Tarot cards
A set of seventy-eight playing cards decorated with a variable set of fantastic and mystical diagrams, symbols, and illustrations. The earliest deck still in existence is dated circa 1432. Researcher Norman Schwarz has dated the Tarot to between 312 and 64 B.C., from various clues such as the inclusion of earlier astronomical constellations (such as the Lovers and the King).
The cards are grouped into the Major Arcana (twenty-two trump cards) and the Minor Arcana (fifty-six suit cards). The four suits consist of fourteen cards each, ace through ten, page, knight, queen, and king. These cards were first in use in the mid-1400s and have been used ever since by gullible persons to cast fortunes.
The modern deck of fifty-two cards used in gambling was derived from the Tarot deck, the suits being transmuted so that “swords” became spades, “cups” became hearts, “wands” became clubs, and “coins” (or “pentacles”) became diamonds. (In Spain, these suits were “palomas,” “rosas,” “conejos,” and “dineros”; in France, “piques,” “cœur,” “trèfles,” and “carreaux.”) These are the cards that were called the Minor Arcana. Originally, there were four “court” cards, but the knight (or cavalli) card was dropped in the modern deck, resulting in 4x13 cards, while the Tarot retained 4x14.
The Major Arcana of twenty-two cards are individual figures:
0 The Fool
I The Magician
II The High Priestess
III The Empress
IV The Emperor
V The Pope
VI The Lovers
VII The Chariot
VIII Justice
IX The Hermit
X The Wheel of Fortune
XI Strength
XII The Hanged Man
XIII Death
XIV Temperance
XV The Devil
XVI The House of God
XVII The Star
XVIII The Moon
XIX The Sun
XX Judgement
XXI The World
(In some versions of the Tarot, the Fool is given the number XXI and the World becomes XXII. There is no known difference in accuracy between the two systems as far as prophetic value is concerned.)
For use as a divinatory device, the Tarot deck is dealt out in various patterns and interpreted by a gifted “reader.” The fact that the deck is not dealt out into the same pattern fifteen minutes later is rationalized by the occultists by claiming that in that short span of time, a person's fortune can change, too. That would seem to call for rather frequent readings if the system is to be of any use whatsoever.
The form of deck most used today is the Golden Dawn, designed by A. E. Waite, a mystic, and drawn by artist Pamela Coleman Smith about 1900. The art of reading the cards has been referred to as the “ars notoria.”
Numerology
The mystical attraction of basic qualities of numbers resulted in strange theories about magical powers that could be invoked or discovered by carrying out certain arithmetical operations. Such a belief, based on an idea of Pythagoras that all facts can be reduced to numbers, results from a failure to understand the true nature of the concept of number.
In applying numerology to a person's name, for example, there are many different systems in this “art” for assigning numbers to the letters of the alphabet, adding them up and arriving at a series of qualities, characteristics, and specific facts that are said to apply to that person. The dubious nature of the practice becomes obvious.
Three of the most popular systems among many, many such systems to determine “name numbers” are shown here:
A = 1 1 1
B = 2 5 2
C = 3 6 3
D = 4 9 4
E = 5 3 5
F = 8 8 6
G = 3 8 7
H = 5 3 8
I = 1 9 9
J = 1 9 1
K = 2 6 2
L = 3 5 3
M = 4 7 4
N = 5 7 5
O = 7 1 6
P = 8 5 7
Q = 1 6 8
R = 2 9 9
S = 3 3 1
T = 4 8 2
U = 6 8 3
V = 6 3 4
W = 6 3 5
X = 0 9 6
Y = 1 6 7
Z = 7 5 8
The third column of numbers represents what is known as the Pythagorean system. All of these systems require the user to add together each of the digits representing each letter in the name, then to add the digits of the resulting number, and repeat that process until a number less than 10 has been arrived at. This final digit is interpreted according to the following table:
1 —— action, aggression, ambition, leadership, purpose
2 —— balance, passivity, receptivity
3 —— brilliance, gaiety, versatility
4 —— dullness, endurance, steadiness
5 —— adventure, instability, sexuality
6 —— dependability, domesticity, harmony
7 —— knowledge, mystery, solitariness
8 —— material success, worldly involvement
9 —— great achievement, inspiration, spirituality
It can be seen that there is no standard and no consistency in numerology——let alone rationality——but it provides an easy method for the naive person to play a satisfying game without having to apply any intellectual powers to the matter.
Gematria is a form of numerology which employs the Hebrew alphabet, in which all the letters also have numerical values.
Modern numerologists, quick to adopt new technologies to prove and enlarge old claptrap, have now turned to a computer number system, the American Standard for Coded Interchange of Information (ASCII), for further deep meaning of the alphabet.
2006-09-29 03:36:34
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answer #1
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answered by Chaine de lumière 7
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I have a bit of a different take on the Tarot than most people. I'm Pagan and I do read the cards. However, I see them as a tool to see what is going on in your life, not an infallible indicator of your future. The gist of the Tarot is, based on what is going on right now, this is what COULD happen. The real trick of it, though, is not just reading what you want to see in the cards. I find the Tarot useful for pointing out things to me that perhaps I'd rather not admit about myself or my situation. Being honest with yourself is the most important thing. The Tarot can be very useful in showing you where you are making mistakes and what you can do to get back on track -- if you will admit it. To me, this is the value of the Tarot.
2016-03-18 02:35:50
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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