How many cards are in a Tarot deck?

April 7, 2024
Estimated reading time: 19 minutes

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Tarot is a divination tool that has fascinated humanity for centuries, offering insights into the past, present and future. The tarot deck Thelema Tarot, with its Art Nouveau aesthetic and deep symbolism, is a perfect example of the richness and complexity of this practice. Composed of 78 cards, it is divided into Major and Minor Arcana, each offering a unique window into understanding the mysteries of life.

Main Conclusions

  • The Thelema tarot deck is made up of 78 cards.
  • There are two main groups of cards: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.
  • The Major Arcana are made up of 22 cards, representing significant archetypes.
  • The Minor Arcana are made up of 56 cards, divided into four suits: Cups, Swords, Coins and Wands.
  • Each suit of the Minor Arcana contains 14 cards, including an Ace, cards numbered 2 through 10, and four court cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Page).

1. Major Arcana

In the Major Arcana, you will find 22 cards, each with a deep and unique meaning. These cards are numbered from 0 to 21 and represent archetypes or significant themes in your personal and spiritual journey. These include well-known cards such as The Fool, The Magician, The Empress, and many others.

Each Major Arcana card is a gateway to understanding important aspects of your life.

Here is a list of some of the most iconic cards in the Major Arcana:

  • The Fool
  • The Wizard
  • The Empress
  • The Emperor
  • The Lovers
  • The Tower
  • The Trial

Remember, the interpretation of each card may vary depending on your personal situation and the context in which it is read.

2. Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana are an essential part of the tarot deck, comprising 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Swords, Pentacles and Wands. Each suit has 14 cards, which include an Ace, cards numbered 2 through 10, and four court cards: King, Queen, Knight and Page.

The diversity of the Minor Arcana reflects the nuances of the human experience, covering everything from emotional aspects to everyday challenges and achievements.

The Minor Arcana help to detail the reading, offering more specific insights into the situation or issue under analysis.

Here is an overview of the suits and their basic associations:

  • Cups: Emotions, relationships, connection.
  • Swords: Conflicts, challenges, action.
  • Diamonds: Materiality, finances, achievement.
  • Sticks: Energy, creativity, initiative.

Each suit and card within the Minor Arcana has its own meaning and symbolism, contributing to the richness and depth of tarot readings.

3. The Fool

The Fool card marks the beginning of a journey in the tarot, representing freedom, spontaneity and the ability to take risks. It's an invitation to adventure, without fear of the unknown. This card suggests that one should embrace new experiences with an open mind, but it also warns of the need to consider the consequences of one's actions.

The combination of the Fool card and Justice in the tarot indicates a journey that requires a balance between the freedom to explore and the responsibility to make considered choices.

Here are some points to consider about the Fool card:

  • It represents the beginning of a journey
  • Symbolizes freedom and spontaneity
  • Encourages taking calculated risks
  • Alerts to the importance of considering the consequences

4. The Magician

The Magician is a card that symbolizes the beginning of a journey, representing the ability to transform ideas into action. This card is a reminder of the importance of trusting in your own abilities and ability to make things happen.

  • Main meanings: Beginning, creativity, skill.
  • Positive aspects: Confidence, versatility, communication skills.
  • Negative aspects: Manipulation, indecision, lack of direction.

The Magician card encourages you to take the initiative and use your creativity to overcome challenges.

This card, the third in the traditional tarot order, paves the way for discovery and exploration of new possibilities. It is an invitation to explore your potential and to remind yourself that you have the power to shape your destiny.

5. The Empress

The Empress card in the tarot is one of the most fascinating and rich in symbolism. It represents femininity, creation and abundance. She is a maternal figure, symbolizing care and nourishment.

  • The Empress is associated with nature and fertility.
  • It also symbolizes beauty, love and harmony.
  • It is linked to sensuality and material comfort.

The presence of this card in a reading may indicate the need to take care of yourself and others, promoting an environment of love and harmony.

This card encourages the expression of creativity and connection with nature, suggesting that one should look for beauty and pleasure in the little things in life.

6. The Emperor

After exploring the figure of the Empress, it's time to get to know The Emperor, a card that symbolizes authority, structure and power. This card represents the father figure, order and stability, being crucial in the search for security and in building solid foundations for the future.

  • Main meanings: Authority, stability, protection.
  • Challenges: May indicate rigidity or over-control.
  • Opportunities: It offers the chance to build lasting structures in life.

