Diploma in Learning the Tarot
The anatomy of
the tarot deck
Summary Notes
2
Contents
3 Lesson outcomes
3 Introduction
4 Tarot and numerology – minor arcana
6 Tarot and numerology – major arcana
6 Uncovering patterns
7 The court cards
9 References
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Lesson outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Appreciate the connection between tarot and numerology
Apply the numerology of the minor arcana from ace to ten
Uncover number patterns
Understand the court cards
Practical lesson outcome:
Appreciate and apply the numerological meaning
Identify number patterns
Understand the significance of the court cards
Introduction
Tarot is interlinked with numerology. Interpreting the meaning of the number on the card can add an extra layer to your
tarot reading interpretation.
You will see on your tarot cards, that both the major and minor arcana are numbered, giving each card a unique
numerological meaning. These card numbers have significant meanings that tell us more about the nature of the card and
where we are on our journey.
Numbers in tarot
• Major arcana: numbered 0-21
• Minor arcana: numbered ace (1)-10 in each suit
Keep it simple
The best way to learn the correspondences between tarot and numerology is to keep it simple and begin with the minor
arcana.
Recap of the element of each suit
The classical elements of fire, earth, air, and water differentiate the 4 suits of the minor arcana, but the numerology
remains constant among them.
As a quick reminder of the suits in the tarot:
• Cups (element = water): Emotions, creativity, intuition, relationships
• Pentacles (element = earth): Material wealth, money, career, manifestation
• Swords (element = air): Communication, truth, intellect, thoughts
• Wands (element = fire): Inspiration, energy, enthusiasm
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Tarot and numerology – minor arcana
Ace or one in tarot
• New beginnings
• Opportunity
• Potential
The aces or ones in tarot represent the beginning of a journey.
This can present itself as new ideas, information, or opportunities. There is no guarantee that there will be success with
whatever comes forth to you, but it is the start. The seed of raw potential.
The aces are situated at the beginning of each suit. As such, they have the important job of introducing the feel of each
suit. They represent hope, a possibility, an action to take, a future that you can create.
Two in tarot
• Balance
• Partnerships
• Duality
Twos are about partnerships and duality.
The twos ask us to consider what happens when two separate entities come together. Sometimes unions are harmonious
and sometimes unions are in opposition.
Twos represent partnerships and finding the balance to cooperate with another. With this can come choices and decisions.
Twos can represent a healthy partnership but can also represent two opposing energies, of which you need to decide
between.
Three in tarot
• Creativity
• Groups
• Growth
The threes deal with creativity, groups, and growth. Three in numerology represents the upright triangle. However, this
can take different directions. Take the celebratory three of cups, for example, and contrast it with the dire and dramatic
three of swords.
Four in tarot
• Structure
• Stability
• Manifestation
The fours are all about stability and structure. Four is a balancing earthy number. Representing places, and mindsets,
asking us how and where we contain different aspects of our lives.
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Five in tarot
• Change
• Instability
• Conflict
Fives represent change and the need for change. Sometimes change is difficult, which is why so many of the fives feature
challenging scenes. Fives in a reading indicates a time of change and of ups and downs and there may be a focus on ‘loss’.
Five of cups often appears in a reading when a situation has not turned out the way you expected, and you are sad,
regretful, and disappointed. There is great emotional disappointment and sorrow over past events. It suggests you are
stuck in the past and cannot let go.
Six in tarot
• Restoration
• Cooperation
• Harmony
From the conflict-ridden fives we emerge into the relaxing, harmonious world of the sixes. Here, the cards reflect themes
of balance, peace, and sentimentality. Six in tarot is a stable number that restores the harmony lost in the upset and chaos
of the fives.
Seven in tarot
• Reflection
• Assessment
• Knowledge
Sevens ask us to pause, reflect and allow things to integrate. Reflection and re-evaluation are always helpful so you can let
things settle for a moment.
Sevens indicates that it is a time to step back and assess. The sevens ask us to reflect whether the path that you are taking
is best for you.
Eight in tarot
• Mastery
• Action
• Resolution
Eights are action. The eight’s mission is to free themselves from limiting circumstances so that they can be what they want
to be. They can highlight an area of your life where you are beginning to overcome personal issues, challenges,
or difficultiesy. It can also suggest an area of your life that you are making progress in or mastering.
Nine in tarot
• Fruition
• Attainment
• Fulfilment
Nines are fruition. They symbolise the atmosphere of the environment which the seeker inhabits. It is where we
synthesise information, contemplate how far we have come, and realising the extent to which we have changed. It is a
point where we look beyond ourselves to the larger meaning and consequences of our actions. By evaluating and
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reflecting on past actions, we can gain an understanding why we are in the situation as depicted by these cards and
choose which path to take next.
Ten in tarot
• Completion
• End of a cycle
• Renewal
In numerology, the number ten often represents the end. One chapter is closing, and another is about to begin. You can
see this reflected in Tarot based on the general meanings of the cards. These cards signify the conclusion of a cycle, event,
or undertaking.
Tarot and numerology – major arcana
As you know, the major arcana starts with the Fool (card 0) and ends with the World (card 21). Some keep it simple and use
the single digit numerological technique whereby they add the numbers together to interpret the single number.
