I quickly realized how there was an obvious connection with the number meanings in numerology and their associations in tarot.
When I began reading tarot, I was already heavily familiar with numerology. Having acquired a mass amount of knowledge on this ancient study of numerical influence, I felt I had a leg-up in tarot. That is why I want to share this knowledge with you.
If you’re unsure of what numerology is, click here for a brief rundown before pressing on.
The Connection Between Numerology and Tarot
In numerology, there are nine basic numbers. These numbers are simply numbers one through nine.
Sometimes, there are the “master” numbers, which are eleven and twenty-two, but we won’t be including those today considering they’re not actually in the tarot suites. You could, however, consider the page cards the elevens, but they’re just known as pages and are not numbered; so, it’s up to you.
There are twenty-two major arcana cards, numbered zero to twenty-one and four separate suites within the minor arcana; including the suite of cups, the suite of wands, the suite of pentacles, and the suite of swords. Each of these four minor suites has an ace, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, page, knight, queen, and king.
The king, queen, knight, and page are what is known as the court cards. You can find more info on those here.
Again, there are twenty–two major arcana cards in addition to the four suites in the minor arcana—each containing fourteen cards.
Because there are four aces, four twos, four threes, four fours and so on, we obviously know that they have to mean something different depending on whether they’re
in cups, swords, etc.
It is helpful at first to stick to developing a basis of knowledge by understanding how they’re alike. If we understand how they’re alike, then we at least have some idea of each card numbered one through ten, no matter which suite it’s in. Once we have understood the meanings of the card numbers, then we can separate each four of the same numbers by the difference in their suite.
What I mean is, no matter which suite you draw an ace from, you know that it is the beginning of something. Depending on the suite, it could be an emotional pursuit, a change in how one thinks , a new job, or an opportunity to create an art project.
Within the next few blog posts, I’ll be writing the differences between the cups, wands, swords, and pentacles suites. Those on tarot suites will explain the difference, for example, in the seven of wands and the seven of swords. So, sign up for email updates if you haven’t already so you can receive an email when it’s available.
The Difference Between Numerology and Tarot
One thing you may notice is that there are the numbers one through ten within each suite; whereas, in numerology, there are the basic numbers one through nine. In some numerology, the number ten is actually highly practiced as being the number of wholeness and balance. It takes on a similar meaning in tarot as well.
To others numerologists, however, the number zero is not a real number, but the absence of a number. Hence, we are able to recognize a change, which represents the cycle of endings/beginnings. This is reflected by the number one. One means beginning. If we add the zero, we know we have completed it.
The Meanings for Numbers in Tarot:
Ones/Aces:
A beginning of something, a type of initiation or opportunity, something involving leadership, sometimes seen as the number of the ego, an emerging change, an idea forming, being called toward some type of journey, signal of insight or information previously unknown, etc.
Twos:
Unity, balance, harmony, intuition, something working behind the background, partnerships, coming together to form a unit, a pair or a pairing, cooperation, needing to make a decision, observation and quiet influence without being noticed, having options, etc.
Threes:
Creativity, developing interests, friendships, celebrations, parties/gatherings, growth/progression, realizing potential in something or others to work with toward goals, personal expression, a group setting or collaboration, etc.
Fours:
Organization, a proverbial or literal cleaning of the house, building foundations, finding steady ground, getting things done, preparation, a period of rest or staying home more often, manifesting future desires, etc.
Fives:
Conflicts, arguments, challenges, necessary chaos or instability that begs for a type of change, unstable environment or undependability, struggles to hold on, an adventure built upon stress and anxiety, arising difficulty that asks one to recognize flaws or weaknesses.
Sixes:
The calm after the storm, the process of healing or recuperation, new level of maturity, sudden grace, finding strength in self or support in others (specifically family), letting go of what’s no longer needed or reconciling, etc.
Sevens:
Having newfound purpose, gaining insight and wisdom, regaining control over situations or gaining earned wisdom after falling from grace, period of self-reflection, finding a commonground between logical/analytical mind and the intuitive/emotional heart, seeing the big picture, etc.
Eights:
Profound enlightenment, mastery over something, acknowledging successes and achievements, victory after failures, major period of “going up”, easiness in day to day living that just flows smoothly, realization of what’s important, reaching goals or advancing, etc.
Nines:
Beginning to see fruits of labor, knowing that work has spread beyond self, outcome of personal journeys or cycles that starts to pay off, a period of transition toward another cycle of life, bittersweet feelings, the moment of awe and pause before the finale, etc.
Tens:
A chapter is closing, finally reaping rewards and living in manifested fortunes, completion, the big pay off, understanding one has earned what’s been given, sharing with those one loves, the end of the cycle as another begins, contentment and satisfaction, etc.