Category: Tarot Cards

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Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Four Suits 002

This article continues my series examining the Tarot de Marseille, and begins to introduce the four suits or Lesser Arcana. Like the series on the trumps, it is adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Pip Cards: The Four Suits

Having considered the nature and behaviour of the four elements, we turn our attention to the suits’ eikōns which reveal their individual essences and functions.

The Suit of Swords

The suit of Swords is often regarded as one of the most troubling within the Tarot.

Modern interpretations frequently associate it with intellect, communication, and the rational mind. Whilst such meanings may have their place elsewhere, they arise only indirectly from the sword itself. A sword is first and foremost a weapon. It exists to impose force upon the world.

Lequart (Paris), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Essence: Force.
Function: Attack and Defend.

As the elemental representative of Fire, the suit concerns activity, power, conflict, and the ability to impose one’s will. Fire is penetrating, transformative, and discriminating. Likewise, the sword cuts, separates, and divides.

Traditionally, Fire was associated with the Sun and Mars. The Sun contributes vitality, authority, leadership, and the power to command, whilst Mars provides courage, aggression, competition, and the willingness to act decisively.

The suit governs conflict, authority, law, criminality, danger, competition, officialdom, defence, illness, immunity, separation, and decisive action. Anatomically, it is associated with the elimination system.

Ultimately, the suit of Swords concerns force in all its forms. Whether that force protects or destroys depends upon the circumstances and the cards around it.

Swords at a Glance

Essence: Force.
Function: Attack and Defend.
Element: Fire.
Direction: East.
Season: Spring.
Planetary Associations: Sun and Mars.
Basic Significations: Authority, conflict, competition, danger, separation, bureaucracy, law, criminality, official matters, pressure, illness, immunity, decisive action, challenge, force.
Yes/No: No.

The Suit of Cups

The suit of Cups is often reduced to love, emotions, and romance. Whilst such matters undoubtedly belong to the suit, they represent only part of a much broader principle. Cups concern those people, places, and institutions that sustain us, provide us with fellowship, and give us a sense of being at home in the world.

Lequart (Paris), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Essence: Belonging.
Function: Contain.

As the elemental representative of Air, Cups embody the most life-affirming of the four elements. Air is formed through the union of heat and moisture. It is active, expansive, adaptive, and unifying.

Traditionally, Air was associated with Jupiter and Venus, the Greater and Lesser Benefics. Together they promote harmony, fellowship, generosity, mercy, and mutual support.

The corresponding temperament is the sanguine, characterised by curiosity, forgiveness, sociability, affection, and mercy.

The symbolism of the cup reinforces these meanings. We keep our cups within the home and do not ordinarily share them with strangers. A cup implies familiarity, trust, welcome, and participation.

The suit concerns family, friendship, marriage, hospitality, faith, religion, community, fellowship, belonging, and shared identity. It governs those things that make life meaningful rather than merely possible.

The suit is often associated with feelings, but not emotions. Emotions occur throughout all four suits. Cups concern the conscious experiences of attachment, affection, loyalty, mercy, and belonging.

In matters of health, the suit governs the cardiopulmonary, circulatory, and endocrine systems.

Ultimately, Cups pertain to all essence that touch on where we feel we belong and are safe.

Cups at a Glance

Essence: Belonging.
Function: Contain.
Element: Air.
Direction: North.
Season: Autumn.
Planetary Associations: Jupiter and Venus.
Basic Significations: Family, friendship, marriage, partners, faith, religion, fellowship, community, hospitality, emotional support, shared identity, belonging, home, pets.
Yes/No: Yes.

The Suit of Coins

The suit of Coins is often reduced to money, wealth, and possessions. Whilst such matters certainly belong to the suit, they represent only part of a much wider principle. Coins concern the resources that enable life to function and flourish.

Lequart (Paris), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Essence: Resources.
Function: Exchange.

As the elemental representative of water, Coins concern the aggregation, preservation, and circulation of resources.

Traditionally, Water was associated with the Moon and Venus. The Moon governs growth, nourishment, fertility, and resource management, whilst Venus governs prosperity, comfort, and exchange.

Consequently, Coins tell us what is available to us and how effectively those resources are being employed. The suit concerns money, property, food, health, transport, commerce, expertise, access, opportunities, and material wellbeing.

Money behaves much like water itself. It flows. When resources circulate correctly they nourish individuals and communities. When they stagnate, difficulties soon arise.

The suit also possesses strong associations with merchants, trade, travel, shipping, transportation, and professional expertise. Wherever value is exchanged, Coins are present.

