Guide to Tarot

TAROT CARD MEANINGS

THE MAJOR ARCANA

Traditionally, the Major Arcana of tarot explores the human psyche through the Fool’s Journey: a series of 21 cards that begin with the Fool and take the mind on a journey to enlightenment.

These cards explore the realm of human existence through ideas that flirt with the subconscious, the ego and the heart.

When we see Major Arcana cards in a reading they have a strong message attached to them. Each card carries intricate meaning that aims to unfold your mind to the inner-workings of your subconscious.

MAJOR ARCANA

0. THE FOOL

NEW BEGINNING • SPONTANEITY • LEAP OF FAITH

MAJOR ARCANA

I. THE MAGICIAN

BOLD • SELF-DETERMINED • SKILLED

MAJOR ARCANA

II. THE HIGH PRIESTESS

INTROSPECTIVE • INTUITION • MYSTERY OF SUBCONSCIOUS

MAJOR ARCANA

III. THE EMPRESS

NURTURING • GIVING • CONNECTION WITH EARTH

MAJOR ARCANA

IV. The emperor

POWER • FOCUSED GROWTH • INFLUENTIAL

MAJOR ARCANA

V. THE HIEROPHANT

TRADITION • SPIRITUALITY • EDUCATION

MAJOR ARCANA

VI. THE LOVERS

PARTNERSHIP • INDIVIDUALISM • BLOSSOMING RELATIONSHIP

MAJOR ARCANA

VII. THE CHARIOT

WILL POWER • SELF-ASSURED • CONFIDENCE MOVING FORWARD

MAJOR ARCANA

VIII. STRENGTH

EMPOWERMENT • CONFIDENCE • VITALITY

MAJOR ARCANA

IX. THE HERMIT

SEARCHING WITHIN • SOLITUDE • SELF-EXPLORATION

MAJOR ARCANA

X. WHEEL OF FORTUNE

CHANCE • CHANGE • DESTINY

MAJOR ARCANA

XI. JUSTICE

CAUSE AND EFFECT • BALANCE • ACCOUNTABILITY

MAJOR ARCANA

XII. THE HANGED MAN

GOING WITH THE FLOW • SURRENDERING CONTROL • LETTING GO

MAJOR ARCANA

XIII. DEATH

PROFOUND CHANGE • NEW CHAPTER • RENEWAL

MAJOR ARCANA

XIV. TEMPERANCE

MAINTAINING BALANCE • MODERATION • GIVING

MAJOR ARCANA

XV. THE DEVIL

TEMPTATION • MATERIALISM • AVOIDING SELF

MAJOR ARCANA

XVI. THE TOWER

CATASTROPHE • ACCIDENT • SWIFT CHANGE

MAJOR ARCANA

XVII. THE STAR

OPPORTUNITY • HOPE • INSPIRATION

MAJOR ARCANA

XVIII. THE MOON

SECRETS • CONFRONTING SELF • ILLUSIONS

MAJOR ARCANA

XIX. THE SUN

GREATNESS • JOY • ENLIGHTENMENT

MAJOR ARCANA

XX. JUDGEMENT

DECISIONS - TRANSITIONS - ENDINGS

MAJOR ARCANA

XXI. THE WORLD

COMPLETION - SUCCESS - FULFILLMENT

THE MINOR ARCANA

The Minor Arcana of tarot is split into four different suits: Wands, Chalices, Swords and Pentacles. Each suit relates to a season, an element and three zodiac signs. The Minor Arcana makes up the bulk of the deck, 56 of the 78 cards are Minor Arcana cards, so you will more often than not find them flooding your readings. This is to ground you in a particular theme that the reading may be trying to alert you to.

SUIT OF WANDS

The Wands are the suit of creation. They follow the journey of an idea, from inception to manifestation. If you intend to safeguard a vision into self-sustaining vitality, you must show ambition, determination, and an ability to harmonize with others. But above all, have faith in yourself. Use your burning passion to forge something wonderful within. Whatever you make will be wrought with traces of you, spreading your influence out into the universe. This is your chance to change the world for the good.

