Tarot: the basics part 1

Are you interested in learning about tarot? Then this is the article for you. 
Let's start with some basic knowledge first and then we'll DIVE deeper into the SUBJECT in the following articles.

Tarot has been used for centuries to connect with one's intuition and to offer guidance and gaining insights into situations. A traditional Tarot deck is a deck of 78 cards and is divided into two sections; the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. We will start with discovering the Major Arcana now and we'll continue with the Minor Arcana in the blog 'Tarot: the basics Part 2’.

THE MAJOR ARCANA

The Major Arcana is a section of a tarot deck that contains 22 cards. These cards represent important life events and lessons. The word Arcana comes from the Latin word for "secrets", and these cards are about the larger secrets in life. They are like markers on the road to point out larger patterns or lessons you need to pay attention to in life. They help you to figure out how to achieve your goals.

The Major Arcana tells the classic Fool's journey and these 22 cards are also referred to as Archetypes. The Fool's Journey is a metaphor for the journey through life and each card stands for a stage on that journey. The first archetype of these 22 cards, logically, is The Fool and has been given the number 0. The Fool stands somewhat outside the rest of the Major Arcana, because 0 is an unusual number as it stands for nothingness and wholeness. This is where the journey begins, the Fool is basically the hero of this journey.

The 21 cards that follow can be sorted into these 3 phases of life:

• The Self / Personal Awareness (Magician through Chariot, cards 1-7)

• The Collective / Personal Influence (Strength through Temperance, cards 8-14)

• The Cosmic / Personal Evolution (Devil through World, cards 15-21)

O THE FOOL
The Fool is the adventurer, the hero in this journey. He steps into the unknown ready to embrace whatever comes his way, unaware of the hardship he could face on this journey.
This card represents new beginnings, new potentials, innocence, lightheartedness, the need for courage and faith and for taking a step that some might consider foolish. It is about a carefree approach to life. Ready to embrace new experiences and taking risks while having an open mind and a great sense of optimism and curiosity. This card encourages you to embrace freedom and independence and to pursue your dreams and passion.

Astrological sign: Aquarius 
Element: Air
Yes or no: Yes

THE FIRST PHASE | THE SELF | PERSONAL AWARENESS

I THE MAGICIAN
The Magician celebrates the Fool's ideas and he has the desire, the will and the ability to create.
The Magician is the masterful alchemist, a powerful manifestor as he aligns the cosmos and the earth into the present moment. He is our conscious awareness. His goal is to embrace his personal power and to manifest his will in his life. This card signifies that you have the power and the skills to make your imagined world your reality.

Astrological sign: GEMINI AND VIRGO
Element: AIR AND EARTH
Yes or no: Yes

II THE HIGH PRIESTESS
The High Priestess helps the Fool to listen to his intuition and to tap into his inner wisdom to choose which path to take next.
The High Priestess represents our mysterious subconscious and she stands for intuition, beauty and grace. She is also the embodiment of the divine feminine. In stillness The High Priestess invites you to To reflect before taking action and to see the unseen. You are entering a period of clarity, of having the ability to see beyond the veil. Take your time to allow this to happen.

Astrological sign: CANCER
Element: WATER
Yes or no:  MAYBE

III THE EMPRESS
After choosing his path the Fool's idea is now becoming tangible and the Fool becomes more and more aware of his surroundings.
The Empress represents mother earth with her abundance and fertility, and creativity. The ruler of our deepest emotions and compassion. She encourages you to envision and create your life with more love, infinite abundance and healing. This card signifies prosperity, abundance, unconditional love and creativity.

Astrological sign: LIBRA and taurus
Element: air and earth
Yes or no:  yes

IV THE EMPEROR
The Emperor teaches the Fool about responsibilities and obligations and how to succeed in life. To make a solid plan and take action.
This card represents mastering your leadership powers. As the Emperor is a stable, authoritative and powerful man, he can sometimes become too rigged. This card is a sign to step into the energy of success and to build your empire while remaining aware of you motives.

