The Buffy and Angel Tarot

By Nic Phillips

In a similar process to the recent Lord of the Rings Tarot featured in the Pagan society magazine, I decided to create the series of Majors from the television series 'Buffy The Vampire Slayer' and its spin-off 'Angel'. In addition, I wanted to make the four Aces to represent the suits and the elements. To do this I decided to portray a pair of characters in each card. The idea behind the Aces is that the dynamic between the two people shown creates the essence of the card. Here follows the descriptions of the choices I made for the Major Arcana and the Aces.

0 - The Fool - The First Slayer

The essence of the slayer, she represents the primal side of the slayer's persona and the first spark of drive, will and direction. She is unaccustomed to the evils of the world and is at the very beginning of the slayers' journey.

1 - The Magician - Willow

One of the most powerful cards at effecting change and taking control of the means you have around you is represented by Willow. She has the knowledge and understanding of the workings of Nature and the tools at her disposal. As with any tools, they can be turned to negative purpose, as exemplified by Willow's slide into dark magic. Yet she redeems herself and manifests the spirit of the slayer into being in every Potential in the world.

2 - The High Priestess - Cordelia

The High Priestess is the representation of feminine mystery. A teacher and a guide, Cordelia was able to use her visions to help those in need. She surpassed the mortal limitations of those around her when she ascended to a higher plane of existence. On returning, the forces which she had been exposed to remained a mystery to her companions, but she aided them with some of her new-found talents.

3 - The Empress - Joyce

The archetypal mother, Buffy would have been nothing without the love and support she found at home from Joyce. She kept the Slayer's human side strong through care and love. Joyce was Buffy's role model, before and after becoming the Chosen one.

4 - The Emperor - Angel

Angel is the male archetype of patriarchal care, despite being a vampire. His role is to help the helpless and he feels responsibility for all those around him. His paternal side was particularly brought to the surface with the birth, and subsequent endangerment, of his son Connor. He fights for those he loves and abides by the difficult rules which he sets himself to live by.

5 - The Hierophant - Giles

Giles is the representative of a higher power, in this case the Watcher's council, an organisation steeped in tradition. He is Buffy's teacher and guide and watches over her with paternal concern. Buffy learnt to take heed of Giles advice before she matured enough to listen to her own moral voice.

6 - The Lovers - Buffy and Angel

The ultimate couple, destined to be together, Buffy and Angel signify a true partnership. They complement each other in terms of love and are each other's match in a fight. The essence of their love is obvious from the very beginning; even when they are separated it is still visible.

7 - The Chariot - Escape from Glory

This card depicts the race against time to save Dawn from the hell goddess Glory, not to mention the Knights of Byzantium who are pursuing the gang's van on horseback. This card represents the speeding up of events in preparation for a last charge.

8 - Strength - Buffy

Buffy is the epitome of this card, she exemplifies inner courage alongside physical force. She struggles to tame the primal side of who she is in order to function in the world, to use it as well as keep it in check.

9 - The Hermit - Tara

Tara entered the series as a reclusive and shy girl, interested in studying the ways of the Craft. After meeting Willow she came out of her shell and proved herself to be a strong character, as well as a role model for Dawn.

10 - Wheel of Fortune - The Chosen Ones

Into every generation a slayer is born...the way it always was from the First Slayer up to Faith. That is until Buffy broke the cycle, cheated fate and gave the power of the Slayer to every Potential the world over.

11 - Justice - Anya

Anya spent many years as a vengeance demon, meting out justice when she thought fit. As a human she had to re-adjust, and rediscover how to sum up what is right and what is wrong. She is particularly concerned by the value of material things and what is 'fair'.

12 - The Hanged Man - Spike

This card shows Spike's sacrifice at the last battle of Sunnydale. He realises it is up to him to end things, to bring down the Hellmouth in a blaze of glory, even if this does mean it takes him down with it. His act of selflessness does not go unnoticed, but Spike's time in the dark is brought to an end when he is resurrected in Angel's office at Wolfram and Hart.

13 - Death - Darla

No character has had such an intimate relation with death as Darla. She died, became a vampire, and in that time brought death to thousands. After being killed by Angel, she was resurrected as human only to be 'turned' again by Drusilla. The miracle of her pregnancy caused her to feel emotion once again and in the end she sacrificed her own life in order for her son Connor to live.

14 - Temperance - Fred/Illyria

Fred has always been one of the most temperate of characters, to go with one interpretation of the card, but she also later exemplifies duality of character when her body is taken over by Illyria. Illyria is nothing like Fred, but Wes is convinced that Fred still exists inside, and that Fred's personality directly influences Illyria.

15 - The Devil - Buffy and Spike

If Buffy and Angel represent the perfect love, Buffy and Spike represent all the characteristics of a relationship associated with lust. Their partnership is fraught with feelings of guilty pleasure and being drawn to each other inexplicably, despite thinking they know better. They are bound together by this lust.

16 - The Tower - The Initiative

This military organisation sought to rid the public of the demon threat, but their own members' bureaucracy and scheming brought it crashing down. One of The Initiative's best men, Riley Finn, also showed a breakdown of character, sweeping away old habits and outdated beliefs.

17 - The Star - Kennedy

When all looked desolate for Willow after the death of Tara and her own magical breakdown, hope came in the unexpected form of Kennedy, a Potential Slayer. She began to represent redemption for Willow's evil deeds, and healing in the form of love and compassion.

18 - The Moon - The First Evil

The Moon, being all about deception is represented by the First, the most ancient Evil who manifests itself in the form of any dead person. It used the effect this had on particular people's emotions by appearing as their nearest and dearest or their deceased enemies. It taunted Spike as Drusilla, Andrew as Warren, Willow as Cassie, and even Buffy as herself, amongst others.

19 - The Sun - Xander

Throughout their trials and tribulations, breakdowns and multiple apocalypses, Xander has always retained his air of optimism and, unbeknownst to him until the final battle, he was the one Buffy felt she could rely on and entrust her life to. He even manages to keep on cracking jokes soon after being partially blinded by Caleb. He is able to always look on the bright side and managed to avert disaster when Willow nearly destroyed the world.

20 - Judgement - Faith

Faith represents the reassessment of character that only one can give oneself by looking within. It is not something which can be arbitrarily judged from the outside. After her reckless youth, Faith takes responsibility for what she has done in the past. She also represents the new aeon as the Slayer to take over from Buffy.

21 - The World - Potentials becoming Slayers

This is the triumphant moment when Buffy and Willow are able to channel the essence of the Slayer contained in the ancient scythe into every Potential in the world, making them instant Slayers. They foil the First's planned apocalypse and close the Hellmouth. It is the end of an era, and the start of a new one. There are now Slayers the world over; what will they do next?

Ace of Swords - Wesley and Fred

This pair represent the key intellectual faculties Angel's team needs to fight evil. When combining Wesley's quick thinking and knowledge of mystical lore with Fred's logical and scientific brain, there is nothing they cannot achieve.

Ace of Wands - Buffy and Faith

Dynamism is the key word to sum up the relationship between these two. When they were rival Slayers they competed to be the best and as a team they represent ultimate drive and direction of force.

Ace of Cups - Willow and Tara

Willow and Tara represent the essence of love in its purest form. It is innocent yet emotionally deep, it is tender and selfless. The love of another and subsequent love of the divine is the message of this card.

Ace of Pentacles - Xander and Anya

The relationship between Xander and Anya is of a tender nature yet is grounded in the physical. Xander's lifestyle as a manual labourer coupled with Anya's financial sensibilities embodies the element of the Ace of Pentacles.