arcana

Closely guarded secrets

Arcana are secrets or mysteries, especially specialized knowledge known only to initiates.

The word appears most often in discussions of esoteric subjects—occult practices, ancient rituals, or the inner workings of complex institutions: the arcana of high finance, the arcana of parliamentary procedure.

In tarot, the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana are the two divisions of the deck.

The singular arcanum is rare.

occult

alchemy

Mystical metal transformation

divination · ritual · incantation · conjuring · grimoire · sigil · talisman · amulet · pentagram · seance

esoteric

gnosis

Experiential sacred understanding

gnosticism · neoplatonism · vedanta · mysticism · initiation · illumination · enlightenment · revelation · mysteries · secret doctrine

tarot

deck

Ship's flat surface

  • suitsFormal business clothing
  • cupsSmall drinking containers
  • wandsSlender implements for conjuring

pentacles · swords · reading · spread · fool · magician · high priestess · empress · emperor · hierophant

secrets

hidden knowledge

Information deliberately kept concealed

veiled · concealed · obscure · clandestine · esoterica · forbidden knowledge · sacred mysteries · occluded · shrouded · undisclosed

Categories
Opposites
accessibility of knowledge

arcanacommon knowledge

Widely shared information

public knowledge · open secrets · general knowledge · conventional wisdom · public information

specialization

arcanabasics

Foundational knowledge of something

fundamentals · rudiments · ABCs · essentials · first principles

depth and specialization

arcanabasics

Foundational knowledge of something

fundamentals · rudiments · ABCs · essentials · primer

Phrases
Family

arcane, arcanum

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Rated G