The Kabbalah – Major Arcana Tarot Cards
The Archetype of Beginning
The Fool represents the open beginning, trust, spontaneity and the leap into the unknown.
Keywords: beginning, freedom, trust, spontaneity, potential, innocence
Linked to Air through Aleph, The Fool stands at the edge of the cliff, carried by the breath of spirit. He is pure potential before any form, the zero from which every journey starts. This card signifies new beginnings, trust in life, and the courage to step forward without knowing the way.
Hebrew letter: Aleph א (Mother letter).
The Archetype of Surrender
The Hanged Man represents surrender, suspension, a reversed perspective and insight through letting go.
Keywords: surrender, pause, perspective, sacrifice, insight, acceptance
Linked to Water through Mem, The Hanged Man hangs calmly upside down, held by a living tree. He gives up control to see the world from another side. This card signifies a time of pause, the wisdom that comes from letting go, and sacrifice that leads to a deeper understanding.
Hebrew letter: Mem מ (Mother letter).
The Archetype of Awakening
Judgement represents awakening, renewal, the call to a higher purpose and the integration of the past.
Keywords: awakening, renewal, calling, rebirth, reckoning, release
Linked to Fire through Shin, Judgement shows the trumpet call that raises the dead from their graves. It is the fire of spirit that renews and transforms. This card signifies a decisive awakening, the reckoning with what has been, and the rise into a new stage of life.
Hebrew letter: Shin ש (Mother letter).
The Archetype of Will
The Magician represents will, skill, communication and the power to manifest ideas.
Keywords: will, skill, focus, communication, manifestation, mastery
Linked to Mercury through Beth, The Magician channels the power from above into the world below, with the tools of all four elements before him. He is the conscious mind that turns ideas into reality. This card signifies concentration, skill, and the ability to act with intent.
Hebrew letter: Beth ב (Double letter).
The Archetype of Intuition
The High Priestess represents intuition, hidden knowledge, the inner voice and the mysteries of the unconscious.
Keywords: intuition, mystery, inner knowing, receptivity, stillness, wisdom
Linked to the Moon through Gimel, The High Priestess sits between the pillars of light and darkness, guarding the veil of the temple. She knows without words. This card signifies trust in the inner voice, the value of silence, and knowledge that comes from within.
Hebrew letter: Gimel ג (Double letter).
The Archetype of Abundance
The Empress represents love, fertility, beauty, nature and the nurturing power of creation.
Keywords: love, abundance, fertility, beauty, nature, nurture
Linked to Venus through Daleth, The Empress is the archetypal mother, surrounded by the fruits of the earth. She gives form and life to what is conceived. This card signifies love and harmony, creativity, growth, and the joy of the senses.
Hebrew letter: Daleth ד (Double letter).
The Archetype of Cycles
The Wheel of Fortune represents cycles, destiny, turning points and the ever-changing movement of life.
Keywords: cycles, destiny, change, turning point, luck, expansion
Linked to Jupiter through Kaph, the Wheel of Fortune turns without rest, raising and lowering all that is bound to it. At its centre lies stillness. This card signifies the great cycles of life, fortunate turns, and the wisdom of moving with change rather than against it.
Hebrew letter: Kaph כ (Double letter).
The Archetype of Breakthrough
The Tower represents sudden change, the collapse of false structures and liberation through upheaval.
Keywords: upheaval, breakthrough, revelation, collapse, liberation, truth
Linked to Mars through Peh, The Tower is struck by lightning and its crown is thrown down. What was built on false ground cannot stand. This card signifies sudden change, the breaking of old forms, and the clearing that makes room for truth.
Hebrew letter: Peh פ (Double letter).
The Archetype of Radiance
The Sun represents vitality, joy, clarity, success and the radiant self.
Keywords: joy, vitality, clarity, success, warmth, self-expression
Linked to the Sun through Resh, The Sun shines on a child riding freely before a wall of sunflowers. Everything is seen in full light. This card signifies happiness, health, confidence, and the open expression of one's true nature.
Hebrew letter: Resh ר (Double letter).
The Archetype of Completion
The World represents completion, wholeness, integration and the fulfilment of a cycle.
