Reading the Tarot
Recently I have read in a book about the Tarot, that there is an assignment of Tarot cards and the astrology signs. I am a Pisces and those are the Tarot cards, which are assigned with it:

Major card: XVIII - The Moon
Court card: Knight of the Cups
Number cards: 8 - 10 of the Cups
Ruling planet: XII - The Hanging Dragon/Man
Increasing planet: III - The Empress

I also have a Tarot card corresponding to my first name: IX - The Hermi

Here are the readings I have found on the Net:


 
The Moon XVIII - The Moon

Between the twin pillars of initiation, a regal Dragon of interplanetary flight rests beside the flowing stream which leads down from the waterfall. It looks back at the Moon, where it began its Journey. Tired, it clears space on the ground so that it can rest and sleep, and in sleep, begin to dream.

Divinatory Meaning: Completion, fulfillment. The end of a major cycle. The world of dreams.

Reverse Meaning: Holding back reality by living in a dream world.

If you look around the room right now, you will (probably!) see people and objects that are comforting in their familiarity. Everything is exactly as you expect it to be. You know that if you closed your eyes and opened them, the room would be the same. But...have you ever lost the familiar to find, in its place, a world so extraordinary you can't even grasp it? This is the experience of the Moon. 

Most of the time we live in a tiny pocket of normality that we wrap around us like a security blanket. We turn our backs on the mysterious universe that waits outside. From time to time we may sneak a peak with our imagination, or venture out through fantasy or expanded awareness. We can be thrust out there unprepared through drugs, madness or intense experiences such as battle. 

The Moon is the light of this realm - the world of shadow and night. Although this place is awesome, it does not have to be frightening. In the right circumstances, the Moon inspires and enchants. It holds out the promise that all you imagine can be yours. The Moon guides you to the unknown so you can allow the unusual into your life. 

Sadly, we are usually afraid of the Moon. In readings, this card often stands for fears and anxieties - the ones that come in the darkest part of the night. Card 18 also stands for illusions. It is easy to lose our way in the moonlight. Be careful not to let deceptions and false ideas lead you astray. Sometimes the Moon is a signal that you are lost and wandering aimlessly. You must find your way back to the path and your clarity of purpose

Knight of the Cups Knight of Cups - An emotionally sensitive man.

The Wise tell us to seek balance - the middle path of moderation. Well...the Knights don't agree! They want to do things all the way, not half-way. They push the energy of their suit as far as it will go, maybe farther. That's why each Knight has a positive and negative side. 

On the positive side, the Knight of Cups is a sensitive soul. He is a poet - a lover of all things romantic and refined. He uses his imagination in wondrous ways and taps the deepest levels of emotion. He knows how to create beauty and share it with others.
On the negative side, this Knight is prone to flights of fancy and illusion. His melodramatic moods are legendary, and his emotions often get the better of him. He's temperamental and takes offense easily. He can't stand unpleasantness and will always let others deal with it. 

In readings, a Knight of Cups shows that his sensitive style is (or could be) impacting the situation in some way - as an aspect of you, someone in your environment (man or woman) or the atmosphere in general. Ask yourself, "Is this Knight's energy helping or hurting?" 

If this Knight's style is evident, then balance is needed. Excess is only helpful in short bursts. Are your feelings appropriate or excessive? Are your daydreams unrealistic? Is someone's moodiness driving you crazy? Is your home life ruled by emotion rather than common sense? It may be time for a change. 

If this Knight's energy is missing, a dose of poetry may be called for. Balance your life by moving toward him ...at least a little. Are you too restrained? Express your feelings. Do you always make the most practical choice? Go for the extravagant one instead. Do you avoid introspection? Take some time to look within and think about your life. Let the Knight of Cups introduce you to his world of romance and beauty.
 

Eight of Cups Eight of Cups - Looking for something on a much deeper level.

