I was working on a workshop about creating your own oracle systems and joked that you could make a Tarot deck out of anything, even M*A*S*H... so my brain decided that was something I needed to do:
Ace of Cups - Private Charles Lamb
This card represents a pure, untainted love, compassion, and the beginning of emotional connection. Radar’s innocent act of saving a helpless creature - the lamb, who Radar names Private Charles Lamb, is a rare moment of tenderness showing the potential for love even in a place built on suffering.
Two of Cups - Hawkeye and B.J.'s Friendship
This card represents deep emotional bonds, partnership, and mutual respect. Though their relationship is often built on humour and pranks, at its core is a profound connection of trust and loyalty. They balance each other Hawkeye’s recklessness tempered by B.J.’s steady calm. The Two of Cups goes beyond mere friendship; it symbolizes soul connections, to those rare relationships that give us the strength to endure hardship. showing how important love (even in its platonic form) is for survival.
Three of Cups - The 'Red' Party in Peace on Us (Where They Dye the Whole Camp Not-Green)
This card represents celebration, community, and shared joy, often in the face of adversity. The rebellious act of dyeing everything red is an act of defiance, but it’s also a communal declaration of joy in a world that constantly denies it.
Four of Cups - The Discontent of Frank Burns
This card represents discontent, self-absorption, and missed emotional opportunities- a perfect portrait of Frank Burns. Frank is perpetually dissatisfied, craving recognition and affection but never seeing what’s right in front of him. He isolates himself emotionally, always pining for Margaret or authority while rejecting the bonds of friendship that could make his life better.
Five of Cups - Colonel Blake’s Death
This card represents grief, loss, and mourning. The way Henry’s death is announced shows the suddenness of the Five of Cups. The entire camp is left hollow, grappling with the reality that no amount of skill or laughter can prevent death.
Six of Cups - Radar’s Teddy Bear
This card represents nostalgia, childhood, and emotional comfort. Radar’s teddy bear represents innocence in a place that constantly strips it away. It’s a connection to the home and safety that Radar left behind, and the fact that he eventually leaves it behind when he departs the 4077th mirrors the card’s meaning: letting go of the past while cherishing its memory.
Seven of Cups - The Anti-War Propaganda Film ("Yankee Doodle Doctor")
This card represents illusion, fantasy, and false promises. The absurd film in "Yankee Doodle Doctor" shows how easily the horrors of war can be dressed up as noble or even glamorous. This episode highlights the card’s warning to see through illusions and face hard truths rather than retreat into comforting lies.
Eight of Cups -Rosieland (A Night at Rosie’s)
This card represents walking away from what no longer serves you in search of something better. The camp declares Rosie’s Bar an independent nation creating a temporary, symbolic escape from the war. Even though the gesture is absurd, it’s also deeply human. The Eight of Cups is about choosing to leave behind what’s broken, even if what you seek is fleeting or imaginary.
Nine of Cups - Rare Moments of Peace
Often called the "wish card," it represents contentment and gratitude small moments of happiness in a world that rarely grants them. Colonel Potter, dressed as Father Time in A War for All Seasons, reflects on the passing year with quiet acceptance. It’s a rare instance where the characters pause and find comfort in simply surviving, and wish for peace in the upcoming year.
