Tarot & The Tree of Life
The 22 Major Arcana correspond to the 22 paths connecting the Sephiroth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. Each path represents a spiritual journey encoded in a Hebrew letter.
The Ten Sephiroth
The 22 Paths
The Fool
Kether โ Chokmah
The Magician
Kether โ Binah
The High Priestess
Kether โ Tiphareth
The Empress
Chokmah โ Binah
The Emperor
Chokmah โ Tiphareth
The Hierophant
Chokmah โ Chesed
The Lovers
Binah โ Tiphareth
The Chariot
Binah โ Geburah
Strength
Chesed โ Geburah
The Hermit
Chesed โ Tiphareth
Wheel of Fortune
Chesed โ Netzach
Justice
Geburah โ Tiphareth
The Hanged Man
Geburah โ Hod
Death
Tiphareth โ Netzach
Temperance
Tiphareth โ Yesod
The Devil
Tiphareth โ Hod
The Tower
Netzach โ Hod
The Star
Netzach โ Yesod
The Moon
Netzach โ Malkuth
The Sun
Hod โ Yesod
Judgement
Hod โ Malkuth
The World
Yesod โ Malkuth
Understanding Tarot & Kabbalah
The Golden Dawn System
The correlation between tarot and Kabbalah was systematized by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the late 19th century. They assigned each Major Arcana card to one of the 22 paths connecting the Sephiroth on the Tree of Life.
Hebrew Letters
Each path corresponds to a Hebrew letter, which carries its own mystical meaning. The letter's symbolism enriches the understanding of its associated tarot card, creating layers of spiritual significance.
The Three Pillars
Pillar of Severity
Left pillar: Binah, Geburah, Hod
Represents form, restriction, and feminine receptivity
Middle Pillar
Kether, Tiphareth, Yesod, Malkuth
Represents balance, consciousness, and the direct path
Pillar of Mercy
Chokmah, Chesed, Netzach
Represents force, expansion, and masculine activity