Working with Aces – Inner Truth Tarot
The Aces in tarot are a powerful and spiritual set of cards that can bring clarity, insight, and guidance to those who seek it.
Aces are associated with beginnings, fresh starts, and new opportunities. Technically speaking, the Magician, card number 1 in the major arcana, is also an Ace.
In the minor arcana, however, the Aces represent the purest form of each suit’s energy: Fire (Wands), Water (Cups), Air (Swords), and Earth (Pentacles).
There are some schools of thought that believe the elements for Wands and Swords are reversed, so Swords are fire, and Wands are air. This is something we’ll go over when we start talking about the elemental representations, but that’s a subject for a different post.
Each Ace contains within it the potential for renewal or transformation. They contain raw energy that can be used to create something new or make positive changes in one’s life.
The other cards marked by a 1 also hold special significance – they point to the beginning of something. The precipice. They point to the purest energy and wisdom at the beginning of one’s quest. In this way, these Ones serve as messengers between us and our intuition. With an understanding of what these cards mean on both an energetic level as well as in terms of practical advice we can gain greater insight into ourselves while opening up opportunities for growth.
When we draw an Ace in a tarot reading, it is an invitation to take action and begin anew, or an acknowledgement that we have already taken action, and we are now at a beginning.
Some people choose to reduce all the tens down to one. After all 1+0=1. Following this logic, the Wheel of Fortune as well as the tens in each minor arcana suit would also be treated as ones. The underlying thought process being that once completion (as typically indicated by the tens) is achieved, a new beginning awaits.
And while I see the logic in this, I don’t personally subscribe to that line of thinking.
The beautiful thing about being a human is our ability to amass, retain, and coalesce information. When we begin a cycle of growth, we do not go into it completely devoid of thoughts, feelings, and memories. Nay.
Everything we have acquired through our experiences moves with us into the new cycle. When we finish this cycle, when we achieve completion, the lessons, feelings, thoughts, perspectives, and memories we have acquired will move with us into the next cycle. We are never going back to zero. We don’t even begin our cycles which are indicated by Aces with a knowledge of zero either. We are always growing. Always amassing new information. Programming or deprogramming our minds.
So while yes, I see the logic in treating tens as ones, I think we lose a lot of the subtlety of the cards if we do not treat tens as wholly distinct transformative cards that they are. We’ll go over this more in depth when we get to talking about the tens, but that is going to be a separate post all of its own.
We can use the energy of the Aces to create positive changes in our lives and discover new pathways that will lead us to greater fulfilment, joy, and purpose.
The spiritual significance of the Aces should not be underestimated – they are powerful cards that can bring clarity, insight, and guidance to those who seek it. By connecting with their energies we can open up possibilities for transformation, renewal, growth and understanding. As we work with these cards on a deeper level we become more attuned to our intuition and what lies ahead of us on this journey called life.
Aces Upright
The Magician card is numbered 1 in most tarot decks, and is symbolic of the power of the will to manifest our desires. The Magician is a powerful reminder that we have the ability to create our own reality and make positive changes in our lives. By embracing this card’s wisdom, we can tap into our creative potential and bring forth new beginnings.
When we draw the Ace of Cups in a tarot reading the cards are telling us that it is time to open up to our emotions and trust the messages from our hearts. This card is also associated with creativity, intuition and spiritual connection. By allowing ourselves to be open and receptive, we can access the deep healing power of love that resides within us. When we see the Ace of Cups, we are really seeing a reminder that we all have the potential to access a great source of love, creativity, and spiritual wisdom. A new relationship — romantic or platonic — may be on the horizon.
When we draw the Ace of Wands in a tarot reading, it signifies that we have the courage to pursue our passions and take risks. The Ace of Wands encourages us to be brave and take action. We’re reminded we need to trust in ourselves despite any uncertainty or fear we may feel. When the Ace of Wands appears, it’s a signifier that a new project may be beginning, or we may be taking a new interest in something that can bring us fulfilment. It’s a reminder to embrace possibilities and opportunities, even if they’re merely passion projects.
The Ace of Swords carries the energy of truth and is associated with mental clarity and insight. When we draw this card, it may be a reminder to trust our instincts and tap into the power of our wisdom. We may find ourselves facing difficult decisions or life-changing moments. The Ace of Swords asks us to thoughtfully consider our options and make the best decision possible based on what we know is true for us.
The Ace of Pentacles is a sign of abundance, prosperity and success. It is associated with material wealth and the tangible things in life. This card encourages us to be grateful for the gifts that life has given us and to manifest our dreams into reality. When the Ace of Pentacles appears we are being encouraged to recognise our potential and take steps to create the life we desire. The Ace of Pentacles could indicate we have a great opportunity on the horizon — a new career, perhaps — and it is up to us to seize it.