Ten of Cups - The Final Camp Party as They’re Taking the Camp Apart
This card represents emotional fulfillment, family, and the happy ending we dream of even if it’s bittersweet. The camp’s final party is both a celebration of and a farewell to the bonds built over the years. The Ten of Cups reminds us that family isn’t always the one you’re born into
Page of Cups - Klinger being married over the radio
This card represents unexpected tenderness, vulnerability, and emotional gestures in unlikely circumstances. Klinger is usually shown as a comic figure, using outlandish antics to escape the war, but in this moment, his marriage reveals a softer, more sincere side. The Page of Cups is the tarot's symbol of love arriving in strange ways, showing how hope and affection can bloom in even the strangest circumstance
Knight of Cups - Dear Dad
This card represents hope, compassion, and emotional vulnerability in the midst of hardship. Hawkeye uses humor, wit, and kindness to maintain his humanity, showing how emotional connection can be a quiet form of resistance. The Knight of Cups also symbolizes offering healing rather than harm The Knight of Cups reminds us that even in the most desolate places, the simple choice to care for others is a powerful act of hope
Queen of Cups - Sister Theresa
The Queen of cups is the ultimate caregiver, offering unconditional love and emotional support. Sister Theresa, who tirelessly cares for Korean orphans, embodies compassion in its purest form, she is gentle and strong, offering comfort in a world ravaged by violence.
King of Cups - Colonel Potter Painting
This card represents an emotional maturity, wisdom, and quiet strength. Colonel Potter painting symbolizes his ability to process the horrors of war without becoming hardened by them. The King of Cups teaches us that true strength lies in compassion and emotional balance qualities Potter exemplifies.
Ace of Swords - The Invented Surgical Tool
This card represents a breakthrough, a flash of clarity, or the power of the mind to solve problems much like the surgical clamp that Hawkeye invents in the episode Patent 4077, the clamp is invented out of necessity, a reminder of how great ideas can be born of hardship
Two of Swords - The Signpost in the Camp
This card represents difficult decisions, stalemates, and the tension between two opposing forces. The camp signpost pointing to cities around the world represents a different life the characters might have had if not for the war. The signpost is a silent reminder that everyone at the 4077th is caught between two worlds the life they left behind and the brutal reality they now endure.
Three of Swords - Death of Tommy Gillis
This card represents a heartbreak, grief, and painful truths. When Hawkeye learns that his childhood friend has died, it’s a rare moment where his usual armor of humor falls away. The Three of Swords reminds us that grief is the price of love, cutting deep but necessary for growth.
Four of Swords - Post-Op Ward
This card represents rest, recovery, and the need to mentally regroup after battle, reminding us that even in the middle of war, rest is a necessity, not a luxury
Five of Swords - Tongue Depressor Surplus tower
This card represents a hollow victory, frustration, self-defeat, a victory with no satisfaction, often reflecting petty conflicts or self-sabotage.
Six of Swords - Bless You, Hawkeye
This card represents transition, healing, and moving away from trauma but not without carrying the scars. In Bless You, Hawkeye, Sydney Freedman helps Hawkeye uncover a repressed childhood memory of almost drowning. The revelation is painful, but it helps him understand his relentless need to save others.
Seven of Swords - I Hate a Mystery
This card tells us to look for the truth in the situation and to not just take things as they appear, to always listen to your gut. The card can also represent theft, betrayal, deception and trickery
Eight of Swords - Hawkeye Scared to Go in the Cave During Bombing
This card represents fear, paralysis, and the feeling of being trapped by your own mind. Hawkeye’s claustrophobia prevents him from seeking shelter during a bombing raid, leaving him isolated and terrified showing that even the strongest minds can become prisoners of their own trauma.
Nine of Swords - Dreams Episode (Hawkeye in a Boat Surrounded by Body Parts)
This card represents the dark night of the soul, anxiety and trauma. Trapped in a boat surrounded by dismembered body parts, Hawkeye’s dream shows the mental toll of war. The Nine of Swords reminds us that some wounds are invisible but just as devastating.
Ten of Swords - Captain Steven J. Newsom’s breakdown
This card represents defeat, exhaustion, hitting rock bottom, mental collapse, which can happen even to Newsom who was intelligent, and skilled.
Page of Swords - Klinger’s Newspaper
The Page of Swords represents curiosity, communication, and truth-seeking all of which fit Klinger’s brief stint as editor of his newsletter. The Page is often a messenger, trying to uncover the truth without fully understanding the consequences much like Klinger chasing stories through gossip and rumor.
