Tarot Cards Explained

I remember my first encounter with a tarot deck. It sat there, shrouded in an air of mysticism, beckoning me to uncover its secrets. Tarot cards are often met with fascination and a hint of skepticism. Their history stretches back to the 15th century, originally surfacing as playing cards in Europe and later evolving into a tool for divination.

There's a common scenario where tarot is seen through a sensational lens, surrounded by myths that mystify 'fortune-telling' practices. However, in truth, tarot cards serve as a reflective tool, inviting introspection rather than predicting a set-in-stone future.

Today, tarot finds its place in the modern spirituality. It stands as a symbolic map of consciousness, with each card representing different facets of life experiences.

So here's a key step that births appreciation and proficiency in the art of tarot reading. Let's take a closer look at what makes up a tarot deck and how these elements interact to offer guidance and perspective.

The Structure of Tarot: Understanding the Deck

You may know this already; a traditional tarot deck is divided into two parts. The Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 standalone cards, each with its profound symbolism and story. These cards mirror our own life experiences, reflecting major life changes and karmic lessons.

The Minor Arcana is made up of 56 cards, categorized into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. Each suit corresponds to a classic element – water, earth, air, and fire, respectively – emotions, material affairs, intellect, and creativity.

Numbers hold power in tarot as much as they do in numerology. Each number on the cards carries an energy that influences the interpretation, from the potential-filled Ace to the completion signified by the number ten.

Court cards – the Page, Knight, Queen, and King – offer insight into personal characteristics and represent people in the querent's life.

The Major Arcana: Gateways to Wisdom

The Major Arcana cards indicate significant life events or issues at the core of the querent's situation. I think of these cards as stepping stones on the path of self-discovery, each one symbolizing a significant lesson or moment in life.

• The Fool (0): Represents beginnings, innocence, and spontaneous, carefree joy. The Fool is about taking that leap of faith into a new adventure.
  
• The Magician (I): Symbolizes manifesting one's desires through the power of knowledge, determination, and resourcefulness.
  
• The High Priestess (II): Embodies intuition, mystery, and understanding hidden truths. She invites you to listen to your inner voice.
  
• The Empress (III): Signifies fertility, abundance, and nature. She is nurturing and represents the creation of life, romance, art, or new careers.
  
• The Emperor (IV): Stands for authority, structure, and control. The Emperor advocates for discipline and leadership.
  
• The Hierophant (V): Represents spiritual wisdom, religious beliefs, and conformity to cultural expectations. He symbolizes guidance and education.
  
• The Lovers (VI): Signifies relationships and choices. The card can indicate a harmonious union or a difficult decision regarding a potential partnership.
  
• The Chariot (VII): Represents overcoming conflicts and moving forward in a positive direction. It suggests control and victory through willpower and determination.
  
• Strength (VIII): Symbolizes courage, persuasion, and influence. It suggests that you can overcome obstacles by tapping into your inner strength and resilience.
  
• The Hermit (IX): Signifies introspection, solitude, and seeking one’s inner truth. The Hermit is a spiritual quest, finding guidance within.
  
• Wheel of Fortune (X): Represents life’s cycles, fate, and the inevitability of change. It reminds you that every period of life has its ups and downs.
  
• Justice (XI): Symbolizes truth, fairness, and law. The card suggests a need for balance and integrity, stressing the importance of making sound decisions.
  
• The Hanged Man (XII): Represents surrender, new perspectives, and sacrifice. It suggests letting go and viewing things from a different angle.
  
• Death (XIII): While it can be startling, Death usually signifies transformation, ending one phase to begin another, and letting go of the past.
  
• Temperance (XIV): Symbolizes balance, moderation, and purpose. It advises you to avoid extremes and find equilibrium in your life.
  
• The Devil (XV): Represents attachments, addiction, and restriction. It suggests you might be tricked or misled by external forces.
  
• The Tower (XVI): Signifies sudden change, upheaval, and chaos. Although it may bring destruction, it also paves the way for something better.
  
• The Star (XVII): Symbolizes hope, faith, and rejuvenation. It suggests a clear sense of purpose and renewed spirituality.
  
• The Moon (XVIII): Represents illusion, fear, and confusion. It advises caution, as things might not be as they appear.
  
• The Sun (XIX): Symbolizes success, radiance, and abundance. It brings joy and fulfillment.
  
