Journal of a Cartomante

10 March, 20212 August, 2026

The Water and the Wind: Elemental Dignities 001

The World with its four elements we see;
Within, a naked Goddess dances free.
The water and the wind, the earth and the fire,
All That which doth beyond them all aspire.
Doreen Valiente, The Tarot Trumps

THE first tarot cards I saw was an early Ancien Tarot de Marseille. The first tarot cards I owned was the Caroline Smith and John Astrop The Elemental Tarot.

Smith-Astrop’s cards proved influential to my approach to tarot and cartomancy. These cards provided me with an introduction and understanding of the four elements – and what is called elemental dignities, the topic of this article.

Here will will focus on the the suits (pips) and elemental triads. The second article, released next week, will look at the courts. I do not associate the trumps and Fool cardwith the elements. The reason is as follows:

Cards related to the twelve celestial houses (signs in modern parlance) would have a specific elemental attributes, but their planetary counterparts do not. The planets inhabit the seven spheres between the sphere of the firmament and the sphere of the elements. Thus, planets themselves, and primum mobile (zodiac), exist above the elemental sphere and therefore cannot be conflated with the temporal energies.

The Four Qualities

From the Middle Ages, the Aristotelian conception of the elements have proven dominant with each one being the product of four qualities: heat, coldness, dryness and moisture. Few, however, followed Aristotle in his assertion that air is primarily wet and water primarily cold.

Of these four attributes, heat and coldness are active, or primary; dryness and moisture are passive and secondary, arising from the toing and froing between the heat and coldness. Coldness is heavy, slow, and centripetal whereas heat is light, fast, and centrifugal. Dryness is hard and resistant, and wetness is malleable and slippery.

Each element is formed through the interaction between one of the primary qualities (heat and coldness), and one of the secondary qualities (moisture and dryness). For example, water arises through the interaction of coldness and moisture. It is slow, introverted and receptive (cold) but adaptable, flowing, and irrigating (moisture).

From the union of heat and dryness, we see fire. Air arises from a mixture of heat and moisture. Elemental earth is formed through a mixture of coldness and dryness.

Elemental Relationships

In the diagram below we can see the traditional triangular emblems for the elements.

The two upright triangles represent the two active elements, air (yellow) and fire (red). Both elements derive from the primary quality heat.

The two inverted triangles denote the passive elements, water (blue) and earth (green). Coldness is the primary quality of both these elements which passive.

Elements that share the same primary modality (fire/air and water/earth) have the same mode (active or passive) and are friendly.
However, elements that share the same secondary quality (either moisture and dryness) will have a differing mode but are not incompatible, acting in a nonpartisan manner and are thus neutral. These are fire/earth and air/water.
Those elements that have no shared qualities are inimical to each other. These (fire/water and air/earth) neutralise.

You can see this in the diagram above: friendly elements are placed horizontally next to each other; neutral elements touch vertically; inimical elements face each other diagonally.

Elemental Dignities

The aforementioned relationship that exists between the elements is the basis of elemental dignities.

First outlined by MacGregor Mathers, in his typology for Book T, the theory was devised to determine prominent cards and those which were immaterial within the reading.

Over time, elemental dignities have been interpreted as indicative of beneficence and sometimes also conflated with reversals. Whether this stance has merit is dependent on the cartomante; it is not, however, consistent with the concept of dignity.

Dignity neither refers to goodness nor inversion but instead to how congenial the environment is for the element to function. In an environment contrary to its own nature, elements can become chaotic and unsteady and struggle to manage its affairs. The greater the difference the less operative the element can be. Should the element be dignified one will find a more constructive and stable expression.

Elemental Triads

Mathers’ instructions centres on interpreting cards in lines vis-à-vis counting, and as in classical cartomancy, reading the card in conjunction with those either side. These flanking cards are the conditions the central card’s (element) finds itself, e.g. its dignity. Dependent upon the cards’ elemental attributions we can find cards overcome, neutralised, strengthened and counterbalanced.

For example, three cards fall on the table. The centre card is an air card. On its left, we have a fire card. To the right, an earth card. The air card is moderately robust. Fire and earth share the same secondary quality (dry) and are thus create a neutral environment. However, as earth is contrary to air, that will lessen the central card’s dignity, or strength to act.