The presence of The Emperor in a tarot spread suggests that one should focus on organization and leadership, while always maintaining justice and integrity. It is a time to make firm decisions and establish clear rules.

7. The Lovers

The Lovers card in Tarot is deeply associated with choices and relationships. It represents a crucial moment of decision, where the heart and mind must be in harmony. This card is a reminder of the importance of human relationships and the need for balance between personal desires and responsibilities.

The choice you make under the influence of the Lovers can have a significant impact on your life.

Here are some key points about this letter:

  • It symbolizes love, union and partnerships.
  • It suggests the need to make an important choice.
  • It can indicate a moment of harmony or conflict, depending on the surrounding cards.

Remembering that each Tarot card has multiple interpretations and the context in which it appears is crucial to understanding its full meaning.

8. The Tower

The Tower card in Tarot is a powerful symbol of transformation. It represents moments of rupture, where old structures are destroyed to make way for new ways of being and thinking. This card suggests that it is necessary to face drastic and unexpected changes with courage.

The Tower can be a warning to prepare for a significant change in your life, which, although it may seem challenging at first, is essential for your personal growth.

The combination of the Tower with other cards, such as Justice, indicates the importance of dealing with the consequences of past decisions. These situations must be approached with emotional balance and rationality, seeking fair and balanced solutions.

  • Main meanings: Sudden change, destruction of old structures, need for reconstruction.
  • Advice: Face changes with courage and seek balance and justice in decisions.

9. The Trial

After exploring the Judgement card, it is crucial to understand that this card symbolizes a moment of reflection and important decision in your life. It represents the need for a fair and impartial assessment of your actions and the consequences they bring.. This card may appear in readings related to legal issues, disputes or even ethical challenges that require a balanced resolution.

The Judgement card encourages you to do some deep introspection in order to make decisions that truly reflect your values and principles.

Here are some key points about how this card can influence other areas of your tarot reading:

  • It may indicate that you are facing a situation of injustice or legal difficulties.
  • It suggests seeking professional guidance or help to deal with these issues.
  • Encourages an honest and objective assessment of your spiritual beliefs and practices.
  • Remember the importance of making fair and balanced decisions, taking responsibility for your choices.

10. Six of Cups

When you come to the Six of Cups, you should be aware that this card symbolizes nostalgia, childhood memories and the happiness derived from past moments. It is a letter that evokes the innocence and purity of the first years of life.

The interpretation of the Six of Cups can vary, but it often points to a reunion with someone from the past or a return to places that bring back happy memories.

Here is a brief list of what this card can represent:

  • Nostalgia and happy memories
  • Reunions with people from the past
  • Innocence and purity
  • Joy and happiness derived from memories

Remembering that each tarot card has multiple interpretations is crucial. The Six of Cups is no exception, and its reading can vary depending on the context of the spread and the cards that accompany it.

11. Seven of Cups

When you reach the Seven of Cups, you come across a card that symbolizes choices and illusions. It's a time to reflect on what you really want.. This card may indicate that you are faced with several options and that a decision needs to be made, but be careful, not all options are what they seem.

  • Main meanings: Dreams, illusion, choices.
  • Advice: Evaluate your options carefully.
  • Challenge: Distinguish between what is real and what is illusion.

Remember that all that glitters is not gold. Carefully evaluating the available options is crucial to making the right choice.

12. Eight of Cups

Upon arriving at Eight of Cups, you come across a card that symbolizes the search for a new path or direction in life. It is a time of transition, where you must consider what really matters and what can be left behind.

  • The card suggests introspection and reflection.
  • It indicates the need to abandon situations that no longer serve you.
  • It encourages you to move forward, in search of new horizons.

This letter is an invitation to look inside yourself and question what is truly important in your life.

The interpretation of the Eight of Cups can vary depending on the context of the reading, but it generally points to the need for change and personal growth. It is a reminder that sometimes it is necessary to leave behind what is comfortable in order to find what truly fulfills us.

13. Nine of Cups

You have reached the Nine of Cups, a card that many consider to be of great auspiciousness. It represents satisfaction, happiness and the fulfillment of desires. It is a time of celebration and gratitude.

This card encourages you to reflect on what brings you true happiness and to work towards achieving it.

Here are some key points about the Nine of Cups:

  • It symbolizes joy and contentment.
  • It suggests that the heart's desires are about to be fulfilled.
  • It is a reminder to appreciate the blessings present in life.

