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Kindle Notes & Highlights
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards depicting a sequence of images: archetypal characters (The Emperor, The Hermit), celestial bodies (The Sun, The Star), objects (The Chariot, Wheel of Fortune), virtues (Judgement, Temperance), and situations (The Hanged Man, The Tower).
The suit of Wands represents the realm of inspiration, intention, and ambition. When we are feeling creative, inspired, spurred to action, and/or envisioning outcomes we are utilizing Wand energy.
Wands are considered positive cards, and often show up in a reading as a sign of encouragement.
The suit of Cups is the realm of emotion, creativity, psychic insights, love, empathy, and matters of the heart in general. The Cups tend to represent the feelings that accompany, or arise out of, the thoughts we are having about a given situation. These feelings tend to influence our behavior, whether or not we’re consciously aware of them.
The suit of Swords represents the realm of action, movement, and struggle, as well as logic, reason, and intellect. The effort involved in pursuing a goal, which can often be perceived as struggle, is the realm of Sword energy. It can require much effort to turn our ideas into reality, but this is also where the most learning tends to occur.
Action is the result of the combining of ideas (Wands) with emotions (Cups), yet the Swords advise rationality and detachment from expectations of specific outcomes.
The suit of Pentacles is all about manifestation, results, groundedness, and material well-being. These cards often appear in relation to issues of finances, abundance, business pursuits, and the home and family, as well as the physical body.
Pentacles represent the results of the initial inspiration (Wands), which is then responded to in the feeling realm (Cups), and consequently acted upon (Swords).
One is the beginning of that which is about to form or take shape. Represented by the Ace of each suit, it is considered to hold the “seed” or absolute potential of a situation.
Two is the necessary “next step” that allows the potential of the one to become something more.
Three represents the first fruition of the balanced union of the two. It is the synthesis of inspiration, cooperation and growth.
Three is also found three times (3, 6, 9) within the decad. It represents expression, creativity, manifestation, and integration.
Four is a number of stability and completion. Added to the triangle of the three, it creates the first three-dimensional shape, the tetrahedron. In this sense the four is the manifestation of the initial idea of
the one into material form.
Four is also associated with justice and fair dealings (as in the express...
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Five, like the three, is a number of outward expansion, coming along to disrupt the perfect symmetry of the four so that new manifestation can occur. The cycle of creation requires change, which is often disruptive and can cause uncertainty, difficulty and even chaos for periods of time.
Six brings order to the chaos of the five. Like the four, it is a number of balance and harmony, but since it integrates every
stage of the one’s manifestation thus far, its structure is more complex. As the first product of an odd and even number, it reconciles differences and restores equilibrium.
Seven is a number of strong mystical significance in spiritual traditions around the world. It is found in nature in the visible light spectrum, the planets visible from Earth, and the musical tones of the scale. We live in the rhythm of the seven through the days of the week. Seven creates a new dynamic out of the six by adding the one, creating new changes and opportunities. It represents choices, mystery, uncertainty, spirituality, wisdom, and the potential for perfection.
Eight brings back the energy of balance and symmetry, now as a double of the four.
This brings new energy and power for accomplishing goals, organizing and integrating what has manifested so far, and bringing things nearer to completion. Eight represents progress, capability, regeneration, success, and personal power.
Nine is the final single digit, and as such symbolizes the end of a cycle, but in the numerological system of the decad, the final completion is still to come.
Ten contains the properties of the one, but now on a new level. As the final number of the decad, it completes whatever was left unfinished or unresolved in the nine, and sets the stage for the next cycle of manifestation to occur. Ten represents wholeness, fulfillment, and reaping the benefits of persistent effort. It is a number of resolution, consolidation, and readiness for new beginnings.
The Court Cards
they often speak to the way people are behaving with respect to the situation, or to the personal qualities required in order to successfully navigate it.
Pages represent younger people, who are just starting out in the realm of experience represented by the
suit.
Knights are more experienced in their respective realms, but are not always mature enough to know how to successfully ch...
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In regular playing cards, the King typically “outranks” the Queen, but in Tarot the two can be seen as the masculine and feminine embodiments of maturity and mastery over a situation.
The Court Arcana can also refer to specific events or developments within the context of the reading.
