How to use Tarot and Numerology

Not many people realise that Numerology is based upon the numerical sequence of the seventy-eight Tarot cards.

I will avoid the connection between the 22 Atus and the Hebrew alphabet to concentrate on Numerology and the English alphabet.

My Bible on Numerology for many years has been "Helping Yourself with NUMEROLOGY" by Helyn Hitchcock, Pub 1972. Helyn Hitchcock has unflappable faith in her predictive techniques based upon the Date of Birth:

...which, like nature, is immutable and unchanging. The key to these predictions is found in the ancient Tarot pack of cards.

The basics of Numerology is encapsulated in the table below:

1. A J S
2. B K T
3. C L U
4. D M V
5. E N W
6. F O X
7. G P Y
8. H Q Z
9. I R &

The Master Numbers are 11, 22, and 33

Each number and letter has characteristic qualities, which Hitchcock goes into in detail. To analyse your name, simply write it out, put the appropriate number under each letter, and sum them up. The resultant number is usually reduced to a single figure, unless it is a Master Number - 11, 22 or 33.

As an example, here is my name:

• P 7 +
• A 1 +
• U 3 +
• L 3 = 14 = 5

• H 8 +
• U 3 +
• G 3 +
• H 8 +
• E 5 +
• S 1 +
• B 2 +
• A 1 +
• R 9 +
• L 3 +
• O 6+
• W 5 = 58 = 4

14 + 58 = 72

5 + 4 = 9

Paul is summed as 14 which reduces to 5, and Hughes-Barlow equals 58, which reduces to 4. Add the two subtotals to arrive at 9. If you have a middle name then that is also analysed and included. The next stage is to analyse the vowels, which according to Hitchcock represent your heart's desire or soul's urge. There are problems in defining just what the vowels are, since in some names there is only a 'Y', such as Lynn. Back to my name.

• P
• A 1 +
• U 3 = 4
• L

• H
• U 3 +
• G
• H
• E 5 +
• S
• B
• A 1 +
• R
• L
• O 6 =
• W

4

+

6

=10

4

+

15

=19

1

3

3

5

1

6

P

A

U

L

H

U

G

H

E

S

-

B

A

R

L

O

W

The sum of my vowels is 10 or 1, which indicates "independence, creativity and originality, and ambition, but also selfish, critical, conceited and arrogant". If the vowels can be analysed, so can the consonants...

P	A	U	L		H	U	G	H	E	S	-	B	A	R	L	O	W
7			3		8		7	8		1		2		9	3		5
10				+	43													=53
1				+	7													=8

The next stage is to look at the date of birth. Mine is the 4^th September 1959.

4+9+1+9+5+9=37=10

If your birthday reduces to 11, 22 or 33, you should not reduce them further. Interestingly, my Birthpath number is exactly the same as my Soul's Urge number, and the interpretation is pretty similar too. Since the Birthpath represents the lessons I have to learn in this life, it is very likely that my heart's desire will be to achieve them. Good news.

The birthday can also be analysed. Since we have 31 numbers to play with, there is more variety.

One of the most important calculations made by the Numerologist is to add the Birthpath to the Destiny or full name number. For me, this is 10+ 9=19, which reduces to 10 or 1, and it feeds my monomania...

You will not be surprised to know that there are other ways of dissecting the date of birth. First, there is subtracting the components to find the challenges in life. As you can see, my main challenge is a 3, which says I am talented, but find it hard to express myself adequately, and I can be moody.

Challenges and Pinnacles

9		4		1959
9		4		6
	5		2		1st & 2nd Sub-challenges
		3			Main challenge
		3			Additional challenge

		6			4th Pinnacle - 6
		5			3rd Pinnacle - 5
	4		1		2nd Pinnacle - 1
9		4		6	1st Pinnacle - 4

The length of a Pinnacle is based upon 9 and 36. The first Pinnacle is calculated by subtracting the birthpath from 36. In my case, this is 36-10= 26, so for the first 26 years, my first Pinnacle is 4. The next pinnacle 1, lasts for 9 years, and I am currently under a 5 pinnacle, which began on my 35^th birthday. The most significant pinnacle for me is the second, since it is the same as my Souls Urge and my Birthpath. 26 was indeed the age when I began to get seriously involved in the occult and mystical sciences. Five is a number of change, new experiences, and opportunities for new friends, advertising and selling. Four is a number of hard work, little recognition, but an opportunity to lay a strong foundation for the future, and my first name Paul helps me since it sums to 5. Looking back at my life, the 4 period was indeed an time of hard work and not much fun, and it did lay a foundation for my future. Twenty-six was the age when I realised my true vocation, even though it was not a career I had ever contemplated. I had to learn to stand on my own two feet, to be self reliant, have faith in myself. My life is currently in a state of flux - it certainly is not boring. The final pinnacle 6 is about the home and family, and also reward and success. So far I have not married, so there is hope once I reach 43.

