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Key Finding 001: Telling a story and charting a course forward
It is HERE! The first episode of my brand new Podcast, Key Finding, is live!
The Key Finding podcast is all about self-discovery. We’ll examine various ‘keys’ that can help you unlock ways to live authentically. In this first season of episodes, we’re focusing on tarot for self-discovery.
In this introductory episode, I’ll tell you some stories about how I came across tarot and what my tarot philosophy looks like. Why does tarot hold such a broad appeal, and how might the system of tarot be relevant to you? These are a couple of questions I explore in this episode. You’ll also get some teasers for what the next few episodes will have to offer!
Man, I am nervous (but pretty excited) to be an official podcaster! I’m in the process of getting listed in iTunes and other directories, but that will take some time and for now I’ll be posting all episodes directly to my blog. I will also be sending notifications of new episodes out to my email list, you can sign up for that below! New episodes will be released every other week.
Download or stream the introductory episode of Key Finding below:
Resources mentioned in this episode:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
The Hero With 1000 Faces by Joseph Campbell
The Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious by Carl Jung
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The Tarot Reader’s Daily Companion
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The World :: Wild Unknown Tarot
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Deck Creator’s Keywords: completion, wholeness, contentment
Carrie’s Keywords: unity, integration, actualization
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
The World Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
The World is one of the most enigmatic images in this deck. This card speaks to me in a wordless way. I can feel the energies of wholeness, interlocking, and integration that are traditionally associated with this card, but I have a hard time breaking down the image! Here’s my attempt…if you have thoughts of your own on this card, I’d be fascinated to hear them – leave a comment!
In the center of the card we find a complex sphere made up of interconnected rings. In the background is a dark, starry sky. The sky gets lighter as we reach the bottom of the card, suggesting the duality of light and dark, conscious and unconscious. The imagery makes me think of life and spiritual energy concentrated together (much like our literal planet earth) and surrounded by a vast, mysterious Universe.
The sphere’s core is a bright, emanating white. This reminds me of an energetic center of spirit, bursting forth to infuse all of creation. The second ring is comprised of flowers and seems to represent non-sentient life (plants, water, earth, fungi, etc). The third ring looks like snake skin and could represent sentient life (animals and humans).
The final ring looks like an energetically colorful piano! This could represent the senses of unity, purpose, and LOVE that protect and complete the previous layers. In other words, the spiritual component.
A few additional interpretations have been described in the comments section of this post. One of my favorite interpretations comes from a commenter named Karen who wrote: “in 78 Degrees of Wisdom, Rachel Pollack divides the major arcana into three rows of seven, with the Fool on the top, representing the three levels of consciousness. The white light in the middle is the Fool, innocence and new beginnings. the seven flowers represent the first line, consciousness – concerns of love, society, and nature. The next ring is our subconsciousness, a tightly-bound web of things we hold on to, our psychological drives. And finally, the last ring is superconsciousness, the outward expression of spiritual knowledge, release of archetypal energy. So then the world represents the unification of all of these areas of experience.”
No matter how you interpret this imagery, the circle itself invokes a sense of wholeness. It has no beginning and no end. Regardless of our current challenges and emotional turmoil, we are always, already complete beings. We only need to shift our perspective, to zoom out and see the whole picture. We are perfect in our imperfections. Everything will be okay, everything is okay. Everything have purpose, everyone is cosmologically significant, all are connected. The Universe is creating a story, and we are essential to the plot.
The World Tarot Card Meanings in General
As the final card in the major arcana, the World carries a sense of completion and wholeness. The Spacious Tarot shows a spiral path. The spiral reminds us that even when we reach a sense of completion, our journey continues. Traditional imagery on this card shows a dancing human figure. The human figure is surrounded by a laurel wreath – a symbol of success. As such, this card can be associated with completion, the sense that something has reached a spiritually ordained conclusion.
This card is also associated with duality becoming unity. When the card contains a human figure, the person is sometimes considered to be equal parts male and female. I think of the World as a sort of combination of the Magician and the High Priestess: the World is about both “doing” and “being.” The World is an integration of supposed opposites: light and dark, flesh and spirit, the individual self and the One That Is All.
In a reading
This card often shows up to remind you that you are whole and complete exactly as you are. Even when you feel lacking or not enough, the World reminds you that you ARE enough. Something within you is likely ready for integration. You’ve gained great wisdom through your experiences, and this card asks you to hold space for integrating whatever lessons are most prominent for you right now.