Astrological sign: ARIES
Element: FIRE
Yes or no:  YES

V THE HIEROPHANT
The Hierophant teaches the Fool what the "good” ways to behave are and to connect to his inner values. The most important function of the Hierophant is being the bridge between our actions and our values and beliefs.
This card is all about teachings, beliefs, traditions, rules and wisdom. It could mean that new perspectives, wisdom and new teachers are coming into your life right now. Or that you are advised to seek out a teacher who can provide guidance in a situation. If you have been stuck in an old system of acting, thinking and being you are now ready to make space for, and embrace, a better version of yourself.

Astrological sign: taurus
Element: earth
Yes or no: neutral

VI THE LOVERS
After learning all about the rules, expectations and traditions, the Fool faces the challenge of making decisions.
The Lovers card might seem to be all about love and romance, and in some ways it is. But at it's core it is about making important choices and about the duality in life - like yin and yang. About choosing the direction that best aligns with your heart and souls desire. The man and woman displayed on the traditional Rider Waite-Smith card represent the different options that are available to you right now. This card can also indicate a period of passion and attraction, of the union of opposites and most importantly of finding balance and harmony in any form of relationships.

Astrological sign: gemini
Element: air
Yes or no:  Yes

VII THE CHARIOT
The Fool is now ready to take control and move ahead. He has the confidence to break free of any boundaries and to move fast towards succes.
This card is about growing, overcoming challenges, gaining victory, ambition and succes. Now is the magical time to focus the chariot into the right direction, all you need is clarity on your inner most desire and move towards it with optimism and speed.

Astrological sign: CANCER
Element: WATER
Yes or no:  YES

THE FIRST 7 CARDS | THE PHASE OF THE SELF | PERSONAL AWARENESS

THE SECOND PHASE | THE COLLECTIVE | PERSONAL INFLUENCE

VIII STRENGTH
The fool has learned a lot on his journey and the lessons have given him an unshakable and confident inner strength.
This card encourages you to embody your strength and to have confidence in yourself. To master your impulses by staying focused on what you wish to achieve. And to proceed gracefully with the courage of a lion combined with patience, kindness and compassion.

Astrological sign: LEO
Element: FIRE
Yes or no:  YES

IX THE HERMIT
The experiences that the Fool has had so far, made him aware that things are not as black and white as he was led to believe. This causes him to question everything.
The Hermit seeks the ultimate truth and wisdom without fear of descending into the darkness to find it. He is wise and grounded. This card - being the card of the mystic, the philosopher - tells you it is time to go on a journey inwards in silence. It is about taking time away from your busy life and to contemplate, meditate and to find guidance within. Make time for sacred aloneness and self-care.

Astrological sign: VIRGO
Element: EARTH
Yes or no:  NO

X THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE
The Fool is realising that time moves in cycles and finds himself drawn back into the same cycles over and over.
Remember that nothing truly lasts forever as that the wheel of life is constantly moving. The card of the Wheel of Fortune is about destiny, fate, luck and karmic patterns as it spins its wheel of possibiltles. Sometimes we are on top (upright) and sometimes we are not (reversed). While it is not possible, in this case, to control what the Wheel presents to you, you can control how you respond. New beginnings and change are on the horizon and the Wheel invites you to go with the flow, to practice acceptance and to embrace transformation.

Astrological sign: taurus, leo, scorpio, aquarius (Fixed signs)
Element: FIRE
Yes or no:  YES

XI JUSTICE
Past actions have consequences is one of the lessons The Fool learns. He realises that he must mind not only what he does, but also why and how he does it. For Justice will prevail in the end and balance will be restored.
This card represents fairness, balance and accountability. Justice asks you to learn from your past experiences, the good and the bad, and to grow from it. To contemplate about the cause-and-effect that both your thoughts and your actions bring into the world. If you are stuck in a legal matter or in a conflict, remember that the true path of goodness is always the path of love.