Keywords: completion, wholeness, integration, fulfilment, unity, arrival
Linked to Saturn through Tav, the last letter, The World shows the dancer within the wreath, surrounded by the four living creatures. All parts have found their place. This card signifies completion, mastery of a cycle, and the harmony of the whole.
Hebrew letter: Tav ת (Double letter).
The Archetype of Order
The Emperor represents authority, structure, worldly power, and the establishment of order and law.
Keywords: authority, structure, control, fatherhood, leadership, order
Linked to Aries, The Emperor embodies the power to create and maintain order in the material world. He is the archetypal father, providing structure, stability, and protection. This card signifies leadership, discipline, and the mastery of the physical realm.
Hebrew letter: Heh ה (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Belief
The Hierophant represents tradition, established beliefs, spiritual guidance, and group identity.
Keywords: tradition, belief, education, spirituality, guidance, institution
Linked to Taurus, The Hierophant is the bridge between the divine and the mundane. He represents established systems of belief, tradition, and education. This card signifies the value of spiritual guidance, conformity to group values, and the pursuit of knowledge through established channels.
Hebrew letter: Vav ו (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Choice
The Lovers represent union, relationship, harmony, and the importance of making choices aligned with one's values.
Keywords: choice, union, relationship, harmony, values, duality
Linked to Gemini, The Lovers card signifies a critical choice, often related to relationships or personal values. It represents the union of opposites, the importance of communication, and the alignment of one's inner and outer worlds to achieve harmony.
Hebrew letter: Zayin ז (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Willpower
The Chariot represents victory, willpower, self-control, and the successful assertion of one's ambition.
Keywords: willpower, victory, control, ambition, action, momentum
Linked to Cancer, The Chariot symbolizes the power of a focused will to overcome obstacles. It represents the successful containment and direction of opposing forces to achieve a goal. This card signifies momentum, determination, and victory through self-control.
Hebrew letter: Cheth ח (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Courage
Strength represents inner courage, compassion, patience, and the gentle mastery of one's primal instincts.
Keywords: courage, compassion, patience, mastery, instinct, self-control
Linked to Leo, this card depicts not brute face, but the power of gentle persuasion and inner resilience. It represents the courage to face one's inner beast—the passions and instincts—and to integrate it with compassion and understanding. It is true strength through self-mastery.
Hebrew letter: Teth ט (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Introspection
The Hermit represents introspection, soul-searching, inner guidance, and the wisdom gained from solitude.
Keywords: introspection, wisdom, solitude, guidance, analysis, soul-searching
Linked to Virgo, The Hermit turns away from the outer world to seek answers within. He carries the lamp of inner wisdom to illuminate his path. This card signifies a period of withdrawal for analysis and self-reflection, seeking guidance from one's own inner truth.
Hebrew letter: Yod י (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Truth
Justice represents fairness, truth, cause and effect, and the consequences of one's actions.
Keywords: justice, truth, fairness, karma, law, balance, consequence
Linked to Libra, Justice holds the scales of equality and the sword of truth. This card represents the impartial law of cause and effect (karma). It signifies clarity, objectivity, and the need to take responsibility for one's choices, as all actions have consequences.
Hebrew letter: Lamed ל (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Transformation
The Death card represents endings, transformation, transition, and the clearing away of the old to make way for the new.
Keywords: transformation, endings, change, transition, letting go, rebirth
Linked to Scorpio, this card rarely signifies physical death. Instead, it represents a profound and necessary transformation. It is about the end of a major chapter, clearing away what is no longer serving you, and creating space for rebirth and new beginnings.
Hebrew letter: Nun נ (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Synthesis
Temperance represents balance, moderation, patience, and the successful integration of opposing forces.
Keywords: balance, moderation, synthesis, patience, healing, integration
Linked to Sagittarius, Temperance is the card of divine alchemy. It shows an angel blending fire and water, symbolizing the integration of opposites to create a new, harmonious whole. It signifies patience, finding a middle path, and the healing that comes from balance.
Hebrew letter: Samekh ס (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Bondage
The Devil represents addiction, materialism, and the self-imposed limitations and illusions that keep us in bondage.
