If the Tarot was a song, what tune would it have? Would it be pop, reggae, rock, metal, folk, medieval, New-Age, or psychedelic?

Regardless of the style of music, I initially thought if the Tarot was a song, then the Major Arcana would be the chorus and I could see the four suits as the verses — with each stanza having a different story to tell. But when I mulled it over, I realised each suit needed its own musical theme.

I imagine the verse for Cups as a moody, soul-searching, dreamy piece. The verse for Pentacles would also be fairly slow and steady. The one for Swords would be dramatic — its music varying from an atmosphere of despair and confusion to a thunderous, galloping finale reflecting the image of the Knight of Swords. The final verse would be for the Wands — an adventurous, inspiring piece of music.

I don’t think the Major Arcana could be a song in itself — each card would demand its own identity — and 22 rambling verses with their own unique tunes would be a bit of a problem. Perhaps it would be better if the Major Arcana was a folk dance, with The Fool parading around the dance floor, meeting and greeting each of the characters of the trump cards as they stood in a circle, patiently waiting their turn. Well, most would be waiting quietly, it wouldn’t take long for the Charioteer to become restless, and I don’t think the Devil would show any restraint — he’d be making lewd remarks and causing havoc (and merriment) at every opportunity. And as for the Tower…there’d be chaos around that card from the start!

I suppose each character of the Major Arcana requires its own song and its own dance. It would be a collection of music and movement that was separate, but which comes together to create a symphony of awareness and insight.

In the same way, Tarot is a collective group of 78 separate identities that blends into a harmonious system of divination when the Tarot readers are in tune with themselves and the cards.