Cards positioned to explore relationships between those next to each other and also between the vertical rows. For example Hierophant relates to Temperance between Death (rebirth) and the Devil (temptation), on the shadow or second row, while it relates to Temperance between the Lovers/Chariot rushing in vs the seated figures of Empress and Emperor, on the top row.
A crux for this way of thinking about relationships between Tarot cards is that the Axle upon which the Wheel of Fortune rotates is the Hermits Staff, in this case his Lantern represents the Wheel. Below that you have Star Moon and Sun. What this means shifts gear depending whether you have Justice or Strength for 8 and 11, either side of it.
8 and 11 Cards have been re-numbered and repositioned by Rider-Waite. I believe they did this to cause us to analyse the Tarot as a system of cycles.
Hermits Staff and Hanged Man form two pillars either side of, either Strength or Justice. What follows is the Balance (Temperance) and the 'light at the end of the tunnel' reflection of his lantern / Star Moon Sun.
With Hanged Man being the level of self-honesty (integrity) to navigate (justice) or create (strength) through the challenge ahead (death, temperance, devil, tower) to see which light guides it (star moon sun).
See also the 'mobs loop' infinity symbol (sideways figure of 8) above the Magicians head, rotates around the two pillars in the High Priestess card next to it. This is reaffirmed by his candle burning at both ends. Those same pillars are on the Hierophant, as towers on the Moon, and the two sphinxes are that energy in motion on the Chariot.
There is a lot more to the Major Arcana when you start to decode it in this way. Its order follows what is a actually quite a simple story told in stages of family relationships developing over generations. It explores consequences for decisions.
The Light, of course, is Love.
But not always...
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