♣ Major Arcana Meanings ♣
Overview Major Arcana Wands Cups Swords Pentacles
The Fool | The Magician | High Priestess | The Empress | The Emperor | The Hierophant | The Lovers
The Chariot | Strength | The Hermit | Wheel of Fortune | Justice | The Hanged Man | Death
Temperance | The Devil | The Tower | The Star | The Moon | The Sun | Judgement | The World
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Immoderation, Excess, Pointlessness, Denial, Disappointment, Antithesis, Division.
Things going unplanned, people not getting along, poor blending, improper techniques.
Divided money or property, partial or bias, abuse, misinterpretation.
Ignored needs of self, neglect, insobriety, broken promises, someone in denial.
Chemical imbalance, disrupted hormones, unclear feelings.
Poor health, disunion, disharmony, minor disruption, stupidity, careless attitude.
Sabotage, skimping out, cheapness or insincerity, lack of kindness.
♣ Temperance ♣
Moderation, Divine Balance, Synthesis, Poise, Transmutation, Combining, Unity, Community, Self-Restraint, Harmony, Health, Maintenance.
Temperance is the virtue and practice of moderation— it's plainly synthesizing the many volatile vehicles of our existence (mind, body, heart, spirit, and soul) into one holistic wellbeing, while simultaneously averting self-destruction in the process. In Temperance, there is healthiness and happiness rolled into a picturesque scene of harmony. We see the angel of God mixing the life-giving waters of spiritual nourishment, showing one that with proper balance, great joy can be obtained.
The angel means to teach that Balance is achieved through the restraint of ego and vice and the constant practice of one's morals, ethics, and wisdom. This is why Temperance is related back to The Chariot (the vehicle which propels us on our path), for we see that in the negative, when we give in to the black sphinx, a symbol of the subconscious, we are pulled from our path of righteousness and successful direction straight into the clutches of The Devil— which is a metaphor for the collective sins of man. We descend into personal darkness and forfeit the dream of a good life.
Ruled by Sagittarius, there will be accuracy, cleverness, knowledge, and personal truth in mention. Like an arrow, Temperance cuts straight to the truth of a matter without deception or folly— if something is awry, diagnose the cause and treat the cause, rather skate around remedying only the symptoms. Temperance is inner and outer stability, after all. Like in Chemistry, stability is achieved through the proper mixing of chemicals, so this great wellness that has always been reveered among all people of faith, one so long-sought-after as the imperishable Divine Enlightenment, is achieved through one's total honesty, moderation or total abstinence, maintence of self and morality, and goodness.
As a symbol of Unity, Temperance emphasizes the divine cooperation of individuality and collective, good and evil, love and fear, introversion and extroversion, virtue and sin, past and future— all opposites. Things in balance remain in balance not because nothing ever comes to shake things up, but because education and awareness makes it easier to recover. Temperance is about constantly applied adaptation, flexibility, and maintenance. In this dual existence, there will be chaos and order, somewhere in between we determine which path we will choose.
In the negative, Temeprance can be that of a naughty fallen angel— there is excess, self-demise, poor health, gluttony, greed and envy, and even laziness. There is immoderation, poor health, hysteria, opposition, oppression, abomination, heresy, and uncooperative parts. Money can fluctuate between extremes and be quickly depleted. One may find themselves truly unfulfilled. People might bicker and never make up. Charity and Kindness might be skimp. Things seem frustratingly dumb.
In a reading, Temeprance might point out what's lacking, sobriety and recovery, what harmonizes another, what can be of help in a dark time, how to get back on the wagon, and warn of mistakes that might disrupt future happiness, grace, and success.
♣ The Devil ♣
Fear, Materialism, Temptation, Corruption, Sin, Abuse, Power, Restriction, Ignorance, Calamity, Oppression, Bondage, Indulgence, Domination.
The Devil is the personification of the material realm in its dark, inhospitable, cruel, and negative form. He is the yin to the yang of the natural universe— the symbol of pain, suffering, egotism, and damnation. The Devil is the idol of our material attachments manifested into a womb of tightly interconnected fears, relationships, and desires. In The Magician, there is the power of God bestowed upon The Fool, and in Strength, there is light overcoming the darkness, enduring and triumphing, but when that power is abused and when that strength reduces into primitive devolution, there is the quintessence of The Devil.
