tarot deck and illuminated magazine
At a glance
This is The Major Arcana of The Fertile Void at a glance. For much more in-depth exploration such as: artwork insights, questions, suggestions, mantras, the hero's journey, the fool's journey, the Hebrew alphabet, the tree of life and astrological insights, please consider supporting The Fertile Void Tarot & Illuminated Magazine on Kickstarter!
0 - The Fool
Upright meaning: In order to take a leap of faith, we must be brave. Bravery does not mean fearlessness - but it is with a nascent, pure sense of trust that we are being beckoned into a new beginning. This is a spark, a light within, letting us know that it is time to make some moves into the unknown.
With joy, wonderment and anticipation in our hearts, we realize that the courage it takes to ascend into the abyss is rewarded by the universe.
This is the moment where a journey truly begins. We cannot see the destination - far from it - but the first steps ahead are enough to motivate and excite us.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: Despite the fact that we are being called to adventure, we may hesitate or feel too fearful. We may understand that the slate wishes to be wiped clean, but we cling too much onto old notions of self and life. If we do this for too long, we will stagnate.
1 - The Magician
Upright meaning: With all of the elements at our disposal, we can now create something meaningful. Arthur Ashe said, “Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.” This is always sage advice! When we are courted by The Magician, we are being shown that while we may not always be given the most ideal circumstances, we can realize our dreams all the same.
When we think of alchemy, we often think of turning lead into gold. Our own alchemical process is just as significant and poignant. Using raw materials, we can better ourselves and our environments. This is the time - don’t wait for something better.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be delaying creativity or inner alchemy due to fear, or waiting for the ‘perfect’ moment to begin. Remember that there is no perfect moment. There is simply this moment.
2 - The High Priestess
Upright meaning: We often forget how connected and powerful we are. There is a deep and eternal wisdom within all of us which we can speak with anytime, as long as we are present and quiet enough to listen. As the world around us becomes louder, our relationship with our instincts/inner knowing/gut reactions become dampened, diffused or repressed.
When we receive this card, we are being reminded that we are a part of a thickly woven tapestry and that this tapestry contains all life, all consciousness. We are being asked to reconnect with what is already within: wisdom, guidance, God. A situation is likely calling for us to go inward to see what our instincts are saying.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be overriding the strong inner voice that is warning us of a dangerous situation, person or decision. We may have been receiving messages to avoid something, or even to move towards something - but we hesitate due to external forces, self-doubt, gaslighting or other pressures.
3 - The Empress
Upright meaning: The Empress embodies all that is tender and giving. She is infinite in her ability to heal, regenerate and take care of those around her because she is well-resourced in herself. She does not rely upon herself alone, she has a vast network of life that supports her so that she may support others. When we receive this card, we are being asked to cultivate tenderness towards ourselves by embodying a mother-like presence.
Only through infinite amounts of self-compassion and acceptance can we heal what has become hardened in ourselves, and set an example for others in our mycelial network. Draw strength and inspiration from other intriguing and dynamic women. Remember that we don’t do anything in a vacuum.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be denying ourselves the necessary nurturing and softness that is needed to dispel tension and heal wounds.
4 - The Emperor
Upright meaning: The yang to The Empress’s yin, The Emperor represents our inner divine masculine energy. It can certainly be nurturing as well, but it takes on different shapes and flavours than the pure Venusian flow of the divine feminine. Here we have discipline, the desire for structure, building things, shaping our inner world and environments to suit our needs. The influence of Mars indicates conflict or the potential for it. We are seeking stability, and may conquer in order to achieve it. We approach things with intensity, assertiveness and sometimes even aggression.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: Discipline and structure may be required, but we are shrinking away from the tasks at hand. A person or situation may be asking us to grow and mature, yet we feel a deep sense of hesitation. We wish to remain where we are.
5 - The Hierophant
Upright meaning: It is only through loss of innocence that we may become wise. We must give up one to become the other. The Hierophant represents the journey from naivety into maturity. This could mean higher education, self-teaching, embarking upon a spiritual journey, or connecting with a spiritual mentor. We step from the world of ignorance into presence and deep knowing. Sometimes this awakening is a painful process (as it is said, ignorance is bliss) - but these growing pains are ultimately rewarded with a finely tuned and balanced perspective on the world. When we receive this card in a reading, it is not a moment for withdrawing back into our comfort zone.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may not wish to take responsibility for higher levels of learning. We may feel that our psyches are being stretched into new shapes, and so we resist. The call to wisdom is refused, and we turtle-shell.
6 - The Lovers
Upright meaning: Love is a complex, messy thing. It is also the fundamental meaning of life. Through our relationships with others we are able to form our own consciousness and sense of belonging in the world. This card signifies a deeper awakening of consciousness through love. We experience compassion, empathy and unity and transcend notions of self versus other. We are reminded that there is a seed of us in everyone, and vice versa - and that the more we love, the more the world at large can heal (which is another example of mutualism).