Hichcock's system of prediction (which is not about the Challenges or Pinnacles) is complicated, and it is clear that she does not reveal all the details, so I will leave it for now, but I hope you get a taste for some of the techniques Numerologists use.

You may be wondering what happened to the connection to Tarot. Well, the interpretation of the numbers 1-9 can be easily related to the Sephiroth on the Tree of Life, in particular the planetary rulerships of them. The Power Numbers of 11, 22 and 33 are interesting. 22 represents the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet. 11 is very important in the Thelemic system of magick as presented Aleister Crowley. The 11^th Hebrew letter is K, ruled by Jupiter, and represented in the Tarot as Fortune. The 33 is considered too powerful for an individual to handle, as it represents the powers of an Avatar, or Mahatma.

Karmic numbers

Hitchcock singles out four compound numbers for particular attention and relates them to Tarot cards. These numbers, she suggests, represent the influences from actions in previous lives that have to be overcome in this life. The karmic numbers are 13, 14, 16 and 19. The problem here is that there are several different and conflicting orderings of the Major Arcana. My favourite deck, the Thoth Tarot starts at 0 for the Fool, for example.

Leaving aside these difficulties for a moment, here is Hitchcock's take on these numbers and their related Tarot cards:

Malefic or Karmic number thirteen

The Tarot card for arcanum thirteen is entitled "Death" or "The Reaper". It is symbolized by the skeleton, which is the accepted figure of death, taken figuratively. You fear death mainly because you fear the unknown beyond the grave. The actual interpretation is that death does not mean the end of life, but it constitutes change, motion, or transformation. Change is what we call death. In other words, death is a rebirth, renewal, and an inspirational beginning. The thirteenth card or karmic number signifies that death is merely a change of consciousness.

Through superstition the number thirteen came into ill repute. It really is a period of regeneration. The keyword is work on the material plane. The warning given is that there is danger of backsliding into laziness, negativity, and inefficiency. Trials and tests of proficiency will be given on the material plane, and work is the solution. It warns against being indifferent, discontented, and ill-mannered.

Hitchcock does not actually name the associated card, but it is pretty clear she is talking about the Temperance card; the last sentence is a bit of a give away.

Malefic or Karmic number sixteen

Tarot card number sixteen entitled the "The Tower"depicts ruin. The falling tower indicates the crushing of human pride and vanity. The structure was built of ignorance and wrong doing, through self-will and a self-centred life. Not until we understand the true nature of willpower do we destroy false ideas, and learn what is right.

Number sixteen warns of some strange calmity, defeat of plans, disgrace, accidents, deception, and adversity. It indicates the karma of former illegitimate love affairs. Number sixteen offers the test of optimism and faith. "If number sixteen is found as the total of the soul's urge, it shows false friends and broken dreams. If it appears as the destiny number, it warns of loss of name, position, fortune, and power. If it is the number of the total birthpath, then all the tragedies must be learned - love to lose, rise to fall. You must not cling to the material.

Karmic number nineteen

Tarot card number nineteen symbolizes the "Sun" or "Reunion." It is not inanimate, but a living force. Nineteen is the equalizer or collector. It demands an "eye for an eye." We get out of life just what we put into it. Number nineteen warns you not to be domineering, but exercise tolerance. You formerly took something, and now you must pay it back. It is a test of endurance. If your soul's urge totals nineteen, then you'll have to face all of life's secrets which may have been hidden and are now dragged out. If nineteen occurs as a total of your destiny, you may find you have lost everything at the end of your life. If nineteen occurs as the total of your birthpath, then you must meet your failings, and reap what you have sown. Even though you'd like to be free, you must now pay the piper. If nineteen occurs as the total of either your heart or destiny number, it means you brought this karma over from a previous life. It is a weakness in character which must be overcome by living up to the digits of the test number.

If you cast your eye over my name and date of birth, you will find that 19 in particular is relevant to me. My birthpath can also add up to 19. I must say, many aspects of this number have surfaced over years, in particular during my Second Pinnacle (1+9=10 or 1). Nineteen gives an the opportunity to discover the reasons for events in life, a useful skill for a clairvoyant.