Are you Dreaming of Castles?

Veronica Scott sez: A fun one from the Archives:

I know a lot of little girls dream of living in a castle when they grow-up. But what does it mean if you dream of castles as a grown woman?  It actually means you’re refusing to develop rewarding relationships with others.  You have ‘thick’ brick walls keep people out.  But if you dream of a palace (not really sure what the difference is) it’s a good thing – what does it mean if you dream of castles as a grown woman?  It actually means you’re refusing to develop rewarding relationships with others.  You have ‘thick’ brick walls keep people out. It may also be a warning against adopting a false façade. But if you dream of a palace (not really sure what the difference is) it’s a good thing – you feel secure in the security of the family or you seek a little 

less stress in your life.

Do your dreams bring you locked up in some tower with a knight riding in to save you? The meaning isn’t as romantic as our daydream – it represents our desire to shut ourselves away above the world – a form of isolating. It can also symbolize the oppressive influence of an authoritarian figure.

Personally, I like the ‘cotton candy’ of version of my dream of living in my castle with my prince charming – I have a maid to do laundry.

Or is there a Castle in your Cards?

At its simplest, the castle as a Tarot symbol represents a goal - an ideal of achievement usually after a long quest. How do I come up with this simplified symbolism? A look at all the Rider-Waite cards featuring the castle reveals almost all them are set in the back ground of the card. Far off into the distance we see a the glimmer of the castle as a tribute of what awaits us after we have been upon a quest for higher knowing or advancement.

In almost every card the castle looms far in the distance from the central character of the card - it's a reminder of our reward (and delayed gratification). Whether it be monetary, spiritual, romantic or otherwise, the castle is an end-result of the investment made on the journey of life. And, even where it is featured prominently (in the seven of cups), the castle still hints to goal-oriented focus.

In the Cups 7 the castle is an option to be chosen, but what kind of option? This is where we can expand our intuitive ideals about the castle as a Tarot symbol. This is a very good thing because a broader view of castles makes us realize they are symbolic of far more than just obtaining a goal. Castles are also symbolic of:

·         Protection

·         Wealth

·         Strategy

·         Defense

·         Structure

·         Strength

·         High idealism

·         Dreams/Fantasy

·         Comfort

·         Sanctuary

In the final analysis a castle is a home, and in their golden era in history the castle was a grandiose symbol of protection. Everyone took shelter within the thick stone walls of the castle - from royalty to cattle - all sought refuge within the fortress.

So, when the castles of the Tarot cards come calling out to your awareness, consider all these potential symbolic meanings in conjunction with the rest of the cards in your spread.

Give pause and allow your intuition a chance to roam the halls of the castles in your own understanding to gain a broader perspective of this intriguing Tarot symbol.