Trust that you are where you should be, and choose to look for the dynamic meaning unfolding in your story. You are a whole and complex creature, let yourself revel in all facets of your existence. Now is the time to be what you are – magic in motion.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Judgement :: Wild Unknown Tarot
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Deck Creator’s Keywords: rebirth, forgiveness, awakening
Carrie’s Keywords: calling, rebirth, absolution
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
Judgement Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
A white bird, possibly a dove, draws attention from the upper portion of the card. Rays of light surround his outstretched wings. He has a serene, welcoming, all-encompassing energy. The bird looks like a spiritual force, perhaps an angel or other guide.
A flock of small black bats rises to meet the open-winged embrace of the white bird. The card is entirely black and white, making use of the contrast of light above and dark below.
The closer we get to the bottom of the card, the more the bats blend into the darkness. The bats have been slumbering, entrenched in darkness below, waiting for something to inspire them to emerge into the light. The bats are now ready to awaken, be more fully alive, to respond to a higher calling.
The angelic bird welcomes the bats without discernment. He seems to say “Come on up. I welcome everyone. Your past mistakes are in the past. You are forgiven. You can begin again. You can choose to soar into the light, and I will embrace you.”
And the bats are responding “YES! I’m ready and here I come.”
The Judgement card shows you that it is always possible for you to embrace new energies, to shed old skins and step into more aligned ways of being. This card is often associated with feeling a calling – just as the bats feel the call of the bird above, you may feel called towards something.
Finding the power within you to say YES when feel such a calling is a potent landmark of your spiritual journey. This card reminds you that you are not bound by your past. You can shed old skins, you can be reborn time and time again. You can be forgiven and most importantly you can forgive yourself.
By doing this, you awaken powerful forces both within you and in the universe as a whole. Judgement reminds you that when you listen to the whispers of the universe, and when you act upon your highest callings, you experience the full exhaltation of life.
Judgement Tarot Card Meanings in General
The Judgement card often contains a lot of biblical energy. An angel trumpets from above, raising the dead from their slumbers. As such, one connotation of this card is the concept of spiritual forgiveness and absolution of sin. When you are weighed down by your past, it is difficult to rise up to meet your future. Thus, Judgement gives you the gift of a clean slate, washing away what was so that you can embrace what is and what will be.
Many decks (including the Wild Unknown and my deck pictured above, The Spacious Tarot) have moved towards a more holistic way of showing these concepts instead of relying so heavily on Christian imagery. In the Spacious Tarot, you’re beckoned into a portal, a new way of being. In other decks this card has been depicted showing a phoenix, alluding to the way that you can metaphorically die and be reborn from the ashes.
Metaphoric rebirth is always available to you, infinite times, even in this one lifetime. Who You Are is always evolving, morphing, shifting. This card asks you to step fully into that dance, to be willing to devote entirely to your endless becoming.
In a reading
When you see the Judgement card, you may be feeling “called” towards one thing or another. Now is a powerful time to listen to your inner voice, to tune into the messages of the Universe. Let your ego quiet and align yourself with the murmurs of your deeper self. This is how you can more clearly hear what is “calling” you.
Your story going forward does not have to be marred by the story of your past. Now is an excellent time to energetically cleanse what is no longer serving you, to forgive yourself and to believe in all that is possible. The most effective way to find fulfillment is to constantly awaken to your callings, to embrace completely what gives your life purpose.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Sun :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
The Sun :: Wild Unknown Tarot
Deck Creator’s Keywords: new vitality, assurance, enlightenment
Carrie’s Keywords: joy, enlightenment, radiance
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
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Join the email list for instant access.
The Sun Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
The Sun of the Wild Unknown is practically bursting with light! Glorious rays dominate the card, emanating nearly to the brim with orange and yellow beams. We are naturally drawn to the powerful, bold and welcoming energy inherent here. The Sun asks you not to hold back, but to unleash your full brilliance.
The splendor of the sun is a life-affirming sight, especially after the darkness of the Moon. The sun always rises, even after the darkest of nights. What once seemed bewildering is made clear and understandable when viewed in this direct light. The Sun shows your ability to reach an aha moment, to gain utter and total clarity. Thus, this card is associated with the concept of enLIGHTenment.
