HP tarot

[salinea]

theladyfeylene reminding me of the joy of applying Tarot to fandom + /me being bored at work today = /me doing a Harry Potter tarot. Which is stupid because 1/ I can't draw 2/ I can't even scan 3/ there's no HP pictures out there I'm willing to use for this 4/ There's got to be at least several dozens of those already on the net.
But *shrugs* whatever, here comes the babble.



1. The Magician : Harry Potter

Holding forth his familiar tools representing his mastery over the elements : the Invisible Coat (Air), the Firebold broom (Fire), the Marauder's Map (Earth) and the Half Blood Prince Potion book (Water)

Why : In most case, I think the main character is the best fit for the first card of the Tarot. The Magician is symbolical of a proactive figure, someone who's got all the means to act, even if he doesn't know how and what for yet, exactly.

2. The High Priestess : Luna Lovegood

Holding a closed copy of the Quibbler Report

Why : like the High Priestess, Luna represents a peculiar kind of knowledge, one that is spiritual as someone who's already been initiated to the mysteries of Death, intuitive and treackery. But her unobvious vision of truth is insightful and holds useful information to start one's journey toward enlighment.

3. The Empress : Neville Longbottom

Fondling his favourite plant

Why : Oh ! I hope a little bit of genderfuck doesn't put you off, does it ? Anyway, the Empress' advices are more grounded, common sense based though still sharp, than the High Priestess. Neville knowledge in herbology as well as his underestimated support relates with the Empress meanings of provider, prosperity and fertility.

Alternatively, you could have Ginny Weasley on this card. But then you would have no Neville anywhere, and that would be bad.

4. The Emperor : Ron Weasley

Carrying the Quidditch Cup

Why : "Weasley is our King", 'nuff said.

5. The Hierophant : Hermione Granger

With a big "Hogwarts, a History" book at hand

Why : Unlike the High Priestess, the Hierophant's knowledge is authoritative, it's one legitimized by society, exoteric and much more rationnal. It's a knowledge that is taught and learned, not discovered by the experience of one's life. Hermione's affinity for knowledge, her application to study and her good memory as well as the fact she's the most senstive to political issues among her friends makes her the best fit for this card.

6. The Lover : Draco Malfoy

Standing between Dumbledore and a Death Eater, wands wavering in his hand.

Why : forget anything about love, romance or couples, the Lover's about choice : being at a crossroad and making a decision about which way to follow from now on. In that scene, Draco is being repeatedly reminded that he's got a choice, that he could decide for himself what to do. And, no, I don't care that it's a chapter named after another Tarot card.

Alternatively, you could have Harry between Draco and Ron in the train from PS, but that's a scene a bit less resonant IMO.

7. The Charriot : Quidditch

Harry on a broom, grasping the Golden Snitch

Why : meanings of victory and success thanks to decisive action.

8. Justice : Sirius Black

In ragged Azkaban clothing, escaping the Dementors

Why : I'm very amused about my "Virtues" pick. The fun thing about the Maraudeurs is that they're so wonderfully flawed that they can fit with the reverse meanings of the card as well as the straight. Anyway, Sirius was judged hastily and without any fairness, punished for a crime he didn't commit, pursued vengeance mindlessly through PoA, and was only officially rehabilited onto death. His whole existence is a point about the lack of justice of the WW, and as such, prompts Harry to be careful about it. Sirius is also a character who can be surprisingly insightful about judging people (like the Crouches or his own family, or the infamous phrase about the world not being divided between good people and Death Eaters) even if he doesn't always act upon it.

9. The Hermit : Albus Dumbledore

Bended over a Pensieve, thin silver threads of memories being spelled into it.

Why : A lot of Dumebledore's advice seems to be about listening to what's inside, taking advice in introspection. And he might be quirky and friendly, but he's also a far, remote figure who doesn't share easily with others. His old age and intelligence finishes to make him fit in the Hermit card.

10. The Wheel of Fortune : The Prophecy

A ghostly figure of Sibyl Trelawney re-telling her Prophecy amid broken Time-turners, de-aged Death Eaters and other wreckage of the Room of Time in the Department of Mysteries.

Why : What better than a Prophecy to bring the meaning of the events outside your control happening and changing everything ?

