Tarot cards are a powerful tool for divination and self-discovery, and their significance extends beyond their vivid imagery and archetypes. In fact, numerology plays a significant role in tarot, with each card containing its own unique numerical value and symbolism. In this article, we will explore the connection between numerology and tarot and examine the meanings of the numbers in tarot, from the Major Arcana to the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana and Numerology
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, each representing a different archetype or universal theme. These cards are often viewed as the most significant cards in the tarot deck, and they hold immense power and meaning. In addition to their archetypal symbolism, each card in the Major Arcana also has its own numerical value, which is central to its meaning.
The Fool – 0
As the first card in the Major Arcana and numbered 0, The Fool holds tremendous potential and signifies new beginnings. It represents a spirit of spontaneity, adventure, and taking risks, encouraging us to embrace the unknown and trust in the universe.
The Magician – 1
Represented by the number 1, The Magician symbolizes manifestation, leadership, and independence. This card embodies intelligence, creativity, and resourcefulness, showcasing the power of the individual to bring their desires to life through focused intent and action.
The High Priestess – 2
Card number 2, The High Priestess symbolizes duality, balance, and intuition. It draws us into a world of mystery, secrecy, and inner wisdom. Teaching us to listen to our inner voice and understanding the power of our subconscious mind, it encourages us to truly know ourselves.
The Empress – 3
When we encounter The Empress, we are met with card number 3, which represents creativity, fertility, and growth. This card is a symbol of abundance, nurturing, and the maternal instincts within us. It reminds us of the power of nature and the importance of nurturing ourselves and others.
The Emperor – 4
As the masculine counterpart of The Empress, The Emperor holds the energy of stability, structure, and organization. Representing card number 4, it emphasizes authority, leadership, and discipline. It sparks the realization of the mind’s ability to create order and structure in our lives.
The Hierophant – 5
Represented by the number 5, The Hierophant embodies change, freedom, and versatility. It serves as a guide to tradition, religion, and spiritual growth. Encouraging us to seek wisdom from higher sources, The Hierophant teaches the importance of embracing new ideas and perspectives.
The Lovers – 6
Card number 6 brings us The Lovers, a symbol of harmony, balance, and love. This card celebrates partnerships, connections, and the idea of soulmates. It highlights the immense power of love to unite us and reminds us to make heart-centered choices.
The Chariot – 7
Represented by the number 7, The Chariot delves into themes of spirituality, introspection, and contemplation. It stands as a symbol of victory, willpower, and determination. This card demonstrates the incredible strength of our will to overcome obstacles and achieve success.
Strength – 8
Card number 8 brings us Strength, an embodiment of power, authority, and achievement. However, this card emphasizes the inner strength within us rather than physical prowess. It serves as a reminder of the heart’s ability to conquer fear and overcome challenges.
The Hermit – 9
Represented by the number 9, The Hermit guides us toward wisdom, enlightenment, and completion. This card calls for introspection, solitude, and the pursuit of inner enlightenment. It teaches the power of the inner journey and the importance of seeking wisdom from within.
The Wheel of Fortune – 10
Card number 10 represents cycles, change, and evolution. The Wheel of Fortune speaks to the power of destiny, fate, and unexpected events. It encourages us to trust in the universe’s capacity to guide us along our path and adapt to change, recognizing the opportunities hidden within difficult situations.
Justice – 11
Linked to the master number 11, Justice embodies spiritual enlightenment, intuition, and balance. This card is a symbol of fairness, truth, and integrity. It reminds us of the importance of living in alignment with our highest values and pursuing justice for both ourselves and others.
The Hanged Man – 12
Card number 12 reduces to 3, highlighting growth and transformation. The Hanged Man represents surrender, sacrifice, and letting go. This card teaches us to release our ego and embrace the unknown, leading to newfound growth and transformation.
Death – 13
Reducing to 4, card number 13, Death, is often misunderstood. Rather than signifying physical death, this card represents transformation, rebirth, and releasing the old to make way for the new. Rooted in the number 4, which embodies order and structure, Death demonstrates the power of endings and the necessity of embracing change to forge a brighter future.
Temperance – 14
With a reduction to 5, the number 14 captures a sense of freedom, adventure, and change. Temperance, with its emphasis on balance, harmony, and self-control, encourages us to find inner equilibrium to achieve our goals and live a fulfilled life.
