Learning Tarot: the Hanged Man, Death and Temperance

As ever, below you will find an explanation of the meanings of some of the cards in the Major Arcana of the Tarot deck. If you are learning to read cards yourself the first step should be to memorize these. If you are interested in the subject please do take a while to browse Hubpages as they have many interesting blogs on the topic.

For more information on learning to read the cards please visit my home hub, you will also find a blog on memory aides to help you learn the tricky Minor Arcana and a FAQ for beginners. Good luck!

The Hanged Man is generally considered the strangest card in the pack. Much like The Fool he hints at the chaos of fate. If we look closely at the man's face we see that his expression is not one of pain, but of pleasure. He is not hanging from his neck but by his feet...The yellow background shows intense struggle but he seems happy despite his circumstances. The Hanged Man is ruled by Neptune and the Water element and these sides of him are shown in his 'slippery' aspect...i.e. escaping the noose. Events around the enquirer will be uncertain and there may be some 'tightrope walking' involved...Do not fight the currents of fate, let it flow over you like water and all will be well.

When reversed this card epitomises someone who is 'playing the Martyr.' Stop doing it and you may have a chance to save the situation. Selfishness may be holding you back from achieving greater things. Make sure others in your emotional life are aware that you care for their happiness.

Commonly the figure of death appears riding a pale horse - remember your colour significance in this card - black and white show the 'unknown' and 'healing' aspects respectively. In most decks he will appear as the hooded Grim Reaper or (more often) dressed in full battle regalia. Death is ruled by the Astrological sign of Scorpio, making its preposition 'I Desire'. The images of petitioners being trampled underfoot shows the harshness of this unknown factor - there is no appeasing it. The death card shows the harsh clearing out of the old to make way for the new. Although it warns of immediate troubles it reassures that what it creates will be better than what it destroys. Also, the skeleton embodies the durability of the human structure - a subtle reassurance that what is coming can be endured.

When reversed this card shows us an enforced change, a stubborn struggle on the enquirers part against the unstoppable forces of fate. Give it up before it is taken from you.

Temperance is traditionally ruled by the Astrological sign of Sagittarius making its preposition 'I See', but rather unusually it contains all four of the elements. The water in the jugs, the halo of fire, the earth (I shall call the angelic figure a 'She' here as I do not feel right calling an angel an 'it') she stands on and the air flowing through her wings. I have read many different interpretations of this card and all have been varied, many of them I have never applied to a reading. Interpretations go from a balance settling your life into a calm period, peace after a troubled time, careful control of life's factors, self-control, trust in the divine, the developing of the transfer of energy from the subconscious to the conscious mind - to the power of imagination being particularly strong in a given situation. Personally I connect Temperance's calm intuition with an awakening of the spiritual element of ones life. This is because as a ritual user, once I have greet the four elements I turn to the centre of the circle; always said to represent the spiritual aspect.                                       

When reversed this card shows a lack of spiritual knowledge or preparation - or perhaps the fear of it. It can also show corruption and a troubled domestic life. A serious of unfortunate events.