Through love we can rebel against systems that indoctrinate and repress us. We can overcome shame, isolation and trauma. We can become free.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: Due to past negative experiences with human connection, we may be pushing it away, wishing to hide in loneliness as it feels safer.
7 - The Chariot
Upright meaning: There are many moments in life where we realize (either with excitement or resignation) that we cannot go the way others have gone, nor can we remain small and comfortable. We must strike off and create our own destiny. When we receive The Chariot in a reading, we’re likely in a moment of discovering (or rediscovering) our personal agency, individuality and autonomy.
This is a pivotal time which often follows something thematically akin to The Hierophant - where we are beholden to systems which may not allow for radical self-reliance or growth. The energy of The Chariot is one of pride and confidence: we may not know exactly where we’re going but we have all of the determination to get there, and then some! This is a time for us to get to know ourselves and our strengths more intimately, as we aren’t necessarily journeying down a well-trodden path. This may be entirely new, which brings excitement and trepidation. Once the momentum has begun, it cannot be stopped.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be arresting our own development and adventurous spirit by emotionally over-indulging in potential negative outcomes, or wanting to remain in our comfort zones.
8 - Strength
Upright meaning: This card possesses a great deal of energy that wishes to be unleashed in the most literal sense. No more tethers - just unbridled expression. Strength is about our calling in life - what we most lust after. It is also described as ‘midheaven’ as this, in astrology, is our source of meaning and what we feel most compelled to do.
Perhaps compelled isn’t even a strong enough word: what we are inextricably drawn towards, what we cannot deny, what will kill us if we don’t let it loose. The energy of the universe comes to us in abundance and we must do something with it. Now is the time to pounce and allow our life arc to take shape: career, artistic calling, a passion project. This card also speaks to our sexual identity and allowing this vital part of who we are to be fully expressed.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be quelling our self-expression in fear of standing out too much, or drawing in negative attention. Perhaps at some point in life we internalized some negative feedback about a passion we have, and so we’ve repressed our desire to pursue it. Finally, we may be stuck in the closet, or denying ourselves sexual experiences that we want to have.
9 - The Hermit
Upright meaning: After the swift, passionate energy of Strength comes a moment of necessary introspection. All life goes through expansion and contraction cycles - during expansion, much is experienced, and it can be an overwhelming amount fo us to process. Therefore, a contraction is needed. This is a time to go inward and feel what comes through in the quiet moments of reflection. If we are constantly on the move, we cannot hear our inner voice.
Two things are offered during a period of cocooning: rest and respite, as well as gaining perspective (a bird’s eye view). Without all of this, we can feel lost and adrift in a sea of activity, other people’s perspectives, dramas, emotional muddiness. This is an opportunity to parse out what emotionally belongs to us and what doesn’t, what to learn from a situation we’re
facing, what our higher self needs to tell us, and how to take our next steps. This must be done alone, as it is our duty to be with the inner voice now. No outer influences allowed!
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be resisting slowing down, for fear of what truths we may find awaiting us in quiet reflective moments. We may be having difficulty gaining some distance or perspective from a challenging situation, and as a result we feel overwhelmed and claustrophobic.
10 - The Wheel of Fortune
Upright meaning: Change is inevitable - it is life. The reason why a song is so beautiful and compelling is due to the constant evolution of it. Alan Watts, in his book The Wisdom of Insecurity: A Message for an Age of Anxiety said, “When we make music we don't do it in order to reach a certain point, such as the end of the composition. If that were the purpose of music then obviously the fastest players would be the best. Also, when we are dancing we are not aiming to arrive at a particular place on the floor as in a journey. When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point.”
This is an important reminder as we navigate change. The parts of life we like best would soon become aggravating and disturbing if they remained the same all the time - like a piano playing a single note for all of eternity. When this card comes to us in a reading, it speaks to us of trusting the process, and knowing that even if things are hard right now we are not cursed to remain here forever. Accepting what is beyond our control is the most peaceful way through.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be balking at change, wishing it away. As the saying goes, pain is inevitable but suffering is optional - all suffering is borne from the resistance to what is currently happening.
11 - Justice
Upright meaning: As one of the descriptors says, ‘all things come to balance’ in time. Truths always come to light eventually, no matter how much we try to hide them from others, or ourselves. In a reading, Justice may point to legal matters, court battles, or the unfolding of karma. This can (seemingly) work in mysterious ways - karma is not always a linear cause and effect process. Think of it as the chaos effect where small changes eventually initiate larger outcomes - such as telling someone else, or ourselves, a lie which then later has a greater impact on us and the people around us.
