Tarot cards explained;
0 - The Fool
Upright meanings: new beginnings, freedom, innocence, spontaneity.
Reversed meanings: recklessness, naive, gullible, distracted.
The Fool depicts a youth walking joyfully into the world. He is taking his first steps, and he is exuberant, joyful, excited. He carries nothing with him except a small sack, caring nothing for the possible dangers that lie in his path. Indeed, he is soon to encounter the first of these possible dangers, for if he takes just a step more, he will topple over the cliff that he is reaching. But this doesn't seem to concern him - we are unsure whether he is just naive or simply unaware. The dog at his heels barks at him in warning, and if he does not become more aware of his surroundings soon, he may never see all the adventures that he dreams of encountering.
Symbols on the Card: Dog, Ice, Mountains, Rose, Sun, Wreath
Dog: Human’s best friend – symbol meaning of the dog deals with fidelity, honesty, loyalty, and truth. When the dog symbol pops out at us, we might ask ourselves one of the following questions: 1) Where are our loyalties? 2) Where are we putting our faith? 3) Are we being true to ourselves? The dog in our cards is also a good indication that we’re on the right track as they are symbolic of stability and righteousness.
Ice: Ice symbol meanings deal with isolation, patience, waiting, distance, and objection. Ice is used in the Tarot to convey a feeling of separation. It is also used to portray a time of deep contemplation or a process of growth that is not perceived until much later (cycle of season) for example, spring is only evident after that.
Mountains: Seen on many of the cards, mountain symbol meanings deal with triumph, challenge, attainment, and realization. Mountains also represent timelessness and an endurance that is infinite. When those mountains peak out of the cards into our attention, we may consider the vastness of our universe, and contemplate our place within it. We may also want to consider the heights to which we are climbing, and what the realization of our goals may mean for us and those around us.
Rose: A long-standing symbol of purity, promise, and beauty. The rose symbol meanings deal with the promise of new beginnings and hope. We must also take the thorns into consideration – with the promise of new hope, we may have to endure a few stinging thorns (painful ordeals) along the way. Overall, the rose is a poignant symbol of the beauty that is ready to unfold within each of our hearts and a reminder that we must take the opportunity to savor the beauty around us.
Sun: So much is dependent upon the existence of the sun, its symbolic meanings are endless. Primarily, the sun is a symbol of expansion, growth, energy, and creativity. When the sun shines upon your consciousness in a reading, pay attention to its position in the sky (setting, mid-day, or rising) as its position is also symbolic. Rising the sun is a symbol of new beginnings, setting indicates an ending or transition and mid-day indicates going full force in creative endeavors.
Wreath: Typically wreaths of laurel are depicted on the various feature cards (listed below). Wreaths of this type have long been a symbol of victory ever since the first ancient games upon mount Olympus where the victor was crowned in laurels (hence the term “resting on his laurels” comes when one relies on his/her credentials rather than further drive/action). A sweet-smelling laurel wreath is also a symbol of protection, peace, and purification and is associated with the god Apollo. It is a message that the favor of the Gods is upon us, and that we shall be the victor in this stage of our lives.
