Shortly after the creation of the Italian tarot cards, numerous versions with incorrect numerological sequences emerged. The numerologically correct system is the Marseille tarot, as it maintains the appropriate links between the meanings of tarot cards and the ancient descriptions of numbers. Recently, inaccurate information has surfaced regarding how individual tarot cards are connected to the numbers as known in Chaldean numerology.
Without delving into the numerological philosophy of tarot, it can be stated that in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Chaldean numerologists used connections between numbers and tarot cards, as illustrated below.
In some cases, the numerological names differ from the most established names. For example, the number 11 is called Lion Muzzled. The card The World is referred to as the Crown of the Magi. The Three of Cups and Three of Coins are called Reaper, as these cards share meanings with the card Reaper XIII. Many terms originate from French occultists of the 19th century, who sought the origins of tarot in ancient Egypt and named individual cards or numbers with pagan names.
The cards of the Major Arcana in Chaldean numerology are typically named as follows:
- 1 – I. The Magician, the Juggler
- 2 – II. The Door of Hidden Sanctuary, the High Priestess
- 3 – III. The Empress, Isis-Urania
- 4 – IV. The Stone Cube, the Emperor
- 5 – V. The Master of the Arcana
- 6 – VI. The Two Ways, the Lovers
- 7 – VII. The Chariot of Osiris
- 8 – VIII. The Justice, The Balance and Sword, Themis
- 9 – IX. The Veiled Lamp, the Hermit
- 10 – X. The Wheel of Fortune, the Wheel, Sphinx
- 11 – XI. The Clenched Hand, the Lion Muzzled, the Force
- 12 – XII. The Sacrifice, the Hangman, the Victim
- 13 – XIII. The Reaper, the Death, the Scythe, the Reaping Skeleton
- 14 – XIV. Temperance, the Two Urns, Solar Spirit
- 15 – XV. Typhon or Devil (especially when associated with 4 or 8)
- 16 – XVI. The Blasted Tower, the Ruined Tower, the Shattered Citadel
- 17 – XVII. The Star of the Magi
- 18 – XVIII. The Twilight, the Blood-stained Path
- 19 – XIX. The Prince of Heaven, the Blazing Light
- 20 – XX. The Awakening of the Dead, the Judgment
- 21 – XXI. The Crown of the Magi, the Universe
- 22 – XXII. Full, the Blind Fool, the Crocodile
Following are the Minor Arcana, which appears in four suits. The names of the four suits in tarot are usually wands, cups, swords, and coins/pentacles. In Chaldean numerology, we generally use the term scepters for wands, and coins for pentacles.
Unlike the Major Arcana, the meanings of the Minor Arcana cards, particularly the pip cards, unfortunately lack connection to their ancient numerological meanings. The number 43 or Three of Cups in Chaldean numerology is, for example, considered unlucky, whereas in the general modern interpretation of tarot, it has a favorable meaning. The interpretations of numbers also differ in content.
Therefore, I strongly advise against interpreting numbers in Chaldean numerology using modern French descriptions of the Minor Arcana and other descriptions of this arcana that stem from French interpretations.
Tarot is also a tool of a divination matrix – once we determine the meanings of a chosen card, that card will “bear” or “communicate” the meanings we have attributed to it. In interpreting numbers in Chaldean numerology, however, such an approach cannot be applied; instead, the meanings must be connected to the actual nature of the numbers. Therefore, we must take into account the exact sequence in the naming.
Minor Arcana:
- 23- The Royal Star of Lion, King of Scepters
- 24- The Queen of Scepters
- 25 – The Knight of Scepters
- 26 – The Page of Scepters
- 27 – The Scepter, Ace of Scepters
- 28 – Two of Scepters
- 29 – Three of Scepters
- 30 – Four of Scepters
- 31 – Five of Scepters
- 32 – Six of Scepters
- 33 – Seven of Scepters
- 34 – Eight of Scepters
- 35 – Nine of Scepters
- 36 – Ten of Scepters
- 37 – The Royal Star of Bull, King of Cups
- 38 – The Queen of Cups
- 39 – The Knight of Cups
- 40 – The Page of Cups
- 41 – The Cup, Ace of Cups
- 42 – Two of Cups
- 43 – The Ripper, the Point of the Reaper, the Death Point, Three of Cups
- 44 – Four of Cups
- 45 – Five of Cups
- 46 – Six of Cups
- 47 – Seven of Cups
- 48 – Eight of Cups
- 49 – Nine of Cups
- 50 – Ten of Cups
- 51 – The Royal Star of Aquarius, the Royal Star of the Waterman, the King of Swords
- 52 – The Queen of Swords
- 53 – The Knight of Swords
- 54 – The Page of Swords
- 55 – The Sword, Ace od Swords
- 56 – Two of Swords
- 57- Three of Swords
- 58- Four of Swords
- 59 – Five of Swords
- 60 – Six of Swords
- 61 – Seven of Swords
- 62 – Eight of Swords
- 63 – Nine of Swords
- 64 – Ten of Swords
- 65 – The Royal Star of Scorpio, King of Coins
- 66 – The Queen of Coins
- 67 – The Knight of Coins
- 68 – The Page of Coins
- 69- The Mars Crowned, The Crown of Mars, the Coin, Ace of Coins
- 70 – Two of Coins
- 71 – The Ripper, Three of Coins
- 72 – Four of Coins
- 73 – Five of Coins
- 74 – Six of Coins
- 75 – Seven of Coins
- 76 – Eight of Coins
- 77 – Nine of Coins
- 78 – Ten of Coins