Should the cartomante find three fire cards together, then the central card is essentially dignified and therefore operative and strong. Such dignity, however, does not encroach on concepts of beneficence or associations derived from cards being upright. Although the cards are strong and very active, both context and individual cards will determine if this is for good or otherwise.

I have two examples below. I have utilized readings done with the Smith-Waite and the Crowley-Harris tarots. The elemental associations are: wands = fire; cups = water; swords = air; pentacles and disks = earth. I do not agree with these associations; however, they accepted by many Anglo-Saxons. THus for the sake of clarity we will utilise decks that conform to that model. The spread is the line of three.

Smith-Waite Tarot

Tarot Cards © Rider/Waddington Playing Card Co Lt (1971)

Here we have two water cards (cups) flanking a fire card (wands). Neither water nor fire shares any of the same primary qualities and is therefore antagonistic. As water cards are dominant, the central card is without dignity and consequently neutralised (evaporated).

The client in question, a former colleague of mine, had asked whether she would be able to pursue a promotion soon. Despite being very keen on progressing at the time of the reading, that ardour cools in the cards (the active card is neutralised). I said that although an opportunity will arise (wands active), but the contented life and good working partnerships she has will see her less keen to move on as other areas in her life develop themselves (water passive).

Not long after the reading, she was encouraged to pursue a secondment in another division (the Three of Wands) but was not keen to leave the division and group (Two and Ten of Cups). Shortly after that she began a new relationship and found promotion less of an aspiration.

Harris-Crowley Tarot

Aleister Crowley® Thoth Tarot © AGM AGMüller (1986).

Now we have three cards of three differing elements. The central card is a water card flanked by an air and earth card (Five of Swords and Two of Disks). Air and earth are contrary to each other, as air is light and subjective and earth is heavy and objective, and under MacGregor Mathers’ system would be ignored, as the two cards are neutralised. Ignoring certain cards is not something I would advocate.

The client in question had asked whether her boyfriend would return, and the cards’ response is negative. Any reconciliation is thwarted by the shifting ground, precluding any idea of how it would be realized, with the result being an unhappy timidity where it is all just too much.

In Crowley’s writings, both swords and disks are the children of wands and cups and represent their duality as warring siblings. Although both cups and earth are friendly, they are passive, and the central card becomes moderately strong, but the inherent nature of the Eight of Cups is a failure due to the inability of knowing how to act. It was beyond the client’s ability, or her own resources, to move towards a place where reconciliation was, and it never occurred.

As you can see, elemental dignities do not change the cards meanings (as in reversals) or define them as positive and negative. Elemental dignities concern solely how cards are poised to function.

Crowley, A. (1976). The Book of Thoth: A Short Essay on the Tarot of the Egyptians. New York: Weiser.
Dykes, B. (2011). Traditional Astrology for Today. Minneapolis, Minn.: Cazimi Press.
Peach, E. (1988). Tarot for Tomorrow. 1st ed. Wellingborough: Aquarian Press.
Smith, C. and Astrop, J. (1988). Elemental Tarot. 1st ed. [London]: Viking.

3 March, 202127 June, 2026

The Lives We Lived in Each Day

BELIEF in reincarnation and karma have become extremely popular in the West. Of course, the belief in karma and reincarnation are ancient; they have been part of the teachings of Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism and Buddhism for over a millennia. Interest in the West is relatively new beginning with the rise of theosophy.

Since the late 1990s, readers have often been consulted about issues related to past lives, karma and incarnated purposes. Quite often, these seekers are looking for an explanation for problems that are firmly of this life. However, others have more interesting queries.

The cartomante was consultanted by such a seeker in the summer. In her question, the client had explained that she had been involved in a whirlwind relationship. Within less than four months, they had become engaged and were living together. There were plans to start a family. Her friends and family felt it was all too soon. Our querent, however, said it was as if they had done it all before. Did she and her fiancé share a past connection?

Different opinions exist on reincarnation; various methods of analysis are also endorsed. On the subject itself, my own opinions are irrelevant. My preferred method is one outlined by Teresa Michelsen in Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads. Having worked with the spread over some time, one has observed that it often explains connections or trends – through the lens of reincarnation – in a manner that is intelligible and relatable. It does not, however, prove such links exist.

