All Things Are Numbers and The Numerical Tarot:

There are an amazing number of Tarot decks in the world, all different types. Some are based on the historical evidence of tarot’s past. Some are based on the mystery of the occult. Some are based on the mythology of various cultures. Some are based on patterns that result from interesting mathematical manipulations. Some choose to speculate about the unknown parts of tarot, and alter it into forms that challenge the mind to consider what it might all mean. Is tarot just a card game from 15th Century Italy, or a documentation of something inspired, from a more ancient time? Or both? Or... have we made it into something more than it should be - like the movie “Life of Brian?” Or was it always something important?

Our Universal Consciousness anthropomorphizes the world of abstract primordial patterns into symbols and human icons, but what is the true essence behind those symbolic images and the abstract meanings they attempt to describe? Iconic personifications and symbolic representations of primordial patterns are still archetypal, whether illustrated on little pieces of paper or not. So what is the true origin, or source behind the iconic and symbolic representations of humanity? For centuries people have made tarot into what they want it to be. This book and deck make tarot into something clear, concise and knowable.

What is offered in the book All Things Are Numbers may not be what tarot was intended to be at all. I would certainly not be the first person to step out of the bounds of historical fact. And those who are completely devoted to some historical, mythological or occult idea of what tarot is, may not want to even call this tarot at all. That’s fine too. There are plenty of other sources out there devoted to traditional ideas. That’s not my goal. My goal is to enhance the understanding of archetypal expressions, and all of human existence, through an examination and construction of, a system that transcends all current cultural, historical, mythological, religious and occult traditions out there today.

The book All Thins Are Numbers is no longer available for free on this web site. A new and improved version is available as an ebook on iBooks.

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Outstanding Features of the book "All Things Are Numbers" and The Numerical Tarot Deck:

For the left brain in us:
Words -
Analysis -
Structure -
Consistency -
Organization -

For the right brain in us:
Images -
Patterns -
Diagrams -
Mandalas -
Iconography -
Interpretations -

One major emphasis of this particular study of tarot is in addressing the “why” of archetypal influence upon humanity. In this way, this study of Tarot and Numerology expects us to ask: “WHY does that card mean that?” It then tries to explain WHY each card means what it means. But it doesn’t do it using traditional occult or mystical devices. And it doesn’t do it using historical analysis or anthropological evidence. It does it by building a model of theoretical ideas, rooted in archetypal essence and primordial patterns of nature. In building such a model, we contemplate a beginningless beginning and build out from there to create a form that describes the “essence of being” that surrounds all entities that breach the continuum of nothingness that surrounds us all. We then label the stages of this theoretical model with numbers to explain the essence of Numerology, and then apply those numerologically labeled ideas to the Tarot cards to clarify the archetypal essence of each symbol and icon.

The ‘why’ of a card’s meaning is for those who think that such information has value. Not everyone does.

In this study of tarot, all intended meanings are derived from an understanding of archetypally primordial patterns in nature. Because of this, every single interpretation put forth in this study can be explained through a process called Numerical Etymology, where a believable association to an archetypally primordial pattern in nature is revealed or suggested. It’s an honest, straightforward system of associations. Every word or phrase in the interpretation pages of this study is meticulously sorted according to the abstract numerical essence it describes. If someone doesn’t agree with the placement of a word in this system, they are obliged to use the system to explain where they think it does belong, thereby reducing the amount of ambiguity between us all, regarding intended meanings.

Reducing ambiguity between us all is important to some, but not all.
The structure that is to be found throughout this study of tarot is for those who think that structure has purpose.
Lots of people hate structure.

