Major Arcana · 7:53pm Aug 22nd, 2020
This is a project I've been working on for quite some time. I'm not exactly a great believer in tarot, or in divination, or in the occult generally, but I have a few friends who are, and working out which characters best fit with which cards was right up my alley. Now that I've finished the major arcana, I thought I might start to post them up. The roles of the major arcana were reserved for the deities covered in my Cosmology, as well as the Mane Six and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Other characters will be covered in the Minor Arcana, which I'll be publishing later, suit by suit.
The Fool represents beginnings and innocence, a free spirit. Reversed, it can mean holding back, or taking risks. I think that last part sounds a bit self-contradictory, but I suppose I'm hardly an expert. I thought that Button Mash would be appropriate for this one -- he's a sweet, somewhat naive character who fits the bill rather well. He's also only a colt in the show canon, which fits with the concept of new beginnings.
I used some of the more traditional symbolism in this card -- the dog represents faithful friends and protection, encouraging the Fool to begin his journey. The mountains, naturally, symbolize the difficult journey of life that lies ahead, and the Fool ignores them for now, lest they discourage him from ever beginning. The white flowers are symbolic of innocence, and the cliff that our poor boy is about to step off represents entry into the unknown. The Fool is kind of like the joker of the deck, and can be seen either as the beginning or ending of the major arcana -- indeed, those 21 other cards can be seen as the Fool's journey through life, though it's never been made clear to me if that's meant literally.
The Magician represents qualities such as creativity and resourcefulness; reversed, it can mean poor planning or untapped talent. In my cosmology, Screwball is the chaos goddess of art and creativity, making her an ideal match for this card.
Symbolism here -- Screwball's pose, with one hoof pointed to the sky and the other to the earth, represents connecting those two realms. The disc, wand, sword, and teacup in the background are representative of the four suits of the minor arcana. I also color-coded them to fit their respective elemental associations. The rose-pattern behind her represents her ideas coming to fruition, and the infinity symbol she's painted here represents the blank canvas that lies before her, the infinite potential that lies within her.
The High Priestess is associated with intuition and the subconscious (dreams), as well as the divine feminine (like Artemis). Reversed, it can mean secrets and becoming withdrawn. So, naturally, I went with Luna, who certainly fits the upright version of the card, while the inverted card is reminiscent of her corruption by the Nightmare.
Symbolism here - the pomegranate evokes the myth of Persephone as a symbol of fertility and divinity. The pillars represent dualism. The veil represents the hidden nature of the subconscious, and the dark blue robe is for tranquility and meditation.
The Empress represents femininity, beauty, and abundance. Sweetie Belle fit the bill pretty well. I see her as growing up to be a performer and probably a part-time model for her sister. She's graceful and bright and talented, which I think makes her a good fit for this card.
Abundance is represented in this card by the wheat and the cornucopia. The symbols of Venus on the throw pillows are there to symbolize femininity. The crown of stars and the forest scene itself reflect the Empress's connection to nature, its patterns and cycles, and its abundance.
The Emperor is represented here by Rumble. This is something of an unusual choice, admittedly, as the Emperor is usually a more mature man, but I felt that Rumble represented the authority and stern will associated with this card. Reversed, the card can represent domination and inflexibility, or a lack of control.
The ankh represents life, and the orb represents the world -- the Emperor holds dominion over both. The high mountains and armor represent protection, but also emotional barriers. However, the river that runs through the mountain suggests these barriers are not as total or impassible as they may first appear.
The Hierophant represents spiritual beliefs, institutions, and traditional wisdom. So, naturally, Celestia made sense for this one because she's ruled Equestria for centuries. She is the institution in many ways.
The Hierophant's triple cloak and three rings of light represent the conscious, sub-conscious and super-conscious mind. The gesture she makes with her wing is meant to represent the connection of the heavenly and the mundane, the sky and earth. The two ponies before her are there to take in her ancient wisdom, mysteries that only she can unlock, as is represented by the keys she wears around her neck.
The Lovers represent love (naturally), relationships, and the alignment of values. Reversed, it represents self-love, disharmony, and misaligned values. I think that Rainbow Dash and Applejack represent this well -- they are quite in tune on things like loyalty to their loved ones, hard work toward achieving goals, cider, and athleticism, but on the flip side, they share a competitive nature that can drive them to fighting, and their values can stand in opposition to one another.
