Tarot

A Basic Overview

To Precede

The Complete Guides

Because I Have No Life To Speak Of

Basic Definition and Overview

• Cards used for divination, spiritual assessment, psychological analysis, storytelling, and more

• 78 Cards

– Major Arcana: 22 cards (1-21, plus a ‘0’ or numberless card)

– Minor Arcana: 56 Cards• 1-10, plus court cards: Page, Knight, King, Queen

– First two court cards may sometimes vary (i.e. princess instead of page)

• Four Suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles– Exact suits may also vary – wands can be staves, and pentacles are often coins

• “arcana” = Latin for secrets

Very Vague History

• Exact history and origins are unknown, though many theories float around, some more popular than others

• Has, over the years, been regularly forbidden, but the tradition has still hung around in spite of that– Especially held by nobles, for some odd reason

• Waves of popularity and acceptance usually connected to tolerance of Pagans, mysticism, and occult studies of the time, despite the cards’ heavy Christian associations

Arcana

The Parts of the Deck

Major Arcana

• 22 Cards – Key 0 (The Fool) to Key 21 (The World)

• Often associated with 22 paths on the Tree of Life and the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet (both in connection to the Kabalah)

• Often gives general answers in divination

• Each card represents an archetype

– The Fool is often the “character” of the story, with the rest of the cards being archetypal characters and experiences within the story

Minor Arcana

• Probable ancestors of modern day playing cards

• Four Suits

• Often gives specific or detailed answers in divination

• Numbered Ace (1) to 10, and four Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King– Page and Knight may sometimes, be altered, or

come in different forms or with different names, but they still hold the same positions

Minor Arcana: Suits

• Wands, Staves, Batons– French Suit: Clubs– Element: Fire

• Pentacles, Coins– French Suit: Diamonds– Element: Earth

• Cups, Chalices– French Suit: Hearts– Element: Water

• Swords– French Suit: Spaces– Element: Air

Simple Meanings

Quick, Easy Reference

But by no means comprehensive

So don’t rely solely on these

Personal Interpretation

• There are many interpretations of the Tarot– sometimes differences as extreme as which order

some of the Major Arcana cards are in (Strength and Justice often switch places), and what the Suits’ elements and associations are!

• These are all my personal interpretations, but if you find in divination that a different one works for you, go with it

• The Tarot is a very personal experience and should be treated as such.

Major Arcana (0-10)

• The Fool – a choice offered, a new beginning

• The Magician – creative power

• The High Priestess – hidden influences

• The Empress – material abundance, fertility

• The Emperor – leadership

• The Lovers – choice between two loves

• The Chariot – conquest of mind over heart

• Strength – triumph of love over hate

• The Hermit – wisdom offered

• The Wheel of Fortune – ups and downs of life

Major Arcana (11-21)

• Justice – balance, legal matters• The Hanged Man – meditation, sacrifice• Death – change, renewal• Temperance – adaptation, coordination• The Devil – temptation, bondage, restraint• The Tower – overthrow, change, war• The Star – hope, inspiration• The Moon – deception, the unforeseen• The Sun – gains, liberation, triumph• Judgment – spiritual awakening, rebirth• The World – completion, wholeness

Minor Arcana: Suits

• Wands – Energy, Passion, Creativity, Will, Ambition, Enterprise, Animation, Glory

• Cups – Love, Emotions, Arts, Feelings

• Swords – Aggression, strife, courage, thinking, communication

• Pentacles – Money, fortune, trade, health

Minor Arcana: Numbers

• Ace – spark, energy, potential, new beginning• Two – duality, direction, instinctual knowledge,• Three – results (of duality), (brain) child, choices,• Four – stability, solidity, lack of change,• Five – choices to be made, loss, blindness to the good

things/what you have,• Six – simple joys, temporary equilibrium, connecting past

and present• Seven – problems of control of self and world, too many

choices, confusion• Eight – change (difficult change), progress, • Nine – completion, security• Ten – completion, success, transcending

Minor Arcana: Court Cards

• Page – youth, vitality, growth, a message, a childlike/infantile stage,

• Knight – fidgeting, can’t stay still, new proposals/invitations, loyalty, spirit, passion

• Queen – growth, development, fertility, leadership, creativity

• King – leadership, penultimate change, movement, motivation

Spreads

Common Card Spreads

Used in Divination

Significator

• A Significator is a card chosen to represent the Querent, or the one asking the question

• This is usually a Court card

• Chosen to match the Querent in either appearance, “purpose”, or in personality

– Purpose meaning role in life, or how the Querentperceives their role in life

Positions, Representations, and Interpretations

1. The past, or that which is ending

2. The present

3. The future, or that which is beginning

4. The path to take; what to do

5. Helpful or harmful outside influences

6. Hopes and Fears

7. The Finale Outcome

Ellipse Spread

Positions, Representations, and Interpretations

S - This is the first card laid on the table, chosen from the four-stack cut as previously defined. Card 1 lays on top of the Significator.

1 - Represents the situation as it is now.

2 - Represents what is crossing the situation, for good or bad.

3 - Represents the basis of the question.

4 - Represents the past. It could be either the distant past that is influencing the situation, or a situation that is currently passing away.

5 - Represents what crowns and could possibly come into being, i.e., an alternative course of action.

6 - Represents the near future. If Cards 5 and 6 are complementary, Card 5 does not represent an alternate path, but strengthens the probability of Card 6.

7 - Represents negative emotional/personality aspects that are influencing the situation; i.e., "what holds him back.“

8 - Represents the influence of significant others upon the situation.

9 - Represents the clients deepest hopes/fears about the situation.

10 - Represents the final outcome.

Celtic Cross Spread

Positions, Representations, and Interpretations

Card 1: shows the actual basis of the question; what is really going on

Card 2: shows what you are open to. It shows the people, events, and energies that you are attracting

Card 3: shows what you are outwardly expressing to others. It shows your influence on your environment

Card 4: shows the answer. It shows the way in which the problem can be overcome, or suggests a way around it. III-Dignified cards in this position show the possible end of a negative condition or attitude

Clarification Spread

Sources

• http://www.spiritcards.com/numerologya.html

• http://www.angelpaths.com/spreads.html

• http://www.themysticeye.com/info/tarot.htm

• http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/

• http://www.serenapowers.com/tarot2.html

• http://www.paranormality.com/tarot_cards_mjr_arcana.shtml

• The Complete Guide to the Tarot, by Eden Gray