However, if I were to combine tarot and fandoms I'm in the post would fit. Hence this post. This was partially inspired by me thinking about making a tarot deck of my fandoms and my disappointment about the Game of Thrones tarot deck. The latter had the Moondoor on The Moon card.
I will provide minor explanations about different parts of the tarot deck, but I'm not expecting some explanations to be useful to the newcomer. So if you're interested in doing tarot, you'll need to do your own research.
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Major Arcana means "big truths" basically and are the most important cards of the Tarot deck. If you do a tarot reading and get mainly Major Arcana cards, you know the answer you received is extremely important.
This part of the tarot tells the story of a man journeying from ignorance (The Fool) to understanding (The World).
For The Fool I wanted to choose a character that was at the beginning of their journey as that's the heart of the card. I also wanted the character to showcase someone who does go on a journey and learns a lot.
Hence I chose the Ellimist from the Animorphs series. He starts life as a Ketran and eventually becomes a demigod. His journey involves him learning to put the past behind him and to be unafraid to evolve to fit a current situation.
The Magician isn't a card that has to relate to magic. It can, of course, but the heart of it is knowledge. So for The Magician I wanted a character who was extremely smart and others turned to for advice. Or a character that offered up his or her advice.
Hence I chose Samwell Tarly from Game of Thrones. Samwell is extremely poor with a sword but is more than useful gathering information for others. He is able to able to find out about components to make weapons to kill wights and is the one to figure out that Jon Snow was never a bastard. And while he isn't good with a sword, he was the first person to kill a White Walker.
While The Magician's knowledge is in the material world, The High Priestess focuses on spiritual knowledge. Not just answering what action would work best but if it is morally right to do so. So I needed an extremely moral character for this card.
Hence I chose Cassie from Animorphs. Many fans are annoyed about her moralizing and some are annoyed that she slows the plot down. But the whole reason she questions every decision is because she doesn't want her friends to lose themselves in the war against the Yeerks. While she is a pacifist at heart, she is also able to do some of the cruelest actions in the series when the need arises.
The Empress represents fertility, motherhood, and the classical feminine. So I needed a mother figure for this card. I also wanted to choose a mother figure that wasn't the usual one you'd turn to. That meant any maternal character that was beloved by the majority of a fandom was out.
Hence I chose Catelyn Stark from Game of Thrones. She is an extremely feminine character and she is a mother with children. There is nothing she won't do so that her children will survive. While she is a loving mother, she doesn't treat Jon Snow with much respect as she believes he is Ned's bastard child.
The Emperor is not a card I like and it wasn't until I read what it meant that I understood why. This card represents order and that is not me. I like to do what I do without being overly concerned about structure. The card also reminds me of my dad who I don't have good relations with. So the character for this card had to be concerned with order and stability. I also wanted the character to not be overly likeable to the majority of the fandom.
Hence I chose Stannis Baratheon from Game of Thrones. His plotline is about claiming the Iron Throne not because he wants it, but because he feels it is his duty to rule. To make such a decision requires believing in order. He does have his downsides, the main ones are burning his daughter alive for the chance of victory and sentencing his own brother to death.
While The Hierophant can refer to someone that holds a high religious rank, as this card is also called the Pope, it can also refer to someone that follows laws. Reversed this card can refer to following the law too strictly. So I was looking for a character who was extremely strict within his culture.
Hence I chose Erek King from Animorphs. He is an android and so is forced to follow his pacifistic programming. A robot's programming is a kind of law so I believe he fits this card. At one point he does reprogram himself but then decides he prefers the life of a pacifist.
The Lovers represents a deep connection between people. This connection can be romantic or platonic. All that matters is that the connection runs deep between people. So I needed two characters that were in love or at least I think they were. This was hard to do as I am a huge multi-shipper so I had a lot to go through. The ship that nearly made this card was Rachel/Tobias from Animorphs as it had what I was looking for.
But I decided on Jorah Mormont/Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones instead. If you believe they're a romantic couple then it fulfills the romantic angle of this card. Jorah sees the potential Daenerys has inside of her and she learns to trust him above anyone else. If you do believe they're just good friends, it does not change the strength of their bond. So they fulfill different aspects of this card.
The Chariot is a card that can refer to victory or military service. Reversed it refers to how someone can question their life choices and the path they are currently on. So for The Chariot I wanted a character that is both a fighter and conflicted about the road they're on.
Hence I chose Jaime Lannister from Game of Thrones. Jaime Lannister fights for those he loves which at one time included Cersei Lannister his twin sister and lover. The ones he fought for also included those of King's Landing. At one point he killed King Aerys II Targaryen, aka the Mad King, as he was going to destroy King's Landing. Jaime was on a road of self-discovery from Seasons 1 through 7. In Season 8 the writers forgot how to write a compelling character arc.
Strength doesn't refer simply to physical strength but refers also to mental strength. So for this card I wanted to choose someone that was mentally strong. It also didn't hurt if the character was also strong physically.
Hence I chose Rachel from Animorphs. This might be a surprising one for some fans as she is most notable for her physical strength. The ghostwriters tended to lean on this character's need for violence and action rather than her strong mind. Besides kicking Yeerk butt, Rachel was strong mentally as she isn't a dumb character. She was also mentally strong enough to be fine with her role of getting her hands dirty so her friends could remain blameless.
The Hermit is a fellow traveler who grants wisdom. Reversed this card can also represent turning away from family and friends. For this card I wanted to showcase the positive side of this card and also its more negative side.
Hence I chose Luke Skywalker from Star Wars. He brings with him great wisdom when he is feeling strong enough. He was able to turn Anakin Sywalker away from the pull of the Dark Side. He was also able to start a Jedi Academy to train future Jedi. He can also run away when he isn't feeling strong enough. After Ben Solo destroyed the Jedi Academy, Luke felt defeated and ran away to hide in the vastness of space.
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Wheel of Fortune hints at good luck and so the character for this card needed to be someone lucky. Someone who has favor shine down upon them. However, I also wanted the reverse to be true of the character.
