Minor Arcana
Ace to 10
Ace to 10
On the Tree of Life.
Everything starts from Nothing.
The Minor Arcana challenges that belief.
The cards are numbered Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
I believe also that the 10 numbers of the decimal system
are the same as those in the first 10 cards of the Major Arcana
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
So why is the numbering of the Minor Arcana breaking these rules?
Where is the Nothing that the Minor Arcana numbered cards derive from?
Why are the cards numbered Ace to 10.?
The 0 of the Major Arcana is the Fool Tarot card.
The Fool is known as the Traveller on the Journey.
The Minor Arcana suit cards relate to the mundane, every day affairs of the Fool.
Another possible source of the 0 for the Minor Arcana numbered cards
may be found in the 10 of the Wheel of Life card.
In my interpretation of the Tree of Life
the path of the Wheel of Life extends down
Below the Sephira Malkuth.
Connecting to Earth
Everything starts from Nothing.
The Minor Arcana challenges that belief.
The cards are numbered Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
I believe also that the 10 numbers of the decimal system
are the same as those in the first 10 cards of the Major Arcana
0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
So why is the numbering of the Minor Arcana breaking these rules?
Where is the Nothing that the Minor Arcana numbered cards derive from?
Why are the cards numbered Ace to 10.?
The 0 of the Major Arcana is the Fool Tarot card.
The Fool is known as the Traveller on the Journey.
The Minor Arcana suit cards relate to the mundane, every day affairs of the Fool.
Another possible source of the 0 for the Minor Arcana numbered cards
may be found in the 10 of the Wheel of Life card.
In my interpretation of the Tree of Life
the path of the Wheel of Life extends down
Below the Sephira Malkuth.
Connecting to Earth
Malkuth is the Kingdom
The Kingdom of Earth
Earth is where life takes place.
I call this World "Nephesh".
Nephesh is a Hebrew word meaning "Living Soul".
Many authors refer to the 10 being a transition.
A transition from one series of 9 numbers to the next series.
Also the 10 is the first iteration of the original 0.
The 20 is the second iteration and so on.
The 0 begins and ends each series of 9.
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20
21
Another thing to think of is that the Major Arcana sets up a pattern of life.
This pattern then permeates through the whole of life.
As above
So below
My interpretation of this is that there are two series of 9.
They work as dual opposites.
Balancing each other and the universe.
An Outward series of 9.
An Inward series of 9.
The Outward series develops the Ego.
Active, aggressive, force
The Inward series develops the enlightened Soul.
Passive, accepting, form
The Human Functions are intuition, thinking, feeling and sensing.
They balance as paired opposites.
Wands (Intuition) pairs with Pentacles (Sensing).
Swords (thinking) pairs with Cups (feeling).
Wands is the first Outward series.
Pentacles is the first Inward series.
Swords is the second Outward series.
Cups is the second Inward series.
The symbols for Wands & Swords are both straight lines.
A Wand and a Sword.
The symbols for Cups & Pentacles are both circular.
A Cup and a Pentacle (Coin).
The numbers of the suit cards, Ace to 10
derive their meaning from their relative Major Arcana card.
Outward
1 Magician influences Ace Wands & Ace Swords
2 High Priestess influences Two Wands & Two of Swords
3 Empress influences 3 Wands & 3 Swords
4 Emperor influences 4 Wands & 4 Swords
5 Hierophant influences 5 Wands & 5 Swords
6 Lovers influences 6 Wands & 6 swords
7 Chariot influences 7 Wands & 7 Swords
8 Justice influences 8 Wands & 8 Swords
9 Hermit influences 9 Wands & 9 Swords
10 The Wheel influences 10 Wands & 10 Swords
Inward
11 Strength influences Ace Pentacles & Ace Cups
12 Hanged Man influences Two Pentacles & Two of Cups
13 Death influences 3 Pentacles & 3 Cups
14 Temperance influences 4 Pentacles & 4 Cups
15 Devil influences 5 Pentacles & 5 Cups
16 Tower influences 6 Pentacles & 6 Cups
17 Star influences 7 Pentacles & 7 Cups
18 Moon influences 8 Pentacles & 8 Cups
19 Sun influences 9 Pentacles & 9 Cups
20 Judgment influences 10 Pentacles & 10 Cups
For example.
