Numerology and Astrology

[chongjasmine]

To interpret a tarot card, is it necessary to know some numerology and astrology?
Or will it be perfectly fine to go into a tarot reading with no knowledge of them?

 

[LeFou]

You can simply look at the pictures, and over time, learn the stories. As you gather stories, some will involve numbers, seasons, planets, stars and signs.

A story is just a way to connect to something more important (the thing which has no name). So connect with stories, a sufficient number (we never learn them all). And when you are overflowing with stories, remember to connect with the more important thing (the thing we cannot speak about, because it has no name).

 

[yannie]

To interpret a tarot card, is it necessary to know some numerology and astrology?
Or will it be perfectly fine to go into a tarot reading with no knowledge of them?

As you go along, you may be curious about the numerological and astrological significance of your cards, and that will push you to learn more. Starting out, it was perfectly fine for me to not know, because I was a beginner and I comprehended the cards according to my limitations. Then as I did more readings and noticed number patterns, I read up about numbers and that helped to deepen my understanding of the cards, especially when they show up in patterns. I don't really use the astrological connection, but astrology is useful to me in terms of suggesting time periods when a knight, queen or king comes up.

Numerology and astrology can be good for deeper understanding the big picture, the entire spread before you.

Intuitively, you will know when your knowledge is not enough and that will push you to seek more.

 

[yannie]

To interpret a tarot card, is it necessary to know some numerology and astrology?
Or will it be perfectly fine to go into a tarot reading with no knowledge of them?

Oh hey btw, I recommend this book: "Tarot: Beyond the Basics" by Anthony Louis. It touches on astrology, numerology, symbols, kabalah, which came first what started what did this start that yaddayaddayadda... Simple to understand, it's a good companion to refer to whenever you feel like it. Even has a little bit of I-Ching thrown in that I have found useful. You can get it from Kino at Taka, they've actually since re-stocked with other titles so you might find others more appealing.

 

[danieljuk]

I don't think you need to know anything apart from figuring out the card pictures and understanding the cards! Anything else is "extras" and we can make it really overly complicated! I have had excellent readings with people just looking at the pictures, no other techniques or systems. I use a few other techniques to help with my reading and numerology is helpful in my method (I only use it for repeating number patterns). I try to keep it simple!

As Yannie said, when you get more advanced, you might want to add more techniques and methods but just watch that it doesn't get in the way of the actual reading! The symbols and pictures of the cards are the most important thing of all

 

[Brilliance]

To interpret a tarot card, is it necessary to know some numerology and astrology?
Or will it be perfectly fine to go into a tarot reading with no knowledge of them?

Yes, it is perfectly fine Many read Tarot cards without any knowledge of astrology and numerology.

 

[Barleywine]

I don't believe it's essential to have a grounding in numerology or astrology to read successfully using visual cues and intuition, but if you're like most of us who delve deeply into the literature, both will eventually find you! However, there are a couple of qualifiers: as I understand it, the numerology is not what's currently practiced as a divining art, it's more like esoteric number theory (think Pythagoras, Iamblichus, etc.), and the astrology is limited to zodiacal and planetary associations, with nothing of the mechanics of the art and science of astrology to it. Personally, I was aleady a student of the "hermetic" qabala when I discovered tarot, and worked my way into the numerology and astrology from there. But I was also exposed initially to the Thoth deck, which doeasn't let you off the hook on either one.

 

[Grizabella]

Oh hey btw, I recommend this book: "Tarot: Beyond the Basics" by Anthony Louis. It touches on astrology, numerology, symbols, kabalah, which came first what started what did this start that yaddayaddayadda... Simple to understand, it's a good companion to refer to whenever you feel like it. Even has a little bit of I-Ching thrown in that I have found useful. You can get it from Kino at Taka, they've actually since re-stocked with other titles so you might find others more appealing.

I recommend this book, too, even though I haven't read all of it. Even if I do read it all, I probably won't be using astrological stuff in my readings, though. I know a couple of astrological connections, such as Temperance being associated with Sagittarius, but that little tidbit only stuck with me because I'm a Sagittarian.

I don't think you need to know anything apart from figuring out the card pictures and understanding the cards! Anything else is "extras" and we can make it really overly complicated! I have had excellent readings with people just looking at the pictures, no other techniques or systems. I use a few other techniques to help with my reading and numerology is helpful in my method (I only use it for repeating number patterns). I try to keep it simple!

As Yannie said, when you get more advanced, you might want to add more techniques and methods but just watch that it doesn't get in the way of the actual reading! The symbols and pictures of the cards are the most important thing of all

This is absolutely true, in my opinion. Although you can throw in as many bells and whistles as you can remember, keeping it simple is the best way for many people. My opinion is---if you want an astrological reading, go to an astrologer. If you want a numerology reading, go to a numerologist. If you want a Tarot reading----see a Tarot reader.

 

[ravenest]

To interpret a tarot card, is it necessary to know some numerology and astrology?
Or will it be perfectly fine to go into a tarot reading with no knowledge of them?

Well, you CAN ... cant say if it will turn out 'perfectly fine' .

But you will miss out on so much (also I would recommend ' qabbalah and astrology ' approach over ' numerology and astrology ' .

 

[Nemia]

There is no end to the layers of knowledge that help deepen your reading experience - mythology, alchemy, colour theory, herbalism, you name it. Depending on the deck you use, there are minimum requirements. If for example you use a deck that relies heavily on astrology, you rob yourself of deeper understanding if you don't learn at least the basics - zodiac, planets, houses, connection to elements, archetypes, Jungian psychology etc.

Over time, you'll feel curious to add another layer. It took me a long long time to start developing my interest in kabbalah. I have books about kabbalah that I bought in the Eighties and read only now! I thought it's too complex for me and indeed it's very complex but also life-enriching, not only tarot-enriching.

So go in your own pace. The ability to know your tarot deck well, to connect with your intuition and to tune in to a tarot reading (where you combine question, querent, card positions, card meanings and influences between them) are the basics. By reading much tarot, you'll get a basic grap on the "character" of numbers anyway. And once you get a good feeling for the elemental energies of the cards, astrological associations will "sit" more comfortably. Intuition incorporates knowledge, it all works together.

But IMO you can have very good and helpful readings also as a beginner.

I'd recommend a tarot journal where you write down all your readings. If you'll return to them later, after you have acquired more layers of knowledge, you'll find it interesting to see your spontaneous card interpretations. Both are valuable.

Theoretical knowledge may lead some readers towards a reading style which is completely tarot-referential, pointing out all the associations between the cards in different systems without connection to the querent/yourself and the context of your life. So keep your ability to connect to the images and the pattern of a reading in the most basic sense while you slowly add knowledge.