Cards are not only one of the games of chance, but also an ancient magical tool. When reading Tarot cards, the meaning and interpretation of each card requires developed intuition, knowledge of archetypes and the ability to compare facts. Yes, and simple playing cards can serve in divination practice no worse than Tarot.
History of cards
It is believed that the first card games appeared in the east - in China and India around the 8th century. Moreover, even before the origin of paper, clay or wooden tablets and even mussel shells were used instead of decks of cards. Through the Arab countries, by the 14th century, this entertainment reached Europe, and by the 16th century - to Russia.
It is interesting that each country has taken root its own deck - with unique features and slight differences in the meaning of the cards. For example, in a classic French deck there are 54 cards:
- lower cards - those that have numerical values from two to ten;
- high cards - ace, king, queen, jack;
- two jokers - cards depicting a jester,considered the oldest.
In some games, an ace can represent one and be the lowest - depending on the layout of the cards.
And 36 cards, the values of which start with sixes and reach the king, are a Russian deck. There are no Jokers in it. The deck known to most of our compatriots is called satin - it was invented in the middle of the 19th century by the Russian academician of painting Adolphe Charlemagne.
In Germany, there is a non-standard German deck, where instead of the usual four suits, unusual card values are used - acorns (clubs), hearts (hearts), leaves (spades) and bells (tambourines). And in the Swiss deck, acorns (clubs), roses (hearts), shields (spades) and bells (tambourines) are used. And for gambling, preference is used in a deck with only 32 cards - it starts immediately with sevens.
Divination by cards
The first treatise on the meaning and interpretation of each card in divinatory practices dates back to 1540 - it was written by the Italian Francesco Marcolino da Forli. The cards entered into permanent magical practice two centuries later - in the 18th century.
Most often, such fortune-telling is based on the fact that there is a meaning and interpretation specific to each card. Moreover, each suit is characterized by common properties and signs (for example, hearts are love, and spades are troubles). It is best if the fortuneteller starts not only from generally accepted values, but also from his own experience. If your heart persists in telling you that this cardmeans something else, then trust your intuition.
In some divination, it is not necessary to know the meanings of the cards. For example, you can ask a yes or no question and play solitaire. If solitaire converged, then the answer is yes. If you are stuck in solving solitaire - the answer is no. On the other hand, if you know the meaning of each card, then in a failed solitaire you will find a symbolic clue for yourself - what exactly is preventing you from moving on. The card that stops the development of solitaire will be the answer to this question.
In order to correctly solve the messages of the cards, you need to learn to understand the symbolism of numbers, suits, elements. For Tarot cards, you will need to separately immerse yourself in the general history of symbols, get acquainted with the history of the creation of your particular deck. It is best to study the Tarot deck through a separate meditation on each card. If you have an ordinary playing deck of 36 cards, you can also try to meditate on it - suddenly any card will find the only possible meaning for you. Card combinations should also be interpreted based not only on memorized meanings, but also on intuitive associations.
As it is customary to guess
The easiest way to tell fortunes is to draw one card from the deck. She will give you a direct answer to the question asked. But if the situation requires more detailed consideration, then additional cards are also drawn. Most often, “layouts” are used - cards are laid out on the table in a certain way, the position of each card limits the set of its values \u200b\u200band its sphere of influence. For example, the cards are laid out in the form of a cross, and the top card is responsible for the situation in the relationship. If this is relevant for a given card, then its direct or inverted position can be taken into account - when using playing cards, these are usually sevens or aces. In tarot spreads, you can clearly determine when the card is turned upside down, so this aspect is most often taken into account.
Each of the suits is responsible for a certain area of life. Often they are correlated with the four elements, seasons, cardinal points and even temperaments. Black suits are considered active “male”, and red suits are considered passive “female”. Also, figured cards are often endowed with certain features of appearance, depending on the color of the suit. The queen of spades and the king are most often brunettes, perhaps even aged. Club figures also have dark hair, possibly dark blond. Diamond ladies and kings are rather a light than a dark type, sometimes they are red. And, of course, gentle hearts figures get to play the role of blondes and blondes with blue eyes. Most often, the figures of worms are also the youngest. But in any of the suits, jacks are always younger than kings.
