A Tarot of Fushigi Yuugi

Fushigi Yuugi is the property of Watase Yuu, Flower Comics, Studio Perriot, Pioneer Animation and Viz Comics. All rights remain theirs and I'm not making any profit from this at all (Tamahome would undoubtedly take it all if I did).

I would like to make it clear that this is not the only possible interpretation of the Tarot. It is only my interpretation. Also I would like to emphasise that the titles of the cards are often misleading! 'Death' doesn't mean someone will die, and 'The Fool' isn't about a fool. Please read the meaning before reading which character I've assigned to each card - and think before you flame.

I already know that there's been at least one attempt to fit the characters and situations of Fushigi Yuugi into the Tarot. However, I didn't like that interpretation. It seemed very Miaka- and Nuriko-biased; but more than that, most of the cards were based on situations rather than characters. Fushigi Yuugi already has an incredibly complex array of minor and backstory characters, who never get their due, let alone enough screen time. It seemed to me an incredible waste to have Nuriko for seven cards, when I could think of five minor characters who could fit five of the cards better than he could. This is not to say that I dislike Nuriko - just that he had to be 'forced' to fit those cards, while the minor characters fitted them much better, without any contrivances.

I have tried, wherever possible, to fit a character once, and once only, into the Major Arcana. Nine Miaka cards would be, I think, a bit much! Also, I have tried to fit a character, rather than a situation, to each card. Situations are short and highly dependent on context; but characters are constants.

I have not drawn a distinction between the upright and reversed meanings of the cards, because an upright can have some of the meanings of the reversed card, and the reversed card can carry the meaning of the upright; it depends on the position of the card in the layout and the cards around it. The Questioner  must always hold the Question s/he is asking in mind when attempting to interpret a Tarot reading. As a rule, however, the negative or darker meanings of a card apply when it is reversed, while the positive meanings apply when it is upright (eg, if the Chariot is upside-down, expect your holiday to go down in flames; if it's upright, book Maui).

The Minor Arcana

However, the Four Gods, being generalities themselves, can be fairly neatly assigned to the four suites as follows:

    Wands: Wands is the suite of love, fidelity and relationships.
    God: Suzaku.

    Cups: The suite of art and philosophy.
    God: Byakko.

    Swords: Swords is the suite of conflict. All the cards in Swords have to do either with disputes, resolution or healing from wounds.
    God: Seiryuu.

    Coins (sometimes called Pentacles): This suite is very grounded in the material world. It is almost completely concerned with business and professional life, abilities and opportunities.
    God: Genbu.

The Major Arcana

0    The Fool

Theme: The Fool rushes in where angels fear to tread. The Fool is thoughtless and careless, but always cheerful and lighthearted. Undisciplined and foolish, the Fool finds pleasure in everything. The innocent Fool, in his ignorance, has no knowledge of the impossible, and so is the most powerful card in the deck.

Meaning: Be careful! Vital choices that will dictate your future are coming up in your life. And don't think that avoiding the decision will help, either! Be wise, or be foolish, but either way you should try to be like the Fool, who always finds the silver lining.

   Character: Miaka

1    The Magician

Theme: A powerful, masculine figure, the Magician uses his power and guile almost as readily as his skill. He's determined and intelligent, having had to forge his own way on his own resources. But this means that he doesn't always play by the rules, and any resources and methods are acceptable to him if they will yield success.

Meaning: You already have what you need; you must now help yourself. Use your determination and intelligence to achieve your desired goal, you have the talents to do it if you use them well! You will be tempted to lose your determination, to hesitate, or just not do your absolute best. But if you want to succeed, you must not give in.

    Character: Nakago

2    The High Priestess

Theme: A wise and understanding older woman, who teaches others. She is aware of and follows her intuition. The High Priestess is serene and quietly preserves some mysteries. She also remains emotionally distant from others. However, due to her extensive knowledge in one area, she often does not realize how little she knows in other areas, and this can cause her to make poor decisions.

Meaning: Remain serene and don't get emotional here. Wisdom and understanding are vital. Remember that you don't know everything; there's some mystery here. But you don't need to know the answer to know to tread carefully. Look beneath the surface.