Hence I chose David from Animorphs. Due to extreme circumstances, he is allowed to join the ranks of the Animorphs. Instead of being content and understanding of the situation he found himself in, he decided to rebel. At one point he thought he killed Tobias and was fine with that. Initially he had the upper hand on the Animorphs. That changed when the group got a good handle on the situation and trapped the traitor in rat morph. Later he allied with Crayak when he thought that would make his situation better. But that plan backfired.
Justice represents the idealized form of the word. It is the card that represents the decision of choosing right or wrong. So the character I chose had to be big on making sure justice was served. A character that was so moral that they couldn't help but do what was right.
Hence I chose Jon Snow from Game of Thrones. He is one of the most honorable men on the show and that is saying a lot. This is a show where not many people are moral and what morality is isn't easily told. Yet Jon navigates the hard decisions to come out a better man. Except in Season 8 where he...well that's a rant for a different post.
The Hanged man is a card that focuses on self-reflection. It is about a period of time where you are free to think about your life. A peaceful time before life starts up again and you are forced back into your journey. So the character I chose had a large time of reflection. This wasn't an easy card for me to pick.
I chose Elfangor-Sirinial-Shamtul from Animorphs. When you initially meet him he seems like a hero. He is the one to give the Animorphs their ability to morph. He is also the older brother to Ax and father to Tobias. Later you learn that he ran away from the war with the Yeerks for some time. He became trapped in human morph and started a life with Loren. After that peaceful period where he was free to reflect, the Ellimist came and brought him back into the war with the Yeerks.
Death is an extremely complicated card and one of my favorites. As someone who has encountered ravens along her spiritual journey, it isn't too surprising that I'd like this card. Literal death could occur if you see this card but a metaphorical death can happen just as easily. It could indicate you are ending one part of your journey just as much as it could mean you're reaching the end of your days. So the character for this card had to represent multiple facets of Death.
Hence I chose Alloran-Semitur-Corrass from Animorphs. He is an extremely complicated character. He is steadfast in his views and ends up committing genocide on the Hork-Bajir race. That resulted in no free Hork-Bajir until the events of Animorphs #13 The Change. He did a great evil because the war against the Yeerks seemed hopeless. For that action he is unofficially demoted and forced to do tasks that someone of lower ranking could easily accomplish. Eventually he becomes the host of Esplin 9466. During that time he loses all hope at life and at one point asks Ax to kill him, something the young Andalite refuses to do. He does regain his freedom at the end of the series and seems to be a changed man.
Temperance is all about the balancing act. It's about not letting one thing become greater than another thing. Such as you like chocolate but you can't eat chocolate at every meal. So for this card I wanted a character who was defined by a balancing act of some kind.
Hence I chose Aximili-Esgarrouth-Isthill from Animorphs. He is stranded on Earth as the only surviving Andalite from the battle that occurred shortly before Animorphs #1 The Invasion. As he still wants to fight the Yeerks, he teams up with the other Animorphs. His whole character arc involves him learning to disregard the bad parts of his upbringing so he can be a better friend to his human companions. He never becomes fully human but by the end he is extremely changed by his journey.
The Devil doesn't reference the Christian deity. Instead it can reference the darkness within the human soul. Reversed it can reference a person redeeming themselves. So for this card I wanted a character who showed both extremes.
Hence I chose Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones. At first he is an annoying character who turns on the family who raised him. He takes over Winterfell all because he wants to impress his birth father. Ramsay Bolton captures and tortures Theon to the point the Greyjoy's personality is replaced by Reek. It isn't until he sees Sansa Stark raped by Ramsay that he is able to become Theon again. By the end of the series he dies fighting during the Battle of Winterfell to protect the family he once betrayed. He wouldn't have to die if Bran warned him. But, again, rant for a different post.
The Tower represents a violent change that isn't exactly comfortable. This change doesn't lead to good things though it may lead to new insights. So I wanted a character who fell from their current state and it wouldn't hurt if the character was the downfall of someone else.
Hence I chose the Night King from Game of Thrones. The show hardly gives the most important villain on the show a backstory, but at least we are given one. He was a human before the Children of the Forest transformed him into the Night King. They did this as they were waging war on the First Men. Their plan backfired and the Night King gathered an army of his own and attacked the living. Many years later, in a poorly written episode, he attacked Winterfell and was put out of his misery by Arya Stark.
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The Star is a card I think of as 'hope for the hopeless'. It is a promise of a bright future. Reversed it can involve being deceived by yourself and false praises of others. So for the card I wanted a character who either began with a bright future and ended with a bad one. Or the reverse of that.
Hence I chose Estrid-Corill-Darrath from Animorphs. In the beginning she thought the mission she was on was a noble one and admired Arbat. This was helped by the fact females in Andalite society are considered less than their male counterparts. So when one high ranking male showed interest in her intelligence, she was deceived. Later she turned back on Arbat and the mission. Even though canon doesn't say anything of her story past this point, it is known that she was forever changed by her experiences. Thus allowing her a brighter future than before.
The Moon represents such things as the unknown and false friends. Reversed it can mean overcoming weaknesses. So for The Moon I wanted a character who was hard to read and went through a serious character arc.
Hence I chose Murtagh Morzansson from the Inheritance Cycle. He starts out as a friend to Eragon but the majority of the series they're on opposite side of the war. Eragon even gets angry at Murtagh even though the boy is being controlled by Galbatorix. The boy has no choice but to be an enemy. Now he is an angry person and holds some less than pleasant views at times, but if it were up to him he would not join the side of the person trying to take over the world. By the end of the series he changes so much that he is able to change his True Name, basically the essence of a person, and free himself from Galbatorix's grasp.
The Sun represents truths being revealed and is all together a very joyful card. Taking cues from the literal sun, the world seems much clearer in the daytime than in the dark. But The Sun has the downside of being much too intense. So the character for this card needed to be able to showcase the extremes of both ends.
Hence I chose Khal Drogo from Game of Thrones. It is Daenerys Targaryen's marriage to him that allows her to see the strong woman inside herself. Without him she would have continued to be the scared little girl that could not navigate the world. Drogo's demise came from him being too confident in his abilities and from Daenerys' naive nature.
