The Hebrew Letters Tarot de Marseille correspondences reveal how the Hebrew alphabet, the Major Arcana, and the Tree of Life can be studied together as symbolic maps of the journey of consciousness.
The system presented here follows the numerical sequence of the Tarot de Marseille trumps, from The Magician as Aleph to The Fool as Tav. Each letter is paired with a Major Arcana card and a Tree of Life correspondence, creating a uniquely Marseille perspective on the relationship between Tarot and Kabbalah.
For each Hebrew letter, you will find:
- The traditional meaning of the letter
- The corresponding Tarot de Marseille Major Arcana card
- A concise interpretation of the relationship between the letter and the card
- The associated Tree of Life correspondence
- A brief note explaining how the Rider–Waite–Smith and Hermetic traditions differ
Whether you are a Tarot reader, a student of Kabbalah, or simply curious about symbolic traditions, this guide provides a practical reference for exploring the Hebrew letters through the lens of the Tarot de Marseille.
Aleph | Beth | Gimel | Dalet | Hei | Vav | Zayin | Chet | Tet | Yod | Kaf | Lamed | Mem | Nun | Samekh | Ayin | Pei | Tzadi | Qof | Resh | Shin | Tav
A Note on Kabbalistic Tarot Correspondences
Several systems exist for relating the Hebrew alphabet to the Tarot. The best-known modern approach comes from the Golden Dawn and was later adopted by the Rider–Waite–Smith and Thoth Tarot traditions.
The system used in this guide follows a Sephardic Kabbalistic Marseille tradition in which the Hebrew letters correspond to the Major Arcana in numerical order, beginning with The Magician as Aleph and ending with The Fool as Tav.
Neither system is inherently more correct than the other. They represent different ways of understanding the relationship between the Hebrew alphabet, the Tarot, and the Tree of Life.
NB. All letters below are illustrated with card images from the Jean Noblet Tarot de Marseille
Aleph (א)
Meaning: Ox, breath, vital force
Tarot de Marseille: I The Magician
Aleph represents the first stirring of conscious action. In the Tarot de Marseille, this impulse is embodied by The Magician, who stands before the tools of creation and chooses how potential will be directed. Like the ox that tills the field, Aleph symbolises the power to begin, shape, and bring ideas into manifestation through focused effort.
Aleph Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: I The Magician — Gevurah to Chesed
RWS / Hermetic: The Fool — Keter to Chokmah
Beth (ב)
Meaning: House, dwelling, container
Tarot de Marseille: II The Popess
Beth represents the vessel that receives, contains, and preserves wisdom. The Popess sits between the visible and invisible worlds, guarding hidden knowledge until the seeker is ready to receive it. As the letter of the house, Beth reminds us that understanding requires an inner sanctuary where insight can take root and mature.
Beth Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: II The Popess — Chokmah to Chesed
RWS / Hermetic: The Magician — Keter to Binah
Gimel (ג)
Meaning: Camel, bridge, bearer
Tarot de Marseille: III The Empress
Gimel symbolises movement, communication, and the carrying of treasures across great distances. The Empress expresses this principle through creativity, expression, and the ability to give form to ideas. Like a camel crossing the desert, Gimel carries wisdom from one realm to another, linking inspiration with manifestation and turning potential into living creation.
Gimel Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: III The Empress — Binah to Gevurah
RWS / Hermetic: The High Priestess — Keter to Tipheret
Dalet (ד)
Meaning: Door, gateway, threshold
Tarot de Marseille: IV The Emperor
Dalet represents the doorway through which potential becomes structure. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Emperor embodies order, stability, and the ability to establish firm foundations. Every threshold requires a decision: whether to remain where we are or step into a new phase of development. Dalet reminds us that true authority begins with self-mastery and the willingness to take responsibility for what we create.
Dalet Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: IV The Emperor — Keter to Tipheret
RWS / Hermetic: The Empress — Chokmah to Binah
Hei (ה)
Meaning: Window, revelation, breath
Tarot de Marseille: V The Pope
Hei symbolises revelation and the transmission of wisdom. Where Dalet is a door, Hei is a window that allows light to enter. The Pope represents teaching, tradition, and the sharing of spiritual knowledge. Through Hei, understanding becomes something that can be communicated, guiding others toward insight while remaining open to new inspiration.
Hei Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: V The Pope — Keter to Chokmah
RWS / Hermetic: The Emperor — Chokmah to Tipheret
Vav (ו)
Meaning: Hook, nail, connection
Tarot de Marseille: VI The Lover
Vav is the letter of connection, linking one thing to another. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Lover expresses this through relationship, attraction, and conscious choice. More than a card of romance, The Lover speaks of alignment. Every meaningful decision joins us to one path while separating us from another. Vav reminds us that connection is created through choice and sustained through commitment.