   Character: Soi

3    The Empress

Theme: The archetype of Woman. A wife, a mother, a gentle, guiding influence that brings out the best in others. Her achievement is the achievements she causes others to make. But this seeming-inaction can lead to real inaction, especially if she can't see how her influence is leading to others' success. The Empress rules the household, dictating how her domain's resources are used. If she is aware of her role and responsibilities, this leads to prosperity for all. But if her duties are denigrated or she otherwise loses interest in performing them well, everyone will suffer.

Meaning: Just because it doesn't seem like much doesn't mean that supporting others is easy! Remember that a gentle word or a kind smile can send a grounded eagle back up into the clouds. Whether you give it or receive it, remember how valuable it is. Treasure the pillar that holds you up, and don't forget that being someone else's pillar is what holds them up.

   Character: Houki

4    The Emperor

Theme: The archetype of Man. A leader and a father, with wealth and power. His intelligence dominates his emotions, and he exercises power over others. However, he can keep his emotions so under control that they never mature and if he loses control their immaturity can get the better of him.

Meaning: Either you're a leader or there is one in your circle. Either way, that leadership will be needed. Don't neglect your emotions, but strong, intelligent, well-balanced leadership will be needed in this situation. Otherwise, disaster looms.

   Character: Hotohori

5    The Hierophant

Theme: An older man, wise, kind and merciful, who advises others. He tends to be conventional and a conformist whenever possible, and does not like change. However, when the situation demands it, he can be wildly nonconformist. He has great spiritual power but when confronted with something outside his experience, he can be both gullible and vulnerable.

Meaning: Listen to the older people. Wisdom is a hard-earned commodity. Somebody is in a position to give you advice on something you would do well to heed. But remember that change is inevitable, so if you are too "stuck in your rut" you'd better get flexible again before you lose the ability.

    Character: Tatara

6    The Lovers

Theme: This card is not about romance, despite its name; it's actually about blind choice.
    A young man must choose; will he give up convention and respectability for the beautiful courtesan beckoning to one side? Or will he choose the path he knows and the world he's part of, and take the hand of the plain-but-respectable lady on the other? Cupid hovers above, preparing to shoot an arrow; but where? Does he love the beautiful courtesan, enough to give up everything for her? Or will he come to resent her for making him give up his life? Will he go to the plain girl, and resent her for making him give up his dreams? Or will he come to care for her, and find happiness there? And where will Cupid shoot that arrow?
    He doesn't know. He can't know. All he can do is choose.

Meaning: A major life decision is coming up. Whatever you choose, you can never unmake this decision; it will dictate the course of your life for the rest of your life. Remember that refusing to choose is also a choice! There will be both joy and pain in whichever path you take, and you can't know how much of either until you are on the path you've chosen. Think hard and not just with your head.

   Character: Tasuki

7    The Chariot

Theme: The Chariot is about journeying, whether it's a spiritual, mental, or physical progression. All journeys are about change and this is no exception; wherever the Chariot takes you will be different to where you are now. There will be problems, but the Chariot also implies success; it takes a lot to stop two charging horses and the heavy cart behind them! The Chariot is honest and straightforward; it makes no attempt to disguise where it's been and it doesn't try to hide where it's going. The Chariot tends to the conventional but if necessary can take some very unexpected trips outside the square - remember, if the driver is determined enough, Chariots make their own roads. However, while it does take a lot to stop a Chariot, it can be done. Naturally enough, this means disaster - usually complete and total collapse.

Meaning: Pack your bags, you're going on a trip! Whether it's a journey of the body, the heart, the soul or the mind, you will be changed forever by what you're about to experience. Expect problems, but face them with confidence; you will win through. You know where you're headed for and you know what you want. But don't invest everything in this journey. Although it's not likely, it can be upset, and if it is, it will be a total disruption. The Chariot is an all-or-nothing proposition, and while you can confidently expect all, you must also be prepared for nothing.

   Character: Suboshi

8    Justice

Theme: Justice calls for balance, reason and fair play. If in a favourable aspect and position, Justice ensures that temptation will be recognised, evil avoided, truth will out and all disputes will be settled fairly. However, Justice is blind, and can be misguided. If Justice is not in a favourable position, expect injustice, bigotry and power plays.