The Spread

To perform this reading, first remove the Fool card and then shuffle the remaining 77-cards. Once done, you deal nine-cards face down. The cartomante must now shuffle the Fool into these nine-cards and then deal them in a classical 3×3 or carré :

01 – 02 – 03

04 – 05 – 06

07 – 08 – 09

When the Fool card appears, the next card is dealt on it. Should the Fool appear last, one can (in my experience) be sure there is no such “connection.”

Cards 1 – 3 describe the present incarnation, with the first card being the circumstances of the end of this life. The remaining six cards are past incarnations with card nine being the oldest incarnation. The carré thus moves – left to right, top to bottom – backwards in time.

For this spread, one always utilises either the Ancestral Path Tarot or the Tarot of the Ages. The former is used here. Created by the extremely talented artist, Julie Cuccia-Watts, the lesser arcana is divided into the four continents: Africa, America, Asia and Europe. There is an inherent quality and balance that lends itself to such readings.

The Reading

The cards as they fell:

The Fool was the eighth card dealt indicating that the seeker and her fiancé had spent several lifetimes together. Cards to the Fool’s right can be ignored. We start with the card that covers the Fool then proceed upwards, moving right to the left.

The Fool/Ten of Staves: In the Ancestral Path, staves depict the continent of Africa, and we see, on this card, a mother with two children. In this lifetime, the seeker and fiancé share a parent-child bond and learned lessons connected to shared responsibility, support and the importance of family. It was not an easy life, but as it is upright, it is not one that necessarily proved difficult for the souls.

VI – The Lovers: Next, the souls incarnated as a couple. If we consider the card, there was a strong bond built on a foundation of mutual respect, understanding and love. As a trump, this is a life that proved significant in the souls’ development and a happy one.

X – The Wheel of Fortune: The Wheel of Fortune illustrates the zodiac and helical phases of the planets. Here, the souls incarnate together one more time. At this point, they have completed a specific series of lessons and move on to new a cycle.

Prince of Cups, reversed: In a more recent lifetime, the fiancé incarnates in Europe. He sets out on his quest with idealism and vigour. However, the lifetime proves challenging, and answers allude him, with the reversal pointing towards unresolved issues.

Queen of Sacred Circles: In contrast, the querent finds herself in the Americas, where she lived a long, happy life taking on the role of matriarch within her family. There was a relative comfort here with the soul finding the lifetime rewarding. Interestingly, within the Ancestral Path Tarot system, this is the card associated with the seeker’s current birthdate.

Three of Cups, reversed: We now enter the present lifetime. The card portrays Arthur, Gwenhwyfar, and Lancelot. It is clear that this is a moment of reconnection; however, the reversal shows that this was fuelled by a sense of being lost, being misunderstood and isolated or lonely.

Two of Cups: Looking at the cards, it is clear that this is the present moment. The seeker and her fiancé are drawn together due to their bond, with eyes only for each other. There is a mirroring between this card and the Lovers as the souls become lost in each other.

Ace of Cups, reversed: Aces in this system are the culmination points. Traditionally, this is the home. Reversed, it shows that the souls are unlikely to realise their lessons and places when the current incarnations close. It cannot be stressed this in itself does not necessarily occur to their reconnection; however, their current preoccupation with each other may be detracting from different areas of their development.

There we have the past life connection reading. Generally, one can use it as a springboard to probe more deeply into specific events and incarnations and their current effect on the present incarnation. Here, that would be the Wheel of Fortune; it being the cusp of one cycle and the next.

How one does this is dependent on the cartomante.

References:

Cards, Ancestral Path Tarot © Julie Cuccia-Watts, US Games, 1995.
Michelsen, T. (2003). Designing Your Own Tarot Spreads. 1st ed. St. Paul, Minn.: Llewellyn Publications.

Title, taken from BedShaped by Keane.

19 February, 202127 June, 2026

A Pretty Bouquet

These three persons stood together on the hearth-rug, their eyes fixed on an extraordinarily large bouquet of crimson roses, with a knot of purple pansies at their base, that lay on the sofa where Madame Olenska usually sat.
Edith Wharton, The Age of Innocence

Oracle cards* have never been a big draw for me. Consequently, I have owned less than ten that I can remember. In contrast, I know several gifted-diviners who employ only these decks. I say this as I want to stress I do not see such cards as inferior to the Tarot and other cards.