Knight of Swords - Hawkeye’s Rant in "Peace on Us"
The Knight of Swords is the embodiment of righteousness, charging headfirst into battle with words as weapons - brilliant, reckless, and driven by ideals. The Knight is both a champion and a warning: the truth can be a weapon, but it can also wound.
Queen of Swords - Rosie
Rosie is the Queen of Swords- a woman who has been hardened by life but remains sharp, wise, and fiercely independent, she’s seen everything the war has to offer but never loses her self-respect.
King of Swords - Winchester coming to terms with his mortality
Winchester is confronted with his own mortality after a near-death experience. He becomes obsessed with rationalizing death and seeks a logical, cerebral way to make sense of it, trying to master the chaos of human vulnerability through knowledge and reason
Ace of Wands - The Still
This card represents new beginnings, inspiration, and the first spark of creative fire. Built from scraps and ingenuity, the still is the ultimate act of defiance in the face of misery. It's not just about making alcohol it's about creating something purely for pleasure in a place built on suffering.
Two of Wands - Klinger as a Big Red Bird with Fuzzy Pink Slippers
This card represents personal vision, ambition, and the power of imagination to escape a trapped situation which is literally Klinger in a nutshell. Klinger’s endless string of outfits is his vision board for freedom, a refusal to let the army define who he is. The Two of Wands reminds us that even if the escape never comes, the dream itself can be an act of rebellion.
Three of Wands Surviving the Aid Station
Hawkeye, Margaret, and Klinger are sent to a very dangerous front-line aid station. After hours of grueling surgery and emotional strain, they return to the 4077th and are met with cheers and admiration. The sense of gratitude and relief mirrors the Three of Wands' message of reward after effort.
Four of Wands - Swamp Poker Nights
The Four of Wands represents celebration, camaraderie, and finding small moments of stability in chaos. Even with the world falling apart outside, poker nights remind everyone that they’re more than just doctors or soldiers they’re a family.
Five of Wands - Frank Burns vs. Everyone
This card represents conflict, ego battles, and petty power struggles. Whether he’s feuding with Hawkeye, Blake, or Margaret, Frank is constantly stirring up pointless fights. The card is a reminder that not all battles are noble some are just people clashing because they don’t know how to live together.
Six of Wands - Kim
Trapper and Hawkeye operate on a young Korean boy, Kim, who was found wandering near the camp. After saving his life, Trapper grows emotionally attached and considers adopting him. Although he ultimately cannot keep the child, the rsonal satisfaction and emotional victory of saving Kim’s life and his visible tenderness in the process perfectly encapsulate the Six of Wands energy.
Seven of Wands - Radar’s Animals
The Seven of Wands represents defending what you believe in, standing your ground against the odds which is exactly what Radar does every time he fights to protect the camp's unofficial menagerie of animals. Whether he's smuggling goats, hiding rabbits, or saving lambs, Radar shows that kindness itself is an act of defiance.
Eight of Wands - Helicopters Incoming
The Eight of Wands represents sudden movement, urgency, and things happening quickly the exact energy that fills the camp whenever helicopters are spotted on the horizon. Those incoming choppers mean the camp is about to spring into action, with everything moving at breakneck speed. The card’s traditional meaning is about messages arriving or life speeding up suddenly the perfect parallel to how the whole camp shifts gears the second those rotors start spinning.
Nine of Wands – Margaret
The Nine of Wands represents perseverance, resilience, and the scars we carry from battles both internal and external. Margaret’s relationship with Donald Penobscott is one of the show’s most tragic storylines a woman who has fought to be taken seriously her whole life, only to end up married to a man who cheats on her and lets her down. The Nine of Wands shows someone standing guard, wounded but refusing to give up exactly what Margaret does, time and time again.
Ten of Wands - Officer of the Day
This card represents burdens, bureaucracy, and the weight of responsibility. In Officer of the day, that is shown in endless paperwork and monotonous duties faced in the bureaucratic side of war.
