Two Element Tarot Combinations
So far, we have looked at three elements on three positions of a Tarot spread. Now we will look at two element combinations. Mathematically, with two elements there are six basic combinations, but we only need to consider four of the permutations. The Principal Card at the centre is the Synthesis card, while the Modifiers are Thesis and Antithesis. As we shall see, the absence of elements can tell us as much about a situation as the elements that are present.
Combinations of Fire and Water are antagonistic, as are Air and Earth. We will look at these first, and then go onto the more 'friendly' combinations of:
- Fire
- Air
Both active and friendly to each other
- Water
- Earth
Both Passive and friendly to each other
- Fire
- Earth
Both friendly and neutral to each other
- Water
- Air
Both friendly and neutral to each other
However, as we shall see, the situations they represent are not entirely satisfactory due to the lack of the other elements. Once we have gone through these combinations we are ready to tackle situations with three elements.
Fire and Water
The first two examples show Synthesis being utterly destroyed, while the last two show the Synthesis card strengthening due to Thesis and Antithesis fighting each other. A classic example of divide and rule.
- Fire
- Water
- Fire
Fire and Water are enemies. Fire is active and hot, while Water is passive and cold. In this combination Water is devastated, dried up, desiccated. Super heated steam with no mass (Earth) or intelligence (Air). Thesis and Antithesis act together blindly (no Air), and without durability (Earth) to destroy Synthesis.
- Water
- Fire
- Water
Now the situation is reversed. The Fire is extinguished by Water. Any activity is swamped. The emotions overcome any actions to create stagnation since there is no Air, but the lack of Earth provides no basis to the feelings so there is an expansion but without any kind of structure.
- Water
- Fire
- Fire
The Principal has support from one of the Moderators. There is still no intelligent control, or a strong basis from either Air or Earth. We could have a flammable liquid. Looked at from another perspective, since the Moderators are enemies, they actually have a neutral effect on the situation, so the action goes ahead with nothing to enhance or retard it, but does not last long (no endurance from Earth), and lacks any kind of direction (Air).
- Water
- Water
- Fire
Now we have the Principal supported by one of the Moderators. Since the Moderators cannot work together, the two Water aspects will gang up to prevent any action taking place - or, to put it another way, since the Moderators have an overall neutral effect, the natural tendency of water to inertia will suggest that nothing will actually happen, since there is no mental stimulation, but the effect will gradually spread as it is not contained (No Earth).
Air and Earth
Air and Earth are mutual enemies, like the action of Fire and Water, but the effect is very different. As before, Synthesis is destroyed in the first two examples, but triumphs when it divides and rules.
- Earth
- Air
- Earth
Intelligence destroyed in ignorance. The absence of Fire and Water indicates no change, energy, or any kind of emotion. In fact there could be a leeching of any kind of energy as the Earth elements work together to drain away the Air element, perhaps by passive resistance.
- Air
- Earth
- Air
This situation is analogous to a cretin amongst a company of intellectuals. The simpleton has no comprehension of the ideas or communications around him. Since Earth types look for security, there would be great fear, as Air is the most unstable of the three elements. One image could be a ping pong ball hovering and bouncing around in a jet of air.
- Earth
- Air
- Air
In the next two examples, Synthesis triumphs as Thesis and Antithesis go to war. The Air cards triumph and are smug about their intellectual achievements, but there is doubt about the usefulness of the victory. A Lawyer arguing and winning an obscure point of law that is lost on the jury.
- Air
- Earth
- Earth
An intellectual railing, and failing to educate or stir up the complacent security of Earth. There is no point of contact, no emotive feeling of togetherness that Water might bring, nor is there any kind of movement or change. A thinker who is trapped in a hopeless situation. Brain power will not achieve anything, and there is no energy (Fire), nor is there any point in trying to engage the emotions or use some kind of seductive strategy.
Fire and Air
These two elements are both active and friendly to each other, so the problems arise from the lack of basis (Earth) or feeling (Water), so there will be little comfort or security in the experience. While the Air aspect will provide intelligence to actions, there will be over-exuberance at the least, and obsessive behaviour at worst; the results will either be burn-out or some kind of confrontation. Since Air is such an antagonistic and divisive element, the differences between Thesis and Antithesis are heightened, even when they are friendly or the same element. In some of the examples below, we see an unholy alliance developing.
- Fire
- Air
- Fire
This is an interesting combination. Thesis and Antithesis combine to create some kind of intelligence, but it will have a low kind of cunning, and is destined to continual action, rather than the periods of introspection that thinking needs from time to time. We could also consider someone coerced to reveal thought processes due to violent pressure, perhaps under torture.