Meaning: Be reasonable and look for the fair way in your dealings. Balance is the order of the day, and whatever dispute is being mediated will be judged fairly. Temptation will be avoided. But if people won't be reasonable and won't try to be fair, expect all the bad things that come with blind Justice; bigotry, injustice and abuse of power.

    Character: Mitsukake

9    The Hermit

Theme: The Hermit stands alone. He is wise and prudent, dedicated to the spirit. Choosing to seek spiritual enlightenment, the Hermit has cut himself off from human society, instead choosing to live in the wilderness among nature. But to do this he had to cut all his ties with his family and the people who loved him. Away from people, he has no opportunity to develop emotional maturity, and if he is foolish, there's nobody to teach him better.

Meaning: This is a time to be wise and prudent, like the Hermit. Your spirit will show you how to proceed. But you will have to accept loneliness. You will gain no reward from this time, save perhaps some knowledge of your own soul; even as the Hermit's life is barren, so too will yours be. One or more relationships with others will be severed; the ending of a marriage is implied. Whichever of your relationships end, you will end up standing alone. Try to think through your pain; it's terribly easy to be foolish or thoughtless at a time like this. You are strong enough to handle it.

    Character: Chichiri

10    The Wheel of Fortune

Theme: The Wheel turns and carries all of Life with it, in a circle that passes through success and failure, up and down. It may tarry for a time, pausing with one particular person at the top and another at the bottom, but it will eventually turn again. He who is at the top will one day find himself at the bottom; he who is at the bottom will one day be on top. The Wheel always turns...

Meaning: This card really has two major meanings: "The only thing constant is change" and "what goes up must come down". It is both reassurance and warning, depending on its position in the layout and its adjacent cards. If it is in the midst of an unfortunate reading, it's saying that bad times don't last forever; good fortune will touch your life and set the Wheel spinning with you rising. But if it's surrounded by a positive layout, it's sounding a quiet note of warning: "Remember that all good things must, inevitably, come to an end."

   Character: Amiboshi

    11    Strength

Theme: This card's alternate name is "Fortitude" and that is what it really is about - adverse situations that require fortitude of spirit and the strength of character and mind. Courage and a positive attitude will also be needed. This is the card that says "Love will prevail over hate".

Meaning: Have faith in yourself and don't lose your self-respect; the obstacles you are about to face are tough. You can face them, but if you let them, they will overwhelm you. Gather all your strength of character and fortitude of mind together. You will need it.

    Character: Chiriko

12    The Hanged Man

Theme: This card is ambivalent. Even as the Hanged Man is suspended between earth and sky, so too are you. As he hangs in the air, nothing can touch him. He is divorced from time itself.

Meaning: Change is implied by this card; but it is not yet here. A sacrifice has been or is about to be made, but the reward will not be immediately forthcoming. Rebirth and improvement are on their way, but again, they're not going to be readily apparent. The danger of the Hanged Man is that, because no results are immediately visible, the sacrifice won't be made, or the effort needed to change won't be put in. Don't fall into that trap! The Hanged Man is a long-term card (really, really long-term - we're talking years and decades here). Take the long view and make the effort. The results will come. Eventually.

    Character: Hikitsu and Tomite

13    Death

Theme: Death ends Life, clearing the way for the young.

Meaning: Sudden change! Things you couldn't imagine changing will be transformed. Things you thought were going to last forever are going to end. There will be no warning; it's going to just happen. But take heart; where you have suffered ending, there will be new things beginning. Where there were obstacles, there will be a clear path. Where there was stagnation, now there is room for growth. You will have to grow spiritually yourself to deal with it all - but that's a good thing, isn't it?
    But sometimes Death will take away things that are dear to you, or leave things which are blocking you. In those cases, you must expand in other ways, and don't be ashamed of your grief, but don't let it cripple you either. Take the opportunities Death has given you, even if they're not the ones you wanted.
    Incidentally, no reading can be bad if it has Death in proximity to the Star.