This card reminds you that each day is a new offering, brimming with possibility and potential. The sun infuses vigor and greatness to everything that basks in its rays. We see a glimpse here of the truth that there is an eternal life force that resides in mortal beings. There’s a radiant energy to the Universe that will never be extinguished.
In the four corners of the card, the rays begin to blend into green and blue coloring, showing the hints of the ordinary world drenched in light. There are birds in each corner, flying towards the edges. The birds are champions of the sun, expanding and heralding its positive energy. This also shows how expansive the Sun’s energy is – it is not hemmed in but bursts forth freely.
There is an unstoppable sense of LIFE in this card. The sun itself is a necessary life force, it seeps energy into the food we eat and into our very cells. This is a card of vigor, celebration, understanding and living out loud. The unapologetic prominence of the sun is worth noting once again. There is no shirking here. This is a card of letting yourself take up space.
Above all else, the Sun asks you to soak in the joy of being alive. Joy is a more potent word than happiness, because true joy can contain happiness AND sorrow. True joy is about being fully present for all aspects of life, about letting yourself fully feel the radiant life force that infuses you, and knowing this is the same energy that infuses the entire universe.
The Sun Tarot Card Meanings in General
For the Spacious Tarot we chose a simple sunflower. Sunflowers track the light across the sky and have much to teach about embracing radiance.
Traditional depictions of this card show a human-like figure (possibly a child or a cherub), naked and with arms outstretched, riding a white horse. The figure is naked because they have nothing to hide. They are fully comfortable embodying all aspects of their existence. The Sun speaks of being bold and open.
The literal sun is often associated with a joyful reverence of life. This card is about being fully and gloriously alive. It is a continuation of the energy that started with the Magician: stepping into your true power, owning your radiance, embracing all that life has to offer.
But on the other end of the spectrum, the Sun is a powerful force that can burn us if we look straight at it, and there is some discomfort associated with this tarot card at times as well. The directness of the Sun can be welcome and warming, but it can sometimes be blinding and dazzling.
In a reading
When you see the Sun, it might be useful to ask yourself if you are saying YES to life. Are you fully plugged in to the radiant energies at work within you, or are you unconsciously dulling those energies? The Sun asks you to take whatever bold action would make you feel the most expansive at this time.
If you’ve been experiencing some struggles, this card can be a sign that life is still on your side. New viewpoints of greater clarity and understanding are available to you, choose to let yourself bask in that warmth.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Moon :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Deck Creator’s Keywords: lack of direction, vivid dreams, fears
Carrie’s Keywords: bewilderment, imagination, altered consciousness
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
The Moon Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
A waning crescent moon hangs in the center of the sky, at the darkest point. It has a yellow hue, but doesn’t emit any rays of light to guide us. It is only a pale, partial reflection of the sun. As enchanting as the moon can be, it can be equally perplexing. Things aren’t always as they seem under the light of the moon.
The moon is positioned between two evergreen trees. The evergreens we saw in the Emperor and even the Tower were full and healthy-looking. The evergreens here, though, are sparse and have a more chaotic, lopsided appearance. In the realm of the moon things are trippy. Is it just your mind playing tricks on you, or is something abnormal really going on?
The ground is not visible in this card. The Moon is a energy that can make it hard to catch your bearings. Up might be down or down might be left might be right. This can lead to wildly imaginative adventures…or it can lead to confusion and anxiety. In the faint light of the moon, you question what is real and what is imagined, what is beautiful fantasy and what is pure madness.
The moon shows a nighttime world of imagination and psychic exploration. This can be a stunning psychedelic experience, offering you access to new dimensions. But it can also become misleading or bewildering. This is an untamed landscape where anything is possible. It is an intriguing place to explore – as long as you don’t become lost forever.
The Moon Tarot Card Meanings in General
In my deck, The Spacious Tarot, the imagery features mushrooms. Mushrooms inhibit their own kingdom. Some grow with no sunlight. Some nourish you. Some kill you. Some take you on a psychedelic journey. A perfect metaphor for the realm of the Moon.
Classic depictions of this card show a crayfish, a dog and a wolf between two pillars. The crayfish represents your ancient lizard brain, the most primal part of your consciousness. The wolf represents your instincts that are still wild, things that you still have even if “civilization” leads you to repress them. The dog represents the tamed parts of your consciousness, the parts that society smiles upon.
