Tarot Card Meanings

What is Tarot?

Tarot is a powerful divination system that has guided seekers for over 500 years. A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards, each rich with symbolism and meaning. When used for readings, these cards serve as mirrors reflecting our subconscious wisdom, helping us gain clarity on life's questions and challenges.

Tarot doesn't predict a fixed future - instead, it illuminates possibilities, highlights hidden influences, and empowers you to make informed choices. The cards speak the language of archetypes, symbols that resonate with universal human experiences.

Structure of the Tarot Deck

The 78-card tarot deck is divided into two main sections:

Major Arcana (22 Cards)

The Major Arcana represents life's major spiritual lessons and karmic influences. These cards depict the Fool's Journey - the archetypal path from innocence through experience to enlightenment. When Major Arcana cards appear in a reading, pay special attention - they signal significant life themes and transformative energies at play.

• Cards numbered 0-21
• Represent major life events and spiritual lessons
• Include cards like The Fool, The Lovers, Death, and The World

Minor Arcana (56 Cards)

The Minor Arcana deals with daily life, everyday challenges, and practical matters. Divided into four suits, these cards reflect the more immediate circumstances and decisions we face.

• Wands (Fire): Passion, creativity, ambition, action
• Cups (Water): Emotions, relationships, intuition, love
• Swords (Air): Thoughts, communication, conflict, truth
• Pentacles (Earth): Material world, money, career, health

How Tarot Readings Work

A tarot reading begins with a question or area of focus. The reader shuffles the deck while concentrating on this intention, then draws cards in a specific pattern called a "spread." Each position in the spread has a meaning, and the cards that fall there offer guidance for that aspect of the question.

Common Spreads

• Single Card: Simple daily guidance or yes/no questions
• Three Card: Past, Present, Future or Situation, Action, Outcome
• Celtic Cross: Comprehensive 10-card spread for complex questions

Interpreting Cards

Card interpretation combines traditional meanings with intuition. Consider:

• The card's traditional symbolism and meaning
• Whether the card appears upright or reversed
• How the card relates to surrounding cards
• Your intuitive response to the imagery
• How the meaning applies to your specific question

Upright vs. Reversed Cards

When a card appears upside-down in a reading, it's called "reversed." Reversed cards can indicate:

• Blocked or delayed energy
• Internal rather than external manifestation
• The shadow side of the card's meaning
• A need to pay attention to something being overlooked
• The energy of the upright meaning in a diminished form

Not all readers use reversals - some prefer to read all cards upright. Both approaches are valid.

Tips for Learning Tarot

• Start with the Major Arcana: Learn these 22 cards first before tackling the full deck
• Keep a tarot journal: Record your readings and interpretations to track patterns
• Trust your intuition: The images speak to you personally - trust your first impressions
• Practice daily: Pull a card each morning to build familiarity
• Study the imagery: Look closely at the symbols, colors, and figures in each card
• Learn the elemental associations: Understanding Fire, Water, Air, and Earth deepens interpretation

Tarot and Astrology Connection

Tarot and astrology share deep connections. Each Major Arcana card corresponds to either a zodiac sign or planet:

• The Emperor: Aries
• The Hierophant: Taurus
• The Lovers: Gemini
• The Chariot: Cancer
• Strength: Leo
• The Hermit: Virgo
• Justice: Libra
• Death: Scorpio
• Temperance: Sagittarius
• The Devil: Capricorn
• The Star: Aquarius
• The Moon: Pisces

Understanding these correspondences adds another layer of meaning to your readings.