Page of Wands - Captain Adam Casey
The Page of Wands represents youthful energy, wanderlust, and the spark of adventure. Captain Adam Casey’s wide-eyed enthusiasm (and fanciful lies) are stark contrast to the jaded doctors around him. He believes he can shape the world for the better – even if that means manipulating it to be better for him
Knight of Wands - Trapper John
The Knight of Wands is bold, reckless, passionate, and always on the move, He charges headfirst into trouble, fueled by a mix of idealism and mischief. The Knight of Wands reminds us that sometimes the only way to survive hell is to throw yourself into it headlong
Queen of Wands – Margaret Houihan – Head Nurse
The Queen of Wands represents leadership, confidence, and passion, this is Margaret Houlihan, Head Nurse at her best. When she’s leading the nurses during a crisis, she’s fiery, unstoppable, and utterly in command. The Queen of Wands shows us that strength and compassion are not mutually exclusive
King of Wands – We Want Something Else!
The King of Wands represents rebellion, charisma, and the kind of leadership that inspires others to rise up. Hawkeyes mess tent rebellion chant, "We want something else!" shows him as a leader who uses humor and passion to fight against authority. The King of Wands reminds us that the best leaders are the ones who refuse to play by the rules because the rules are what got us into this mess in the first place.
Ace of Pentacles - New Incubator
The Ace of Pentacles represents a gift from the universe a seed of prosperity or stability in the middle of uncertainty. Nothing captures this better than the arrival of fresh supplies at the camp, especially the incubator that was a hassle to get and helped save many lives.
Two of Pentacles - The Black Market
This card represents balance, resourcefulness, and juggling limited resources. The black market is often the only way to get certain supplies - morphine, whiskey, or even just fresh eggs. The Two of Pentacles reminds us that sometimes survival means breaking the rules and making impossible choices a constant balancing act between morality and necessity.
Three of Pentacles - Teamwork in the OR
This card represents collaboration, craftsmanship, and people coming together to create something greater than themselves. The OR is the beating heart of the camp, where everyone works in concert, each role vital. Even when tensions are high, the doctors, nurses, and corpsmen become a single unit.
Four of Pentacles - Frank Burns’ Pearl Necklaces
This card represents greed, possessiveness, and clinging to what you have out of fear. Frank Burns’ pettiness, hypocrisy, and constant need to hoard whatever wealth or power is shown in the one fake and one real pearl necklace - one for Margaret, one for his wife.
Five of Pentacles - The Longjohn Flap
This card represents poverty, suffering, and the feeling of being left out in the cold. In The Longjohn Flap, the entire camp shivers through a freezing winter without fuel, fighting over a single pair of long johns that pass from person to person showing how even the smallest scrap of warmth can become a symbol of hope.
Six of Pentacles - Charles Winchester’s Donations
This card represents charity, generosity, and the quiet redistribution of wealth. In Death Takes a Holiday Charles’ often pompous side is put aside for true humility and he learns valuable lessons of charity.
Seven of Pentacles – Music for the Left Hand
This card represents patience, long-term effort, and nurturing something that may not bear fruit right away, and a belief that beauty can still grow even in the middle of destruction. This card reminds us that some victories, like relearning how to play the piano, are quiet and slow but no less profound.
Eight of Pentacles - B.J. Builds a Defibrillator in "Heroes"
This card represents mastery, craftsmanship, and dedication to perfecting your skills exactly what B.J. shows when he builds a defibrillator from scratch to save a soldier's life
Nine of Pentacles - Klinger Becomes Company Clerk
This card represents self-sufficiency, hard work paying off, and finding small luxuries in difficult circumstances. When Klinger finally becomes company clerk after Radar leaves, he leaves behind much of his absurd antics and focuses on competence and responsibility and excelling in the new positions he finds himself in.