Astrological sign: libra
Element: air
Yes or no:  YES

XII THE HANGED MAN
The Fool is committed to doing what he knows in his heart is right for him, regardless of what his society has taught him. With great faith he gives himself over to the consequences of his actions.
When The Hanged Man shows up in your reading, you are offered a chance to look at something from a different angle and to let go of the need to control. This could mean an intentional letting go of the thing that has been keeping you stagnant, to make space for new perspectives and insights. Surrendering to this process will help you break free of old models and programming that no longer serve you.

Astrological sign: pisces
Element: water
Yes or no:  neutral

XIII DEATH
If the Fool knew that Death followed the Hanged Man, he might not have had the courage to live his beliefs so fully. However this symbolic Death is not as scary as he thought. He had to dissolve into nothingness in order to be reformed into something more authentic and more alive than ever before. For the fist time in a long time he actually feels free.
This card indicates that necessary change is coming., a natural and inevitable ending to a stagnant and unhealthy situation. You are on the brink of a massive transformation, mourning the end of one phase while celebrating the birth of a new one. Don't be afraid of this change and know that clinging to the past will only block the flow of positive energy in your situation. Feel confident that you have gained all the lessons and wisdom you need to move on. This phase in life brings exciting new times filled with brightness, a sense of freedom and endless potential.

Astrological sign: SCORPIO
Element: water
Yes or no:  neutral

XIV TEMPERANCE
After his intense Death experience, the Fool feels like the world is a new place and he is a new creature.
The Temperance card represents balance, integration, harmony and peace. It is about blending energies, balancing masculine and feminine duality. Temperance is a master alchemist and this card indicates that you are entering a period of great creative and manifesting powers. It also reminds you to slow down, to seek moderation and balance in all areas of your life. Evaluate where your precious energy is being sent to and align yourself back into balance.

Astrological sign: saggitarius
Element: fire
Yes or no:  yes

THE SECOND 7 CARDS | THE COLLECTIVE | PERSONAL INFLUENCE

THE THIRD PHASE | THE COSMIC | PERSONAL EVOLUTION

XV THE DEVIL
Just when things were going so well, the Fool finds himself face to face with the Devil. He wonders how and why did this happen? When the Fool changed, his old wounds, habits and impulses rose up to test him. These tests are really a secret gift from the Universe, helping the Fool to reinforce his decisions and to strengthen his new habits.
Whenever anyone tries to change a habit or behaviour, the system from which it arose will fight against the change trying to pull everything back into the old order. The Devil represents everything in life that we are addicted to, our obsessions, temptations. He also represents our own inner demons, the little negative voices in our head that make us feel insecure. This card encourages you to seek liberation from the things that hold you back, the things you became too dependant on, the things that keep you down and make you feel small. This card asks you to make a choice: do you let yourself fall or are you willing to heal? The choice is yours.

Astrological sign: CAPRICORN
Element: earth
Yes or no:  no

XVI THE TOWER
After dealing with the internal struggles against the Devil, the Fool stands strong in his resolve to continue being the new, healthy person he wants to be. His environment, the people who are still invested in the old system and beliefs, will begin to react leading to chaos and a breakdown of the existing structure.
The Tower represents a breakdown that is very sudden, unexpected and unpredictable. Tower moments are always powerful and hard, but they are necessary for growth. Destroying old systems and structures in your life, because they were restricting you in some way. Even if you don't see it that way, this great shake up is needed in order to make space for the new systems to evolve. It is a period of massive shifting. And remember you can do this! The Universe only gives us what we can handle and this chaotic period in your life will help you re-align yourself and help you achieve new awareness, wisdom and perspectives.

