"It must always be borne in mind that the Tarot is not only an Atlas for recording facts, but a guide-book showing one how to travel through these countries previously unknown." - Alister Crowley
Qabbalah is a Hebrew word meaning 'knowledge' or 'tradition' and is said to be God's wisdom of life which is said to have been passed down to Moses on Mount Sinai. The message was then passed to his elders who translated the wisdom orally until the book Sefer Yetzirah meaning 'the book of creation' was written in the third century AD. The book of Splendour (Zohar) also encapsulated the Qabahlistic beliefs of the Jewish people but the knowledge has become the interest of anyone seeking spiritual and philosophical concepts.
The Qabbalah teaches that all things which exist in the universe are a part of a whole. Everything is interconnected and it is believed that God exists within all things. Enlightenment, which is the aim of almost all religious concepts and the hope of every individual is said to be acquired along the path of wisdom. This path is called the 'Tree of Life'. The tree of life is not unlike a tree with branches and paths connecting the different stages of spiritual growth and advancement. In the beginning, the soul originated from God and descended the tree of life one sephira at a time; absorbing characteristics from each one as it went. It is believed that man, when reaching the bottom had become a miniature model of the universe but the soul wished to return to God. Hence, the eternal struggle of man to reach enlightenment is a perilous journey involving a climb back up the tree with only the knowledge and experience gained along the way to guide him back to God.
Qabahlists were greatly influenced by Pythagorean theory. Numbers were very powerful and important in representing the laws of creation and they used numbers which they deemed appropriate as the forces behind man and the universe. Those who have studied the occult have often found distinct links between various methods of calculation, divination and interpretation - the Tarot and the Qabbalah are no exception.
Eliphas Levi, an occultist in the late 1800's successfully linked each Tarot trump with a letter of the Hebrew Alphabet. There are twenty-two cards in the Major Arcana and the same for the Alphabet. He also made links which matched the Major Arcana to the twenty-two paths which exist within the Tree of Life. These theories were studied and confirmed by other occultists and it then became agreed that the Tarot and the 'Tree of Life' could be used together for means of divination.
Along with Levi were other eminent and profound occultists, such as Court de Geblin, Papus and Charles Barlet. They all confirmed the theory that the twenty-two major arcana are directly derived from the Ancient Egyptian book of Thoth. Jewish Occultism is largely Egyptian in origin which also reinforces the connection with the Qabbahla.
The Major Arcana consists of twenty-two cards which present symbols from many civilisations including Hindu and Babylonian. These cards characterise the meaning behind the esoteric and philosophic beliefs which stem from ancient culture. They represent the cycle of creation and evolution, a picture of completeness and of the world. The cards are numbered, 0-21. All of the Major Arcana are prophetic in energy and hold strong key messages for the interpreter. Some say the most powerful and sometimes lucky card to appear in a spread is the card numbered '0' named "The Fool". It is believed that it signifies the beginning; mankind embarking on the journey through life. A soul in search of truth with all his ignorance, impulsiveness and carelessness. Edward Waite described "The Fool" as signifying 'the spirit in search of experience.' It is the full circle of evolvement from nothing to enlightenment, from naivety to re-birth.
The Minor Arcana consist of 56 cards in suits of Wands, Pentacles, Swords and Cups. The court cards co-coinciding with these are King, Queen, Knight and Knave or Page. Originally, the four suits pertained to divisions within society. Wands represented the peasants, Cups - the Church, Pentacles - the merchants, Swords - the military and nobility. Each suit has it's own energy which matches the four elements of universal force, the Earth, Air, Water and Fire which is also found represented in Astrology. Each numbered card within the suits has it's own individual meaning. All cards within the Tarot deck have Upright and Reversed meanings, depending on how they appear in a spread. A brief summary of the Edward Arthur Waite interpretations of the Major Arcana are listed below:
The meanings of the cards often seem contradictory on their own. This is because a card must be interpreted as a part of a whole spread and what it signifies depends on the message given by the rest of the cards. The value of the cards given above is also only the meanings for cards which appear in an upright position. Reversed meanings are different again.
The Tarot deck with the best energy is that which has been received as a gift. This is a destined deck which arrived for you without any action taking place on your part. If this does not happen, you will have to purchase a pack for yourself and their are many types available.
Each pack has different artists impressions of the symbolism of the ancient medieval decks. The Major Arcana is usually the same with a few minor variations some of the cards. For example, the pack created by the Court de Gebelin or the Marseilles Tarot has the symbol of the Pope as Major Arcana number five whereas card number five in the Rider/Waite Tarot is the Hierophant. Incidentally, both the cards signify mercy and goodness so it would not account for much variation within a reading.
