ASHLEY COOK TAROT

A Brief Guide to the cards

The Ashley Cook Tarot deck is self

published. The project initially
commenced as a commission in
2017 to design 12 Tarot cards for a
Netflix production, called Lovesick.

The Tarot is a specific system that

has 78 cards in total. There are 4
suits (referred to as the minor
arcana) and 22 other cards (referred
to as the major arcana). Each card
represents a specific energy and
each card, through the picture on
the card, is trying to help you to feel
the specific energy that it holds.

The deck was printed by Fabryka

Karta in Poland.

Most of my research drew on symbolism and mythology from Babylonian,

Classical Greek and Roman origins. I saw my interpretation to be continuing
within that tradition and that the passing on and reiteration of time honoured
symbols seems to be part of the power which has been attributed to the
cards. These days we can call up any ancient symbol with a few strokes of a
keyboard but when we think about how these symbols have been honoured
- faithfully stored, protected, copied and handed down through centuries,
we can see some kind of arcane power in that ritualised continuation and
reverence.
As the project progressed I also started to also draw on symbolism with a
broader spiritual reference point. I have used a lot of performers and dancers
in the deck, symbolic of the dance of life.
MAJOR ARCANA:

There are 22 cards in the Major Arcana, they are used

as “trump” cards, meaning they outrank the other
cards. The Major Arcana cards usually indicate a major
event or change in life; something of impact which is
taking place. The Major Arcana are numbered 0 to 21,
with 0 being the number of the Fool, in many esoteric
systems of interpretation, the Fool is usually
interpreted as the protagonist of a story, and the Major
Arcana is the path the Fool takes through the great
mysteries of life and the main human archetypes. This
path is known traditionally in cartomancy as the "Fool's
Journey” and is frequently used to introduce the
meaning of Major Arcana cards to beginners, it can
also be known as the Fool in School.
MAJOR ARCANA CORE MEANINGS:

The Fool: Inexperience, spontaneity

The Magician: Mastery
The High Priestess: Divine Feminine, intuition
The Empress: Imaginative thought, natural world
The Emperor: Constructed thought, action
The Hierophant: Wisdom and learning
The Lovers: Law of Attraction, choice
The Chariot: Rising to challenges, effort
Strength: Overcoming challenges
The Hermit: Going on an inner journey to grow
Wheel of Fortune: Luck and destiny
Justice: Fair outcome in disagreements
Hanged Man: Limbo, needing to find a new perspective
Death: Transmutation, old ways must wither to make way for new
things
Temperance: Moderation in all things
The Devil: Temptation, addiction, self destructive behaviour
The Tower: Sudden shock that can be devastating but can make
way for growth
The Star: Guardian angel, good luck after bad, healing
The Moon: Possible deception, all not as it seems
The Sun: Prosperity and happiness
Judgement: Karma
The World: Completion of a cycle, positive outcomes

Cards which appear upside down in a reading are called ‘reversed

cards’ and the meaning will be reversed or the impact lessened.
So auspicious cards will not be as powerful when reversed but
similarly inauspicious cards are not as unlucky when drawn
reversed.
MINOR ARCANA
Like a deck of regular playing cards, The Minor Arcana is comprised of four
suits, - Wands, Pentacles, Cups and Swords. There are14 cards in a suit. Each
suit corresponds with one of the 4 elements and is representative of different
aspects of day-to-day life.

Cups relate to the element of Water and are representative

of emotions, relationships, feelings and creativity.

Pentacles relate to the element of Earth and are

representative of money, financial resources, material
possessions, career and the physical realm.

Swords relate to the element of Air and are representative of

power, rationality, the intellect, and thoughts.

Wands relate to the element of Fire and are representative of

inspiration, spirituality, ideas and energy flow.
The court cards of the Minor Arcana tend to represent people in the
querent’s life.
Pages can be messengers, Knights are often on a mission, Queens are
women important to your life and Kings are men who impact your life.
*Aces represent beginnings. The aces were the pure, elemental spark of the
suit.
ACE OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Love, new relationships, compassion, creativity.
REVERSED: Emptiness, coldness, blocked creativity, feeling unloved.

