Finding a Significator Card in Tarot

One aspect of the Tarot that a reader needs to be familiar with is numerology. The numbers assigned to the cards of the Minor and Major Arcana are based on occult concepts of numerology. The German poet, Goethe once said, “Numbers do not rule the world, but tell how the world is ruled.” Moreover Pythagorean philosophy claim that “All is Number.” This philosophy sees the universe to be based on “blue prints” which are governed by numbers.

 In the Tarot readings, it is often useful to have a card denoting the questioner (querent). This card is the Significator. One way to find this card is to take the birth date and birth year of the querent, and add up the numbers. The resulting number is the Major Arcana card that represents the querent. The Significator aids greatly in the interpretation of the spread.

For the reader, this method of finding a Significator for themselves is another way to learn more about themselves. People find value in astrology, Myer-Briggs, and other systems that classify humans into discrete groups. Having a Major Arcana card assigned to them helps people to gain insight into their personalities. I do not subscribe to this but that is my personal view.

Using this method, I found my Significator and number which is nine and The Hermit. In general numerology, people who are nines are considered visionaries and sages. In the Pythagorean system, nine is the first square of an odd number, which is known as the Ennead. Since nine is one short of ten, the perfect number, it is considered a failure. However, since only the infinite ten is after nine, the number nine can be considered limitless. Nine then becomes a complex and rich number.

The card that is numbered “Nine” in the Major Arcana is The Hermit. This card is associated with solitude, the search for knowledge and mysticism. The Hermit could be considered the sage. However, The Hermit could also be considered someone who is devoted to only seeking knowledge and not using it. This connotes both failure and limitlessness in one card. Therefore, The Hermit encompasses both the Ennead and traditional numerology.

Does this card tell me anything important? Not really, since it is another arbitrary method of assigning personal characteristics to a person. However, when I do personal readings and this card appears, I need to pay attention to the reading. Also, if I want a more direct reading, I could use this card as a part of the spread.

 Combining the Major Arcana with my birthdate is a useful method to personalize my readings. When reading for others, it can be a stand-in for the querent. Since the Tarot has elements of numerology, I that that this method is one way of tying the two together in a meaningful way.

 Works Used:

Bartlett, Sarah, “The Tarot Bible.” New York: Sterling. 2006.
Drury, Neville, “The Tarot Workbook.” San Diego: Thunder Bay Press. 2004.
Zell-Ravenheart, Oberon, “Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard.” Franklin Lakes (NJ): New Page Books. 2004.

Numbers in Tarot

Learning about numbers and their correspondences has helped me to learn why different spreads have particular objectives. Since finding out that the number five represents conflict, I now know why I like five card spreads. I like to problem solve, and these spreads suit my needs nicely.


“The Diamond Spread”
         5
2       1     3
         4

For example, the Diamond Spread (a five card spread) corresponds with positions that carry the meanings of each number. One, the beginning, is the central card of this spread. It is the core issue from which the reading flows. Two, which means balance, is in this spread “what is hidden”. Once you know what is hidden, you can achieve balance. Three, which means synthesis, in the Diamond Spread is “what is revealed”. The three cards together show what you need to do to resolve your problem.

However, two more cards make up this spread. The fourth card is “what is needed for resolution”. This makes the solution, both solid and stable, much like the number four. The fifth card, which is the last one, is the resolution. Since five means conflict, the spread provides an answer in the fifth card.

The number of the card (such as Seven of Wands or High Priestess (II)) would also add meaning to its position in the spread. If a “five card” lands in the first position, then the problem is really what that card indicates. If it is in the fifth position, then the problem is deeper than what you had thought. If it is a “four card”, the problem involves stability in your life. A “two card” would indicate where or if you need balance. In the fourth position, it would of course point to the area in which you need to rectify before you can resolve your problem.

Triads in Thought (2)

In his “Book of the Law” (Liber AL vel Legis) Aleister Crowley presented the knowledge of the Three Aeons that he had received from the Stele of Revealing. Also, Crowley, the founder of Thelma, discussed his ideas of space and time. Later, he codified his concepts of the Triads in his Thoth Tarot.

Crowley divided space into threes, and named them. Nuit, the Goddess of the Infinite Space, is the periphery, with Hadit, the God of the Concentrated Point, living at her center. Their child, Ra-Hoor-Khut, comes into being when Nuit and Hadit occupy the same space at the same time. Nuit (outness) and Hadit (inness) lock in an infinite embrace, who is Ra-Hoor-Khut (both).

Then, Crowley divided the evolution of human consciousness into Three Aeons. Isis, the Great Goddess, governed the First Aeon. She represented the Maternal Principle of all life coming from woman. (In the First Aeon, the earth was made a Goddess of all life.) The Second Aeon was governed by Osiris, the Dying God. At that time, people became preoccupied with life and death. Within the Paternal Principle of Osiris was the Cycle of the Sun, rising, setting, and rising again. The Last Aeon of Horus, the Crowned and Conquering Child freed people from both the Matriarch and the Patriarch. Horus, the self-radiant every-living Sun, represented the Principle of the Child.






