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).

LIST ONE LIST TWO
Devil
Sun
Chariot
Empress
Fool
Hermit
Hierophant
Death
Lovers
Star
World
Hanged Man
Moon
Emperor

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.

  1. Two of Wands
  2. Ten of Pentacles
  3. Seven of Swords
  4. Two of Cups
  5. Five of Wands
  6. Five of Swords
  7. Eight of Pentacles
  8. Eight of Wands
  9. 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.

PERSON A PERSON B
PAIR 1 Knight of Cups Queen of Wands
PAIR 2 King of Wands Queen of Cups
PAIR 3 King of Pentacles Knight of Cups
PAIR 4 Queen of Pentacles King of Wands
PAIR 5 King of Swords King of Pentacles
PAIR 6 King of Cups King of Swords
PAIR 7 Queen of Cups Queen of Swords
PAIR 8 Knight of Wands Queen of Pentacles
PAIR 9 Queen of Wands Knight of Swords
PAIR 10 Knight of Pentacles King of Cups
PAIR 11 Queen of Swords Knight of Wands
PAIR 12 Knight of Swords Knight of Pentacles

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.

  1. Three of Wands
  2. Four of Pentacles
  3. Temperance
  4. Three of Swords
  5. Five of Cups
  6. Eight of Wands
  7. Nine of Pentacles
  8. Justice
  9. 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.

CARD 1 CARD 2
PAIR 1 Hermit Justice
PAIR 2 Nine of Swords Four of Swords
PAIR 3 Two of Pentacles Hanged Man
PAIR 4 Chariot Death
PAIR 5 Four of Pentacles Six of Wands
PAIR 6 Lovers Six of Swords
PAIR 7 Hierophant Devil
PAIR 8 Nine of Wands Seven of Pentacles
PAIR 9 Sun Ten of Swords

Exercise 15.6 - Your Balance Issues

Identify a balance issue that is meaningful to you at this time. Here are some possibilities:

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

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