Tarot cards

Tarot cards

Angelique burns a house of tarot cards.

Tarot cards are one of the many supernatural tools that provide knowledge of a future event or situation, especially through extrasensory means. They are commonly used by gypsies, warlocks, and witches. Like a normal deck of cards, the tarot has four suits (which vary by region, being the French suits in Northern Europe, the Latin suits in Southern Europe, and the German suits in Central Europe). Each of these suits has pip cards numbering from ace to ten and four face cards for a total of 14 cards. In addition, the tarot is distinguished by a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. Depending on the game, the Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit.

"The cards don't lie." - Leticia Faye, 1176

Card meanings

• Major Arcana
• Wands
• Coins
• Cups
• Swords

	Card	Meaning
0 or 22	The Fool	Inconsiderate actions. Madness.
1	The Magician	Male inquirer.
2	The High Priestess	Female inquirer.
3	The Empress	Action. Initiative.
4	The Emperor	Will. Knowledge.
5	The Hierophant	Inspiration. Spiritual advisor.
6	The Lovers	Love. Lust. Alliance.
7	The Chariot	Triumph. Providential protection.
8	Justice	Justice. Balance
9	The Hermit	Prudence. Solitude.
10	Wheel of Fortune	Fortune. Destiny.
11	Strength	Strength. Fortitude.
12	The Hanged Man	Trials. Sacrifice.
13	Death	Death. Drastic change.
14	Temperance	Temperance. Economy.
15	The Devil	Immense force. Illness.
16	The Tower	Crisis. Destruction. Liberation.
17	The Star	Hope. Dreams.
18	The Moon	Hidden enemies. Danger.
19	The Sun	Material happiness. Lucky marriage.
20	Judgement	Change of position.
21	The World	Assured sucess.

	Card	Meaning
1	Ace of Wands	Initiative. New projects. Birth.
2	Two of Wands	Equilibrium. Hope. Healing.
3	Three of Wands	Resourcefulness. Cleaning.
4	Four of Wands	Agreement. Prosperity.
5	Five of Wands	Preparation for a confrontation.
6	Six of Wands	Defeated enemies. Rewarded efforts.
7	Seven of Wands	Decisive challenge. Moral strenght.
8	Eight of Wands	Motion. Dynamism. Blending of activities.
9	Nine of Wands	Growth. Protective instinct.
10	Ten of Wands	Self-confidence. Financial statements.
11	Page of Wands	Friendship. Help from a companion.
12	Knight of Wands	Journey.
13	Queen of Wands	Understanding.
14	King of Wands	Wisdom. Austerity.

	Card	Meaning
1	Ace of Coins	Material control. New wealth.
2	Two of Coins	Harmony. New discoveries.
3	Three of Coins	Success. REcognition.
4	Four of Coins	Profitable investments. Stability.
5	Five of Coins	Hope. Comfort within family.
6	Six of Coins	Confidence.
7	Seven of Coins	Journey with interesting people.
8	Eight of Coins	Completion. Self-esteem.
9	Nine of Coins	Prudence. Sudden wealth.
10	Ten of Coins	Returns. Old acquaintance.
11	Page of Coins	Wise menagement.
12	Knight of Coins	Professional success.
13	Queen of Coins	Inheritance.
14	King of Coins	Fruitful exchange.

	Card	Meaning
1	Ace of Cups	Harmony. Material goods.
2	Two of Cups	Falling in love. Collaboration.
3	Three of Cups	Celebration. Love affairs.
4	Four of Cups	Friendship. Happiness.
5	Five of Cups	Protection.
6	Six of Cups	Happy memories. Return of old friends.
7	Seven of Cups	Fantasy. Inspiration. Choices.
8	Eight of Cups	Ability to evaluate.
9	Nine of Cups	Joy of the senses. Satisfaction.
10	Ten of Cups	Material satisfaction.
11	Page of Cups	New opportunities.
12	Knight of Cups	Mysticism. Seduction.
13	Queen of Cups	New offspring. Comprehension.
14	King of Cups	Moral authority. Guidance.

	Card	Meaning
1	Ace of Swords	Triumph. Achievement.
2	Two of Swords	Challenges. Difficult choices.
3	Three of Swords	Grief. Apprehension. Crisis.
4	Four of Swords	Isolation. Death. New outlooks.
5	Five of Swords	Future revenge. Betrayal.
6	Six of Swords	Travel. Successful undertaking.
7	Seven of Swords	Subterfuge. Conflicts.
8	Eight of Swords	Imprisonment. Lack of trust.
9	Nine of Swords	Liberation. Withdrawal.
10	Ten of Swords	Drastic decision. Sacrifice.
11	Page of Swords	Revelations. Carelessness.
12	Knight of Swords	Enthusiasm. Victory.
13	Queen of Swords	Determination. Sensual appeal.
14	King of Swords	Legitimate authority. Legal suits.

