Kabbalah and Tarot

Kabbalah is the mystical tradition within Judaism that seeks to understand the nature of God, the universe, and the soul through the symbolic diagram known as the Tree of Life. Since the 18th century, Western occultists have developed elaborate correspondences between the Kabbalistic system and the tarot.

The Tree of Life and Tarot Structure

The Tree of Life consists of 10 Sephiroth (spheres) connected by 22 paths. This maps remarkably well onto the tarot:

• 22 Paths = 22 Major Arcana: Each Major Arcana card corresponds to one path connecting two Sephiroth
• 10 Sephiroth = Pip Cards (Ace–10): Each number from Ace through 10 corresponds to a Sephirah, representing a stage of divine emanation
• 4 Worlds = 4 Suits: Atziluth (Fire/Wands), Briah (Water/Cups), Yetzirah (Air/Swords), Assiah (Earth/Pentacles)

Historical Development

In 1781, Antoine Court de Gébelin claimed tarot contained encoded Egyptian wisdom. The crucial connection to Kabbalah came through Éliphas Lévi (1810–1875), who proposed that the 22 Hebrew letters correspond to the 22 Major Arcana. This idea was further developed by the Golden Dawn, who created the detailed correspondence system still used today.

The Sephiroth and Card Numbers

Practical Application

Knowledge of Kabbalah adds philosophical depth to tarot readings. For example, the Fool corresponds to Aleph (the first Hebrew letter), carrying meanings of both "beginning" and "nothingness." Understanding these correspondences enriches card interpretation with layers of spiritual significance.