Vav Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: VI The Lover — Keter to Binah
RWS / Hermetic: The Hierophant — Chesed to Chokmah
Zayin (ז)
Meaning: Sword, weapon, tool
Tarot de Marseille: VII The Chariot
Zayin symbolises focused will and the ability to move forward with purpose. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Chariot represents victory through discipline, determination, and self-control. The sword of Zayin cuts away distraction and hesitation, allowing consciousness to advance toward its chosen goal. This letter reminds us that progress requires both direction and the courage to act.
Zayin Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: VII The Chariot — Chokmah to Gevurah
RWS / Hermetic: The Lovers — Binah to Tipheret
Chet (ח)
Meaning: Fence, enclosure, protected space
Tarot de Marseille: VIII Justice
Chet represents boundaries, order, and the structures that preserve balance. In the Tarot de Marseille, Justice embodies discernment, accountability, and the natural consequences of our choices. The fence of Chet does not exist to imprison but to protect what is valuable. Through Justice, we learn that freedom flourishes when supported by integrity and right relationship.
Chet Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: VIII Justice — Tipheret to Chesed
RWS / Hermetic: The Chariot — Binah to Gevurah
Tet (ט)
Meaning: Serpent, coiled force, hidden goodness
Tarot de Marseille: VIIII The Hermit
Tet symbolises wisdom that develops through experience and inward reflection. The Hermit carries his lantern into the darkness, seeking truth beneath appearances. Like the coiled force of the serpent, the gifts of Tet are often hidden and revealed only through patience, contemplation, and perseverance. This letter reminds us that genuine understanding is rarely rushed and often emerges from solitude.
Tet Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: VIIII The Hermit — Chokmah to Tipheret
RWS / Hermetic: Strength — Chesed to Gevurah
Yod (י)
Meaning: Hand, point, spark of creation
Tarot de Marseille: X Wheel of Fortune
Yod is the smallest Hebrew letter, yet it contains the seed of all the others. It symbolises the divine spark from which creation unfolds. In the Tarot de Marseille, the Wheel of Fortune reflects this principle through cycles of change, growth, and renewal. Every turn of the wheel contains the potential for a new beginning. Yod reminds us that even the smallest action can set larger forces into motion.
Yod Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: X Wheel of Fortune — Tipheret to Netzach
RWS / Hermetic: The Hermit — Chesed to Tipheret
Kaf (כ)
Meaning: Palm of the hand, capacity, potential
Tarot de Marseille: XI Strength
Kaf symbolises the ability to contain, shape, and direct energy. The open palm receives, while the closed hand acts. In the Tarot de Marseille, Strength represents the mastery of instinct through conscious awareness. Rather than suppressing powerful forces, this card teaches us to work with them skilfully. Kaf reminds us that true strength arises from self-command rather than domination.
Kaf Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XI Strength — Chesed to Netzach
RWS / Hermetic: Wheel of Fortune — Chesed to Netzach
Lamed (ל)
Meaning: Ox goad, learning, guidance
Tarot de Marseille: XII The Hanged Man
Lamed is associated with teaching, learning, and the guidance that redirects us when we lose our way. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Hanged Man represents a reversal of perspective and the wisdom that comes from surrendering old assumptions. Like the ox goad that gently changes direction, Lamed encourages us to pause, reflect, and discover what can only be seen when we view life from a different angle.
Lamed Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XII The Hanged Man — Hod to Yesod
RWS / Hermetic: Justice — Gevurah to Tipheret
Mem (מ)
Meaning: Water, flow, wisdom
Tarot de Marseille: XIII
Mem represents the waters of transformation, dissolution, and renewal. In the Tarot de Marseille, the unnamed XIII Arcana signifies profound change and the clearing away of what has outlived its purpose. Like water, Mem wears down obstacles over time and creates space for new life to emerge. This letter reminds us that endings are often the hidden beginning of a deeper process of growth.
Mem Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XIII — Hod to Netzach
RWS / Hermetic: The Hanged Man — Geburah to Hod
Nun (נ)
Meaning: Fish, life, continuation
Tarot de Marseille: XIIII Temperance
Nun symbolises life moving forward through adaptation and renewal. The fish travels through the waters of existence, adjusting to changing currents while remaining true to its nature. In the Tarot de Marseille, Temperance expresses this principle through balance, integration, and the harmonious blending of opposites. Nun teaches that growth is sustained not by force but by the ability to adapt while maintaining inner coherence.
Nun Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XIIII Temperance — Netzach to Yesod
RWS / Hermetic: Death — Tipheret to Netzach
Samekh (ס)
Meaning: Support, prop, foundation
Tarot de Marseille: XV The Devil
Samekh represents the structures that support and sustain consciousness. The Devil reveals both the strength and the danger of these structures. Beliefs, desires, habits, and attachments can provide stability, yet they can also become limitations when they are no longer questioned. Through Samekh, we learn to distinguish between what genuinely supports our growth and what merely keeps us bound to familiar patterns.
