The last card of the Major Arcana, The World, is the opposite of the last Rune, ᛞ (Dagaz): rather than a beginning, it is an ending. It is a card of reflection and memory, connecting it to ᛟ (Othala). The primary image on the Waite-Smith card is that of a victory wreath wrapped around a […]
Author: Perseus Greenman
Tarot Major Arcana – Judgement
At first glance, Judgement shouldn’t have anything to do with Norse cosmology. There is no almighty god in Asgard who declares that such-and-such is sinful or that so-and-so is a sinner. But Freya does pass a judgement on those who fall in battle, with the aid of the valkyries. She chooses which of the slain […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Sun
You might think that The Sun would relate directly to ᛊ (Sowilo), the Rune of the sun, but again the symbolism of the Tarot differs from that of the Runes. This card is closer to ᚹ (Wunjo) the Rune of joy. There is a little bit of Sowilo’s warmth, tempered with some of the vitality […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Moon
The Moon is ironically associated with ᛊ (Sowilo) as a Rune of of intuition. You would think that Sowilo would align more with The Sun (the next card in the Major Arcana), but like so many things in Tarot, the symbolism just isn’t the same as the symbolism of The Runes. The Moon is the […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Star
The Woman shown on The Star is like Yggdrasil itself, and therefore like the Rune ᛇ (Eiwaz). She has one foot in one world (the land) and another foot in the water. There is the clear association with ᛚ (Laguz), the Rune of water, but also a bit of ᛈ (Perthro) in its association with […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Tower
The Tower is as close to the Rune ᚺ (Hagalaz) as you’re going to get in the Tarot. That said, where Hagalaz is a Rune of icy destruction and starvation, The Tower is a card of fiery separation. In the Waite-Smith Tarot, The Tower shows people falling to their death as lightning strikes a stone […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Devil
The Devil is a character which shows up in multiple mythologies. Though Loki is frequently compared to The Devil, that isn’t a great comparison. Loki isn’t a god of temptation, he is an amoral god who just does stuff until people get mad at him and he has to fix it. You will recognize the […]
Tarot Major Arcana – Temperance
Temperance is a virtue that Odin talked about in the Havamal. Don’t drink too much, because alcohol is like a bird stealing your good sense. Don’t talk too much. Rest when you’re tired. This advice is attributed to Odin, but it doesn’t sound like advice he himself takes: Odin is the god who gives all […]
Tarot Major Arcana – Death
Death is the card of endings and new beginnings. It is ᛞ (Dagaz), the Rune of the dawn and new beginnings. It is ᛃ (Jera), the Rune of the cycles of life. It is not about ᚦ, ᛇ, or ᛉ (Thurisaz, Eiwaz, or Algiz) because those are Runes of various stages in a conflict and […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Hanged Man
The Hanged Man represents the wisdom that comes from trial and sacrifice. Despite this literally being the way that Odin received The Runes, this isn’t the wisdom of ᚨ (Ansuz), which is a communicated wisdom. It is a quiet wisdom that comes from being alone in the presence of nature. The Fool’s Journey Even people […]