. Robinbook, 2017.
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