This is why it is crucial to be honest in all matters, even if it potentially leads to more confrontation. This card can also point to us unearthing a hidden truth in someone else, which allows us to gain more perspective on a situation that has felt cloudy.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be having trouble seeing the forest from the trees. Either someone is lying to us, or we are the liar. Fairness and truth feel inaccessible at the moment. Fibs have become chasms in relationships.
12 - The Hanged Being
Upright meaning: When things aren’t going our way, or we’re in a tedious moment of suspense, it can be difficult to keep our cool. With this card, we are being reminded that patience is one of the most important virtues for allowing life to unfold as it will, without a great deal of inner tension. The tension really only hurts us and causes stress in those around us. Instead of pulling our hair out and kicking our feet, we can learn to enjoy the process of waiting. There is much wisdom to be found here, as it helps us to grow our inner capacity - we become more skilled at holding the many truths of life, especially as they change. Whether this is waiting for news, results, an outcome, or if we’re in the throes of some sort of major developing story, we can employ patience by remaining in the present moment. We cannot rush the process itself, so rushing to possible conclusions in our minds will only cause distress. Ultimately, it is all imagination anyway.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: Our patience has worn thin, and we may be anxious, preoccupied and suffering through each moment. We may feel stuck in a situation we don’t wish to be in, and can’t wait to get out. We may be feeling a sense of desperation.
13 - Death
Upright meaning: It must be said that the Death card does not typically portend actual death, so it is best not to take this card literally. What we are facing here is symbolic death: a passage that we cannot avoid. With death we are reminded that there is finitude to everything, which is especially potent when it comes to things we are attached to. All roads eventually lead here, there is no off-ramp - the only way out is through. So, we must step into the portal and reckon with the potent emotions that arise. The Death card speaks to us about external upheaval and change - losing a job, leaving a beloved home, the end of a relationship - any metamorphosis that shifts the way our life looks from day to day. A lot of grief and anxiety can crop up and sometimes it is impossible to see the path ahead. It is common to have no compass. Take heart! Ultimately this is a story of transformation. After all, every road leads here - so it cannot be bad.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We cannot resist death, but we can resist its teachings. We may be burying our head in the sand, attempting to avoid our present reality. We may find that it is too much to bear.
14 - Temperance
Upright meaning: One of the two descriptors of this card is ‘peace that has known pain.’ After a tumultuous experience, there is a certain type of inner stillness we experience that could not exist had we not gone through a difficult time. Life stretches us, blurring our edges and taking us places we would likely not dare to go if given the choice. And yes, there are a lot of emotional challenges we face in tumultuous times - but once we are on the other side of them, we are afforded greater wisdom and greater capacity to hold the myriad truths of the world and ourselves. Temperance speaks to us of balance, finding a renewed appreciation for life’s pleasures after a period of difficulty, and gently feeling through our emotional landscape with greater peace and stability.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may still be caught up in inner turmoil, lost in painful emotions. We may be unable to capture the fruits that were borne from a difficult time, fuelling negative narratives about life, such as, “bad things always happen to me.” Instead of creating more capacity, a recent situation may have lessened it, resulting in more self-protection.
15 - The Devil
Upright meaning: In many ways, The Devil represents the other direction we sometimes take after the lessons of Death (see the Death card). Temperance is the softening that can happen after we emerge from the death portal (read that card for more insight) - whereas The Devil is the hardening. There are many ways to grieve and cope with loss and pain, and sometimes when it is too much we enter a spiral of avoidance through addictions and toxic attachments to people or things. The first thing we must do is acknowledge this and steer clear of shame. Some of us have more physiological tendencies towards addiction, and sometimes life deals us too much at once and we use various crutches to make it through. So while there is no shame, acknowledging this unhealthy pattern will help to enfold it in a loving embrace. It is time to take steps towards healing.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be lost in the labyrinth of addiction and toxic patterns. Unable or unwilling to see it, this may be damaging to our health and our relationships. Don’t despair - each day is a chance to begin turning it around.
16 - The Tower
Upright meaning: While the Death card points more towards external change and upheaval, The Tower takes us into the heart of internal collapse. The image of the tower itself represents an identity structure, one that is erected over many years (and often decades) of one’s life. Brick by brick, the idea of who we are is methodically pieced together. Most of life’s events won’t topple this carefully constructed monument of self, but some do. When we receive this card, we’re likely facing something that has pulverized what was once a strong foundation, reducing it to rubble. Our idea of who we are has changed - this can indeed happen due to an external event (such as the loss of a loved one, or a career change) but what shifts is on
the inside. The passage changes who we are. And while we certainly are put back together again in time, this moment is bewildering - we are in the process of collapsing.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be resisting the internal earthquakes, clinging to pieces of our old structure. We may be unable to see why any of these changes could prove beneficial.
