Creation of the Tarot
The origins of the Tarot are shrouded in the mysteries of time. The oldest deck dates back to about 1390 and is in Bibliotheque Nationale, a European museum. There are various decks from that and later eras. The Marseilles Deck is consideredthe purest one and traditional decks are based on it, although many think they are based on the Waite-Rider Deck, which is the most popular. This deck was created by Arthur Edward Waite and designed by Pamela Colman Smith and was based on the Marseilles.
Major Arcana and the Fool’s Journey
The Major Arcana has twenty-two cards, numbered 0-21. Death is XIII. Its meaning in the vast majority of traditional Tarot decks is rebirth. In a few decks, it means death. In the majority of decks, Justice is VII and Temperance is XIV, but a minority has these reversed in the numbering.
The Fool, 0, represents the human soul going through life’s journey. Some people believe the cards are the archetypes that dwell in the unconscious. The allegorical journey is based on the Waite-Rider Deck.
Fool: 0 - learning to use the conscious and the subconscious mind represented by the Magician and High Priestess to bring about abundance symbolized by the Empress.
Magician: I - the conscious part of the mind where rationality and reason preside. The lesson is how to use this for positive purposes.
High Priestess: II - the subconscious wherein intuition and creativity dwell. The lesson is to listen to the small voice that resides within.
Empress: III - represents when the conscious and subconscious mind are combined and put to positive use, abundance will follow.
Emperor: IV - lesson of leadership and power.
Hierophant: V - represents the spiritual aspect of life.
Lovers: VI - lessons of free will, choices and that the blending of logic and intuition bring wisdom.
Chariot: VII -success attained by learning the prior lessons of life.
Strength: VIII - lesson that spiritual strength can control lower forces and desires that are base.
Hermit: IX - a guide leading people along the lane of spiritual truth by the light of his lantern.
Wheel of Fortune: X - a cycle is completed. The apprenticeship is done. The Fool rises or falls by his or her own hand in learning future lessons of life.
Justice: XI - be balanced and get rid of what is no longer needed.
Hanged Man: XII - surrender to Spirit, the Divine, and sacrifice small desires for greater ones.
Death: XIII - death is rebirth and the old ways pave the path to the more positive new ones.
Temperance: XIV - creating power by pouring Life’s’ Waters from the invisible to the visible.
Devil: XV - secrets of life have been revealed and there are darks forces that tempt people to use them for their selfish desires.
Tower: XVI - when people give in to temptation of the dark forces, they are knocked from their pedestals they have built by using the secrets of life for their selfish ends by a flash of spiritual insight. People are on earth to use the given knowledge in positive ways.
Star: XVII - no destruction is final. Hope remains.
Moon: XVIII - hidden perils and temptation lurk to lead people down the wrong path for selfish gain.
Sun: XX - lessons learned well. Attainment.
Judgment: XXI - people are beckoned to the awakening of the spiritual life. They are spirit again, having passed through initiations on Earth Journey.
World: XXII - celebration of life as being one with the Universe.