Ten of Pentacles - Families Meeting Back in the States
This card represents legacy, family, and the long-lasting bonds that survive hardship. The stateside families of the 4077 coming together demonstrates the building and nurturing of family - both the ones they’re born into and the ones they choose.
Page of Pentacles – Radar’s
Correspondence Course
Radar
O'Reilly receives a correspondence course tests that he had sent away
for as he
is trying to learn
and improve himself
and invest in his future.
Knight of
Pentacles - Radar Gifts
Sophie to Potter
The
Knight of Pentacles symbolizes loyalty, dedication, and acts of
service grounded in practicality and care. Unlike the other Knights,
who are often caught up in quests or grand gestures, the Knight of
Pentacles expresses love through small, steady acts of kindness By
giving Potter the horse, Radar isn't just offering a gift he's
giving something that will genuinely comfort and sustain Potter.
Queen of
Pentacles -Dr. Inga Halvorsen
The
Queen of Pentacles is
accomplished and nurturing, powerful yet unpretentious. When Inga
effortlessly outperforms Hawkeye in surgery, she does not gloat or
diminish him. Instead, she remains focused, steady, and professional
just as the Queen of Pentacles would. Later, when Hawkeye makes a
clumsy romantic advance out of insecurity, she handles it with
maturity and kindness rather than cruelty.
King of Pentacles - Sergeant Rizzo
This card represents stability, practicality, and a knack for making things work with limited resources. Whether Sergeant Rizzo is fixing the jeeps, scrounging spare parts, or running the motor pool like his own little kingdom he keeps everything running even if no one notices.
0 - The Fool - Radar O'Reilly Radar O'Reilly embodies the Fool's archetype of innocence, potential, and the journey into the unknown. His uncanny intuition hints at the Fool’s connection to unseen forces, while his eventual departure from the unit marks his transition from innocent youth to independent adulthood.
1 - The Magician - Hawkeye Pierce Hawkeye represents the Magician’s mastery of intellect, skill, and wit. The Magician channels transformative energy. However, the Magician can also be a trickster figure as in Hawkeye’s womanizing, rebellious streak, and occasional manipulation of others.
2 - The High Priestess - Sydney Freedman The High Priestess symbolizes intuition, wisdom, and the unseen depths of the human psyche. Sydney acts as a guide through the hidden emotional landscapes of war, offering insight and calm in chaos reflect the High Priestess’s role as a gatekeeper of inner knowledge.
3 - The Empress - Nurse Kellye The Empress represents nurturing, compassion, and the creative force of life. Nurse Kellye’s steady presence throughout the series embodies this archetype. Though often a background character, she provides consistent care and kindness to both patients and colleagues. Her rare but powerful moments of standing up for herself such as when she calls out Hawkeye's lack of attention toward her highlight the Empress's quiet strength and unwavering dedication to life
4 - The Emperor - Colonel Potter Colonel Potter epitomizes the Emperor’s qualities of authority, structure, and stability. As the commanding officer, he provides fatherly discipline, protection and compassion
5 - The Hierophant - Father Mulcahy The Hierophant represents spiritual guidance, tradition, and moral authority, all of which Father Mulcahy embodies as the unit's chaplain. He serves as a bridge between the earthly and the divine, offering comfort and wisdom.
6 - The Lovers - Klinger and Soon-Li The Lovers card represents not just romantic love, but choice, union, and alignment of values. Kl inger and Soon-Li’s relationship is one of the rare happy endings in the series. Their love blossoms amid war’s hardships, offering a symbol of hope and connection.
7 - The
Chariot - The
Chariot represents determination and control in the face of chaos,
which Blake often demonstrates by keeping the unit running despite
the madness of war. Although he is sometimes comically disorganized,
he ultimately steers the ship with enough control to keep it
functioning.
The
Chariot also represents inner conflictsBlake’s struggle between
being a soldier and a healer, and his yearning for home, reflect this
duality.