Some decks simplify the Minor Arcana by only depicting the number of Swords, Cups, Wands and Pentacles instead of including a symbolic picture of the card's energy. Again, this does not influence the meaning of the reading and the type you choose comes down to personal preference. Pictures aid in the psychic interpretation of the cards which is why they can be useful in interpretation. There are at least fifteen different types of deck available. Some are French in origin like the 'Marseilles' pack devised in 1748. Others have been created from different cultures throughout the world and there have been a lot of modern adaptations to the medieval deck emerging to suit today's society.
Whichever pack you choose to buy, you should always handle the deck and examine the pictures to feel their energy. Usually the pack which holds instant appeal or the one which stands out the most to you is the right one.
During a Tarot reading, the Enquirer is asking the spirit world for advice either about a particular situation or general advice on their current circumstances. A reading can also be done which examines the past, present and future of the enquirer to highlight the influences which have contributed to their spiritual progression.
Reading the Tarot can be done alone or with a chosen interpreter. There is a lot of intuition and psychic energy used to interpret the cards and a reading is never based simply on the value of each card. A lot of concentration is required so that the reading gives a clear picture to the enquirer. It is essential that a quiet place be found to carry out divination. Crystals and candles can also be used to help relaxation as well as adding to the spiritual connection.
One must always remember that asking the Tarot for advice is opening a channel to the spirit world of universal knowledge. This should be respected and suitable measures should be taken to ensure that the reading is accurate and that the advice that we evoke from the other side is not from a negative source. To ensure protection of your aura and your spirit, one should always imagine a white light surrounding your body. This protects you from negative vibration as well as giving an open invitation to your true spirit guides which are there to help you.
*NB. The following Tarot spreads have been based on the book "The Amazing Book of Tarot" written by leading occultist - Joan Moore. Most tarot spreads are derived from the ancient wisdom handed down through the centuries. Variations occur by choice and familiarity with the Tarot deck.
The Celtic Cross is one of the most common Tarot spreads and is useful for any type of question. It covers a broad range of aspects to an individuals life including the current hopes, past conditions and future trends. The whole Tarot deck is shuffled and cut. This spread consists of ten cards which signify the following:
1. Present conditions.
2. Obstacles
3. That which is above you (pertaining to your future)
4. What is beneath you (that which is passing out of your life)
5. What is behind you (past).
6. What is before you (future event).
7. Secrets and fears
8. Present environment
9. Hopes and dreams (the inner self).
10. The outcome (the overall theme).
The Horse-Shoe spread is best suited for a specific question. It focuses on the enquirer's present position and predicts the near and foreseeable future. It does not include a symbolic representation of the past but it reveals what is not expected for the enquirer. This spread consists of five cards which signify the following:
1. Present position.
2. Present expectations.
3. What is not expected.
4. The immediate future.
5. The distant or foreseeable future.
Each card of the Major Arcana has it's own astrological correspondent. This is utilised to the full in the Zodiac Spread because the meanings in each card on their own is amplified by the traits of it's astrological sign. The Major Arcana and the court cards of the Minor Arcana are used. The Zodiac Spread gives a reading for the monthly trends of one year and an outcome card.
The cards are shuffled by the interpreter and the enquirer must cut the deck into two piles. The enquirer must then take the first thirteen cards from deck one, placing them in an oval shape on the table. This must be done in a clockwise motion beginning at the bottom of the circle.
In the Zodiac spread there are two significator cards which represent the enquirer and the energies which surround him/her. These cards are chosen once the circle of thirteen cards has been spread. The interpreter shuffles the cards from pile one and the enquirer chooses one from a fanned offering. This card is placed in the centre of the circle and represents the enquirer for the next twelve months. The other significator card is taken from the bottom of pile two. This card represents the general energies which will surround the enquirer for the twelve month period and is placed over the other.
This spread has been fashioned on the ancient Tree of Life taken from Qabbahlistic philosophy. It reads the history of the enquirer, mapping out his/her past and highlighting the current circumstances. It also refers to the hopes and dreams of the enquirer. All 78 cards in the Tarot deck are used for this spread.
The enquirer is asked to shuffle the deck. While doing this, he/she must think of their life as a broad spectrum and also must ponder on their expectations for the future. The shuffled deck is then filled with the energy of the enquirer's life and is cut into three piles. Each of the piles is handed to the interpreter who arranges ten cards in the shape required taking each card from a different deck in sequence.
The spread consists of three triangle branches to the tree with one card at the bottom representing the enquirer's physical self or earthly home. The tree has three rows, the left stands for discipline, the middle for harmony and the right row signifies love. The nine cards making up the branches signify the following:
1. The highest peak of the enquirers spiritual
life.
2. The primal creative force (father/masculine)
3. The fountain of life (mother/feminine)
4. The virtues
5. Intellectual and physical powers of the enquirer.
6. Health and temperament.
7. Desire, love, marriage.
8. Children and the arts.
9. Imagination, dreams and creative power.