Judgment is all about changing your perception of the world. It is about a large paradigm shift that makes you reconsider everything. Reversed it can mean that this shift is bringing you down. So I wanted a character that was a leader and whose views shifted over the course of the story.
Hence I chose Jake Berenson from Animorphs. He starts off the series as a reluctant hero who has no wish to lead. He ends up making more and more morally grey choices as the war escalates. He goes from needing to save Tom to realizing his brother has to die. Near the end of the war he feels like he has to never doubt himself again and becomes an even darker character. After the war he is brought into a state of depression as he questions every single choice he ever made. Eventually he does regain some semblance of self and teaches another generation of morph capable humans. His story ends when he decides to get involved in yet another war.
The World represents the ending of a journey and it's no coincidence that it's the final card of the Major Arcana. You now have everything you need. So I needed a character who had completed a major journey.
Hence I chose Bran Stark from Game of Thrones. I am not happy that he is king as it wasn't properly set up but he did complete a major journey. He started life as an everyday boy and became much more than that. After he was pushed from the tower by Jaime Lannister, he began his journey of becoming the Three-Eyed Raven aka the last greenseer. It was him who gave Arya Stark the weapon that killed the Night King and his testimony that helped bring down Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. Since he could tell he would become King, that means he sacrificed the entirety of King's Landing to gain power.
Minor Arcana means "minor truths". While less important than the Major Arcana, these cards are still highly important in understanding yourself and the universe. These cards deal with everyday situations instead of life changing moments. But, hey, life is mostly day to day stuff.
There are four suits in the Minor Arcana: Swords, Cups, Wands, and Coins. Each suit represents a different element and part of life.
The Suit of Swords is connected to the element of air. It is also connected to the mind and conflict. As hawks and eagles are symbolic of the mind, it isn't any surprise when those birds appear in some decks in this Suit.
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Ace of Swords is a card of leadership. It represents a new beginning and the mindset to continue on with your goals. So I needed a character that was a leader.
Hence I chose Toby from the Animorphs series. She is a Hork-Bajir Seer which means her intelligence is more like that of a humans rather than one of her own species. As Hork-Bajir were made to farm trees, the Arn didn't need them to do anything complicated. So due to her unique genes, Toby became the leader of the Free Hork-Bajir and did everything in her power to continue to free Hork-Bajir from the Yeerks.
Two of Swords is all about maintaining balance and neutrality. It also deals with the downsides of that concept. So I needed a character who didn't tend to take sides or whose loyalties did change from time to time.
Hence I chose Balthazar from Supernatural. After he saw that Castiel could break the rules, he decided to sneak off to Earth to live a life of luxury. Everything that had been forbidden before was now something new for him to explore. He tended not to be loyal to anyone but Castiel and cared about no one but himself. However, when Balthazar realized the dark road his friend was going on he decided to side with the Winchesters. This bit of bravery ended up leading to his death.
Upright and reversed, the Three of Swords is full of pain. Both real and imagined. So I needed a character who was in near constant pain. With all the things I like to read and watch, that was a long list of characters to choose from.
In the end I chose Dean Winchester from Supernatural. His big drive is to protect Sam, his little brother. He uses sarcasm, sex, and alcohol to cope from all the pain he feels inside. Even when he does get some happiness in Lisa and Ben, he is never comfortable with it.
The Four of Swords is about self-reflection and figuring out oneself. So I needed a character who had to constantly think about who they were and didn't end up in the greatest of places.
Hence I chose Tobias from Animorphs. His mother and father ended up abandoning him. Though his true father couldn't be with him for...it's really complicated for me to explain here. Tobias ended up being shuttled from his abusive Aunt to his abusive Uncle and back again. So when he got the power to morph, he trapped himself in red-tailed hawk morph to escape his living situation. This just ended up causing more problems such as him having to figure out who he was. If he was a hawk or a human. He ended up getting his power to morph back and would've become trapped in human morph to live with his girlfriend, but she died during the final battle. Tobias lived life fully as a hawk and only returned to civilization when Ax was in trouble.
My first deck showed the Five of Swords as a man who could be either a noble person or a scavenger. Depending on the reading, you could either be that person or an observer. So I needed a character that exemplified a scavenger to me.
Hence I chose Ramsay Bolton from Game of Thrones. Ramsay was conceived when his father raped a woman and so was born a bastard. He sought to rise up in the ranks by whatever means necessary. His actions were beyond cruel and he lacked any true moral compass. He tortured Theon Greyjoy to the point of breaking his mind. Sometime after becoming legitimized, he felt his ranking was compromised when his father's wife had a son. So he killed his father, mother, and brother for safety. He was finally killed when Sansa Stark, a woman he had raped, had his starved dogs eat him.
The Six of Swords is all about going on a journey. This doesn't have to involve going somewhere, but can be a mere change of mind. It can also involve water. So I needed a character who went on a lovely character arc that revolved around them changing their entire outlook on the world.
Hence I chose Aftran 942 from Animorphs. Aftran had grown up her entire life believing in Yeerk Empire Propaganda. She didn't see any way to live except conquering countless worlds. It isn't until she meets Cassie that she starts the Yeerk Resistance Movement. When Visser Three is about to have her executed, the Animorphs rescue her. She then allows herself to become trapped in humpback whale morph.
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The Seven of Swords is all about battling with the mind. So I wanted a character who was extremely fitted to battling while being extremely careful of their actions.
Hence I chose Crayak from Animorphs. Crayak's exact origins are shrouded in secrecy. What is well known, though, is his battle against the Ellimist. Ever since the two met, they have warred with each other. Crayak is not allowed to battle with his full power and, instead, he must make small moves that will have devastating consequences. Whether this creature is good or bad is up to debate.
The Eight of Swords is about being constrained, most likely by your own fault. However, for my pick of character I was willing to look at people who were constrained by forces outside of their control. Who had found themselves in a situation that they were not to be blamed of.
Hence I chose Eva from Animorphs. Eva was the host of Edriss 562 aka Visser One. Once the Yeerk took control of her body, there was no freedom for her anymore. So she had to watch as the Yeerk did terrible things with her body. Once the Yeerk had to leave Earth, she faked her host's death. It wasn't until the Animorphs were captured by Visser Three that Marco had any idea about the truth. Near the end of the series, the Animorphs managed to free Eva from Edriss' control.
