Thursday, August 21, 2014

Learning the Tarot pt. 3

The Major Arcana~


There are 22 cards in the Major Arcana

So far we have gotten to know our decks, and we have a basic understanding of the root meanings of each suit and number. Now we will start getting into the meanings of the cards themselves. We will break this down into sections to make it easier, and seem less daunting.

I encourage you to write down each card, and at least a few keywords. Writing things down helps you to memorize it better. While writing down the meanings, take a good look at your card. What's going on in the card, and most importantly how does the card make you feel. You will start to associate the images on the card with these meanings.

There are 22 cards in the Major Arcana. They are the "trump"cards. They are the highest ranking suit. When they appear in your readings, pay special attention to these cards.

To keep things simple, we won't be going over the reverse meanings just yet.

Card 0 ~ Is the Fool.
The Fool card represents a fresh start, taking chances and being open minded. Having blind faith and stepping into the unknown.

Card 1 ~ The Magician.
The Magician is ambitious and intellectual. When he appears in our readings he wants us to harness the powers of the universe. Take action and grasp opportunities! He is the very start of creative ideas.

Card 2 ~ The High Priestess. 
She is mysterious, intuitive and holds the secrets of the universe. This card urges you to look within yourself, use your intuition to find deeper meaning. Open your third eye, or use your psychic ability. This will bring a sense of calm to your life.

Card 3 ~ The Empress. 
The Empress is considered the motherly card, as she is the card of fertility and femininity. She is nurturing and compassionate. Also she gives good advice and guidance.

Card 4 ~ The Emperor. 
He is structured, protective and authoritative. He is a great leader and business builder. This card could also represent a father figure or person of authority.

Card 5 ~ The Hierophant. 
A great advisor, especially in areas of spirituality. He is a conformist, and set in his traditional ways. He is wise and upholds ancient traditions that he passes on to new generations. He offers us his blessings.

Card 6 ~ The Lovers.
The lovers is just what it sounds like. As trong connection or soul mate. Physical unity and harmony. Two are better than one, and this card can symbolize a marriage.

Card 7 ~ The Chariot. 
Victory and success are two great keywords for the Chariot. Conflict resolution, focus and living a well balanced life are also key. This card could also indicate travel.

Card 8 ~ Strength. 
Not physical strength, but inner strength. Having courage and confidence. Most strength cards show a lion, which could indicate a Leo in your life.

Card 9 ~ The Hermit.
The Hermit speaks of taking some time to search for your own truth. You do this through deep thinking, solitude, prayer and meditation. Put your projects on hold and search within yourself for the answer.

Card 10 ~ The Wheel of Fortune.
The card of fate, destiny and luck. This card represents cycles or a turn of events. It gives us renewed hope. It also speaks of karma, what goes around comes around. Therefore if you want your fate to be good, put more good out there.

Card 11 ~ Justice. 
Decision making. Weighing out both sides. Fairness and honesty. This card asks us to make our wrongs right. It take balance to find the truth.

Card 12 ~ The Hanged Man. 
This card isn't as scary as it may seem. It simply means you are at a crossroad and are indecisive on which way to go. It could mean you need to bide your time and wait things out to see which direction is the best way to improve your life.  A state of suspension.

Card 13 ~ Death.
Also not as scary as it seems. This card represents lasting changes. The removal of something to begin anew. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes. It's a fresh start or a new approach.

Card 14 ~ Temperance. 
Balance and harmony. Practicing moderation in all areas of life. Compromise. Being true to yourself.

Card 15 ~ The Devil.
This card is as bad as you may think. It speaks of feeling hopeless and being too materialistic. The Devil is manipulative and greedy. It indicates someone who feel they can't get out of a bad situation, the feeling of being dominated or trapped. It can also mean an illness.

Card 16 ~ The Tower. 
The tower is all about catastrophic change. Something is going to happen to really shake things up. You will need to adapt to these changes, as they will lead to new beginnings.

Card 17 ~ The Star.
Hopes and inspirations. Living in a balance between the conscious and subconscious. She represents going in the right direction with life. Reflect on your blessings, and keep a positive outlook. Have faith and serenity. Accept your imperfections, embrace who you are.

Card 18 ~ The Moon. 
The moon controls emotions. Our deep thoughts and dreams. This card also represents our intuition and psychic abilities. And just as the moon has cycles, so does our life. Face your fears to move forward in change.

Card 19 ~ The Sun. 
Enlightenment, freedom, and independance. Feeling confident and successful. Full of energy. The sun also indicates a happy family or a possible pregnancy.

Card 20 ~ Judgment. 
The judgement card isn't so much about judging others, as it is ourselves. It speaks of renewal, and reflection. You need to look back to move forward. Forgive, and rekindle past relationships. Absolution.

Card 21 ~ The World. 
The final card of the Major Arcana. This card signifies the highest  level of consciousness. The perfect integration of body, mind and spirit. This card is about the fulfillment of your desires. The cycle is complete. You have new found freedom, and new beginnings.



These are some basic keywords and meanings for each of the Major Arcana. Upon more study, you will find that everyone has slightly different ideas of what the cards mean. You will even come to find your own meanings. This is using your intuition. The meanings can change slightly by what cards are surrounding it too.

If you have the basic idea of what each card stands for though, it will only help your intuition more.

~*~Bright Blessings~*~

Lesson 1 here
Lesson 2 here

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