The Devil is anything negative, unsavory unsettling, dark, and fearsome. What is gathered from this card is that there exists a world in pain, vice, and suffering, whether people want this or not. Some choose these circumstances, like harming self and others, abusing power, misbehaving, breaking the law, stealing, and deceiving, and others were chosen as if by The Wheel of Fortune to receive these poor cirmcunstances. Nevertheless, The Devil is when we slump and whine, when the path is ditched for pity and dwelling, and when negativity abounds.
Ruled by Capricorn, this ancient archetype comes into focus— he may seem dark, morose, bitter, arrogant, and cynical, but he is also has the power to turn it all around. Sin can be forgiven, and translating that mantra so, it's never too late to repair, renovate, make amends, forgive, undo, or make needed changes. Capricorn naturally overcomes being ruled by the spoils of the world— hedonism is set aside for reward, material abundance, good business sense, and ecellence.
In The Devil, we see a familiar scene, but this time, it's not Adam and Eve in The Lovers united by an angelic figure, but Adam and Eve now chained to the cold stone throne of The Devil. As a symbol of Bondage, sure we are bound to the land for survival, but must we be corrupted by its giving nature? A closer look at the card and one sees the pair is only loosely chained— The Devil did not force their bondage, their own temptations bound them; no demon can be blamed but their own.
In a reading, The Devil might point at bestial behaviors— like excessive drug abuse, harming others, caring only about self, being cruel, avarice, and enmity. But know that although The Devil may be this scary demonic fallen angel in some lore, in pagan lore, he is known as Pan, and he is merely the control of the inner beast, good and bad. So in a positive sense, however, The Devil can easily represent working hard to overcome poverty, a dark past, poor health, bad luck, and breaking away from crippling fears. He can be initiating, smart, practical, highly trained, and ambitious.
So in an optimistic sense, The Devil can really represent happy material gains from healthfully managing our fears, habits, stress, luxuries, spoiling, addictions, and so on, and practice the discipline to say "no" to our primitive self.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Falsehood, Darkness, Arrogance, Suffering, Indecision, Ignorance.
Being lind, not listening, ignoring beneficial signs, throwing away, giving up.
A bad period, a bleak, dark tone, but minor suffering.
A negative mindset, a wrong focus, pettiness, financial squabbling.
Dark feelings, being deceived, getting hurt, overly emotional.
Minor bad habit, inability to cope, poor life skills, resulting to violence.
Cruel contemplations, material scarcity, poor harvest, bad money.
Bad choice, laziness, unmotivated, bleak, dry.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Hardship, Weakness, Volatility, Disrepair, Warning, Life Skills.
Hightened pressure, weak coping skills, walls caving in, creative differences.
Systematic shutdown, annoying processes, unwanted changes.
Sycophants, liars, enablers, deceptive dealings and language.
Impending doom, anxiety, fear for self, scaredness, depression, apathy, any unresolved emotions.
Long-standing dilemmas or conflicts, minor weakness, relapse, any painful regression.
In hot water, troubling or vexing situations.
♣ The Tower ♣
Ego, Sudden Change, Destruction, Revelation, Enlightenment, Truth, Façade, Surrender, Conflict, Calamity, Deception, Drama, Reality Check.
The Tower is the impenetrable stronghold of the mighty ego in its perceived glory and façades. Appearing gray and dull, The Tower reveals the fragility of identity, and portends that in any moment, like the enlightening bolt of lightning shown dethroning the crown of ego, humbling one with ruin and exposure, there could be sudden change, utter tragedy, and barrenness. The Tower is the moment when comforting lies have run their course and egotism is left naked for all to see. Things may be crashing and burning with rubble everywhere. There's mass confusion.
Ruled by Mars, a symbol of action, passion, fierceness, battle, fast movement, raw power, and volatility, The Tower encourages this ardent exploration of character, exposure of truth, and revelation. Ignorance isn't always bliss, so there are some questions to ponder for this card— what could come and shake things up, what's in your power to change, what can you prevent, for how long would catastrophe last, and how do you cope in dark times? Like Mars, the god of War, The Tower seeks to prepare you for a preordained battle or disruption that may seem like the end of the world now, but it's only a beginning to a new part of the story later; have hope.
