The Fourfold Path
My practice is anchored in identifying a fractal pattern within the Tarot—a four-card structure that mirrors life’s stages: birth, adolescence, adulthood, and elderhood. This pattern, apparent in both the Minor and Major Arcana, reflects various stages of existence, such as:
- Start, Develop, Challenge, Master
- Birth, Education, Application, Teach
- Idea, Passion, Work, Reward
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
etc. This cyclical pattern is visible at different scales within the Tarot:
Deck Level:
The suits of Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles in the Minor Arcana.
Within Each Suit: Starting with the Ace, progressing through developmental (2-5) and challenging phases (6-9), culminating in the mastery reflected by the court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).
The Lifecycle Within Suits:
Each suit begins with an Ace, representing inception. It then moves through phases of growth and challenges, reaching a pivotal point of reflection or judgment (the tenth card in Minor Arcana or a significant four-card sequence in the Major Arcana), before achieving mastery and resolution (the Face Cards in Minor Arcana or the World in the Major Arcana).
The Lifecycle Within Each Four-Card Grouping:
Within each four-card grouping in the Tarot deck, a distinct lifecycle unfolds, encapsulating the stages of inception, development, climax, and resolution. This pattern serves as a fractal mirror of the Tarot’s broader themes, presenting a condensed narrative arc that repeats across different levels of the deck, from the Minor Arcana’s suits to the Major Arcana’s symbolic journeys. Each grouping, whether it comprises the face cards or a sequence of numbered cards, reflects a microcosm of the universal process of starting, growing, facing challenges, and achieving mastery or understanding. This repetition of patterns within the Tarot deck enriches the interpretive depth, allowing for a multifaceted exploration of life’s cycles and the human experience.
Towards the Major Arcana
This exploration sets the stage for understanding how birth, growth, climax, and resolution are similarly patterned in the Major Arcana, weaving a narrative that spans the Tarot.
By recognizing these patterns, we deepen our Tarot understanding and connect more profoundly with the universal experiences it mirrors. This exploration of Tarot’s fractal beauty offers insights into our life’s journey and the broader world. Stay tuned for our next exploration into the Major Arcana’s reflective patterns.
