Alchemy, Alchemical—A seemingly magic transformation or a medieval practice that predated chemistry which attempted to transmute elements, specifically items into gold. The work was often expressed via art, symbols, and metaphors and carried a spiritual allegory.
Arcana (Major, Minor)—Secret or mystery, usually used in reference to the tarot deck’s cards.
Archangel—An angel of the highest rank, archangels are “higher” angels and considered more powerful than traditional angels.
Archetype—A fundamental concept or universal ideal.
Associative Memory—Spontaneous mental conditioning occurring in all humans where emotional and physical links are made between two separate things. Associative memory is not intuition but learned conditioning.
Astrology—Divination via celestial events.
Attribution—The qualities or features attributed to or given to something. Tarot cards carry multiple attributions, often magical or astrological.
Benediction—Hand blessing given during holy services (Hierophant, Devil, Ten of Swords).
Binah—Third Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “understanding.” Associated with all tarot threes.
Bodhi (Bo) Tree—Worshiped by Buddhists and Hindus, the sacred tree under which Buddha gained enlightenment.
Card-a-Day—A daily tarot practice where a tarotist pulls a single card every day for guidance, inspiration, education, or divination.
Cardinal Virtues—Four essential values identified by ancient philosophers Plato and Aristotle, which were later adapted by forerunners of the Christian church as desirable characteristics: Justice, Prudence, Temperance, and Fortitude. Three of the four virtues appear in the major arcana. The virtues were a popular topic of Renaissance art.
Cartomancer—An individual who divines using tarot, oracle, or playing cards.
Cartomancy—Divination by cards.
Chakra(s)—Wheels of spiritual energy located inside the human body.
Chesed—The fourth Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “mercy.” Associated with all tarot fours.
Chokmah—The second Sephira of the Tree of Life, meaning “wisdom.” Associated with all tarot twos.
Cipher Alphabet—An alphabet used to conceal secrets; a secret code. In relation to the RWS deck, Mathers decoded the cipher alphabet in the Cipher Manuscripts, which were the foundational documents of the Golden Dawn.
Clairalience—The ability to smell scent outside the natural world.
Clairaudience—The ability to hear messages but without actually using your ears.
Claircognizance—The ability to know something without knowing why you know it.
Clairvoyance—The ability to “see” an image or picture in your head.
Consciousness—Awareness or individual perception.
Cups—The tarot suit reflecting the element of water, also signifying emotion, feelings, and love.
Dee, John—Queen Elizabeth’s astrologer and occult philosopher.
Deity—Divine god or goddess.
Direction—Refers to the traditional four directions, north, south, east, or west.
Divination—The act of foretelling a future event via supernatural means.
Divine/Divinity—The state of being divine; refers to godlike qualities.
Dweller at the Threshold—Guardian of the subconscious.
Ego—Part of the mind containing personal identity.
Element, Elemental—Referring to the four classical elements, earth, air, fire, and water.
Empathy/Empath—The ability to feel the emotional state of others by being near them. Empaths actively experience this ability on an ongoing basis.
Empowerment—Becoming stronger and more confidant in the self.
Esoteric—A thing intended to be understood by a small or select group. Confidential. Private. Secret.
Eucharist—Christian rite where consecrated bread and wine are consumed in honor of Jesus and his Last Supper. Seen on the Ace of Cups in the symbol of dove, wafer, and cup.
Exoteric—Information that is intended for public consumption. In relation to the RWS deck, exoteric is the oppositional reference to the secret canon of tarot in the Golden Dawn’s Book T.
Fecundity—Fertility.
Geburah—The fifth Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “strength.” Associated with all tarot fives.
Golden Dawn—Influential magical group springing from the nineteenth century who contributed to modern occultism. Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith were both members.
Hero’s Journey—A term coined by Joseph Campbell referring to the cross-cultural pattern of mythology and storytelling sharing common elements worldwide.
Hod—The eighth Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “splendor.” Associated with all tarot eights.
Holy Table—An altar.
Initiation—A ritual created to bring individuals into a secret group.
Kabbalah (also Qabalah)—Ancient Jewish mystical system describing the operation of the universe in relation to divine manifestation. The Tree of Life is used to express divine nature. Tarot scholars associate the tarot with the tree as a way of understanding both.
Kabbalistic Attribution—The Hebrew letter assigned to each major arcana.
Kether—The first Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “crown,” and associated with all tarot aces.
Key—Cards. In relation to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, the individual cards are often referred to as keys.
Lemniscate—Sideways eight reflecting the yin and yang of never ending life; also the Martinistic symbol of Christ.
Lotus Flowers—Symbol used by Golden Dawn and a myriad of cultures; in a broad sense they symbolize rebirth.
Major Arcana—The first twenty-two cards of the tarot deck, numbered 0–21. Also called trump cards.
Malkuth—The tenth and final Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “kingdom.” Associated with all tarot tens.
Metaphysical—Related to a reality beyond what is perceptible to the senses.
