Upright Meanings: beliefs, bonded, conformity, religion, marriage, commitment, conventional, traditional values, mercy, traditional institutions, inspiration, social approval, forgiveness
The Seal is the card of traditional values and institutions. The Seal can represent a counsellor or mentor who will provide you with wisdom and guidance or a spiritual or religious advisor such as a priest, vicar, preacher, imam, rabbi or a monk. Alternatively, you may be dealing with someone who is very set in their ways. The institutions The Seal card can represent include economic, religious, political, social, family, educational, social welfare and medical. Its appearance can signify that now is a time to conform to convention or tradition. It’s not a time to rock the boat. It can also be an indicator that you will take part in some sort of traditional ceremony or that you may start creating some new traditions or rituals of your own.
Reversed Meanings: unconventional relationships, vulnerability, unorthodoxy, challenging tradition, foolish generosity, unconventionality, frailty, unconventional lifestyles, reversed roles, impotence
When The Seal appears reversed it is time to break with convention. You will want to change traditional structure, social norms and rigid rules. Those close to you may not understand this need to challenge the established way of doing things and may be completely against it but with this major card appearing in your reading you will feel compelled to think for yourself and through away the rule book. The Seal reversed can signify an unconventional way of living or an alternative lifestyle. Alternatively, it may indicate that you are clinging desperately to old ways to your detriment or it may indicate that you have feelings of guilt and shame associated with behaving in a way that goes against the values you were raised with. Learning to live by your own rules, while still listening to your own conscience, will bring you freedom from oppression. It will open your mind and expand your horizons in a positive way. The Seal reversed can also be an indicator of conflict with a person in a position of authority.