The Nine of Swords is all about dealing with depression, anguish, guilt, dread, and remorse. So I wanted to choose a character who experienced those things and was able to overcome them. At least to a point.
Hence I chose Tony Stark aka Iron Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Tony started life as an extremely selfish person who thought only of himself. Over the course of many years and adventures, he was able to see the bigger picture and became more selfless. He never became perfect, but he rose far above what he one had been. He started as a selfish person and ended up sacrificing himself for the universe.
The Ten of Swords is about changing your point of view. This card doesn't say it's easy to change your mind, in fact it states the opposite. So I wanted a character whose viewpoint changed due to an intense struggle.
Hence I chose T'Challa aka Black Panther from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. At first he believes in the isolationist policies of Wakanda. It isn't until N'Jadaka, aka Erik Killmonger, takes control of the country that T'Challa is forced to reevaluate what to believe. In the end he starts to open Wakanada to the rest of the world.
The Page of Swords can involve spying, research, being pragmatic, and using wit. So I wanted a character who had all of those traits as well as others that are implied by the card.
Hence I chose Marco from Animorphs. Before the series started he lost his mother and is stuck taking care of his father who hadn't recovered from his wife's death. Marco later learns that his mother isn't dead and is, instead, the host of Visser One. This gives him a personal reason to fight the war and he is no longer reluctant to fight against the Yeerks. Even when he didn't want to fight, he was the most strategic of the group and made sure his friends didn't make stupid mistakes. After the war he first reveled in the fame he had so long sought, but eventually grew bored and was happy when Jake asked him to help with a suicidal mission.
The Knight of Swords is a strong warrior and is also very impulsive. This card indicates someone who still has a lot of growing up to do. So I wanted a fighter who had problems with their impulsiveness.
Hence I chose Peter Parker aka Spider-Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Before he appears in the series, Uncle Ben is killed and he is left living with Aunt May. After being bitten by a radioactive spider, he decides to fight crime. His actions attract the attention of Tony Stark and Peter is then recruited into the Avengers. When Thanos snapped his fingers, Peter was one of the victims lost. He was, luckily, brought back to life and continues to grow as a super hero.
The Queen of Swords can be considered an "ice queen". She is both cold and calculating. She could have been divorced or widowed. So I wanted a character who was calculating and if they had been widowed that would be a huge bonus.
Hence I chose Sansa Stark from Game of Thrones. She started life naive to the true dangers of the world. Her time in King's Landing was a time of awakening for her. From her time in the city to when she helped to reclaim Winterfrell for House Stark, she had been trained by Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish. So when it came time to kill him, she was ready. Sansa was also ready for when Daenerys Targaryen came, though she was less than suave when dealing with that queen.
The King of Swords is striving to be a just ruler. Reversed he can have been disillusioned with the world and might be trying to right a wrong using subterfuge. So I wanted a character who was royalty and exemplified this card.
Hence I chose Rhaegar Targaryen from Game of Thrones. The show didn't give us much about this character, but it did outline the gist of him. Rhaegar was a handsome man who believed heavily in prophecies. He might have started his doomed relationship with Lyanna Stark because of this. He hid his marriage to the Stark which helped Ned Stark hide Jon Snow's, Rhaegar's son, true heritage.
The Suit of Cups is connected to the element of water. It is also connected to emotions and relationships.
The Ace of Cups represents an outpouring of extremely positive emotions. It also suggest a lover. So I wanted a character who had experienced a positive change of emotions.
Hence I chose Missandei from Game of Thrones. She was kidnapped from Naath as a child and grew up a slave in Essos. It wasn't until Daenerys Targaryen rescued her that she was finally freed. After finding freedom she found love in the arms of Grey Worm.
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The Two of Cups is about a romantic or platonic relationship. It can go from an extremely intense relationship, to one that isn't working out, and to one that is doomed. So I wanted a character who had a focus on relationships in their story.
Hence I chose Eragon from the Inheritance Cycle. He had an intense friendship with his dragon Saphira. She waited lifetimes to hatch until he appeared in her life. The bond between rider and dragon is nearly at soulmate levels of intense. Eragon also tried courting the elf Arya throughout the series. At first he only saw her as a pretty face but learned to love her as a person by the end of the series. They did not get together by the end, even though they must have been feeling their dragons doing the dance with no pants, and their relationship status is up in the air.
The Three of Cups can indicate a good life while also showcasing a darker future. So I wanted a character who had a great past but their present was not bright at all.
Hence I chose Loren from the Animorphs series. She was captured by the Skrit Na and rescued by Elfangor and Arbon. Over the course of their adventures she formed a romantic bond with Elfangor. When he decided to run away to Earth, him and Loren married. During the hospital visit that she would be told she was pregnant, the Ellimist took Elfangor back to the war against the Yeerks and erased Loren's memory of her time with the Andalite. Some time later she had an accident that left her with severe amnesia and so she left Tobias with relatives. Near the end of the war, Tobias is reunited with Loren and she gets the power to morph. Though she had the power to fight, she decides not to.
The Four of Cups is known as the 'daydream card'. It can indicate that you are bored of your life. If reversed, you can be seeing someone as just going from fad to fad. So I wanted a character who wasn't content and thought of someone as going from fad to fad.
Hence I chose Amara, aka The Darkness, from Supernatural. God, also known as Chuck, had her locked away as she liked to destroy things. She was set free when Dean killed Death. No one said the show was high art, folks. Anyways...she doesn't think too highly of Chuck and keeps on trying to get his attention. In the meantime she starts experiencing feelings for Dean, something she has never felt before. By the end of the season she reunited with Chuck, aka her brother, and the pair start exploring the cosmos together.
The Five of Cups represents great sadness and the ability to recover. So I wanted a character who had experienced a great loss and managed to have a good character arc.