Single number technique
To calculate the single number, you add each digit together:
For example, the Tower card is number 16. Therefore, we add the two digits together: 1 + 6 = 7.
Justice is card 11, therefore 1 + 1 = 2.
Death is card 13, therefore 1 + 3 = 4.
I personally do not find that the basic single-digit numerology adds any extra depth to the major arcana tarot card
interpretations. I use them for the minor arcana interpretations only.
Uncovering patterns
Number progressions
Numbers in ascending order: progression/ advancing
Numbers in descending order: regression / setbacks
Low and high numbers
If most of the card numbers are low numbers, this suggests that the querent is in the beginning stages of a situation.
If most of the numbers are high, things are perhaps coming to completion.
Missing element
What is missing from your reading can also be a way of seeing what may be needed to bring balance to a situation. For
example, if pentacles are missing from your spread or reading, practicality may be needed to bring plans forward.
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Repeating numbers
If a number is repeated throughout a tarot reading, it is usually significant.
– The significance of the repeating number may stress the importance of its numerical meaning.
– The significance of the repeating number may show a length of time or when something will happen
The court cards
There are 16 court cards. These 'personality' or face cards illustrate the whole range of human characteristics. These cards
can point to real people in our lives or behavioral tendencies and personality traits.
A court card can reflect aspects of our personality that pertain to the situation or life stage that we are currently
experiencing. Often it can be obvious to both reader and querent that a certain court card will be pointing towards a
particular person, especially if that person, or his/her behaviour, is somewhat exaggerated in the current circumstances.
The King
When it comes to the tarot court cards, the Kings and Queens are masters, with the Kings being master of the visible world
and the Queens mastering their inner worlds. The Kings are active and ‘out there’, while the Queens are filled with a
receptive inner strength.
The Kings are strong, natural leaders with visible power. They represent control and authority. They can be both selfless
and ruthless. They are controlling and decisive as they set the tone, direction, and plans.
A King is mature and masculine. He is the archetypal father figure of his suit and he is a doer whose focus is outward on
the events of life.
The King demonstrates authority, order, control, discipline, and mastery in the areas associated with his Suit. A King’s
style is to lead, be strong, assertive, and direct. He is concerned with results and practical, how-to matters. The King has
the responsibility to protect and defend his realm and all those who reside within.
The King in each suit:
King of cups: emotional security and mastery
King of pentacles: financial stability, abundance
King of swords: logic, intellect
King of wands: bravery, passion
The Queen
A Queen is the archetypal mother figure of her suit. She embodies the qualities of her suit, rather than acting them out.
Her focus is inward, and her style, relaxed and natural.
Queen is also concerned with results just like the King. A Queen is also responsible for protecting and defending those in
her realm, but not in the same manner as a King. Her manner of protection is through nurturing, sensing, and natural
intuitive instincts. She is associated with feelings, relationships, and self-expression. A Queen is the Feminine Counterpart
of the King.
The Queens are receptive to what is going on around them and can run things behind the scenes. They represent
expansion, growing and moving into the potential.
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The Queen in each suit:
Queen of cups: empathy, love, intuition
Queen of pentacles: security, material resources
Queen of swords: intelligence, clarity
Queen of wands: creativity, sensuality, confidence
The Knight
Knight are extremists; they express their suit qualities to the maximum.
Such excessive feelings and behaviour are fiery and can be either positive or negative depending on the circumstances.
The Knight is extremely passionate, and often acts without thinking from all angles.
The Knight in each suit:
The Knight of cups: romance, charm
The Knight of pentacles: reliability, progression through hard work
The Knight of swords: confrontation, debate
The Knight of wands: adventure, impulsive, passionate
The Page
The Pages are the youngest member of the court, the Page represents potential, excitement, and hope. They resemble
youth, vitality, learning and promise.
A Page card may suggest incoming news, messages, or internal realiszations, beginning of a personal journey but there is
not an intense drive at work here. Pages are only getting to grips with the potential of their suit, they are excited and
enthusiastic about life, there is still a lot for them to learn. The Pages symbolise a new stage in life.
The Page in each suit:
The Page of cups: a new feeling
The Page of pentacles: a new career
The Page of swords: a new way of thinking
The Page of wands: a new idea
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References
Esselmont, B. [no date]. Minor arcana tarot card meanings. [online] Available at: https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-
card-meanings/minor-arcana/. [Accessed 2 November 2020]
Numerology Centre. [2021]. The link between tarot and numerology explained. [online] Available
at: http://numerology.center/link_between_tarot_and_numerology_explained.php. [Accessed 2 November 2020]
Porter, B. [2021]. Numerology of Tarot. [online] Available
at: https://www.thethreadsoffate.com/blogs/news/numerology-of-tarot. [Accessed 2 November 2020]
Tarot Mentor. [2019]. The link between tarot and numerology explained. [online] Available
at: https://www.thetarotmentor.com/numerology. [Accessed 2 November 2020]
Tarot Parlor. [2017]. Numbers in Tarot. How to Use Numbers in Readings. [online] Available
at: https://tarotparlor.com/blog/numbers-in-tarot/ [Accessed 2 November 2020]
