Skysteel
The Major Arcana - the dark heart of the Tarot, rich in symbolism and meaning, containing all the secrets of the universe, if only one could learn how to read them...
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Most decks have 22 Major Arcana, indeed, the consensus seems to be that 22 cards is the correct number, the traditional number, and so forth. Taken as a whole, the Major Arcana represent the Fool's Journey, a timeless theme repeated throughout humanity and expressing universal ideals; spiritual growth, from birth and relationships to attachment and transcendence, is depicted in its entirety, and in the proper order. At least, this is how I feel, and I believe others experience this vision also, to greater and lesser degrees. However, from this viewpoint, there is a phenomenon that can be accounted curious - decks with extra Majors.
There are several decks with extra Majors - some have an extra card, representing 'Void', 'Universe', 'Self', and so forth, perhaps unnumbered to contrast with the other Majors (whilst the Fool is given the numeral zero, so that it is numbered to some extent). Some have more, seemingly reflecting the whims of the deck's creator. The question then is what do these extra Majors represent? Are they truly necessary, or can they be subsumed into the 'classical' Majors; do they dilute the meanings of said 'classical' Majors, by dividing up the universe amongst more cards; are they merely another way of looking at the same thing?
Consider one deck in particular: the Steel Wizard Tarot, by Pamela Steele. It has six extra Majors, occurring after the World: the Weaver, the Universe, Truth, Soul Twins, Evolution and I AM. I am both drawn to these archetypes, and baffled by them - up until now I have considered the World to be the final card, which then brings up the issue of what these new card, and their placement, can signify. The Universe could be deemed superfluous, because the World actually represents the universe, as a metaphor; on the other hand, the World may instead refer to that part of the universe actively engaged in by humanity, and the Universe as the totality of nature. Soul Twins seems similar to the Lovers, but again, perhaps it represents something greater, perhaps love of God, although again this may dilute the possible interpretations of the Loves.
Anyway, sorry for rambling on, I just wanted to get all that off my chest. Comments on extra Majors, how they fit with the other Majors, the Steele Wizard Tarot or anything else you want to add are greatly appreciated.
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Most decks have 22 Major Arcana, indeed, the consensus seems to be that 22 cards is the correct number, the traditional number, and so forth. Taken as a whole, the Major Arcana represent the Fool's Journey, a timeless theme repeated throughout humanity and expressing universal ideals; spiritual growth, from birth and relationships to attachment and transcendence, is depicted in its entirety, and in the proper order. At least, this is how I feel, and I believe others experience this vision also, to greater and lesser degrees. However, from this viewpoint, there is a phenomenon that can be accounted curious - decks with extra Majors.
There are several decks with extra Majors - some have an extra card, representing 'Void', 'Universe', 'Self', and so forth, perhaps unnumbered to contrast with the other Majors (whilst the Fool is given the numeral zero, so that it is numbered to some extent). Some have more, seemingly reflecting the whims of the deck's creator. The question then is what do these extra Majors represent? Are they truly necessary, or can they be subsumed into the 'classical' Majors; do they dilute the meanings of said 'classical' Majors, by dividing up the universe amongst more cards; are they merely another way of looking at the same thing?
Consider one deck in particular: the Steel Wizard Tarot, by Pamela Steele. It has six extra Majors, occurring after the World: the Weaver, the Universe, Truth, Soul Twins, Evolution and I AM. I am both drawn to these archetypes, and baffled by them - up until now I have considered the World to be the final card, which then brings up the issue of what these new card, and their placement, can signify. The Universe could be deemed superfluous, because the World actually represents the universe, as a metaphor; on the other hand, the World may instead refer to that part of the universe actively engaged in by humanity, and the Universe as the totality of nature. Soul Twins seems similar to the Lovers, but again, perhaps it represents something greater, perhaps love of God, although again this may dilute the possible interpretations of the Loves.
Anyway, sorry for rambling on, I just wanted to get all that off my chest. Comments on extra Majors, how they fit with the other Majors, the Steele Wizard Tarot or anything else you want to add are greatly appreciated.
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