Major Arcana and Hebrew Letters

Understanding the Nature of Correspondences

Crowley believed that exchanging Heh and Tzaddi resolved a symbolic inconsistency in the sequence of zodiacal signs and restored a more coherent progression within the structure of the Tarot.

Not all traditions adopted Crowley’s revision. Paul Foster Case, another early member of the Golden Dawn and later founder of the Builders of the Adytum (B.O.T.A.), retained the original Golden Dawn correspondences. Understanding this small but important difference helps prevent confusion when moving between these systems traditions.

Most modern Western esoteric Tarot systems follow a structure first proposed by the French occultist Éliphas Lévi in the nineteenth century. Lévi introduced the idea that the twenty two Major Arcana correspond to the twenty two letters of the Hebrew alphabet.

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn later developed this idea into a complete symbolic framework, linking the Tarot trumps with Hebrew letters, astrology, and the paths of the Tree of Life.

Aleister Crowley, a former member of the Golden Dawn, later introduced a single revision after reflecting on a verse in The Book of the Law: “Tzaddi is not the Star.” In response, he exchanged the Hebrew letters assigned to two cards.

Only two correspondences were changed:

• The Emperor (IV) – Golden Dawn: Heh (ה), Aries
• The Emperor (IV) – Crowley: Tzaddi (צ), Aquarius

• The Star (XVII) – Golden Dawn: Tzaddi (צ), Aquarius
• The Star (XVII) – Crowley: Heh (ה), Aries

Hebrew Letters in Major Arcans

0. The Fool

Hebrew Letter: Aleph (א)

  • Meaning of Letter: Ox, ox-goad; strength through sacrifice

  • Astrology/Element: Air

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: The breath of life; divine inspiration, the source of all things, spiritual potential before manifestation

  • Key Symbolism: The fool stepping into existence, the spark of spirit entering matter

Aleph represents the primal force that precedes form. The ox symbolises both strength and the willingness to move forward into the unknown. In the Fool this reflects the raw spiritual impulse that drives creation before direction or structure is imposed. Just as the ox begins the ploughing of the field,

Aleph represents the first movement of spirit entering the world. The Fool therefore embodies the untamed breath of life that initiates all experience.

Find out more: The Fool and Aleph: The First Breath of the Tarot

I. The Magician

Hebrew Letter: Beth (ב)

  • Meaning of Letter: House, container, vessel

  • Astrology/Element: Mercury

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: The conscious will, the power to manifest; skill, communication, the active principle

  • Key Symbolism: The tools of the elements on the table: "As above, so below"

Beth signifies a house or container, the space in which forces can be organised and directed. The Magician functions in the same way, acting as the vessel through which spiritual power becomes intentional action. Mercury governs communication and the movement between worlds, reflecting the Magician’s role as mediator between above and below.

The tools on the table represent the elements brought under conscious control. Beth therefore expresses the capacity of the mind to shape and direct reality. 

Find out more: The Magician and Beth: The Vessel of Conscious Will

II.The High Priestess

Hebrew Letter: Gimel (ג)

  • Meaning of Letter: Camel; that which carries across the desert

  • Astrology/Element: Moon

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: The subconscious, intuition, hidden wisdom; the path between the pillars

  • Key Symbolism: The veil of the temple, the Torah scroll, the lunar crescent at her feet

Gimel symbolises the camel, the creature capable of travelling across vast and silent deserts. In the Tarot this reflects the passage through the hidden realms of the unconscious. The High Priestess stands between the pillars as guardian of the inner sanctuary, holding knowledge that cannot be grasped by intellect alone.

Like the camel carrying travellers through barren landscapes, Gimel represents the vehicle that carries consciousness through mystery. The Moon reinforces this connection with intuition and the unseen depths.

Find out more: The High Priestess and Gimel: The Passage Through Mystery

III. The Empress

Hebrew Letter: Daleth (ד)

  • Meaning of Letter: Door; entrance; passageway

  • Astrology/Element: Venus

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Nature; fertility, love, beauty, creative abundance, the gateway to life

  • Key Symbolism: The shield of Venus, the wheat field, the flowing rive

Daleth means a door or gateway, symbolising entry into life and manifestation. The Empress embodies this principle as the generative power of nature. Through her the forces of growth, fertility, and nourishment enter the world.

Venus governs harmony, attraction, and the creative impulse that binds life together. Daleth therefore represents the threshold through which spirit becomes embodied in the living world.

Find out more The Empress and Daleth: The Gateway of Life

IV.The Emperor

Hebrew Letter: Heh (ה) - Golden Dawn

  • Meaning of Letter: Window, breath, to behold

  • Astrology/Element: Aries

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Structure, authority, dominion, the father figure, the establishment of order through will

  • Key Symbolism: The crowned ruler seated on the throne; the ram heads of Aries; the stone throne and mountains; the sceptre of authority.

