I see the Torot as a symbolic representation of the world we live in. Therefore, when we consult the tarot we are consulting our self as the universe. The tarot contains sets of symbols that make up the backbone of the cards meaning. When you understand these symbols you will come closer to knowing the true meaning of each card, and thus getting to know yourself in a deeper way.
The Tarot contains planetary symbols, zodiac symbols, the western elements, and the Hebrew alphabet. The Hebrew alphabet is a powerful symbolic tool being that it not only conveys information as a language system, but each character of the alphabet has a deeper magickal meaning. The Hebrew alphabet cleanly underpins the entire major arcana set giving each card a unique letter of the Hebrew alphabet. When you combine the meaning of the Hebrew character with either the planetary, zodiac, or elemental symbol, you can gain a better understanding of the tarot card’s in the major arcana.
When you observe only the major arcana cards you will see that they tell a story, the metaphoric hero’s journey. This is a narrative pattern found in many traditional stories, myths, and religious texts across cultures. It describes the journey of a hero who embarks on a quest, faces challenges and temptations, and ultimately achieves a great victory or transformation. The hero’s journey is often depicted as a circular or spiral path, as the hero may continue to encounter challenges and undergo further transformation throughout their life. It is also often seen as a universal pattern that reflects the human experience of growth and development.
Bellow is the major arcana described in terms of only their symbols. This is the basis of the Path and Tarot deck design in that the cards use only the symbols of the tarot. To get an idea what each symbol meant I used the text Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition by Cicero and Cicero. Look for the citation is bellow the article if you are interested in learning more.
The key take away’s of the hero’s journey are:
The hero’s journey is a narrative pattern that is found in many traditional stories, myths, and religious texts across cultures.
It describes the journey of a hero who embarks on a quest, faces challenges and temptations, and ultimately achieves a great victory or transformation.
The hero’s journey is often used as a metaphoric framework for understanding the personal growth and development of an individual.
Key elements of the hero’s journey include being called to adventure, entering a threshold, encountering trials and allies, experiencing transformation, and returning to the ordinary world with newfound knowledge or abilities.
The hero’s journey is often depicted as a circular or spiral path, reflecting the ongoing nature of personal growth and development.
The hero’s journey is a universal pattern that is relevant to people of all cultures and ages.
See if you can find the structure of the hero’s journey in just symbolic description of the tarot’s major arcana.
0 Fool
Aleph (Ox) א contains everything that has the potential to be unlocked. You have to first engage in the process of knowing what you should know to unlock Aleph.
Air ▲ Action
Air is equivalent to the suit symbols Swords and Spades.
I Magician
Beth (House) ב is the container of the spirit and is the form that is received in the physical plane.
Mercury ☿ Conscious
II High priestess
Gimel (Camel) ג is the vitality that puts the physical vessel into action.
Luna ☽ Unconscious
III Empress
Daleth (Door) ד is the result of action and enters the physical plane to create abundance.
Venus ♀ Value
IV Emperor
Heh (Window) ה is the cycle of emotion and allows the physical vessel to animate.
Aries ♈ Self
V Hierophant
Vav (Pin or Hook) ו is the vessel acting as the fuel for change in the world.
Taurus ♉ Material
VI Lovers
Zayin (Sword or Armour) ז is the complete landscape that the vessel has access to.
Gemini ♊ Intellect
VII Chariot
Cheth (Fence Enclosure) ח is the energy that lurks in pure potential.
Cancer ♋ Senses
VIII Strength
Teth (Snake) ט is the divine feminine energy that serves as protection through the act of love.
Leo ♌ Character
IX Hermit
Yod (Hand) י is divine masculine energy that looks into the face of the infinite abyss and questions it.
Virgo ♍ Logic
X Wheel of Fortune
Kaph (Fist) כ is the form the physical vessel takes in the astral plane.
Jupiter ♃ Fortune
XI Justice
Lamed (Ox Goad) ל is the first step in understanding what is and what isn’t in the astral world.
Libra ♎ Equilibrium
XII Hanged Man
Mem (Water) מ is the creative ability to look at things from the view of the cosmos.
Water ▼ Emotion
XIII Death
Nun (Fish) נ is the phase of the physical form becoming purely astral.
Scorpio ♏ Passion
XIV Temperance
Samekh (Prop) ס is the process where the astral mixes the experiences of the physical world into the astral.
Sagittarius ♐ Reason
XV Devil
Ayin (Eye) ע is a reminder that the astral world must be aware the delicate nature of the physical world.
Capricorn ♑ Utility
XVI Tower
Pe (Mouth) פ is how the universe speaks to the physical world.
Mars ♂ Division
XVII Star
Tzaddi (Fishhook) צ is the light that reveals the answer buried in darkness.
Aquarius ♒ Hope
XVIII Moon
Qoph (Ear Back of Head) ק is the moment of transcending light and dark to find the space between the two.
Pisces ♓ Truth
XIX Sun
Resh (Head) ר is the realization that light and dark come from the cycles of a greater divine source.
Sol ☉ Radiance
XX Judgement
Shin (Tooth) ש is the rebirth that the divine allows when one has mastered the physical and astral worlds.
Fire ▲Vitality
XXI Universe
Tau (Cross) ת is the place where ascended entities go to become both the end and the beginning.
Saturn ♄ Temporal
Earth ▼ Substance
Hebrew Alphabet Links
http://www.walkingkabbalah.com/hebrew-alphabet-letter-meanings/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebrew_alphabet
https://www.abarim-publications.com/Hebrew_Alphabet_Meaning.html
https://sites.google.com/site/alefbetproject/symbolism-of-the-hebrew-language
Books
Cicero, Chic, and Sandra Tabatha Cicero. Self-Initiation into the Golden Dawn Tradition. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 1995.
Hebrew: 71-77
Astro: 49-54
Zodiac: 45-49
Tarnas, Richard. Cosmos and Psyche: Intimations of a New World View. Toronto, Ontario: Penguin Group (Canada), 2006.
Astro: 89-91
Hero’s Journey Link
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey
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