In an earlier post, we covered the basics of Tarot Numerology. In this new series, I want us to dive a bit deeper into the mystery and magic of numbers relating to the Tarot Minor Arcana. Here we look at more at more of the correspondences and feel into the number vibration for each of the Minor Arcana Cards. Each of the Tarot Minors belongs in one of the 10 Sephiroth on the Kabbalistic Tree of Life. This provides a plethora of correspondences which provide many layers of meaning in any given Tarot reading. In today’s post, we are focusing on planetary, angelic and colour correspondences for the Tarot Aces.
Please feel free to use this post as a jumping-off point for further research.
Keter and the Tarot Aces
In the esoteric teachings of Kabbalah, the number one is the number of Keter. Keter is the first Sephirah on the Tree of Life. Often referred to as the Crown, Keter represents the purest form of consciousness and the initial expression of the unmanifest. It is the primordial point of creation and unity from which all other forms emanate. Symbolically, the number one embodies singularity, wholeness, and the genesis of potential.
In this way, the Aces mirror Keter’s role as the source of divine will and the origin of all things manifest. Keter is the starting point of any creative process. From Keter, the infinite flows into the finite. This is why this sephirah is associated with the highest wisdom and spiritual enlightenment within the mystical tradition of Kabbalah.
Archangelic and Planetary Correspondences
Metatron, the Archangel corresponding with Keter, is the scribe and record-keeper of God. Metatron serves a pivotal role, as he presides over Keter.
Within the modern esoteric systems, Keter is associated with the planet Uranus. Uranus is often linked to innovation, sudden insights, revolutions, and breakthroughs. This association supports the concept of Keter as the origin of new manifestations. The correspondence with Uranus fits well with the Aces seeming to often occur ‘out of the blue’ or when we least expect it.
However, it’s important to note that according to Kabbalah, Keter, along with Chokmah (the second sephirah), traditionally holds no direct planetary correspondence. This absence underlines the idea that these sephiroth exist beyond manifest planetary influences. Keter and Chokmah represent realms that are more divine and less material in essence. It’s not until Binah, the third sephirah which signifies understanding and form, that we encounter the first planetary association—Saturn.
The Seraphim
When it comes to the angelic hierarchy, Keter is connected to the Seraphim, the class of angels closest to God. The Seraphim encircle the throne of the divine, singing praises and embodying the pure energy of fire and light. Their association with Keter suggests a direct conduit to the divine will.
Colour Correspondences
Each sephirah, archangel, and celestial body is associated with specific colours that carry symbolic significance and vibrational energy. This is also true for Keter, and its associations with the number one, Archangel Metatron, and the planet Uranus.
Keter and Shining Hand in the Tarot Aces
The colour traditionally associated with Keter in many Kabbalistic and esoteric teachings is brilliant white. This white is not merely the absence of colour but the combined spectrum, symbolising the pure, undiluted presence of all possibilities. It represents unity, purity, and the source of creation before it diversifies into the manifold colours of the lower sephiroth.
In all four traditional Rider-Waite Tarot images of the Aces, you will notice a hand of brilliant white light (corresponding with Keter), holding the suit symbol.
The Number One and the Colour Red
The Numerological colour correspondence for the number one is red. Red embodies the beginning, the primordial energy, as well as the life force that pulses through all things. It parallels the idea of birth and beginning, resonating with the proactive and initiating qualities of the number one as seen in the Ace of Wands.
In The Magician, the first Major Arcana card, we see both the white flowers of Keter and the red flowers of the number one.
Archangel Metatron
Metatron is the scribe of the divine and the archangel associated with Keter. He does not have a universally agreed-upon colour correspondence, as different traditions assign various colours. However, some suggest that Metatron may be represented by a deep magenta (red mixed with white!) or a clear, luminescent white similar to Keter.
Uranus
In modern esotericism, Uranus is associated with the colours electric blue or luminous violet. These colours reflect Uranus’s attributes of enlightenment, innovation, and sudden change. Electric blue signifies higher thought processes and communication. Luminous violet is commonly linked with spiritual awakening, transformation, and the breaking down of old structures to make way for the new.
By understanding these colour correspondences, we can deepen our understanding of and energetic connection to the Tarot Aces.
Individual Meanings for The Tarot Aces
The Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands embodies the raw and formidable burst of energy that springs from Keter. This card holds within it the genesis of action, initiative, and the fiery vigour of creativity. The Ace of Wands signifies the beginning of bold ventures and the igniting of one’s inner spark. The embodiment of this card is a direct reflection of Keter’s unmanifest energy desiring to manifest into form. This Ace heralds opportunities for personal growth, innovation, and the breaking of barriers that once seemed insurmountable.
In a reading, the appearance of the Ace of Wands is a celestial nod to our alignment with Divine Will. It can provide a burst of Seraphim Fire if we align our will with the Divine. The Ace of Wands is a call to seize the moment of divine inspiration. This is how we channel the seraphic fire and carry forth the torch of inspiration. It nudges us to embrace the primal force of creation and to delve into our soul’s true calling.
The Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups reflects the purest essence of water, drawn directly from the wellspring of the boundless compassionate energy of the Divine. This card captures the core themes of love, intuition, and the emotional depths that define our connections with ourselves and others. It mirrors the nurturing aspect of oneness. Within this chalice lies the well of emotional potential and the very fount of feelings waiting to be experienced and expressed.
In the Rider-Waite Tarot depiction, a hand emerges from a cloud, a recurrent symbol of Keter’s divine offering. The hand presents us with a chalice overflowing with five streams of water, symbolising the five senses as well as the five wounds of Christ. The 26 drops of water carry the Gematria value for the name of God in Hebrew, Yod-Heh-Vav-Heh. This card of Divine Grace heralds a period of great emotional fulfilment and spiritual harmony.
The Ace of Swords
The Ace of Swords symbolises the piercing clarity and intellect of infinite intelligence that flow from Keter. This Ace represents the raw power of thought, the inception of judgment, and the swift cut of truth through illusion. The Ace of Swords signifies the breakthroughs of the mind and the crown of mental agility. It holds the seed of intellectual potential, a beacon of insight and discernment that precedes action. This card encapsulates the decisive moments of realisation and the courage to uphold truth and justice with an unwavering, keen edge.
In a Tarot reading, the Ace of Swords suggests that we may be experiencing a moment of epiphany or divine insight. Archangel Metatron could be illuminating our minds. Regardless, this Ace demands objectivity and clear thought. It calls forth the bravery to face reality with a lucid mind and embrace the power of one’s mind to slice through life’s complexities. This card is a testament to the transformational force of divinely inspired ideas to assist us with navigating life’s challenges with grace and integrity.
The Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles represents the pure, transformative energy of Divine abundance. Flowing from Keter, as does all abundance, it marks the beginning of tangible achievements. In the Tarot, this card is the seed of economic growth and physical health. It signifies the initial stage of projects, the planting of the proverbial seeds that require nurturing to grow into success. The Ace of Pentacles grounds divine inspiration into the earthly realm, presenting an opportunity to turn visions into reality through perseverance and hard work.
This card suggests that a bounty of resources could be at our disposal. Alternatively, it indicates the possibilities for new ventures in business or the physical start of a new and prosperous journey. This card encourages embracing the tangible aspects of life and recognising the gifts bestowed by the Divine with gratitude. Serving as a bridge between the high spiritual ideals of Keter and the manifest world, the Ace of Pentacles invites us to savour the embodiment of success and the fruition of our earthly endeavours.
