Each Tarot card, along with the standard name (e.g. The Empress or The Two of Cups), has what is called an Esoteric Title. This is a name for the card that brings together the elemental, zodiacal or planetary attribute of the card with the numerological and suit characteristics. For example, The Empress is associated with the planet of Venus, as well as the goddess of the same name. She is given the esoteric title of “Daughter of the Mighty Ones” to reflect her status. The Two of Cups is given the title of “Love” or “The Lord of Love”, which reflects its associations with feelings (through the suit of Cups) and relationships and balance (through the number 2).

Esoteric titles are useful because they can act as a sort of keyword for you during readings and meditation. They provide a way to work backwards to the associations of the card. The titles also provide some insight into the esoteric and magical uses of the cards, for those inclined to look beyond divination. In divination, The Empress may simply signify fertility and abundance, but as Daughter of the Mighty Ones, she becomes something much deeper and more powerful.

Origin of the Esoteric Titles

The esoteric titles likely first appeared in MacGregor Mather’s Book T¹, first distributed sometime around 1890. The titles also appear in Aleister Crowley’s 777, and are clearly the influence for the keywords found on the Thoth Tarot Deck².

Esoteric Titles³

Major Arcana

Minor Arcana – Suit of Wands

Minor Arcana – Suit of Cups

Minor Arcana – Suit of Swords

Minor Arcana – Suit of Pentacles

Notes

1. The authorship of Book T is disputed, but it is generally believed to have been produced, at least in part, by MacGregor Mathers, possibly along with his wife, Moina, and/or other members of the Golden Dawn.

2. Whether Crowley wanted keywords to be printed on this deck is again a matter of debate. I think that he probably didn’t.

3. The eosteric titles presented here are mainly taken from Book T and Emily Peach’s The Tarot Wookbook. They are given in terms of the Rider-Waite-Smith card ordering, with Strength as 8 and Justice as 11.

4. All titles for the Minor Arcana, with the exception of the Aces, are prefaced with “Lord of…”.