In matters of health, the suit governs the brain and lymphatic system, both of which distribute and regulate resources throughout the body.

Ultimately, the suit of Coins concerns the means by which life is sustained and improved. It asks: What resources are available, and how are they being used?

Coins at a Glance

Essence: Resources.
Function: Exchange.
Element: Water.
Direction: West.
Season: Summer.
Planetary Associations: Moon and Venus.
Basic Significations: Money, income, property, trade, commerce, travel, opportunities, wellbeing, expertise, professionals, services, material support, access, prosperity, resources.
Yes/No: Maybe.

The Suit of Batons

The suit of Batons is often associated with work, activity, and practical affairs. Whilst these themes certainly belong to the suit, they arise from a deeper principle. Unlike the other suits, the baton is not fashioned from metal or coinage, nor is it a vessel. It is a piece of the natural world itself.

Lequart (Paris), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Essence: Support.
Function: Sustain.

As the elemental representative of Earth, Batons embody stability, endurance, and persistence.

Traditionally, Earth was associated with Saturn and Mercury. Saturn contributes responsibility, perseverance, and endurance, whilst Mercury supplies practical skill, adaptability, and everyday competence.

The baton itself is a support. A staff assists the traveller, bears weight, and aids movement. For this reason, the suit is associated with practical assistance, service, maintenance, labour, and support.

Unlike Coins, which represent specialised knowledge and resources, Batons concern practical effort and hands-on assistance. Carers, cleaners, labourers, maintenance workers, agricultural workers, and similar professions naturally belong here.

The suit also governs nature, husbandry, agriculture, forestry, conservation, neighbours, colleagues, and local communities. These are the everyday support networks upon which society depends.

The darker side of the suit includes drudgery, stagnation, exhaustion, overwork, and excessive responsibility.

In matters of health, Batons govern the skeletal system, connective tissues, joints, and the body’s supporting structures.

Ultimately, Batons concern the systems of support that allow life to continue.

Batons at a Glance:

Essence: Support.
Function: Sustain.
Element: Earth.
Direction: South.
Season: Winter.
Planetary Associations: Saturn and Mercury.
Basic Significations: Work, labour, duty, practical assistance, neighbours, colleagues, maintenance, husbandry, agriculture, nature, perseverance, responsibility, support networks, endurance.
Yes/No: Unlikely.

A Note on Positive, Negative and Neutral

It is now quite fashionable to dismiss the idea of positive, neutral and negative cards. However, such a stance simply reflects a misunderstanding of the terms and their usage.

The terms positive, negative, and neutral should not be understood as moral judgements. Nor do they correspond exactly to benefic and malefic influences.

Rather, they describe a card’s capacity to facilitate or impede developments.

Positive cards help things move forward. Negative cards obstruct, delay, terminate, or diminish. Neutral cards possess the capacity to do either depending upon context.

Thus, Death is not evil, yet it ends. The Hanged Man is not wicked, yet he suspends progress. Likewise, Swords sever and divide.

By contrast, Cups facilitate. As the hot and moist element, Air creates the conditions in which life and relationships may flourish. Similarly, the Sun illuminates and the Pope offers wisdom and guidance.

Neutral cards occupy a middle position. The Emperor’s control may be exercised wisely or badly. The Wheel of Fortune changes circumstances but remains indifferent to whether those changes are good or bad.

The same principle applies to the suits. Coins possess resources and thus make things possible, whilst Batons require effort and labour and therefore indicate that something is achievable only through sustained work.

Positive, negative, and neutral therefore describe facilitation rather than morality.

§

Tarot Cards: Arnoult Tarot, Lequart (Paris), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])

References:

Whilst this article reflects my own interpretations and experience of working with the cards, the principle sources and references that informed its development and the text are provided below for the interested reader.

