When you first start out learning the tarot card meanings, you’ve probably questioned yourself: “how on earth am I ever going to remember 78 tarot card meanings?!?”.
Well, I did, and not just once. But there is a magic word that helped me a lot when I was a Tarot beginner: Numerology! If you can learn the basics of Numerology, it will kickstart your tarot practice.
Numerology is the study of the spiritual significance and symbolism of numbers.
This guide will give you an easy way to blend Tarot and Numerology and improve your Tarot reading skills.
3,2,1……Let’s go!
Table of Contents
Tarot and Numerology: Keeping it Simple
The best way to learn the correspondences between Tarot and Numerology is to keep it simple and begin with the digits.
If it’s been a long time since math class or if math was never your favorite, recall that digits are the singular version of numbers. Dating back to ancient times, they were the numbers that could be counted on fingers, which also gives fingers that name.
Some consider them 1 through 10 but for our purposes here I will reduce the 10 to its digits, 1 and 0. So 0 through 9 are the digits we deal with first.
Rather than memorizing seventy-eight numerical combinations, right away we can see it is easier to deal with the meanings of the numbers 0 through 9.
0 – Beginnings, purity, innocence
1 – Manifestation, creativity, and attraction
2 – Balance, unity, polarity
3 – Abundance, fertility, expansion
4 – Structure, stability, sturdiness
5 – Shock wave, challenge, conflict
6 – Communication, harmony, mutual aid
7 – Stagnation, introspection, reflection
8 – Stability, protection, sturdiness
9 – Expansion, growth
To make this simple and personify the numbers, I have outlined their meaning as a story of sorts using the Major Arcana cards 0 to 9.
And now onwards to learn each of the meanings of the numbers as told through the Major Arcana cards!
Zero – the Fool- Absence and Openness
Let’s start with Zero. In most versions of the Tarot, the Major Arcana begins with Zero, the Fool. If you understand the archetype of the Fool, then you understand the power of Zero.
But if you don’t that’s ok. Let’s reverse-engineer this interpretation. Zero is round, it forms a circle and thus represents totality and cycles. Yet it’s also empty and represents emptiness, openness, and nothingness.
Zero is the beginning. It is purity and innocence. It is defined by absence.
You could easily get lost meditating on the concept of Zero and that can be a fun way into the world of Numerology. You may even imagine yourself as the Fool while you meditate on the open void of the journey that is Zero.
One – the Magician – Attraction and Manifestation
One is the individual. If you know it as the Magician, then you know it is the power of the mind, creativity, and attraction. Where does manifestation begin? It begins with One.
Being of One mind about a subject rather than divided. Singular focus. It is an individual act.
One is the starting point, the first number to be defined. It is the definition and formation given to open thought (Zero).
Two – the High Priestess – Power of Polarity
One eventually attracts another and therefore we have Two.
Two is balance. This is also symbolized by the number Two of the Major Arcana, the High Priestess. She balances the opposites: the intuitive and the rational, inner and outer, and the hidden and the revealed.
Two is also unity. It’s polarity, two ones trying to understand each other, like two people trying to figure each other out.
From a couple, from Two, comes expansion. We put our heads together and develop ideas or launch a business. A couple comes together and creates a baby.
From Two comes also the tension of polarity. This polarity is broken when a third factor is introduced. This is like a triangle creating stability because of the third point. So then we have Three.
Three – the Empress – Abundance and Expansion
Three is abundance, fertility, and expansion. Three is the Empress, who shows the fruits of the labor of Two.
With all these resources and abundance, family and progress you’ve generated, you now need boundaries and definition.
Three is like the wealth you’ve amassed from sharing your work by blending One and Two. Wealth needs to be put to good use. Who decides what to do with the wealth and abundance? Boundaries, structure, and protection are needed.
Four – the Emperor – Strength and Protection
This is where Four comes in. Four is the Emperor. The guardian and overseer who delegates boundaries to keep things in order.
Four is another point of balance. Now, two two’s, four is able to create something stable. Four is a house where two was a plank of wood, held up at both ends. Four is a table. Four is sturdy.
Four is contentment. Four is also complacent. All the wealth in the bank, everything solid and protected, life gets a little flat.
Five – the Hierophant – Challenge and Growth
Luckily, Five comes next. Five emerges on the scene and shakes the table Four was lazily resting on. Five is the shock wave, the challenge, the conflict.
Five is the Hierophant, challenging you to live up to your higher ideals and not just settle for basic creature comforts.
Five is also the number associated with the Pentacles which are an entire suit (more on this in a moment). Thus the number Five represents the four natural elements, Air, Fire, Water and Earth as well as Akasha, the Spirit element.
Five brings growth through disruption.
Six – Balance and Harmony – the Lovers
All of this disruption becomes chaotic. Six is the number of communication and harmony. The Lovers, bringing balance to each other’s lives, helping to settle the problems through mutual aid.