ACE OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Opportunity to thrive, manifestation, abundance
REVERSED: Lost opportunity, lack of planning and foresight

ACE OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Breakthroughs, new ideas, mental clarity, success.
REVERSED: Re-thinking an idea, clouded judgement.

ACE OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Inspiration, new opportunities, growth, potential.
REVERSED: Delays, blocks, lack of passion and energy, hesitancy.

*The twos can represent balancing of extremes and the struggles inherent in
this process.

2 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Unity, partnership, mutual attraction.
REVERSED: Disharmony, distrust, break-ups.

2 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Resourcefulness, adaptability, flexibility
REVERSED: Imbalance, unorganised, chaotic, overextended.

2 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Difficult decisions, weighing up options, stalemate, avoidance.
REVERSED: Indecision, hesitancy, anxiety, information overload.

2 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Discovery, future planning, progress, decisions.
REVERSED: Fear of unknown, lack of planning
*Threes in Tarot can signify a unifying force…these cards reinforce loyalty,
bonding and crossing the point of no return.
3 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Celebration, friendship, creativity, community.
REVERSED: Independence, alone time, hedonistic partying.

3 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Teamwork, collaboration, learning.
REVERSED: Disharmony, misalignment, working alone.

3 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Grief, heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow, hurt, tears.
REVERSED: Healing, forgiveness, recovery, reconciliation.

3 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Expansion, preparation, foresight, enterprise.
REVERSED: Thinking small, lack of foresight, unexpected delays.

*When things are stable in your life, expect to see some cards with the
number four on them in a reading. 4 is the number of stability and
consistency.
4 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Contemplation, apathy, re-evaluation, indifference, discontent.
REVERSED: Retreat, withdrawal, acceptance, depression, negativity

4 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Hoarding, financial security, materialism, frugality
REVERSED: Over-spending, greed, self-protection.

4 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Recuperation, rest, relaxation, meditation, contemplation.
REVERSED: Exhaustion, burn-out, stagnation.

4 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Celebration, joy, harmony, relaxation, homecoming
REVERSED: Instability, feeling unwelcome, transience, lack of roots.
*When a card with the number five on it appears in your tarot reading, you
are either in control or completely submissive. Fives are about who holds
power. The fives were about instability and loss, losing momentum.
5 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Disappointment, sadness, mourning, discontent, feeling let down.
REVERSED: Acceptance, moving on, finding peace, seeing positives.

5 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Lack, financial loss, poverty, isolation, worry.
REVERSED: Recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty.

5 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Bullying, disputes, intimidation, competition.
REVERSED: Reconciliation, making amends.

5 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Disagreement, competition, strife, tension, conflict.
REVERSED: Inner conflict, conflict avoidance.

*The Sixes are about restored harmony after instability, working with give
and take. Sixes tell us to live in the present & move through transition.
6 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Nostalgia, memories, familiarity, comfort, sentimentality,
REVERSED: Stuck in past, leaving home, independence

6 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Generosity, charity, support, sharing.
REVERSED: Power dynamics, abuse of generosity, extortion.

6 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Transition, change, rite of passage, releasing baggage, moving on.
REVERSED: Stuck in past, running away from problems, trapped.

6 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Success, triumph, rewards, recognition, acclaim.
REVERSED: Failure, lack of recognition, no rewards.
*Now comes the Sevens. Seven is a magic number, a number of creativity
and individuality. The number seven is an indicator of both the thing we most
want and the unexpected delivery.
7 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Opportunities, choices, wishful thinking, illusion.
REVERSED: Overwhelmed by choices, disarray, confusion, distractions.

7 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Harvest, results, growth, investment, perseverance.
REVERSED: Lack of long-term vision, limited success or reward.

7 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Betrayal, trickery, scheming, strategy, resourcefulness, cunning.
REVERSED: Conscience, regret, confession, truth revealed.

7 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Challenge, competition, protection, perseverance.
REVERSED: Exhaustion, giving up, overwhelmed.

*Cards numbered eight are about cycles, revolutions, and progress gained
on the invisible level.
8 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Escapism, walking away, letting go, searching for truth.
REVERSED: Stagnation, monotony, fear of change, staying in bad situation.