17 - The Star
Upright meaning: You may wish to read the card description of The Tower, as this is the next chapter in our story after its collapse. Divine guidance of The Star is revealed to us only after we have surrendered to the shapeshifting that The Tower has ushered us into. Symbolically we have been stripped naked and are as close to the raw, powerful and sacred rhythms of the universe as ever we have been. This is a powerful, beautiful moment to behold and to feel. We finally can feel - and not just conceptualize - that what has ended needed to end. We are no longer clinging to the past, to old notions of identity, to structures that we once created. We spent our time in shock, denial and grief - now is a moment of feeling a clear channel open up between us and the universe. We can viscerally sense our place in the family of things. Rigid identities are no longer needed, we are now able to simply be present in our life.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: Instead of focusing on the beauty and unity of The Star, we are still fixated upon The Tower which has fallen into the abyss. A challenging time may have caused us to feel more separate from the universe, not more unified with it. As a result, we feel lost and adrift, clinging to the past.
18 - The Moon
Upright meaning: Sometimes we must reckon with a snarling mind. There is a quote by Anaïs Nin that says, “We see things not as they are, but as we are.” This is always true, but sometimes (like in the case of The Star that precedes this card, and The Sun that follows it) we do embody more clarity and aren’t as caught up in our own mental labyrinths. The Moon represents such a labyrinth. Negative past experiences can cloud our judgement. Modern therapy-speak defines this as a
‘trauma response’ or a ‘trigger.’ Whatever label we ascribe, it is the inability to see things as they are. Another saying is appropriate here: when it is hysterical, it is historical. Meaning, if we are having overblown reactions to current situations, it is likely that our mind is telling us that it is similar to past transgressions. But instead of being present in the moment, we assume that history is repeating itself. The Moon card also comes to us when we’re weary, burnt out, and our minds are telling us stories. Rest is needed. As difficult as it is, this is an opportunity to dispel any distorted inner monologue. Often the truth is less sinister.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We cannot see the forest from the trees. The mind’s distortions must express themselves. Illusions run rampant. We will emerge from the fever dream in time, but we are in it right now.
19 - The Sun
Upright meaning: After the psychic challenges of The Moon comes the bright joy of The Sun. This is a moment of pure relief, where every inch of us is filled with warm radiance. All is well. The clouds part and a ray of sunshine falls upon us, reminding us of what is good in the world. This card comes to us in a moment of peace, but also as a form of spiritual awakening or unification. We have overcome the illusions of the mind (Moon) and are now basking in universal truth or wisdom. We can move into full trust - surrendering to the natural flow of things, knowing we will be supported. The Sun can point towards the early stages of enlightenment, when we experience the first taste of oneness and the joy that follows. This light acts as piercing clarity, shadows are eradicated and the doubts within them scatter. This is a beautiful time to bask in - no action is needed. Simply enjoy the alignment of these cosmic forces, allowing them to feed your soul.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may not be able to trust that things are indeed this good, feeling far more familiar with the landscape of trouble and suffering. Less intensely, we may be able feel the joy but are always looking over our shoulder, waiting for something to come and take it away. As a result, we cannot be fully present in the sensations.
20 - Judgement
Upright meaning: Judgement is the second last card in the major arcana series, and it speaks to us of a final test before completion. This test is unlike many of the others (Wheel, Death, The Tower, The Moon) in that it is about a shift in our inner reality. The pursuit of spirituality has transcended the worries of the mind. We now know that there is more to life than our perceptions, and we’re questing after the bigger picture. So our testing can either be in this form (spiritual) or it can point more towards ensuring that we’re ready for something to end. Perhaps we’ve been working tirelessly on a project and now there are some final challenges we need to overcome to see it through. These challenges push us beyond our self-imposed limits, and we find spiritual growth here. Judgement takes us beyond the mind, feeling into new realms, incinerating what is no longer needed for the end of the journey.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be trying to keep ourselves small, afraid to experience our own spiritual nature. There may be trepidation surrounding pushing limits, or we may feel critical of ourselves in some way which leads to not seeing our full potential.
21 - The World
Upright meaning: The final key in the major arcana, The World comes to us when we have completed a significant journey. This is a moment worth celebrating! All of the challenges, setbacks, roadblocks and uncertainties that we’ve endured have culminated to this moment of triumph. The myriad lessons learned have been fully integrated, and we are radiant with wisdom. Of course, each ending is a new beginning, which is why one of the descriptors is ‘eternal return’ (which was an alternate title to this deck!) The Fool is a seed awaiting fertilization in the void, and the very act of completing this current journey creates the conditions for this new fertility.
Shadow (reversed) meaning: We may be clinging to more familiar stages of our journey thus far, unable to embrace the end of this current cycle. Goodbyes can be quite hard, after all. We may also be having difficulty celebrating our achievements.