Suit of Spades
In the generally accepted interpretation, the suit of spades corresponds to the Swords in the meaning of Tarot cards and is responsible for the element of Air. Air corresponds to spiritual energies and influences the power of mind and thought. In some interpretations, spades are cards whose value is more related to the energy of Fire (hence, clubs are equated with the elements of Air). In any case, the tip of the peakassociated with determination and direction. In divination, they often symbolize a sudden change in the situation.
In popular culture, peaks are associated with something fatal and irresistible. Remember, for example, the work of A. S. Pushkin "The Queen of Spades". Based on this interpretation, in everyday fortune-telling, Peaks often denote all sorts of troubles - from minor quarrels and failures to major disasters such as going to prison. Cards depicting people in the suit of spades can hint at ill-wishers or strangers.
Suit of clubs
Despite the black color, the suit of clubs corresponds to the element of Fire and corresponds to the Wands (in some decks - Staves or Scepters) in the meaning of Tarot cards. As mentioned above, clubs are also considered as symbols of the element of Air - then, in a more pragmatic way, clubs are interpreted as all sorts of work activities: solving business issues, traveling on a business trip, and also career growth. If you get the high cards of clubs, then most likely they represent people who are somehow connected with your career.
Suit of Hearts
The suit of hearts in playing cards corresponds to Cups in the meaning of Tarot cards. Even the very symbolic designation of this suit suggests that it is responsible for matters of the heart - the emotional sphere of life. The element of Water determines sensuality and involvement in relationships. In the layouts, the meanings of the cards of the worms are associated with any events in the love sphere - from a date to a wedding. The older cards of worms that fell out during divination most often represent your fans orlovers.
Diamond suit
Diamonds or Pentacles in the meaning of Tarot cards correspond to the elements of the Earth and, accordingly, are responsible for the most mundane areas of our lives. This is the sphere of material success, cash flows, well-being. Also, the dropped diamond suit may contain a hint of conservatism and even some stagnation in any processes. Curly cards under the suit of a tambourine correlate with well-wishers and friends.
Tarot cards
Tarot cards should be considered apart from playing decks. The meaning of each card from the deck can be linked into a separate and coherent magical system in which humanity has concluded most of the known symbols and archetypes.
Although some legends attribute the existence of the Tarot system almost from the time of Ancient Egypt, historians believe that these cards appeared in Italy around 1450. The exact origin of the name is unknown - the Italian word for the map dataset "tarocchi" may be related to the Arabic "turuk" (path) or "taraka" (leave, abandon).
There are 78 cards in the Tarot deck. Of these, 22 cards are called major arcana, and 56 - minor. The types of Tarot decks are very numerous, differing from each other in unique, skillfully made designs.
The Rider-Waite deck is a recognized classic among Tarot cards. The meaning and interpretation of this deck was developed in 1910 by the British mystic and occultist Arthur Edward Waite, painted by the artist Pamela Colman-Smith, and published by William Ryder. It was Waite who was the first to supplement the digital values of the minor arcana with full-fledged symbolism andeven certain scenes. Many decks published later repeat the symbolism of the Rider-Waite deck.
The famous mystic of the early 20th century Aleister Crowley came up with his own deck - the Tarot of Thoth. It was painted by the artist Frieda Harris. This deck has an unusual color scheme - the cards resemble the work of avant-garde artists. The drawings are filled with symbols, and from this combination and the meanings of the cards take on several levels of meaning.
Major Arcana
The Major Arcana has 22 cards. Each of them depicts a certain plot (most often it is an archetypal character). Each element in the figure carries a secret meaning and has many of them. The specific meaning of the Tarot cards depends on both the deck itself and the situation they are guessing at.
Often the sequence of the Major Arcana is considered as stages in the formation of a personality (the so-called “Journey of the Hero”):
- “Fool” (“Jester”) is a special, “zero” lasso. Symbolizes the readiness to perceive the new, openness and emptiness.
