How well do you know the Major Arcana?
One of the things I love most about the Tarot is that there are literally no limits to how you can use the cards.
Personally, I began over 30 years ago by reading the cards intuitively and, even though these days I’ve got a whole library on books on the Tarot, I still prefer to read the cards this way.
When people are just starting out I always encourage them not to get too bogged down in memorising meaning. For me, just holding, shuffling and turning cards over helps me link in to whatever it is I’m looking at. I’m definitely a clairvoyant who uses Tarot to focus.
Other people use Tarot by spending years learning the layered symbolism captured within each card and can do an excellent Tarot reading without being clairvoyant at all.
But how well do you actually know the Tarot? Try the first of this three part quiz to find out! In this quiz, we will look at the Major Arcana – the 22 cards that chart the soul’s journey on this earth.
Some of the questions are relatively easy, some outright mean – but it’s a good way to measure the depth of your own personal study of the cards themselves.
Questions are based on the Rider-Waite deck for no other reason than I had to pick one – even though it is my favourite deck!
Simply note your answers to the questions, check out how many you got right at the end, add up your score and see how you rate!
And by the way – if you are an absolute beginner, you could use this quiz as a study guide. Have the cards to hand and let the questions take you on a journey of discovery.
Question One
Which of the Major Arcana cards talks about a turn of fate or fortune?
The Tower
The Wheel of Fortune
The Sun
Question Two
What number is The Empress card?
Two
Three
Seven
Question Three
Which of the following of the Major Arcana cards has an angel in it?
The Hanged Man
Temperance
The Star
Question Four
Which astrological star sign is The Emperor associated with?
Capricorn
Cancer
Aries
Question Five
Which of the following cards is most associated with sudden, dramatic events?
The Tower
Death
The Fool
Question Six
Which card is most associated with the suggestion of things seeming to slow down?
The Star
The Hanged Man
The Hierophant
Question Seven
Alongside other meanings, what is The Devil also associated with?
Being good with money
Having a positive attitude to problems
Laughter and entertainment
Question Eight
What is said to be in the knapsack carried by The Fool?
A map of his journey
His packed lunch!
All of the items shown on The Magician’s table, representing everything he needs to create whatever he wants – if only he knew!
Question Nine
Who is the figure shown in the Hermit said by some to represent?
The Greek Philosopher Diogenes
Zeus – King of the Greek pantheon of Gods
Guan Yin – Chinese Goddess of Mercy
Question Ten
Which Angel is shown calling to the people below in Judgement?
Michael
Raphael
Gabriel
Question Eleven
If someone told you they’d just met the partner of their dreams and you turned over The Moon connected to their relationship, what would this tell you?
This is a soul mate connection
Not everything is as it looks here!
A honeymoon is on the cards
Question Twelve
What fruit is shown on the veil behind The High Priestess?
Bananas
Cherries
Pomegranates
Question Thirteen
What colour is the horse ridden by Death in the Death card?
Black – associated in some cultures with death itself
White – associated in some cultures with purity
Brown – associated in some cultures with earth
Question Fourteen
Which symbols of justice is Justice herself shown holding in the card that takes its name from her?
A sword and set of scales
A book and pen
A lock and key
Question Fifteen
What would The Magician turning up in a reading tell you about someone’s personality?
They have the ability to make their dreams come true, turning ambitions into success. They can also be a bit of a smooth talker which is a fantastic quality if used for everyone’s highest good!
They are going through a period of profound transformation.
They are stepping out on an exciting new journey without a care in the world.
Answers
The Wheel of Fortune
Three
Temperance
Aries
The Tower
The Hanged Man
Laughter and Entertainment
All of the items shown on The Magician’s table, representing everything he needs to create whatever he wants – if only he knew!
The Greek Philosopher Diogenes
Gabriel
Not everything is as it looks here!
Pomegranates
White – associated in some cultures with purity.
A sword and a set of scales
They have the ability to make their dreams come true, turning ambitions into success. They can also be a bit of a smooth talker which is a fantastic quality if used for everyone’s highest good!
How did you score?
0-5
Okay – so you’ve got a fabulous journey ahead as you learn more about the cards – if that’s what you want to do! Remember, you could score zero and still be an amazing clairvoyant reader. If you want a fun starting guide to the cards, you can buy my ‘Tarot Made Easy’ DVD throughwww.shoppingknight.com, catch up on my Tarot Masterclass series on the Major Arcana published in Spirit and Destiny magazine, which will be uploaded to the site soon, or get hold of one of my favourite starting out books on Tarot – Rachel Pollack’s ‘Seventy Eight Degrees of Wisdom’.
5-10
An excellent score – especially as some of the questions were really tough! You’ve got a great working knowledge of the cards and have clearly spent a lot of time studying the hidden symbolism attached to the cards themselves. Long may your love affair with the Tarot continue!
10-15
You’re obviously the kind of person who reads anything they can lay their hands on about Tarot and has taken the time to memorise the detail of every single card! If you haven’t already, do join our Tarot group on Psychic Knight where you share your wisdom and talk about the cards to your heart’s content!
How well do you know the Goddesses?
