Self Discipline as Shown in the Cards?

I was asked by a reader about self-discipline. As in, where would you look for self-discipline in Tarot? She didn’t expound upon her reason for asking, but I can’t help but wondering if she’s finding herself a bit lacking in that regard. Most of us do, one time or another.

I didn’t have a ready answer. In Astrology, sure, we’re talking the 10th House and Saturn action. You look to Mars/1st House for drives, but Saturn for the perseverance.

The first thought I had was of the Magician. He’s Mercury, not Saturn of course. But his energy definitely speaks to self-determination. He is master of his fate, you know? He takes the power of each element–Fire (Creativity), Air (Thought), Water (Emotion), and Earth (Physical)–and channels them according to his will. He IS a real Magician. It’s definitely in his application of the available energy sources that he manages his environment.

Then there’s the Chariot. He leads the way to victory! That takes self-discipline. But as a Cancer-ruled card, I always think of his drive coming from desire to protect home and family. He wins because he feels like he has to in order to look after his loved ones.

Of course, the Emperor could be a good choice. He’s strict, as Tarot’s Daddy figure. He rules everything! But I don’t know if he’s more self-disciplined or other-disciplined. I just know for sure he’s a hard-ass, but that’s not necessarily the same thing.

Then I think of the Devil–attributed to Capricorn, but my friend CJ argues persuasively he belongs to Saturn directly. And that’s an interesting notion. Maybe he just shows us what happens when we lack self-discipline. It’s a false prison, you know? It’s “I can’t do anything about it” approach to living, like an addiction, like a drive, a need to avoid, to indulge, to ignore consequences. To me, that is what happens when you get too far out of whack and don’t discipline yourself.

Of course, it’s silly of me not to think of the card traditionally associated with Saturn here–the World. It’s where you master all the lessons of the Major Arcana, the end of the Fool’s Journey. I suspect the energy of the World may be, in fact, a by-product of maturation that comes to the Fool as a result of his journey, like a culmination of all the other cards combined, you know?

And it makes me wonder, if you were to go through each of the Major Arcana, consider the lessons of each personally, would that naturally lead to a healthy mastery, a sense of self-discipline? I think that’s what I’m going with until I find something better. It’s a by-product of the Fool’s growing up.

Where do you find self-discipline in the cards?

Got your own Tarot or woo-woo related question? Ask away.