{"id":3459,"date":"2025-10-12T13:22:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-12T13:22:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/rp11g23\/?p=3459"},"modified":"2026-01-09T19:30:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T19:30:06","slug":"tarot-astrology","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.wsagames.com\/rp11g23\/2025\/10\/12\/tarot-astrology\/","title":{"rendered":"The Fundamentals of Tarot"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dating back to 15th century Italy, the exact origins of tarot are unknown, but one iteration was a card game named Trionfi which later became known as Tarocchi or Tarocks. It was originally used as playing cards similar to poker or blackjack before dispersing across Europe and overseas and then later becoming what it is known for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tarot uses a deck of 78 cards, which is divided into 22 Major Arcana <\/strong>and 56 Minor Arcana<\/strong> cards. Each card has its own meaning<\/strong> as well as a unique interpretation<\/strong> depending on the reader. Each card can be applied to different themes in a reading (e.g. career, finances, love, and health). When used correctly, tarot can be an extremely useful tool for personal growth, spiritual guidance, and insight into the past, present, and likely future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Major Arcana<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Consisting of 22 cards, the Major Arcana is considered the core<\/strong> and foundation<\/strong> of the tarot deck. The cards parallel our own stages in life, such as significant life events and milestones, with each card in the Major Arcana teaching a specific lesson and concept to reflect over. The whole of the deck is filled with archetypal significance, but this is most pronounced in these cards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Major Arcana follows a storyline which tells of humanity’s spiritual evolution into enlightenment and individuation*. Referred to as The Fool’s Journey<\/a><\/strong>, it starts with the archetype of The Fool – an innocent wonderer, and then ends with the oneness and fulfilment of The World. However, the journey isn’t linear; instead, it’s cyclical, and individuals can experience different stages at different times, even revisiting past stages in their healing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Furthermore, the Major Arcana can be divided into various phases that represent different stages of evolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fool is assigned the number 0, as not only are they the protagonist, but zero is the number for beginnings and endings. The Fool begins with almost ignorant faith in undergoing a journey of hardships, but also completion and integration (they are on the edge of the cliff). Read more about the fool and each archetype in phase 1 in The Self\/Personal Awareness<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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There are two approaches to interpreting the Fool’s Journey: splitting the Major Arcana at the Wheel of Fortune so that there are 2 groups of 11 cards. Or splitting it into 3 (leaving out the Fool), each with 7 cards. During my research, I decided to use the second approach. ‘Setting the Fool apart as really a separate category all by itself (and setting it apart allows us to see that it belongs everywhere and anywhere) gives us twenty-one cards – three groups of seven. The number seven has a long history in symbolism: the seven planets of classical astrology, seven as a combination of three and four, themselves archetypal numbers, seven pillars of wisdom, the seven lower stations of the Tree of Life, seven openings in the human head, seven chakras, and of course, seven days in the week’ .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

‘The best reasons for the division into three groups lie within the Major Arcana itself. First, consider the picture symbolism. Look at the first card in each line. The Magician and Strength are both obviously cards of power, but so is the Devil. The Magician and Strength are linked by the infinity sign above their heads, while the Devil bears a reversed pentacle. If you look at the Devil’s posture, one arm up, one arm down, you will see the picture is in some ways a parody of the Magician, with the torch pointing down instead of the wand pointing up’ (Author: Rachel Pollack, 2007).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Traditionally, cards 1 – 7 in the deck, The Magician to The Chariot, represent the learning stage\/personal awareness<\/strong> (conscious) – finding our place and purpose in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Strength through Temperance, cards 8 – 14 represent the collective<\/strong> (subconscious) and how our ideas, choices, and actions impact the people and systems around us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The final phase of cards from 15 -21 is about personal evolution<\/strong> (super-conscious) on a cosmic level. The Devil to The World challenges us to embrace ways in which we transform and integrate the experiences we have learned previously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, tarot readings can be done with just the Major Arcana, as it is the foundation of the deck, but these readings tend to be more vague\/broad, especially if it’s a collective reading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Minor Arcana<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

The Minor Arcana makes up the majority of the deck with 56 cards in total and represents day-to-day circumstances and momentary situations. These cards are split into 4 suits: wands<\/mark>, cups<\/mark>, swords<\/mark>, and pentacles<\/mark>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wands<\/mark><\/h6>\n\n\n\n
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Associated with the element of fire (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), the wands suit represents passion<\/strong>, inspiration<\/strong>, willpower<\/strong>, drive<\/strong>, and desire<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It imbues users with primal (and sometimes sexual energy – phallic imagery in the Ace of Wands card) and through that begins the cycle of\/potential for creation (e.g. creating opportunites for yourself to achieve your goals).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Because they bring energy into a situation, they are also associated with action, ambition, and making plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 6 of Wands card also represents success, public recognition, progress, and self-confidence. Pulling this card during a reading means you have properly succeeded in achieving your goals. However, this can also indicate self-importance and arrogance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Wands are the fastest moving suit, signifying hours or days. For example, 8 of Wands indicates swift movement or rapid progress such as a text message, call, or travel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Strengths:<\/p>\n\n\n\n