The Moon reminds you that consciousness is vast and deep. Some parts of your awareness feel safe and comfortable – other parts feel mysterious and scary. The Moon speaks to all of the ways the vastness of your unconscious can manifest: dreams, fantasies, visions, illusions, anxieties and instincts.
It can be daunting to explore the huge chambers of your consciousness. There are certain aspects of yourself that you may be terrified to face, leading you to deny and repress them. The Moon reminds you that when you refuse to integrate these energies, the energies can be destructive. But when you are willing to step gently into the Moon’s glow, you can integrate these unconscious energies into your conscious awareness. This is a continuation of the process that began with the Devil.
In a reading
When you see the Moon, it may be useful to consider where you are currently experiencing bewilderment. Your imagination is the most powerful tool you have when it is used with reverence. But when your imagination runs away with you, you may find yourself lost in the shadowy confusion of your unconscious mind.
It can be so healthy to make space for the trippy and the abnormal in your life. But it is also important to make sure you don’t lose your orientation completely. Look for ways that you can let your imagination roam while maintaining your connection to something solid.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Tower :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
The Tower :: Wild Unknown Tarot
Deck Creator’s Keywords: unexpected upheaval, crisis, change
Carrie’s Keywords: breakthrough, collapse, chaos
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
The Tower Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
An evergreen tree stands in the dead quiet of night. Two bolts of yellow lightening descend from the sky, striking the tree at two points. The top portion has already been violently ripped off and engulfed in flames, and the lower portion looks about to topple as well.
This image alludes back to the Emperor card, in which we also saw a solid evergreen tree. The Emperor seemed to be magnificent, sturdy, and invincible. But in the Tower, we see that there are forces of upheaval which can unexpectedly strike even the strongest of us.
Sometimes unexpected events seem jarring or even violent. But there is often a universal intelligence at work, forcibly clearing away certain aspects of our lives to make room for something new. Forest fires speak to this truth. Although the flames can be utterly destructive, they can also be beneficial in that they clear the way for new growth.
The Tower shows moments that are difficult at the time, but when we look back we say ‘thank goodness that happened.’ Like when your partner leaves you, but then you find a relationship that is a much better match for you. Or when you get fired, but eventually find an unexpected new career path which brings you greater fulfillment.
When a change is necessary but our ego won’t let us make that change, we experience the Tower. If we don’t listen to the whispers of our life, an explosive turn of events will force us to pay attention. On the other hand, if we DO listen to the whispers, we can encourage the tower’s dismantling. But even when we choose a sweeping change, it will still be intense!
Tarot reminds us that life is always dynamic. One minute you are the Emperor, strong and solid, and the next you are the Tower, experiencing chaos. When we look at the bigger picture we find order in disorder and necessity in the Tower’s jolt.
The Tower Tarot Card Meanings in General
The imagery in this card often shows a literal tower, a man made construct in the process of crumbling. Human figures are sometimes shown freefalling through the air. What these people once assumed to be true – the constructs of their ego – has been suddenly shifted dramatically. Thus, the Tower is sometimes associated with “ego death,” a loss of the “masks” people wear. The Tower strips away your false sense of self and gives you an experience of radical reality.
The Spacious Tarot imagery shows a cairn, a stack of rocks used to mark a well worn path. This could symbolize the ways that sometimes old ways of being are knocked down and unavailable to us. In any depiction of the Tower, the lighteing striking the structure could be thought of as representing a burst of insight. As such, this card can be associated with sudden breakthroughs. As difficult as Tower energy can be, it is also liberating. The Tower gives you revelations that may be unwelcome initially, but ultimately lead you to a greater experience of self-actualization.
In a reading
The Tower often appears in times of intense shifts and upheavals. Keep in mind this applies just as much to internal shifts as external ones. You might experience a lot of resistance to these changes. This card asks you to consider in what ways dramatic change in your life could be valuable – even if at first glance it only seems destructive.
Remember that in the midst of it, things might feel chaotic. But resisting and fighting against this chaos only makes the blow harder. At times, Tower energy can lead you to feel like you’re having a breakdown. But look for the ways in which what could be labeled as a breakdown might actually be a BREAKTHROUGH. You may be experiencing a shake up so that you can then experience a new, more empowering level of awareness.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Star :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Deck Creator’s Keywords: hope, peace of mind, generosity
Carrie’s Keywords: authenticity, inspiration, peace
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
The Star Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
Way up in the dark of night, a large star glimmers spectacularly. Ten smaller stars are scattered about, but the center star commands attention. This star is adorned with the colors of the rainbow, blending into one another. The full-spectrum color gives the star an air of holistic, healing energy. All colors are present, all colors are even, and they are contained safely within the star. All is as it should be.
