The Heart of Tarot: Part Two

In the Language of Tarot – A book of Symbols

Further to my previous article, 'The Heart of Tarot, the Tarot is a book of Symbols founded upon Five Archetypal Worlds: The Animal, Human Creation, Garden, Landscape and Spiritual World. These Worlds, through their symbols, communicate, carry various messages.

For example, let's take the card 'The Emperor,' the Symbols found within, such as the Eagle (Animal World), Sword, Scepter and Crown (Human Creation World), signify - convey the meaning of Spiritual Evolution, Power, Authority, Discipline, Success, etc.

As discussed, Five Cohorts support The Archetypal worlds. Their primary role is to help make the symbols come to life. To (accentuate), embellish, describe, add, reinforce their meaning, and incite emotion. Their purpose is to create a more robust attachment in us towards the symbol's message whereby we marry our senses - link our subconscious with our conscious of igniting insight (significance - the relationship of the cards meaning in our life).

The Five Cohorts are Colour, Numbers, People (images), Words, and Signs

The role the Five Cohorts play will become more evident as we discuss them in-depth below:

COLOUR

Represents an idea, element, quantity, and or quality (each colour carries the vibratory effects of one of the "elements" - Earth, Fire, Air, and Water). The actual symbolisation of each colour differs from an authority, tradition, and or school of thought. However, there are some guidelines on the Twelve Universal Key Colours taken from the fields of psychology, art, and religion, which can help understand the use of colour and its influence on a tarot card.

Colour Guide - The Twelve Universal Key Colours (in alphabetical order)

Black

Represents the 'motionless of the night,' the unfathomable, aloof, and tranquil waters - the deepest recesses of the unconscious mind. Black is the absence or void of all colour. It is, therefore, the most controversial of all colours and is open to interpretation.

Blue

Represents the element of water and a balanced spiritual understanding. Light: This is the colour that represents devotion and inspiration. It symbolises peace and blessings, immortality, tranquility, and innocence. Deep or royal: Represents laughter and joy. It symbolises loyalty, successful enterprise, and expansion.

Brown

Akin to Green, it is the colour of soil - earth. Brown, however, symbolises more the material plane.

Gold

Symbolises the "cosmic mind," universal union, great fortune, understanding, and intuitive abilities.

Green

Represents the element of earth. It symbolises nature, material gain (good fortune), fertility, renewal, and harmony.

Orange

Akin to the Sun, orange symbolises fun, happiness, vitality, success, and a passionate approach.

Pink

Symbolises love, honour, gentleness, and spiritual fulfillment.

Purple

Symbolises sovereignty or royalty, dignity, wisdom, idealism, spirituality, and compassion.

Red

The colour Red is 'fiery" and represents the element of fire. It incites passion and acquisition or an intense desire of any sort, whether it is: eagerness, courage, energy, strength, health, wealth, or love.

Silver (light grey)

Traditionally represents the great mother or goddess aspect of deity. It symbolises stability and neutrality.

Yellow

Represents the element of Air that governs mental activity and stimulates the intellect and imagination. It symbolises creativity, skills, adaptiveness, commerce, and an intellectual approach or balance.

White

Symbolises balance, purity, truth, sincerity, the virtue of all kinds, the highest spirituality, and purity of motive.

NUMBERS

In the majority of Tarot Decks, the cards depict a number. Numbers are a form of expression, their meaning being ageless and changeless. Each card, 78, has a number to indicate its place in a sequence and its significance. Hereunder I give the general understanding of the raw numbers 0 – 10 and their influence on life:

Zero

Beyond beginning; infinite nothingness; boundless and limitless; pure energy and bliss

One (Ace)

Creation itself; the first; the start; the seed and the beginning; and oneness (I am, singularity and individuality)

Two

Duality (adding on another and balancing opposite force); mental and physical; masculine and feminine; positive and negative; knowledge; action; reasoning; and wisdom

Three

The object of creation; the visible material result of ideas and actions; growth and harmony

Four

Logic - reasoning and spirit; expression and acceptance; and measurement

Five

Creative thought; moral law; uncontrollable force; adversity, and change

Six

Equilibrium; cooperation and harmony; beauty; love; hope; enthusiasm; success; and satisfaction

Seven

Fate; soul development; perfection; mystery; intuition; evaluation (number of occult intelligence); safety; security; effort and successful completion

Eight

Infinity; justice; rhythm; balance; perfect intelligence; peace; understanding; strength; regeneration; and wealth

Nine

Completion of a cycle; attainment and fulfilment; a foundation to begin a new cycle; and phase before moving on to a much higher level of understanding

Ten

Perfection; understanding; and completed force - be it positive or negative

WORDS

Generally, all the cards within the Major Arcana deck and the Aces of each Suit are named and, more often than not, give a customary meaning. For example, 'Strength' – as shown, can immediately conjure up in one's mind, thoughts, or images of being strong - in mind and health or perhaps even both.

