Beginner's Manual - lesson 10:
Basic meanings of the cards - yes all 78 ;P
How can one ever learn 78 cards by heart, there must be a system. Oh yes, there are plenty of systems out there, some useful, some endless and others - well... again, let me tell you; systems written of how to learn and remember your basics is only an opinion - you decide if you share that opinion and whether or not you find it useful.
Learning the basics on 78 cards is work, it takes stamina and patience, it is all about perspective really. Ask any tarot reader no matter how many years or even decades they have spend on the art of tarot: "When did you really feel you had tarot nailed?" and they are likely to answer; "Oh, I am no where near that point yet - tarot is a life long journey, you will never be done learning".
One of my absolute all time favorites, is Tarot Basic, written by Thirteen, and hate to tell you this - not published. Yes I know, and Thirteen has been told by many tarot readers: "Publish!". Sigh. Of course there is a reason for me to mention them here *S*, because "Tarot Basic" is right here on the net - published go home :P - it does require some efforts and money on your part to get them though, and believe me, it is all well worth it. Subscribe Aeclectic Tarot. There is no required subscription rule for surfing the boards of Aeclectic, only you can not go to archives and read the basics without subscriber's benefits. Take it hard into your consideration to join us :P Solandia will be so happy to have you, and I bet, so will close to a 4000 members also, yours truly included *SS*.
On with the basics.
 | We have the majors; 0-21 |
| We have the numbers; Ace-10 |
| We have 4 times 10 minors |
| We have 4 members in a court family; Page, Knight, Queen and King |
| We have 4 families in the court cards |
Majors:
Viewing Tarot as a play in theatre
The Majors is the stage, the back stage, the editors, the producers, the stage
managers and so on. They are the Triumphs, the archetypes. With out them there
is no play, with to many of them it could end up in chaos leaving still no play.
The
Majors are the overall rulers of the game. If you get majors in a reading they
over rule any other card standing against them.
The numbers Ace-10 from the minors are included in this table, because the numbers relates to the majors. Remembering that then you already nailed big parts of the basics in 40 cards *S*. [Top]
| Minors N# | Majors | N# | Basic keywords |
| Ace | The Fool | 0 | Initiation, journey is about to begin, raw potentials and no worries, listening to our dogs may be a good idea or could hinter us in seeking our full potentials. The bag is packed, sun is shining - the Fool treads unknown grounds with equal unknown outcome. |
| Ace | The Magician | 1 | Still the beginning, potentials, the teacher of how to use what is in the bag, our tools for life. The magician, the juggler, the smooth talker; let him teach and guide you, and be aware, he can be quite the jester in pranks and deceives. He is related to salesmen, need I say more *grin* |
| 2 | The High Priestess | 2 | Choices, decisions, tranquility, fears of the unknown, ask the Priestess and she will reveal secrets, she knows the land of the dead and lived to tell the story. Mystery and hidden truths do not justify fear and avoiding life. |
| 3 | The Empress | 3 | the
mother of tarot, teaching us patience and how to make things grow. |
| 4 | The Emperor | 4 | the
father of tarot, he rules and takes care of his children with a firm and
strong hand. |
| 5 | The Hierophant | 5 | brings
mysteries and obstacles down to earth, to a level where we can comprehend.
The father of knowledge, acts on experience and logic, are improvements
required? or do the situation in the direction you anticipated? |
| 6 | The Lovers | 6 | The
importance of choosing what is right for us and choosing with the heart. |
| 7 | The Chariot | 7 | the
conqueror that shows us how to divide in black and white, controlling
heart and mind. |
| 8 | Strength | 8 | On one hand shows the beauty of inner strength
and on the other, shows the danger of manipulation. |
| 9 | The Hermit | 9 | By
his absence he reminds us to seek with in and take a moment of meditation. |
| 10 | The Wheel of Fortune | 10 | Urges
and encourage us to seek our right place on the wheels of life. |
| Justice | 11 | who
shows us how to scale deeds and making sure we can justify our actions. |
|
| The Hanged Man | 12 | who
shows us that sometimes to gain first we must feel pain. |
|
| Death | 13 | who
brings ends and thereby making room, time and space for rebirth,
transformation and new beginnings. |
|
| Temperance | 14 | who
so beautiful teaches us how to temper our selves and our environment. |
|
| The Devil | 15 | the
misunderstood creature that merely shows us our hidden lust and
self-limits |
|
| The Tower | 16 | which
will if it is build on bad soil tumble and leave chaos and ruins. |
|
| The Star | 17 | which
enlighten us and shows how to temper emotions and actions. |
|
| The Moon | 18 | that
hides what is best unseen, though by sunrise the things will come out in
the open. |
|
| The Sun | 19 | that
leaves a warmth and joy, though also reminds us that after rise come set. |
|
| Judgment | 20 | blows
the horns and invites us to a renewal, invites us to put yesterday behind
us and look upon today. |
|
| The World | 21 | shows
the fulfilled circle, some things must make their leave in order for a new
circle to begin. |
|
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Table 2 - majors and numbers |
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