Keywords: bondage, addiction, materialism, illusion, limitation, shadow self
Linked to Capricorn, The Devil represents our shadow self and the chains of our own making. It points to areas of life where we feel powerless, often due to addiction, negative patterns, or an over-emphasis on the material world. It invites us to confront these limitations to reclaim our freedom.
Hebrew letter: Ayin ע (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Hope
The Star represents hope, inspiration, healing, and a renewed sense of purpose after a period of turmoil.
Keywords: hope, inspiration, healing, serenity, guidance, optimism
Linked to Aquarius, The Star appears after the upheaval of The Tower, bringing a period of calm, healing, and renewed hope. It is a guiding light in the darkness, signifying spiritual connection, inspiration, and faith in the future.
Hebrew letter: Tzaddi צ (Simple letter).
The Archetype of Illusion
The Moon represents intuition, dreams, the subconscious, and the realm of illusion and hidden fears.
Keywords: intuition, illusion, dreams, subconscious, fear, mystery
Linked to Pisces, The Moon illuminates the path of intuition, but its light can also cast deceptive shadows. This card represents the journey into the subconscious mind, where dreams, fears, and hidden truths reside. It calls for trusting one's intuition to navigate the unknown.
Hebrew letter: Qoph ק (Simple letter).
The Sephiroth Cards
The Crown
The first point of existence, pure unity before all division.
Keywords: unity, source, spirit, origin
Kether is the crown of the Tree, the first emanation from the limitless. All that follows is contained in it as a seed. It stands at the top of the middle pillar, beyond all opposites.
Sephira 1 on the pillar of Balance; planet: Neptune.
Wisdom
The first outpouring force, the dynamic spark of creation.
Keywords: wisdom, force, impulse, revelation
Chokmah is the first movement out of unity, raw creative force without form. It heads the pillar of Mercy and is the archetypal father.
Sephira 2 on the pillar of Mercy; planet: Uranus.
Understanding
The great womb of form that receives and shapes the creative force.
Keywords: understanding, form, limitation, time
Binah receives the force of Chokmah and gives it form and boundary. It heads the pillar of Severity and is the archetypal mother.
Sephira 3 on the pillar of Severity; planet: Saturn.
Mercy
Loving kindness, generosity and the expanding order.
Keywords: mercy, generosity, expansion, order
Chesed is the giving hand of the Tree, the order that builds and preserves. It balances Geburah across the Tree.
Sephira 4 on the pillar of Mercy; planet: Jupiter.
Severity
Strength, discipline and the power that cuts away what is not needed.
Keywords: strength, discipline, justice, courage
Geburah is the force that limits and judges, the necessary severity that keeps mercy from excess. It balances Chesed across the Tree.
Sephira 5 on the pillar of Severity; planet: Mars.
Beauty
Harmony, balance and the radiant centre of the Tree.
Keywords: beauty, harmony, balance, heart
Tiphareth is the heart of the Tree, connected to almost every other Sephira. Here mercy and severity meet in balance; it is the centre of the self.
Sephira 6 on the pillar of Balance; planet: Sun.
Victory
Feeling, desire, art and the enduring force of love.
Keywords: victory, feeling, desire, art
Netzach is the sphere of emotion and inspiration, the endurance of what is loved. It stands at the foot of the pillar of Mercy.
Sephira 7 on the pillar of Mercy; planet: Venus.
Splendour
Intellect, language, order of thought and the glory of form.
Keywords: intellect, language, reason, form
Hod is the sphere of the mind that names and orders, the counterpart of Netzach's feeling. It stands at the foot of the pillar of Severity.
Sephira 8 on the pillar of Severity; planet: Mercury.
Foundation
The foundation of images, dreams and the subconscious.
Keywords: foundation, dreams, imagination, subconscious
Yesod gathers the forces of the Tree and passes them on to the physical world. It is the sphere of images, cycles and the hidden ground of form.
Sephira 9 on the pillar of Balance; planet: Moon.
Kingdom
The physical world, the body and the fulfilment of all that descends the Tree.
Keywords: kingdom, earth, body, manifestation
Malkuth is the Kingdom, the world of the senses where all forces of the Tree become form. It is the end of the descent and the beginning of the return.
Sephira 10 on the pillar of Balance; planet: Earth.