Tarot Trivia

Zero to twenty-one

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards in a Tarot deck, often regarded as the core of spiritual readings. The uniqueness of this group of cards begins with its numbering system, where the sequence starts with “The Fool” numbered 0, distinct from the other cards which run from 1 to 21. This sequential structure is known in the world of tarot as “The Fool’s Journey”. This concept depicts the metaphorical journey of the human soul learning from various life obstacles and authority figures, finally reaching resolution and enlightenment with the last card, “The World”.

Originally a game for the nobility

From a historical perspective, the Major Arcana cards were not originally created for divination or occult purposes. In the 15th century in Italy, this deck was first made as part of a family card game for the nobility called tarocchi. In that game, the Major Arcana cards functioned as trump cards to win the round. The practice of using these cards as a medium for divination and spiritual introspection only began to develop widely and systematically in the late 18th century in France.

The most often misunderstood card

Another interesting piece of trivia lies in the symbolic meaning that is often misunderstood, specifically regarding the “Death” card. Although it often features illustrations that look scary, this card is very rarely interpreted as physical death in modern readings. Instead, the card symbolizes the end of a life phase, deep transformation, and a transition toward a new beginning. The symbolic relevance of this Major Arcana even attracted the attention of famous psychologist Carl Jung, who saw the images within as representations of psychological archetypes existing in the human collective unconscious.