Exercises - Lesson 15
Card Pairs
(See Introduction to Exercises.)
Exercise 15.1 - Permanent Pairs in the Major Arcana
Below are two scrambled lists of major arcana cards. Match each card in list 1 with the card in list 2 that you feel is its permanent opposing pair. Give a short meaning for each card that shows the balancing relationship. Try this exercise before looking at the card pages. You can check my suggestions, if you wish. For example: Magician (Action) - High Priestess (Nonaction).
Exercise 15.2 - Other Permanent Pairs
For each minor arcana card below:
- Choose one meaning for the card.
- Think of a meaning that is the opposite.
- Find another card (major or minor) that suggests this opposite meaning.
For ideas, scan the keyword summary charts and the opposing cards section of each card.
- Two of Wands
- Ten of Pentacles
- Seven of Swords
- Two of Cups
- Five of Wands
- Five of Swords
- Eight of Pentacles
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Cups
Exercise 15.3 - Court Card Pairs
People both help and annoy each other because of their differences. Below are twelve court card pairs. For each one:
- Choose a personality trait for person A that is typical of that court card.
- Describe one way A might help person B because of that trait.
- Describe one way A might annoy person B because of that trait.
You can check my suggestions, if you wish. See the court card and suit pair charts for ideas. Here's an example:
- Knight of Swords: direct/blunt
- helps the Queen of Pentacles to learn to say no.
annoys the Queen of Pentacles when he is rude to strangers.
Exercise 15.4 - Reinforcing Pairs
For each card below:
- Choose one meaning for the card.
- Find a card (major or minor) that suggests a similar meaning.
For ideas, scan the keyword summary charts and the reinforcing cards section of each card.
- Three of Wands
- Four of Pentacles
- Temperance
- Three of Swords
- Five of Cups
- Eight of Wands
- Nine of Pentacles
- Justice
- Six of Cups
Exercise 15.5 - Occasional Pairs
For each pair in the chart below, place the two cards side by side in front of you and gaze at them lightly for a few moments. Find some way to interpret the cards so they either oppose or reinforce each other. You can check my suggestions, if you wish. Here are two possibilities for the Empress and the Three of Cups:
Empress - A lone woman focused on herself.
Three of Cups - A group of women focused on each other.
Empress - A seated woman who is rather serious and inactive.
Three of Cups - Dancing women who are lively and lighthearted.
For extra practice, deal out two cards at random on your own.
Exercise 15.6 - Your Balance Issues
Identify a balance issue that is meaningful to you at this time. Here are some possibilities:
- controlling---letting go
- being free---being restricted
- feeling joy---feeling sadness
- creating peace---creating conflict
- working---playing
- playing it safe---risking
- moving slow---moving fast
- acting---waiting
- coming together---moving apart
- feeling victorious---feeling defeated
Identify two cards that represent the opposite ends of your issue. In the next few weeks, think about these cards from time to time. Are you closer to one of these cards, or in the middle? Watch for these cards to show up in your readings.
Lesson 15