Six is also considered a mystical number. It is the combination of the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine as explained in many theories and even mentioned in Dan Brown’s book The DaVinci Code.
In this book, the six-pointed star, also known as the Star of David, is explained as a combination of Feminine and Masculine principles.
The upright and inverted triangles together that create a six-pointed star represents this balance of masculine and feminine.
Seven – The Chariot – Spirituality, Healing and Growth
After the harmony and balance of the number Six, Seven awakes desire within us. It tells you that there is more to this life and tempts you to pursue a goal.
Seven in Tarot is also a number of stagnation and introspection. The Chariot asks “What do I need to change before I can move forward?”. Which direction should he go?
Therefore, before chasing your dreams, first, take time to venture deep into your subconscious mind and try to connect with your higher self.
Seven is also known as a lucky number and in some religions is associated with positive mystical experiences.
Eight – Strength – Infinity and Balance
Eight is a number of infinity because of its shape. It is a number that reminds you that everything comes full circle. This is also depicted in the Strength tarot card by the infinity sign.
Eight is associated with abundance and expansion, stability, and securing your foundation. It is a number of harvest times and to some, the fall of the year.
Analyzing this number, we have the power of Two repeated Four times. So the power of unity and polarity, times Four, the power of stability, protection, and sturdiness.
Nine – The Hermit- Mysticism, Advancement and Expansion
Nine has great significance. With Nine things are almost perfect, almost complete. Nine is three Threes and thus has the magic and meaning of expansion and growth three times over.
The Hermit is numbered Nine. The Hermit brings us on a powerful journey to transformation from which we remember our inner power and advance spiritually and ideologically. The Hermit is not about loneliness, it is about the power of the individual to follow a unique path forward.
Ten – the Wheel of Fortune – Completion and Renewal
Then we arrive at Ten. What is Ten? The combination of One and Zero. The Fool and the Magician together but also the Wheel of Fortune. A reminder that anything is possible.
Tarot and Numerology: the Major Arcana
As you can see from this outline, each single-digit has at least one Major Arcana card associated with it.
And here comes the good news: you can apply what you know about the single digits to all Major Arcana Tarot cards. So, there is no need to learn double-digit numerology.
There are a few ways to do this, but we will keep it simple. Just add together the digits, to interpret the single number of the card and its meaning.
For example, the card numbered seventeen is the Star. You can add the One and Seven to create the meaning of Eight (1+7=8).
When you know the single number of a card, you can also see the interconnection among cards.
For example, the Lovers card is numbered Six. It denotes ideal love between two people and also the higher wisdom they share. It is compassion and balance and a healthy relationship through the balance of opposites.
Now consider the Devil. Traditionally, the images on the Lovers and Devil card correlate to each other, yet the Devil is considered the inverse of the Lovers. Interestingly, what is the number on the Devil card?
It is the number 15. Reduce this number and you have 1+5=6. Therefore you have a numerical link between the Lovers and the Devil. This illustrates that the Lovers and the Devil share a lesson.
When the Lovers lose balance, they become the Devil. They become addicted, obsessed, controlling, jealous, and codependent.
Tarot and Numerology: the Minor Cards
Now let’s take a look at how Tarot and Numerology can be used to interpret the Minor Arcana cards. Except for the Court Cards, these Tarot cards follow the numerical path of digits 0 through 10.
As the power is in repetition, we will go over the meanings of Tarot and Numerology again, but now with the Minor Arcana cards in mind.
Aces – the Power of One
Aces are the number One in the Minor Arcana suits. However, they can also indicate beginning which gives them a Zero like quality.
So an Ace gives the energy of pure representation of the suit and also indicates initiation, beginning, and manifestation (One). Thus the Ace of Cups is like the initiation of new beginnings in love or romance or a new addition to the family.
Two – the Power of Polarity
The number Two stands for choices and balance, and union and unity. Just have a look at two examples: the Two of Wands indicates polarized choices or ambivalence. The Two of Cups suggests unity and balance in relationships.
Three – the Power of Expansion
The Three stands for expansion and progress. Thus the Three of Pentacles tarot card shows expansion or specialization in your career. The Three of Cups shows expansion in your love life or family, a reason to combine your joy with the joy of others in celebration.
Four – the Power of Stability and complacency
As we’ve seen earlier on in this article, the Four stands for emotional stability that can also lead to complacency. This is represented by the Four of Cups. The Four of Wands shows grounded energy and stability even for the activated energy of Wands.
Five – the Power of Challenge
Five is the number of disruption and chaos that leads to growth. The Five of Pentacles, for example, shows events disrupting your health or financial standing or both that may even lead to a change in your job or work status.
Six – the Power of Balance
The number Six in the Tarot is about coming to harmony with the help of others. Thus the Six of Swords shows balance and resolution created by moving on with the support of someone else. The Six of Cups is about balance and renewal in love life or family.