- Air
- Fire
- Air
Two opposing thought processes result in spontaneous action. A train of events are set in action, but there is no possibility of considered change as a result of new circumstances. A mediation process that breaks down, resulting in war, either physical or verbal. Another alternative is to actively blame or attack a third party in order to cover up ideological differences - the rise of Fascism; blaming weak ethnic groups for problems arising in society as a whole and using them as an excuse for totalitarian behaviour.
- Fire
- Fire
- Air
Action inspired by a combination of thought and action without lust for the result. A wavering intellectual forced or inspired to action. This example and the next are far more desirable than the previous two, but there are still problems due to the lack of Water and Earth.
- Air
- Air
- Fire
Fire trying (and probably failing ultimately) to inspire Air to action. If Air does act, it will be inherently unstable or vacillating as soon as the pressure is removed. There is no respite in this relentless combination.
Water and Earth
Like Fire and Air, these elements are compatible and friendly, but they are also completely passive, so sloth and turpitude are more of a problem. Moist Earth is fertile, but the spark of life is required. As before there are four basic versions. Since Earth is involved, we can introduce some topography to the descriptions. Without Fire, these events could be considered to be happening at night. In the first two examples, Thesis and Antithesis fail to find any difference between themselves, but nevertheless they conspire to swamp the result.
- Water
- Earth
- Water
An island amidst cold icy seas, bleak and uninhabitable under a full moon. There is no wind, of course, so no waves. A ship stationary upon calm waters. Water vapour condensing to snow or ice. Vegetation under the water. The solidification of emotions and feelings, but there is still a lack of activity. Sinking into depression.
- Earth
- Water
- Earth
A lake, or slow moving river, possibly iced over. Some slight fluidity to a solidly packed situation. An underground river or seam. A stagnant spring that fails to fertilise the land around it. A pocket of crude oil hidden underground. An aquifer. The leaching away of any kind of emotional experience under the dead weight of insensitivity. Earth mopping up Water. The emotional identification and eventual subsuming with the Earth.
- Water
- Water
- Earth
In this and the next example Thesis and Antithesis are different, but change comes about through inertia or a kind of osmosis due to pressure difference. We could see this one as straining, leaving the Water, while below the lees remain. High tide at the seaside.
- Earth
- Earth
- Water
Drying out, or mopping up, but not due to aeration or heat. Solidification of a viscous liquid. A heavy weight or situation squeezes out any feelings. Numbness.
Fire and Earth
Fire and Earth are friendly to each other, but while Fire is all action, Earth is totally passive. Consequently, the impression is either of arrival or departure.
- Fire
- Earth
- Fire
Purification or tempering of a substance through fire. The result would be ash, clinker, or a refined material. Usually, heated substances liquidise or vaporise into the air, but we cannot determine this. Alternatively, opposing actions result in karmic consequences. Forces overwhelmingly imposed upon a stationary object. An object projected upwards.
- Earth
- Fire
- Earth
This situation is precisely the opposite of the example above. The stationary pressures of Earth around Fire instantly suggests a volcano, or hot gases venting from the ground. Since Thesis and Antithesis are represented by Earth, we could conclude that perhaps there is a chemical or nuclear reaction resulting from a critical mass being reached and releasing heat energy.
In the next two versions, Thesis and Antithesis are definitely opposites.
- Fire
- Fire
- Earth
Movement plus inertia results in movement or action. A conflagration that destroys Earth, but continues to burn as it uses up fuel.
- Earth
- Earth
- Fire
Movement plus inertia results in a substance that is warm, suggesting some chemical reactions. Maybe critical mass is not reached, as we arrive at a basically stable situation that has some life.
Air and Water
These elements are friendly to each other, but both are unstable, lacking structure. Air is active, while Water is passive.
- Air
- Water
- Air
A cloud or water droplets in the air. The lack of earth suggests that the cloud is hovering. There would be no heat, so maybe we are looking at snow or hail. The absence of Earth shows that there would be no structure, form or stability. The action of two different gases creates another gas that has greater weight. Arguments and contrary ideas somehow create an emotional response.
- Water
- Air
- Water
An air bubble suspended in Water. An intellectual impulse arising out of conflicting emotional experience - it has some definition, maybe due to the pressure of the water, but it probably is not going anywhere. The desire to rise out of an overwhelming emotional situation, perhaps by removing the emotions and replacing them with logic.
- Air
- Air
- Water
Thesis and Antithesis are at work to remove feeling from emotions to arrive at mental clarity.
- Water
- Water
- Air
Water and the emotions win out on the thought processes. Dreams, fantasies. A total lack of reality.
