The MAJOR ARCANUM consists of 22 cards.

The word arcanum is defined as a mystery, remedy, or elixir and comes from the Latin term arcānus, meaning “secret”.
These secrets can be seen as the secrets of life, the secrets of living, the secrets of observation of nature. They refer to the natural and universal laws that constitute our reality. Each of these cards represents a different aspect of this nature and, thus, of our consciousness — of the self. These aspects are represented as characters, as archetypes. They can be understood as the virtues of life personified. The numbers of the cards create a sequence in which these virtues build upon the foundations of each other and are in alignment with the numerology of other esoteric teachings, which all inherently carry the same symbolism.

When we look at the cards of the Major Arcana individually, they can help us connect and reflect upon a certain one of these aspects or virtues. When we put them together, we create the bigger picture and find the story they are telling. In total, the 22 Major Arcana cards represent unity and wholeness. When we focus on a single card, we are noticing the awareness it highlights and then integrating it back into the perspective of the holistic view.

Connecting to the characters of the Major Arcanum can help us align with the frequencies of life, of nature, of ourselves and bring them into harmonious cooperation with each other. The tarot cards represent the essence of life and the story that is written into our DNA — into our very being of existence. The term TAROT stems from the ancient Egyptian word TAR, meaning path and ROS meaning king or royal. The TAROT indicates the “royal path” and its purpose can further be derived from the ancient Egyptian alphabet. The letter T carries the symbolic meaning of a loaf of bread (manna), which symbolizes spiritual nourishment. The letter R carries the symbolic meaning of a mouth, which can be used to consume the bread/manna. Thus, the Ta-Rot, the royal path, is the path that feeds the soul.

The MINOR ARCANUM consists of 56 cards that are elaborations of the first 22 Major Arcana.

They are categorized into different elemental suits and symbols. Typically, these are :

EARTH as the suit of SWORDS
AIR as the suit of PENTACLES
WATER as the suit of CUPS
FIRE as the suit of WANDS

Modern tarot readers may refer to the element of earth as pentacles and air as swords, however the Egyptian tarot views this as a modern manipulation and interprets them as mentioned above. In any case each suit only portrays the primary elemental association to begin with, before integrating the revelations into all of the other elements as well. These elements of the Minor Arcanum represent the elements we find in our natural world, as well as the different planes of being that they each represent (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual).

Each elemental suit contains 10 number cards and 4 court cards. These cards, the Minor Arcana (minor secrets) describe more detailed aspects. Each card is like the microcosmos to the macrocosmos of the entire suit, and to the tarot as a whole. With these we also want to consider the sequence they appear in, in find the story they are telling together.

Connecting with the tarot cards is a tool to activate certain areas of the psyche and spirit, which are activated through the colors, symbols and meanings. When we are asking questions and seeking guidance, meditating upon the cards can help us to move beyond the usual point of view that our ego is in. Each card is like a mantra that gives us access to a piece of wisdom, once we embody its frequency. Understanding the characters of the cards and how they play out in our life and inside of us can initiate us into revelations and open up the potential for creative manifestation.