Tarot readings can seem like a mysterious world filled with unfamiliar terms and concepts. Newcomers often find themselves lost in a sea of esoteric vocabulary. This post aims to demystify the language of Tarot, breaking down common jargon.
- Arcana: The two main divisions of the Tarot deck, Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The word ‘arcana’ is Latin for ‘mysteries’ or ‘secrets’.
- Major Arcana: The 22 trump cards in a Tarot deck, each representing significant life themes or archetypes.
- Minor Arcana: The 56 suit cards in a Tarot deck are divided into four suits (usually Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands), each with 14 cards representing aspects of daily life.
- Majors-Only Reading: A Tarot reading using only the Major Arcana cards, often focusing on significant life themes or spiritual growth.
- Court Cards: The face cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) within the Minor Arcana represent personality types or specific individuals.
- Spread: A predetermined arrangement of Tarot cards for a reading, indicating the positions and meanings of each card.
- Elemental Dignities: The relationships and interactions between cards based on their elemental associations (fire, water, air, earth) in a spread.
- Querent: The person asking the question.
- Reversals: When Tarot cards appear upside-down in a spread, they are often interpreted as indicating blocked energy or the opposite of the card’s upright meaning.
- Significator: A card chosen to represent the querent (the person seeking the reading) in a Tarot spread.
- Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS): Refers to a specific Tarot deck designed by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, which has become one of the most popular and widely used Tarot decks. This deck was published by the Rider Company in 1909.
- Quintessence: A supplementary card sometimes added to a Tarot spread, representing the overall energy or outcome of the reading.
- Pips: Another term for the numbered cards in the Minor Arcana.
- Scrying: A method of divination involving gazing at a reflective surface (such as a crystal ball) or the imagery of Tarot cards to gain insights or predictions.
Shuffle: The process of mixing and randomising the Tarot deck before a reading to ensure an unbiased selection of cards.- LWB (Little White Book): The small booklet often included with Tarot decks, providing basic interpretations and instructions for use.
These are just a few examples, as Tarot has a rich vocabulary depending on the traditions being followed by the reader.