Augustine and Pine-Coffin, R.S. (2003) Confessions. London, England: Penguin Books.
Saint Augustine of Hippo and Bettenson, H. (2004) City of God. Penguin Books.
Carvalho, H.A. de and Ribeiro, L. (2010) On the heavenly spheres: A treatise on traditional astrology. Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Benedict et al. (1981) RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
Catholic Truth Society, Catechism of the Catholic Church (2016). London: Catholic Truth Society.
Decker, R., Depaulis, T. and Dummett, M. (2002) A Wicked Pack of Cards: The Origins of the Occult Tarot. London: Duckworth.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume I: Daily Prayer for Advent and Christmastide & Weeks 1-9. HarperCollins UK.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume II: Daily Prayer for Lent and Eastertide. HarperCollins UK.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume III: Daily Prayer for Weeks 6-34 of the Church Year. HarperCollins UK.
Farley, H. (2009) A cultural history of Tarot: From entertainment to esotericism. London: I.B. Tauris.
Ficino, M., Kaske, C.V. and Clark, J.R. (2019) Three Books on Life. Tempe, AZ: Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Ficinus, M. and Voss, A. (2009) Marsilio Ficino Edited and Introduced by Angela Voss. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books.
Frawley, J. (2001) The Real Astrology. London: Apprentice.
Frawley, J. (2002) The Real Astrology Applied: Teachings from the ‘Astrologer’s Apprentice’. London: Apprentice.
Frawley, J. (2011) The Horary textbook. London: Apprentice Books.
Giorgi, R., Zuffi, S. and Giammanco Frongia, R.M. (2005) Angels and Demons in Art. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum.
Jodorowsky, A., Costa, M. and Graham, J.E. (2009) The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards. Rochester, Vt: Destiny Books.
Jones, A. (1974) The Jerusalem Bible. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
Jones, M.D.W. (2008) The Counter Reformation: Religion and Society in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge England: Cambridge University Press.
McHugh, J.A., Callan, C.J. and Pius (2017) Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests: Issued by order of Pope Pius V. Charlotte, NC: TAN Books.
Nees, L. (2002) Early Medieval Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nouwen, H.J.M. (2007) Behold the beauty of the lord: Praying with icons. Notre Dame, Ind: Ave Maria Press.
Ptolemaeus, C. and Robbins, F.E. (2001) Tetrabiblos. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
Silvestre, C.H. (1987) ABC des Tarots. Paris: Marabout.
Silvestre, C. (2004) Le Tarot Qui Guérit. Paris: Éd. Trajectoire.
Silvestre, C. (2013) La Roue Astrologique et le Tarot. Escalquens: Éd. Trajectoire.
Silvestre, C. (2016) Rencontre des Arcanes Majeurs et Mineurs du Tarot de Marseille: 1232 Associations Interprétées. Escalquens: Grancher éditions.
Silvestre, C. (2016a) Les 21 Portes des Arcanes du Tarot de Marseille et d’Oswald Wirth. Paris: Éditions Exergue.
Thomas (2018) Summa Theologica: Complete in a Single Volume. Claremont, CA: Coyote Canyon Press.
Unger, T. (1994) Le tarot, Jeu du Gouvernement du Monde: Éclairer votre regard, Choisir Votre partenaire, réussir l’entreprise. Paris: Montorgueil.
Valens, V. and Riley, M.T. (2022) The Anthology. Denver, CO: Amor Fati Publications.
Williams, B. (2003) A Renaissance Tarot: A Guide to the Renaissance Tarot. U.S. Games Systems.

Posted on

Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Four Suits 001

This article continues my series examining the Tarot de Marseille, and begins to introduce the four suits or Lesser Arcana. Like the series on the trumps, it is adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Pip Cards: The Four Suits

Having examined the trumps, we now turn our attention to the remaining fifty-six cards of the Tarot, collectively known as the Pips or Lesser Arcana.

Unlike the trumps, which depict allegorical figures and scenes, the pip cards are divided into four suits. These suits correspond to the four elements and represent the ordinary affairs of life through which the principles illustrated by the trumps manifest themselves. Whilst the trumps reveal universal forces and conditions, the pips describe how those forces express themselves within everyday experience.

The fifty-six pip cards are divided into four suits:

ItalianFrenchEnglishElement
SpadeÉpéesSwordsFire
CoppeCouplesCupsAir
DenariDeniersCoinsWater
BastoniBâtonsBatonsEarth

This order is not arbitrary. It follows the traditional arrangement of the four elements within the sublunar sphere. According to classical cosmology, Fire occupied the highest position nearest the celestial spheres, followed by Air, then Water, with Earth at the centre of the material world. Since the suits correspond to these elements, they are presented here in the same order.

L0006599 Albertus Magnus. Philosphia naturalis
Credit: Wellcome Library, London. Wellcome Images
images@wellcome.ac.uk
http://wellcomeimages.org
Diagram of Earth, Sun and Planets.
Philosophia naturalis
Albertus Magnus
Published: 1506

Copyrighted work available under Creative Commons Attribution only licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Each suit contains fourteen cards, giving a total of fifty-six. Ten of these are numbered cards progressing from Ace through Ten. The remaining four are the Court Cards: the Valet, Knight, Queen, and King.

