Tarot Correspondences: Ancient Secrets for Everyday Readers
✍️ Chang, T SusanA structured reference guide linking tarot cards to astrology, Kabbalah, numbers, and elemental systems.
T. Susan Chang brings nearly thirty years of professional reading experience to this comprehensive Llewellyn Publications manual, having taught tarot through Atlas Obscura, the Omega Institute, and her own Fortune's Wheelhouse podcast. The volume centers on four major structural frameworks across modern decks: classical elements, traditional astrology, numbers, and Kabbalah. It opens with explicit correspondence tables for the Major Arcana.
Published in October 2018, this book sits within modern American occult and tarot scholarship. It draws on traditions including the Golden Dawn color scales, Sabian symbols, historical hermetic titles, and classical western astrology.
Praise for this book
“Tarot Correspondences is a great investment in your tarot journey whether you're a new or seasoned reader.”
📝 Description: Tarot Correspondences: Ancient Secrets for Everyday Readers
📑 What's inside
- Acknowledgments vii
- Introduction 1
- Part One: Correspondence Tables Correspondences for the 22 Major Arcana 9
- Table 1--Conventional, Historical, and Hermetic Titles 10
- Table 2--Astrological Correspondences 15
- Table 3--Tree of Life Correspondences 18
- Table 4--Alternate Astro-Alpha-Numeric Correspondences 32
- Table 5--Color Scales of the Golden Dawn 37
- Table 6--Natural, Magical, Mythical Correspondences 40
- Table 7--Numerological Reduction 57
- Correspondences for the 4 Suits 59
- Table 1--Nomenclature and Physical Correspondences 60
- Table 2--Astrological, Spatiotemporal, and Mythical Correspondences 61
- Table 3--Natural Correspondences 63
- Correspondences for the 40 Numeric Minor Arcana (Ace-10) 65
- Table 1--Nomenclature, Astrology, and Decans 66
- Table 2--Associated Major Arcana by Planet and Sign 91
- Table 3--Combined Aces 93
- Table 4--Sabian Symbols 94
- Table 5--Geometry, Kabbalah, and Symbolism of 1 through 10 122
- Table 6--Color Scales of the Golden Dawn 127
- Correspondences for the 16 Court Cards 129
- Table 1--Nomenclature, Astrology, and Corresponding Minors 130
- Table 2--Astrological Correspondences in Chronological Order 140
- Part Three: Individual Card Tables
- The Hermit's Epilogue 369
- Bibliography 373
- Books 373
- Art Credit List 376
- About the Author 384
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
This book is a vital resource for tarot enthusiasts who feel their readings lack depth or spiritual resonance. If you find yourself stuck in superficial interpretations, T. Susan Chang offers the key to unlocking the esoteric layers hidden within each card. By mastering the four foundational systems of elements, astrology, numbers, and Kabbalah, you gain the tools to transform your practice from simple fortune-telling into profound magical engagement. It is perfect for those eager to enhance personal meditation or empower their workings with ancient wisdom. Whether you are a beginner seeking structure or an experienced reader craving deeper insight, this guide illuminates the symbolic language that gives tarot its enduring power, making every reading a meaningful encounter with hidden truths.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Chang provides a meticulous breakdown of correspondences, offering clear tables that demystify complex esoteric connections. The strength lies in its practical application of four distinct systems to enrich daily readings and meditation. However, this text is not suited for readers seeking only quick, intuitive card meanings without historical or metaphysical context. Those who prefer purely psychological approaches to tarot may find the rigid adherence to Kabbalah and astrology limiting or overly academic. It demands a willingness to engage with traditional occult frameworks rather than modern psychological interpretations. Consequently, it serves best as a reference manual for those committed to esoteric study.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
For anyone seeking to move beyond surface-level tarot interpretations, whether you're a dedicated student, professional reader, spiritual seeker, or magical practitioner. This guide offers keys to unlock profound insights and elevate your intuitive and esoteric understanding of the cards.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Unlocking Tarot's Depths
This book reveals how integrating traditional esoteric systems like elements, astrology, and Kabbalah illuminates the deeper, often unseen, meanings within each tarot card. It moves beyond surface-level interpretation to a more profound understanding of the cards' symbolic resonance and interconnectedness with universal forces.
Structured Esoteric Learning
Offering a systematic approach, the volume meticulously explores four foundational systems: the elements, astrology, numerology, and Kabbalah. With comprehensive correspondence tables for every card type, it provides a clear, organized framework for understanding complex associations, making deep esoteric knowledge accessible and actionable for practitioners at any level.
Empowered Practical Application
Beyond theory, the book provides concrete methods for actively applying correspondences in various aspects of your practice. Discover techniques for enhancing readings, enriching meditation and visualization exercises, and even integrating these symbolic links to strengthen spells and magical rituals, transforming knowledge into potent action.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Correspondences
- Kabbalah
- Elements
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Choose a tarot card you typically find challenging. How do its elemental, astrological, or numerical correspondences illuminate new facets of its meaning for you?
- Reflect on a recent reading. How might incorporating Kabbalistic or elemental insights have deepened your understanding of the querent's situation or the card's message?
- Consider how the interplay of correspondences could enhance a personal ritual or intention. Which systems feel most resonant for your magical practice, and why?
