I am sure most of you have noticed by now that there are quite a few Major Arcana sporting pillars at the sides, or at least twin elements, often in clear/dark colors or just plainly black and white.

Here are the ones I gathered. I am posting Robin Wood's for variety, but it is even more obvious in RW:


By pirbid

Probably the more outstanding ones are Justice and the Hierophant, but the Moon has two definite towers or Stonehenge and the Chariot has the pillars supporting the awning and the two animals of opposite color. The Priestess also has very clear pillars, although in this case they are two lanky trees at the back. And, even though it is not so usual, I took advantage of the fact that this Magician also has a couple of candles behind.

Now, how do you interpret all this pillars and opposites?

On the one hand, pillars are elements that give support to horizontal structures, so the cards that include them seem somehow more solid and protective.

When they are of different sign (not always the case), it brings to mind the balancing opposites, as in the yin-yang symbol: light and darkness, passivity and action, night and day. I never see one as being more negative than the other, but both extremes necessary in most cycles and life forms. So, when a card has them, does it mean that the quality portrayed can bring together the opposites inside us and make them work effectively? For instance, the Priestess could mean a balance between passion and apathy.

What are your thoughts on this?  

Glad you raised the question of the two pillars/columns in the cards that you kindly posted here.

Have we noticed that they are always TWO columns and not ONE, for what can one achieve without the strength, the force and even the opposing qualities of a second one? It is almost a duality, without which life may either not sustain or become too boring.

Can you build something on one column and expect it to stay firm against the elements? Build something on two columns and the construction will be on solid foundations, even if one of the columns happens not to have all the necessary building ingredients in it. Why? Because the other column will compensate for what is lacking and vice versa.

To me this duality of the two columns – and we can forget the columns and even take the two trees or the two candles in the cards that you have posted Pirbid  still mean the same thing – a duality, and not a similar duality, for that would be again too boring and will not sustain life.

The symbolism of the columns, The Justice, good and evil and the judge sitting in between being the fair one. The Heirophant, the two columns, call it heaven and hell, good and bad, and the priest sitting in the middle guiding us in the middle path. The High Priestess, two columns, strength and weakness, and she is in the middle showing us the knowledge within to balance these two qualities. And the list goes on: feminine and masculine, active and passive, yin and yang (I don’t exactly know what they mean, but I get the feeling of what they stand for), north and south, good and evil. Whether it is two concrete columns or two trees or two candles, I think the symbolism is the duality of these two elements in what they represent and the persona in the middle playing as a moderator. To be aware of the existence of these two polarities in our journey of life, and yet be guided to a wisdom to choose the proper path without leaning too much on one or the other.

I raised once the question of the symbolism of the two towers on the Moon card and here again, I feel the two columns are the good and the bad, to be or not to be, good choice, bad choice, through which the confused lobster may be contemplating to pass through.

After reading them and many times getting confused with the deeper and intense kabalistic or what else phraseology that experts shower us with, I, within myself, have arrived to the conclusion that I have humbly expressed here.

Thank you Pirbid for this opportunity to air what I have concluded so far.

OF COURSE, let us hear others’ opinions and inputs on this to add more to my notes and tarot knowledge.

Blessings to you all.
cedars

On a completely different note, and this made me smile, I cannot see your charioteer who is playing a string instrument, almost singing, to be in much of a struggle to make his way through his difficulties.....
Could this perhaps mean deal with them with a smile?
Happy chappy that Charioteer, Pirbid.  

We had a thread about this a while ago too  

Must be worshipping an altar of a deity.