What are Tarot cards?

What some people do not realize is that the Tarot deck actually is two different decks combined into one. There is a Major Arcana and a Minor Arcana. These two decks have entirely different origins. Furthermore, each one has a completely different purpose. The Major Arcana are the 22 trump cards, including the cards they usually show in TV shows and movies, such as Death, the Fool, the Magician, Lightning Striking Tower, etcetera. The Minor Arcana is similar to a deck of playing cards, that is, there are four suits with a number of cards in each suit. One difference is that there are 14 cards in each suit in the Tarot (instead of 13 in playing cards): ace through 10, page/prince, knight/princess, queen, and king. The other difference is, instead of playing cards' familiar spades, clubs, hearts and diamonds, the Minor Arcana of the Tarot deck has swords, clubs/wands, cups and coins. There are variations in modern cards.

What is the Secret History of the Tarot?

The history of the Tarot is hotly disputed and no one actually knows the truth. Most users and researchers of the Tarot appear to believe that it originated in the Middle Ages. They generally note the earliest known Tarot cards, several of which are Italian in origin. Some students of the Tarot refer to 16th-century Italian words and their French derivatives as the origin for the word Tarot. (See, e.g., Regarde, Israel, The Portable Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic, New Falcon Publications, © 1984, Volume 2, p. 3 (2020 paperback edition)).

However, from at least as early as the late eighteenth century, this origin story has been questioned. At that time, those who studied the occult explored the philosophical rather than the divinatory significance of the cards, along with descriptions of Egyptian initiations as well as descriptions of the Tarot trumps as reliefs carved into the columns of the initiation chamber. (The Church of Light, How to Use the Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot Cards, p. 8, © 2010) (included with the Tarot cards).

Similarly, George Fathman¹ queries logically: if the Tarot cards date only from the thirteenth century, how shall we explain Biblical references to their symbolism? Fathman references the Old and New Testaments, and similar examples, repeatedly throughout his book, including a reference to Moses as an Egyptian initiate in Acts 7:22, as well as references to the Hebrew numbering system and the Kabbalah. Fathman contends that the word Tarot derives from the Egyptian 'Tah Ro,' meaning the Royal Road. (Fathman, George, The Royal Road, A Study in the Egyptian Tarot, Key to Sacred Numbers and Symbols, pp. 1, 5, Kessinger Publishing, © 2010 Publication).

According to Ra, as stated in the Law of One, the archetypes as represented in the Major Arcana of the Tarot were developed in Egypt as part of the initiation process to increase faith in God (albeit for only a short time, before Egypt returned to polytheism). The Minor Arcana and Court Arcana were developed later, in Chaldea and Sumer, and were used by the Babylonian priests for divination. The archetypes of the Major Arcana purportedly were present on either the walls or pillars within the Great Pyramid at Giza. (The Law of One, 88.14-22 https://www.lawofone.info/s/88#14-15 and 14-22 (accessed 6/21/2023)).

What is the Purpose of the Tarot?

Like Ra, George Fathman in his work indicates symbolism still remains the most effective method by which Truth can be imparted to the mind. Perhaps this is why Jesus taught in parables. The author agrees that Truth cannot be dogmatically instructed to others, but instead, the presentation of symbols can awaken ideas and truths that exist deep within the subconscious of each of us. Symbols arouse a thought by means of suggestion, and thus cause the truth which lies hidden in the depths of our spirit to reveal itself. With use of the Major Arcana of the Tarot, one can determine the relative weakness and strength of dynamic life forces, and thus better understand the riddle of life. (Fathman, supra, pp. 2, 5).

As a physicist, Dr. Theresa Bullard-Whyke, Ph.D., discusses the concepts of multiple dimensions and parallel worlds with ease and clarity. (See generally, https://theresabullard.com/). She notes that according to the Kabbalah, instead of a potentially infinite number of dimensions and parallel realities, there only are 22 pathways which define the archetypes of life . . . (Mystery Teachings with Theresa Bullard on Gaia TV, Season 1, Episode 8, Developing Multidimensional Awareness, at 30:33). She indicates that Kabbalah says we have 22 distinct parallel realities or versions of ourselves in this physical world. (30:48). According to her, becoming conscious of all 22 aspects of the self is what we strive towards. (31:56). Dr. Bullard theorizes that we can get our consciousness to the center, in our spirit, and thus bring our awareness of the 22 realities into coherence and conscious awareness. (33:18). According to her, one tool we have for this, that gives us a window into each of these 22 archetypal lives is the 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot. (33:33).

