And herewith, my dictionary for the Marseille deck. My source for these keywords and phrases comes from the companion book to the Universal Tarot of Marseille by Lee Burstyn.
Please keep in mind when perusing this list that in accordance with my own instincts and Andy Boroveshengra’s connection of the Tarot suits with the medieval humours (sanguine = staves/air, choleric = swords/fire, phlegmatic = cups/water, and melancholic = coins/earth), I have moved the air element to staves (wands), and the fire element to swords. You’ll see the focus of characteristics in the keywords, which may not match what you’re used to with Golden Dawn style decks.
Trumps/Major Arcana
0 Fool
ambiguity, stirring up trouble, unpredictability, fun, folly
1 Magician
cleverness, trickster, confidence, self-promotion, personal responsibility, an opportunity, unconventional
2 Popess
uncertainties, hidden knowledge, common sense, deception, not as it seems
3 Empress
home and homeland, family, pregnancy, wealth, health, motherhood
4 Emperor
power, responsibility, hard work, promotion, planning, foundations, fatherhood
5 Pope
faith and beliefs, vocation, traditional values, patience, marriage, giving charity and receiving, conscience
6 Lovers
sex, love, heart, friendship, honor, warmth, art, poetry
7 Chariot
success, accolades, promotion, travel and good luck
8 Justice
fairness, just in body and mind, writs and orders, judgments
9 Hermit
contemplation, solitude, past lives, mentoring, father time, peaceful heart
10 Wheel
luck, circle of change, turning point, destiny shift, movement
11 Fortitude
fortitude, resilience, character, recovery, healing, charity
12 Hanged Man
mistakes, consequence, prison, guilt, reputation, defamation, fallow times, gossip, “no”/wait
13 Death
losses, serious illness, death, heartache, decomposition, withering of resources, prey and predator
14 Temperance
moderation, team work, mentoring, abstract ideas, peace, social intervention, consultations
15 Devil
hell, unfair situations, greed, debt, soul destroying love, grief, personal monsters and demons, temptations
16 Tower
suffering, anguish, sorrow, warnings, shock, being cruel to be kind
17 Star
faith, guidance, hope and guiding light, astrology
18 Moon
night, darkness (figurative and literal), change and transition, frustration, lies/secrets, watching and waiting
19 Sun
greatness, enlightenment, vitality, children, invigoration, young love, action!
20 Judgement
rebirth, forgiveness, second chances, transformation, reconciliataion, starting over, answering a call
21 World/Universe
accomplishment, emigration, vacation, spiritual triumph, sense of calm wisdom
Pips/Minor Arcana
Staves
Ace of Staves
lust and virility/new lover, a party, new idea, meeting a new friend
2 of Staves
consummation, friendly banter and gossip, social plans, new buddy, trying out new group
3 of Staves
formal date and romantic night, waiting for party to start, initiation into group, vacation plans, entertaining
4 of Staves
going steady v. sexual boredom, dull crowd, social conventions
5 of Staves
impotence, rape, adultery, social loss/fallout with friends, isolation
6 of Staves
orgasm and sex, out on a bender, party time, all night long, social fall from grace
7 of Staves
friendly fire, fetish and fantasy, risks for pleasure, visibility, life of party
8 of Staves
dissolution of social network, speed dating or blind date, lost spark in passion, communication snafus
9 of Staves
shine on!, celebration, enlightenment, great insight, inspiration manifested
10 of Staves
cancelled fun, end of party, social plans fall through, hangover
Swords
Ace of Swords
graduation or new job, professional recognition, edict or answer; new project
2 of Swords
professional impasse, rivalry, being passed over or held back by higher authority, negotiations, waiting
3 of Swords
job application, pitching an idea successfully or not, promotion to senior role or job loss, fruits of your labors career-wise
4 of Swords
job for life, entrenched views, plans and order, state-views/politics
5 of Swords
business failing/take over, professional loss, suicide, terrorism, crises of faith/breakdown
6 of Swords
internship in a business, interviews or disciplinary warning, trial promotion, sticking with it
7 of Swords
pitching your idea, professional rebellion, sweatshop, work improvement scheme
8 of Swords
competition at work, choosing to re-train for job security, efficiency moves
9 of Swords
promotion, career recognition/award, increased understanding, bravo!