• Judgment (XX): Represents judgment, rebirth, inner calling, and absolution. It suggests that you're on the verge of finding closure and moving forward.
  
• The World (XXI): Symbolizes completion, accomplishment, and celebration. It marks the end of a cycle and a time for reflection on what has been achieved.

The Minor Arcana: Reflections of Daily Life

If the Major Arcana are the signposts of life's grand themes, the Minor Arcana represent the fine detail, a closer look at day-to-day events and experiences. These 56 cards are divided into four suits:

• Cups, associated with water
• Pentacles, associated with earth
• Swords, associated with air, and
• Wands, associated with fire. 

Each suit of the Minor Arcana encapsulates a particular domain, which I will now explain one by one, starting with Cups.

Cups 

The Suit of Cups in the tarot deck is part of the Minor Arcana and typically deals with the emotional level of consciousness. Cups are associated with feelings, relationships, love, and connections. Here’s a brief overview of each card in the Suit of Cups:

1. Ace of Cups: Symbolizes new beginnings in love, friendship, or happiness. It often indicates a new emotional experience or spiritual journey.
2. Two of Cups: Represents a partnership or relationship that is mutually beneficial and balanced. It often refers to a romantic union or a deep friendship.
3. Three of Cups: Celebrates community and friendship. This card is often about coming together with others in celebration, such as at weddings or gatherings.
4. Four of Cups: Suggests apathy and contemplation. It can indicate a period of introspection or dissatisfaction with life's offerings.
5. Five of Cups: Deals with disappointment, particularly in matters of the heart. It suggests a time to mourn losses and learn to let go.
6. Six of Cups: Represents nostalgia and happy memories from the past. It can also indicate children or childhood.
7. Seven of Cups: Suggests choices, often too many, leading to confusion and difficulty in decision-making. It warns against wishful thinking and illusions.
8. Eight of Cups: Indicates a departure from something that no longer serves you, even if it's emotionally difficult to let go.
9. Nine of Cups: Known as the "wish card," it signifies contentment and satisfaction, indicating that wishes and dreams are likely to come true.
10. Ten of Cups: Represents emotional fulfillment and domestic bliss. It often indicates a happy family life and overall well-being.
11. Page of Cups: Usually represents a young person or someone young at heart. This card is about creative opportunities, intuitive messages, or the beginning of a project or relationship.
12. Knight of Cups: Often represents a person who is charming and gallant, but who may wear their heart on their sleeve. This Knight is idealistic and emotionally driven.
13. Queen of Cups: Symbolizes compassion, care, and emotional stability. She is nurturing and insightful, offering wise advice in matters of the heart.
14. King of Cups: Represents emotional control and diplomacy. This king is a calm and balanced figure who offers support and guidance.

Pentacles

The Suit of Pentacles in the tarot deck, part of the Minor Arcana, primarily deals with matters related to finance, work, and material possessions. This suit is often associated with the earth element, reflecting aspects such as prosperity, practicality, and security. Here’s a brief overview of each card in the Suit of Pentacles:

1. Ace of Pentacles: Symbolizes a new financial or career opportunity, suggesting the beginning of prosperity and wealth. It can also indicate a new start in physical health.
2. Two of Pentacles: Represents balance and adaptability in managing finances or priorities. It often depicts the need to juggle various responsibilities.
3. Three of Pentacles: Suggests collaboration and teamwork, particularly in a professional environment. It indicates mastery and achievement in one’s craft or career.
4. Four of Pentacles: Deals with issues of security and control, often indicating a desire to save money or resources. It can also suggest guardedness or fear of change.
5. Five of Pentacles: Represents financial loss or hardship. It often suggests a time of struggle, urging the need for support and reassurance.
6. Six of Pentacles: Deals with generosity and charity. It can indicate giving or receiving financial help and suggests a balance of resources.
7. Seven of Pentacles: Represents a period of assessment and reflection on hard work and effort. It suggests a pause to evaluate progress and decisions.
8. Eight of Pentacles: Symbolizes dedication and skill development. This card often appears when focusing on learning or mastering a new craft or skill.
9. Nine of Pentacles: Signifies financial independence and self-sufficiency. It reflects achievement and comfort in one's achievements and environment.
10. Ten of Pentacles: Represents wealth, inheritance, and family stability. It often suggests long-term financial security and the culmination of material success.
11. Page of Pentacles: Typically represents a young person or someone who is a student of life, focused on learning and growth. This card often suggests new opportunities in business or education.
12. Knight of Pentacles: Depicts a person who is diligent, methodical, and trustworthy. This knight takes a practical approach and moves slowly but surely toward his goals.
13. Queen of Pentacles: Symbolizes nurturing, practicality, and a down-to-earth approach. She often represents a motherly figure who provides practical advice and comfort.
14. King of Pentacles: Represents abundance, security, and leadership in material ventures. This king is successful, reliable, and skilled in business and financial matters.

