The Fandom Tarot series combines two of my favorite things: tarot and geeking out! I’ll be assigning tarot cards to characters from various books, TV, movies, games, etc. You’ll see a lot of court cards in this series, so if you need an introduction or a refresher, be sure to subscribe to the blog and you’ll receive a free Guide to the Court Cards! At the end of the post, I will share a fandom-themed tarot spread. These posts are written with the assumption that you’ve seen/read the full series at the time of posting unless otherwise noted. Beware that we are talking MAJOR SPOILERS.
To kick off this series, I thought I’d start with a film near and dear to my heart: 1982’s The Dark Crystal. As a kid, this movie terrified and enchanted me. The creature design still leaves me breathless with its intricate beauty and embrace of the grotesque, and certain scenes never fail to inspire a sense of existential dread. With the Netflix series The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance set to drop, I thought I’d revisit the film that freaked me out so much!
The Crystal: The World Reversed
The Crystal is the very heart of Thra itself. When it is cracked, the world and the beings in it are shattered, divided from themselves, unable to find wholeness. In its corrupted state, the Dark Crystal is the World reversed, incomplete in a way that is desperately wrong. Its restoration effectively rights the card again. The World is healed.
Jen: Page of Swords
Jen has grown up among the Mystics and adapted their lifestyle of peaceful contemplation. The Mystics have protected him from both the dangers of the Skeksis and the weight of his Destiny, so he retains a youthful innocence. He’s curious and studious. He doesn’t want to go on a mystical quest to restore the balance of the world. He goes because he has to. His quest is propelled by his constant questioning: Where do I go? What do I do? How will I know? How do you say thank you?
Kira: Queen of Pentacles, Strength
Kira is my girl. Raised among the Podlings, she has had a very different education than Jen. Her knowledge is centered around connection and collaboration with her environment. She knows how to speak to the plants and creatures of Thra, and they listen to the kindness in her call. Her in-depth knowledge of the physical world (Earth) combined with her compassionate nature (Water) make her a Queen of Pentacles. I also connect Kira with Strength. The image of the maiden with the lion parallels both Kira’s relationship with the animal kingdom (especially one fuzzy friend in particular) and with herself. Under constant threat from the Garthim, she has had to endure pain that Jen, sheltered by the Mystics, has not. She has the strength to feel grief and still open her heart, to feel fear and still go on. Even as the Skeksis try to drain her essence (Nightmare Fuel Scene #1), Kira has the fortitude to call out to the creatures around her to fight back, for themselves as well as her. KIRA RULES.
Fizzgig: Knight of Wands, Little Lion of Strength
Fizzgig holds the record for the first jump scare I can remember, and it still gets me every time! His fierceness, extreme behavior, and strong will connect him to the Knight of Wands. MAY I SUBMIT that Fizzgig is the lion to Kira’s maiden? He is a wild and impulsive thing who can only be soothed by one person who loves him dearly and refuses to allow his bullshit. Just putting it out there.
Aughra: The High Priestess, Queen of Swords
Aughra has been around for a VERY long time, and she is always, always observing. As High Priestess, Aughra is intuitive and open to the mysteries of Thra. As Queen of Swords, she actively pursues knowledge. She knows the Great Conjunction is approaching because she is constantly watching and calculating. She’s perfectly honest and blunt, and will tell you exactly what she thinks. She is also completely honest about when she doesn’t know something. Her vast knowledge isn’t tied up in ego. A true icon.
The Master: Hierophant, King of Cups
As the Hierophant, the Master presides over a community devoted to spiritual and intellectual pursuits. He has developed his wisdom over many long years, and what authority he has is accorded to him out of respect. We see him only briefly as he dies, but from Jen’s feelings toward him, it seems that he has been a kind and patient teacher, embodying the gentle King of Cups. Jen says of his schooling, “He shows me numbers, and things called words, and everywhere I go I learn the shapes of kindness.” It is this last lesson, I think, that serves Jen best.
The Emperor: Four of Pentacles
I AM STILL EMPEROR. Dried out like a gross little husk, the Emperor clutches his title even on his death bed. Only crumbling into death like a stale cookie can release his hold on that scepter. (Nightmare Fuel Scene #2).
The Chamberlain: Knight of Swords reversed, Seven of Swords
MmmMMMMmmm. The Chamberlain is clever and ambitious, he just makes the wrong play. Stripped of everything (literally… Nightmare Fuel Scene #3), the Chamberlain successfully uses his cunning to reinstate himself among the Skeksis. The Knight of Swords uses his wits for a cause, but reversed, he uses his wits only for his own gain. Seven of Swords, he’s perfectly comfortable with using deceit to get what he wants.
The Garthim-Master: King of Wands Reversed
The Garthim-Master controls the Garthim with his will alone. He commands, they obey. He is as ambitious as the Chamberlain, but with none of the cunning. He wins the Trial By Stone (TRIAL BY STONE!) through sheer force of will, despite the Chamberlain’s initial hit besting his own. He is the King of Wands reversed because his desire to rule is entirely self-centered, without the community focus of a true King.
Jen and Kira: The Lovers
This is cheesy, but it’s not my fault! Yes, they are the last of their kind and the restoration of the Gelfling kingdom rests on their union, Adam and Eve style. Talk about compulsory heterosexuality, amiright? But also, at their first meeting they form an instant, soul-deep connection through Dreamfasting. They have both grown up surrounded by love, and yet felt a longing too impossible to name and too strong to ignore. When they meet, that longing is fulfilled. I’m not crying, you’re crying. Oh, no, it’s actually just me. Just… just leave me here.
Below I’ve created The Dark Crystal Spread. At its heart, this film is about restoring wholeness. Use this spread when something in your own life needs to be healed.