Different spreads

1. The Celtic Cross is the most common layout used for a Tarot card reading. Ten cards are drawn from the shuffled deck to form the Celtic Cross.
2. The Tree of Life consists of ten cards, an eleventh signifier card can be optionally added, positioned in the center of the spread directly beneath the top card. The spread resembles a weeping willow tree.
3. The 3 Card is an overview of the Past Present and Future of the querent. Three cards are drawn from a deck of cards that have been shuffled and cut twice. The cards are placed downward on the table. The first card flipped over is the middle card, representing present influences. Secondly, the card on the left is turned over for review of past influences. Thirdly, the final card on the right is revealed to give a future outlook.
4. The Gypsy combines the 22 major arcana cards with the 20 cards drawn by the querent.
5. The Pyramid consists of ten cards. This spread can be used for periodic life review readings. All the cards are placed upright starting with the top card. For the top card, either a signifier card is selected for this position or a random card is drawn from the shuffled deck. The remaining rows of cards are laid out from left to right.
6. The Double Triad consists of seven cards. The center card is the signifier. The other six cards are positioned to form two triangles. An upright triangle (pyramid) and and upside down triangle (inverted pyramid). These two triangles interlock forming a six-pointed star. Geometrically this star card layout with its seventh card in the center forms a merkaba.
7. The Circle consists of five cards, which are placed inside a circle. This sacred circle is intended to emulate a mandala or Native American medicine wheel. The first card is drawn from the deck in the east position, moving in the counter-clockwise direction, placing the cards in the South, West, and North positions. Each placement reflects the various bodies: East: Spiritual Body; South: Physical Body; West: Emotional Body; North: Mental Body; Center of Circle: Inner Guidance. The final card is intended to integrate the spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental bodies and offer wisdom and inner guidance.

Appearances

	Character	Description
368/369	Natalie DuPres	Death, The Tower, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Wicked Woman
376	Natalie DuPres	The Lover (inverted), Death, The Chariot
	Naomi Collins	Dreams she follows a tarot card to Jeremiah and his lover.
379	Natalie DuPres	(no cards named)
	Victoria Winters	The Princess, The Magician, The Knight, Death
386	Natalie DuPres	(no cards named)
400	Angelique Bouchard Collins	Uses tarot cards as part of a ceremony to call upon the fires of hell.
403	Natalie DuPres	(no cards named)
406	Natalie DuPres	The Lover, Death, The Chariot, The Moon, The Tower of Destruction.
417	Natalie DuPres	(no cards named); she saw her own death foretold in the cards.
441	Millicent Collins	The Tower of Destruction, The Star, The Moon, The Chariot, The Lover, The Devil, The High Priestess.
647	Elizabeth Collins Stoddard	Finds the Tower of Destruction card.
701	Edith Collins	The Tower of Destruction; Magda promises to bring some old gypsy cards to show her that are older than the Tarot.
706	Magda Rakosi	The Joker, The Queen, Death.
713	Madga Rakosi	The Queen (inverted), The Joker, The Tower of Destruction, The Ace.
719	Madga Rakosi	(no cards named)
752	Madga Rakosi	(no cards named)
786	Madga Rakosi	The Force, The Moon, The Lover (inverted), The Tower of Destruction (inverted), The Hanged Man (inverted)
992	Daniel Collins (1970 PT)	The Tower of Destruction.
992	Hannah Stokes	(no cards named)
1003	Hannah Stokes	The Tower of Destruction, Moon (inverted)
1014	Quentin Collins (1970 PT)	The Hanging Man
1014	Angelique Stokes Collins	(no cards named)
1015	Angelique Stokes Collins	Hanged Man
1038	Angelique Stokes Collins	Hanged Man
1123	Flora Collins	Moon, Emperor (inverted), Empress (inverted), Death.
1124	Leticia Faye	Finds the Tower of Destruction card.
1132	Gerard Stiles	(no cards named)
1141	Desmond Collins	(no cards named); he apparently learned how to read the cards from the gypsies on the great plains of Macedonia.
1176	Leticia Faye	Uses an ordinary deck of playing cards to read Gerard's future

Background information and notes

• In the original series, depending on the episode or character, the following decks are used: Tarot of Marseilles or Florentine Minchiate cards, that are similar in color and representations. Specifically, the Swiss 1JJ deck, a distant derivative of the Tarot of Marseilles, is often used.
• In the revival series, tarot cards used by Maggie Evans is the Thoth tarot deck, also known as Aleister Crowley tarot, while the tarot cards used by Countess Natalie du Prés are an interpretation of the Florentine Minchiate cards with different captions than classical names of the figures, such as "The Wicked Woman" instead of High Priestess.
• Tarot cards also appear on the cover of the Dark Shadows comic book named A Motion and a Spirit: Part One - Visits and Visitations, published by Innovation.