A commenter pointed out that this is most likely a depiction of the North Star, with the cluster of stars to the right being Cassiopeia. This is symbolically reverent, as we talk about following the North Star when we embark on our own authentic path. The Star represents the magical sensation that comes when you live in a way that feels true and right to you.
The Star gives its light freely, without holding back. But it is also unassuming. The star draws attention quietly, with a sort of serene power. A beautiful, calming influence is present in this card. This star is a reminder that hope is present even in the darkest of nights.
The positioning of the bright star is near the top of the card, and the lines on the card draw our attention upward. The lines are sparser at the bottom of the card, and get darker and darker as they near the top, giving the visual effect that we are standing far below, looking up at this glowing beacon of hope.
As with many images in the Wild Unknown, there is a simplicity to the star. It isn’t weighed down with heavy symbolism or overwhelming imagery. After enduring the chaos of the Tower, we reach the peaceful, smooth reprieve of the Star.
The Star Tarot Card Meanings in General
In The Spacious Tarot you’re embraced by a vast sky and a beacon of hope. The imagery brings to mind laying down in a forest and feeling all the hope of the universe above you (and some vulnerability in the darkness as well).
Many depictions of this card show a naked woman leaning over a pool of water. Her nudity could be thought of as representing authenticity, a complete willingness to show up exactly as you are. The woman pours water from two jugs, which could represent inspiration and creative flow. The Waite-Smith depiction shows seven stars, which could represent the seven chakras and the Star’s association with holistic healing.
I often associate the Star with the infinite creative well we each have access to. We are always plugged into this universal energy, this wellspring of spiritual lifeforce. The Star card offers us the gift of letting down our barriers and reconnecting to that source energy.
This card also has some healing connotations. The Star offers you a reprieve, a chance to make peace with whatever turmoil you’ve experienced. The Star shows that despite your battle scars, you can still be vulnerable. You can still trust, you can still find a way to show up in this world as your authentic self. Your greatest strength is activated when you devote to being real.
In a reading
The Star is often a reminder to listen to the quiet whispers of your inspiration. What “north star” are you being beckoned to follow? Even if you have been hurt in the past, now may be the time to step forward with renewed hope. Healing, integration and acceptance are readily available to you. Let your guard down and experience this holistic energy.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
The Devil :: Wild Unknown Tarot
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Deck Creator’s Keywords: negativity, materialism, addiction
Carrie’s Keywords: bondage, inner demons, materialism
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
Join the email list for instant access.
The Devil Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
A smug goat looks out at us from the card. He’s got a sly smile going on and we can only see one eye, giving him a shady air. His ears are cocked to the side, alert and ready to take advantage of what he hears.
Upon his forehead is an upside-down pentagram, a symbol our culture has come to associate with negative forces. Elphias Levi said: “A reversed pentagram, with two points projecting upwards, is a symbol of evil and attracts sinister forces because it overturns the proper order of things and demonstrates the triumph of matter over spirit. It is the goat of lust attacking the heavens with its horns.”
Indeed, the Devil card shows the human tendency to value the physical world over the spiritual world. This can manifest in fairly inconspicuous ways; such as enjoying decadent food, having sex, or doing anything else that might be deemed naughty. This can also manifest in more insidious ways; such as becoming stuck in destructive behaviors, bowing to your inner demons, or any other way that you might cause damage to yourself or others.
The card’s background is dark and bleak. There is no sign of light, the Devil dwells in the realm of shadow. Exploring your shadows and confronting your inner demons is crucial, because it’s when they are left to roam freely in the dark that they cause real issues. By bringing these parts of yourself to the light, you can learn to accept, heal and integrate them.
The goat’s feet are surrounded by orange and red flames, yet he does not burn. This tricky, treacherous fellow can walk through fire (maybe he’s even the one conjuring the blaze). He looks as though he wants to lure others with his wily ways. We’ve come to associate the force we call “the devil” with addiction, enslavement, and negative patterns. Once you become aware this energy is at work, you can begin to free ourselves.
The Devil Tarot Card Meanings in General
The Devil takes you into your inner shadows, as well as outer shadows. The Spacious Tarot depicts an ominous forest with trees almost positioned like prison bars – but a light on the horizon.