Astrological sign: ARIES
Element: FIRE
Yes or no:  no

XVII THE STAR
The Fool's commitments have been tested and challenged and he feels pretty worn out. Luckily he gets to visit the gentle and healing Star card. The Star makes to Fool feel blessed with a trust that completely replaces the negative energies of the Devil and the chaos of the Tower. His faith in himself and the future is restored. He is filled with joy, his heart is open, and his love pours out freely to the world. This peace after the storm is a magical moment for the Fool.
The Star is often referred to as a wish fulfilment card. The Star is like a beacon of light in the darkness, offering healing and rejuvenation. It's about achieving a renewed sense of hope, faith and inspiration. The Star promises you that your expectations will be met and your wishes will be fulfilled if you allow yourself to believe. Your future looks bright because you are truly being blessed by the Universe this time. Everything seems to be aligning in your favour to step into the path of fulfilment and happiness.

Astrological sign: aquarius
Element: air
Yes or no:  yes

XVIII THE MOON
Just like any good story, things don't stay easy for long. The Fool is facing a lot of uncertainty in the Moon card. In the strange glow of the moon, things are both bright and dark. As nothing is what it seems, the Fool has to rely on his intuition to guide him.
The moon card represents illusions, fantasy, secrets, fear and trusting your intuition and instincts. When we are faced with uncertainty and illusion, it could feel like we are drowning in fear of the unknown. The mysterious Moon asks you to find comfort in the darkness and to use your subconscious mind to gain insight into what is happening rather than your physical senses. When you allow yourself to go within and patiently search for your truth, you will find your way. Now is not a time to make decisions, be patient, meditate and connect with your inner self to receive guidance. Just remember the dark is temporary, as eventually the light of day will bring clarity.

Astrological sign: pisces
Element: water
Yes or no: NO

XIX THE SUN
The Fool was successful in navigating his way through the mysterious lunar-lit landscape by seeking his truth and following his intuition. Now the day follows the night and the Sun has appeared.
The Sun sprinkles everything he touches with Golden Stardust. He creates a path of illumination and love. People will magnetically feel drawn to you when the Sun card appears.
This card signifies a time of pure joy, lots of happiness, abundance, creativity and clarity. It is time to let go of all your worries and of any feelings of inadequacy you might have, because everything is unfolding perfectly. It is time to shine, count your blessings and practice gratitude.

Astrological sign:  LEO 
Element: fire  
Yes or no: yes

XX JUDGEMENT
Now that the Fool is more fully himself, he yearns to do something more, to serve something greater than himself. He wants to share the gifts that he has been given with others.
Judgement is frequently defined as “the call”. Meaning you receive clarity about some larger task or action your soul wants you to take. So, that wonderful thing you are thinking of doing, that urge you are feeling… go for it, do it! Don't question it, because it comes from the purest, best part of yourself. This card is about breakthroughs, awakenings, transformation, self-realization and understanding. This card may also be a reminder to truly raise your vibration, and to stop hiding your true authentic self from the world. To expand, evolve, understand your full potential and to forgive. To accept your beautiful self and answer the call of your higher self.

Astrological sign: nonE (but some link it to scorpio) Element:  Fire or water 
yes or no:  Neutral / yes

XXI THE WORLD
The Fool's quest has ended. He has found an understanding of the world he lives in.
The World card is one of the most positive cards in the tarot, it is time for fruition and abundance. It represents completion, succes and deeper understanding. This is an important moment, because all your hard work and struggles have paid off. If you're not quite there yet, take this card as a sign that you are on the way. It is time to complete a cycle, to finish an important project or phase in your life. Enjoy this period, have fun and celebrate your succes. The World reminds us that with every ending there is also a new beginning. Do something to mark this achievement and begin dreaming about your next adventure to broaden your horizon. This card can also literally mean you are about to travel the world.

Astrological sign:  taurus, leo, scorpio, aquarius (Fixed signs)
Element: EARTH
yes or no: yes

THE THIRD PHASE | THE COSMIC | PERSONAL EVOLUTION

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