11. Strength : Peter Pettigrew

Tending for an horrifying looking baby Voldemort

Why : Well since I was putting the three Marauders (James ? James who ?) on the three virtue cards, I had to put Peter on Strength, didn't I ? The Strength relates with courage and with apparent weakness. Though he's easily the most underestimated of the characters, Peter lacks neither bravery, nor abilities. Whether or not he might ultimately master his own inner demons, however, remains to be seen.

Alternatively : Lily facing Voldemort to protect Harry.

12. The Hanged Man : Severus Snape

Thrice bound by the Unbreakable Vows, the Dark Mark, and Dumebledore's orders. Or under a spell of Levicorpus for something more visual :)

Why : Duh. Easier fit in the whole lot. A character whose binding brings true spiritual freedom and hopefully redemption.

13. Death : The Killing Curse

Voldemort's using "Avada Kedavra" against baby Harry and seeing the curse returning against himself

Why : It's hard finding symbolical events reminescing of death that also relates to change and metamorphosis because of Voldemort's goal to vainquish death. Which is where using the one event where Voldemort's powers failed him is interesting.

Alternatively : Fawkes, as suggested by sophia_helix, over the White Tomb where all remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix are gathered.

14. Temperance : Remus Lupin

Drinking Wolfsbane as the moon slowly rises in a window behind him

Why : On one hand an amiable, polite, cautious person, on the other a bloodthirsty beast one night a month : talk about the melding of contraries. I think that Remus' careful and level headed nature makes him a good fit for Temperance.

15. The Devil : Tom Riddle

In the Charmber of Secret, an unconcious Ginny at his foot and the Basilisk in his thrall

Why : Tom Riddle stands for everything that is seductive about evil, the delusion of power as a justification onto itself, the selfish need to obey one's every whim, the temptation to forsake mastery of oneself.

16. The Tower : The Ministry of Magic

The elevator with every Department and divisions of the Ministry written on it, filled with Fudge, Umbridge, Percy, Scrimgeour and Arthur.

Why : The Tower is all about pride, and its failings. The Ministry's ambition, its authoritative grip and willfull blindness is surely its greatest flaws, and what has brought the Wizarding World closer and closer to disaster so far.

Alternatively : the wrecked remains of Grimmauld Place, once the house of a proud and noble family.

17. The Star : Patronus

Harry's Patronus rushing like a beacon of light to save his own former self and Sirius from the Dementors

Why : The Patronus charm is a symbol of everything that is good, hopeful and bright in one self, it's their own private lucky star.

18. The Moon : The Mirror of Erised

The mirror's reflection of what Harry desires, dreams of and yearns for, his dead family fading into the Philosopher Stone, as a double-faced Quirrelmort lurks behind him

Why : The Mirror of Erised's treacherous nature is very similar to the Moon's meanings. Dream, desires, subconcious whims, fears and, sometimes, useful inspiration.

19. The Sun : The Burrow

Harry and Ginny holding hands, with all the Weasleys and Hermione in the background. Very OBWF

Why : Remember when I said the Lover wasn't about love ? Well, the Sun is. It's also about happiness, prosperity, an ideal time or golden age one looks back at fondly.

20. The Judgement : Voldemort

Rising up from a cauldron, surrunded by a handless Peter, a bound Harry and a dead Cedric

Why : The card originally features a resurection in the flesh, of course Voldemort's is more tainted. However, his revival means a reckoning for both Harry and the Wizarding World, and it takes place at the end of the Triwizard Tournament : two things with symbolical meanings close to the Judgement card.

21.The World : Hogwarts

In feasting room, with the banners and colours of all four Houses flying as hundreds of students are gathered in it

Why : because it's the center of all thing, the battleground and the stake of the Harry Potter world in the context of the book.

The Fool : Hagrid

Wandering in the Forbidden Forrest, followed by his dog Fluffy

Why : NOT an easy card to pick. The HP books might be filled with various fools and mad people, but few who have both the meanings of innocence and wisdom and out-boundness of the card. Though I'm not fully happy with Hagrid there, there's several advantages to having him there : he's often shown himself to be naive and careless of consequences, he's often provided advices and informations to the Trio, he's an important characters in the books and to Harry so should feature on the Tarot.

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