As an intuitive reader, I loosely work with Elemental Dignities in my Tarot readings. While you don’t have to learn Elemental Dignities to use the Tarot, I highly recommend learning this system, together with Astrological correspondences. I see no need whatsoever to bother with reversals other than to familiarise yourself with some of the most common ways to interpret the upside-down cards.
Origins and Basics
Elemental Dignities is a powerful system used in Tarot card readings to determine the strength and significance of cards based on their elemental relationships. This method originated with MacGregor Mathers, a founding member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, who first described it in a manuscript called “Book T”.
The system of Elemental Dignities is rooted in the association of the four classical elements (Fire, Water, Air, and Earth) with the suits of the Tarot:
- Wands: Fire
- Cups: Water
- Swords: Air
- Pentacles: Earth
The four classical elements in astrology and Tarot are associated with specific qualities that define their nature and influence. Here are the qualities associated with each element:
Fire: Hot and Dry
Fire is characterised by its intense, active energy. The hot quality represents its passionate, energetic, and transformative nature, while the dry quality reflects its ability to consume and change.
Fire signs are typically:
- Energetic and dynamic
- Ambitious and goal-oriented
- Enthusiastic and inspiring
- Impulsive and sometimes volatile
Earth: Cold and Dry
Earth represents stability and practicality. The cold quality signifies its grounding and conservative nature, while the dry quality indicates its solidity and resistance to change.
Earth signs are often:
- Practical and reliable
- Patient and persistent
- Materialistic and security-focused
- Methodical and organised
Air: Hot and Moist
Air embodies intellect and communication. The hot quality represents its active, idea-generating nature, while the moist quality reflects its adaptability and fluidity of thought.
Air signs tend to be:
- Intellectual and analytical
- Communicative and social
- Adaptable and flexible
- Idealistic and abstract thinkers
Water: Cold and Moist
Water symbolises emotion and intuition. The cold quality represents its receptive and introspective nature, while the moist quality signifies its fluidity and ability to adapt to its container.
Water signs are typically:
- Emotional and intuitive
- Empathetic and nurturing
- Imaginative and creative
- Sensitive and sometimes moody
Understanding these elemental qualities can provide deeper insights into the nature of zodiac signs, Tarot cards, and their interactions in various divinatory practices.
Astrological Correspondences
Additionally, the Major Arcana cards are also assigned elemental associations based on their corresponding astrological signs or planets.
Zodiac Signs
Fire Signs:
- Aries (The Emperor)
- Leo (Strength)
- Sagittarius (Temperance)
Earth Signs:
- Taurus (The Hierophant)
- Virgo (The Hermit)
- Capricorn (The Devil)
Air Signs:
- Gemini (The Lovers)
- Libra (Justice)
- Aquarius (The Star)
Water Signs:
- Cancer (The Chariot)
- Scorpio (Death)
- Pisces (The Moon)
Planets
Fire:
Earth:
- Venus (The Empress, ruling Taurus)
- Saturn (The World, ruling Capricorn)
Air:
- Mercury (The Magician, ruling Gemini and Virgo)
- Uranus (The Fool, modern ruler of Aquarius)
Water:
- Moon (The High Priestess, ruling Cancer)
- Neptune (The Hanged Man, modern ruler of Pisces)
Multiple Elements:
- Jupiter (The Wheel of Fortune, ruling Sagittarius and traditional ruler of Pisces)
- Venus (The Empress, also rules Libra, an Air sign)
- Mercury (The Magician, also rules Virgo, an Earth sign)
- Mars (The Tower, traditional ruler of Scorpio, a Water sign)
- Saturn (The World, traditional ruler of Aquarius, an Air sign)
These elemental correspondences provide a framework for understanding the basic qualities and energies associated with each zodiac sign and planet in astrology
How to Use Elemental Dignities
To apply Elemental Dignities in a reading, consider the relationships between adjacent cards based on their elemental associations. Here are the basic principles:
- Same Element: Cards of the same element strengthen each other.
- Complementary Elements: Fire and Air are complementary, as are Water and Earth. These pairs strengthen each other.
- Opposing Elements: Fire opposes Water, and Air opposes Earth. These pairs weaken each other.
Examples
Let’s illustrate how to use Elemental Dignities with some examples:
Three of Wands + Knight of Wands
Both cards are associated with Fire. This combination would be very strong, emphasising passion, creativity, and action.
Queen of Cups + King of Pentacles
Water (Cups) and Earth (Pentacles) are complementary. This pairing suggests a harmonious blend of emotions and practicality.
Ace of Swords + Five of Cups
Air (Swords) and Water (Cups) are opposing elements. This combination might indicate a conflict between logical thinking and emotional responses.
The Emperor + Eight of Wands
The Emperor (Aries) is associated with Cardinal Fire in the Major Arcana, and Wands represent Fire. This pairing would be very powerful, amplifying themes of leadership and swift action.
Two of Swords + Three of Pentacles
The Two of Swords is associated with Air, while the Three of Pentacles is associated with Earth. These are opposing elements in the Elemental Dignities system. This combination suggests a tension between mental processes and practical, material concerns, potentially weakening each other’s influence. It might indicate challenges in translating ideas or decisions into concrete, collaborative action, or the need to balance intellectual considerations with tangible outcomes.
Reading in Triads
When reading cards in groups of three, the central card is considered the most important, with the flanking cards modifying its meaning:
- If the flanking cards are of the same element, they strongly influence the central card.
- If the flanking cards are of opposing elements, they tend to neutralise each other, making the central card extremely significant.
By incorporating Elemental Dignities into your Tarot practice, you can add depth and nuance to your readings, gaining insights that go beyond the traditional card meanings. This system is particularly useful for readers who don’t use reversed cards, as it provides an alternative method for assessing the strength and challenges represented by each card in a spread.
The Advantages of Elemental Dignities Over Reversals
First and foremost, Elemental Dignities provide a more nuanced approach to card interpretation compared to reversals. Instead of simply having an upright or reversed meaning, cards are interpreted based on their more subtle and complex relationships with adjacent cards. Dignities thus allow for a wide spectrum of interpretations ranging from strengthened to weakened energies.
This allows for a more dynamic and contextual reading, as the meaning of each card can shift depending on its elemental interactions.
Compatibility with All Decks
Some Tarot decks, such as the Crowley-Harris-Thoth deck, are not designed to work with reversals.
Using dignities allows readers to extract more information from these decks without relying on card orientation. This makes dignities a versatile tool that can be applied across various Tarot traditions and deck designs.
Deeper Understanding of Card Relationships
Elemental Dignities encourage readers to consider the relationships between cards more closely. This system helps in understanding how cards interact with and influence each other, leading to a more holistic interpretation of the spread.
It can reveal subtleties in the reading that might be missed when focusing solely on individual card meanings.
Alternative to Reversals for New Readers
For new Tarot readers who may find reversals overwhelming, dignities offer an alternative method for adding depth to readings. It allows beginners to focus on learning the upright meanings of cards while still having a system to interpret more complex situations.
Enhanced Court Card Interpretation
Elemental Dignities are particularly useful for interpreting Court Cards. The system helps readers recognise how the metaphysical energies of Court Cards interact, assessing their relative strengths and weaknesses in a spread.
This can lead to more accurate personality assessments and relationship dynamics in readings.
To summarise: By using dignities, we can access a rich, nuanced system of interpretation that is more intuitive and goes beyond the binary nature of reversals.