Swords

The Suit of Swords in the tarot deck, part of the Minor Arcana, is associated with the element of air and represents the realm of the mind, including thoughts, words, and actions. Swords often symbolize challenges, conflicts, and changes. Here’s a brief overview of each card in the Suit of Swords:

1. Ace of Swords: Represents a breakthrough or a new way of thinking. This card signals clarity, new ideas, and decisive action, often indicating a moment of insight or intellectual power.
2. Two of Swords: Symbolizes a stalemate or difficult choice. The card often depicts a need for peace and balance, requiring a calm decision-making process amidst conflicting emotions.
3. Three of Swords: Typically represents heartbreak, emotional pain, or separation. This card can suggest a necessary release of built-up sorrow to begin healing.
4. Four of Swords: Suggests a period of rest or recovery. It indicates the need to recharge mentally and physically before continuing with challenges ahead.
5. Five of Swords: Often associated with conflict and tension leading to defeat or loss. This card may suggest that winning at all costs could be hollow or damaging.
6. Six of Swords: Represents a rite of passage or a necessary transition, often implying a journey or movement away from difficulty toward a place of peace, although the transition might not be easy.
7. Seven of Swords: Deals with secrecy or stealth. This card can suggest tactics and strategies that may involve deception or acting behind the scenes.
8. Eight of Swords: Symbolizes restriction and limitation, often self-imposed. This card suggests that a change in perspective may be required to free oneself from perceived constraints.
9. Nine of Swords: Represents anxiety, worry, and fear. This card often appears when someone is burdened by mental anguish or nightmares.
10. Ten of Swords: Symbolizes defeat or betrayal, indicating that something has come to a painful yet definitive end. However, it also implies that the worst is over and recovery can begin.
11. Page of Swords: Typically represents a curious and mentally agile person, often a messenger of challenges or new ideas. This card suggests vigilance and preparedness.
12. Knight of Swords: Depicts a person who is direct, assertive, and often impulsive. This knight pursues his goals with intense determination but may need to temper his aggression.
13. Queen of Swords: Symbolizes independence, unbiased judgment, and direct communication. The Queen is insightful and experienced, often suggesting a person who is a strong, supportive counselor.
14. King of Swords: Represents intellectual power, authority, and ethical leadership. This king uses his mental clarity to administer justice and make decisions based on fairness and logic.

Wands

The Suit of Wands in the tarot deck, part of the Minor Arcana, is associated with the element of fire and represents creativity, action, energy, and passion. It is often linked to one’s ambitions, inspiration, and personal growth. Here’s a brief overview of each card in the Suit of Wands:

1. Ace of Wands: Represents a new beginning in your creative or entrepreneurial pursuits. This card signals a spark of inspiration or a sudden opportunity for action.
2. Two of Wands: Symbolizes planning and future progress. This card suggests looking forward, making decisions about your path, and potential partnerships.
3. Three of Wands: Indicates expansion and foresight. It shows that your plans are well underway, and you are considering opportunities that expand your horizons.
4. Four of Wands: Represents celebration and a happy home life. This card often indicates a time of joy and stability, possibly a gathering like a wedding or festival.
5. Five of Wands: Symbolizes conflict and competition. This card suggests struggles with others, as in a friendly rivalry or more serious disputes, urging you to find clarity in chaos.
6. Six of Wands: Represents success and public recognition. This card is about achieving success and being acknowledged for your achievements.
7. Seven of Wands: Suggests defense and perseverance. This card shows you standing your ground and protecting what you’ve earned against challenges.
8. Eight of Wands: Indicates swift action and quick developments. This card is often about rapid movement and news coming in fast, suggesting things happening quickly.
9. Nine of Wands: Symbolizes resilience and stamina. Despite challenges, this card encourages you to keep fighting, as victory is near.
10. Ten of Wands: Represents burden and responsibility. This card suggests that you might be taking on too much, urging you to reconsider your workload.
11. Page of Wands: Typically represents a young person or a beginner full of enthusiasm and curiosity. This card often suggests a message related to new projects or ideas.
12. Knight of Wands: Depicts a person who is adventurous and energetic, often acting quickly and with passion but sometimes without much forethought.
13. Queen of Wands: Symbolizes a warm, vibrant person who is confident and outgoing. She is a natural leader, often involved in many projects, radiating charm and energy.
14. King of Wands: Represents a visionary leader, someone who is bold and driven, often entrepreneurial. This king is an authority figure who encourages growth and innovation.