The 1 in the Outward series of the Major Arcana is the Magician.
The Ace of Wands & the Ace of Swords draw meaning from the 1 of the Magician.
The 1 in the Inward series of the Major Arcana is Strength.
The Ace of Cups & the Ace of Pentacles draw meaning from the 11 of Strength.
Let's look at the cards to see if the theory holds true.
The Kingdom of Earth
Earth is where life takes place.
I call this World "Nephesh".
Nephesh is a Hebrew word meaning "Living Soul".
Many authors refer to the 10 being a transition.
A transition from one series of 9 numbers to the next series.
Also the 10 is the first iteration of the original 0.
The 20 is the second iteration and so on.
The 0 begins and ends each series of 9.
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20
21
Another thing to think of is that the Major Arcana sets up a pattern of life.
This pattern then permeates through the whole of life.
As above
So below
My interpretation of this is that there are two series of 9.
They work as dual opposites.
Balancing each other and the universe.
An Outward series of 9.
An Inward series of 9.
The Outward series develops the Ego.
Active, aggressive, force
The Inward series develops the enlightened Soul.
Passive, accepting, form
The Human Functions are intuition, thinking, feeling and sensing.
They balance as paired opposites.
Wands (Intuition) pairs with Pentacles (Sensing).
Swords (thinking) pairs with Cups (feeling).
Wands is the first Outward series.
Pentacles is the first Inward series.
Swords is the second Outward series.
Cups is the second Inward series.
The symbols for Wands & Swords are both straight lines.
A Wand and a Sword.
The symbols for Cups & Pentacles are both circular.
A Cup and a Pentacle (Coin).
The numbers of the suit cards, Ace to 10
derive their meaning from their relative Major Arcana card.
Outward
1 Magician influences Ace Wands & Ace Swords
2 High Priestess influences Two Wands & Two of Swords
3 Empress influences 3 Wands & 3 Swords
4 Emperor influences 4 Wands & 4 Swords
5 Hierophant influences 5 Wands & 5 Swords
6 Lovers influences 6 Wands & 6 swords
7 Chariot influences 7 Wands & 7 Swords
8 Justice influences 8 Wands & 8 Swords
9 Hermit influences 9 Wands & 9 Swords
10 The Wheel influences 10 Wands & 10 Swords
Inward
11 Strength influences Ace Pentacles & Ace Cups
12 Hanged Man influences Two Pentacles & Two of Cups
13 Death influences 3 Pentacles & 3 Cups
14 Temperance influences 4 Pentacles & 4 Cups
15 Devil influences 5 Pentacles & 5 Cups
16 Tower influences 6 Pentacles & 6 Cups
17 Star influences 7 Pentacles & 7 Cups
18 Moon influences 8 Pentacles & 8 Cups
19 Sun influences 9 Pentacles & 9 Cups
20 Judgment influences 10 Pentacles & 10 Cups
For example.
The 1 in the Outward series of the Major Arcana is the Magician.
The Ace of Wands & the Ace of Swords draw meaning from the 1 of the Magician.
The 1 in the Inward series of the Major Arcana is Strength.
The Ace of Cups & the Ace of Pentacles draw meaning from the 11 of Strength.
Let's look at the cards to see if the theory holds true.
Themes drawn from "The Heart of the Tarot" (Thomson, Mueller & Echols).
Outward
Inward
The energy of the Soul incarnates into our world.
Life on earth is about balancing the four human functions.
This occurs in the World of Nephesh.
The World of the Living Soul
Life on earth is about balancing the four human functions.
This occurs in the World of Nephesh.
The World of the Living Soul
When the Human Functions are balanced.
The Soul energy ascends to Malkuth
Stepping off the Wheel of Life
Commencing the search for enlightenment
Return to Spirit
The Soul energy ascends to Malkuth
Stepping off the Wheel of Life
Commencing the search for enlightenment
Return to Spirit