Hebrew Letter: Tzaddi (צ) - Crowley

  • Meaning of Letter: Fish hook, desire, to hunt

  • Astrology/Element: Aquarius

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Structure, authority, dominion, the father figure, the establishment of order through will

  • Meaning Crowley's (with Tzaddi): Fixed leadership, revolutionary authority, the water-bearer pouring new ideas

  • Key Symbolism: Fixed leadership, revolutionary authority, the water-bearer bringing new ideas

In the Golden Dawn system Heh represents a window through which light and breath enter a structure. This reflects the Emperor’s role as the conscious authority that shapes and stabilises society. In Crowley’s system the letter Tzaddi, meaning a fish hook, symbolises the act of drawing something out from the depths. This interpretation emphasises a more dynamic form of leadership that pulls new ideas into manifestation. Both views portray the Emperor as the force that establishes order through directed will.

Find out more: The Emperor and Heh: The Window of Order

V. The Hierophant

Hebrew Letter: Vau (ו)

  • Meaning of Letter: Nail, hook, that which connects or fastens

  • Astrology/Element: Taurus

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Spiritual authority, tradition; doctrine, the bridge between heaven and earth

  • Key Symbolism: The crowned figure on the throne, the two disciples below, the keys of tradition

Vau symbolises the nail or hook that fastens separate elements together. The Hierophant fulfils this same role by connecting spiritual principles with human society. Through tradition and teaching, sacred knowledge becomes anchored within culture.

Taurus reflects stability and continuity, reinforcing the preservation of established wisdom. Vau therefore represents the link that binds heaven and earth through shared doctrine and ritual.

Find out more: The Hierophant and Vau: The Link Between Heaven and Earth

VI.The Lovers

Hebrew Letter: Zain (ז)

  • Meaning of Letter: Sword, weapon, that which divides or pierces

  • Astrology/Element: Gemini

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Choice; duality, union of opposites, the moment of decision

  • Key Symbolism: The man between two women; the angel above, the path of the sword

Zain represents the sword, an instrument that divides and distinguishes. The Lovers express this moment of separation through the act of choice. Gemini symbolises duality and the tension between alternatives.

The sword cuts through confusion, forcing the individual to decide between competing paths. In this sense Zain represents the clarity that emerges when consciousness recognises the need to choose. It is the moment when innocence gives way to awareness, and the individual becomes responsible for the direction of their life.

Through this act of discernment, the divided elements of experience can later be brought into a higher form of union.

Find out more The Lovers and Zain: The Sword of Choice

VII. The Chariot

Hebrew Letter: Cheth (ח)

  • Meaning of Letter: Fence, enclosure, field

  • Astrology/Element: Cancer

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Victory; conquest, the control of opposing forces, the vehicle of the will

  • Key Symbolism: The black and white sphinxes, the canopied chariot, the starry canopy

Cheth symbolises an enclosure or protective boundary. The Chariot reflects this containment through disciplined control over opposing forces. Cancer represents the protective shell that guards inner power.

The charioteer moves forward only because conflicting energies are held within a structured field. Cheth therefore represents the protective structure that allows willpower to advance without disintegration.

Find out more: The Chariot and Cheth: The Power of Contained Will

VIII.Strenght

Hebrew Letter: Teth (ט)

  • Meaning of Letter: Serpent, that which coils or surrounds

  • Astrology/Element: Leo

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Fortitude, courage, the gentle control of raw power, solar vitality

  • Key Symbolism: The woman closing the lion's mouth, the lemniscate above her head

Teth symbolises the coiled serpent, an image of primal energy contained within itself. Strength illustrates the ability to master instinct without suppressing it. Leo represents solar vitality and the courageous expression of life force.

The woman’s calm control over the lion shows that true power is not domination but conscious integration. Teth therefore reflects the disciplined harnessing of instinctual energy. It suggests that the most powerful forces within the psyche must be approached with patience and awareness rather than force.

Through this quiet mastery, raw impulse is transformed into a stable and creative source of strength.

Find out more: Strength and Teth: The Mastery of Inner Power

IX. The Hermit

Hebrew Letter: Yod (י)

  • Meaning of Letter: Hand, deed, action; the creative spark

  • Astrology/Element: Virgo

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Introspection, wisdom sought in solitude, the hidden light, the seed of all things

  • Key Symbolism: The lantern containing the star, the staff; the cloak of concealmen

Yod represents the hand, the smallest yet most concentrated point of creative action. In Kabbalistic symbolism it is the seed from which all letters emerge. The Hermit embodies this concentrated point of awareness through solitary contemplation.

Virgo emphasises precision, analysis, and careful refinement. Yod therefore symbolises the inner spark of wisdom that quietly guides the seeker.