The Devil – 15
The Devil, represented by the number 15, reduces to 6. While 6 is often associated with harmony and love, this card delves into the realm of temptation, materialism, and addiction. It is considered the “shadow” side of The Lovers, a card to which is linked numerologically. The Devil reminds us of the power of our desires and emphasizes the importance of maintaining balance and self-control in our lives.
The Tower – 16
This card is represented by the number 16, which reduces to 7 in numerology. The Tower is a card of sudden change, upheaval, and chaos. Number 7 is linked to spiritual awakening. So, this card shows us the significance of embracing change and accepting transformation, despite the discomfort it can bring, with the ultimate goal to create a better future.
The Star – 17
Reducing to 8 through numerology (the number of Strength), the number 17 elicits feelings of hope, inspiration, and renewal. The Star is a card of joy, happiness, and success, serving as a reminder of our inner light’s power and the necessity of shining brightly in the world.
The Moon – 18
The Moon, represented by the number 18 and reducing to 9, holds the qualities of intuition, mystery, confusion, and illusion. It speaks to the tremendous strength found within our subconscious and the importance of listening to our inner voice.
The Sun – 19
Card number 19 aligns with the number 1, symbolizing new beginnings, leadership, and independence. The Sun is a card radiating joy, happiness, and success. It shines a light on our inner brilliance and holds the significance of staying true to our dreams while displaying resilience.
Judgment – 20
Represented by the number 20, which reduces to 2, Judgment is a card of awakening, rebirth, and transformation. It emphasizes the power of our inner voice, urging us to live in alignment with our highest purpose.
The World – 21
As we reach card number 21, represented by the reduction to 3, we find The World. This card embodies completion, fulfillment, and achievement. It signifies the power of accomplishing our goals and finding satisfaction in our hard-earned successes.
The Minor Arcana and Numerology
In addition to the Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana also contains its own numerical symbolism. The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, each containing cards numbered 1 through 10, as well as four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
Here’s what each card number represents:
The Ace cards in each suit represent new beginnings, creativity, opportunity and potential.
Cards number 2: balance, duality, partnerships, and choices.
Cards number 3: creativity, growth, teamwork, and expansion.
Cards number 4: stability, structure, foundation, and order.
Cards number 5: conflict, obstacles, instability, and change.
Cards number 6: harmony, equality, love, and healing.
Cards number 7: introspection, assessment, challenges, and control.
Cards number 8: power, skill, mastery, and achievement.
Cards number 9: attainment, tenacity, wisdom, and spiritual enlightenment.
Cards number 10: completion, fulfillment, end of a cycle, and renewal.
Each card in the Minor Arcana also contains its own symbolism and interpretation, which can be influenced by the suit, element, and number it represents. For example, the Ace of Cups represents emotional new beginnings and creative potential, it indicates an opening of the heart toward new experiences and love. The Ten of Swords usually indicates overwhelming thoughts or completion of an experience in the realm of the mind and communication, and so on and so forth.
Interpreting Multiple Cards with the Same Number
Using numerology in tarot readings can add an additional layer of meaning and interpretation to the cards. When interpreting the cards, a tarot reader may consider the numerology of the cards, as well as the symbolism and imagery present.
Having multiple cards with the same number also has a meaning in tarot readings. For example, if a tarot reading includes multiple cards with the number 3, the reader may interpret this as a sign of creativity, growth, and expansion in the querent’s life. They may also look to the specific cards and suits to gain further insight into where this creativity and expansion may be occurring.
Similarly, if a tarot reading includes multiple cards with the number 9, the reader may interpret this as a cycle being close to completion. Thus, they may encourage the querent to reflect on what they have learned and gained from their experiences and how they can use this knowledge to move forward in their lives.
Summing Up
Numerology is an important aspect of tarot symbolism and interpretation, as each card in the Major and Minor Arcana is associated with a specific number and its corresponding meaning in numerology. Understanding the numerology of tarot can help querents gain further insight into their lives and the situations they are facing. Furthermore, embracing numerology as an essential element in tarot reveals its profound connection to the cosmic energies at play, allowing for a more holistic approach to divination and self-reflection. Whether seeking guidance, seeking personal growth, or exploring the mysteries of the universe, delving into the numerology of tarot is an invaluable tool for anyone intrigued by the vast world of divination.
To add more layers of interpretation to your tarot readings, you may also be interested to deepen your knowledge of the four suits in the tarot and their elemental interaction.
