Quick Tip: Tarot by the Numbers

In the tarot’s Major Arcana, the numbered cards are often said to represent stations on the journey through life. They also symbolize a progression of events: Aces represent beginnings, while tens represent conclusions. The suits, of course, indicate which events are unfolding: Wands symbolize spiritual experiences, Cups represent emotional affairs, Swords depict intellectual issues, and Pentacles relate to physical realities.

Obviously, the tarot deck is meant to be shuffled, so Minor Arcana cards rarely turn up in sequential order during a reading. You might be surprised, however, by how often you’ll see the same numbers pop up in a tarot reading: it’s not uncommon to find a preponderance of early, middle, or end cards in a tarot spread, or various cards relating to, say, the number seven.

All in all, if you can remember the significance of each suit, as well as the fact that each numbered card represents a separate stage in that area of life, you’ll be able to interpret the cards without memorizing the individual meanings of all 78 cards in the deck. The Ace of Wands, for example, often symbolizes the beginning of a spiritual quest. The Five of Wands suggests the halfway point of a spiritual experience, and the Ten of Wands typically signifies the conclusion of a spiritual journey.