Honestly, I had to play a little fast and loose with the symbolism in this card. There's a lot of religious symbology in the Lovers, traditionally, including a literal angel and the Garden of Eden, and I didn't feel that would translate well into a pony-based context. Also, I just didn't want to try. So, I went my own way. The sun, which may be seen as rising or setting, can be interpreted as a symbol of power and passion, one which can be ascending as a relationship increases in passion, or descending as it settles into stability. The tree in the background is there literally to represent the love story of Applejack's parents, and metaphorically to show the abundant fruits of a relationship well-tended, each partner giving time, energy, and support to the other.
The Chariot is the card of determination, success, and willpower, which clearly meant I had to put a member of the Apple Family on it. Reversed, it means lack of direction or opposition. I chose Apple Bloom for this one because... well, partly, I'd already assigned Applejack, and I had a limited supply of characters from which to draw. But it was also because I see her as very stubborn and a natural leader, as well as an engineer. All of that suits this card quite well.
The setting sun represents transition, of making something new. The laurel wreath and crown of stars are both symbols of victory. The two motors in front of the chariot stand in opposition to one another, representing opposing forces or beliefs and duality -- however, our Charioteer keeps them in line by means of her own iron will, represented by the spanner she holds in her hoof.
I chose Fluttershy for Strength because everybody and their mother chooses Fluttershy for Strength and they're right. This card is all about inner strength, using it to heal and nurture, compassion and having a connection with nature. Reversed, it can mean self-doubt or low energy.
The bear here represents the raw power of nature, which is gently coerced and constrained by Fluttershy's Strength. The white dress represents her pure motives and spirit, while the green belt connects her back to the natural world. The infinity symbol in her mane shows her infinite wisdom and potential.
For the Hermit, I chose Prince Mentiad, my alicorn of logic and knowledge. The Hermit represents self-knowledge, introspection, and inner guidance. Reversed, it means isolation and withdrawal. Mentiad has spent the last thousand years alone in his ivory tower trying to forget the terrible events that forced him to abandon the mortal world, which may not be the greatest coping mechanism ever, but sure.
The light the Hermit casts represents his wisdom and authority. However, it illuminates only a few steps ahead in his trek through the snow, and he must keep moving forward.
This one requires... a little context. Specifically, these two stories (The Prodigal Daughter, The Unexpected Adventures of Trixie and Sunset). Basically, this is Sunset's card, but also features the major gods she meets in that second fic, plus also a wheel that illustrates the deities of Equestria. Does that make some kind of sense? Great.
The Wheel of Fortune represents good luck, karma, fate, and life cycles. Reversed, it's about bad luck, but also breaking cycles. Sunset's journey is in many ways a mirror of Twilight Sparkle's rise to godhood, and she faced quite a few rises and falls in fortune along the way. She was evil for many years, and that was karmically turned back upon her when she started her redemption arc; when she became good, that was slowly turned back on her.
Symbolism! Anubis actually does traditionally appear on the card as a figure of mortality -- opposite him sits the Sphinx, here represented by Ba'ast, representing wisdom and knowledge. Discord is, of course, the serpent of Chaos, bringing life to the material plane. The four creatures also represent the four elements - Sunset is fire, naturally, while nimble and flighty Ba'ast is air, ever-changing Discord is water, and stern, stoic Anubis is earth. The wheel itself is traditionally also covered in religious and alchemical symbolism that doesn't translate all that well to this context, so instead I put on the various deities of Equestria, thus representing spiritual power as well as the elemental power those gods represent. In the center, naturally, I put a mirror. That can represent either reflecting on one's own actions, or perhaps a portal to another, mysterious realm of existence.
Justice represents law, fairness, cause and effect. Reversed, it represents lack of accountability and injustice. So... this is another one where a certain amount of explanation is needed. Cadance is the Princess of Love. I maintain that it is love and compassion that enables the formation of society. We must care about our fellow humans and support them, or else society will collapse. Therefore, Cadance is the Princess of Culture and Civilization, and has a strong connection to law, justice, and mercy.
The symbolism of the scale is... fairly clear. The sword is there as a symbol of the consequences of our actions, as well as a representation of the suit of swords -- the suit of the mind. The purple curtain is a symbol of compassion, and the two pillars represent balance and order. The meaning of the red and green robe is not clear, but I thought it looked very nice and formal, so I kept it.