- "Mage" - the first lasso. The image of the magician-alchemist corresponds to the archetype of the Creator. A person is not just ready to learn something new - unlike the Fool, he already has certain knowledge and is able to create something new.
- "Priestess" - the second lasso. From knowledge gained through logic, a person moves to an intuitive understanding of all processes.
- "The Empress" is the third lasso. Feminine energy is fully revealed inits wild and pristine nature.
- "The Emperor" is the fourth lasso. From the impermanence of female energy - the transition to the clarity and structuring of the male, active principle.
- "Hierophant" ("High Priest") - the fifth lasso. An even more strict hierarchy, the heavenly one, dominates the earthly order. The priest is the formation of the spiritual component, the desire for righteousness and knowledge of the highest truth.
- "Lovers" ("Choice") - the sixth lasso. Most often, the plot of this card repeats the biblical theme of the fall - a man and a woman are depicted on the card, and next to them is a devil or a snake. Even being in absolute harmony (Garden of Eden), we yearn to look inside out and know the unknown.
- "Chariot" - the seventh lasso. The choice made at the previous stage leads to a significant leap forward, the development of processes is accelerating.
- "Justice" ("Justice") - the eighth lasso. In some decks, it is found in the eleventh place. Having passed the stages of growing up, a person learns to live in society, obey its rules, and also reaps the first fruits of his activity.
- “The Hermit” is the ninth lasso, symbolizing satiety with the previous stage of being in society. A person retires and again plunges into self-knowledge.
- "Wheel of Fortune" - the tenth lasso, the stage of realizing one's true task. Finding ourselves - we find the way, and accept the fact that everything happens as it should be.
- "Strength" is the eleventh lasso. Acceptance of one's destiny gives access to an unlimited resource and allows you to engage in life to the fullest.
- "The Hanged Man" is the twelfth lasso, a test that comes to one who owns great power. Any test is a transition to a new level of development.
- "Death" is the thirteenth lasso. Despite the frightening name and no less frightening serial number, the meaning of the “death” card is rather positive - it is a symbol of transformation, complete renewal and zeroing.
- "Moderation" ("Time") - the fourteenth lasso. After experiencing “death” and discarding the old, comes the understanding of time, measure and cyclicity.
- "Devil" - the fifteenth lasso, showing that it is time to face your dark side and overcome your internal contradictions.
- "The Tower" is the sixteenth lasso, which is often interpreted as a crash and a catastrophe. But after a duel with oneself, the destruction of the old always follows, often sharp and swift.
- "Star" - the seventeenth lasso. As a star lights up in the sky in complete darkness, so after all the destruction and disasters, a new hope lights up.
- "Moon" - the eighteenth lasso. There is more and more light in the night sky. Inspired by hope, a man tries to find a new path to the truth and not get lost in illusions.
- "The Sun" is the nineteenth lasso. A person comes to the light again and fully feels its energy and abundance.
- "Last Judgment" ("Judgment") - the twentieth lasso. After passing all the tests, a person is transformed and finds a new self.
- "Peace" is the twenty-first lasso. The cycle is complete and the person is finally whole.
Experienced practitioners recommendto start working with Tarot with the Rider-Waite deck - it has been considered a recognized classic for more than a century. However, if any other deck appeals to you more, you can start your work with it right away.
Minor Arcana
The other 56 cards in the deck are called the Minor Arcana. They are divided into four suits, each with 14 cards. In fact, these are cards with numerical values from one to ten and “court” cards, the set of which may differ from deck to deck. For example, in the Rider-Waite deck, these are Page, Knight, Queen and King. In the deck of Aleister Crowley - Queen, Knight, Princess and Prince. Differences in the meanings of Tarot cards among the minor arcana depend on the deck and its individual interpretation by the fortuneteller.
The suits of the minor arcana correspond in value to playing cards and their four suits. Most often these are Swords, Cups, Wands and Pentacles. The value of a single card taken is considered as a combination of the influences of the patronizing element and the numerological value of the serial number:
- Ace is one, the beginning. This card symbolizes the birth of something, creativity, a powerful energy impulse.
