At a Glance
The tarot is a symbolic system of 78 cards, divided into 22 major arcana and 56 minor arcana. Originally a card game that appeared in Italy in the 15th century, it evolved into a tool for introspection and reflection from the 18th century onward. The major arcana — from The Fool (0) to The World (XXI) — tell a universal initiatory journey. The tarot is not fortune-telling in the predictive sense: it is a symbolic mirror that uses archetypal imagery to stimulate reflection, illuminate blind spots and enrich self-understanding. No scientific validation, but a symbolic depth that has earned it study by Jungian psychologists.
This content is informational. The tarot is a symbolic system, not a prediction tool. It has no ability to reveal the future — it reveals what you are ready to see.
How It Works
The 22 Major Arcana
The major arcana form "The Fool's Journey" — an initiatory path from spiritual birth (The Fool) to fulfillment (The World). Each card represents a universal archetype:
0 — The Fool — Beginning, innocence, unlimited potential, leap into the unknown. Pure energy before any form.
I — The Magician — Will, creation, skill, action. The 4 elements before him — anything is possible.
II — The High Priestess — Intuition, mystery, inner wisdom, patience. What is hidden but present.
III — The Empress — Fertility, creativity, abundance, sensuality. The feminine creative force.
IV — The Emperor — Structure, authority, stability, protection. The framework that allows growth.
V — The Hierophant — Tradition, teaching, spirituality, guidance. The bridge between visible and invisible.
VI — The Lovers — Choice, relationships, values, alignment. A crossroads that reveals priorities.
VII — The Chariot — Determination, victory, mastery, direction. Moving forward despite opposing forces.
VIII — Justice — Balance, truth, consequences, integrity. The law of cause and effect.
IX — The Hermit — Introspection, solitude, wisdom, inner quest. The light that illuminates from within.
X — Wheel of Fortune — Cycles, change, opportunity, destiny. Nothing is permanent — neither the good nor the difficult.
XI — Strength — Courage, gentleness, mastery of instincts, patience. The power of compassion.
XII — The Hanged Man — Suspension, letting go, new perspective, voluntary sacrifice. Seeing the world differently.
XIII — Death — Transformation, ending, renewal, liberation. Not physical death — metamorphosis.
XIV — Temperance — Balance, patience, harmony, healing. The art of blending and integration.
XV — The Devil — Attachment, shadow, dependence, matter. What chains and what can be transmuted.
XVI — The Tower — Collapse, revelation, brutal liberation, truth. The destruction of false structures.
XVII — The Star — Hope, inspiration, serenity, cosmic guidance. Light after the storm.
XVIII — The Moon — Illusions, fears, the unconscious, dreams. What is felt but not yet understood.
XIX — The Sun — Joy, vitality, success, clarity. The light that illuminates everything.
XX — Judgement — Rebirth, calling, assessment, elevation. The inner voice calling for transcendence.
XXI — The World — Fulfillment, integration, wholeness, complete cycle. The culmination of the journey.
The 56 Minor Arcana
Divided into 4 suits — Cups (emotions), Swords (mind), Wands (action/creativity) and Pentacles (matter/body) — from Ace to 10, plus 4 court cards per suit (Page, Knight, Queen, King). They describe everyday experiences and the nuances of each life domain.
Birth Tarot
In the context of the holistic profile, the birth tarot uses the numerology of the birth date to associate major arcana with a person. This is not a random draw — it is a fixed calculation that reveals archetypal energies linked to the birth date.
What It Reveals (and What It Doesn't)
What it offers: a symbolic mirror of exceptional richness. The tarot's archetypal images speak to the unconscious and can illuminate complex situations, emotional blocks or possible directions. Carl Jung saw the tarot as a tool for exploring archetypes of the collective unconscious.
What it doesn't do: predict the future, reveal hidden facts, or provide objective answers. The tarot is a projective tool — what you see in it says more about you than about the cards themselves.
Major decks: the Tarot de Marseille (French tradition, refined symbolism), the Rider-Waite-Smith (Anglo tradition, illustrated minor arcana) and the Thoth by Crowley (esoteric tradition, dense symbolism).
Connection with Shinkofa
Within the Shinkofa ecosystem, the tarot is part of the holistic profile through the birth tarot — major arcana calculated from the date of birth. This is not divination but an archetypal enrichment of the profile, consistent with Shinkofa's holistic vision: each system brings a different angle on the same reality — you.
Going Further
- The Fool's Journey — read the 22 major arcana as a continuous narrative of personal evolution, from raw potential (The Fool) to complete integration (The World)
- Correspondences — the links between major arcana and numerology, astrology, kabbalah and alchemy enrich each card with multiple layers of meaning
- Tarot as a coaching tool — used by some coaches and therapists as a projective support to explore blind spots and stimulate reflection