Original Purpose of the Tarot

22 July

You might know the 78-card tarot deck as a tool for divination - a way to explore life’s elusive questions and glimpse possible futures. While it can be used this way, that was not its original purpose. Long before it was transformed into a deck of cards, the tarot functioned as a kind of map or code self development and spiritual evolution, and its origins reach far deeper into history than most people realise.

The Map of You

The original tarot symbols (before they were transformed into a deck of cards) consisted only of the Major Arcana - the 22 named archetype cards, from The Fool to The World. These archetypes reflect the story of human existence, much like Joseph Campbell’s "hero’s journey," though I prefer to think of them more as our spiritual DNA. By exploring the positive and negative aspects of these 22 archetypes, we are able to uncover the fundamental building blocks of the human experience and learn how to harness them to transform our lives.

It is important to understand that the tarot is neither the only nor the oldest tool for spiritual growth, the 22 Major Arcana mirror other ancient systems: the 22 paths of the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, as well as the 12 zodiac signs and 10 planets in astrology. Together, they form a timeless framework for understanding the self, mastering your reality and helping you become the best version of yourself.

How to Use the Major Arcana

Begin by laying out the Major Arcana in 7 columns in the following order: one, eight, fifteen; two, nine, sixteen; three, ten, seventeen; four, eleven, eighteen; five, twelve, nineteen; six, thirteen, twenty; seven, fourteen, twenty-one. This will result in 3 rows representing the Mind, Body and Spirit from top to bottom. From left to right, the columns are labeled in this order: Matrix, Potentiator, Catalyst, Experience, Significator, Transformation and Great Way. Note that The Fool card is left out for now. It is labeled as The Choice and will become important later.

  
    MATRIX
    POTENTIATOR
    CATALYST
    EXPERIENCE
    SIGNIFICATOR
    TRANSFORMATION
    GREAT WAY
      THE CHOICE
  

    (I) The Magician
    (II)The High Priestess
    (III) The Empress
    (IV) The Emperor
    (V) The Hierophant
    (VI) The Lovers
    (VII) The Chariot
      The Fool
  

    (VIII) Strength
    (IX) The Hermit
    (X) Wheel of Fortune
    (XI) Justice
    (XII) The Hanged Man
    (XIII) Death
    (XIV) Temperance
  

    (XV) The Devil
    (XVI) The Tower
    (XVII) The Star
    (XVIII) The Moon
    (XIX) The Sun
    (XX) Judgement
    (XXI) The World
  

Now that you have the 22 Major Arcana spread out in the appropriate rows, you can begin the work. Start with The Magician card - contemplate it, study it, pour over its many details knowing that everything is significant and nothing is illustrated by accident. Explore what the archetype means to you alone and disregard any meaning given to it by books or ‘experts’ - while the interpretations of others may not be wrong, they are not your interpretation and that’s what’s important.

Once you’re done with The Magician move down to the Strength card and do the same. Contemplate it, study it, figure out what it means to you and how to embody it. Next, move down once more to The Devil and once you’re done contemplating The Devil move up to The High Priestess. Keep moving down the columns in this manner taking your time to contemplate each card. Do not rush, allow days, weeks or even months of contemplation for each card. The meaning of some cards will come quicker than others. Trust in the process and know that no time is wasted in this practise.

Once you have gone through all 22 archetypes you will start again, but this time you will pair the cards as follows: The Magician with The High Priestess; The Empress with The Emperor; The Hierophant with The Fool; The Lovers with The Chariot. Then move on to the second row and pair the cards in the same manner. Always pair The Fool card with the Significator. Each pair is to be studied like before, but this time you are seeking to understand the relationship between the cards. What do they mean as a pair? How do they create a whole?

You are done, for now. Remember that wisdom and growth will be gained on the journey and not necessarily upon its completion. Therefore, you can expect to repeat this practise multiple times in your life. There is no point in rushing through this exercise and doing so will server only to increase the intensity of the lesson. From personal experience I can assure you that rushing any kind of spiritual development will make the experience more difficult. Good luck on your journey. Take what resonates and discard the rest.