Although not necessarily inconsistent with the multiverse theory, the theistic design of life argument is preferred as an explanation for fine tuning, according to the logical application of occam's razor. In science, which aims to be logical, simpler explanations are preferred. This idea is reflected in the occam's razor principle, where simpler is defined as not multiplying theoretical entities unnecessarily. (How New Scientific Discoveries Are Pointing to God | Epic full, YouTube video, by Daily Dose of Wisdom, at 1:03:50). According to Dr. Stephen C. Meyer, Ph.D., the multiverse theory requires 10 times the number of theoretical entities than does the theistic design of life hypothesis. (1:04). As such, the more one follows the dictates of logic, the more one will come to a theistic design theory of life, that is, a belief in God.

According to George Fathman, Dr. John H. Dequer is the first modern scholar to openly interpret the Major Arcana of the Tarot by the key of the Prodigal Son parable, citing Luke 15:11-32. In this understanding, we have the separation from God, passing through darkness, and the ultimate return with understanding. (Fathman, supra, p. 2). As noted by Dr. Robert Gilbert, Ph.D.: It was understood classically and then it got lost, that we go through certain stages. (Aubrey Marcus podcast and YouTube video, Decoding the Life Changing Secrets of the Rosicrucians with Dr. Robert Gilbert, 2:00:20; see also, generally, https://www.vesica.org/).

Dr. Carl Jung, Consciousness, and the Archetypes

Carl Gustav Jung (1875-1961) was a Swiss psychologist and psychoanalyst contemporary of Sigmund Freud. Although he may have started out heavily influenced by Dr. Freud, being younger, in the opinion of the author, Dr. Jung far surpassed Dr. Freud, certainly with regards to the hidden aspects of human consciousness and the spiritual journey. In modern times, Dr. Jung perhaps is known best for the concept of synchronicity, a type of coincidence between internal states and external events. (Nichols, Sallie, with a forward by Mary K. Greer, Tarot and the Archetypal Journey. The Jungian Path from Darkness to Light, p. 61, Red Wheel/Weiser, LLC © 2019). Carl Jung brought us many concepts, including the personal unconscious and the collective unconscious. Unlike the personal unconscious which contains forgotten memories and other personal information that our conscious mind does not have direct access to, the collective unconscious contains forgotten memories and other personal information of all of us, which all of humanity can access, albeit not consciously, generally.

The collective memory of all of humanity resides in the collective unconscious. The author thinks of it as a field, a mental field, or carrier wave, holding information. Within this collective memory is the understanding that those upon the spiritual path tend to undergo similar or identical series of understandings in their process of awakening. It is as if a distillation of a near infinite number of lifetimes coalesces into a variety of repeating parts of the journey of spiritual growth and self-individualization. However, the unconscious archetypes likely came first, and it is we who experience them along our journey.

The spiritual journey and these repeating patterns of understandings that occur along the way are represented in the twenty-two archetypes of the Major Arcana of the Tarot, which represent the architecture of evolution of consciousness. As indicated by Ra, the archetypical mind, when penetrated lucidly, is a blueprint of the [built] structure of all energy expenditures and all seeking, without distortion. This, as a resource within the deep mind, is of great potential aid to the adept. (The Law of One, 91.37, https://www.lawofone.info/s/91#37 (accessed 8/06/2023)).

Similar to how Ra alludes to the spiritual path represented in the Major Arcana as an evolution of the psyche and a maturation process that we all undergo, Sallie Nichols notes Carl Jung, in his work, demonstrates how the various alchemical stages referred to in [the alchemists'] writings ... correspond in many ways to the various stages through which the human psyche evolves, matures, and moves towards individuation. She opines that while the alchemists utilized elements such as earth, fire, water, air, salt, lead, mercury, etc., the materials we have to study our inner selves include the twenty-two Trumps, whose interaction we are studying in a similar way and for similar reasons. As she so eloquently explains, it is through the interaction between human consciousness and the primitive, unconscious archetypes, that what is unconscious moves toward the light, and the quality of human consciousness itself slowly evolves toward expanded awareness. (Nichols, Sallie, with a forward by Mary K. Greer, supra, pp. 52-53).