Reading Reversed Aces
When an Ace appears reversed, however, it can indicate that we need to be more mindful of our choices. We could be taking too much action without properly thinking things through or not giving ourselves the opportunity to enjoy our success.
The Magician reversed could be a sign that we are feeling disconnected from our creative power, or that we need to take more time for reflection and contemplation. When the Magician is reversed it also means we may have to wait a little longer for our desires to manifest, or we are having an energetic block that isn’t allowing us to manifest.
The Ace of Cups reversed might be telling us that we are not tapping into our feelings and emotions enough or that we need to take more time for ourselves. It may be a signifier of an unhealthy relationship or a situation that’s draining us.
The Ace of Wands reversed can signify that we are stuck in a rut and need to find the courage to be spontaneous. We may be putting too much pressure on ourselves and losing sight of our dreams and goals. It can also mean that we need to take more time to relax and enjoy life.
The Ace of Swords reversed could be a warning that we are not thinking clearly or being honest with ourselves. We may be clinging to old ideas and rigid beliefs that are no longer serving us. The reversed ace of Swords could also indicate we are having difficulty making decisions in our lives.
The Ace of Pentacles reversed could indicate that we are clinging too hard to material possessions and allowing them to cloud our judgement. It is time to let go and allow ourselves the freedom to pursue what truly makes us happy. This card reminds us that true wealth comes from within and that success can be found
Reading the Position
When you put cards down in a spread, the cards are speaking to each other. They’re interacting with each other. They’re telling a story, and you, dear one, are merely reading this story. The position, or placement, of each card carries with it its own significance.
Let’s look at how the cards might speak in a Past, Present, Future tarot spread.
When an Ace appears in a tarot spread in a position signifying the past, it can indicate that the beginning of your journey was some time ago. But it can also indicate that it’s time to learn from the past and let go of any bad habits or negative thought patterns that has been holding you back.
When an Ace appears in a position signifying the present, it indicates that this is the perfect time to start fresh; to begin new projects and take on new challenges. It is also a great time to access your intuition and use it in conjunction with your creative energies.
And when an Ace appears in a position signifying the future, it can indicate that the future holds great potential for growth. It could be a sign to trust in your own inner strength and use it as you forge ahead with confidence and courage.
Let’s Look at Some Examples…
When the Magician appears in the position of the past it might signify that there were times when we trusted our intuition and used it to guide us in the right direction. It may be a reminder of how capable and creative we were and how our past can be a source of wisdom.
The Ace of Cups in the past might be a reminder that there was once an abundance of love and empathy in our lives.
The Ace of Wands in the past, for example, might say that our journey began with enthusiasm and passion.
The Ace of Swords in the past might indicate that we were once ready to do battle and defend our convictions.
The Ace of Pentacles in the past might tell us that we once had the foundation we needed to build a life of security and stability.
There is more to the cards in these positions, but that depends on what the other cards in the spread are saying.
It’s possible that when combined with other cards we find that the Ace of Wands is telling us we lost our fire as time went on. The Ace of Swords may be saying that we lost the energy to defend our convictions. The Ace of Cups might be telling us that we withdrew and shut ourselves off from those we love. The Ace of Pentacles might be further indicating that we had a financial setback.
Or, the cards might be saying the opposite. The Ace of Wands might be telling us that our fire and passion will guide us to stability. The Ace of Swords could indicate we are on our path to becoming ferocious activists. Ace of Cups might be saying we did the ground work to build a strong and loving family. The Ace of Pentacles might be saying we laid the foundation to build a robust nest egg.
Present:
In the present position, the Magician could indicate that we are feeling more in touch with our intuition and creativity than ever before. It could mean that we are being encouraged to use our inner resources and manifest our dreams.
The Ace of Cups might be saying that we are feeling more connected to our emotions and those around us.
The Ace of Wands in the present might be telling us that we are feeling energised and ready to take on our goals with enthusiasm.
The Ace of Swords might indicate that we have the clarity and courage to make tough decisions.
The Ace of Pentacles might be a sign that we are starting to build the financial stability or secure home we need.
Future:
For the future, an Ace card points to new beginnings or a fresh start. It can be a sign of potential and possibility if we — forgive the pun — play our cards right.
In the future position the Magician could indicate that we will use our inner wisdom and powers of manifestation to create the life we dream of.
The Ace of Cups in the future might be saying that we will experience love, joy, and connection to others.
The Ace of Wands in the future might say that we will use our enthusiasm and passion to create a life of adventure.
The Ace of Swords in the future might mean that we will have the courage and strength to fight for what we believe in.
The Ace of Pentacles in the future might point to financial security or a secure home.
The Aces in tarot are powerful cards that contain a deep spiritual significance and can bring insight, guidance, and clarity. By understanding the energy of these cards we can use them to create positive changes in our lives and access our intuition. With an understanding of the Tarot, we can begin to tap into our own inner truth and create a life filled with abundance, joy, and purpose.
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