10 of Swords
career or job change or ending, workaholism, disappointment with career
Cups
Ace of Cups
pregnancy and birth, decorating, love token, important new purchase, new relationship
2 of Cups
engagement, buying something together or splitting a home and assets, assessing new relationship
3 of Cups
home plans finalized, pregnancy confirmed, house warming, heartache
4 of Cups
ordered home, housework, familial conservatism, moral high ground, solid relationship
5 of Cups
homelessness, bereavement, miscarriage, break-in, relationship challenge
6 of Cups
coming home, reconciliation with family, will and testament, smooth home life
7 of Cups
dream home, a family business or win, trying for a baby, realization of hope
8 of Cups
house clearance, home renovation, family split, finding family, deciding on relationship
9 of Cups
awesome, deep relationship, satisfying friendships, public event, community recognition
10 of Cups
disillusionment with relationship, break-up, moving on, too much togetherness
Coins
Ace of Coins
healthy body and stamina, a lump sum or pay-out, new home, land, business opportunity
2 of Coins
new investment, credit, settlements, new treatment plan, health risk or gamble, assessing pros and cons
3 of Coins
medical test results, weight loss or gain, maturation, product design, buying a joint home, planning
4 of Coins
recovery period, healthy mind—healthy body, financial austerity, working your way up
5 of Coins
serious sickness, operations, legal/medical challenge lost, financial loss
6 of Coins
solvency, savings, recovery/remission, titrated medication, moving along at a moderate pace financially or healthwise
7 of Coins
successful investment, payback, financial or health discoveries
8 of Coins
edge of change in health or wealth, uncertain income, efficient wealth management
9 of Coins
recognition for work, business savvy, excellent health, secure home
10 of Coins
ending of old business or start of new one, new health routine, change of luck in home, health, or money matters
Courts
Traditionally, court cards in fortune-telling indicate the querent or other real people in their life, so the focus here is on personality characteristics, although Knaves may also indicate triggers or messages, and Knights a sense of movement in a way that matches the personality traits of the card.
Staves
Knave of Staves
chatty, friendly, loving being with people, attractive, ADHD, growth, trigger or message about social life
Knight of Staves
gregarious, shallow, affable, spoiled, lacking focus, loving crowds, parties, handsome, helpful, on the move
Queen of Staves
vivacious, chatty, charismatic, lacking focus, life of the party, beautiful, magnetic, helpful
King of Staves
gregarious, affable, changes direction, but with more control than Knight or Knave, noncommittal, lady’s man, helpful
Cups
Knave of Cups
moody, shy, hesitant, lost in emotions, helpful but not practical, hugs, growth, trigger or message about love
Knight of Cups
romantic, moody, shy, sympathetic but more impulsive than King, more focused than Knave, quiet intelligence, unreliable
Queen of Cups
empathetic, encouraging, hesitant, retiring, moody or unreliable, impractical, good listener, focus on relationship
King of Cups
introverted, more reliable than Knight or Knave, quiet, detached but sympathetic, moody
Swords
Knave of Swords
beginning adventurer, bully, wide-eyed idealist, growth, trigger or message about career goals
Knight of Swords
big risk-taker, fanatically focused but not on details, probably drives a fast car, loner, swift movement toward a goal
Queen of Swords
lover of adventure and just itching to take you along, inspirational, cause leader, can get fanatical, persuasive
King of Swords
controlled man of action, zealous, risk-taking, but with some forethought, cause leader, forceful, focus on big picture
Coins
Knave of Coins
plodding, newly established business person, apprentice, security conscious, a little warmer in relationship than his suit family members, trigger or message about security and health
Knight of Coins
prudent, shrewd, farmer, security conscious, movement in accumulating wealth, a bit glum, focused specialist in his field, cold in relationship
Queen of Coins
wealthy, proprietess, willing to talk about money issues, cautious, shrewd, but cold
King of Coins
controller of wealth, wealthy person, scientist, narrowly focused businessman, moderate in habits, cold in relationship