Many depictions of the Devil show a goat, or Baphomet. The first insinuation of goats being associated with the Devil comes from the bible: “When the Son of Man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations; and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats.”
But then in the Middle Ages things really got heated up when the collective folkloric vision of the Devil began to get mis-mashed with various beast-like pagan gods (including Pan, depicted as part man, part goat).
Fast forward to the 1800s and Elphias Levi created an image of Baphomet (a figure we don’t know much about, but which the Knights Templar were accused of worshipping in the middle ages). Levi had a more all encompassing vision of Baphomet, not as a figure of pure evil but more of a unity of radical opposites such as good and evil. The image of the Devil in the Rider Waite tarot was inspired by Levi’s depiction of Baphomet.
In the 1960s, the Church of Satan was founded and used Baphomet in their iconography. Thusly the image of Devil-as-goat has been firmly embedded in our cultural associations.
In a reading
The Devil card often draws your attention to where you feel trapped, restricted or blocked. In some cases, this bondage is caused by an external situation (a negative work environment, a toxic relationship and so on). But more often, these energies are manifesting internally. As such, it is important to willingly look at your inner demons: your secrets, your shames, your addictive tendencies.
This can seem quite heavy, but the truth is that simply acknowledging what is enslaving you is a hugely powerful step in finding liberation. Once you are able to clearly identify your demons, you can get to know them better and find appropriate ways to free yourself.
This card can also serve as a reminder to look for satisfaction beyond the material trappings of your life. It is natural to crave certain comforts of the flesh, but those passing things rarely bring you lasting fulfillment. The Devil asks you to look beyond the trappings of the material realm and make space also for the ethereal things that bring your life meaning.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Temperance :: Wild Unknown Tarot
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Temperance :: Wild Unknown Tarot
Deck Creator’s Keywords: healing, renewal, balance
Carrie’s Keywords: blending, moderation, balance
Begin or deepen your tarot studies with
Foundational Tarot, my free video course!
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Temperance Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
A heron stands with one wing outstretched as if to protect the orange flames in front of her. Blue water droplets descend to meet the flame, but neither destroys the other. The heron has a moderating effect over the seemingly contrasting elements.
Forces that seem to be opposites can be brought together with a blend of skill, patience and magic. This is the energy we see at work in the Temperance card. If left unchecked, fire and water will destroy each other. But in this image they get along beautifully.
I get a sense that the heron is moderating the flames and droplets. Through her influence, both are able to thrive in measured proportions. In this way, Temperance reminds you of your ability to moderate the energies at work around you. Through methods both mundane and magical, you can be an active force, you can influence the direction of the life force around you.
The Heron here knows that equilibrium is the key to well being. The background lines slant inwards to meet at the card’s center, adding to the sense of calm and balance in this card.
This card also hints at transformation. By bringing together different energies in just the right proportions, something wonderful can emerge. You can apply these lessons in the external world, but most importantly in your inner world. As a human being, you are naturally a mix of contradictions: love and anger, light and dark, pessimism and optimism.
Instead of gravitating towards extremes, Temperance represents your ability to work with ALL of your inner contradictions. You can create your own magic when you skillfully blend those contradicting elements of your psyche.
Temperance Tarot Card Meanings in General
Traditional depictions of this card show an angel standing with one foot in water, one foot on land. With a serene expression, the angel pours water between two cups. These are visual cues that represent themes of balance and moderation.
Temperance means making sure you do not have too much or too little of any one thing: creating balance is a common aim of various spiritual practices. We tapped into this notion with The Spacious Tarot Temperance card, showing that water and ice can come together to form smoke. Temperance also reminds us that balance does not have to mean everything is “equal.” Sometimes you need more fire than water or vice versa. Balance simply means that things are working together in harmony, not that they are rigidly divided into proportions. In this regard, Temperance shows that in a spiritual sense, balance is not a science but an art.
This card is sometimes associated with healing. In many alternative healing modalities, illness is considered to be a result of some type of imbalance in the body. Temperance shows the well-being we can experience when our bodies – and our minds – are “balanced.”
In a reading
It is essential to cultivate your awareness of what energies are at work around you. In a reading, Temperance may ask you to become aware of these energies. Is there too much or too little of one energy or another in your life? It may be time to consider how you can return to a sense of equilibrium.
