Learning Tarot- The Magician

Kat Black-Golden Tarot

The Magician reminds us we have the ability to create our own reality, make our ideas come true. Notice the elements of the minor arcana are present: cup, sword, wand, pentacle. He is represented by the number 1 and his key number is 1.

Reversed, The Magician has a problem. All of his tools fall off of the table. So while you have the tools to do what you need to, you aren't using them right or to the best of your ability, you can do better. The wand upside down can indicate improper use of power.

Learning Tarot- Card 0, The Fool

Rider Waite Tarot Deck

The Fool-  The first card of the major arcana, The Fool is at the beginning of the journey.  He is striking out on a new path, the world before him, he is, as of yet, unawares of the possible dangers and pitfalls ahead. He is enthusiastic, carefree, and uninhibited. He is card number 0, key number 0.

Reveresed- Be cautious of fool-hearty choices, impulsiveness, and wrecklessness.

Learning Tarot

Before I get into the actual cards and their meanings, I want to give some basic background that will help in understanding tarot cards. It's important to remember that no two people will read tarot the same way or even divine the same meaning. Reading tarot is largely intuitive, look at the card, study what's in it (thrones, pets, other objects) and piece it together with the other cards in the reading, the question, the querant, and the situation.

• There are 78 cards in a standard tarot deck
• These 78 cards are broken down into the major arcana and minor arcana
• "Arcana" means, "profound secret"
• The major arcana consists of 22 cards that represent archetypes, or personalities of individuals
• The major arcana are numbered, or "keyed" 0-21, beginning with the Fool and ending with the world
• A major arcana card always trumps a minor arcana card
• The minor arcana consists of 56 cards divided into four suits
• The four suits of the minor arcana are: Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles
• Each of these four suits are also numbered ace through ten and additionally have four "court cards", King, Queen, Knight, and Page
• The minor arcana represent themes in life
• Wands represent confidence, action, risk-taking, movement, and enthusiasm.
• Cups represent inner states, feelings, emotions, spiritual experiences, and relationship patterns
• Swords represent reason, thought, intellect, ethical principals, justice and truth
• Pentacles represent practical and material matters, security, as well as prosperity.
• Each suit represents an element: Wands = Fire; Cups = Water; Swords= Air; Pentacles = Earth
• Ace cards always represent a positive force and the theme of the suit.
• The number ten card is like the world, it is the completion card, it is everything found
• The King is a mautre, wise, resposible man. He is strong, assertive, and direct. Think masculine all the way
• The Queen is also mature but is the feminine side to the King.  She embodies an inward focus, she is relaxed, and is more concerned with enjoying the world around her than final results.
• The Knight is a fool-hardy person, young, immature, not grown in the ways of the world.  Emotional extremes and excess are his downfalls but he is also sincere and full of energy.
• The Page is like a playful tot. Whatever suit he's in, he acts out those qualities with abandoment and joy, not a care in the world as to consequences.  He represents adventure and possibilities, all the excitement of a child's dreams.