8 - Strength - Margaret Houlihan Strength is not just about physical power, but inner resilience and emotional courage. Margaret's arc from rigid military nurse to compassionate leader highlights the Strength card’s message of taming inner turmoil and finding balance between power and compassion.
9 - The Hermit - Mulcahy’s Crisis of Faith in "Mulcahy's War" The Hermit symbolizes introspection, solitude, and the search for deeper meaning. In the episode where Father Mulcahy struggles with his sense of usefulness and morality, he embarks on a spiritual journey that mirrors the Hermit’s quest
10 - Wheel of Fortune - Incoming Wounded the cycles of fate, change, and unpredictability. The randomness of war’s suffering and the unit’s constant need to adapt echo the card’s lesson that lifes fortune is ever-turning.
11 - Justice - Hawkeye's Court Martial Justice represents truth, fairness, and accountability. When Hawkeye is court-martialed for punching a superior officer, the trial tests both the military system and Hawkeye's own moral compass.
12 - The Hanged Man - Charles Winchester The Hanged Man symbolizes surrender, death of the ego and changing of perspectives. Charles experiences profound transformation during the war, his acceptance of the camp’s chaotic ways and his eventual acts of selflessness represent the Hanged Man’s journey of letting go and seeing life from a new angle.
13 - Death - Death Takes a Holiday - Hawkeye falsifying a time of death signifies endings, transformation, and the inevitability of change, even for a father of young children on Christmas day This act embodies both the finality of death and the emotional shifts that accompany loss.
14 - Temperance - B.J. Hunnicutt Temperance represents moderation, and patience. B.J., depicted in a drawing wearing a life preserver referencing his home and family, symbolizes the steadying influence he provides within the camp. His measured approach to both medicine and personal struggles reflects the card’s message of balance and grace under pressure.
15 - The Devil - Captain Flagg The Devil represents obsession, deception, and destructive power. Captain Flagg, the unhinged military intelligence officer, embodies the darker aspects of authority. His paranoia, manipulation, and ruthless pursuit of victory mirror the Devil’s capacity for fear and illusion.
16 - The Tower - Bug Out The Tower signifies sudden upheaval and destruction, perfectly reflected in the times the 4077th must abruptly dismantle and relocate. The chaos and vulnerability highlight the Tower’s lesson that from destruction comes the opportunity for rebuilding and renewal.
17 - The Star - The Swamp The Star represents hope, tranquility, and a guiding light in the darkness. The Swamp, the tent where the doctors unwind and bond, serves as a refuge amid the war’s turmoil. It’s a place where humor and camaraderie offer a glimmer of peace
18 - The Moon -Interview Episode The Moon symbolizes illusion, uncertainty, and the subconscious. The documentary-style episode filmed in black and white captures the surreal, fragmented nature of life during wartime. The interviews reveal hidden fears and conflicting emotions beneath the surface, reflecting the Moon’s ambiguity and connection to the subconscious.
19 - The Sun - End of the War Announcement The Sun represents joy, clarity, and celebration. The announcement of the war’s end blaring through the camp’s loudspeakers brings elation and relief, marking a moment of pure happiness
20 - Judgment - The Chicken Was a Baby Judgment symbolizes reckoning, revelation, and moral awakening. The revelation that the chicken smothered in a mother’s arms was actually her baby forces Hawkeye to confront the brutal cost of war, showing the card’s meaning of the need to accept difficult truths.
21 - The World - The Goodbye Sign in Rocks The World represents completion, fulfillment, and the end of a journey. The "GOODBYE" spelled out in stones on the hillside marks an acknowledgment of everything endured and a step toward a new future.
A Blank Card - Captain Tuttle The blank card represents the unknown, the imagined, and the absurd and things that just do not and will not make sense. Captain Tuttle, the non-existent officer invented to cover up missing supplies, exists purely as an act of imagination
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