 Nothing is permanent in life. Sooner or later, everything slips away...or we slip away from it. The 8 of Cups stands for those moments when we realize, once and for all, that the past is gone. What was true is no longer true. It is indeed time to move on. 

Moving on can mean a physical change such as leaving a job, location or relationship. It can also mean an inner change - releasing old patterns, especially those that have dominated our thoughts and emotions. On the 8 of Cups, we see a man leaving on a journey. He has turned away from his old feelings (cups/river) to strike out on a new path. Sometimes moving on can mean searching for a deeper truth or reality. One day we wake up and realize that we have been asleep in our own lives - living a dream that no longer satisfies. 

Some changes can be wearying. Endings are not always easy. One of the signs of a readiness to leave is lack of energy. When you feel tired and dispirited, you know that something is wrong, and it's time for a new direction. Reexamine your life and your priorities. You will find where in your life you need to move on.

Nine of Cups Nine of Cups - Experiencing life as a celebration.
 

At the physical level, the 9 of Cups is a sign of delight in all the senses. Sights, sounds, tastes, feelings. This card encourages you to seek out pleasure and enjoy your body in every way. You can commune with the natural world as well - the body of Mother Earth. She, too, delights in sharing her abundance. 

At the personal level, the 9 of Cups indicates contentment with the way things are. 

Sometimes it's wonderful to sit back and revel in the knowledge that all's right with the world, but a word of caution. You may be tempted to indulge yourself at the cost of someone else (like our mischievous cat!). This may feel great at the time, but sooner or later the feathers around your mouth will be discovered, and regret will set in. Pursuit of pleasure without regard to consequences is never satisfying in the long run. 

In many tarot traditions, the 9 of Cups is known as the Wish Card. It shows your wish will come true. A wonderful prospect, but remember your fairy tale lessons. You must be sure you know what you really want and accept the responsibilities that go with your wish. If that is the case, then enjoy your good fortune!

Ten of Cups Ten of Cups - Emotional commitments.
 

First, there is joy. Joy goes beyond happiness, contentment, enjoyment. It is the feeling that comes when we know at the deepest level that we are one with All that is, and It is good. Unfortunately, this is not exactly a common feeling! Too often we are blinded by the trials of life and overwhelmed by their challenges. Joy exists, though, and is our birthright. 

Peace is another aspect of the 10 of Cups - the serenity that comes when all elements are in harmony. There is inner peace and outer peace which are reflections of each other. When you are in harmony with yourself, you experience harmony in your environment. When you see the 10 of Cups, know that an end to hostility is possible. If there is fighting around you, it may cease. If you are at war with yourself, you may find peace. 

In readings, this card often signals a time of abundant blessings. It tells you that you can reach for the fulfillment you deserve, and it will come to you. Look for ways to realize joy and create peace. You may find the key to happiness in your family. Your family is the group of people that you are attached to emotionally - for better or worse! If there is trouble in your family right now, work to restore harmony. The time is right for greater closeness.

The Hanging Dragon XII - The Hanging Dragon

A Dragon hangs upside down from the Tree of Life, suspended in what seems to be a state of sleep. At the base of the Tree lie the bones of those mortals, who have come close to tasting the fruits of this Tree, but have not succeded. To one side lies the shield of an ancient human king, Arthur, propped against the side almost as if it were a prize relic.

Divinatory Meaning: Suspended activity; a period of delay.

Reverse Meaninig: Seeing the world as if it were upside down. Topsy-turvy.

The Hanged Man is one of the most mysterious cards in the Tarot deck. It is simple, but complex. It attracts, but also disturbs. It contradicts itself in countless ways. The Hanged Man is unsettling because it symbolizes the action of paradox in our lives. A paradox is something that appears contradictory, and yet is true. The Hanged Man presents to us certain truths, but they are hidden in their opposites. 

The main lesson of the Hanged Man is that we "control" by letting go - we "win" by surrendering. The Hanged Man also tells us that we can "move forward" by standing still. By
suspending time, we can have all the time in the world. 