As a symbol of Enlightenment, The Tower is intimately connected to The High Priestess, who ruled by the Number Two, is able to choose the constant path of self-awareness and wisdom... but somewhere in the throes of The Wheel of Fortune, as The Hermit, she took knowledge and made grandiosity, using such pride to condescend the inferior and ridiculously elevate herself to an egregious lie masqueraded as some esteemed public status— she has forgotten the awareness of her duality and the dark side has been operating through her rationale undetcted.
In The Tower, wisdom may have grown slothlike, goodness reduced to vice, pride may have become unkind, motivations may have become vexed by unfulfilling pleonexia, and immodesty reigns, but this, too, is a turning point— you are what you tolerate. If egotism and foolishness is tolerated, you're a fool. In the worst of The Tower do most people find true humility for they learn that nothing is owed or promised by God. In the darkest hour, we might see the error of our ways and prevent ruin in the future— there's a chance to grow as an adult and soul from The Tower. But The Tower isn't total doom, it's merely a reminder— it's not a sin to own things, it's a sin to be owned by them. Attachment is the root of all suffering.
The Tower augurs low energy and disharmony, and highlights stress management. It appears in a reading to remind one to be a sleuth and detect mistakes, errors, lies, and wrongdoing before it gets messy— who is lying, what is false, what are the missing puzzle pieces, what's going on behind the scenes, and what's the story altogether? For every lie, a brick is taken from the foundation of The Tower leaving it unstable and ready for collapse. The Tower will reveal anything dilapidating, untrue, unwise, spoiled, shameful, or embarrassing, but only if it's there— don't look for what's not there and don't fix what's not broken.
♣ The Star ♣
Hope, Guidance, Destiny, The Universe, Law of Attraction, Inspiration, Faith, Goodwill, Optimism, Remembrance, Tranquility, Light, Determination.
The Star is a symbol of hope and destiny, especially during dark times— there is light at the end of the tunnel and the finish line draws near. It is the benevolence and kindness of God provided in adversity and the illuminating presence of ether guiding the traveler toward its destination. The Star is pictured as a naked woman indicating the raw innocence of the soul unaffected by the throes of The Tower. In her heart a music sings— there is always a chance to turn things around and there is always a brighter tomorrow. For each star in the sky, there is that much possibility.
The profound pictured trinity of land, sea, and sky through the human organism indicates the gift of life and opportunity and the ability to overcome the plummets of The Wheel of Fortune. The Star is between chaos and order, fairing the sea of emotions, traveling across the land of hardship, and weathering the storms of misfortune. As a symbol of Destiny, The Star is the vessel of individual prophecy— the natural world may obstruct our plans, we might fall and experience ruin, but faith and determination are two things that the world cannot take from us. The fallen can always ascend— there is always a chance for recovery and forgiveness.
Being intimately related to The Empress, there is this theme of conqeuring the self, the world, and the universe through personal empowerment and prevailing spirit— nature always finds a way to overcome the odds of survival. Ruled by Aquarius, there is goodwill, kindness, help for others, acceptance for what is, an optimstic attitude, and a sharp focus placed on lifelong goals. The Star will not quit until the end is seen through. Life may be painful, but feeling nothing means you're dead.
In the negative, The Star is wasted opportunity, self-pity, destitution, loneliness, pessimism, misfortune, disappointment, rejection, and failure. People complain, situations seem bleak, hope feels like a lost cause, relationships suffocate, jobs suck, growth is limited, and fear overrides rationality, but these hardships only endure inversely to your tolerance of them— eventually, The Star shines through the cloudy miasma of The Tower, and renewed motivation develops.
In a reading, The Star is a pep talk, tough love, motivation, improvement, good health, consistency, abundance, belief in someone, a role model, and tenacious behavior. Spiritually, The Star reminds that existence is a gift— our being here is either a glitch or it's not, why wallow around to find out? In these points, The Star is remembrance— honoring the roots of the past as a reference point and showing great forethought for where you're going. Time is the greatest commodity, use it wisely.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Aimlessness, Misfortune, Pity, Waste, Lostness, Defunction, Woe.
A wrong turn, being lost, uncoordinated plans, some confusion in groups.
Sadness, feeling bewildered, having no plan, losing sight of, stuck on self-pity and the past.
Some accident, a huge mistake, noticeable errors, a closed door, misfortune.
