The Major Arcana of the Tarot

The twenty-two cards which make up the Major Arcana of the Tarot are really a series of images which portray the many different stages of a significant journey. This journey is the life journey that everyone must undertake, and is often called the Fool’s Journey.

The Fool is the traveler of the Tarot. He starts off as an innocent. He takes the risk of jumping into the unknown, and begins his journey through the Major Arcana. The Fool first encounters the Magician, and learns that he has hidden potential, abilities which have not yet manifested.

The High Priestess shows the Fool how to begin the exploration of his inner powers. He enters the underworld, full of confusion, but knows that he must traverse this to find the secret of his real purpose and the patters of his destiny. The Empress, whom the Fool encounters next, teaches him that he is also a physical creature, in addition to being a spiritual creature.

The Emperor teaches the Fool to take responsibility. It is through the Emperor that the Fool discovers his own ethical principles. When the Fool encounters the Hierophant, he can begin his spiritual and philosophical quest. The Fool must turn to tradition to build a foundation to further learning.

The Lovers is an important step for the Fool. It is here where he learns to communicate his feelings and desires. He also begins to understand that he must consider carefully the implications of his choices. The Chariot signifies the Fool’s decision to continue his journey. It also marks his acceptance of his own contradictions.

The card of Strength teaches just what it implies. The Fool also learns about his own ego, and how to temper that with rationality. The Hermit arrives and shows the Fool how to guide and help others. The Hermit also redirects the Fool back onto his spiritual path.

The Fool learns, with the coming of the Wheel of Fortune, that not all things can be controlled. This is disturbing, and the Fool begins to waver once again on his path. Arriving at the pure temple of Justice, the Fool must learn to embrace all the she embodies. He learns that balance is key.

As the Fool drifts, absorbing all that he has learned, he encounters the Hanged Man. The Hanged Man shows the Fool, through pain and suffering, a way back to his spiritual path. It is made clear to the Fool that he must change his view of the world if he is to proceed. When Death arrives, the Fool is forced to adapt to change he did not see coming. This change is painful and disruptive, but the Fool learns to deal with it, and finally realizes that not all change is bad.

By the time the Fool arrives at Temperance, he really is a changed man, and this card shows him how to manipulate the external circumstances so that he can create his own situation. He learns how to combine what he thought were two opposing forces, so that they form a unified whole.

The Fool is forced to face faces his inner demons when he encounters the Devil, he encounters everything he hates most about himself — selfishness, greed, anger, and hatred. His reaction to this is to hide in his destructive habits, but this makes the inner demons come into manifestation all the more quickly. The Tower brings catastrophe, as the Fool realizes that his life is in tatters, and he must pick up the pieces. But all is not lost, as the Fool, while picking up the pieces, gets a good long look at the reality of life, and knows how to re-build his tower properly.

In the Star card, the Fool is given hope that all is not lost. He is replenished, refreshed, and given a sign of which way to go. He is ready to face life wiser and open to its teachings. But the Moon brings self-doubt, and the Fool finds himself losing sight of his guiding light. It is some time before he realizes that his guiding light has never been anywhere but inside him, and he listens to his heart and intuition, and finds his way again.

When the Fool comes to the Sun, he has nearly finished his journey, and he has a sense of completion. It doesn’t matter to him that some things in life are difficult and challenging, as long as he learns from them. At Judgement the Fool reaches the final stage of his spiritual search, and is reborn as the person he has been trying to create throughout his journey. He integrates all the lessons he has learned into one whole worldview, and thus attains the realization he has been searching for all this time.

The coming of the World allows the Fool to celebrate. His celebration isn’t just about what he has won, it is also about the fact that once he moves out of the celebration he gets to start all over again, and become the Fool once more.

The Fool’s Journey is regarded as a metaphor for life, and is a powerful symbol to many people. The Major Arcana is also designed to be read in a spread in conjunction with the Minor Arcana for a more complete message.

The History of the Tarot

The true origins of the Tarot cards — their design, their place of origin, and their original purpose — have all been lost to time. Despite the attempts of many to illuminate their true origins in books, articles, and other mediums, they remain shrouded in mystery.

The Invention of the Tarot

Throughout the twentieth century, scholars have attributed the Tarot to many different sources. Some claim that the esoteric symbols of the Major Arcana, as well as the Minor Arcana, of the Tarot can be traced to the ancient Egyptians. Others are convinced that they came from the cults of Mithras, in the very first centuries after the appearance of Christ. There are even some who are convinced they originated in China.

Still others are absolutely sure that they must come from the Middle Ages, the time when the tales of King Arthur and the Holy Grail abounded. The more somber scholars attribute them to the Renaissance. There is no clear agreement on the subject.

If one were to accept only factual evidence, then it might be assumed that Tarot cards originated in Italy during the second half of the fifteenth century. This assumption would be based upon the oldest surviving deck of Tarot cards. However, this doesn’t really reveal the true origins of the Tarot. It reveals when the last surviving deck was produced. It's unknown how many decks were produced prior to this.

It is unlikely that the origins of the Tarot will ever be accurately discovered. It is enough to say that they have existed for several hundred years, and that they have been influenced by many different sources in that time.

Differing Views on Tarot's Original Purpose

Throughout history, the Tarot has been viewed as many things. It was a card game to some. To others, Tarot cards served as method of divining the future; some even believed the cards were evil.

Tarot cards first began moving into southern Europe during the fourteenth century. The cards came with travelers who might have come through Egypt, possibly with the gypsies. From there, they spread throughout the rest of Europe, meeting with a variety of attitudes as they travelled.

The general public, even in the Middle Ages, regarded the Tarot as they regarded anything else — some accepted them, some ignored them, and some feared them. There were those who used them as playing cards, and those who used them for a more esoteric purpose. The Church, however, was very clear in its stance on Tarot cards.

In the Middle Ages, much like today, the Tarot cards were filled with Pagan symbols and images. The Church considered these images to be the work of the Devil. They worked very hard to suppress anything that was linked to the mystical, including Tarot cards.

By the time of the Renaissance, the Tarot had mostly been regulated to the mystery world of the hidden occultists. They were no longer considered relevant or acceptable in society, and so were held in secret by those who still chose to use them. As a result, the cards were progressively doctored and changed to reflect the spiritual beliefs and practices of the group who had them. Since these groups had little or no contact with each other, they Tarot decks they were using became very different.

As a result, the Tarot cards we see today are an interesting mix of Kabbalistic thought, Arthurian legends, and both Pagan and Rosicrucian symbols. Though they may be hybrids, today’s Tarot cards combine beautiful artwork with powerful symbolism. They are respected for this reason.

Tarot cards and their spreads are a popular tool for many people; the psychology of the Tarot touches people from various spiritual backgrounds and walks of life. Though their origins are difficult to ascertain, their place in today’s world is easy to determine. The timeline of the Tarot, however, is still hotly debated.