The Basics of Tarot

Question 1

How many cards does a standard tarot deck have?

Answer 1

78 cards. 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana

Question 2

What do the major arcana cards represent?

Answer 2

Larger life lessons; know as the fools journey.

Question 3

The Conscious

Answer 3

Body • Social • External • Outer concerns • Youth • Personal (growing into adulthood)

Question 4

Conscious cards

Answer 4

1. The Magician 2. The High Priestess 3. The Empress 4. The Emperor 5. The Hierophant 6. The Lovers 7. The Chariot

Question 5

The Unconscious

Answer 5

Mind •Moral •Internal •Inward Search •Adulthood •Collective (Inner world and search for identity, moral themes in this stage)

Question 6

Unconscious Cards

Answer 6

8.Strength 9.The Hermit 10.Wheel of Fortune 11.Justice 12.The Hangedman 13.Death 14.Temperance

Question 7

The Superconscious

Answer 7

Emotional •Hidden •Maturity •Divine •Unversal •Spiritual Awareness (concerned wirh the eternal and universal forces of the psyche)

Question 8

The Superconscious Cards

Answer 8

15. The Devil 16.The Tower 17.The Star 18.The Moon 19.The Sun 20.Judgement 21.The World

Question 9

What do the Minor Arcana cards represent?

Answer 9

Mudane matters; Ace to 10 aspects of self. Court cards literal people

Question 10

Wands

Answer 10

(Fire) I desire…. The Soul

•Willpower •Creativity •Passion •Inspiration •Energy •Instinct •Travel •Communication

Question 11

Explain Wands/Fire

Answer 11

Natural occurrence of the fire element in the world; volcanos and fire both destructive and purifying. Fire brings light in the dankness and warmth in the cold. Wands represent the first spark in humanity.

Question 12

Cups

Answer 12

(Water) I feel…. The heart •Emotions •Intuition •Instincts •Relationships •Love

Question 13

Explain Cups/Water

Answer 13

Represents the life giving element of water. We drink to replenish. Associated with healing. Water also has mysterious depths like our emotions. Can be gentle like a stream or as forceful as a tidal wave. Water is adaptable. It changes forms as it needs. Alluding to its resilience but also reactivity.

Question 14

Swords

Answer 14

(Air) I think….. The Mind Ideas •Thoughts •Communications •Conflict •Intellect •Decisions

Question 15

Explain Cups/Air

Answer 15

Like the air our thoughts are invisible and swift. Air carries messages so we associate it with communication. When we focus our thoughts and intellect become like swords. They can be cutting penetrating and sharp like a frosty gust of wind that cuts to the core or a harsh string of words.

Question 16

Pentacles

Answer 16

(Earth) I possess…. The body •Material World •Nature •Resources •Finances •Health •Money •Property •Achievement

Question 17

Explain Pentacles/Earth

Answer 17

Earth is tangible we can hold it our hands. Is conncected with the material world. Nature, bodily health. Pentacles represent the Earth because its stability, nourishment, and fertility, allows things to flourish. It’s symbolizes our resources finances, property business and possessions.

Question 18

Court Cards

Answer 18

Based on the universal archetypes. Who we can see in our family unit. We can further categorize these rolse into different polarities and associated action and event.

Question 19

Pages

Answer 19

(Children/Earth) •Focus: Internal •Events: Messages •Actions: Learn

Question 20

Pages/Children

Answer 20

Child discovering one of the elements. They are inexperienced but curious. Role is observer and student. Trying to decipher messages and learn as much as they can in order to understand thier suit.

Question 21

Kinghts

Answer 21

(Adolescentes/Fire) •Focus: External •Events: Movements •Actions: Act

Question 22

Kinghts/Adolescentes

Answer 22

Rowdy teenager of the family. Eager to prove work and make their mark on the world. Brave and passionate, but sometimes go overboard. Their role is to move forward and turn their suit into action.

Question 23

Queens

Answer 23

(Mothers/Water) •Focus: Internal •Events: Creativity •Action: Develope

Question 24

Queens/Mothers

Answer 24

More spiritually connected then their less mature counterparts. Role to develop and nurture the elements of their suit both within and alongside others. They are the creators of their suit and express its powers.

Question 25

Kings

Answer 25

(Fathers/Air) •Focus: External •Events: Authority •Action: Control

Question 26

Kings/Fathers

Answer 26

Authority figures, high position of power. Role create order and structure. Develope enfource boundries and protect their suit control elements of their suit.