Throwing in the towel, diffusion, selective hearing, screening negative news.
Wasting time, ignoring signs, broken things.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Confusion, Boredom, Understanding, Insight, Mediocrity, Precrisis.
Abuse, trauma, mistakes, a misunderstanding, intentional harm.
False pretenses, being fooled, uncovering a lie, some faulty parts.
Ambivalence, mistrust, a weak intuition, unsavory clues, unsettling truths.
The calm before a storm, a near crisis which needs addressing, escapism, cowardice, someone buckled by fear.
Losing hope, getting lost, feeling stuck, pain which might be fading.
Misinterpretation, a need for revision, refinement, or finishing touches.
♣ The Moon ♣
Intuition, Imagination, Emotionality, Subconscious, Creativity, Chaos, Art, Abandon, Illusion, Fantasy, Psychism, Abnormalcy, Neurosis, Manipulation.
The Moon is an enchantress of illusion, mystique, and fantasy— she is the vessel of the subconscious mind teeming with imaginative ideas and fancies. These ideas can either take you to extraordinary heights or ensnare you into falsehood and deception— the latter being most likely. For this reason, The Moon can be negatively quixotic and fairly perplexing for people. However, for those who are morally in touch with their higher self, The Moon seems less of a bane and more of a boon because of its accoiation with Justice— the animal instincts of the subconscious can be disciplined to establish law and order from madness and chaos.
Ruled by Pisces, there is a neptunian energy of transcending ego, healing the soul of the self and others, channeling brilliance, leading from the intuition, gaining insights quickly, and spreading love and compassion. The Moon as intuitive powerhouse is capable of discerning between reality and the metaphysical— there's more than what meets the eye, in fact, there might be something curious occurring right from under your nose. Related to Justice, it's easy to see Truth, but only if like The Emperor, you've spent a great deal of time conquering your inenr demons and practicing the equanimous traits of structure, fairness, order, and logic.
The Moon appears in the imagery eclipsing The Sun (a symbol of enlightenment) because she conceals the truth and chooses abandon, probably to hide from guilt, cover her tracks, escape from stress, or feign innocence. The two canines barking at her howl for more of the lust of escapism. Notice the path of life from the mountains of challenge through the towers of choice to the lobster of the sub-psyche into the pool of the unconscious— The Moon is depicting an ancient inner battle between mankind's bestial calls and its struggle for civilization. The Moon asks what's more important— conforming to the ordinary where things appear safer or plunging into the extraordinary and uncovering innovation and magic?
In the negative, there is a cautious energy to The Moon given her tendency to choose the ideal over the real, the irrational over the logical, and opinon over fact— there are moments of misunderstanding, character flaws, excessive daydreaming, misused time, delusion, and incorrigible tendencies. Luna, she is truly tricky to work with. You can become intoxicated by the fantasy of your own imaginations all the while vexing you and distorting reality. There might be depression, mental illness, unresolved anger, psychic blockage, deep-seeded hatred, or mass confusion.
In a reading, check your thoughts for distorted thinking patterns. Are you over-generalizing, personalizing others' mistakes, magnifying fear and minimizing safety, or catastrophizing truly average concerns? The Moon is Illusion, so she can be intriguing and typically bring one to get lost in the mirage of unbridled emotions. Who is behaving negatively based on temporary emotions? Who or what is lying, deceiving, or distorting the facts? What does your gut feelings say? Lastly, where is the fault in a reading and how can it be illuminated?
♣ The Sun ♣
Enlightenment, Joy, Glory, Triumph, Positivity, Vivacity, Energy, Radiance, Light, Exuberance, Equanimity, Achievement, Confidence, Productivity.
The Sun is the carrier of Enlightenment and the promise of a radiant life— it is a state of Nirvana and internal satisfaction (as opposed to the pleasure that comes from indulgence). To the diligent who harness the natural energy that is given to the world, The Sun may appear to be benevolent and generous, the odds being in their favor and seemingly just for them— where there has been darkness, a light now is.
In the imagery, a naked toddler can be seen riding the horse of destiny carrying with it the banner of God's love and compassion. The toddler is you, born naked under the stars of hope sworn to life with a bright future before you. At any moment, in suffering or difficulty, The Sun appears to negate the chaos of The Moon, proving that the duality of Yin and Yang is equal— The Wheel of Fortune can punish, but also reward. Here, it is seen that The Sun is a role model for existence— he is love, honesty, virtue, positive affirmation, awareness, and opportunity.
