SUN - Key XII - The Hanged Man
The sun is the center of the solar system and has the attributes of nobility, sincerity, and te creative urge that betokens leadership. It represents the life-giving force without which nothing could live on earth. It is masculine and powerful, and all creatures turn to it for warmth and all planets revolve around it. To Man, the Sun also symbolises the sustaining Force of the Universe - God. The Hanged Man is suspended from a tree of living wood, showing his dependence upon nature and the life-giving force. The Number 12 pertains to the Great Work, triumph over the human personality by the individual. In reversing his way of life, the Hanged Man shows he is now dependent on Spirit - God. We have assigned the Sun to the Hanged Man.
MOON - Key II - The High Priestess
The Moon has dominion over the tides and over clear, pure, virgin water; it brings fruitfulness to things under its spell. The Moon, changeable and fluctuating, is associated with the subconscious as the Sun is with the conscious. The High Priestess, also thought of as Diana, the Moon Goddess, wears on her head a crown of the moon in its phases and keeps some things hidden as does moonlight.
MERCURY - Key I - The Magician
Mercury is the planet that deals with man, the thinker; it is mental, logical, and stands for intellectual inquiry, skill, and imagination. It has been called the link between spirit and matter, as is the mind of man. The Magicians represents the first step in the coming-down of Spirit from the Fool, that essence which existed before human thought.
VENUS - Key III- The Empress
Venus has been called the Mother Goddess, for she is fruitful, human, harmonious, and beautiful. The symbol of Venus is the circle above the cross that we can see in the heart-shaped shield at the side of the Empress. Venus is not only fruitfulness and productivity but also love and the emotions, and these same attributes belong to the Empress.
MARS - Key XVI- The Tower
Mars is the planet of force and energy, good or bad according to the way it is used. Mars is constructive, ambitious, the planet of builders. Its symbol is the cross above the circle, the opposite to that of Venus, showing that the Mars force works almost entirely with material conditions. The constructive force brings on holy wars, as well as destructive wars of aggression. In the Tower we see that the force is that of spiritual lightning used as a corrective.
JUPITER - Key IV- The Emperor
Jupiter has been called the lordly planet, the nature of which is to unfold outwardly toward pure reason. Jupiter has the noble attributes of sincerity, benevolence, charity; it is diginified, has determination and leadership. Mars in good aspect to Jupiter elevates the aspiration. In the Emperor, a lordly figure, we have the same qualities.
SATURN - Key XIII- Death
Saturn's influence is commonly called evil, but in reality there is no evil, since all things work together for ultimate good. Saturn is the planet of limitations, restructions, and adversities - all that is associated with things in their most earthly aspect. Saturn is also the redeemer, for it simulates, through adversity, all efforts toward betterment and perfection on the material plane. Death, as depicted in Key 13, not only destroys but also transforms and renews, as symbolised by the river behind the figures. The rising sun is in the distance also to symbolise the constant renewal of life.
