Positive Key words for Major Arcana Cards

The Major Arcana Cards

This post is about the key words associated with each card of the Major Arcana. My references are Sylvia Abraham’s book ‘Learn How to Read The Tarot’ and Liz Dean’s book 'The Art of Tarot'. It is sufficient to remember one key word related to each card. A simple exercise that will help a reader connect better to the cards is to look at each card and note down the words that come to mind. Your list can then be cross checked with a good book on Tarot. See how the key words given in the book give you a feel of what the card stands for, in a nutshell.

Zero – The Fool – Everyone.

Innocence, folly, the unexpected, risk, beginnings.

One – The Magician -  “I will”. For example, “I will have new beginnings in my career”

Initiative, action, travel, perception, confidence

Two – The High Priestess – ‘I know’

Wisdom, Intuition, Decisions, dreams, authority

Three – The Empress – “I make” For example, “I make my work and social activities”

Fertility, Abundance, Harmony, Love, Productivity

Four – The Emperor – “I realize”

Rulership, Strength, Counsel, Willpower, Logic

Five – The Heirophant -  “I believe”

Mentors, Spiritual Authority, Traditional Wisdom, Inspiration, Instruction

Six – The Lovers – “I choose”

Love, Maturity, Choice, Growth

Seven – The Chariot – “The Path”

Travel, Success, Determination, Progress

Eight – Justice – Strength, Resolution, Balance, Fairness

Nine – The Hermit – Wisdom through experiences.

Inner Knowledge, Individualism, Separation, Perspective

Ten – The Wheel of Fortune – Changes and Cycles.

Chance, Beginnings, Endings, Dreams

Eleven – Strength – Justice, Equilibrium

Danger, Struggle, Instinct, Integration, Inner Strength

Twelve – The Hanged Man – Sacrifice, Reversal.

Hope, Waiting, The unconscious, Viewpoints 

Thirteen – Death - Transformation

Change, New Beginnings, Moving away

Fourteen – Temperance – Moderation, Tests and trials

Growth, Finances, Fluidity, Compromise, Reconciliation

Fifteen – The Devil – Materialism and Deception

Struggle, Decisions, Potential, Manipulation

Sixteen – The Tower - Catastrophe

Change, Speed, Insight

Seventeen – The Star – Discovery, Aspiration

Vigor, Happiness, Imagination, new life

Eighteen – The Moon - Attainment

Crisis of Faith, Indecision, Solitude, Perspective, Disillusionment

Nineteen – The Sun - Renewal

Joy, Innocence, Creativity, Protection

Twenty – Judgement - Awareness

Conclusions, Rewards, Evidence, Second chances

Twenty One – The World – Cosmic Consciousness

Completion, Endings and Beginnings, Birth 

Today I will complete the task of memorizing the numbers and the cards of the Major Arcana. I may as well get this task out of the way so that I know what number each card is, before I delve deeper into the key words associated with each Major Arcana Card.