In readings, the Hanged Man reminds us that the best approach to a problem is not always the most obvious. When we most want to force our will on someone, that is when we should release. When we most want to have our own way, that is when we should sacrifice. When we most want to act, that is when we should wait. The irony is that by making these contradictory moves, we find what we are looking for.

The Empress III - The Empress

Seated on a throne, she bears a newly born dragon in her arms, which has just cracked its way out of the egg. She is Queen over all forms of creativity, on the physical as well as other levels. In this image she is shown to the defense of her brood.

Divinatory Meaning: The need to cultivate your own creativity.

Reverse Meaning: Too easy-going. Not sticking up for your own rights.

The Empress and the High Priestess are the two halves of the female archetype in the Major Arcana. The Empress represents the fertile, life-giving Mother who reigns over the bounty of Nature and the rhythms of the Earth. From her comes all the pleasures and joys of the senses and the abundance of new life in all its forms. The Empress encourages you to strengthen your
connections with the natural world which is the ground of our being. Too often false sophistications and pleasures take us far from our roots. Let the Empress remind you to keep your feet firmly planted in the Earth. 

In readings the Empress can refer to any aspect of Motherhood. She can be an individual mother, but as a Major Arcana card, she also goes beyond the specifics of mothering to its essence - the creation of life and its sustenance through loving care and attention. 

The Empress can also represent lavish abundance of all kinds. She offers a cornucopia of delights, especially those of the senses - food, pleasure and beauty. She can suggest material reward, but only with the understanding that riches go with a generous and open spirit. The Empress asks you to embrace the principle of life and enjoy its bountiful goodness.

The Hermit IX - The Hermit

A solitary Dragon stands on the top of a hill, holding out the light from his lamp so that other travelers may receive light from his example. His is the way of withdrawal from the world of solitude, of meditation. Above him, two downward rays of light, suggestive of both compasses (measurement, exactitude) and the pyramids that were built to draw down cosmic energies from the constellation Draconis. In the background, we see the outline of a human settlement, indicative that this Dragon is no longer part of his family, clan or tribe.

Divinatory Meaning: Withdrawal, reconsideration.

Reverse Meaning: Isolation, alienation.

The traditional hermit is a crusty, bearded character who has withdrawn from the company of men to live a life of seclusion and hardship. Card 9 supports this understanding. The Hermit represents the desire to turn away from the getting and spending of society to focus on the inner world. He seeks answers within and knows that they will come only with quiet and solitude. 

There comes a point in life when we begin to question the obvious. We sense that there is a deeper reality and begin to search for it. This is mainly a solitary quest because answers do not lie in the external world, but in ourselves. The hermit on Card 9 reminds us of Diogenes, the Greek ascetic who is said to have gone out with a lantern in hand to search for an honest man. Diogenes is a symbol of the search for Truth which the Hermit hopes to uncover by stripping away all diversions. 

In readings, the Hermit often suggests a need for time alone - a period of reflection when distractions are limited. In times of action and high energy, he stands for the still center that must be created for balance. He can also indicate that withdrawal or retreat is advised for the moment. In addition, the Hermit can represent seeking of all kinds, especially for deeper understanding or the truth of a situation. "Seek, and ye shall find," we have been told, and so the Hermit stands for guidance as well. We can receive help from wise teachers, and, in turn, help others as we progress.


 
The cards are from the Tarot deck of  "The Dragon Tarot", created and illustrated by Peter Pracownik under the guidance and direction of Terry Donaldson. You can buy the Tarot deck from U.S.Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. They have a website here:  U.S. Games Tarot & Cartomancy You can also order the Tarot deck from amazon.com  Amazon.com: A Glance: Dragon Tarotdeck

The readings are to be find here: http://www2.dgsys.com/~bunning/cards.htm - Individual Tarot Cards

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