Hence I chose Severus Snape from the Harry Potter series. He started off life as a kid who was bullied in school and was friends with Lily Evans. But once he started hanging out with the Death Eaters, their friendship quickly fell apart. In a jealous fit he told Voldemort that Harry Potter was the one prophesied to kill him. Harry was the son of Lily and James Potter. The latter was one of the people to make his school days a living hell. Snape believed the dark lord would spare Lily and he could finally be with the only woman he loved. But when Voldemort killed Lily, Snape switched sides and became a loyal member of the Order of the Phoenix. To try and make up for his past actions he looked after Harry in his first year. He was finally killed once Voldemort found out about his deception. That isn't to say Snape was a saint as he was beyond cruel to students for no reason. I'd talk more about that side here, but this entry is already long enough.
The Six of Cups can refer to childhood trauma, a group of caring people around you, and regeneration. So I wanted a character who was good and had a bad past.
Hence I chose Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series. After his parents were murdered by Voldemort, he was put in the care of his aunt and uncle. There he was given to live under the stairs and regularly dismissed by his caretakers. It wasn't until he went to Hogwarts that he encountered anyone who treated him kindly. Instead of being blinded by his past, he retained a caring nature throughout the series.
The Seven of Cups can represent fatal sins that can destroy a person and putting concerns of the past away to focus on a goal. So I wanted a character who was twisted and was extremely single minded.
Hence I chose Cersei Lannister from Game of Thrones. She was a woman in a world that prioritized men. Yet she never stopped thinking of how to get on the Iron Throne. Eventually she was able to kill her husband, King Robert Baratheon, and a little while after that was able to sit on her beloved seat of power. When the threat of White Walkers became more apparent, she prioritized her own seat of power over the safety of the people she ruled.
The Eight of Cups is about needing time away to think and mediate. And after a vacation, the person can come back renewed. So I wanted a character who was troubled by their past but ultimately decided to leave their solitude.
Hence I chose Clear Rivers from the Final Destination series. She is the first one to truly believe Alex Browning and leaves the plane. This saved her life only for her to end up battling Death and saving people from it. After surviving the first movie and ultimately losing Alex, she goes into Storybrook Mental Institution to protect herself. When Kimberly Corman asks for Clear's help, she refuses to help the other woman which Kimberly takes as a sign of not caring. Clear faces her fears and decides to change her decision. Doing so ends up costing her her life.
The Nine of Cups is known as the wish card. Things are going great for you. So I wanted a character who had success but eventually had all their luck taken from them.
Hence I chose Edriss 562/Visser One from the Animorphs. She was the one to find Earth and start the secret invasion of the planet. She didn't want a secret invasion because of tactics, but because she had two human children on the planet. She had fallen in love with the Yeerk she lived on Earth with for a number of years. Their union ended...I'll let you read the series to find out because it's sort of hard to explain in a short paragraph. Anyways...she kept her children and affair secret. Eventually she took over Eva's body and decided there were better things to do than to live on Earth. So she faked Eva's death and let Visser Three take over the invasion of Earth. Eventually she found out the truth about the Animorphs and used them from time to time. This alliance caused Visser Three to get enough dirt on her that allowed him to slowly starve her. Once the Animorphs came to rescue her host body, Edirss tried to escape back to the Yeerk pool for safety. This move was fruitless as Eva killed the Yeerk when it left her body.
If you look at Ten of Cups reversed and then upright you can read a story about someone down on their luck ending up with a much better situation. So I wanted a character who had a rags to riches sort of story.
Hence I chose Gendry Baratheon from Game of Thrones. He lived most of his life as a bastard that wasn't claimed by his father King Robert Baratheon. His adventures lead him from being a simple blacksmith to the man who helped forge weapons for the Battle of Winterfell. That accomplishment lead him to becoming legitimized as Lord Gendry Baratheon of Storm's End by Queen Daenerys Targaryen.
The Page of Cups represents the power of love, both romantic and platonic. It can either show emotions as a strength or a weakness. So I wanted a character who had recently discovered their feelings and didn't know how to handle them properly.
Hence I chose Grey Worm from Game of Thrones. Since childhood he had been trained to not feel anything and obey his owners completely. When Grey Worm was freed by Daenerys Targaryen he was brought into a world of feeling. He admired the woman who freed him and slowly fell in love with Missandei. Once his love was murdered in front of him, any compassion he had found was gone. He ended up going to Naath to fulfill a promise he had made with Missandei. Just a little note...I had chosen Grey Worm as Page of Cups before the final season had aired. He still fits well enough so I didn't bother to change my pick for this card. If you feel differently please comment below.
The Knight of Cups represents both the good and bad of the suit. It can signify wooing another and unrequited love. It can signify caring and deceit. So I wanted a character who reflected the worst and best parts of this card.
Hence I chose Ser Jorah Mormont from Game of Thrones. Jorah started life out with a promising future ahead of him. He had a caring father and was adept on the battlefield. At the Tourney of Harrenhal he best Ser Jaime Lannister, one of the most renowned fighters of the time. At the same tourney he fell in love with Lyneese Hightower and was able to marry her. When she became dissatisfied with her life, Jorah did everything in his power to please her since he was in love. He ended up selling poachers into slavery to try and get enough money for Lynesse's lifestyle. This lead to him fleeing into exile with his wife who left him for a man who had more money. To get back to Westeros, his home, he decided to spy on Viserys and Daenerys Targaryen. He quickly fell in love with the later and when he had the chance to go home, he rescued her life and stayed by her side. His relationship with Daenerys was deep and platonic. They had their issues but at the end of his life, he died in the arms of the woman he loved.
The Queen of Cups is a card of femininity and of caring. It was hard to figure out the character for this card as there were many things to consider. It felt like I was banging my head on my desk to figure out the character for this card.
In the end I chose Gilly from Game of Thrones. Originally she was a wife and daughter of Crastor. Her father/husband would keep his daughters and sacrifice his sons. To save her son she asked Samwell Tarly to rescue them. He did so and the two found themselves falling in love. It was her that found the first hints of Jon Snow being no mere bastard. By the end of the series she is still with Sam and is having his biological child.
The King of Cups can either be someone who has control over their emotions or is a dishonest person. This card also can represent someone who is an older man. So I wanted a person who had gone through a character arc where they became a better or worse person.