   Character: Tomo

14    Temperance

Theme: Moderation and balance in all things; but especially between the material and spiritual worlds. Temperance exhorts patience and frugality, and brings both good fortune and harmony.

Meaning: Be moderate in all your dealings. Either you are in balance between your soul and your body, or you're about to be brought into balance, and you will be the happier for it. Be patient with others and frugal with your expenditures, and peace, harmony and good fortune will follow. But if you are not, expect a total lack of peace!

    Character: Subaru

    15    The Devil

Theme: Temptation!

Meaning: Don't worry, Old Scratch isn't going to be paying you a visit. Though you might wish He would and get all this over with! The Devil is about material and physical desires (with emphasis on sexual desires). The world is going to be crowding in, and you are going to be tempted to abandon your principles. If you do give in, you will very likely get what you want - but you will have lost that part of yourself. Remember that, and decide for yourself if it's worth it.

   Character: Hikou, Miiru and Renhou

16    The Broken Tower

Theme: Disaster! The Tower of Babel stands in the desert as God strikes it with lightning. It is ruined, men are killed and the King is swept from his throne. An unmitigated ruin that nobody can ever rebuild.

Meaning: Uh-oh. The Broken Tower is the worst card you can get. It has no positive meanings. Broken dreams, destroyed lives - I pray for your sake it's either in your past or in an avoidable part of your future. If it is neither, the most you can do is to slog through as whatever it is that the Tower represents crashes and burns all around you.

    Character: Tenkou

17    The Star

Theme: New beginnings with bright prospects! Opportunity is shining on the horizon with the Evening Star.

Meaning: This is the best card in the entire Tarot, because even reversed, the Star is positive. When upright, the Star is full of hope and good prospects. Happy times are on their way! The future is looking good. Reversed, the Star is saying that there is a chance bad luck could interfere. But no matter which way the Star lies, it always has the same message: "Never give up, and you will win through."
    When partnered with Death, this is the best layout in the Tarot. Death clears away the past's baggage while the Star lights the way to a bright future.

   Character: Nuriko

18    The Moon

Theme: Illusion, deception and trickery. In the moonlight, nothing is what it appears to be.

Meaning: The Moon is an odd card. Most of its negative meanings are associated with its upright stance, while most of its positives are in the reverse!
    The Moon is the card of illusion, deception and falsehood. Be careful, nothing here is what it seems to be. Truth and fiction are bound up together; vision is unreliable. But reversed, the Moon gives you the ability to see past the illusions of others.
    However, the Moon is not a dark card. It's the card of the psychic, who use the illusions to see the truth, of the storyteller, who winds what is and what isn't together to entertain, and of the artist, who reaches into falsehood to bring out truth.
    Alone, the Moon will blind you. But if another card is nearby that gives clarity, the Moon will give you the ability to see the truth below the surface.

    Character: Taiitsukun

19    The Sun

Theme: The Sun blazes brightly, illuminating the world, shining over all. Everything appears as it is beneath the light of the Sun.

Meaning: The Sun is a positive card, but it speaks of the everyday. You will gain joy and, what is more valuable, contentment. Nothing huge will impact on your life, but you will be happy. Your plans will be successful; your marriage will become loving and happy; and your life itself will be pleasing to you.
    But if reversed, the Sun will bring loneliness, the dashing of hopes and a breakup. However, do not despair - although it would be very easy to, as this sadness is not precipitated by any one event. Reach out to others - your friends are still on your side.

   Character: Tamahome/Taka

20    Judgement

Theme: At the end of Life, all souls must face the Day of Judgement, where all that has gone before must be acknowledged and valued.

Meaning: A point where you must review your conduct is approaching. Deal with it how you will, but don't put it off; you will regret it forever if you do. If you have wronged another, this is the point where you may atone for your transgression. Face your past and you will be freed from it and all its baggage, to grow and become the person you have the potential to be.

   Character: Yui

21    The World

Theme: The World is inclusive of all things. Beginnings, endings, Life, Death, work, play - it is all a part of the World we live in.

Meaning: This card is exceptionally positive. It is the card of completion, of triumph, of hopes fulfilled and dreams achieved. All things end, but only to begin again.

   Character: Keisuke