When I first started to read Tarot cards, the Elements were abstract concepts to me. I didn’t walk outside my house and notice the interactions of the Elements, I never truly had the sense that they existed all around me, influencing and causing events. It was only many years later, after reading plenty of books, that I had some sense of how it all fitted together.
This post covers some of the most useful information I’ve picked up concerning the Element Fire; I think it will help develop your confidence when reading for others.
The first way to think about Fire is how way we use this term in everyday language. It’s truly the language of passion, love and lust.
We are said to be inflamed by our feelings; and those of us who are in love are said to carry a torch.
Likewise, a lover you once knew might be described as an old flame. When asked, some people might describe their feelings as, burning. This doesn’t necessarily have to be a feeling we have for others. Rather it might be that you burn with your beliefs.
If something is urgent we might describe it as a burning issue.
When someone is angry they might be described as smouldering or fuming.
When the Element Fire is present in a reading, we can use some of the above ideas to aid us in understanding what the cards are hinting at for our client. Likewise, if there is a lack of Fire, then we know that there is a lack of passion or belief for example.
One of the first mythological stories that I ever read featured the Titan, Prometheus; who stole the Fire from the gods and gave it to mankind. Prometheus was punished severely for his betrayal and mankind was no longer innocent.
Perhaps the price was worth paying. Without Fire mankind would never have progressed in terms of technologies (think about metals; how buildings are created) and so on.
In a reading we can view Fire as indicating progress and development. Prometheus not only gave us Fire but civilization and the creative arts. Perhaps this myth indicates how these things go hand in hand with Fire.
The lack of Fire in a Tarot reading would indicate the lack of progress and nothing new being created.
We also talk about Fire in terms of danger, ‘playing with Fire’. This is an extremely destructive Element if things get out of control. In a Tarot reading, an excess of Fire might lead you to conclude that your client’s life is running away with him – possibly ending in the destruction of what he wants to create.
Be aware of the elements in your readings, look for an excess of one over the other. In the case of Fire, whether it is in excess or lack, the other Elements will seek to redress the balance.
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4 comments… Let's discuss
Yes FIRE…it is powerful but not more powerful then the other elements. I find it interesting that the other elements strive to keep it “in balance” Is this true of the other elements? I mean if we have too much air….do the others try to balance it? Or is it simply the destructive properties of fire that must be kept in check? I don’t know very much at all about the elements. One time I did one of those Chinese elements readings and it said I was fire. I think it was based on birth date or something, can’t remember. Do you believe the elements play out in people’s personalities?
Hi Ginger, thanks for dropping by
If I understand you correctly, and please say if I have not, then the answer to the first part of the comment is this: no one Element is anymore powerful than the other.
The Four Elements create the visible Universe. Each is as important, or unimportant, as the other. Each Element serves a function and no one function is more important. The difficulty with the Elements, the interactions of the Elements, is that they can never achieve a perfect harmony; a perfect balance. The plain fact of the matter is, some of the Elements just repel each other. In concrete terms, this is why nothing can stay the same. The Elements are constantly at play, seeking that perfect harmony with each other but never being able to get there.
What I meant by balance can best be illustrated through a Tarot reading. Consider a spread of cards that has an excess of Air for example. In this spread, the Air Element dominates the other three Elements, however, Elements being Elements, they will seek to readdress this imbalance. Again, this is where the statement: The only constant in the Universe is Change, derives part of it’s meaning. Likewise, we could also imagine a situation where there is an absence of an Element – for example, Earth. In this case, the other Elements will be working hard to achieve the stability that is lacking. In other words, they will try and readdress the imbalance. When the Elements get around to re-balancing themselves is anyone’s guess, and in some sense, is part of the reason for so much diversity in human experience.
Absolutely! As an example, The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and their Rituals of initiation, where based on balancing the Elements within the psyche.
On some level, the Elements that play out in people’s personalities are much like Spirits. The personality does not control them, but is made up from them; perhaps even controlled, to some extent, by them. If we agree with that point of view then awareness of self is one approach for achieving balance. Osho writes a lot about this.
Yes I was just stating the obvious no one element is more important than others. I’ll have to do some more reading about this topic, especially as it pertains to personailities. I’m quite a novice at all of this. At times, I’m not sure what I believe about any of it. LOL…I am a Christian…I only say that because I think some people do not believe that one can be interested in such topics and be Christian. I disagree with that idea, of course. Perhaps it goes all the way back to my childhood and the strange things that unfolded in my life on (what we now call) the haunted farm where I grew up……but I won’t bore you with all that…just trying to explain why my perspective is maybe by some standards a little skewed and also perhaps why I do not quickly shut the door on things I do not understand or can not really explain. I am learning lots of great stuff here at your site…may not agree with it all…but even things we disgree with broaden our insights and enrich our lives.
Hi Ginger,
Thank you for taking the time to share your experiences.
What struck me about your comment the most was:
This is an excellent place to be and one that I share. The uncertainty you feel is the guiding light of the Star, or perhaps the Lantern of the Hermit.
We may never find the answers we seek but the uncertainty we feel, the incomprehensible vastness of the Universe that stares back at us, and how we negotiated that terror – helps us walk our own path; live our own lives and become, which for me is quite important, a unique individual.
I’m glad you’re enjoying the blog and if there is anything you disagree with then let me know. I’m all about, and therefore Tarot Eon is all about, conflicting ideas.
I’ve always liked haunted houses
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