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Understanding the Tarot
Card Deck
One of the first
steps toward understanding the Tarot lies in
appreciating the meaning of its two Arcana –
the Major and the Minor. But even before
that, the novice does well by committing to
memory the meaning of “Arcana” – defined as
“mysterious knowledge, language, or
information accessible only by the
initiate.”
By its very
definition, the word “Arcana” exudes secrecy
and a certain esoteric eeriness – making it
the perfect word for the two branches of the
Tarot so important to believers, including
new “initiates.” To learn about Tarot is one
thing; to truly learn the meaning of the
Tarot’s Arcana is quite another.
Because the
Arcana are secret, and because their deeper
meanings are closed to many, learning them
takes time, determination, and perhaps even
a gift. This gift belongs to those with a
desire to learn the mysteries and knowledge
of the Ancients, the special few, the
Chosen. The Arcana, though seemingly
somewhat simplistic at first glance, are in
actuality the great secret to reading Tarot.
The first of the
Arcana, termed the “Major Arcana,”
symbolically relate to our physical, as well
as intellectual, emotional, and spiritual
states of being. These 22 powerful cards
illuminate our strengths, weaknesses, fears,
wishes, and the light and dark portions of
our souls. The Major Arcana in a commonly
used Tarot deck include the fool, the
magician, the high priestess, the empress,
the emperor, the hierophant (wise man or
teacher), the lovers, the chariot, strength,
the hermit, the wheel of fortune, justice,
the hanged man, death, temperance, the
devil, the tower, the star, the sun, the
moon, judgment, and the world.
A number of the
Major Arcana cards serve as archetypal
representatives of real people in our lives,
either as a whole or in symbolic parts. Some
archetypes, for instance, would be authority
figures, mysterious or mystical people, or
parental, sibling, or other familial
figures.
The Major Arcana
cards each represent, through their images,
positive and negative forces. The
interpretation of the meanings of the cards,
however, relies on many factors. Some of
these factors include how the cards are
laid, which cards surround others, the
information sought, the reader, and the
person for whom the reading is being
performed. So even though each individual
Major Arcana symbol or card holds its own
unique meanings, it must be taken as only
one part of a whole with the above critical
dynamics taken into account.
When dealing
with the Major Arcana, one deals with some
of the ancient, mystical, and hidden secrets
of the universe – and should do so with the
caution attributed to the wisest among us.
But be cautious, not afraid! Some may say,
“Curiosity killed the cat!” But we also
know: “Satisfaction brought it back!” And
even though cats do purportedly have nine
lives, you’ll have to consult the Major
Arcana to even hazard a guess as to which
life the cat in question is now living –
once you’ve learned the Major Arcana’s
secrets, that is!
Tarot card
reading delves into an individual’s psyche
and thus depends largely upon the energy
that person generates, whether consciously
or subconsciously. And because human beings
are complex creatures with all kinds of
major and minor issues – not only negative,
but positive as well – the Tarot must duly
address them all. So, although the Major
Arcana bring to light the larger issues in
life, there also exists the Minor Arcana –
which serve the purpose of illuminating the
“secret and closed” events, feelings, needs,
and everyday details of our existence.
Fifty-six cards
constitute the Minor Arcana within these
suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.
And just as with the Major Arcana, the
interpretation of these cards lies not only
the face-value meanings of the cards, but
also in how they are laid (the “spread” –
whether they are upside down, the positions
they take in your chosen pattern, etc.), the
mindset and emotions of the interpreter and
of the person being “read,” and the very
questions themselves. Reading Tarot cards
successfully takes time, and with that comes
experience – the key to giving a good
reading.
But one must
start at the beginning, learning the
meanings of each of the individual 56 Minor
Arcana. As mentioned above, these are
divided into the four suits of Wands, Cups,
Swords, and Pentacles. And each suit
encompasses the Ace, then 2-10 numeral
cards, and finally the court cards: the
Page, Knight, Queen, and King – very similar
to an ordinary deck of playing cards in some
ways, yet powerfully different in others!
Each suit in the
Minor Arcana represents distinctive
characteristics, and these combined
qualities create an image of our day-to-day
lives. The suits and a very abbreviated
listing of some of their characteristics
include:
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