Tarot and Tanka: The Major Arcana

Tanka Poetry Based on Tarot’s Major Arcana

Introduction

Tarot (Fr. from the Italian term tarocchi) refers to the deck of cards used in the practise of cartomancy, a method of divining the future and of deciphering signs from beyond the material universe that is often associated with the New Age movement, spiritualism, and Neo-Pagan traditions such as Wicca.

Divination has, in fact, been practised for centuries, and the tradition of using playing cards for this purpose is believed to have begun around the 14th century. At the time, card readers (cartomancers) would use a standard deck of playing cards, these having been recently introduced in Europe.

Being of very simple designs, the cards were used as a kind of springboard for the reader’s psyche — a point of focus from which the ‘gifted’ cartomancer could extrapolate signs and symbols to predict future events or glean arcane knowledge from behind the veil of the mundane.

The first modern deck designed specifically for the practise of cartomancy, The Tarot de Marseille, was first printed in 1709, and there are countless decks now available, all with their own unique artwork and design, some simple and some very elaborate. These designs usually contain allegorical imagery and cryptic symbols, though many of the very modern decks are based simply upon intricate and attractive artwork or popular trends. (For example, see 15 Truly Stunning Tarot Decks to Buy for Your New Age-y Friends )

One of the most modern popular Tarot decks is the Rider Waite Smith deck, with its relatively basic artwork intended to facilitate free-association and focus psychic contemplation. It was designed by E. A. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, who were both members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a secret society of occultists, magicians, and theosophists inspired by writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus. The Rider Waite Smith deck has been in constant production ever since it first appeared c.1916, and continues to be the most identifiable Tarot deck on the the market.

The Major Arcana

A Tarot deck is made up of 78 cards, 22 of which are known as the Major Arcana, and 56 referred to as the Minor, or Lesser Arcana. The Major Arcana are the deck’s trump cards, and represent the Greater Mysteries, the “bigger picture”, and the overriding forces that influence the Querent (the one consulting the cards and seeking insights from them) in their current situation.

The 22 cards of the Major Arcana are numbered 0–21 (sometimes 1–22) and follow a storyline in which The Seeker, or The Fool of card #0, travels from a state of innocent wonder to a place of fulfilment and enlightement in card #21, The World.

Why Tanka?

Tanka, a Japanese term meaning “short song”, refers to a 31-syllable poem that is similar to the three-line, 5–7–5 syllable structure of haiku, but with an additional two lines of 7 syllables each.

Though tanka poems were traditionally written in one continuous line, thus forming one complete sentence unbroken by any punctuation, those composed in English are often written in the five-line structure of 5–7–5–7–7.

As with haiku, the brevity of the tanka form seems to whisper an idea, a concept, or a fleeting image into the reader’s brain. Thus, it occurred to me that tanka holds a similar power to that of a tarot card, with its symbolic imagery contained within its words rather than pictures.

With that in mind, I set out to compose these tanka (note that, as with the word “haiku”, tanka is both singular and plural), each based upon the meanings behind their respective Tarot card. While they are by no means complete renderings of all the possible interpretations of the cards, I hope that they nonetheless evoke images that may speak to your unconscious and, if you are a user of the Tarot, provide another source of inspiration to assist you in your readings.

0- The Fool

A new beginning

of childlike faith and wonder

is joker’s folly —

or the hero’s journey forth —

taking independent steps.

1- The Magician

Transforming through skill,

the potential is within.

Intuition sparks

as destiny manifests

imaginative insight.

2- The High Priestess

Knowledge lies hidden

inside of the unconscious.

Trust inspiration;

An initiation; and

The Feminine Principle.

3- The Empress

Nature’s abundance:

Fecund. Beautiful. Mother.

Fulfilment and health,

Creation and Creative —

Pregnant with the possible.

4- The Emperor

A stable thone earned

through leadership and courage.

But order the mind;

With an attitude reasoned.

An authoritative male.

5- The Hierophant

The acolyte gains

revelation and guidance

from teachers’ wisdom.

A successful alliance.

Transformation. A marriage.

6- The Lovers

A choice is calling,

Maybe love, or vocation.

Stand at this crossroad

and trust in your decision:

There may be a sacrifice.

7- The Chariot

A victory won,

the vessel travels onward.

Discipline of Self

bringing forward momentum

for achievement of a goal.

8- Strength

With fortitude strong

and courageous endurance

challenge will be met —

Vitality that strengthen

both inner and the outer.

9- The Hermit

The Seeker, unsure,

makes space for introspection,

To venture inside

for quiet meditation,

inside the sagacious Self.

10- Wheel of Fortune

Fortune’s Wheel will turn,

as the cosmic law dictates.

What goes up comes down,

and will then ascend again

as we ride on fate’s see-saw.

11- Justice

Scales held in balance,

An equilibrium won

through integrity,

the impartial equity,

in a fair and just verdict.

12- The Hanged Man

Time is suspended,

bringing purification

with the chance to shed

the inessential and heal —

Metamorphosis.

13- Death

Let go attachment,

ideas outgrown, patterns old,

and find renewal.

Mortality, or sex perhaps,

an ending is not failure.

14- Temperance

Blend in the cauldron

the ingredients of life,

To meld, merge and mix

in harmonious fusion —

a balance like alchemy.

15- The Devil

Uh oh! Here it comes,

The challenge you were fearing.

But do not resort

to inflexible thinking,

nor temptations unhealthy.

16- The Tower

The foundation shakes

and the ground feels unsteady,

but the boil is lanced

and releases its poisons.

Catastrophe forces change.

17- The Star

Hopes and dreams inspire

influences opportune.

Loved ones protect you

and your efforts will pay off,

and good omens will appear.

18- The Moon

Our intuition

leads us through uncertainty

where illusion looms.

There is truth that lies hidden,

and some secrets may confuse.

19- The Sun

A heart-warming joy,

In clarity of purpose.

Enthusiastic,

For the sun is shining now,

and vitality restored.

20- Judgement

Regeneration

and resurrection loom large.

It’s time to forgive.

Awaken to the vision,

and be redeemed. Recover!

21- The World

Perfection restored,

as the triumph is attained.

A culmination

brings unity and healing

as a new era begins.

Jupiter Grant is a self-published author, blogger, narrator and audiobook producer.

Inquiries and comments are always welcome. You can also find me on Twitter @GrantJupiter

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