The numbered cards describe situations, conditions, developments, and experiences.

Their meanings arise from the interaction between number and element. The Court Cards, by contrast, frequently signify people, social roles, characteristic behaviours, and the ways in which individuals express the qualities of a suit.

Before examining the individual cards, however, it is necessary to understand the elemental foundations upon which the suits are built. The four suits do not exist independently of one another. Rather, they arise from the interaction of Fire, Air, Water, and Earth, the four elements long regarded as the building blocks of the created world. It is to these elements that we must now turn.

The Four Elements

Throughout the Middle Ages, the Aristotelian understanding of the four elements dominated European thought. The elements were not regarded as substances in the modern scientific sense, but as combinations of fundamental qualities through which the natural world was understood. Fire, air, water, and earth explained not merely physical processes, but temperament, behaviour, medicine, agriculture, and cosmology.

A proper understanding of the four elements therefore depends less upon the elements themselves than upon the qualities from which they arise. To understand an element, one must first understand its nature and cause.

The four elements arise from the interaction of four primary qualities: heat, cold, dryness, and moisture.

Of these qualities, heat and cold are primary and active, whilst dryness and moisture are secondary and passive. Dryness and moisture arise through the interaction of heat and cold and modify their expression.

  • Heat is light, expansive, dynamic, and centrifugal. It seeks movement, activity, and expression.
  • Cold is heavy, contractive, still, and centripetal. It seeks stability, preservation, and containment.
  • Dryness is hard, structural, resistant, and defining. It creates boundaries and distinctions.
  • Moisture is adaptive, cohesive, yielding, and unifying. It joins, blends, and accommodates.

Each of the four elements is formed through the union of one active quality and one passive quality.

Fire

Fire arises from the union of heat and dryness. It is active, forceful, and self-projecting. Fire discriminates, transforms, and imposes itself upon its surroundings.

Air

Air arises from the union of heat and moisture. It is mobile, flexible, and life-giving. Air transports, connects, and adapts, bringing movement and exchange wherever it goes.

Water

Water arises from the union of cold and moisture. It is receptive, adaptive, and conserving. Water gathers, nourishes, and irrigates. It seeks cohesion and continuity rather than expansion.

Earth

Earth arises from the union of cold and dryness. It is stable, enduring, and resistant. Earth preserves structure, establishes boundaries, and provides permanence.

Elemental Relationships

The traditional symbols of the four elements are represented by triangles.

The two upright triangles represent the active elements: Air and Fire. Both derive their primary nature from heat and therefore possess an outward, expansive mode of operation.

The two inverted triangles represent the passive elements: Water and Earth. Both derive their primary nature from cold and therefore possess an inward, conserving mode of operation.

Elements sharing the same primary quality possess the same mode and are therefore naturally harmonious. Fire and Air are friendly to one another, as are Water and Earth.

Elements sharing a secondary quality differ in mode but possess points of commonality. They neither reinforce one another nor oppose each other strongly and may therefore be regarded as neutral. Fire and Earth share dryness; Air and Water share moisture.

Elements sharing no qualities are fundamentally opposed. Fire and Water neutralise one another, whilst Air and Earth likewise stand in opposition.

Thus, friendly elements appear alongside one another, neutral elements touch, and inimical elements confront one another across the elemental scheme.

§

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])

References:

Whilst this article reflects my own interpretations and experience of working with the cards, the principle sources and references that informed its development and the text are provided below for the interested reader.