When interpreting this card, one should consider the context of the other cards in the deck and the current situation. The Nine of Cups is a positive sign, but the journey to achieving this complete happiness may require reflection and effort.

14. Ten of Cups

The Ten of Cups is a card that symbolizes joy, complete happiness and emotional fulfillment. When this card appears in a reading, it is a very positive sign, indicating that you are in a moment of great satisfaction in your personal life.

This card represents perfect harmony in relationships and at home.

  • Family happiness
  • The realization of a dream
  • Peace and harmony in the home environment

The Ten of Cups is a reminder that happy moments should be cherished and that true happiness is found in deep emotional connections.

This card encourages the search for happiness in the little things and to maintain healthy and loving personal relationships.

15. Jack of Hearts

After exploring the cards that represent happy moments and emotional challenges, we arrive at Jack of Hearts. This card symbolizes sensitivity, creativity and openness to new emotional experiences. It is a messenger of good news in the field of feelings and relationships.

The Page of Cups invites you to listen to your heart and follow your intuition.

This card can also indicate the appearance of a new person in your life who will bring positive emotions or a new phase of emotional growth. It is important to be open to these new experiences, allowing sensitivity and creativity to guide the way.

  • Main meanings: Sensitivity, creativity, new emotional experiences.
  • Advice: Be open to new relationships and experiences.
  • Challenge: Don't let the fear of getting hurt stop you from having new experiences.

16. Knight of Cups

The Knight of Cups is a card that symbolizes the arrival of an emotional message or a loving proposal. Represents a romantic, dreamy individual willing to follow his heart.. This card suggests that one should be open to new emotional experiences or opportunities to explore deeper feelings.

You should pay attention to the messages that arrive, as they may bring important news to your emotional life.

Here are some characteristics associated with the Knight of Cups:

  • Romantic and dreamy
  • Messenger of emotions
  • Love proposals
  • Willing to follow the heart

This card encourages you to explore the emotional side of life, opening yourself up to new possibilities and loving experiences. It is an invitation to let your feelings flow and follow what your heart dictates.

17. Queen of Hearts

After exploring the vibrant energies of the Knight of Cups, you now come across the Queen of Cups, a card that symbolizes deep emotional understanding and empathy. This card encourages you to look within yourself and get in touch with your innermost feelings.

The Queen of Cups represents a motherly figure who offers unconditional love and support. She is someone who understands the emotions of others without judgment and with great depth.

The presence of this card in a spread may indicate the need to take better care of yourself and those around you, promoting an environment of understanding and mutual support.

Next, you will find the King of Cups, who brings with him wisdom and emotional authority. Together, they form a powerful pair in the suit of Cups, representing the deepest and most mature aspects of love and human relationships.

18. Two of Swords

THE Two of Swords is a card that symbolizes the need to make difficult decisions, often involving a dilemma or impasse. This card suggests that it is necessary to find a balance between two opposing paths or conflicting ideas.

Careful consideration should be given before making any decision, as the consequences can be significant.

Here are some key points about the Two of Swords:

  • It represents dilemmas and difficult decisions.
  • It suggests the need for balance and consideration.
  • It indicates a moment of impasse, where it is not easy to move forward.

Remember that in moments of indecision, it is crucial to seek clarity and not rush into choosing a path. Patience and reflection are valuable allies on this journey.

19. Three of Swords

The Three of Swords card is often associated with feelings of grief and loss. This card symbolizes a heart pierced by three swords., representing conflicts and disappointments in love. It is not surprising that many people see it as a bad omen, but it is important to remember that each tarot card has multiple interpretations.

The pain represented by the Three of Swords can also be seen as an opportunity for growth and overcoming.

Here are some points to consider about this letter:

  • Represents emotional challenges.
  • It may indicate a need to face reality.
  • Encourages reflection and inner healing.

Remember that tarot is a tool for introspection that can help you see the message of this card in a different light.

20. Four of Swords

The Four of Swords Tarot card symbolizes a time of rest, reflection, and preparation. After the challenges represented by the previous cards, this card suggests that it is necessary to take a break to recharge your batteries and gain perspective.

It is an invitation to meditate and reorganize your thoughts before moving forward.

  • The need for rest
  • Reflection on previous steps
  • Preparing for future challenges

This card reminds us that sometimes stopping is as important as taking action. We should not underestimate the value of a moment of calm and introspection.