8 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Skill development, talent, craftsmanship, mastery.
REVERSED: Perfectionism, misdirected activity.

8 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Negative thoughts, victim mentality, feeling helpless.
REVERSED: Releasing negative thoughts, open to new perspectives.

8 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Movement, speed, quick decisions, sudden changes, excitement.
REVERSED: Losing momentum, waiting, slowness, chaos, delays.
*Nine is the number when everything that's been learned or accomplished
is integrated.

9 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Wishes fulfilled, comfort, happiness, satisfaction.
REVERSED: Materialism, dissatisfaction, indulgence.

9 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency, financial independence.
REVERSED: Living beyond means, reckless spending, superficiality.

9 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Nightmares, anxiety, worry, fear, depression.
REVERSED: Recovery, learning to cope, facing life, finding help.

9 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Resilience, Courage, persistence, test of faith.
REVERSED: Struggle, overwhelm, paranoia.

* The cards numbered ten are the element of the suit complete, both
physical and spiritual.

10 OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Harmony, love, marriage, happiness, alignment.
REVERSED: Disconnection, misaligned values, struggling relationships.

10 OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Legacy, roots, family, ancestry, inheritance, foundations, tradition.
REVERSED: Dark side of wealth, financial failure.

10 OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss.
REVERSED: Regeneration, recovery, resisting an inevitable end.

10 OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Burden, responsibility, hard work, stress, achievement.
REVERSED: Carrying the burden, delegation, release.
*Pages encourage you to go for it and give you the green light for a new
project or initiative.

PAGE OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Idealism, sensitivity, naivity, creative opportunities.
REVERSED: Emotional vulnerability, immaturity, insecurity.

PAGE OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Financial opportunity, skill development.
REVERSED: Procrastination, learning from failure, lack of progress.

PAGE OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Curious, witty, communicative, alert.
REVERSED: Scatterbrained, cynical, sarcastic, gossipy, rude.

PAGE OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Inspiration, adventure, limitless potential, free spirit.
REVERSED: Impatience, tantrums, unreliability, distraction.

*As events, Knights reflect change, movement and action.

KNIGHT OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Romance, charm, imagination, beauty.
REVERSED: Overactive imagination, unrealistic, jealous, moody.

KNIGHT OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Hard work, routine, consistency, conservatism.
REVERSED: Boredom, feeling stuck, perfectionism.

KNIGHT OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Ambitious, action-oriented, driven to succeed, fast-thinking.
REVERSED: Restless, unfocused, impulsive.

KNIGHT OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Inspiration, adventure, limitless potential, free spirit.
REVERSED: Impatience, tantrums, unreliability, distraction.
*As people, Queens represent someone who has maturity and a deeper
understanding or herself and others. Queens typically represent women, but
can also highlight the more feminine energies within a man.
QUEEN OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Emotional security, kindness, healing, warmth, compassion.
REVERSED: Insecurity, over-sensitive, needy, fragile, giving too much.

QUEEN OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Practical, home-loving, maternal, down-to-earth, security.
REVERSED: Intolerant, materialistic, self-absorbed, envious.

QUEEN OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Quick thinker, honest, organised, perceptive, independent.
REVERSED: Pessimistic, harsh, bitter, spiteful, cruel, unforgiving

QUEEN OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Exuberance, warmth, vibrancy, determination, charisma.
REVERSED: Demanding, vengeful, selfish, temperamental.

*Kings are considered to be the most mature of the Court Cards. They have
travelled through life successfully and are now at the pinnacle of experience
and understanding.
KING OF CUPS:
UPRIGHT: Emotional balance, generosity, compassion, diplomacy.
REVERSED: Moodiness, emotionally manipulative, inner feelings.

KING OF PENTACLES:
UPRIGHT: Prosperity, kindness, protection, security, abundance.
REVERSED: Greed, materialistic, wasteful, gambler, exploitative, possessive.

KING OF SWORDS:
UPRIGHT: Clear thinking, intellectual power, authority, truth.
REVERSED: Misuse of power, manipulation.

KING OF WANDS:
UPRIGHT: Natural-born leader, vision, entrepreneur, honour.
REVERSED: Impulsiveness, ruthless, over ambitious expectations.