Numbers Flashcards
1
Ace in each suit.
- something new, a beginning, a fresh start
Notice how we draw the number one as a single upright line. It is a phallic symbol representing the initiating seed.
2
Balance, harmony, diplomacy and building relationships.
Even in the troublesome Swords suit, the two is a card of balance, a dead-locked situation, a healthy debate or argument, or possibly a legally-binding agreement or contract.
3
Joy, happiness, social gatherings, self-expression and creativity.
Feminist
- 3 Cups: happy social gathering
- 3 Wands/Coins: creativity
- 3 Swords: a card of disappointment and upset.
4
- Hard work, patience, setbacks, restrictions and limitations.
- Masculinity
4 Wands: Setting a foundation/future union/marriage
(1+3=4, 13 is unlucky/Death)
5
The number five is the number of freedom, travel, the unexpected, sensuality and change. The negative aspects of this number are irresponsibility, self-indulgence and thoughtlessness. In Tarot the fives are unwelcome cards as they traditionally point to negative situations. It is worth remembering that there are positive aspects to the number five when they appear. Fives are a transitory phase being mid-way between the other numbers, and therefore, anything negatively indicated should be short-lived.
6
The number six is the number of the home, family, friends and responsibility. The six of Coins often depicts a man benevolently handing out money. The six is a caring number. It’s a number about taking care of others rather than yourself. The harmony and protection of the six can be seen in the six of Swords, which shows a man crossing still, flat, waters. The water represents emotions and, unusually for the suit of Swords, it is calm there. This will be an easy crossing for the travellers. In some decks, the man is on a boat with a woman and child representing the family of the six. The six of Cups traditionally depicts a man and a woman in a platonic relationship. They are not lovers, just family or friends. This would appear to contrast and conflict with the sixth card of the Major Arcana, The Lovers. However, that card usually depicts Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The moral message in that story is one of being responsible with what you have. The failure to do so is depicted in the 15th card of the Major Arcana, The Devil. There you will see the same couple chained to the devil’s alter. In numerology 15 = 6 (1+5).
7
The number seven is the number of rest, observation and contemplation. The major religions require rest to pray and worship on their seventh day. The seven reminds us to think before rushing into things. To observe, wait, plan, contemplate and not act. The thief in the seven of Swords is usually shown stealing five of the seven swords. Go back to the meaning of five and see for yourself that is negative. This indicates it is the wrong time to act or take what is not yours yet. The man in the Seven of Coins has stopped working and is taking a rest, studying his progress so far, or perhaps waiting patiently for his rewards.
8
The number eight is the number of power, wealth, control, good fortune, success, organization, practicality and authority. As it’s a material number, it doesn’t bode well with the Suite of Cups and emotion. The mind rules over the heart in the eight of Cups. It should be no surprise to see a man making money in the eight of Coins. The blind person in the eight of Swords cannot see the earth and water around her. She is bound up and imprisoned within the confines of the Swords, representing the intellectual bars of being controlled.
9
The number nine is the number of endings and completion. It is the number of the harvest. What was sown in the one, worked on and tended to from two to eight, is now reaped in the nine. In the nine of Wands, the harvest can be seen in the tall sticks that have grown to a height greater than the man who tends them. The wealth of the harvest can been seen in the nine of Coins. The nine is also a card of loneliness. As nine is the number of endings, it can also mean enjoying the benefits of the past alone.
10
The 10s of the Minor Arcana are among the most auspicious and feared of the Tarot deck. The 10 of Swords is as unwelcome in any spread as Major Arcana’s The Tower. It represents total and utter defeat, a perfect storm against which anyone who draws it has no chance of avoiding. The 10 of Wands also carries a negative message and situation. It is a card of too much work or responsibility. When considering the Numerology of these cards, hope can be found. The number 10 reduces to one (1+0). Always keep this in mind when these cards appear.10 of Swords The 10 represents a new start, brought about by the ending of a cycle. Therefore, with the defeat of the 10 of Swords, look to the following cards for indication of what is to come next in the new cycle. The storm will pass, blowing away the old and leaving space for the new. The 10 of Coins and 10 of Cups represent the greatest achievements of wealth and love, respectively. They also mark beginnings too, such as a good long-term investment for wealth, a happy, enduring relationship or the beginning of a joyful family life.
