Key Notes: An Exploration of Tarot & Sound

While not always discussed, Tarot and music share an inextricable link. We suspect there is some inherent quality to this, and also some conscious effort to ensure its symbols stay steeped in the imagery and lexicon of this tool. It also seems to us that it is no coincidence that many occultists throughout history have demonstrated this connection. You don’t have to look far to observe the crossover between an aptitude in music and an interest in magick, and we could debate the reasons for this, however the link remains. Notably, the following musicians have incorporated the occult, tarot and related symbolism into their work: Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, Tool, Andrew W. K. , Rush, The Beatles, Ab-Soul, Erykah Badu and so on. It’s not uncommon either to observe occult imagery in modern music videos, though, we’re not sure if that is a result of the artist having a genuine interest in this field or a capitalization on the mystery of it all.

Dr. Paul Foster Case, as another example and by his own words, discussed having to make the decision between two paths of deep interest; that of classical music or that of spirituality. He chose the latter, but it stands to reason that his musical background served him quite well in his future work with Spirit.

In “Occult Fundamentals and Spiritual Unfoldment” Case goes on to say “Thus modern science confirms the ancient esoteric teaching that sound is the root of physical existence, a teaching which is of course implied by what you learned about Akasha or the quintessence…Akasha is the subtle principle of hearing, it is that mode of vibration which excites the auditory nerves, that is to say, sound. Hence we may paraphrase Rama Prasad’s teaching thus: ‘It is out of sound that every form comes, and it is in sound that every form lives.’”

So while this post cannot possibly be an exhaustive exploration into this link, we do hope to provide some insight to meditate further on, along with some ideas to consciously work with music in tandem with your tarot/oracle/spiritual practice. To begin, we’ll demonstrate a point to set the tone (pun intended) and that is this…

The Language of Tarot is Musical in Nature…

Right on the surface, built into the very structure of the deck, music and sound penetrate. 22 cards which we call Majors, and 56 cards which we call Minors serve as a very musical way to delineate things. Not to mention, we frequently refer to the cards as “keys”. In addition, some of the imagery, or correspondences, lead us further in this direction.

Take note of the trumpet in Judgment. It contains 7 emanations, symbolic of the 7 musical notes. As well, The Hierophant is associated with the physical and interior sense of hearing, depicting two crossed keys on the ground. This is symbolic not only of the opening of doors, but of tapping into hidden vibrations. And vibration, a component of sound, is depicted in a number of cards i.e. Temperance and The Star. 

This is a keen point of interest to those looking to tarot as a tool for initiation. In other words, how can we tap into and adjust our vibration in an effort to raise our consciousness?  And what role might sound play? Those are questions better left to future explorations, but for today, let’s aim to see how we may look to music and sound as a way of strengthening our connection with this tool.

Study the Correspondences

We know in our study that color, numbers, and sound are important underpinnings to our universe. Tarot is just one of the many ways of expressing this and we believe the application of this knowledge can greatly serve those seeking to go deeper with this tool. 

More familiar correspondences in tarot include astrology, numerology and Kabbalah to name a few, but there are musical associations as well. As you will see in the chart below, Tarot is directly correlated to sound by linking each Major with a specific chord. In addition to these correspondences, you could even look to the color associations to add another layer where harmony and vibration are concerned.

If you want to bookmark this for reference, we would suggest doing so via our Tarot Card Meanings page because then you will have a fuller list of associations, including the ones above.

Meditation

To learn more about any particular tarot card, all you need to do is put down the books and commit to spending dedicated time in personal contemplation/meditation with the card. This could be amplified with the addition of music. We used the correspondences above to craft our Musickal Meditations which you can use to tap into the energy of the associated Major. 

Of course, you don’t need to use our tracks to get you there. Take what you know of the card and then intuitively select a tune that seems to fit the mood. Allow yourself to unfold alongside the card with the aid of music you’ve selected. You’ll be surprised just what comes to you when you start to blend the senses in this way.

