Pips: the meaning of the numbers

Forum Library > Using Tarot Cards Threads By Month > Pips: the meaning of the numbers

Baneemy	10 Jan 2003
In the ongoing debate over the relative merits of illustrated vs. unillustrated pip cards, several of you have mentioned that illustrations are unnecessary because the meaning of the Seven of Swords, for instance, is essentially just a combination of the meaning of "sword" and the meaning of "seven." For those of you who read the pips this way, I'm interested in hearing what the numbers themselves mean to you (i.e., what do all the Fives, regardless of suit, have in common). If you can explain what it is about each number that makes its associated meaning seem natural to you, that would be even more interesting. I'm sure we all have a slightly different take on what the numbers mean, but I suspect that there will be a lot of consistency, too. Integers are, after all, pretty damn universal. Thanks in advance. -Baneemy

zorya	10 Jan 2003
i like to use unillustrated pips, as sometimes the pictures 'get in the way'. here are some numerology threads for the individual numbers; one= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7040 two= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7140 three= [url]http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7307 four= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7649 five= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7921 six= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8476 seven= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8943 eight= http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=9792

Baneemy	10 Jan 2003
Thanks, zorya. I guess I should have run a search before posting this. -Baneemy

cuddles	10 Jan 2003
don't worry, we all had to get used to doing searches ;-) and i find that sometimes when people forget it can spark interesting new discussions. also take a look at thirteen's tarot basic...she discusses the numbers there http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/basics/index.html

Alex	23 Jan 2003
The seven-of-swords is a good example in which an illustration like the one in the H-W deck restricts the range of possible meanings of seven + swords. Alex. Quote: Originally posted by Baneemy In the ongoing debate over the relative merits of illustrated vs. unillustrated pip cards, several of you have mentioned that illustrations are unnecessary because the meaning of the Seven of Swords, for instance, is essentially just a combination of the meaning of "sword" and the meaning of "seven."

jmd	24 Jan 2003
With special regards to the seven of Swords, I made some reference to my views in an earlier thread titled Suggested meanings for non-illustrated pips (not given as a link in zorya's post), which also links to other threads - probably duplicating links made by Zoria above. But still, revisiting always adds to searches - as new discussions always take mildly different forms. With regards to the number seven, it has a dynamism (as an odd number) more 'complete' or fuller than either three or five, without the squareness nor triplicities of nine. I always find the seven has a spiritual dimension which seems to want to communicate itself - a little of the Star's free-flowing waters of divine guidance (& the Star's number is, of course, X & VII, which in its Roman, Greek and Hebrew forms do not 'reduce' to 8). But to answer the original question in a pre-discursive way. Each of the numerals, from one through to ten (& beyond - but these are not at issue here) can be geometrically represented within a circle. In their very construction, certain common insights will, I am certain, inevitably result. The trick is to both do this and to allow various reflections to emerge. For example: 1 - how else, besides the point at its centre, can this be represented? 2 - a line can divide the circle in two, but does it have different impact when horizontal (reminiscent of Theta , which begins the Greek ' thanatos '='death') to vertical (reminiscent of ' Phi ', which is used both for the Golden Ratio and begins the Greek ' philos '='love'). And what about considering its curved division as in the Yin-Yang image? 3 - an equilateral triangle within the circle certainly gives an impression of three-ness (I realise some will see this as a fourfold division) - and there are numerous other renditions.... I do think that it is the exercise which leads to deeper insights. In addition, there are also the various considerations which one can enter when reflecting on the ways the specific suit can be depicted with a specific number in mind (eg, seven swords), and the actual rendition in the depiction in question: why this particular way? But I have started the discursive element, rather than its intrinsic geometrical qualities... ...as to the thread on Pictures vs. Symbols on the Pips, I have only just caught sight of it, and will eagerly read it at length!

Forum Library > Using Tarot Cards Threads By Month > Pips: the meaning of the numbers

Originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 10 Jan 2003, and now part of the Forum Library. Take part in active threads about Using Tarot Cards.