History and symbols
Why does card numbering change between Marseille and Rider-Waite-Smith?
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In the Tarot de Marseille, Justice is usually card VIII and Strength is XI. In the Rider-Waite-Smith, the order was swapped: Strength is VIII and Justice is XI. The reason for the swap is debated, and there are other differences in names and numbering between decks.
The swap between Strength and Justice
If you learned from the Rider-Waite-Smith, Strength is card VIII and Justice is XI. In Marseille decks, the order is reversed: Justice sits at position VIII and Strength at XI. Anyone moving from one system to the other tends to be thrown off, because the numbers are printed on the cards.
The most cited explanation is that the swap was made in the early twentieth century by occultists who wanted to fit the cards into astrological correspondences, linking Strength to Leo and Justice to Libra. This is a hypothesis from the esoteric tradition. For the early decks, the order of the triumphs varied by region, and there was no single list.
Cards without numbers and cards without names
The Fool is the best-known case. In many Marseille decks he carries no number, so some readers place him at the start, as 0, and others at the end, after The World. Both customs exist, and neither is the only correct one.
Card XIII also stands out. In several Marseille decks it has no printed title, which is why it is called the “nameless arcanum.” The word Death appears in many editions, but not in all, and reading the missing title as a sign of secrecy is a modern interpretation. What the documents show is only that the name was not always printed.
How to handle this in practice
The most useful approach is to choose one deck to study and follow its numbering without mixing. When reading a book, check whether it uses Marseille or Rider-Waite-Smith, so you do not confuse the numbers VIII and XI.
In spreads, numbering rarely changes the interpretation, because the meaning of Strength and Justice does not depend on the number. It only matters when you use numerological calculations, such as the personal arcanum, in which the card's number enters the sum.
- Marseille: Justice VIII, Strength XI.
- Rider-Waite-Smith: Strength VIII, Justice XI.
- The Fool: unnumbered in many Marseille decks.
- Card XIII: no printed title in several early editions.
Frequently asked questions
- Which numbering is right?
- Neither is the only right one. They are traditions of different decks, and what matters is using the same numbering as the deck you have in hand.
- Is The Fool 0 or 22?
- It depends on the tradition and the deck. Many modern readings place him at 0, at the start of the journey, while others put him at the end of the sequence.
- Does the numbering swap change the meaning of the cards?
- Generally not. Strength still speaks of quiet courage and Justice of balance and decision, and the number only matters in numerological calculations.
Educational content, for reflection. Tarot does not replace medical, legal or financial advice.