This is Paradox. She's a draconequus, specifically the goddess of chaotic time. Her earliest memory was of floating in the Time Vortex, all alone. Future versions of herself returned to care for her and teach her, nurture her into her future self. She pulled herself up by the bootstrap paradox, and still lives in the Vortex, running a bed and breakfast for stranded time travelers. Upright, the card symbolizes pause, new perspectives, and surrender. Reversed, it can mean indecision, resistance, or delays.
The upside-down posture is symbolic of viewing the world from a different perspective, while the peaceful expression on her face shows that this was an intentional decision on her part. Her hands are clasped behind her back, suggesting restraint, but it is wholly by her own will that the Hanged Man is restrained. Her red waistcoat represents passion and the physical form, while her blue scarf tempers it with the desire for knowledge and mental prowess. She is looking away from winter and into spring, suggesting that she is looking toward the future and preparing for what it brings.
Here we have Prince Omega, Alicorn of Death. He's the Grim Reaper, the Pale Horse of Death, the Harvester of Souls. I probably don't need to go into too much reasoning about why I picked him for this card, huh. The Death card, contrary to popular belief, doesn't necessarily mean death. It means endings, transition, and transformation, such as transitioning into a new job or stage of your life. Inverted, in can mean resistance to change or inner transformation.
The symbolism here isn't exactly subtle, but here goes anyway. I did go pretty well off from the traditional design on this one. The white horse symbolizes strength and power, inevitably washing over all things. White is the symbol of its pure motives. The five-petaled rose overhead is likewise a symbol of purity and immortality. Five is also considered the number of change. The wheat in the background represents life -- we are alike in death, and we will be taken in our time, as the scythe Death wields reminds us, but we grow and are alive now. The hourglass is, naturally, a symbol of time, unstoppable in its flow. And that is good. The flow of time brings not only death and sorrow, but also birth, change, growth, and joy.
This is Harlequin, the draconequus of desire and want. They're basically a genie, in that they make a good trade granting wishes. If they judge you a decent person, they'll give you what you want. Make them angry, though, or wish for something that would hurt others, and they can and will twist that back on you. Temperance is the card of balance and moderation; reversed, it means excess or the need to realign your values.
The pouring of water is symbolic of the flow and ebb of life. They have one paw on the ground, representing the need to stay stable, but one in the water, representing the need to be open to change. The red line on the vase represents humanity, bound by the yellow line that represents the laws of nature. Behind them, the road winding across the desert is the journey of life. The crown atop the outcrop represents staying true to one's values -- literally taking the high road.
Discord was a pretty clear choice for the Devil, which represents temptation, corruption, and the shadow self. I mean, in their intro story, they were literally flip-flopping characters' personalities. Inverted, this card means exploring dark thoughts and releasing limiting beliefs. Like Death, the Devil is not an inherently evil card -- exploring dark thoughts and letting loose every now and then are not evil acts in and of themselves, and can allow people to better understand themselves and the world around them.
Symbolism! The eight arrows are a symbol of chaos, while the grapes are symbolic of luxury and addiction. The collar at the foot of the throne is symbolic of captivity, but it sits loose and open -- one must choose to put it on themselves.
Remember how I told you not to worry about the Death and Devil cards? DO worry about the Tower card. This is all about sudden change, upheval, revelation, and disaster. Inverted, it means fear of change or averting disaster. I picked Scootaloo for this one because of another fanfic I wrote awhile back, where she temporarily gets mechanical wings, but has to sacrifice them in order to save the world. Sorry, Scootaloo.
The tower is sturdy, but built on clouds and therefore unstable. It represents ambitions built on false premises. The lightning strike represents sudden change, and the broken wings are symbolic of one's life being shattered by the disaster. Everything is falling, now, to an uncertain ground.
The Star represents hope, faith, and purpose. Inverted, it means distrust and disconnection. I chose Twilight for this because she has great faith in Celestia, as well as in her friends. She also has strong connections to others, her purpose lying as it does in bearing the Element of Magic and being the Princess of Friendship.
The bowls of water represent nourishment and refreshment, particularly of the mind. Twilight's position, straddling land and lake, represents the need for balance between conscious knowledge and unconscious intuition, and the fact that she is bathing represents her vulnerability in this moment. The large star behind her represents her core essence, and the smaller stars floating around it are her connections to the world.