Associated with each card, there are keywords that have been carefully picked to suggest archetypal root causes for the imagery we see across the deck. Keywords help describe the archetypal roots of each card, as well as each cards extreme vs. moderate bias within a matrix of organization that governs all the cards of the deck. By organizing the deck upon a grid, each keyword can be compared and contrasted to other keywords associated with other cards. In this way, each card in the deck acquires a diametrical opposite. When a card that sounds moderate is exaggerated, or a card that sounds extreme is mitigated, they meet in the middle. By covering every possible permutation of extreme and in between, no card stands alone within the deck. Each card is part of a set of cards that describe the extreme vs. moderate, or... positive vs. negative, or... ameliorate vs. deteriorate aspects of “being” as described with the patterns in nature model that governs all numbers.

The organization of ideas upon a grid is for those who might be finding tradition methods of learning tarot a bit confusing.

This study of tarot has an extensive collection of possible meanings, derived from my own personal experience in using my decks as well as personal experience living and observing life. Each page is divided into 6 categories; adjectives, nouns, verbs, reactions, predictions and advice. By sorting these possible meanings into adjectives, nouns and verbs, each category becomes a modular unit, providing responses that can be plugged into any kind of oracular sentence, or just read as a mass assemblage of possibilities.

The mass assemblage of possible meanings are for those who might need help seeing how the Etymological Traverse works.

Answering the ‘why’ of a card’s intended meaning might tax the left brain of many. But there are most certainly many stops along the way designed to equally stimulate the right brain as well. This study of tarot and numerology is loaded with helpful diagrams and reference charts to help those with a visual bias follow the presentation of ideas that reveal the underlying structure of the system being developed. There are also numerous mandalas along the way for people to use while meditating on the various ideas presented. There are also, of course, several complete decks, filled with intriguing images, symbols and icons that are meant to convey the archetypal essence of the primordial patterns of nature that this study hopes to reveal.

The stimulation of both left & right brains is for those who think that balance, symmetry, contrast & consistency are important. Not everyone does.

The Numerical Tarot is a tool. It stands as a documentation of the “essence of being.” This essence is explained with logic as well as intuition, meticulous analysis as well as speculative philosophy, words as well as pictures, pragmatism as well as imagination. The reader of this study will definitely need to utilize both sides of their brain equally to understand these ideas in their best possible light. Good luck! :-)

Oh! One last thing... Because this approach uses balance, symmetry, contrast and consistency in its design it is, in many ways, much more compatable with the form of common ordinary playing cards, which means that all the ideas and all the character given to each card can be translated over, with ease, to any playing card deck. Think about that. Ordinary playing cards are much more common in the world than tarot decks. Almost everyone on the planet has a regular playing card deck somewhere in easy reach. Even soldiers in foxholes had a deck of common playing cards. They are not usually considered to be “The Devil’s Pasteboards” the way tarot decks often are. So being able to apply all the ideas and character traits of The Numerical Tarot to any common ordinary playing card deck makes this approach to tarot much more versatile than most tarot decks out there - probably all, really. You can apply the ideas of traditional tarot to ordinary playing cards, but that would cause the stark divisions between suits to be incompatible with the LACK of balance, symmetry, contrast and consistency that is found in traditional decks. The Numerical Tarot does not have this problem.

Oh, wait, wait! One more last thing... The approach being used in this study of tarot is distinctly NOT based on ideas from the world of the occult. That is an important feature! It’s important, because a lot of people don’t like tarot because of its associations to the occult. It’s also important because of what happens when someone attempts to enter the world of the occult; they are often warned that the knowledge they are attempting to obtain is incredibly powerful and not to be toyed with by those with superficial interest. Occultists try to hype up the importance of their claims of empowerment by making the occult sound like a loaded gun that shouldn’t be waved around and played with. They tell stories of people going insane because of the revelations found in occult studies, and people’s psychological inability to cope with mind-blowing information. This approach to tarot is not like that. This approach to tarot is simple, straightforward, easy to learn and easy to use, and SAFE FOR KIDS!!! You might be amazed by what you learn, but I doubt that there is any threat of making you go insane. You might also be empowered by what you learn, but I don’t think that comparisons to a loaded gun are necessary. Have fun! :-)