It is up to each of us, through our free will, to utilize this tool consciously. It is the author's hope that sharing her journey in understanding this tool will help others to do so as well.

Tarot Cards for Divination

Many, if not most, modern day Tarot card readers engage in divination. For many paths, it is considered useful and necessary. For example, the Order of the Golden Dawn has utilized a rather lengthy Tarot method which was given to the initiate while engaged in the fulfillment of his Adeptus Minor curriculum. (Regarde, Israel, supra, Volume 2, p. 1). Others, such as George Fathman, consider the most exalted use of the Tarot to be synthesizing knowledge and correlating the various factors that explain man and his relationship to God. In that system of study, only the Minor Arcana should be used for divinatory purposes. (Fathman, George, supra, p. 7). Taking this idea even further, according to Ra, as stated in the Law of One, although the Major Arcana can be shuffled into the other Tarot cards and can thereby create a linkage between the Tarot card reader and the querent, the Major Arcana have no rightful place in divination, but rather, are tools for the further knowledge of the self by the self for the purpose of entering a more profoundly, acutely realized present moment. (The Law of One, 88.23, https://www.lawofone.info/s/88#23 (accessed 9/9/2023)).

About the Author

Victoria Stevens, J.D., Ph.D., first encountered Tarot cards decades ago. She has been on the spiritual path for most of her life.

Victoria received her Ph.D. in cognitive neuroscience from the University of California at Davis, where she also attended medical school. Although she did not complete the medical degree, before she left, she co-founded the complementary and alternative medicine student interest group. Victoria received her law degree from the University of California at Berkeley. She was born outside of Chicago and has lived in many areas of the United States.

Victoria believes it is part of her life's purpose to elucidate esoteric information for fellow seekers. She often reflects on how she has been asked to join secret societies (or inner circles of public societies), more than a few times; and every time, she has been informed that she not only would have to refrain from revealing anything she learned to anyone else (including often the very existence of the group), but also, would have to forego studying any other form of theosophy or spiritual practice. She has declined every time. However, secrecy may have been appropriate early on, as even Jesus used parables for everything [he] sa[id] to outsiders. (Mark 4:11).

Victoria learned some information that she is not at liberty to reveal. Any information that she agreed to keep secret will be kept secret. However, she has learned much that is not subject to such restriction and looks forward to sharing it with those who want to know.

The author believes that Carl Jung shared a similar philosophy, and as such, does not agree with theorists who suggest Jung was a Freemason. Support for this theory often comes from the fact that his grandfather was the second Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Alpina in Switzerland. (YouTube, Agrippa's Diary, Carl Jung. His Secret Masonic Lineage and Alchemical Studies, at 1:23, (May 2023)). Jung's numerous published works, and the information revealed within them, suggest lack of adherence to the secrecy required of Freemasons. In addition, Jung is known for studying various religions and esoteric traditions, including Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Gnosticism, astrology, and alchemy. (YouTube, Agrippa's Diary, Carl Jung. His Secret Masonic Lineage and Alchemical Studies, at 0:52, (May 2023)).

The author writes with the goal of helping readers form their own understanding of each of the psychological archetypes represented in the Major Arcana trump cards of the Tarot. Doing so will aid readers in their life journey. At least it has helped the author with her spiritual path. Although more information will be revealed regarding the archetypes, for the impatient, the author provides here a concise definition of the archetypes as a tool for grasping in an undistorted manner the nature of [spiritual] evolution, (The Law of One, 91.36), which works by aiding the development of the faith and will. (The Law of One, 97.9), https://www.lawofone.info/s/97#9 (accessed 6/25/2023).

1-George Fathman's name is misspelled in the available reprint as George Fatham. See, e.g., http://green-door.narod.ru/jdeq-tarot.html (accessed 6/21/2023).

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