ED's For Beginners Part-2

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Question:
The Devil can't be about Addiction every time you draw it...so what do you see as the positive/neutral/negative ED's of this card.

Darrell

Reply:
To start with you need to change, or at least expand your meanings and definitions of The Devil because just 'addictions' is very limited and not really the 'main meaning or phrase you should be using for the card.  Here are three key phrases I like to use and you can use them ... or better yet come up with your own expanded meanings.

1. Bound to the material
2. Bound to earthly delights
3. Self-imposed limitations

So .. lets say we used 'Self-imposed limitations' as the 'Neutral' (normal) meaning for The Devil.

From here you need to decide what the 'Positive/Strong' meanings/phrases/keywords would be, and what the 'Negative' meaning(s) would be.

These basic, simple meanings should just be a 'trigger' (catalyst) to kick in your intuitive insights. From these triggers and the surrounding cards and their elements you should let your IVG (inner-voice-guide) take over.

The biggest problem comes with what are often termed as negative cards to begin with. 'Self-imposed limitations' (The Devil) could be taken, and often is considered a negative type card.

That being the case which category do positive and negative represent. This probably sounds confusing and it can be but I will try to explain.

Does positive mean a more positive meaning? Does negative mean a more negative meaning? Like so:

And so on, and so on, etc.

On the other hand if you use reversed cards (which I don't), many times a negative card takes on a more positive meaning when reversed.  Many people (myself included) use ED's in place of reversed cards.

That being the case, a reversed - or ill-dignified (negative) meaning should be more positive.  If you look at things this way then in the table above you would reverse the positive and negative meanings - so positive would mean you are intensifying the negative effect and negative meanings would bring the card into a more positive light.

Confused hell out of you - right?  And what if you do use reversed cards?  How would that effect things?  Would you need another set of meanings/phrases?

For now go with what I have in the table above - positive makes the meaning(s) more positive, and negative makes the cards meaning more negative.

Note:
If you haven't started your own tarot journal then I recommend that you do so. Get a big 300 page note book - or a 3-ringed binder so you can add and delete pages as the need arises. Try to have at least 3 pages for each card. Use (at least) one page for your Positive - Neutral -Negative meanings/phrases for your Elemental Dignities.  Over time, these pages will change and grow with your knowledge and abilities.

Don S.

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