Find out more: The Hermit and Yod: The Light of Inner Wisdom

X.The Wheel of Fortune

Hebrew Letter: Kaph (כ)

  • Meaning of Letter: Palm of the hand, that which grasps or holds

  • Astrology/Element: Jupiter

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Cycles, destiny, the turning of fate, opportunity and fortune

  • Key Symbolism: The wheel with its three figures, the sphinx above, the four fixed signs

Kaph represents the palm of the hand, the part of the body that receives, holds, and shapes what it touches. In the Wheel of Fortune this reflects the way destiny moves through human life, placing circumstances into our hands. Jupiter, the planet of expansion and opportunity, reinforces the sense of fortune unfolding through cycles of growth.

The turning wheel suggests that control is partial at best, as fate rises and falls beyond individual command. Kaph therefore symbolises the moment when life places opportunity, change, or challenge into our grasp.

What is offered may bring elevation or decline, depending on how it is received and used. In this sense, the hand of Kaph reminds us that while the wheel turns beyond our control, our response to it remains within our reach.

Find out more: The Wheel of Fortune and Kaph: The Turning of Fate

XI. Justice

Hebrew Letter: Lamed (ל)

  • Meaning of Letter: Ox-goad; that which urges forward; also "to learn"

  • Astrology/Element: Libra

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Balance; equilibrium; karmic consequence; the scales of truth

  • Key Symbolism: The sword of discernment; the scales; the throne between pillars

Lamed represents the ox-goad, a tool used to guide and direct movement. In the symbolism of Justice it reflects the forces that steer human actions toward balance and accountability. Libra governs harmony, law, and equilibrium, reinforcing the principle that every action carries consequence. The sword and scales represent discernment and measured judgement. Lamed therefore expresses the guiding force that pushes consciousness toward truth and ethical alignment.

A corrective force that keeps life moving along a just path. When imbalance appears, it provokes reflection and adjustment rather than allowing error to persist. Through this process, experience becomes a teacher, and action gradually aligns with a deeper sense of order.

Find out more: Justice and Lamed: The Measure of Truth

XII. The Hangman

Hebrew Letter: Mem (מ)

  • Meaning of Letter: Water, sea, chaos, the great deep

  • Astrology/Element: Water

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Surrender, suspension, the sacrifice of the self, viewing the world from a new perspective

  • Key Symbolism: The figure hanging by one foot, the halo, the tau cross

Mem symbolises the waters of the great deep, the undifferentiated source from which life emerges. The Hanged Man reflects immersion in this depth through surrender and suspension. Rather than forcing action, the figure hangs willingly, allowing perception to shift.

Water dissolves rigid structures and encourages reflection and transformation. Mem therefore represents the descent into the unconscious where a new perspective becomes possible.

Find out more: The Hanged Man and Mem: The Wisdom of Suspension

XIII.Death

Hebrew Letter: Nun (נ)

  • Meaning of Letter: Fish, activity in the depths, life within decay

  • Astrology/Element: Scorpio

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Transformation, the end of one state and beginning of another, the dissolving of old forms

Samekh represents a support or stabilising structure that holds something upright. Temperance reflects this principle through the careful blending of opposing forces. Sagittarius seeks truth through integration and balance between extremes.

The angel pouring between cups symbolises the alchemical process of harmonising spirit and matter. Samekh therefore represents the inner support that allows transformation to occur without collapse.

Find out more: Death and Nun: The Transformation of Life

XIV.Temperance - (Art in Crowley)

Hebrew Letter: Samekh (ס)

  • Meaning of Letter: Prop, foundation, support

  • Astrology/Element: Sagittarius

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Alchemy, blending of opposites, patience, the middle path; the guardian angel

  • Key Symbolism: The angel pouring between cups, the path to the distant crown

Samekh represents a support or stabilising structure that holds something upright. Temperance reflects this principle through the careful blending of opposing forces. Sagittarius seeks truth through integration and balance between extremes.

The angel pouring between cups symbolises the alchemical process of harmonising spirit and matter. Samekh therefore represents the inner support that allows transformation to occur without collapse.

Find out more: Temperance and Samekh: The Path of Integration

XV. The Devil

Hebrew Letter: Ayin (ע)

  • Meaning of Letter: Eye, fountain; source of vision

  • Astrology/Element: Capricorn

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Material bondage, obsession, the shadow self; the fixation on the physical world

  • Key Symbolism: The goat-headed figure, the chained figures, the inverted pentagram

Ayin means eye and suggests perception or the act of seeing. In the Devil card this refers to the way consciousness becomes fixed on the material world. Capricorn emphasises structure, ambition, and attachment to tangible forms.

The chained figures symbolise the illusion of bondage created by identification with desire and limitation. Ayin therefore represents the eye that becomes captivated by appearances and forgets its deeper source.

