KEYWORDS

• Foreign Affairs
• Remote Location
• Travel
• Borders
• Strength
• Solidity
• Obstacles
• Blockages
• Limits

OVERVIEW

Like the Bear, the Mountain represents something big, strong, and important. Many authors see the Mountain as negative by default, indicating obstacles, but I think it’s fairer and richer for the deck to broaden its meaning. By allusion to distance and natural borders, the Mountain also indicates foreign affairs and travel. With negative cards, it’s often taken to mean obstacles, blockages, and feeling overwhelmed. Nearby cards are often needed to interpret the Mountain, so it has a wide range of meanings.

IN THE PORTRAIT & GRAND TABLEAU

On the first or central card of the nine-card portrait, the Mountain advises us to be strong and to stand our ground. It can also suggest that travel or getting in touch with someone abroad is at hand or advised. Alternatively, and more so when it falls on the central card placement, the Mountain can characterize affairs with importance but also with potential challenge. We might have an obstacle to overcome, a stubborn person to deal with, or come face to face with an enemy and have to confront them. We need to be tough to in the face of this.

In the Grand Tableau, the Mountain near the significator indicates obstacles and hurdles thrown at us, and possibly an enemy standing in our way. But when it’s far, it tells of strength and reliability, and possibly help coming from powerful friends. Travelling or getting away can also be suggested.

ADVICE

The Mountain can have several suggestions depending on what it’s about in the context of a reading. It could be inviting us to tap into our foreign connections and consider opportunities abroad. Or it can suggest that we confront challenges and find ways around obstacles. Often, the Mountain is cold and distant, so it might ask us to freeze things until we can move forward.

CARD COMBINATIONS

WITH THE...

THE COMBINATION MEANS...

ANCHOR

Foothold abroad, someone living abroad.

BIRD

A short trip, change of scenery, news to or from abroad.

CLOUDS

Obstacles, stagnation, procrastination, stubbornness.

CROSS

Big obstacles to overcome, solitude, need to resolve deeper issues.

FLOWERS

Nature, the outdoors, return of someone from abroad.

KEY

Clues abroad, help from someone abroad, breathing through.

MAN OR WOMAN

A foreigner, or someone residing abroad.

SHIP

Vacation, international business.

SNAKE

Getting around an obstacles, things going on in the background or behind the scenes.

SUN

Victory, success, summer vacation.