Hence I chose Ser Davos Seaworth from Game of Thrones. Originally he was a smuggler and later served Stannis Baratheon. After his former friend and superior was killed, he served Jon Snow. To both Stannis and Jon, Davos imparted his wisdom as an advisor.
The Suit of Wands is connected to the element of fire. It is also connected to spirit and inspiration.
The Ace of Wands signals the start of a new project. It is giving you a thumbs up sign and announces that magic is indeed alive. If this card is reversed it means that maybe you should wait or there are roadblocks to your goals. So I wanted a character who had a drive to accomplish something but was delayed for a time.
Hence I chose Voldemort from the Harry Potter series. He was born Tom Riddle but changed his name to Lord Voldemort when he started to get extremely ambitious. He started a war against the wizarding world and eventually went after the child that was destined to defeat him. Because of Lily Potter's love for Harry, her son, Voldemort's curse backfired and nearly killed him. Due to him creating horcruxes, basically splitting his soul into different parts, he was able to survive. Over the course of many years he was able to regain power, followers, and a body. This allowed him to try again at taking control of the wizarding world.
The Two of Wands indicates that someone has many possibilities to choose from. It can also indicate a person is thinking of going to a different country. So I wanted a character who was powerful enough to have many choices and might even want to travel.
Hence I chose Arya Stark from Game of Thrones. She never wanted to be like all the other girls and instead dreamed of becoming a fighter. After the unjust execution of Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark, her father, she decided to seek vengeance on all those responsible for his death. She traveled to Braavos to train to be one of the best assassins. When she decided she couldn't complete the training, she returned to Westeros to kill all the people on her hit list. She changed her decision when she found out that Jon Snow, her brother, was alive and that Winterfell was in House Stark's control. Upon returning home she helped kill Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish and the Night King. In King's Landing she had the chance to kill Cersei Lannister but Sandor "the Hound" Clegane convinced her to give up her search of vengeance. When Westeros was finally at peace, she decided to see what was west of Westeros. While I think her character was ruined by the time of Season 8, her tale still had so much potential.
The Three of Wands can represent someone being bold as they set out on their venture. Reversed this card talks about the problems of the venture such as a false feeling of isolation, not trusting people, and a chance the person will live somewhere else by the end. So I wanted a character who went on a great adventure and experienced hardships.
Hence I chose Frodo Baggins from Lord of the Rings. He started life off as just a regular hobbit who didn't seem destined for greatness. Everything changed when the One Ring was brought into his life. It ended up being him who bore the title of 'ring bearer' and had to throw the ring into Mount Doom. The journey was extremely taxing on his mental and physical well-being. Even after saving the day, he found he couldn't live in his home and went with the elves to the Undying Lands.
The Four of Wands can be a sign of a homecoming. It can signify various types of celebrations and involve the family. So I wanted a character who had good fortune, is a leader, and had a storyline involving family.
Hence I chose Peter Quill from the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is a man who is not very serious yet can flip a switch and risk his life for the sake of the universe. He is the leader of the Guardians of the Galaxy. At one point Ego, his father, showed himself to Peter and things seemed to be going well. It was later revealed that Ego only cared about Peter as the man could further his plans to remake the galaxy in his image. Peter and the rest of the Guardians were able to defeat Ego which also destroyed the part of Peter that had super powers.
The Five of Wands is all about messing with groups of people. It can involve causing conflict within one or more groups of people. So I wanted a character who was centered around manipulating people.
Hence I chose Peter "Littlefinger" Baelish from Game of Thrones. He cares only about himself and manipulates people to get what he wants. It's theorized that it is his rumor that started Robert's Rebellion and it's a theory I agree with. If true it is at that point he realized the power of mere words. After years of much practice he started the War of the Five Kings. As for his death in Season 7...at that point his character was butchered beyond recognition. So I won't be talking about his demise on the show.
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The Six of Wands tells a story. Upright it is about gaining a leadership position while reversed it shows how that good fortune can dissolve. So I wanted a character who either rose from a low position only to end with a high position or vice versa.
Hence I chose Esplin 9466 from Animorphs. This Yeerk was involved in infesting the Hork-Bajir and grew to admire Andalites. At least so much as to gain an Andalite host for himself. Long after the genocide on the Hork-Bajir homeworld, Esplin was finally able to infest the shamed Andalite Prince Alloran. Esplin rose quickly to the rank of Visser Three after that. When the former Visser One was set to be executed, he gained the rank of Visser One. At the end of the war his downfall was helped by a betrayal by one of his most high ranking underlings.
The Seven of Wands tells the story, from upright to reversed, of gaining leadership and navigating the pressures of your new role. It then turns into a story of falling under the pressure. So I wanted a character that wasn't able to handle the pressure of leadership.
Hence I chose Robb Stark from Game of Thrones. After the North decided to secede from the Iron Throne, Robb was chosen as the King of the North. He was a master of battle strategy and managed to scare Tywin Lannister. The Lannister was able to use the fact that Robb's connection to his men was starting to wear thin due to poor decisions on the Stark's part, and had him murdered in what was called the Red Wedding.
The Eight of Wands is about becoming overwhelmed due to new ideas and you feel like you are on an adrenaline rush. So I wanted a character who discovered something new and became excited about the future.
Hence I chose Rey from Star Wars. She grew up on Jakku and all she knew about her parents was that they were returning for her. Someday. She becomes wrapped up in galactic politics when rescuing BB-8 and teaming up with Finn. Her first breath of other planets overwhelmed her and she became hellbent on joining the Rebellion. She eventually trained with Luke Skywalker for a short amount of time as she wanted to become even more powerful in the ways of the Force. Rey also became connected to Kylo Ren but any hope of a true relationship was dashed when they found themselves on opposite sides of the Force.
The Nine of Wands tells a story of someone who is suspicious and set in their ways. It also gives the hope that the person in question could become more trusting. So I wanted a character who was suspicious of a certain group of people and then opened up to people they never thought they would.
Hence I chose Tormund Giantsbane from Game of Thrones. He originally followed Mance Rayder and was intent on making his way to the rest of Westeros. He, along with the other wildlings, hated the Crows (aka members of the Night's Watch) for good reasons. Westerosi didn't treat the wildlings kindly and so those feelings were returned. Once Mance was executed, Tormund became the leader and was the one Jon negotiated with. Eventually the wildling opened up and even fought during the Battle of Winterfell.