Meanwhile the Order of the Golden Dawn inspired Arthur Edward Waite to formulate his version of the Tarot. Reflected in his Tarot (Rider-Waite) are the Threefold aspects of humanity – the body, mind, and soul. The pregnant Empress (III) begins the creation of the body. Waiting for the birth of the soul is the Hanged Man (XII), the mind. At Journey’s end, the Fool finds wisdom in the World (XXI). First the female Empress, then the Hanged Man joins to become the World of the female surrounded by male beings of the soul.

Within the Tarot Minors, similar themes play out with the threes. The pain of the Three of Hearts is soothed by the friendship of the Three of Cups which is broken again by the Three of Hearts. Meanwhile, Three of Wands waits for his ship to come in. When it does, the Three of Pentacles celebrates his accomplishments, which leads to waiting on more ships to come in.





Footnotes:
1. Jayaram V, “The Triple Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, Hinduwebsite, 2005, 25 Sept. 2009 http://www.hinduwebsite.com/gunas.asp

2. Pg. 56, DuQuette, Lon Milo, “Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot”, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 1999.

References:

Adkins, Lesley and Roy A. Adkins, "Dictionary of Roman Religion”, New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Asborn, Kevin and Dana Burgess, “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Classical Mythology”, New York: Penguin Publishing, 2004.

Crystal, Ellie, Numbers and their Meanings, Crystalinks, 2009, 26 Sept. 2009, http://www.crystalinks.com/numerology2.html

Druy, Nevil, “The Tarot Workbook”, San Diego: Thunder Bay, 2004.

DuQuette, Lon Milo, “Understanding Aleister Crowley’s Thoth Tarot”, Rochester, Vermont: Destiny Books, 1999.

Jayaram V, “The Triple Gunas, Sattva, Rajas and Tamas, Hinduwebsite, 2005, 25 Sept. 2009, http://www.hinduwebsite.com/gunas.asp

-----, Thelemapedia, Scarlet Woman Lodge (O.T.O.), 2005, 23 Sept. 2009 http://www.thelemapedia.org/index.php/Main_Page

Wild, Leon, “The Runes Workbook”, San Diego: Thunder Bay, 2004.

Triads in Thought (1)

Embedded throughout human culture and thought is the Triad. Appearing in surprising places, the Triad reaches out to our consciousness. On the flag of Barbados is Neptune’s Trident, which is the Sea God’s three-pronged spear. The Boy Scout Movement uses three fingers in their salute, while the Girl Scout Movement uses the trefoil as their symbol. Meanwhile, the Three Tenors delighted people with their music and spawned imitations of “Three Irish Tenors”, “Three Mo’ Tenors”, and more.

In religious thought, the Triad has several symbolic meanings. The Two are joined into One. The Two join to bring forth Three. The Three form a never-ending cycle. The Triad is completion, with the whole that greater than its parts.




In Hinduism, a Triumvirate of Gods, the Trimurti, overseas the universe. Brahma is the Creator, while Vishnu is the Preserver. And finally there is Shiva the Destroyer. According to “The Bhagavad-Gita”, nature is divided into three parts called gunas. Sattva is calm peaceful energy while rajas is creative passion. Rounding them out is the third which is tamas (intense desire). “In the Divine Consciousness, they remain in a state of perfect balance. When this balance is disturbed, the process of creation begins…” (1) “The mechanics of the eternal three-way conflict is the driving force that turns the great wheel of the ever-lasting universe.” (2)

Among other religions, triads are well represented. Christians have the Trinity – God in Three Persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Among the Greeks, Hecate, a chthonic Goddess, sat at a three way crossroads. (Among, Romans she was called Trivia.) The Norns of the Norse were three – Urdhr (that which has become), Verdhandi (that which is becoming) and Skuld (that which shall be). (Norse Runes are also divided into Three Aetts.)
The Romans had several trios of Gods to oversee their State affairs. The Archaic Triad, the first, consisted of Jupiter (the Ruler of the Heavens), Mars (Guardian of the Crops), and Quirinus (God of Roman Civic Life). Later this trio was superseded by the Capitoline Triad.

The Capitoline Triad was Jupiter (the Supreme God), Juno Regina (Ruler of the State), and Minerva (Goddess of Wisdom). The Capitolium, a temple on Capitoline Hill, hosted these Gods. This grouping of a male God with two females reflects Etruscan influence (of Tinia (Supreme Deity)), Uni (his wife), and Menrva (their daughter, Goddess of Wisdom).

Meanwhile, the plebeians venerated the Aventine Trio. The temple of Ceres (the Goddess of Agriculture) on Aventine Hill, housed the City’s grain supply. This temple also hosted Liber and Libera, Gods who oversaw the fertility of the fields. These three Gods (Ceres, Liber, Libera), together, looked after the plebeians.





The Triad was also prominent in Celtic culture. For example, the Triskle (Triple Spiral) of three inter-locking circles was representative of Celtic culture. They swore by “land, sea, and sky”. The Celtic Goddess of Death, the Morrigan had triple aspects (known as her sisters Badb and Nemain). In addition, the Celts venerated the Triple Mother as a midwife of the Soul. Their Triple Spiral represented the Soul’s journey in life. The First Spiral was the conscious life, while the Second Spiral was the unconscious (dream) life. Finally, the Third Spiral was the mature soul finally freed from the body.
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Copyright Virginia Carper, Animal Teachers Enterprises