21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 14 - Dignity & Theme

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step fourteen of our journey, we explore the similarities and differences between the cards.

Similarities and Differences

Comparison and contrast of the details of two or more cards is what makes a reading dynamic.

Activity 14:1: Look at your cards from Step 12. List the similarities and differences. What do these suggest?

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011 

Similarities - Birds appear in two cards, the colors of The Emperor and the Ten of Wands are similar, all three figures hold an item. These similarities may suggest control and freedom throughout the reading.

Differences- Two figures stand on their own feet, while one is carried. One card has clouds, while the other two do not. These differences may suggest ups and downs and the need to know when to ask for help.

Dignities

Dignities is a term for finding affinities or antipathies among two or more tarot cards that can strengthen or weaken their effect in a spread.

Although most used when comparing suits and elements, dignities is actually a general term for all of the following situations: Suit, Element, Number, Sequence, Location, Astrology, and symbols.

Mary goes into great detail on each of these in the book.

Activity 14-2 : In your three-card spread, are any situations repeated? What do these suggest?

Suits - Swords and Wands are both masculine and active.
Elements - Fire + Air + Fire, Fire and Air are friendly, tending toward compromise and balance.
Number - All even numbers - emphasize balance

These dignities suggest balance and activity in the reading.

Mary K. Greer goes into further details in The Way of the Adept section.

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.