A person can spend a lifetime studying the Tarot, and still never know all there is to know. But - you don't have to spend a lifetime before you can start doing meaningful Tarot card readings for yourself and your friends and relatives. You don't even have to memorize all the meanings in the Little White Book (LWB) that comes with each new deck of Tarot cards. All you really need to know to get started is one meaning for each card and know it well. This series of articles will show you an easy way to do that, with Numerology.
But, this series isn't only for beginners. I didn't learn this system until I had received two Tarot Master Certificates from two different sources, and after nearly 30 years of Tarot study. And, along with some other systems, I use it to this day. So - if you are a newcomer to Tarot, this might make your learning curve a little faster. If you're a veteran reader, this could be a new technique to add to your arsenal.
For Review:
Up to this point, we have learned:
0 ~ is for unlimited potential in the situation indicated by the Element of the card drawn
1 ~ indicates the beginning of action in or on the indicated Element.
2 ~ cooperation with either another person or the forces of the Universe. Of course, this cooperation is in relation to the Element of the card.
3 ~ creativity begins; expansion of project indicated by the Element.
4 ~ it's time to reason things out, to be practical . . . With what? You know; check the Element.
5 ~ changes are coming about; accept them. Don't let them become crisis situations. Again, check the Element.
An important note: I have given you a couple of choices for the meaning of each number. But remember, I said in the beginning, you only really need one meaning for each number, and one meaning for each Element. You are free to only learn one of them if you so choose. Also, I would recommend searching the Internet for numerology meanings. You may find some meanings that you like better than the ones I've given you. If so, by all means, use them! Ultimately, it is your subconscious mind that chooses the cards in a reading. So, pick the meanings you like; your subconscious will guide you here. They'll be easier to learn, too.
Another Note: It is time to begin expanding on your meanings. Now, I don't mean add more key words or phrases - just practice expanding upon the idea of the key word or phrase you have. As an example, you'd be surprised at how much you can say about a new beginning with just a little practice. Just take the idea, and go with it! It will make the reading much more fun for the client, and for you too...
Okay, that brings us to the number Six (6). Numbers were considered sacred in the distant past because of their perfection. They always did the same things if they were handled correctly. Six held a special place as it is considered a "perfect number". The sum of its divisors, other than itself, add up to itself:
6 X 1 = 6 ~ 2 X 3 = 6 ~ 1 + 2 + 3 = 6. Esoterically, this was considered to be a very harmonious interaction. So, six is a number of peace and harmony.
Six has been known as a universal mother/father number, a caregiver. A possible problem with the Six is a potential for perfectionism, which can make life harder for us. It's something to watch out for when this number is drawn.
Six indicates that the crises have passed; things are back under control, and all is peaceful and harmonic. Of course, the Universe keeps everything balanced and harmonic, anyway. But we aren't always aware of that in our day-to-day lives. We really don't have to be. The Universe takes care of that with or without our help.
In a reading, Six tells us that things are comfortable for us (or the client). If there have been troubles or crises, they are over - at least for now. A period of emotional rest is indicated, here, in the area of our life indicated by the Element of the card. In a one-card reading, the trouble is over for a while, whatever the Element says it may have been - good news!
Remove all five Sixes from your Tarot deck and spread them out in front of you. Beginning with the Major Arcana Key VI, The Lovers, study the pictures on the cards and see how each of them can suggest balance and harmony to you. Meditate on it; cement it into your mind. And, of course, write it in your Tarot Journal.
So - now we move on to Seven. This is considered, from antiquity, to be a sacred number. A week has consisted of seven days for a very long time. Ancient astrology had seven luminaries, or "planets". The human body is said to have seven "chakras" or spiritual energy vortexes. In Genesis, God is said to have created the world in seven phases. There are many of these correspondences available with a relatively easy search on the Internet.
We all make mistakes in our lives; that's the whole point of our journey through the material world. Seven indicates that we have learned from whatever mistakes we have made. What mistakes? What is the Element?
Through learning from our mistakes, we become successful in whatever it is we are trying to accomplish. So, in a reading, the Seven of any Element speaks of success through learning from our mistakes in that area.
As usual, study all five of the Sevens for correspondences to these meanings and, again, write it down. As I said before, writing this material uses several parts of the brain to help us retain the knowledge. We think about it; we write it; we see what we have written. For even better results, speak it as you write it. That way, both the speech centers and the hearing centers are brought into play.
I hope you are enjoying these lessons and getting material that will help you learn to read Tarot in a way that is well-suited for you. After this course is complete, I have another simple system to offer, one with deep esoteric roots from the past. But you'll have to wait for that one. ;o) See you next time!
Bright Blessings - Gary Meister, CTM