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SERAPH’S LEARNING ACADEMY
This lesson is part of the foundational curriculum
Tarot is a deck of 78 illustrated cards, traditionally used for divination and fortune telling. Over time, it has evolved into a structured tool for self-reflection, symbolic guidance, and psychological insight.
The history of Tarot is shrouded in mystery, with origins still debated by historians and occult scholars alike. Some trace it to Renaissance Italy; others to deeper esoteric traditions obscured by time.
🧩 Anatomy of a Tarot Deck
Tarot is divided into two main components:
- 22 Major Arcana — the “greater secrets”
- 56 Minor Arcana — the “lesser secrets”
⭐ The Major Arcana
The word Arcana means “secrets.” These 22 cards depict archetypal themes and karmic life lessons. Each card embodies a fundamental truth—something that must be realized, integrated, and enacted to move forward on one’s path.
🌎 The Minor Arcana
The 56 Minor Arcana are divided into four suits, each corresponding to a psychological function (drawing from Jungian typology):
| Suit | Element | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wands | Fire 🜂 | Intuition | The perception of possibilities |
| Cups | Water 🜄 | Feeling | The capacity for value judgment |
| Swords | Air 🜁 | Thinking | Logical analysis and discernment |
| Pentacles | Earth 🜃 | Sensation | Perception through the physical senses |
Each suit includes:
- Ten numbered cards (Ace to Ten)
- Four Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King
👑 The Court Cards
Each suit has its own royal family. These figures may represent:
- People influencing the querent
- Aspects of the querent’s psyche
- Archetypal roles the querent is playing or avoiding
In this way, they serve as mirrors to identity, power dynamics, and evolving roles within life’s unfolding narrative.
🧭 Summary
Tarot is a structured system of 78 illustrated cards, divided into Major and Minor Arcana. While historically associated with divination, its deeper value lies in its capacity to serve as a tool for self-examination, psychological insight, and symbolic reflection. Rather than dictating fate, the Tarot reflects internal patterns, archetypal themes, and the hidden dynamics at play within the human psyche. When used properly, it offers not answers, but understanding.
⚫⚪🔴 This concludes a lesson from Seraph’s Learning Academy.
🔗 Return to the Learn Tarot Index