In many cultures, The Sun has represented a focal point of illumination and total awareness dispelling out the darkness of the ego and replacing it with truth and knowledge. Here in the light, there is profound happiness to be had— people are saved from sin, rescued from vice, educated from ignorance, and recovered from great dissatisfaction. In The Sun, there is an actualization of self, which is why it's related to The Hierophant, as he knows that with great wisdom (from holy teachings, community traditions, and divine counsel) comes great inner peace which allows one to understand the genuine non-distorted self in The Hanged Man.
Nearing to the end of the Major Arcana, The Sun is a icon of glory, reminding The Fool that the journey that was started is finally coming to an end. Because The Sun is a symbol of the enlightenment that takes entire lifetimes to achieve, The Sun is also a symbol of inner achievement and appears near to the end of completing a major life goal or mastering the self or a situation, as opposed to The World, which represents the total understanding of destiny's plans and celebrating harvest.
Ruled by Leo, The Sun has this fiery energy to it— he's clever, gregarious, charming, naturally appealing, motivating, challenging, and highly entertaining. The Sun is the most desired object in the universe of man— it may take life and cause great devastation in the form of drought and death, but it also gives life and provides miracles to those who are closest to it. In The Sun, people are their best, highest form, actualized in all their potential, and radiating constructive energies.
In a mundane reading, The Sun will seem to touch up on anyhting good in a person's life— people get along, tests are passed, inspections go well, celebrations memorable, health is well, money stable, dates go accordingly, and generally things have happy endings. In a spiritual reading, The Sun signals a great change is stirring within the soul of a person or a positive vibration is flooding into a situation, such as a person's ability to cope with difficulty being healthful and smooth or the bad times ending. Either way, there is a positive presence.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Ignorance, Laziness, Insincerity, Dullness.
A positive tone, but only minor. Enemies or opposers seem polite.
Negativity creeping in, someone off-putting, a cramped style, losing the mojo, a mood ruined, dullness or boredom.
Ignoring the facts, putting on rose-colored glasses, hiding in plain sight, close to solving an issue.
Incomplete work, feeling lazy, minor hiccups, unfinished business.
Slowed pace, in need of inspiration, an off day, forced kindness, an empty promise or apology.
Feeling let down, minor sadness, temporary dissatisfaction, inner confusion, spiritual analysis needed.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Hiding, Fear, Anguish, Guilt, Rebellion, Breakdown, Timidity.
Feigning innocence, pretending things are fine, hoping something negative just goes away.
Fearing the truth, rebeling against authority, making up your own rules, sniveling for sympathy or attention.
Lying to yourself (or others), giving up your freedom, denying involvement, hiding from a punishment.
A breakdown, unstable situations, finding no way out, dreaming of freedom.
Wandering the earth, deeply in pain, feeling rejected, or stagnant.
♣ Judgement ♣
Salvation, Profound Messages, Karma, Freedom, Forgiveness, Past Healing, Apology, Redemption, Renewal, Life Assessment, Sentencing, Punishment.
Judgement is the moment when truth and justice prevails in the form of consequences being sentenced to the rightful heirs of such karma. In the Tarot, The Fool (a symbol of innocence and beginning) has finally reached a divine state of maturity. Once again, like in The Lovers, an angelic figure heralds a profound message for one's path in life— this message is one of compassion and forgiveness, calling for the total understanding of the past, present, and future.
In Judgement, problematic patterns are recognized and stopped, people are held accountible for their actions and misdeeds, significant messages are received, great ordeals are wrapping up, a recent crisis is being processed, and the past is being forgiven. Connected to Death, it is now shown to The Fool that death is only a beginning for when one door closes, another opens.
Ruled by Pluto, there is an upheaval of the soul and from that crisis a transformation. Pluto is evolution, creativity, life and death, rebirth, sexuality, the subconscious, breakthroughs, and breakdowns. Pluto is the most potent, respected, powerful energy of the planets. He signals great changes that must be experienced through life, like losing something dear so as to appreciate it more or growing as a character by accumulating wisdom from past mistakes and falls.