- Two - a display of the duality of all things on Earth. It can mean both opposition and union, both conflict and unity. It may be a search for balance and equilibrium. Among its other meanings is a hint of an upcoming choice or establishing a connection with someone.
- Three is the result of the dualism of the two. From the connection of opposites is bornthe third element, which can both balance the deuce (the Mother-Father-Child triad), and further shake up the conflict - for example, in a love triangle. In any case, this is a way out of the deuce's obsession with itself and moving forward.
- Four - the transition from movement to sustainability. It is a square with its clear structure and right angles. This is a symbol of the material world, created from four elements, its completeness and stability. On the other hand, it can be interpreted as passivity and rigidity arising from the lack of movement.
- Five - going beyond the stability of the four due to the emergence of a new factor. It is novelty and the pursuit of the unknown. This is the symbol of the pentagram, as well as the symbol for a person.
- Six is a successful completion of the creative search for the five. This is the harmony of the two triplets with their flexibility and creativity. This is a six-pointed Star of David as a symbol of the combination of earthly and heavenly.
- Seven - the transition to unknown areas, the awakening of interest in the spiritual and non-material. A certain mystical factor interferes with human affairs, which is interpreted as the Divine Will.
- Eight is the number of balance and justice. If the four is responsible for stability in the material world, then the eight is for the harmony of the Spirit. It is both a stable and dynamic number.
- Nine is a number that has accumulated the energy of previous forms and is ready to move to a qualitatively new level. This is the harmony of three triplets, this is the pause before the jump to ten.
- Ten - realized potential, fullness of the previousexperience and benefits, as well as readiness for a new cycle. But we are entering this new cycle much wiser than our past selves.
Besides sacred meanings, minor arcana can mean very specific things, especially in everyday divination. For example, the three of swords in the Rider-Waite deck is depicted as a heart pierced by three daggers, and means a break in a relationship.
Maria Lenormand's cards
Marie Lenormand is a famous French soothsayer of the early 19th century. This woman had an unusual fate. Due to birth defects in appearance (legs of different lengths, skewed shoulders), the parents gave their daughter to a shelter at the monastery. Maria devoted her childhood and youth to the study of books containing secret knowledge about esotericism, magic and divination, and at the age of 18 she already opened her fortune-telling salon in Paris.
Gradually the news of the fortune teller's paranormal abilities and the accuracy with which she predicts the future reached noble ears. True, it cannot be said that these noble ears heard the good news for them - Mary predicted the death of many politicians and noble persons of that time - Marie Antoinette, Marat, Robespierre, Saint-Just. And Napoleon Bonaparte generally expelled Mademoiselle Lenormand from France because she predicted his defeat from Russia. And only after Napoleon was defeated and, in turn, expelled from France, Lenormand was able to return to France and live to be 71.
Besides cards, Maria Lenormand used almost all known methods in divination. She divined on coffee grounds, a crystal ball, mirrors, along the lines of her hands, and even drop by drop.blood in water. Interestingly, the cards used by Lenormand were the most ordinary and she had no systematic way of interpretation - Maria understood the meaning of 36 playing cards intuitively, from layout to layout. It was her followers who began to study and restore Lenormand's legacy.
Most of our contemporaries use the Lenormand deck, recreated and supplemented by the Dutch fortuneteller Erna Drusbeke. In 1987, she published the book “Guessing with Lenormand”, and together with her presented her deck. The meaning of the Lenormand-Drusbeke cards is made easier for the fortuneteller to understand - after all, Erna supplemented each card from the deck with a symbolic drawing that most closely matches the meaning of the card. For example, a fox is depicted on the nine of clubs, which serves as a warning about possible deceit. And the ace of diamonds is complemented by the sun - and, of course, this is a good sign that promises great luck. The meanings of the 36 cards from the Lenormand-Drusbeke deck, better known as the Lenormand Oracle, are easy to learn on your own.