Augustine and Pine-Coffin, R.S. (2003) Confessions. London, England: Penguin Books.
Saint Augustine of Hippo and Bettenson, H. (2004) City of God. Penguin Books.
Carvalho, H.A. de and Ribeiro, L. (2010) On the heavenly spheres: A treatise on traditional astrology. Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Benedict et al. (1981) RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
Catholic Truth Society, Catechism of the Catholic Church (2016). London: Catholic Truth Society.
Decker, R., Depaulis, T. and Dummett, M. (2002) A Wicked Pack of Cards: The Origins of the Occult Tarot. London: Duckworth.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume I: Daily Prayer for Advent and Christmastide & Weeks 1-9. HarperCollins UK.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume II: Daily Prayer for Lent and Eastertide. HarperCollins UK.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume III: Daily Prayer for Weeks 6-34 of the Church Year. HarperCollins UK.
Farley, H. (2009) A cultural history of Tarot: From entertainment to esotericism. London: I.B. Tauris.
Ficino, M., Kaske, C.V. and Clark, J.R. (2019) Three Books on Life. Tempe, AZ: Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Ficinus, M. and Voss, A. (2009) Marsilio Ficino Edited and Introduced by Angela Voss. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books.
Frawley, J. (2001) The Real Astrology. London: Apprentice.
Frawley, J. (2002) The Real Astrology Applied: Teachings from the ‘Astrologer’s Apprentice’. London: Apprentice.
Frawley, J. (2011) The Horary textbook. London: Apprentice Books.
Giorgi, R., Zuffi, S. and Giammanco Frongia, R.M. (2005) Angels and Demons in Art. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum.
Jodorowsky, A., Costa, M. and Graham, J.E. (2009) The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards. Rochester, Vt: Destiny Books.
Jones, A. (1974) The Jerusalem Bible. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
Jones, M.D.W. (2008) The Counter Reformation: Religion and Society in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge England: Cambridge University Press.
McHugh, J.A., Callan, C.J. and Pius (2017) Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests: Issued by order of Pope Pius V. Charlotte, NC: TAN Books.
Nees, L. (2002) Early Medieval Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nouwen, H.J.M. (2007) Behold the beauty of the lord: Praying with icons. Notre Dame, Ind: Ave Maria Press.
Ptolemaeus, C. and Robbins, F.E. (2001) Tetrabiblos. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
Silvestre, C.H. (1987) ABC des Tarots. Paris: Marabout.
Silvestre, C. (2004) Le Tarot Qui Guérit. Paris: Éd. Trajectoire.
Silvestre, C. (2013) La Roue Astrologique et le Tarot. Escalquens: Éd. Trajectoire.
Silvestre, C. (2016) Rencontre des Arcanes Majeurs et Mineurs du Tarot de Marseille: 1232 Associations Interprétées. Escalquens: Grancher éditions.
Silvestre, C. (2016a) Les 21 Portes des Arcanes du Tarot de Marseille et d’Oswald Wirth. Paris: Éditions Exergue.
Thomas (2018) Summa Theologica: Complete in a Single Volume. Claremont, CA: Coyote Canyon Press.
Unger, T. (1994) Le tarot, Jeu du Gouvernement du Monde: Éclairer votre regard, Choisir Votre partenaire, réussir l’entreprise. Paris: Montorgueil.
Valens, V. and Riley, M.T. (2022) The Anthology. Denver, CO: Amor Fati Publications.
Williams, B. (2003) A Renaissance Tarot: A Guide to the Renaissance Tarot. U.S. Games Systems.

Posted on

Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate: The Excuse

This article continues my series examining the trumps of the Tarot de Marseille, adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Excuse: the Madman or the Fool

Le Mat, also known as Le Fou, the Madman or the Fool, is perhaps the most misunderstood figure in the Tarot. Is he the free spirit celebrated by modern Tarot writers, embarking upon a new adventure filled with endless possibilities? Does he represent originality, spontaneity, and fresh beginnings? Or is he something far less flattering and considerably more cautionary?

Unlike the other trumps, Le Mat bears neither a number nor a fixed position within the sequence. Historically, he occupied a unique status within the game itself. He was not a trump at all, but an excuse, a special card exempt from the ordinary rules governing play. This peculiar position reflects his character perfectly. The Madman stands outside the established order, exempt from the constraints that govern others, yet at the same time deprived of the protections that those constraints provide.

The traditional eikōn depicts a traveller carrying a staff and bundle over his shoulder. His clothing is worn and ragged, suggesting a life of wandering and instability. Behind him an animal claws at his hose, tearing at his garments as he moves forward. Whilst later traditions often interpret the creature as a dog, the Marseille image frequently appears more feline in character. This detail is significant.

The essence of the Madman is folly; his function is to derail.

The Madman is not a sage, nor a visionary, nor a misunderstood genius. He is precisely what his title suggests: a fool. He represents the self functioning without reason and therefore without Wisdom. If the Pope embodies Wisdom, the Hermit Prudence, and Justice Verity, the Madman stands at the opposite end of the spectrum. He acts without proper reflection, pursues desires without discernment, and mistakes impulse for freedom.

The animal at his heels provides an important clue. In medieval and early modern folklore, cats shared many symbolic associations with the fox. Both were linked with cunning, falsity, deceit, laziness, and treachery. The famous Tybalt, prince of cats, was regarded as the cousin of Renard the Fox, both belonging to a tradition in which animal figures embodied vice and moral weakness. That the creature attacks the Madman unnoticed is significant. He proceeds as though nothing is wrong. His folly lies not merely in poor judgement, but in his inability to recognise danger even when it is already upon him.

