Synthetic and Practical Manual of the Tarot

Although Eudes Picard is mainly known for his contribution to astrology, he also created a system of interpretation of the Minor Arcana of the Tarot, presented in his Synthetic and Practical Manual of the Tarot, published in 1909, along with his own deck of Tarot cards. This is the first English edition of this unique book. The study of the Minor Arcana has never been developed. It would be easy to accept the meaning attributed to these cards without attempting to find the reason for it. The serious adept demands more. Picard offers us a method of interpreting the Minor Arcana that sheds light on them, drawing on astrology based on the following principle: since the 22 Major Arcana represent the causes, the Minor Arcana must represent the effects. We will only perceive these causes if they manifest as effects that can be controlled by our senses and on a specific plane. This plane is the Earth. Based on their astrological relationships, Picard's system relates the four suits of the Tarot to the different seasons of the year. Thus the Minor Arcana are linked to the natural cycles and their numerical progression indicates the development of earthly events. The phases of growth: bud, leaf, flower, fruit are applied to the cards that signify the beginning, the evolution, the result and the consequences of the events of life.