If you are a long-term reader of my work, you will know the L’Oracle de Belline is a firm favourite and a deck with which I would not part. The Oracle de la Triade is a favourite, too. However, today, we turn our attention to the Victorian Flower Oracle.

Part of my praxis has seen a reduction in spreads utilised. Rather than cultivating an extensive library of spreads focusing on a small pool of layouts does seem beneficial to me. As such I tend to stick to five but have a couple of others in reserve.

Recently, one of these was pressed into use.

La « petit question »

Colette Silvestre includes la « petit question » in several texts, but I first discovered it in Les Tarots. It is a simple three-card draw, designed to give a rapid answer – a yes or no draw, or le tirage du tarot oui non. Despite its genesis with the Tarot cards, the pattern works well with both l’Oracle de Belline and the Victorian Flower Oracle. In fact, it is with these two packs that I use this small draw.

Once the cards are shuffled and cut (however you prefer), you draw three cards. I lay them out as below. Madame Silvestre, however, chooses to place the third card between (and slightly lower) the first and second cards. It is up to you.

Although I use triples a lot (in lines, squares, &c), this differs to my normal practice as each position carries a signification. Ordinarily, I am not keen on positional spreads with less than seven-cards. But this is one I do recommend for its clarity and directness.

The positions signify the following:

The first card shows how the Querent faces the question.
The second card indicates the subject or question and how it stands.
The third card indicates the answer or outcome.

The Victorian Flower Oracle:

The Victorian Flower Oracle comes from the brilliant husband-and-wife team Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony. I love their work (Victorian Romantic Tarot, the Bohemian Gothic, &c). The designs for this pack came from J.J. Grandville’s Les Fleurs Animées. Sadly, it is out-of-print, and I will not part with it.

The langage des fleurs is ancient, but at the time Grandville completed his work it had seen a resurgence, especially in the form of tussie-mussies. Floriography allowed senders to encode messages into the arrangements. The Victorian Flower Oracle does tend to focus more on the illustrations rather than the traditional floral significations.

Eileen is a regular client of mine. She had worked for the same insurance company for 30 odd years. It is a job she said she loved. However, due to changes she had seen her role lost in a restructure and she was miserable. It had all changed. Her question was: Would things go back to how they were?

I shuffled, cut and draw three cards from the Victorian Flower Oracle.

The cards as they fell:

The first card is the Sweet Pea which leaves no doubt that Eileen does not feel sustained in her current role and working environment.

Interesting, the second card — Cornflower and Poppy — tells us once upon a time Eileen loved her role and workplace. Now, she no longer feels one of the team or valued. Something the Cornflower and Poppy tells us is essential for Eileen.

The answer comes in the form of the Orange Flower card. Eileen cannot reconcile her happy memories and the unsatisfying present; it is time to go. The Orange Flowers seems to sigh: “At least you have your memories.”

So the cards respond with a no. I text my response: No, that place exists now only in your memories.

As I went to turn over the final card, I had the strong sense Eileen had her resignation letter ready. It transpired that Eileen had. She just wanted confirmation that things would not go back to the way they were.

If we look at the cards as a line, we have a surreal tableau.

Cornflower and Poppy watch Sweet Pea wilting, desperately search for water as the Orange Flower looks on. It is almost farcical rather than sinister. In time Eileen might look back and see it. But for now, she must look for something else.

Thankfully, she had. The reading was done just before the autumn lockdown and Eileen is now happy in her new role.

When I first started writing in 2010, the dominant view was that the Tarot cards were for “higher” practice and spiritual and psychological in their pronouncements. Cards such as the Petit Lenormand or Cigány Kártya was for fortune-telling only. They could not be used for “higher” practice or in magickal practice. That view has softened in the last decade but it remains prominent in Anglo-Saxon communities.

It is not for the present author to pronounce judgement upon such stances. However, my view has always been that a deck’s usage and limitations rest solely with the reader. The Petit Lenormand can be spiritual, and the Tarot cards can and do predict future events. Oracle cards, such as the Victorian Flower Oracle, can give yes and no answers, too.

Stay well.

Featured Image: J. J. Grandville, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

*Oracle cards in the current vernacular seem to encompass all non-suited or Playing Card-derived (Tarot, Petit Lenormand, Sibilla, &c) decks. This is the definition used here. However, it is one the present author finds lacking. Technically, the oracle is the diviner and any cards in her hands are oracular.