Major Arcana - what's the use???!!!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Oct 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

finn	18 Oct 2002
I was going through some decks at the tarotgarden website and noticed that many of the decks had only 22 cards (major arcana). I don't understand what the use 22 cards can be to a reader! What can you do with 22 cards?!! please enlighten me on this matter. :P

Zhritza	18 Oct 2002
If you use reversals and only do three-card spreads, or 1-card (yes or no, etc.) "spreads," there are enough possibilities that it is doable. It's great if you are reading for someone else and you don't have a lot of time -- not least of all because most of us, I think, can interpret the majors more quickly and intuitively than we can the minors. Or if you're about to be late for your bus but you just have to ask the cards what to do about your stupid boss that day... that kind of thing. :) Oh, and then there's the fact that a huge percentage of those majors-only decks are highly collectible.

Minderwiz	18 Oct 2002
The Majors are symbols or representations of Archetypes which lie in the collective unconscious of humanity. Its possible to argue that a reading based on these - albeit only using a limited number of cards - will give the essential of a matter. The Minors are used to give the detail of how the essentials might manifest in the material world. Sometimes it may well be the underlying essentials that you are trying to reach. Now whether I would buy a 22 card deck solely for that purpose is another matter - I would probably use the Majors from an existing full deck but as Qolus says they are collectible! Minderwiz

Sinta	18 Oct 2002
Hrm, I never thought of that ;) Using only the major arcana in 3 card spreads. *puts that on her list* Thanks for sharing that tip ^_^ Sometimes I rush (knowing how life is) and just want to know for the sake of security. And indeed, i agree.. i understand the major arcana better than the minor and i can identify with them much more easily ;)

jmd	18 Oct 2002
There is an established tradition within especially continental Europe which separates the Major Arcana from the Minor in order to do readings. In such a tradition, the ability to obtain Majors (or Majors and Aces) only becomes quite useful. The cards are definitely illustrated with symbols, but whether these are merely 'representations of Archetypes which lie in the collective unconscious of humanity' assumes a particular viewpoint not shared by all of us - and which I would personally seriously question the veracity of.

Major Tom	18 Oct 2002
I learned to read using only the 22 majors and the Celtic Cross and Star spreads. Not that I would necessarily recommend any beginner do it that way. I'm firmly in the universal archtype camp. I've found that using the majors only, particularly in a 3 card spread can provide amazingly detailed insights - into my own behavior especially. }) I might suggest a beginner start with the majors and 3 card spreads... As to whether I would buy a special 22 card deck? I started with the majors from the RWS. I progressed to the majors from the BOTA that I coloured myself. I'm still working on my own deck. I'd only buy the special 22 card deck for collector value - not specifically for use.

Zhritza	18 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Major Tom I might suggest a beginner start with the majors and 3 card spreads... mmm, you may be right... although this might make it even more difficult to start assimilating the minors into your subconscious noggin later. I have considered using just the majors and the courts sometimes, to help me learn to interpret the courts in a greater variety of ways... those dastardly courts... :P I will try this, now that I'm reminded that I had the notion. Or more likely, someone around here mentioned that they do it, and I thought "hey neat" :|

Minderwiz	18 Oct 2002
Hi, I do believe that the majors are symbolic representation of archetypes but I didn't use the word 'merely' and they may well be more than that. Neither do I believe that someone sat down and said - 'oh I'm going to symbolise the arcetypes that lie in the collective unconscious' because as that's a conscious act by definition it can't lead to a deliberate symbolism of the unconscious. The relationship is much more subtle - but I can't prove it and I fully recognise that differing views can be held. Life and being human would be incomparably dull if we all believed the same thing! I did start out doing three card major readings and I then incorporated the court cards and finally the pip cards. This apporach worked for me but I can see that it could lead to difficulties at the transition point. As thirteen has said whatever system you use must feel right for you. Minderwiz

rota	18 Oct 2002
I'd like to see the Major Arcana of some of the 'cooler', more picturesque decks offered as posters. Can't you just see the 22 images combined into a single composition, in beautiful colors printed on good glossy paper stock? I could see them framed as you'd frame any wonderful print... They encapsulate a view of the universe, in 22 interconnected images. And, for that matter, why not offer Tarot artwork as single images on greeting cards? I'd buy them...

truthsayer	18 Oct 2002
i own a few majors only decks: the eternal dream, tarot for cats and I gatti. the ED is by an struggling artist college student. i found out about him from an "atta-boy" review by arnell arnot at passages. i wanted to encourage him to finish the deck one day. he can't do that w/o money. altruism aside, it's an absolutely beautiful pen and ink. i'm not rich but i love good art. i have found tarot as one of the easiest ways to get multiple examples of art i enjoy from a variety of places. tarot for cats and the I gatti are cat decks. i'm a cat fanatic and collect cat things. need i say more? (other than the cards are soooooo cute! :) ) i would use a majors only deck for the same reasons already listed. minors seem more related to everyday life. the majors more about our spiritual life or even karmic issues. if i need specific answers to questions on spirituality or kartma, i'd use majors only in a 3 card spread. majors are often the best cards in a deck, imho. for example, the gendron majors are gorgeous but the minors leave something to be desired. i'd prefer using majors only w/ this deck. the same w/ the spiral(for me at least). i like the majors but not the minors.

Major Tom	18 Oct 2002
Quote: Originally posted by rota I'd like to see the Major Arcana of some of the 'cooler', more picturesque decks offered as posters. Can't you just see the 22 images combined into a single composition, in beautiful colors printed on good glossy paper stock? I could see them framed as you'd frame any wonderful print... They encapsulate a view of the universe, in 22 interconnected images. And, for that matter, why not offer Tarot artwork as single images on greeting cards? I'd buy them... Would you like a job? Visit my site at: http://majortom.biz/ Especially look at http://majortom.biz/t-shirts.html If you'd like a job - e-mail me. ;)

Melvis	19 Oct 2002
I think it's probably easier for publishers to get artists from the 'real world' to design art decks when they only have to create 22 cards, too. I have the Tarot 22, the Love Tarot by Sarah Bartlett, and the Lovers Tarot by Jane Lyle that are all 22 card decks. I believe the latter two were very readable...although I haven't read with either one for quite some time. So many decks...so little time to read with them all! :D Peace, Melvis :TSTRE

Diana	23 Oct 2002
edited

The Major Arcana - what's the use???!!! thread was originally posted on 18 Oct 2002 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.