21. Five of Swords

The letter Five of Swords symbolizes conflict and change. It is a time of tension, where one must evaluate which battles are worth fighting. This card may indicate victory, but at a high cost.

Victory can be bittersweet, and it is essential to consider whether the price to pay is really worth it.

Here are some key interpretations of the Five of Swords card:

  • Conflict and dispute
  • Victory at a high cost
  • Need to reevaluate battles
  • Imminent change

Remember that in tarot, each card has multiple interpretations and context is crucial to an accurate reading. The Five of Swords is no exception, and its message can vary significantly depending on the surrounding cards and the situation at hand.

22. Six of Swords

The Six of Swords card symbolizes a transition, representing the passage from turbulent waters to calmer ones. It is a time of change and progress, where one must leave behind what no longer serves them.

This card suggests a physical or emotional journey or movement toward a better future.

  • Main meanings: Change, progress, transition.
  • Positive aspects: Relief, improvement of conditions.
  • Negative aspects: Nostalgia, longing for the past.

The interpretation of this card in the context of a reading can vary greatly, depending on the cards that accompany it and the specific situation of the querent.

23. Seven of Swords

Upon reaching the letter Seven of Swords, you are faced with a symbol of cunning and strategy. This card may indicate the need to act cautiously, perhaps even somewhat surreptitiously, to achieve your goals.

The main message of this card is that sometimes it is necessary to be cunning and strategic to overcome challenges.

Here are some key features of this card:

  • Cunning: The ability to find innovative solutions.
  • Strategy: The need to carefully plan the steps to follow.
  • Caution: The importance of acting discreetly to avoid unnecessary conflicts.

This card, inserted in the context of the Minor Arcana, is part of a set of 56 cards that are divided into four suits: Cups, Swords, Pentacles and Wands. Each suit contains 14 cards, including an Ace, cards numbered from 2 to 10, and four court cards: King, Queen, Knight and Page. The Seven of Swords, specifically, belongs to the suit of Swords, known for addressing themes related to conflict, challenges and overcoming.

24. Eight of Swords

We come to the Eight of Swords, a card that often represents a situation of impasse or feeling trapped. This card suggests that a conscious effort is needed to free oneself from mental constraints.

  • Interpretation: Feeling trapped, mental restrictions, impasse.
  • Advice: Seek different perspectives, open your mind to new possibilities.

The key To overcome the challenges presented by the Eight of Swords lies in the ability to recognize one's own limitations and work to overcome them.

This card is a reminder that sometimes the most difficult barriers to overcome are the ones we place on ourselves. It is an invitation to reflect on the beliefs and attitudes that may be limiting personal progress.

25. Nine of Swords

After the Eight of Swords card, we find the Nine of Swords. This card is often associated with worry, anxiety, and fear. It is a reminder that sometimes our greatest enemies are the negative thoughts we allow to inhabit our minds.

The Nine of Swords draws attention to the importance of facing our inner fears and overcoming them.

Next, we have the Ten of Swords, Jack of Swords, Knight of Swords, Queen of Swords and King of Swords, completing the suit of Swords. Each of these cards has its own unique meaning, contributing to the richness and complexity of the tarot deck.

  • Ten of Swords: It represents the end of a difficult cycle, but also the beginning of a new phase.
  • Jack of Spades: Symbolizes curiosity and the ability to question and learn.
  • Knight of Swords: Represents action and determination.
  • Queen of Spades: Symbolizes clarity of thought and independence.
  • King of Swords: Represents authority and intellectual power.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in a traditional tarot deck?

A deck of traditional tarot consists of 78 cards.

How are the cards in a tarot deck divided?

The cards are divided into two main groups: Major Arcana, which are 22 cards, and Minor Arcana, which comprise 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Swords, Pentacles and Wands.

What do the Major Arcana represent?

The Major Arcana represent archetypes or significant themes in an individual's spiritual and personal journey, including cards such as The Fool, The Magician, The Empress, among others.

What are the suits of the Minor Arcana?

The suits of the Minor Arcana are Cups, Swords, Pentacles and Wands.

How many cards does each suit of the Minor Arcana have?

Each suit of the Minor Arcana has 14 cards, including an Ace, cards numbered 2 through 10, and four court cards: King, Queen, Knight, and Page.

What is Cartomancy?

Cartomancy is the Divination method that uses cards from a common deck as Oracle, where each suit has its specific qualities and is related to a particular subject, such as love or creation.

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