elemental dignities

the small cards are in four suits, corresponding to the elements fire, water, air, and earth. fire and air are considered "active" or "masculine" elements, while water and earth are "passive" or "feminine."

the phrase "elemental dignities" refers to how adjacent cards "strengthen" or "weaken" one another, based on these elemental attributions. fire and water are "unfriendly," opposing one another, as are air and earth. all other combinations are "friendly."

in a sequence of three cards, the center card influences, and is influenced by, each of the cards flanking it. or not so much, if the flanking cards themselves are in opposition to one another.

however, says macgregor mathers in his "book t,"

[i]f the contrary element is only in one flanking card, then the other becomes a connecting card so that the [center card] is not weakened, but is modified by the influence of both cards and is, therefore, fairly strong.

so for example, we have seven pentacles flanked by two swords and nine wands. and let's say the position assignments are roughly past, present, and future, left to right.

the two and the nine, air and fire, are compatible, so each will influence the seven, the two negatively and the nine positively.

the two and the seven, each weakening the other, might suggest a lack of commitment to the project at hand. you sort of fell into it. possibly even an element of denial. the seven and nine, each supporting the other, might suggest at this point it is just a matter of sticking it out.

we might also note the two and the nine each represent a zodiacal decan to which the moon has been assigned, the two swords in the first decan of libra and the nine wands in the second decan of saggitarius.

the seven pentacles represents the third decan of taurus, to which saturn has been assigned. the moon is exalted in taurus, and saturn is exalted in libra.

so there would appear to be some kind of saturn and moon thing going on. saturn has generally to do with structure, self-control, boundaries, etc., while the moon has to do with the unconscious, reactivity, intuition, etc.

not to get too deep into astrology, which is certainly not my strength.

but again, we are looking for patterns. if you layer enough patterns one over another, a tableau can take on some of the character of a mandala.