Descriptions and divinatory meanings of the Twenty-two Major Arcana in the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Golden Dawn Title of The Fool: The Spirit of Ether Divinatory Meanings of The Fool Idea, thought, spirituality, that which endeavours to rise above the material. MacGregor Mathers Folly, Expiation, Wavering. Reversed meanings Hesitation, Instability, Trouble arising...
Golden Dawn Title of The Magician: The Magus of Power Divinatory Meanings of The Magician Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, depending on dignity. Sometimes occult wisdom. MacGregor Mathers Will, Will-Power, Dexterity. Reversed meanings Will applied to evil...
Golden Dawn Title of The High Priestess: Priestess of the Silver Star The High Priestess has mysterious, fluctuating energies of the Moon. The emphasis is rhythm, change and movement. The cards around her will reflect this as instability. She represents the feminine...
Golden Dawn Title of The Empress The Daughter of the Mighty Ones Divinatory Meanings of The Empress Beauty, happiness, pleasure, success, luxury, dissipation. MacGregor Mathers Action, Plan, Undertaking, Movement in a matter, Initiative. Reversed meanings Inaction,...
Golden Dawn Title of The Emperor: Son of the Morning, Chief among the Mighty Divinatory Meanings of The Emperor War, conquest, victory, strife, ambition. MacGregor Mathers Realization, Effect, Development. Reversed meanings Stoppage, Check, Immature, Unripe....
Golden Dawn Title of The Hierophant: Magus of the Eternal Gods Divinatory Meanings of The Hierophant Divine Wisdom. Manifestation. Explanation. Teaching. MacGregor Mathers Mercy, Beneficence, Kindness, Goodness. Reversed meanings Over-kindness, Weakness, Foolish...
Golden Dawn Title of The Lovers: Children of the Voice Divine, The Oracles of the Mighty Gods Divinatory meanings of The Lovers Inspiration (passive, mediumistic). Motive, power, and action, arising from Inspiration and Impulse. MacGregor Mathers Wise Dispositions,...
Golden Dawn Title of The Chariot: Child of the Power of the Waters, Lord of the Triumph of Light Divinatory Meanings of The Chariot Triumph, victory, health. Success though sometimes not stable and enduring. MacGregor Mathers Triumph, Victory, Overcoming Obstacles....
Golden Dawn Title of Strength: Daughter of the Flaming Sword, Leader of the Lion Divinatory Meanings of Strength Courage, strength, fortitude. Power not arrested in the act of judgement, but passing on to further action, sometimes obstinacy. MacGregor Mathers Power,...
Golden Dawn Title of The Hermit: The Magus of the Voice of Light Divinatory Meanings of The Hermit Wisdom sought for and obtained from above. Divine inspiration (but active as opposed to the Lovers). MacGregor Mathers Prudence, Caution, Deliberation. Reversed meanings...
Golden Dawn Title of Wheel of Fortune: The Lord of the Forces of Life Divinatory Meanings Change of fortune Reversed Meanings Attributions of Fortune Correct design of The Wheel of Fortune A wheel of six shafts Mercury, Sulphur and Earth or Sattva, Rajas and Tamas...
Golden Dawn title: The Daughter of the Lords of Truth Divinatory meanings of Justice Balance, harmony, justice. Legal Matters Correct design of Justice Justice with scales and balances Hebrew letter Lamed, L The Woman justified. By Equilibrium and Self-sacrifice is...