In the imagery, the damned souls of purgatory seek to enter the kingdom of Heaven, a symbol of paradise, truth, joy, and self-actualization. The angel trumpets to them the agreements to receive salvation, that one's sins shall only be absolved by honest confession and repentance, but Judgement doesn't always foresee a change in non-beneficial things— that is something that has to be decided upon as being worthwhile by a wise person who knows the reward of repentance. In a karmic sense, what goes around comes around and if there is something unsavory occuring, what have you done to deserve it and how can you change it if you haven't deserved it?
In the positive, there is a major breakthrough, an understanding of one's negative patterns, a time of rejoice and lively spirit, and a chance to start over fresh. The past seems to not bother so much, enemies kiss and make up, old wounds no longer ache, opportunity is growing, and times are changing for the better, but only through the practice of virtue and wisdom.. not everything will be handed to you. In Judgement, there is much hard work to do.
In the negative, there is a judgemental person who is overly critical and unwilling to change their mind. There is also resentment, unresolved emotions like anger and depression, stubbornness, paranoia, and post traumatic stress disorder. People are bitter, no one's playing fair, the little guy is getting stepped on, nothing seems to be going right, faith is lost, and a mental breakdown is very near.
♣ The World ♣
Completion, Celebration, Achievement, Glory, Finality, Experience, Expertness, Apotheosis, Competency, Knowledge, Attainment, Deja Vu, Rebirth.
The World is a culmination of one's experiences and what has shaped their mind, such as events, conflicts, challenges, relationships, mistakes, and decisions. What a person undergoes and what occurs in this world at large has a major impact on the general development of a person's psyche. In this world, you matter, your thoughts are important, your actions are noteworthy, and your efforts count. One's level of participation in this universe may not always provide the intended results, but they do have an impact on you, others, and how history will ultimately unfold.
As a symbol for looking at the big picture, The World promotes a grand perspective: at every moment, there is a beating center full of action, exchange, integration, and transformation. That center is your purpose and the collective purpose of all beings alive here on earth at this time in history. The World is a sphere of opportunity and involvement— for every action, there is an equal an opposite reaction. Depending on what a person's views and from their own views of self, The World can be an unstable place full of suffering and loss or it can be a humbling mystery full of gained wisdom and satisfaction— you The Fool chooses what your takeaway is. Life and its gifts are yours for the taking.
God doesn't care what you do with your life, only that you make use of it constructively (arguably for the betterment of mankind) and come to understand why you were born into this world, as well as how you can contribute to it. Ruled by Saturn, the planet of karma, time, discipline, structure, order, and limitation, The World takes on this mature tone where The Fool has grown up, understood the nature of their ways, accomplished what they have set out to do, and has learned many spiritual lessons along the path of life— they've really made use of their time.
In the positive, there is the enjoyment of one's achievements and the calm of a job well done— there is general harmony, understanding, compassion, intelligence, competence, glory, positive results, and general satisfaction. In situations that have yet to reach a conclusion or maturity, The World might indicate a nearing of such finality by means of acceleration, finesse, or the unintended. In the negative, there is impatience, boredom, dissatisfaction, irritability, stage fright, and stagnation. People are jaded, outlooks are atrocious, attitudes are bitter, and moods are stifling.
Lastly, as a Tarot connection, the theme of divine synthesis has finally evolved into a total state of harmony and satisfaction with The World— there is no trial and error, there is simply actualization with no hidden surprises. This is why there is a connection to The Chariot, as he contrasts the competency of this major arcanum. His ego is constantly undergoing the process of self-mastery in a back and forth experimentation to understand his fears, values, and drives. Between these two major arcana is Temperance, which encourages the astute moderation of experimentation and the application of virtue for the sake of establishing a foundation that fosters eventual achievement and satisfaction.
⇓ In Reverse ⇓
Impatience, Carelessness, Immaturity, Aimlessness, Incompetence, Smugness.
Being careless, too soft, indirect, impassive, ignoring the past, or minimizing one's accomplishments.
Feeling lost, misguided, troubled, pointless, unnoticed, or going backwards.
Excessive pride, artificial confidence, taking all the credit, jumping ahead.
Things not going your way, something delayed, starting off on the wrong foot.
Lacking skill, choking up, caving in under pressure, misuse of time, la la land.
Focusing on minute details, ignoring the big picture, or a malformed view.