Temperance also shows the power you gain when you embrace your contradictions. Instead of expecting yourself to fall into only one extreme way of being, let yourself be all that you are – even when those things seem to clash. You have the ability to temper all of your inner energies so that they work together to form a unique, powerful blend.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Death :: Wild Unknown Tarot Card Meanings
I’ve written interpretations for every card in the Wild Unknown Tarot. As the box of the deck states, there are no rights or wrongs. These are simply my perspectives on the tarot card meanings. I hope you find them useful!
Click here for a directory of all posts in my Wild Unknown series.
Deck Creator’s Keywords: necessary ending, closure, transformation
Carrie’s Keywords: closings, elimination, transformation
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Death Tarot Card Meanings in the Wild Unknown
There are no holds barred in this Death card. It’s a literal picture of decay, showing the fading remains of a deceased bird. The feathers show that what is now bones and dust was not so long ago vital and alive. ‘How can this be? It isn’t fair.’ We have countless questions with no satisfying answer. It just is.
The card is entirely black and white. The lack of color hones conveys what at first glance seems to be an inherent harshness. But the truth is, Death is not harsh. It seems that way to us because we are scared of what we can’t control or fathom. Death – not only physical death, but any matter of transformation – is an indiscriminate, sweeping force. It is unbiased, unattached, dispassionate.
There is a comfort in the impersonal quality of death. For all of our differences, for all of the strange and unique types of lifeforms in the world, we all will eventually meet death. Regardless of the clothes we wear or the personas we adopt, we are all subject to this inevitable energy.
Of course, this card means much more than literal physical death. We see the Death card and realize that some situations in our lives are beyond hope of having life breathed back into them. Relationships decay, friendships dissolve, careers are vanquished. Habits, thought patterns and beliefs are laid to rest.
Sometimes we choose our endings, but often they are unceremoniously forced upon us. We can try to deny, we can cling to situations even as they are rotting before us. But no amount of wishing and will-power can counteract the sweeping force of Death.
There is wisdom in respecting closures, and even embracing them. After the hollowness of winter comes the regeneration of Spring. After one chapter comes the next. We see these cycles repeated throughout nature, the universe, and our own psyches. Infinite deaths make way for infinite transformations.
Death Tarot Card Meanings in General
This card frequently features skeletons or grim reapers, physical representations of the concept of death (as seen in the Spacious Tarot Death card pictured above). In older decks this card did not have a title and is still sometimes referred to as the untitled arcanum. This card is given the number thirteen, a number which for various reasons has long been associated with ill omens.
In the Rider-Waite-Smith depiction, Death is upon a horse and has already trampled over a king. This reminds you that no matter what privileges you have in the earthly realm, you are still subject to swift endings. A priest makes an offering to Death, and a woman faints away at the site of Death. Only the child pictured in the card looks on at Death with openness and curiosity. This reminds you not to assume that endings are BAD. Sometimes endings seem brutal as they occur, but they pave the way for your next chapter.
The Rider-Waite-Smith depiction also shows a hint of the sun rising in the distance. This is a reminder that all of life is cyclical. Endings and transformations are just another part of life’s infinite cyclical dance.
In a reading
In a reading, this card does NOT need to be negative or scary! But it does pack a punch, and may ask you to dig into your shadow. Death might ask you to examine what changes, transformations or endings are currently at work for you.
From a personal growth standpoint, this card may particularly challenge you to confront what YOU need to end. If you’ve been entrenched in unhealthy patterns, if you’ve been keeping yourself in a situation you know is not good for you…it’s probably time to end that stuff once and for all.
Death is a part of life, and most deaths are metaphoric NOT literal. Remind yourself that we are all subject to these indiscriminate energies. There are times that you can enact your will to keep something going, but Death asks you to accept the times when endings are imminent.
Cultivate the belief that whatever transformations occur for you are making space for you to emerge into a fresh new chapter. Decaying material must be trimmed from plants in order for them to grow new life – in a metaphysical sense, you must also be willing to be pruned of what is dead in order for you to become more fully alive.
Hi, I'm Carrie!
I'm a tarot reader and mentor. My purpose is to encourage your expansion. If you're new, start here.
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2017
I am part of Amazon's associate program. If you purchase items linked in this site I will receive a small kick-back.
Carrie Mallon
Header art from The Spacious Tarot illustrated by Annie Ruygt
All site content © Carrie Mallon LLC 2014-2019
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