Middle Pillar—The integrating pillar on the Tree of Life, composed of Sephiroth 1, 6, 9, and 10.
Minor Arcana—Aces through tens and all court cards of the tarot deck. Often called pip cards or minors.
Narrative—The arc or events in a story. As related to tarot, the cards reflect a narrative for the reader.
Netzach—The seventh Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “victory.” Associated with all tarot sevens.
Numerology—Knowledge of the occult significance of numbers. Relating to tarot, each card carries a number that can be used for further interpretation.
Nymphs—Feminine spirits of the natural world. These mini goddesses and minor deities sprang from lakes, springs, seas, rivers, and waterfalls.
Occult—Secret. Relating to or dealing with supernatural phenomena. Something hidden from view.
Operative Masonry—Freemasons who are active, working, professional Masonic builders.
Ouroboros—Symbol of a snake or salamander eating its own tail as a symbol of infinity and the never-ending circle of life.
Pentacles—Tarot suit relating to the element of earth and reflecting material items, people, and money.
Pillar of Mercy—The right pillar of the Tree of Life; comprised of Sephiroth 2, 4, and 7.
Pillar of Severity—The left pillar of the Tree of Life; comprised of Sephiroth 3, 5, and 8.
Prana—The Sanskrit word describing the vital universal life force of all things. The term is used often in yoga, Hindu philosophy, and martial arts.
Pranayama Breath—Intentional breathing focused on controlling and extending the yogi’s breath, which is considered the universal life force. The practice is believed to open energetic pathways, purify the mind, and contain numerous holistic, emotional, and physical benefits.
Profane—Of the normal world and secular rather than spiritual.
Psychic—Manner of gaining knowledge through something other than direct communication.
Querent—An old-fashioned term for a person who visits and receives a reading from a tarot reader.
Reversals—Tarot cards that appear in a spread upside down. It is up to the reader to assign additional meaning to a reversal if they choose.
Rota—Latin word meaning “wheel.” Found on the Wheel of Fortune card.
Sacred—Defined space that is holy or supernatural.
Scrim—Piece of gauze or fabric used in theater as a painted backdrop. Each of Pamela’s stage cards reflects a scrim.
Sepher Yetzirah—Ancient text explaining the Kabbalistic Tree of Life.
Sephiroth—The ten circles of Divinity on the Tree of Life.
Serpent-Cincture—The symbol of a serpent or snake devouring its own tail, as in the belt of the Magician card. Conventional symbol of eternity. See also “Ouroboros.”
Shadow Self—Phrase and idea created by Jung, meaning the part of the human psyche where we bury our deepest desires, fears, talents, and issues we are unable to bring to the surface, acknowledge, and accept. Often associated with the Moon card and what lingers beneath the surface of the water pools inside the tarot.
Significator—Card purposefully chosen to represent the person the reading is for or the situation the reading pertains to.
Speculative Masonry—Freemasonry for men who are not professional Masonic builders.
Stage Card—Thirteen tarot cards designed by Pamela Colman Smith that are drawn on a stage.
Subconscious—The part of consciousness that the individual is not aware of.
Supernal Triad—The top triad of the Tree of Life, the first three Sephiroth forming a trinity and locking in the godhead.
Supernatural—An occurrence or things relating to an order of existence beyond the visible universe.
Swords—Tarot suit relating to the element of air and reflecting the qualities of the mind, thoughts, and calculation.
Synchronicity—The experience of two or more events appearing to be meaningfully related.
Tattva Tradition—The Golden Dawn used tattva symbols and invocations to work with as they rose through initiatory grades.
Tetragrammaton—The fourfold expression of the Hebrew deity and God, containing the Hebrew letters Yod Heh Vau Heh.
Tetramorph—Four creatures found in the four corners of the Wheel of Fortune and World cards. This is a cross-cultural symbol reflecting four directions in space and divine dominion. Tarot’s tetramorph is based on the four biblical tetramorphs found in the first chapter of Ezekiel who have the heads of a man, lion, ox, and eagle.
Timing—Using the tarot cards to predict the date or time of a future event.
Tiphareth—The sixth Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “beauty.” Associated with all tarot sixes.
Tora—Scroll on the High Priestess’s lap. Also appears on the Wheel of Fortune card.
Tree of Life—Representation of the nature of divinity and reality via ten circles and pathways looking like a tree.
Trump Card—Slang for a major arcana card numbered 0 to 21. Each ascending card carries a higher or greater power over the last.
Undine—From the Latin word under, meaning wave or water. A European tradition of the spirits who inhabit the element of water.
Visualization—Using a tarot card or other image in the mind’s eye and exploring it through the creative imagination.
Wand—The tarot symbol depicting the element of fire. In other, earlier decks, called a staff or stick.
Yesod—The ninth Sephira on the Tree of Life, meaning “foundation.” Associates with all tarot nines.
Yoga—A broad group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices developed in India.
Yogi—One who practices yoga.