The Ten of Wands is about dealing with responsibilities. So I wanted a character who had trouble remaining calm and collected when dealing with an important matter.
Hence I chose Stan Uris from IT by Stephen King. Stan was a member of the Losers's Club, a group of kids that fought IT. After the group defeated the creature, they decided that if IT was still alive they would return to Derry, Maine to finish the job. Upon receiving a call from Mike that IT was back, Stan killed himself so he would never again have to face the creature.
The Page of Wands can be summed up as immature enthusiasm. So I wanted a character who longed to do good but was too naive to accomplish that goal.
Hence I chose Tommen Baratheon from Game of Thrones. Tommen was one of the most pure characters on the show, but unlike Jon Snow he was too naive to survive for long. Tommen was not raised to be a king as Joffrey, his older brother, had that role laid out for him. But when Joffrey was murdered, the role of King was thrust upon Tommen's shoulders. Because he had not been trained and he had a good heart, he was able to be controlled by the High Sparrow. This allowed the Faith Militant much power over the city. Tommen did not have time to grow up as after Cersei Lannister blew up the Sept of Baelor, he jumped to his death.
The Knight of Wands is extremely passionate and hotheaded. They're the kind of person that loves to laugh in the face of danger. So I wanted a character who exemplified that carefree attitude.
Hence I chose Daario Naharis from Game of Thrones. He was a member of the Sons of the Harpies and gladly slaughtered his men to please Daenerys Targaryen. He had a good fighting style to add to his cocky attitude. Besides making love to Daenerys, he enjoyed mocking Jorah Mormont about not bedding their queen. Honestly, this character made me mad enough that I wanted him to die horribly.
The Queen of Wands represents the highest good of the suit and the lowest low. It is focused on feminine energy. So I wanted someone who also did the same.
Hence I chose Daenerys Targaryen from Game of Thrones. In my mind there was no other character who could so perfectly symbolize this card. She was fire made flesh, so she had to be in the Suit of Wands. In her earlier years she was abused by her older brother Viserys Targaryen. It wasn't until she was sold and became the wife of Khal Drogo that she found her strength. After her husband's death, she survived his funeral pyre and emerged with three dragons. With her dragons and growing number of followers, she became ruler of Meereen on the platform of ending slavery. Once she came to Westeros all of her negative traits took center stage as Essos and Westeros had two different means of ruling. The moment she gave into madness, she burned King's Landing and soon after was killed by Jon Snow.
The King of Wands represents a man who is helping others and whose opinions are to be greatly trusted. So I wanted to choose a wise character for this card.
Hence I chose Tyrion Lannister from Game of Thrones. He was never looked at highly by most of his family. Tywin Lannister blamed him for killing his wife while Cersei Lannister thought the Valonqar Prophecy referred to him. Tyrion did not let his family's hatred of him stop him from doing anything, instead he spent many years with his books. It was him who planned the strategy for defending King's Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater. Tyrion's bad judgements began to truly take shape when he arrived back in Westeros. It was him that, after Daenerys Targaryen had burned down King's Landing, convinced Jon Snow to kill their queen. He ended the series by returning to his role as Hand of the King.
The Suit of Coins is connected to the element of earth. It is also connected to physicality and money.
The Ace of Coins represents wealth. Reversed it can indicate that if you continue to pursue wealth that there will be consequences. So I wanted a character who has gone through the ups and down of wealth.
Hence I chose Marco's dad, Peter, from Animorphs. While he never became a billionaire, he eventually got a job that better supported his son and even helped make the discovery about Zero space. Which is more commonly known as Z-space. Getting a better job was a good thing as it also represented him moving on from his wife's death. The latter had the unfortunate side effect of having him pulled into the war with the Yeerks.
The Two of Coins is a balancing act. You have to balance jobs, relationships, ect. And failure to keep the balance can have serious consequences. So I wanted a character who had to do a balancing act and failed.
Hence I chose Boromir from Lord of the Rings. He was a man who wanted to do right by his father and to protect Middle Earth from Sauron. The One Ring started to corrupt him by harnessing his fears. Boromir was unable to resist the One Ring and tried to forcibly take it from Frodo Baggins. Shortly after that incident Boromir died defending Merry and Pippin.
The Three of Coins talks about a good job opportunity and having the support of wealthy people. It also talks about having problems at work such as your employer asking you to do something dishonest or maybe you're just overqualified. So I wanted a character who had good luck with jobs, even if he was overqualified for some of them.
Hence I chose Ser Bronn from Game of Thrones. Not much is known about his past and the show made him a bigger presence than he is in the books. Bronn cares for himself only and others if they pay him well. He enters the story when Tyrion Lannister needs someone to fight for him in a trial by combat. He then serves Jaime Lannister and even saves the man's life at a few points. While serving the Lannisters he gets himself knighted. By the end of the series he is ruler of High Garden and Master of Coin.
The Four of Coins indicates power gained to provide safety for others. It also indicates that when your power is taken away you can let fear and defensiveness take over you. You might even think those who get in power are only interested in keeping their control, even if that is not the case. So I wanted a character who had wealth and later changed for the worse when it was taken away.
Hence I chose Naomi from Animorphs. She is the mother of Rachel and a lawyer. The money she makes from her job is more than enough to keep food on the table and give her children a comfortable lifestyle. Near the end of the series she is taken from her home to the secret Hork-Bajir Valley for her safety. Naomi finds it near impossible to live there and attempts to run away numerous time.
The Five of Coins represents a bad situation due to things such as feeling alienated. Reversed it says that sense of alienation can go away and be a thing of the past. So I wanted a character who spent the majority of the time feeling alone.
Hence I chose Melissa Chapman from Animorphs. Her mother was infested by a Yeerk and her father only agreed to be infested as long as Melissa remained free. So her parents loved her more than she could ever guess. Problem was that from her point of view it looked like they were abandoning her. Rachel, one of Melissa's few friends, was too caught up in the war against the Yeerks to spend any time with her. Since the Yeerks were defeated at the end of the series, Melissa would quickly learn what her father sacrificed for her.