The Moon is the card of illusion and dreams, intuition and the subconscious. Reversed, it can mean emotional repression, internal confusion, or fear being released. Rarity seemed an ideal choice for a card based on intuition and spectacle. She has dreams of glory and fame, and excels at designing outfits to put the wearer in the best possible light.
The light of the Moon is the light of the subconscious -- it lights the way to truth and understanding, but it is much fainter than the light of the Sun. The water is the subconscious mind, and the crayfish within is the conscious mind unfolding within the unconscious. The two Diamond Dogs are representative of the orderly and wild sides of our brains.
The Sun represents vitality and warmth, childish fun, success, and general positivity. Reversed, it is the inner child, being overly optimistic, or feeling down. So... Pinkie Pie. Yeah.
The four balloons represent the four elements or four suits of the minor arcana. The sunflowers represent light and vitality. The birthday blower represents the fun and joy of being connected and at peace with yourself, having nothing to hide and only the happiness and contentment of this moment when you are making a goofy sound and giggling about it.
This is ORB, draconequus of the afterlife and a practicing crossroads demon. He makes deals to bring back the dead -- for a price. That price is usually the temporary use of one's soul after they die, but ORB is flexible on the details. The Judgment card is about judgement, resurrection, absolution, or one's calling. Inverted, it is self-doubt or the inner critic.
ORB is shown here playing the trumpet to awaken the dead and bring them to the afterlife, where they will be judged and found an appropriate place to spend eternity. The insurmountable mountain range in the background represents the futility of attempting to avoid judgement.
Last of the Major Arcana, the World represents (appropriately enough) completion, as well as travel and integration. Reversed, it represents seeking personal closure, shortcuts, and detours. Dinky Doo is the daughter of the Doctor and a friend of the TARDIS, a traveler in time and space.
Dinky here looks back to the past, but moves into the future. She has her horn and a sonic screwdriver, representing two wands -- the Magician held only one, but what she started has now been brought to fruition. The laurel wreath is emblematic of victory, and the four spheres in the corners (Sun, Earth, Moon, and Time Vortex, counterclockwise from upper right) are representative of the four elements (fire, earth, water, and air, respectively). They are there as landmarks to guide the traveler along her path.
So yeah, I spent a couple of weeks making these, so I hope you like them. Coming soon, the suit of Coins!
-6&7
Button, Sunburst, Starswirl... What is about nerds and beards? (Asks a nerd with a beard.)
Funny how Rumble's coloration can make armor seem almost diaphanous. It's as hard as he lets it be.
Specifically when she was going to tell them about the whole "their daughter becoming an eldritch goddess-horror" thing.
So, if I'm reading the Wheel of Fortune correctly, Harlequin's symbol is very nearly the NFPA hazard diamond. This feels appropriate. Sin being exposed to open flame is probably how you get most of the problems in Hell.
I will never get sick of this particular turn of phrase. Brilliant stuff.
... I get the feeling that you deliberately waited until the current point in your current story to post these.
At the risk of being That Guy, you have the Sun numbered as only IX and the World as only XI.
And I have to wonder what Dinky's wings may symbolize...
Fantastic stuff. I always love seeing pony tarot, especially well thought-out ones. Thank you for these.
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I actually had the 'explaining to a recent pair of potted plants that they now have to raise a baby dragon' timeframe in mind, but I think yours fits much better.
Good, because I'm never going to stop using it.
Perhaps...
Honestly it's more that I got bored of waiting. It's still arguably too early for more than a few of these (especially some of the minor arcana), but most of them aren't spoilery of major plot points.
Freedom of travel. The original card had them on the helm and shoes, like Hermes, but I thought this way would be more fitting. I also made them TARDIS blue because reasons.
Okay, I have used Tarot in the past, and done a wee bit of research on their symbolisms... and these are BRILLIANT.
May I use / refer to them in future stories?
(Warning: said tale/s will be a long time in coming. So much to write, so little time...)
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Sure thing!
Ooh, Tarot Cards! I'm a big fan of the Persona series, which feature the Major Arcana prominently, so I'm decently familiar with them and their deeper meanings. These are all great. The art is all fantastic and effort has clearly been put into the symbolism. I'm impressed.