G I U L I O F I O R E
What is Tarot?
Tarot is a tool for inquiry of the self and the world. The 78 images are a vocabulary that allows the reader to communicate with far-removed types of consciousness: our own unconscious Self, the human mind-at-large, our guides, inner beings of various nature.
Tarot is also a story, a tale of the alchemical initiation of the magician through profound transformative trials. The 22 Major cards represent a journey in consciousness, a refining of the baser aspects of one’s soul. The 56 Minor cards represent a journey through the four elements of Water, Earth, Air and Fire.
The four elements represent aspects of the human experience. Water (Cups) is connected to emotions, relationships, memory, healing and letting go. Earth (Pentacles) is all about material substance, ancestors, the past, the physical body, the fruits of the land and the beings that inhabit it. Air (Swords) relates to the mind and the formation of ideas, communication, learning and guarding. Fire (Wands) is connected to creative power and self-expression, the future, passion and potential.
The tarot you are holding was created using automatic painting and drawing. The images were not chosen beforehand, and the art was created while deep in stillness meditation. A simple intention was set to become a channel for the powers of the tarot, and the pens and brushes moved on the paper with a life of their own.
The Gates are the inner elemental thresholds that allowed for such a flow of creation to take place. By connecting to these Gates with the intention of bringing through the Major and Minor Arcana, an inner space tuned to the frequency of Divinity was opened and worked with.
The 22 Majors were drawn in 22 days in March 2024. This process externalised the inner pattern of tarot in outer life. Basically, I brought the story of tarot in my own life and was made to experience the trials and blessings of each card. I started as a clueless Fool (Card 0), not knowing what I was getting into, and went through an alchemical journey of self-initiation.
Later, working with the 56 Minor Arcana over a few months externalised a similar, albeit less intense, transformative experience.
When you work with these cards, they will slowly reveal their deeper meanings to you, and you will start building your own associations with each archetype.
Each card has many and varied meanings. Below you will find what came through to me in stillness meditation as well as a few traditional keywords.
Major Arcana
FOOL (0): Cluelessness, ignorance, chaotic 360° potential, leap of faith MAGICIAN (I): Taking initiative, control, manipulation, skill, logic HIGH PRIESTESS (II): Studying, introspection, Higher Law, female authority EMPRESS (III): Creative urge, Mother (Earth), beauty and abundance EMPEROR (IV): Stability, dominion, government, mundane law POPE (V): Mediator between worlds, teacher, spiritual authority, faith LOVERS (VI): Choice, contract, relationships, harmony, shared values CHARIOT (VII): The way forward, willpower, leap in consciousness, focus JUSTICE (VIII): (seeking) balance, find your centre, stillness, truth, integrity HERMIT (IX): Positive crisis, wisdom, old age, inner guidance, solitude WHEEL (X): Change, beginnings and ends, waiting, cause and effect STRENGTH (XI): Mind vs instinct, inner strength, passion, anger, courage HANGED MAN (XII): Incubation, martyr, surrender, new perspectives DEATH (XIII): Transformation, definitive endings, harvest of one’s deeds TEMPERANCE (XIV): Transmuting energies, moderation, alchemy, angel DEVIL (XV): Adversary, temptation, doubt, unhealthy attachments TOWER (XVI): Power surge, a new opening, sudden disruption/resolution STAR (XVII): Faith, deep healing, renewal, hope, purpose, spirituality MOON (XVIII): Cosmic Feminine, intuition, dreams, madness, illusion SUN (XIX): Comic Masculine, success, happiness, new child, vitality JUDGEMENT (XX): Paradigm shift, a new era, inner calling, awakening WORLD (XXI): Completion, accomplishment, and life goes on…
Minor Arcana
ACE of Cups: Ideal love, compassion, harvest, fertility, the Vessel TWO of Cups: Harmony, companionship, connection, balance THREE of Cups: Joy, excess, friendship, celebration, outgoing emotions FOUR of Cups: Stagnation, unfulfilled, apathy, blocked emotions FIVE of Cups: Sadness, regret, disappointment, emotional instability SIX of Cups: Past & present, sharing, kindness, past influence, innocence SEVEN of Cups: Anxiety, unknown outcome, strangeness, opportunity EIGHT of Cups: Letting go, breaking patterns, wisdom, weariness NINE of Cups: Liberation, emotional release, contentment, gratitude TEN of Cups: Fulfilment, wholeness, alignment with personal truth PAGE of Cups: Open perceptions, curiosity, youngling, innocence KNIGHT of Cups: Idealised love, romance, honesty, vulnerability QUEEN of Cups: Mature emotions, psychic, caring, nurturing, martyr KING of Cups: Compassionate, diplomatic, wisdom, devotion ACE of Pentacles: Foundations, ancestors, blockage, the Shield TWO of Pentacles: Dynamic balance, moving resources, agility THREE of Pentacles: Teamwork, co-creation, works well, dedication FOUR of Pentacles: Material stability, comfort, clinging, hoarding FIVE of Pentacles: Hardship, transformative trials, poverty, long hikes SIX of Pentacles: Giving and taking, material balance, charity, support SEVEN of Pentacles: Growth, expansion, waiting, patience, profits EIGHT of Pentacles: Discipline, mastery, hard work, repetition, routine NINE of Pentacles: Fruits of labour, harvest, independence, success TEN of Pentacles: Final product, abundance, worldly accomplishment PAGE of Pentacles: Naivety, manifesting, potential, earth magic KNIGHT of Pentacles: Loyalty, steadfastness, good worker, grounding QUEEN of Pentacles: Bountiful, nurturing, practical, mother, healer KING of Pentacles: Generosity, stability, discipline, successful, careful ACE of Swords: New ideas, beginnings, formation, guarding, the Sword TWO of Swords: Exchange of ideas, conversation, choice, blindness THREE of Swords: Separation, painful decision, bad outcome FOUR of Swords: Trust, tranquillity, rest, focus, regrouping, introspection FIVE of Swords: Inner & outer conflict, defeat, hostility, stress, change SIX of Swords: Letting go, limiting something, walking away, healing SEVEN of Swords: Precise and tactic action, covert, puncturing quality EIGHT of Swords: Thought loops, prisons of the mind, your own undoing NINE of Swords: Anguish, deep-seated conflict, nightmare TEN of Swords: Death (and rebirth), collapse, darkest hour before dawn PAGE of Swords: Witty, quick-footed, naïve idea, inspiration, chatty KNIGHT of Swords: Stormy mind, scattered, warrior temperament QUEEN of Swords: Discernment, cold & calculating, holistic mind KING of Swords: Laser focus, judging right and wrong, authority, rational ACE of Wands: Passion, power, creativity, great potential, the Wand TWO of Wands: Passion tamed, waiting for the right moment, options THREE of Wands: Constant exploration, new ventures, creative urge FOUR of Wands: Project coming together, stable energy, reliability FIVE of Wands: (Creative) chaos, conflict of ideas, struggle, competition SIX of Wands: Victory, accomplishment, celebration, progress, praise SEVEN of Wands: Boundaries, defending oneself, challenge, hard work EIGHT of Wands: Very active, high-speed, travelling, inflammation NINE of Wands: Expertise, guardianship, duty, tired but still standing TEN of Wands: Final effort, load sharing, overworked, burn-out, resistance PAGE of Wands: Infatuation, young love, inspiration, free spirit, fun KNIGHT of Wands: Driven, passionate, reactive personality, fearless QUEEN of Wands: Highly creative, volatile, strong, seductive, confident KING of Wands: Directed energy, alignment, dangerous if provoked