Seven – mystical power, plateau, good fortune
The Seven of Cups shows numerous fantasies that are emotionally alluring and may come to pass. Also wishful thinking.
Eight – Infinity, Coming Full Circle
Eight is all about abundance or growth toward your goals. Thus the Eight of Pentacles tarot card shows improvement and progress but not having your goals completely achieved yet.
Nine – the Power of Manifestation
If the Nine shows up this usually indicates manifestation, near perfection, or a goal almost complete. Thus the Nine of Wands shows you almost completed the tasks at hand.
The Nine of Pentacles shows you building or accomplishing something that is almost perfect.
Ten – the Power of One and Zero
This again is the power of One and Zero. Manifestation and creativity combined with openness and new beginnings.
The Ten of Swords, though it doesn’t always look pleasant, does signify a transition from something that wasn’t working into a clear slate where you can now try to make things work better and make improvements.
The Ten of Cups shows reason to celebrate and new beginnings with family and loved ones.
Tarot and Numerology: The Master Numbers
Those who study Numerology talk about “Master Numbers.” While other double-digit numbers are reduced to the single digit, for example, 23 is reduced as 2+3=5 anMaster Numbers give an intense personality and are important because until you master their energies you may face repeated challenges.d therefore 23 reduces to 5. Yet the Master Numbers aren’t reduced.
They have a special designation because of their spiritual significance and inherent power. The Master Numbers are eleven, twenty-two, and thirty-three.
Here is the meaning of the three Master Numbers in short. This is to give you a short idea of how they work and what message they carry.
Master Number 11
Eleven is about heightened personal potential, heightened intuition, and creativity, sensitivity, activated nervous system, and intense emotions. This also gives the potential for strong leadership.
Master Number 22
Twenty-two is the Master Builder number, there is great potential for success here. This Master Number is about great power and potential but also being grounded and having good boundaries (again correlating back to the Emperor).
Master Number 33
This is the number of the Master Teacher and shows great potential for spiritual growth. This is the energy of the Lovers and thus this number gives you the ability to set aside the ego and devote yourself to the service of others.
Tarot and Numerology: the Master Numbers in Tarot
These numbers show an intense charge of energy. In the Tarot, this also gives a special mystical power to the cards associated with them. Since there are usually no cards with number 22, or number 33, this would be just the card numbered 11 we would look at.
This is Major Card, Justice. This gives added significance to this card as relating to the Master Number 11. What is this number about?
Eleven is two Ones. The power of the individual and manifestation with double emphasis. Also added to create the number Two. So it speaks to polarity and balance.
Yet as the Eleven Master Number, it is also the number of the heightened intuition, spirituality and even uncanny supernatural connection to Spirit. Often Eleven denotes a powerful teacher who must first go through their own difficult lessons.
Tarot and Numerology: Life Path Numbers
Although there is only one Master Number in the Tarot, using your Life Path Number in connection to Tarot readings can bring the importance of the Master Number back into the picture.
So how does this work?
To figure out your Life Path Number, add all the digits in your birthdate. So if your birth date is October 7th, 1993, you add 1+0+7+1+9+9+3= 30. Then 3+0=3.
So when you combine Tarot and Numerology, your Life Path Number is the same number as the Empress. This card will have special significance on your path.
If your Life Path Number is a Master Number, it is worth taking this into consideration. Though you wouldn’t reduce it for the purposes of Numerology, you will have to in order to find your corresponding Tarot Card.
So if your Life Path Number is 22, you would add this up to 4. The Emperor Card corresponds to your path.
But the number 22 has its own significance. Master Numbers give an intense personality and are important because until you master their energies you may face repeated challenges. Yet they also each hold great potential.
Tarot and Astrology: Numbers as Time Markers
Another great thing about combining Tarot and Astrology is that numbers can also mark time in reading. If an Ace comes up it can denote the beginning of a month or beginning of a season. If a number repeats, it could indicate timing that an event will take place.
If you see a pattern of consecutive numbers in a reading, such as 5, 6, and 7, you can look at this as a challenge that quickly leads to balance and then growth. So numbers that indicate change and speed can indicate a process moving quickly.
Many eights however can indicate a need for patience because while you are close to completing a goal, it is suddenly being dragged out.
Are you ready to boost your Tarot and Numerology practice?
Hopefully, the info in this article is going to help you just as much as it helped me when learning to read the tarot cards. For me, it was a real eye-opener how Tarot and Numerology go together!
By understanding the meanings of each digit and how to work with Tarot and Numerology, you can add depth and meaning to your readings. You can make sense of some of the more confusing Minor cards by adding the meaning of the card’s number.
You can also personalize your relationship with the specific cards by connecting archetypally with the cards associated with your Life Path Number.
Practice recognizing the number of symbols or numbers that repeat within your readings. This will add dimensions of time and further meaning, and hopefully, lift some of the heavy burdens of learning all the Tarot card meanings!
If you can’t get enough of numerology, make sure to check out my article about Angel numbers too.