Find out more: The Devil and Ayin: The Captive Eye

XVI.The Tower

Hebrew Letter: Peh (פ)

  • Meaning of Letter: Mouth, speech, that which speaks or declares

  • Astrology/Element: Mars

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Sudden upheaval, the breaking of false structures, divine lightning, revelation through destruction

  • Key Symbolism: The tower struck by lightning, the falling figures, the flames of destruction

Peh symbolises the mouth and the power of speech or declaration. In the Tower this reflects the moment when truth erupts and shatters illusion. Mars governs force, conflict, and sudden action that breaks stagnant structures.

The lightning strike represents the violent clarity that exposes what can no longer stand. Peh therefore signifies revelation expressed with undeniable force.

Find out more: The Tower and Peh: The Voice of Revelation

XVII. The Star

Hebrew Letter: Tzaddi (צ) - Golden Dawn

  • Meaning of Letter: Fish hook, desire, to hunt

  • Astrology/Element: Aquarius Aries

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Hope, inspiration; the pouring forth of cosmic waters, the starry firmament

  • Key Symbolism: The kneeling woman pouring water, the large guiding star and seven smaller stars, the flowing waters of renewal.

Hebrew Letter: Heh (ה) - Crowley

  • Meaning of Letter: Window, breath, to behold

  • Astrology/Element: Aries

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Structure, authority, dominion, the father figure, the establishment of order through will

  • Meaning Crowley's (with Tzaddi): The revealed cosmic child, the opening of a new perspective, the window to infinity

  • Key Symbolism: The radiant figure pouring celestial waters, the open starry heavens, the light of renewed vision.

In the Golden Dawn system Tzaddi represents a fish hook that draws something upward from hidden depths. The Star reflects this through the emergence of hope and inspiration after destruction. In Crowley’s system the letter Heh symbolises a window through which light enters. This interpretation emphasises revelation and the opening of a new vision of reality. Both views express renewal and the restoration of spiritual perspective.

Find out more: The Star and Tzaddi: The Renewal of Hope

XVIII.The Moon

Hebrew Letter: Qoph (ק)

  • Meaning of Letter: Back of the head, that which is behind, also "monkey" or "imitator"

  • Astrology/Element: Pisces

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Illusion the subconscious depths, the journey through darkness, fear and deception

  • Key Symbolism: The crayfish emerging, the two towers, the howling dogs, the path into the unknown

Qoph refers to what lies behind conscious awareness, symbolised by the back of the head. The Moon card reflects this hidden territory through dreams, illusions, and unconscious fears. Pisces governs imagination, emotion, and the dissolving of clear boundaries.

The path between the towers suggests a journey through uncertainty and shadow. Qoph therefore represents the mind confronting what it cannot fully see.

Find out more: The Moon and Qoph: The Journey Through the Unseen

XIX. The Sun

Hebrew Letter: Resh (ר)

  • Meaning of Letter: Head, face, that which is foremost or prominent

  • Astrology/Element: Sun

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Glory, achievement, the radiance of consciousness, the unveiled light

  • Key Symbolism: The sunflowers, the walled garden, the dancing children

Resh symbolises the head or face, representing clarity and conscious awareness. The Sun card reflects this through illumination and the full expression of life. The solar energy dispels shadow and reveals what was previously hidden.

Joy, vitality, and creative confidence emerge when consciousness stands fully in the light. Resh therefore represents the awakening of clear and radiant awareness.

Find out more: The Sun and Resh: The Radiance of Consciousness

XX.Judgement (The Aeon in Crowley)

Hebrew Letter: Shin (ש)

  • Meaning of Letter: Tooth, that which consumes or devours, also fire

  • Astrology/Element: Fire

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Awakening, renewal, the call from above, the resurrection of the self

  • Key Symbolism: The angel with the trumpet, the rising figures, the cross on the banner

Shin symbolises the consuming force of fire that transforms what it touches. In Judgement this fire represents spiritual awakening and renewal.

The trumpet call signals a moment of profound recognition and rebirth. Fire burns away the past and clears space for a new stage of consciousness. Shin therefore reflects the purifying force that initiates transformation.

Find out more: Judgement and Shin: The Fire of Awakening

XXI. The World - (The Universe in Crowley)

Hebrew Letter: Tau (ת)

  • Meaning of Letter: Cross, mark, signature, that which completes

  • Astrology/Element: Saturn

  • Golden Dawn Meaning: Completion, fulfillment, the synthesis of all things, the dance of life

  • Key Symbolism: The dancing figure within the wreath, the four living creatures, the attainment of the goal

Tau represents a mark of completion or a seal that confirms something finished. The World card expresses this through the fulfilment of a cycle. Saturn governs structure, time, and the boundaries that define existence. The dancing figure within the wreath symbolises harmony achieved through experience.

Tau therefore represents the completion of the journey and the integration of all its stages.

Find out more: The World and Tau: The Completion of the Journey