MINOR ARCANA

ACE OF WANDS

NEW OPPORTUNITY • STRONG ENERGY • INSPIRATION

MINOR ARCANA

TWO OF WANDS

PLANNING • LOOKING AHEAD • CLEAR MIND

MINOR ARCANA

THREE OF WANDS

SUSTAINED GROWTH • FORESIGHT • PROGRESS

MINOR ARCANA

FOUR OF WANDS

CELEBRATION • PEACE • FAMILY

MINOR ARCANA

FIVE OF WANDS

CONFLICT • TENSION • COMPROMISE

MINOR ARCANA

SIX OF WANDS

SMALL VICTORY • SELF-CONFIDENCE • APPRECIATION

MINOR ARCANA

SEVEN OF WANDS

CHALLENGE • PERSERVERANCE • STAYING THE COURSE

MINOR ARCANA

EIGHT OF WANDS

FORWARD MOVEMENT • FINISH LINE • FINAL PUSH

MINOR ARCANA

NINE OF WANDS

ENDURANCE • MAINTAINING CONTROL • RESILIENCE

MINOR ARCANA

TEN OF WANDS

BURDEN • RESPONSIBILITY • COMMITMENT

MINOR ARCANA

PAGE OF WANDS

INSPIRATION • ENTHUSIASM • POTENTIAL

MINOR ARCANA

KNIGHT OF WANDS

CONFIDENCE • SURGE OF ENERGY • PASSION

MINOR ARCANA

QUEEN OF WANDS

CHARISMA • RADIATING ENERGY • INSPIRATIONAL

MINOR ARCANA

KING OF WANDS

CREATIVE LEADER • VISIONARY • PASSIONATE

SUIT OF CHALICES

The Suit of Chalices contains all the affairs of the heart. Love, friendship, loss, exuberance - these are but some of the many emotional journeys depicted in this changeable suit. They play themselves out on the banks of a river, its meandering path mirroring the fluidity of feelings. When you draw many Chalices in a reading, listen carefully to your heart and intuition. Lucid, amorphous, they may have divined more than you may realize.

MINOR ARCANA

ACE OF CHALICES

NEW EMOTION • INTIMATE CONNECTION • LOVE

MINOR ARCANA

TWO OF CHALICES

SHARED CONNECTION • PARTNERSHIP • RECEPTIVE

MINOR ARCANA

THREE OF CHALICES

FRIENDSHIP • SYNCHRONICITY • SHARED EXPERIENCE

MINOR ARCANA

FOUR OF CHALICES

OVER-INDULGENCE • LOSS OF EXCITEMENT • APATHY

MINOR ARCANA

FIVE OF CHALICES

DISAPPOINTMENT - FAILURES - MAKING NEW SPACE

MINOR ARCANA

SIX OF CHALICES

RENEWAL • REVISITING PAST MEMORIES • VIBRANCY

MINOR ARCANA

SEVEN OF CHALICES

DECEPTION • DWELLING IN FANTASY • CHOICES

MINOR ARCANA

EIGHT OF CHALICES

CONFUSION • UNCERTAINTY • ESCAPISM

MINOR ARCANA

NINE OF CHALICES

SATISFACTION • COMPLETED CYCLE • FULFILLMENT

MINOR ARCANA

TEN OF CHALICES

BLISS • HARMONY • ALIGNMENT WITH OTHERS

MINOR ARCANA

PAGE OF CHALICES

GIVING • OPEN HEART • EMOTIONAL WELLBEING

MINOR ARCANA

KNIGHT OF CHALICES

UNFETTERED EMOTION • MIXED FEELINGS • DEVOTION

MINOR ARCANA

QUEEN OF CHALICES

INTUITIVE • COMPASSIONATE • EMOTIONALLY SECURE

MINOR ARCANA

KING OF CHALICES

REIGNING EMOTIONS • POWERFUL CONDUIT • IN CONTROL

SUIT OF SWORDS

The Swords cleave through illusion and fantasy. They reveal the true nature of the world beneath, cruel and unforgiving though it may be. The Swords therefore stand for intelligence, and the sorrow and bitterness that accompany understanding. Many Swords in a draw warn of a spiritual sickness; an icy cold winter of the heart. But do not despair. In your time of sorrow, much will be revealed to you. You will be lent a clarity honed by grief, and in time you will conquer the beast that slays you.

MINOR ARCANA

ACE OF SWORDS

MENTAL CLARITY • DETERMINATION • INTELLECTUAL POWER

MINOR ARCANA

TWO OF SWORDS

AVOIDING TRUTH • APPROACHING BLINDLY • SURFACING FEARS

MINOR ARCANA

THREE OF SWORDS

SORROW • MENTAL PAIN • GRIEF

MINOR ARCANA

FOUR OF SWORDS

CONTEMPLATION • REFLECTION • PAUSE

MINOR ARCANA

FIVE OF SWORDS

CONFRONTATION • DISAGREEMENT • PACIFYING ANGER

MINOR ARCANA

SIX OF SWORDS

MOVING ON • FREEDOM • TRANSITION

MINOR ARCANA

SEVEN OF SWORDS

CUTTING TIES • SPEAKING YOUR MIND • DECEPTION

MINOR ARCANA

EIGHT OF SWORDS

SELF-IMPRISONMENT • DESPAIR • VICTIM MENTALITY

MINOR ARCANA

NINE OF SWORDS

FEAR • VULNERABILITY • PARALYSIS

MINOR ARCANA

TEN OF SWORDS

HARD ENDINGS • MISFORTUNES • DEFEAT

MINOR ARCANA

PAGE OF SWORDS

SHARP MIND • NEW STRATEGY • CLEAR DIRECTION

MINOR ARCANA

KNIGHT OF SWORDS

AMBITIOUS • FIXATED ON GOALS • DETERMINED

MINOR ARCANA

QUEEN OF SWORDS

INTELLIGENCE • TRUTH • MENTAL CLARITY

MINOR ARCANA

KING OF SWORDS

CLARITY OF PURPOSE • REALISTIC EXPECTATION • INGENUITY

SUIT OF PENTACLES

A twofold symbol, Pentacles function as both coins and seeds. By planting what little you have in the earth, you insure a profitable existence in the future. There are many rewards for investing yourself in the world, not the least of which is monetary. But there also might be a richness of family, or the satisfaction of giving your excess to a person who has none. Whatever the treasure, it is clear that it is firmly rooted in the physical, tangible world. Delight in the earth and its abundance. It is your home.