PEOPLE (IMAGES)

In the mainstream, the Tarot cards within a deck contain images of either a person or people. It is generally accepted illustrations of this nature reflect a specific individual or someone and or persons interlinked to our life.

Expression - In general, the expression on the image of either the person or people displayed in the card depicts a message regarding mood and emotions, etc. For example, a sorrowful look – a sad or not so happy time (this is obvious in most cases but not always).

Action - A person or people depicted within a tarot card also add value to meaning. For example, a person: laughing, coming and going, working hard, resting, looking guilty or serious, serene, content, etc.

SIGNS

Clues that are not always obvious may also appear within the illustrated Tarot Card aside from the main picture itself, within the background, hints to the overall meaning of the card. For instance, take the Hierophant, number V in the Major Arcana, (which I sometimes refer to as The Pope). Often the Hierophant is seen as sitting either beside two pillars or in front of a pillared archway. Between the two columns (pillars) lies space. This background helps to set and emphasise the theme - suggesting a 'keeper'- someone who possesses something special (quality) and or represents an elevated awareness (Higher Consciousness) the brief meaning attached to this card. Such a background becomes more pertinent when all the symbols are grouped and viewed as a whole.

Contained in the Five Suits of the Minor Arcana is a further example of signs. The Elements represented by objects rarely appear as the main focal point yet reflect the nature of things - unique qualities, the atmosphere (underlying tone) - as briefly described hereunder and within the Five Worlds above).

The Elements

Fire

Object: Wands/Sticks
Nature: Represents - The force behind Inspiration (Spark and Creativity) - The Physical Plane traditionally linked with matters concerning Career/job, Travel, and Property

Water

Object: Cups
Nature: Represents - The force behind Impulse or Desire – The Emotions and Intuitive Plane traditionally linked with, matters concerning Love-romance, relationships-marriage, family, people, and the home

Air

Object: Swords
Nature: Represents - The mind of ideas - The Mental Plane traditionally linked with matters related to mental states, intellect, power, clarity, ideas, and transforming thoughts

Earth

Object: Pentacles/Coins

Nature: Represents: The force behind structure and foundation (material world, solidity and tangible) -The Earthly Plane traditionally linked with worldly matters concerning financial reward, comfort, security, consolidation, and commitment

The Seasons

The final Sign I will briefly touch upon is illustrating the seasons in the cards. More aptly stated, the Weather. Although frequently it performs more of a minor role, it is significant as the background part it plays is integral to and reinforces mood and atmosphere.

Thus it also complements the overall theme of a card, proving useful in that it underpins meaning and helps towards grasping and understanding the message within the card

Simply put, take an overcast, cloudy and gloomy sky, customarily associated with Winter…need I say more, state the obvious, about what mood this conjures up!

A typical example is the V of Cups – the sky background depicts a dark and gloomy atmosphere, one meaning being: despair and disappointment.

Note

In the majority of cases, when referring to the tarot cards, I will use as my primary reference source the Morgan Greer Deck simply because, in my opinion, its interplay with symbols appears harmonious and uncluttered; it has a simplistic style; its vibrant colours and illustrations are appealing as is its beauty. Hence the deck is easier to relate with, which is why I love this deck, and I hope you will too as you come to know it better over time.

In wrapping up (over Parts 1 and 2), I hope you will agree with me when I say that "I have presented a strong case which reveals the Tarot holds a woven, elaborate fascinating and intricate structure within.

'Waiting to be plucked' - the Tarot's composition holds an incredible array of Symbolism and a Wealth of Knowledge

The Four Elements

In signing off until we chat again, 'there's nothing like a hug to get you through the day. So I'm sending a great big one your way".