The Six of Coins can talk about giving assistance and equalizing society. So I wanted a character who had troubles, but did their best to give their society a promising future.
Hence I chose Varys from Game of Thrones. He began life as a nobody and slowly worked his way up to one of the great players in Westeros. He wanted a Targaryen restoration and found hope in Daenerys Targaryen. He helped her get allies to conquer the Iron Throne. But once she burned the Tarlys he was reminded of the time he served the Mad King, her father. Once he learned that Jon Snow was actually a Targaryen, he tried to get the man to claim the seat of power for himself. But because the writers forgot how clever Varys was and made Tyrion Lannister act against character, the former spy master was burned alive.
The Seven of Coins represents a good businessman who is smart with every move they make. They may encounter adversity, including someone taking power from them, but they always stay on top. So I wanted a character who is extremely deadly to work with as they're always a few moves ahead of you.
Hence I chose Crowley from Supernatural. Crowley was an insignificant human that was abandoned by his mother. He rose through the ranks of Hell to become King of the Crossroads. After Lucifer was defeated, he quickly stepped up to become the King of Hell. The position was hard to keep and even after being knocked down numerous times, he always managed to get back into the much coveted position. Near the end of his run on the show, he for some reason decided to stop being the King of Hell and sacrificed himself for the Winchesters.
The Eight of Coins is about becoming better at something, maybe a job. It can also reflect the failures of trying to become better. So I wanted a character who wasn't good at what they did but later on became exceptional.
Hence I chose Neville Longbottom from Harry Potter. At first Neville is horrible at any kind of magic. The one thing that hints he might become something more in the first book is when he stands up against his friends. That showed courage that would only become more apparent as the series went on. Eventually he showed a keen talent for Herbology and even improved his magical skills. During the Battle of Hogwarts he managed to call Godric Gryffindor's sword and kill Nagini.
The Nine of Coins means you believe in order and discipline. It can also mean that you are wealthy and think you deserve everything. So I wanted a character who embodied the traits of order and discipline as well as being someone who is rich.
Hence I chose Tywin Lannister from Game of Thrones. King Aerys II Targaryen depended heavily on Tywin but was also suspicious of the Lannister. Tywin became infamous for killing House Reyne for their rebellion against Tylos Lannister. The tale has been immortalized in the song "The Rains of Castamere". Tywin eventually had three children and loathed Tyrion for being the one to kill his wife. In Tyrion's defense, the birth wasn't an easy one and that's what ended up killing her. Tywin won the fear of his enemies for being both smart and ruthless. It was his hatred of Tyrion that ended up being the death of him. After the Imp was sentenced to be executed, he found Tywin and killed him.
The Ten of Coins talks heavily about one's relation with family. Both the good and the bad. So I wanted a character whose plotlines revolved heavily around family.
Hence I chose Kylo Ren from Star Wars. Kylo's original name was Ben Solo. Leia Organa Solo, his mother, decided to send him to Luke Skywalker's Jedi Academy for training. There he was corrupted under the influence of Snoke which made his uncle worry. During a moment of weakness Luke sneaked into Kylo's living quarters and briefly held his lightsaber over the boy. Even though Luke had decided he couldn't kill his nephew, Kylo thought differently. This event caused Kylo to destroy the Jedi Academy and adopt Snoke as his master. During all of this he had begun to worship Darth Vader, his grandfather, almost like a god and wished to follow in his footsteps. With Rey's help he was able to kill Snoke and take over the First Order. This gained him power but lost him the love of a woman he was beginning to admire.
The Page of Coins implies a person is loyal and steadfast. That a person is good at putting things together. Reversed it can talk about how all those good traits start to crumble away. So I wanted a character who started out good but turned to the dark side.
Hence I chose Anakin Skywalker from Star Wars. He started out as nothing but a slave boy on Tatooine. His life changed when Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn came to the planet and eventually took him away to be trained as a Jedi. During the Clone Wars he earned a name for himself and everything looked good for him. Then Anakin started having visions about Padme Amidala, his wife, dying in childbirth. Chancellor Palpatine used this weakness and convinced Anakin to turn to the dark side and destroy the Jedi Order. It turned out that it was his turn to the dark side that caused Padme to die of a broken heart.
The Knight of Coins is the one you turn to for help. Though getting his help might not be easy as it takes a bit for him to move. But when he does there is nothing that can hold him back. So I wanted a character that exemplified those traits.
Hence I chose Wolverine from the X-Men series. Specifically the live action movies with Hugh Jackman. Wolverine is someone that can care for others greatly and do everything in his power to make sure bad men don't succeed. At the same time he really doesn't like being bothered and prefers living alone. His final fight sees him defending his daughter and other child mutants while losing his life in the process.
The Queen of Coins represents a good caretaker. Reversed this card talks about how motherly love can go wrong. So I wanted a character who could appear to be one thing but really be another.
Hence I chose Hannibal Lecter from the vast Hannibal franchise. Hannibal had a traumatic childhood that involved him accidentally eating his sister that he loved. He eventually became a man of two faces. One was the epitome of sophistication that everyone could trust. He served the finest cuisine and had an extremely refined taste. The other face was a cannibal who would go to great lengths to get revenge. Yet even in the depths of his depravity he still cared for a few people. In the NBC show Hannibal he cared for Will Graham. In the Hannibal novels and three of the movies, he cared deeply for Clarice Starling.
The King of Coins represents things that makes a person a good ruler and parent. It also talks about worrying due to the responsibility. So I wanted a character who was both a good ruler and father.
Hence I chose Ned Stark from Game of Thrones. Lord Eddard "Ned" Stark is one of the most honorable men in Westeros. Though he has done questionable things in the past. Such as beating Ser Arthur Dayne with the help of a friend and hiding Jon Snow's true heritage. For the majority of the time, though, he never wavered from doing the honorable thing. This sense of duty made it so that he was executed in King's Landing.
Remember you can submit ideas for future posts HERE. I also talk about other things, so don't feel that you have to only submit ideas for Tarot posts.
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