The Secret Language of Tarot ( Ruth Ann and Wald Amberstone)

CROWNS

 We begin with the crowns of tarot. In the RWS deck there are nineteen cards that
contain a crown, and these come in many forms, each with a meaning of its own.
The nineteen cards are: The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The
Hierophant, The Chariot, Justice, Death, Temperance, The Tower, the Ace of
Swords, the 4 of Pentacles, and all the kings and queens.
We'll begin with some meanings for the crown in general, drawn from
universal symbolism. The three main aspects of the crown's symbolism are:
i. Being set on the crown (or top) of the head makes it a symbol of
overriding significance. It shares the quality of the head (the summit) and
what is above the head, a gift from on high. It also sets the seal of
transcendence on any great achievement or accomplishment.
2. Its circular shape is a symbol of perfection. It is a ring, worn on the head,
that marries what is above to what is below.
3. The material of which a crown is made dedicates the wearer to the form
of divinity associated with that material. A gold crown, for example,
associates the wearer with the alchemical properties of gold (i.e., purity,
perfection, and the attainment of the highest possible states, both inner and
outer).
The word "crown" comes from the Latin "corona" and earlier from the Greek
"korone" (curved) and "kornu" (horns).
A corona is the circle of radiance surrounding a source of illumination. The
main physical and symbolic example of a corona is the circle of radiance around
the sun. In alchemy, each planet is illustrated as receiving its special radiance in
the form of a crown given to it by the sun.
The corona around a physical or symbolic object can be shown as a concentric
circle or as emanating rays. A halo, for example, is a spiritual corona
surrounding the head of a spiritually elevated being.
A diadem is a crown in the form of a circlet around the head or around the
ceremonial hat on the head of a royal figure. It is a symbol of a divinely
supported secular authority.
A glory is an arc or a circle of rays around another visual symbol,
suggesting divine inspiration or protection.
Korone, the Greek word for curved, is used in this context for any form of
circle or circlet worn on the head to signify a connection with the gods.
This includes the wreath, the crest, and horns, as well as the crown, diadem,
and tiara.
Examples of different kinds of crowns in tarot include the:
• horns of Isis (The High Priestess)
• diadem of the zodiac (The Empress)
• domed crown (The Emperor, The Tower)
• papal tiara (The Hierophant)
• celestial diadem (The Chariot)
• toothed crown (Justice, the 4 of Pentacles)
• glory (Temperance)
• stylized diadems (kings and queens)
The crown in all times and places has been associated with royalty, and royalty is
conferred only by the divine recognition, symbolized by the crown. The crown is
also a symbol of ultimate achievement, the sign of victory and pre-eminence in
any field of endeavor (e.g., a crowning achievement, a heavyweight-boxing
crown). In organisms, the crown is the top, as in the crown of the head or the
crown of a tree.
No one can become the king or the queen of a kingdom of any kind without a
crown. A coronation, the ritual of establishing legitimate royal authority, is the
ritual of placing a crown on someone's head.
Each separate crown in tarot has its own symbolism. Here are three examples: