Tarot Magic Mini-Course: Lesson 5: How Tarot Magic is Different

Welcome to Tarot Magic — a revolutionary new way to use the archetypes of the tarot for powerful personal transformation, practical enchantment, and spiritual growth.

In this mini-course, I’m providing free access to selected material in the full Tarot Magic course. If you enjoy this material, please consider signing up for the complete course here.

1. Tarot Magic Mini-Course Main Page
2. Goals of the course
3. Creating sacred space
4. Definitions of magic
5. How Tarot Magic is different (you are here)
6. The aces and the classical elements
7. The Fourfold Rite meditation
8. Breathing the Elements meditation
9. Four weeks with the aces and elements
10. Tarot altars
11. Tarot Magic at the Crossroads

First, it’s helpful to understand what Tarot Magic, as taught in this course, is not.

Tarot arose in an era of syncretism, as rediscovered/reawakened Paganism infused Christianity. Therefore, we’re not going to be afraid of syncretism; in fact, we will wholeheartedly embrace it.

It is not Kabbalistic magic. Although tarot has been associated with Kabbalah (or rather, Christianized Kabbalah) since the 18th century, you will not find anything Kabbalistic here. If you’re interested in that sort of magic, there are abundant resources, and I’m happy to point you in that direction.

It is not astrological magic*, although you are certainly welcome to incorporate astrology if you’d like. The primary reason is that I am not an astrologer. It’s just not in my wheelhouse. That’s not to say I don’t find astrology useful, or that I haven’t done astrological magic. But it has never been my primary focus, so I can’t claim to teach it. Also, although astrology has been associated with tarot since Eliphas Levi, I have found the systems work best when not used in combination. Your mileage may vary, but I would encourage you to stick with the methods taught in this course and later add astrology if you wish.

*The course does work with the energies of the Moon, Sun, and stars in general, as these are part of the major arcana sequence. And I will provide some occasional tips on utilizing astrological associations, such as with the MInchiate tarot’s zodiacal cards.

It is not witchcraft or Wiccan. But it absolutely can be incorporated into witchcraft or Wiccan practices and traditions.

It is not associated with any particular school or system of magic. You will not find links to Golden Dawn, Aleister Crowley’s Thelema, or any other magical system in this course.

It is not simply divination, although divination is a core tool. And this course will dramatically improve your use of tarot for divination as you develop a more personalized relationship with the cards.

Now that we know what Tarot Magic isn’t, let’s take a look at what it is.

Tarot Magic is a self-contained magical system, based entirely in the history, symbolism, structure, and contemplation of the tarot, as exemplified in pre-Smith-Waite decks — particularly the tarots of Marseille. Although not born from any specific style or school of magic, it is adaptable to any magical tradition that doesn’t have its own explicit rules for tarot’s use or interpretation.

Tarot Magic is ecumenical, and does not require the adoption of any specific belief system, just an open mind and willingness to experiment. It can even be used by those who adopt a psychological model of magic, although experimentation with this system has shown that other conceptual frameworks result in more consistent results.

Tarot Magic can be viewed as a form of folk magic, with antecedents in what some call “chaos magic,” but I prefer to call “experimental magic.” I’ve taken what I’ve learned from nearly three decades of working and experimenting with numerous magical systems and brought that knowledge and experience to the tarot. Ultimately, the tarot became the lens that focused all of that experience into this course.

A primary goal of Tarot Magic is a deeper understanding of, and alignment with, one’s highest/best/deepest self. In this regard, it is more oriented toward theurgy (raising consciousness and inner power) than thaumaturgy (influencing the outer, objective world), with the understanding that elevating one’s self and raising one’s consciousness is key to living a more rich and fulfilling life — and creating magic. However, the system can also be used quite effectively for outward-directed goals, and instructions for those techniques are included in this course. Just keep in mind that magic is best at achieving objective/worldly goals when they are aligned with our true self.

Tarot Magic in Practice

This self-contained magical system, based entirely in the structure, art, symbolism, archetypes, and energies of the tarot, is exemplified by the tarot of Marseille. I will speak more about why this tarot in particular is so useful in our work as the course progresses.

For now, just consider that the Marseille pattern is where the structure of tarot crystallized — there is “before” the Marseille, when the sequence and symbolism was fluctuating before settling into the standard pattern, and “after” when 18th century occultists began grafting their pseudo-Kabbalistic occultism onto the cards, resulting in the Smith-Waite deck’s heavily layered occult symbolism.

There are no “wrong” decks, but the Marseille pattern is truly special, as you will discover. Consider our work with the Marseille to be a foundation, upon which you can use to work with other decks. You will go on a transformative personal journey with each of the major cards that will allow you to connect deeply with each arcana, through a variety of experiential techniques.

We will also focus on the four classical elements — air, water, fire, and earth — through the lens of the tarot aces. This work will allow you to develop a connection between the elemental aspects of your psyche and the world around you.

This course will metaphorically “unlock” energies and potentials within the cards that will likely surprise you.

Tarot magic is experiential, whether that’s through active ritual workings, meditations, dream incubation, active imagination exercises, and what is commonly called spellwork. The beauty of working with tarot is that it works as a template — just about any magical technique can be practiced within the framework of the major arcana and the classical elements.

In this course, we will work with techniques and tools from:

• Folk magic (a variety of traditions)
• Theurgy (divine magic, connecting with gods/divinities)
• Ancient (Classical) magic (elemental and divine)
• Rootwork/Conjure/Hoodoo
• Classical grimoire magic (in particular, The Arbatel)
• Chaos magic
• New Thought
• Witchcraft (modern)

As a benefit, when you complete this work, you will have not just an understanding, but direct experience with all of the above.

So, to sum it up: Think of this course as an introduction to a world of practical magic through the guidance of the tarot.

Finally, a word from one of my biggest influences, Gareth Knight:

In the Tarot we have a specially constructed system which is, in a sense, the equivalent of a myth or legend. All myths and legends, as well as other Neoplatonic symbol systems — from Qabalah to Astrology and from the I Ching to the Runes — are maps of the same inner terrain, cast in different sets of images. We would probably do best to concentrate upon one set of symbols rather than many, when it comes to concentrated work.

All the hares bolt through the same hole eventually, but it can be a considerable exercise in time and energy to try to follow each and every one. Such eclecticism may lead to a formidable amount of theoretical knowledge but may take the focus of action to the wrong level — that of intellectual speculation rather than imaginative experience. We have no desire to add to the ranks of armchair occultists.

The line of our work is an invitation to adventure under the direction of an experienced guide, that guide being the beneficent force behind the Tarot. As a result of this adventure, or quest, we can go through a process of attunement of consciousness whereby we come to an actual experience of the forces, powers and beings of the inner worlds.

The aim of all this, it must be said, is not to satisfy an idle curiosity, but to make us, as human beings, better able to serve the forces of light — those invisible forces that strive to bring about the expression of the greater good. It is therefore an invitation to service as well as to adventure. [emphasis mine]

> Next Lesson: Lesson 6: The Aces and the Classical Elements

Michael M. Hughes is a writer, speaker, game designer, and magical thinker. He is the author of Magic for the Resistance: Rituals and Spells for Change(coming soon in a revised and updated edition), the Blackwater Lights Trilogy,as well as numerous other works of fiction and nonfiction, and he speaks and teaches classes on magic, tarot, pop culture, psychedelics, and more.

His comprehensive tarot course, The Art and Magic of the Tarot: Foundations, is available here, as well as his most recent course on Tarot Magic.

Michael’s work has been featured in The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Boston Globe, CNN, The L.A. Times, Rolling Stone, Comedy Central, Wired, Elle,Vox, Cosmopolitan, The Tamron Hall Show, and even the ultraconservative The American Spectator, which wrote: “He may play footsie with the devil, but at least the man has a sense of humor.”

You can sign up for his newsletter and follow him on YouTube, Twitter (I still can’t call it X), Bluesy, Facebook, and (occasionally) Instagram.