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 […]
Author: Perseus Greenman
Tarot Major Arcana – Justice
Justice is very similar to ᛏ (Tiwaz), but is more formal. Whereas Tiwaz is a Rune of doing what’s right even at your own expense, Justice is a card of the law. It has been my experience that the law and what’s right don’t appear to have much to do with one another. Notice that […]
Tarot Major Arcana – Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel of Fortune is like ᛈ (Perthro), representing chance and luck, but without the watery aspect of Perthro relating to a well. It is a card of knowledge and prophecy, so it has a hint of ᚨ (Ansuz) as well. Just as Ansuz is the Rune representing The Runes, The Wheel of Fortune is […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Hermit
The Hermit is a typical image of Odin: He wears a grey cloak with either a pointed hood or a pointed hat, and you can only see one of his eyes over his white beard. He holds the lantern of his wisdom. This card is the flip side of the same coin that contains ᚨ […]
Tarot Major Arcana – Strength
Strength is a gentle card, drawing from the Abrahamic story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den. In short, Daniel was arrested for worshipping the god of Abraham. When Daniel was put into the lion’s den, the lions did not harm him. Daniel attributes this to an angel of his god coming and closing the mouths […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Chariot
The Chariot is similar to the Rune ᚱ (Raidho), but only in so far as they both represent movement. But a cart represents something very different from a chariot. A cart is a tool that helps someone laden down with goods to move freely, exchanging and interacting with other people as they go. A chariot […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Lovers
The Lovers is the card of relationships and romance, as well as of choices. There isn’t a single Rune for this, because the entire Futhark is about family in one way or another. Even the conflicts inherent in ᚦ (Thurisaz) are an important part of every relationship. That said, I think of this card mostly […]
Tarot Major Arcana – The Hierophant
The Hierophant is a card of ᛁ (Isa). It represents the teacher who resists change in favor of conformity and tradition. They demand that you sacrifice a part of yourself in order to receive their wisdom. While the archetype of The Hierophant (both in our modern culture and the historical cultures which produced The Runes […]
Runes for Tarot Lovers – Dagaz
Dagaz, like The Fool in the Major Arcana, is a card of new beginnings. It is literally the Rune of the sunrise, the beginning of the day. When I teach a beginner’s class on the Runes, I often have people color in the two sides of the Rune green, as if they were hills, and […]
Tarot Tarot Major Arcana – The Emperor
The Emperor The Emperor is a little like the Rune ᛗ (Mannaz). Both represent authority, but The Emperor is more about the one who holds the authority, whereas Mannaz is more about the community over which the authority is held. The Emperor is the card of the strong-handed ruler, the leader whose authority is rock-solid […]