2. The High Priestess

The subconscious; what you know in your heart, deep down. The 'still, small voice'.

The High Priestess represents what is known by the subconscious mind; instinct and intuition. She is wise, but her wisdom is not freely dispensed; she is the oracle who gives her pronouncements in a strange language, only half understood. If you take the trouble to listen carefully, and learn the language, you can be taught wisdom. She is the mysterious, divine woman-chaste, but potentially fertile. She represents serene, intuitive knowledge; she is lsis veiled.

Reversed, she is Diana, who had Actaeon torn to shreds for daring to look upon her naked body, the virgin who is afraid of the emotional commitment of sex. She is Mata Hari, who destroyed her lovers. The wisdom from the subconscious is poorly understood and wrongly interpreted; she misleads you into believing that she is in possession of the truth: if you believe her, you're only kidding yourself.

1. The Magician

The Magician signifies skill. When the card turns up in a reading, it refers to the ability to use one's capabilities to complete a task. Keep in mind the saying, " The quickness of the hand deceives the eye."

The Magician knows exactly what he can do, and he is willing to do it. He is a master in his own area of expertise. This card signifies will, in the sense of knowing one's own mind and acting upon it. However, he is also a manipulator, a sleight-of-hand operator. He works alone, and so this card indicates that no useful help will be forthcoming from others. They stand amazed at the magician's "miracles", which are so easy for him because he has the know-how. If you read a book on stage magic, you will see how simply some of the tricks can be performed, yet how convincing they are if delivered with confidence. Believe in yourself!

In reverse, the Magician becomes the Juggler - entertaining and undoubtedly skilled, but not mysterious. Could he use his skills to find fame and fortune? Perhaps he could, but he's afraid to try