Samekh Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XV The Devil — Tipheret to Hod
RWS / Hermetic: Temperance — Tipheret to Yesod
Ayin (ע)
Meaning: Eye, perception, insight
Tarot de Marseille: XVI The House of God
Ayin is the letter of perception and the way we see reality. In the Tarot de Marseille, The House of God represents a sudden shift in awareness that breaks apart old assumptions. What appears to be destruction is often revelation. When familiar structures collapse, a wider view becomes possible. Ayin teaches that transformation begins when we are willing to see beyond appearances and recognise a deeper truth.
Ayin Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XVI The House of God — Binah to Tipheret
RWS / Hermetic: The Devil — Tipheret to Hod
Pei (פ)
Meaning: Mouth, speech, expression
Tarot de Marseille: XVII The Star
Pei symbolises communication, expression, and the power of what is spoken into the world. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Star represents hope, authenticity, and the free flow of inspiration. Just as speech gives form to thought, The Star pours her waters into the landscape, nourishing life through openness and trust. Pei reminds us that words have creative power and that honest expression can become a source of healing.
Pei Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XVII The Star — Gevurah to Hod
RWS / Hermetic: The Tower — Netzach to Hod
Tzadi (צ)
Meaning: Fish hook, righteousness, alignment
Tarot de Marseille: XVIII The Moon
Tzadi represents the search for truth and the process of aligning ourselves with a deeper reality. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Moon illuminates the hidden currents of the psyche, revealing dreams, instincts, and forgotten memories. Like a fish hook drawing something from deep waters, Tzadi invites us to bring unconscious material into awareness. Through this process, confusion gradually gives way to wisdom.
Tzadi Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XVIII The Moon — Gevurah to Tipheret
RWS / Hermetic: The Star — Netzach to Yesod
Qof (ק)
Meaning: Back of the head, horizon, cycle
Tarot de Marseille: XVIIII The Sun
Qof symbolises the meeting point between what is known and what lies beyond present awareness. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Sun represents illumination, vitality, and conscious understanding. After the uncertainties of The Moon, the light of The Sun reveals what was previously hidden. Qof reminds us that wisdom grows when insight is brought fully into the light of awareness.
Qof Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XVIIII The Sun — Binah to Chesed
RWS / Hermetic: The Moon — Netzach to Malkuth
Resh (ר)
Meaning: Head, beginning, leadership
Tarot de Marseille: XX Judegment
Resh symbolises awakening and the emergence of a new level of consciousness. In the Tarot de Marseille, Judgment represents a call to renewal, urging us to rise beyond old limitations. The head directs the body just as awakened awareness directs the course of life. Resh reminds us that every genuine awakening begins with the willingness to answer an inner call.
Resh Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XX Judgment — Tipheret to Yesod
RWS / Hermetic: The Sun — Hod to Yesod
Shin (ש)
Meaning: Tooth, fire, transformation
Tarot de Marseille: XXI The World
Shin represents the refining fire that transforms experience into wisdom. In the Tarot de Marseille, The World signifies completion, integration, and fulfilment. The lessons of the journey are gathered into a unified whole. Like fire that purifies and renews, Shin reminds us that growth is achieved through continual transformation and the integration of all aspects of ourselves.
Shin Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: XXI The World — Yesod to Malkhut
RWS / Hermetic: Judgement — Hod to Malkuth
Tav (ת)
Meaning: Mark, seal, completion
Tarot de Marseille: The Fool
Tav is the final letter of the Hebrew alphabet and symbolises completion, fulfilment, and the seal placed upon a finished work. In the Tarot de Marseille, The Fool occupies a unique position. Having travelled through all the experiences of the Major Arcana, he now steps beyond them into a new cycle of possibility. Tav reminds us that every ending contains the seed of a new beginning and that the journey of consciousness is ultimately without end.
Tav Tree of Life Correspondence
TdM: The Fool — Malkhut to Keter
RWS / Hermetic: The World — Yesod to Malkuth
Further Exploration
If you enjoyed this guide, you may also find these articles helpful:
- Tarot Numerology: A Guide to Working with Tarot Numerology
- Tarot History: Why Mary Magdalene Is Linked to the Tarot de Marseille
- Tarot Practice: Structure, Attention and the Tarot de Marseille
Recommended Reading
For readers wishing to explore the relationship between the Hebrew alphabet, the Tarot, and the Tree of Life in greater depth, the following books offer valuable perspectives:
- Lawrence Kushner — The Book of Letters: A Mystical Hebrew Alphabet
- Dion Fortune — The Mystical Qabalah
- Michel Perez Rizzi — The Tree of Life of Mary Magdalene: Sephardic Kabbalah in the Tarot of Marseille
The Hebrew letters, the Tarot, and the Tree of Life can be approached through many different systems. The correspondences presented in this guide represent one Marseille-centred perspective among several living traditions. Ultimately, their value lies not in being accepted as dogma but in how they deepen our understanding of the cards and the journey they describe.
Lisa Eddy — Tanit Iris LeFay
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