Proper numerology with tarot deck order 0-77?

[JoshF]

Proper numerology with tarot deck order & numbers to reversals?
Major arcana, wands, cups, swords, pentacles the original way to read tarot with numerology starting from 0-77? What is the exact method for accuracy?
Also, what are the numbers meaning when reversed? Does this play with number opposition? Has anyone figured it out before?

[DanielJUK]

First of all Tarot is a system in it's own right. If you are starting out, I strongly recommend studying the system and decks without any extras. That is the part to concentrate on.

People add different associations and dignities on top and numerology is ones of those but plenty of people read with no numerology. It's an optional extra rather than an essential part of tarot.

 

For that reason, there is no proper way of adding numerology. everyone adds it in differently. There are different methods and different number systems, so it's whatever way works best for you.

 

I haven't seen anyone number the cards 0 to 77 and use it that way, also there is some disagreement about how you order cards, like which suits do you put in which order after the major aracana?

 

I do look at the numerology in readings but I look for number patterns, like there are multiple numbers and then see what they collate to, like there are multiple 7's, that means something. I concentrate on the number meanings from 1 to 10 as associations. It's important how both the Majors, Minors and Court cards progress upwards and end in completion / end of cycle / wholeness. A reading with many 5 cards shows there will be some change, instability and chaos related to the reading for example.

 

Another method is to add up the cards you have in the reading. This gives you the Quint card (Quintessence or the 5th element / essence). The Majors go 0 to 21 (you need to decide what number you give Strength and Justice, depending on RWS and Marseille systems), the minors go 1 (Ace) to 10. Traditionally, Court Cards do not have a numerical value but some people put on them as Pages = 11, Knights = 12, Queens = 13 and Kings = 14. People get to the total figure differently, some people only majors, I think most people do majors + minors (but ignore courts) or you can add them all up. When you get your total, you add the numbers together until you get a new total between 1 and 22 (22 is the Fool in this calculation). So keep adding the digits till you get a number in the range you are using. Then you get a numerology value for the reading and also a quint card which sums up the reading.

 

Some people use numerology and tarot to work out their life path number (and related card), birth card and year card, you can find threads discussing those around forum already.

I have not heard of how to use reversals with numerology but I would guess the number is the same?

 

I am sure other people here have other methods, so do please share them 🙂

[JoshF]

Wiki states the correct order of the deck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rider–Waite_Tarot  among other site's. I was wondering if 0 comes first before 1 because they consider the fool to be zero to where it would have to be 77, However; its a 78 card deck and it differs per person/creator. I agree with that creators create the decks in different suit order, & make it there own way as i've got  a deck called pick your numbers and 2 suits are off from the original method.  Curious as to what the majority use when it comes to numerology as the cards number order. I.E card 37 Two Of Cups would be 1 (3+7=10, 1+0=1). Thanks four your answer - interested to hear what other have to say.

[gregory]

Don't ever forget that ANYONE can edit wikipedia - but as on this occasion they follow Waite's own Pictorial Key - fair enough.

 

Orphalese numbers the cards 0-77 in exactly the order you cite, with fool at 0. But that does assume Waite decks. Thoth would perhaps have to differ, as the courts are different. 

If you are looking for something basic - biddytarot has a page on the subject which seems reasonable.

https://www.biddytarot.com/tarot-by-numbers/

 

There are other sites that take a different line:

https://www.throughthephases.com/tarot-numerology/

 

https://labyrinthos.co/blogs/learn-tarot-with-labyrinthos-academy/tarot-and-numerology-what-do-numbers-in-tarot-mean-for-the-minor-arcana-infographic

 

As @DanielJUK says though - different people do different things - and also at different times. I don't think you will get a simple "majority answer" here.

[Mikhalia]

I agree with both @gregory and @DanielJUK, the systems are numerous and as readers, we are constantly changing. You have the three most common tarot "systems" in the RWS, the Thoth, and the Tarot de Marseille; all three differ. Once you add in numerology, astrology, EDs, and Tree of Life references it can get confusing fast.

 

The easiest solution is to pick a system and learn it first. Don't worry about which came first, which is considered the most accurate, or which one is the most popular. You want to choose the one that speaks to you or makes the most sense to you. The reason for this is that different systems have different card placements which changes their numbers. Also, it is a well-known fact that Waite obscured or straight-up changed many things in the RWS to keep the Golden Dawn knowledge secret. While Wikipedia is close to the pictorial key, the Key is not necessarily correct either to the author's actual system.

 

Once you have done this, then you can start looking to add numerology into the mix and choose again based on what makes sense to you or what speaks to you. You will find that there are many numerology systems and some can be applied to tarot while some are more difficult to make fit. 

 

Nothing in tarot has a "proper" method, system, or set of rules. Once that clicks then the actual possibilities of what you can apply or accomplish with it become endless 🙂

 

I use numerology in essentially the same way as Daniel, I look for patterns in the numbers. One other thing I do is break down the higher numbers until they are all below 10 to check for any hidden aspects that might be present.

 

I also look at which Major Arcana cards the minors are ruled by as another pattern option if there are no obvious patterns like a multitude of 7s. EX. Strength in the RWS is number 8 and the 8s of the suits are considered ruled by Strength. In the Thoth system, however, Strength is number 11 and rules based on its astrological placement the 5-7 of Swords. 

 

Using the Thoth system I draw the 5 of Swords, Strength, the 4 of Cups, and the Priestess plus other random cards that don't tie in. The 5 of Swords is ruled by Strength, the 4 of Cups is ruled by The Priestess, and since this is the Thoth system Strength is 11 (above 10) which (1+1=2) breaks down to the Priestess. There is my hidden number of 2 and also the hidden card happened to be drawn as well in this example so that would be my hidden aspect card and number. Even if I had not drawn the Priestess I would reach the Priestess regardless because we had one card ruled by Strength, plus Strength itself and we had the 4 of cups which is ruled by the moon and the Priestess rules the moon. All of this breaks down to the simple number of 2!

 

I am sure my method does not fit any known system and is pretty convoluted but it makes sense to me, and I am sure someone else will read it and think "Are you crazy?"

[Misterei]

On 4/30/2023 at 8:11 AM, JoshF said:

Wiki states the correct order of the deck https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rider–Waite_Tarot  among other site's.

@JoshF

Not sure where you are in your Tarot journey ... but much of the free on-line stuff about Tarot is worth what you pay for it.

Many beginners do best with buying a decent book and stick with that until they learn the basics.

 

The only reason I've ever had to number the cards from 0-77 is when I have a client who wants lottery numbers.

And I DISCOURAGE this type of client and mostly avoid them, although a few sneak through.

 

Otherwise there are many number systems in Tarot: Intuitive, Pythagorean, Kabbala, Astrological, etc. etc. etc.  @DanielJUK gave a good summary of the common methods most readers end up applying in one way or another. And of course, there are more exotic systems out there but very few ppl actually use them.

 

I use numerology A LOT ... but mostly based on 1-10 and theosophical addition (i.e. digital root of numbers larger than 10). I've also studied Pythagorean, Vedic, and Kabbala numerology ... but this is over 40+ years. I didn't start there };>

[JoshF]

I found this helpful http://tarot-theroyalroad.blogspot.com/2011/07/page-of-pentacles.html

 I just took the ace-10 as 1-10 and Kings,Queens, pentacles, and knights I used the website numbers to back of the court cards.

[JoshF]

As for the reversals - i've been creating my own statistics as I haven't seen this done anywhere.

[BradGad]

I am sure many will disagree, but for me the order of the suits is clear: coins > swords > wands > cups