Numerology + Tarot

Numerology and Tarot are like peanut butter and jelly, they go hand in hand.  I am really influenced by numerology when I read the cards- Tarot and also playing cards.  I feel it is an amazing tool to use to help you connect deeper to the cards without having to rely on textbook meanings.  It colors them and adds depth to them.  I have studied numerology for many years and it can be quite confusing.  There are many different meanings assigned to each number depending on the system and method. Tarot has a standard set of meanings (there are though different opinions on this) which sometimes don't make sense. Let's look at them first:

1 (Ace)- new beginnings
2- duality, choice
3- expansion, growth, creation,
4- stability, security
5- change, conflict
6- equilibrium, balance
7- wisdom, meditation
8- power, movement
9- endings, completion
10- completion, ending of one cycle beginning of another

I get frustrated because the number doesn't always correspond to the picture or meaning of the card.  Why are 9 + 10 both completion? What is the point of 8 cards with the same theme? If 9 is endings why is the 9 of Pentacles about good fortune and wealth? If the 6 of Swords is about moving on from past difficulties where does "equilibrium" come in? I get it, it is just not so clear to me. How do you relate #10's beginning of a new cycle to real life? It can be confusing.

I studied each number of each suit and their images on the cards to find the common denominator among them.  I want to share my musings with you. 
Each number is expressed through the elements differently.  With the swords it's more negative.  I pair the number and suit and that gives me the meaning.

 Let's look at the elements first:

Swords:  Air Element, mentality, action, change, power, intellect, thoughts, beliefs,

Wands:  Fire Element, growth, development, spirituality, inspiration, energy, motivation, creativity, ambition, determination

Cups:  Water Element, emotions, heart, peace, creativity, intuition, feelings, relationships

Pentacles:  Earth Element, material life, physical realm, money, health, work, business, property

Now let's combine the number (the meanings are listed below) and the suit:

 For example:  7 of Pentacles

7= Thoughts
Pentacles = Money

 Therefore 7 of Pentacles = "Thoughts of money" which then you can branch out into many other meanings.  For instance:  Financial planning, letting things grow and develop, organizing, patience, etc.  So get the basic keyword then go from there and use your intuition!  Each card has positive and negative meanings, plus it depends if you read reversed or not.  Use your intuition! Let the cards speak to you!

 Let's cover Ace through 10.

ACE-  I see the Aces as gifts.  There is a hand coming out of the sky from a cloud.  To me, I see it as a gift from the universe presenting itself to you.  Don't get me wrong, sometimes I do read them as new beginnings (#1) because that is how I learned them and it just stuck in my head. Do what works for you!  But basically I see ALL of the Aces as positive even the Swords. I see them as a gift coming to you that will give you an opportunity for Clarity (swords), self-growth/inspiration (wands), emotional satisfaction (cups) and money/abundance/good luck (pentacles).  Therefore my keyword for example for the Ace of Swords would be "Gift of Clarity". 

2-  This number for me is the same as the standard meanings.  Duality, choices, opposites, 2 people, 2 situations, 2 things, bringing 2 things together and trying to find balance, a middle ground or these 2 opposites can cause confusion and doubts and worry. To make it easy, let's use the keywords: 

DISHARMONY of________
HARMONY of________ 

OR

IMBALANCE of______
BALANCE of ________

Swords:  Disharmony of thoughts= Contradicting thoughts/doubts

Wands:  Disharmony of energy/development= crossroads

Cups:  Harmony of emotions= love/relationship

Pentacles:  Harmony of money =flexibility/ ups + downs of life , ability to handle and balance 2 things (such as jobs and family)

3-  For me, the 3's represent growth, expansion, good luck, success, things in 3's, 3 people, interference, meddling

Swords:  3's a crowd

Wands:  Success, being on top

Cups:  Celebrating, gratitude (3 people in the image partying)

Pentacles:  Advancing a level (3 people in the image working together)

4-  This is the same as the standard one.  Stability, security, foundation, order, maturity

Swords:  No activity, rest

Wands:  Home, security

Cups:  Stability becomes boring, mundane, moodiness, dissatisfied

Pent:  Security, prudent, shrewd

5-  The 5 stays the same for me as well.  Conflict, change, chaos

Swords:  Fight, war, fighting words, arguments, lowblows

Wands:  Competition

Cups:  Emotional upset, sorrow

Pent:  Chaos in physical realm, a lack, loss

6-  Now for me, the sixes represent the past (with the exception of the Pentacles) and giving and receiving.

Swords:  Leaving past behind and moving on and with the help of someone.

Wands:  Receiving praise, recognition for a job well done in the past

Cups:  Looking to the past for help in the present, memories. Receiving/giving something to someone, being kind to someone

Pent:  Having enough money to give or receiving a gift

7-  7 is a magical number. It is all about the self, looking within, introspection, thoughts and all that goes on inside your heart, mind and spirit.

Swords:  Negative thoughts, cunning intellect, dishonesty

Wands:  Inner strength, sense of self, defending your beliefs/position, determination (like The Chariot also #7)

Cups:  Illusion, dreams, imagination, inner feelings

Pent:  Planning your next step, contemplation, assessing, organizing, patience

8-  Progress, movement, taking initiative, power

Swords:  Lack of power, movement, feeling stuck, #8 is blocked

Wands:  Progress towards goals, things moving quickly, news, travel

Cups:  Moving away from emotional attachments

Pent:  Working with enthusiasm, making progress towards goals

9-  Distance (with active elements- Swords + Wands) and closeness (with passive elements- Cups + Pentacles) to the elements themselves. For example: the 9 of Swords.  The Swords is an active element representing the mental realm. So let's use distance for the active element. We have : distance from the mental realm or reality.

Swords:  Distance from reality: nightmares, stress, out of your mind

Wands:  Distance from goals: others, putting a wall around yourself

Cups:  Closeness to your heart/desires:  wish fulfilled

Pent:  Closeness to money/abundance:  you have it all around you, you have lots of money and feeling financially independence

10-  The 10's for me aren't about completion but are about other people and their relation to you.  Other people in the mix and how they play out in the elements.

Swords:  They betray you or vice versa

Wands:  They don't help you:  you're doing it all on your own

Cups:  You share happiness and love with your family, children

Pentacles:  You share money with family or receive an inheritance

Use these meanings as guidelines and keywords to spark your intuition and take the meanings further. 

I hope this has helped you and if you have any questions or comments please comment below!

Sara xoxo