Ordering of the Major ArcanaThe 22 Major Arcana, or Trump, cards comprise a "pack within the pack" of the tarot deck. Each of these cards bears an archetypal image. Archetypes are the original moulds or prototypes from which copies are made. In tarot parlance, an archetype represents a well- known pattern of behaviour, or a mythic hero, upon which a universal story or truth is based. The archetype may represent a person, an institution, a situation, or a stage of life. The major arcana are numbered 1-21, with the "Fool" un-numbered. In ordering the Arcana, there are several options for placement of the Fool. Traditionally, the Fool was inserted between 20 (Judgment) and 21 (the World). Nowadays, it is usually placed at the beginning of the deck. The positioning of this card is only another area in which there is little agreement among various authors, and for which there is no hard and fast rule. My own preference is to place the Fool at the beginning of the deck. There are many options for breaking down the major arcana into smaller groupings to simplify the study of these cards. The most obvious division is cutting it in half, with 0-10 (Fool through Wheel of Fortune) as the first half, and 11-21 (Justice through World) as the second half. The first half of the Arcana deals with external forces or outlook, and the second half represents internal development or wisdom. It may be divided into four esoteric categories each balanced by an Elemental force, representing power (balanced by Fire), conditions (Water), malefics (Air), and celestial spheres (Earth). My choice is for division into three seven-card groups, with the Fool standing alone. Astrological Correspondences of the TrumpsThe 22 major arcana cards are divided into three traditional groups, corresponding to the twelve signs of the zodiac, the seven "personal" planets and three of the elements: The Three Elements:
The Personal Planets:
The Twelve Signs of the Zodiac:
The fourth Element, Earth, isn't represented by a Trump. A modern variant of the above drops the Elements entirely, and assigns the outer (or "Collective") planets as follows:
Esoteric Grouping of the Trumps:The four esoteric categories (power, conditions, malefics, and celestial spheres) are comprised as follows:
The Unifying Force for all of the above is the Magus (Magician) placed at the Centre. The four balancing Forces are placed around the Magus:
The category cards opposing the forces are arranged as perpendicular four-card rows adjacent to the balancing Force of each, thus forming a square. The Fool remains outside. This esoteric arrangement places Earth (World = Pentacles) to the North, and Air (Justice = Swords) in the East. This is the traditional arrangement advocated by the Order of the Golden Dawn, and is the pattern followed in traditional ordering of the Minor Arcana (Swords, Wands, Cups, Pentacles) in which most decks are packaged by manufacturers. There is no reason why the student cannot rearrange this square in accordance with the Astrological Wheel, switching Justice and its Powers to the North, and World with its Powers to the East.
The Three Septenaries - The Adventure of LifeTo study the cards by this method, the Major Arcana is laid out in three rows, as follows:
Magician -- High Priestess -- Empress -- Emperor -- Hierophant -- Lovers -- Chariot
The First Septenary (Material) - Consciousness - The World About Us
Using Major Arcana Cards as SignificatorsThis is as far as I have got with hypertext marking my course. I shall be working on the rest of it soon, but presently have several other pages that are calling for more urgent attention. Sorry. |
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