Playlists Crafted with Intent

Want to tap into the essence of a particular card or series of cards? Why not create a playlist!? Not only will it help you tune in, it will also help create personal associations for the cards, thus cementing them deeper into your psyche. As a fun exercise, Tim put together two inspired playlists opting to use the artist (not the song) as the point of reference for each card. He then selected a song that he felt showcased the best of that artist, or fit the general theme of the playlist. For example, Kanye West as The Fool in the first playlist, and Ozzy Osbourne as The Fool in the second. There are two genres and two playlists below. Check them out!

There were no shortage of artists/tracks to select for the classic rock list. The late 60s/early 70s countercultural movements, which were very much centered around music, led many of the youths of that period to explore different spiritual traditions. This led to a Renaissance of occultism that hadn't been seen since the turn of the 20th century, when the schools of Theosophy and the Golden Dawn were at the peak of their popularity and influence.

Shufflemancy

Music is also a great tool for divination! You could craft a playlist fashioned off the cards to perform this, or simply take a random playlist to achieve the same thing. The idea is the same as if you were working with physical cards in hand. Simply ask your question and shuffle!

If you’re working with a list of songs that hasn’t been designated to particular cards, your intuition can really run wild. What does the tone of the song imply? What are the instruments saying? What do the lyrics allude to? How does the song make you feel? There is so much that can be gained from this incredibly simple method. Take any playlist you have, or make a new on with the intention of divination, and give it a try!

Specialty Decks

There is no shortage of astonishing creativity in the world of tarot and oracle decks, and it’s no wonder that some of them are turning to music for inspiration. We were recently provided a copy of this incredible deck that you’ll see below called The Hip-Hop Queens Oracle. It is full, fresh, alive with color and so thoughtful in its approach matching artist to their essence to supply a straightforward and entertaining reading. Not to mention, there is an artist for all eras, so no matter what branch or year of hip-hop calls to you, you'll surely find one of your favourites. We admit, it inspired Tim, a self-professed hip-hop nerd, to indulge in the playlist we posted above.

What I love about this take is that not only are you provided all the personality impressions that come with such influential talent, you also can’t help but hear the music playing if you’re familiar with who you've pulled. We call that immersive, which is such a bonus when it comes to divination in any form.

Deck written by Kathy Iandoli, Illustrated by Monica Ahanonu and published by Clarkson Potter. Get it here!

So at the end of this totally inconclusive study of tarot and sound we’re left with this - why the link? Music is magick. Melodies and lyrics and harmony have a way of moving us - making us feel! For this reason, it is often a powerful tool to bring into a ritual space. It can shift the mood in a moment and we know this because if that wasn’t so, we wouldn’t have soundtracks to movies or music in advertisements. There is also a very mystical component to music which can be explored further in a number of ways. Take the solfeggio frequencies, binaural beats, powerful mantras, chanting and hymns for example, but that’s another post for another day.

Further to note, music taps into that very powerful number 7 as do so many other aspects of spiritual and occult practice. There are 7 musical notes, as there are 7 colours of the rainbow, 7 metals in alchemy, 7 chakras, 7 days of the week, 7 sacred planets, 7 seals in revelations…we could go on awhile. 

And what does this say about tarot? In regards to divination, maybe not a whole lot. But if you’re approaching this tool in the sprit of initiation then we suspect it says quite a bit. Tarot is a harmonizing tool. If you can arrange it just so, you have the opportunity to tap into a current that mixes both science and art. Its link to music implies so much, but we hope the takeaway above all else is this: Tarot has the potential to unlock doors to true creative powers and genius which lay latent in us all. We simply need to allow it to vibrate through us, and us through it, and give ourselves the space and grace to play this tool to beat of our own heart. In this way, the expansive nature of tarot and all tools along its periphery can be enjoyed to their fullest possible extent.

Julia & Tim