Table Of ContentAdvance Praise for
TAROT DECODED
“Elizabeth Hazel's Tarot Decoded brings astrological dignity to the
modern tarot. A concise and intelligent framework for both
amplifying and contextualizing readings via modal, elemental,
numeric, zodiacal and planetary affinities, this book presents the
fine tunings and occult panache necessary to transpose homespun,
three chord Tarot songs into full symphonic depth and resonance.
The result is music to the divinatory imagination.”
—ART ROSENGARTEN, PH.D.,
author of Tarot and Psychology
“Tarot Decoded presents original and welcome methods of
synthesizing tarot and astrology. It is a book for which the time has
definitely come. With techniques and exercises, some based on
metaphysical writings a century old, and others that are all her own,
Elizabeth Hazel integrates the two pursuits in innovative and
exciting ways.
If you, like myself, are a person passionate about both tarot and
astrology, you have probably read numerous top-notch astrology
books as well as many excellent books on the tarot, but have found
a dearth of material combining the two subjects. This book is the
first to step unabashed into that void and to provide many thought-
provoking avenues for a successful and rewarding integration of the
two arcane sciences.
For those proficient with tarot, but versed in only rudimentary
astrology, Hazel's material will walk you carefully through enough
basic material to have you up and running. I predict that this book
will make tarotists who have previously only dabbled in astrology
want to learn more, in order to continue to combine the systems for
increased depth and detail in their readings.”
—VALERIE SIM-BEHI,
Vice President of Communications for
the American Tarot Association,
editor of Tarot Reflections and The ATA Quarterly,
and author of
The Comparative Tarot Deck and Tarot Outside the Box
“Reading Tarot Decoded is like attending a series of graduate
seminars with the dean of the Tarot Astrology Academy. In fact, the
book would make a fine text for a study group. Liz's sense of humor
puts some of the more haughty court cards in their place, and her
descriptions of the four elements are sheer poetry. She reminds us
that the tarot world of dignities is filled with friendly and hostile
neighbors who fine-tune a card's intentions. Her unique spreads
and explanations of dignities will certainly provide you with new
ways to understand yourself and your clients. Liz Hazel brings us to
a new level of understanding the world of tarot astrology.”
—SANDRA A. THOMSON, CTGM,
President of the American Tarot Association
“In reading Tarot Decoded by Elizabeth Hazel I was both impressed
and challenged—impressed by the depth and scope of what Hazel
presents in her ground-breaking book, and challenged to expand
my mind to a new and exciting way of interpreting the tarot.
Being an avid astrologer, as well as a tarot professional, I happily
found Elizabeth's book to be a blend of both disciplines, all of which
was written in a cohesive and holistic manner. Her many years of
study are evident by the wealth of information included and the
numerous examples given.
Tarot Decoded unlocks new material to aid the tarot practitioner
as well as the tarot scholar. This book belongs on every serious
tarot student's shelf.
Bravo, Liz!”
—JANET BERRES,
author of Textbook of the Tarot
“Elizabeth Hazel's Tarot Decoded is a very special contribution to
the literature in this field. The work is both original and
knowledgeable, reflecting many years of experience and thought.
Her dual expertise in astrology and the tarot shines through with
simple and readable explanations of how the two strands of spiritual
study can be blended in doing readings with the cards. It is a fine
crossover text for tarot students who want to know more astrology
and for astrology lovers who want to know more tarot.”
—DONNA CUNNINGHAM, internationally-known
astrologer and metaphysical author of
How to Read Your Astrological Chart,
The Moon in Your Life, and
The Consulting Astrologer's Guidebook
“Elizabeth Hazel has created a delightful book that applies the
ancient wisdom of astrology to learning tarot divination. Her book
provides a useful analysis of the cards in relation to sun signs,
planets, and elements, making it easy for an astrologer to learn
tarot or a tarot reader to learn astrology. Also, it offers the most
thorough treatment of the relationships of cards in a spread to each
other now available, with demonstration readings to show how to
put her lessons into practice. Whether you want to learn how to give
tarot readings or improve your tarot skills, this book is a great
companion to open a new door to deeper understanding.”
—KOOCH & VICTOR DANIELS,
authors of Tarot d'Amour
“Elizabeth Hazel's Tarot Decoded is an amazing accomplishment.
Hazel has taken the accumulation of years of study and expertise
and synthesized them into an articulate and well-developed book on
tarot. Even people who have studied tarot, astrology, and alchemy
for many years will find much new in this book.
Although the knowledge presented in this book is impressive,
what is even more outstanding is the variety and flexibility of uses
for dignities in the book: elemental dignities, modal dignities,
numeric dignities and more, all presented with practical examples
and versatile spreads. The beginning student of tarot will find the
chapter on the elements an incredible primer that will provide an
excellent groundwork for future study. The intermediate and
advanced students of tarot will find the chapters on using the tarot
with astrology and numerology to be sound and workable. Hazel
has a brilliant mind and a wealth of knowledge, but her work is
always grounded in practicality.
This is a book to read and study, a book to reflect on, a book to
re-read and to keep as a reference. I highly recommend it for any
serious student of the tarot. I plan to use it as a required text for my
intermediate and advanced tarot students.”
—NINA LEE BRADEN,
author of Tarot for Self Discovery
First published in 2004 by
Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC
With offices at:
665 Third Street, Suite 400
San Francisco, CA 94107
www.redwheelweiser.com
Copyright © 2004 Elizabeth Hazel
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission in writing from Red
Wheel/Weiser, LLC. Reviewers may quote brief passages.
Illustrations from the Universal-Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by
permission of U. S. Games Systems, Inc. Stamford, CT 06902
USA.
Copyright © 1990 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
Universal Waite is a registered trademark of U. S. Games, Inc.
Further reproduction prohibited.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hazel, Elizabeth.
Tarot decoded : understanding and using dignities and
correspondences / Elizabeth Hazel.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-57863-302-8
1. Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. 2. Tarot. 3. Dignities
(Astrology).
BF1879.T2 H339 2004
133.3/2424 22
2003026031
Typeset in Minion by Sky-Peck Design
Printed in The United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
www.redwheelweiser.com
www.redwheelweiser.com/newsletter
This book is dedicated with gratitude to Dr. Rilma Buckman—
teacher, mentor, friend, listener, and advocate.
CONTENTS
List of Illustrations
Foreword
Chapter 1: Forms of Dignity
Chapter 2: Elementary Elements
Chapter 3: Elemental Court Cards
Chapter 4: Modal Dignities
Chapter 5: Numeric Dignities
Chapter 6: Planetary Trumps as Free Agents
Chapter 7: Elemental Trumps and the Outer Planets
Chapter 8: Planetary and Zodiacal Dignities
Chapter 9: The Cosmic Axis and Other Spreads
Chapter 10: Locational Dignities
Chapter 11: Directional Scanning
Chapter 12: Demonstrations
Appendix A: Golden Dawn Card Attributions
Appendix B: Pip Cards by Element
Appendix C: Planetary Dignities
Appendix D: Zodiacal Dignities
Appendix E: Dignities of the Twelve Houses and Four Elements
Appendix F: Locational Dignities Horoscope-Form Diagram
Bibliography
Index
About the Author