For this reason, we must question the modern tendency to associate the card with originality, new beginnings, or taking a leap of faith. Nothing in the image suggests a promising commencement. The Madman has no destination, no plan, and no evident purpose. Unlike the Hermit, whose lantern illuminates the next step, the Madman simply wanders. His movement lacks direction because it lacks discernment.

At a deeper level, the card warns against moral blindness. The Madman is governed by preference rather than principle, impulse rather than reason. In modern terms, one might speak of relativism: the belief that truth is subjective and that every choice is equally valid provided it satisfies the individual. The Madman embodies the dangers of such thinking. Without objective standards by which to judge our actions, we become incapable of distinguishing wisdom from folly or good from evil. We drift wherever circumstances and appetites happen to lead us.

This explains why the card so often appears when a person is attempting too many things at once, lacking commitment, or refusing to accept guidance. The old saying that one may become a jack of all trades and master of none belongs firmly within the Madman’s domain. Energy is expended, but little is accomplished. Activity substitutes for direction.

When Le Mat appears in a reading, he frequently indicates rashness, stupidity, poor judgement, selfishness, and a refusal to listen to good advice. The querent may be acting impulsively, avoiding responsibility, or persisting in a course of action that sensible reflection would abandon. At other times the card warns that another person involved in the matter is behaving in precisely this manner. In either case, the result is the same: plans are disrupted, opportunities squandered, and progress derailed.

The Madman reminds us that freedom without reason is not freedom at all. Left unguided by Wisdom and Prudence, we become vulnerable to every impulse, every distraction, and every passing whim. The card therefore serves as a warning: before taking the next step, one must first ask whether one truly knows where the path leads.

Because Le Mat is an excuse rather than a trump, he can sometimes lack specificity in a reading. We know that folly is present, but not necessarily the form it takes. In such instances, it is often useful to cover the Madman with another card. This allows us to “name and shame” him. The covering card identifies the nature of the foolishness, whether that be the Juggler’s cunning, the Lover’s vacillation, the Devil’s enslavement, or some other defect. The Madman remains the underlying problem; the second card merely reveals its particular expression.

General: Poor judgement, rash decisions, and a failure to heed good advice lead to setbacks, complications, and unnecessary difficulties. The card often appears when the querent is repeating old mistakes or acting without proper consideration of the consequences. Selfishness, impulsiveness, and hot-headed behaviour undermine otherwise promising opportunities. Cave canem — or rather, cave felem.

Love: The Madman has an unfortunate tendency to derail and destabilise relationships. Poor judgement, boredom, and an unwillingness to take responsibility can encourage one partner to look elsewhere or make reckless decisions. Competing commitments and misplaced priorities place additional strain upon the relationship. For those seeking love, opportunities certainly exist, but they are seldom built upon stable foundations. Expectations often differ and one or both parties may be ignoring obvious warning signs. If reconciliation is under consideration, the Madman advises extreme caution. Whatever caused the original difficulties is unlikely to have changed.

Career: The Madman is associated with casual work, undeclared employment, drifters, and individuals lacking a clear professional direction. More commonly, however, he signifies dissatisfaction and poor judgement within one’s career. The temptation to resign impulsively, neglect responsibilities, arrive late, leave early, or take unnecessary risks can be difficult to resist. The card warns that actions have consequences. For job seekers, the Madman frequently indicates unrealistic expectations, inadequate preparation, or applications for positions beyond one’s qualifications or experience. A more honest assessment of the situation is required.

Finance: Financial difficulties often arise through poor planning and unwise decisions. The card may signify borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, living beyond one’s means, or ignoring financial realities until they become unavoidable. Assistance is available, but the querent is unlikely to resolve matters alone. The Madman advises honesty, humility, and a willingness to learn from previous mistakes.

Health: The Madman frequently warns of injuries caused by poor judgement, carelessness, or unnecessary risk-taking. Accidents involving vehicles, tools, sport, or simple inattention may occur. The card also possesses a notable association with animals, including dog bites, cat scratches, falls from horses, insect bites, and similar incidents. Occasionally, seemingly minor injuries may result in longer-term complications.

Essence: Folly.
Function: Derail.
Polarity: Negative.
Astrological Association: None.
Timing: None.

§

Tarot Cards: Jean Dodal Tarot via Wikipedia Commons. Public Domain.

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])