Reading the Cards

Tarot is as much about intuition as it is about knowledge, therefore every reader may approach a tarot reading differently.

Common Types of Tarot Spreads

• The One-Card Spread: This is the simplest form of tarot spread. It's excellent for daily guidance or answering a specific question. You draw one card from the deck to gain insight or clarity on a particular issue.
• The Three-Card Spread: This is another straightforward layout that provides a broader view of the past, present, and future. It can also be adapted to examine the context of a situation, the action required, and the outcome.
• The Celtic Cross Spread: One of the most famous tarot spreads, it uses ten cards to provide an in-depth look at a complex situation. This spread covers everything from the past and present influences to the probable outcomes and personal feelings about the matter.
• The Horseshoe Spread: A seven-card spread that gives a more detailed analysis of a situation, similar to the Celtic Cross. It covers past, present, future, potential obstacles, external influences, and possible outcomes.
• The Relationship Spread: Designed to examine the connections between two people, this spread can explore the strengths and weaknesses of a relationship. It’s usually a ten-card spread that looks at each person’s feelings, the relationship’s dynamics, and possible future outcomes.
• The Year Ahead Spread: This spread uses twelve cards, one for each month of the year, providing a forecast to help guide decisions throughout the coming year.

Best Spreads for Beginners

For beginners, simplicity is key as it helps to focus on learning the meanings of the cards and how they relate to each other in a spread. Here are two beginner-friendly spreads:

• The One-Card Spread: Because of its simplicity, this spread is best for daily self-reflection or answering simple questions. It helps beginners learn to connect deeply with the symbolism of each card without feeling overwhelmed.
• The Three-Card Spread: This is an excellent choice for beginners looking to understand how different cards interact within a reading. It’s versatile enough to be used for various questions and situations and helps new readers develop a narrative between the past, present, and future.

Ethics and Responsibilities of Tarot Reading

When I sit down with a client for a tarot session, there's more at play than just interpreting the cards. Ethical considerations are paramount because as a tarot reader, I bear a responsibility not to harm or mislead those seeking guidance. Here's what I keep in mind;

1. Consent: I ensure that my clients understand what a tarot reading can and cannot do. They agree to the process, which includes respecting their autonomy and decision-making power.
2. No "predictions": I remind clients that tarot only gives perspectives, not definitive answers of an unchangeable future. This helps maintain the empowering nature of a reading.
3. No professional advice: I'm upfront about this. I tell my clients to seek advice from experts if their concerns fall outside my scope of practice.
4. Safe space: The reading session is a confidential and nonjudgmental environment. Trust is the cornerstone here, and it's my job to protect and nurture that trust.
5. Readings with the client's best interest in mind: This means delivering messages with sensitivity, considering the emotional impact, and steering clear of fear-inducing interpretations. I aim for my clients to leave the session feeling empowered.

Tarot reading is supposed to be a responsible practice, one that holds great potential for personal insight. This moves us towards the next important phase for any tarot enthusiast: forging a personal connection with the tarot deck, which I'll discuss in the following section.

Connecting with the Cards: Tips for Beginners

Starting with tarot can be as exciting as it is daunting. With an array of decks and a sea of interpretations, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. I was there once, so let me walk you through some practical steps to ease into the world of tarot smoothly.

Finding the right tarot deck is crucial. You'll want to choose one that resonates with you visually and thematically. It should feel right in your hands and spark your curiosity. There's no 'one-size-fits-all' here; go with a deck that speaks to you, whether it's traditional Rider-Waite or something more contemporary.

Once you have your tarot deck, it's important to cleanse it of any previous energy. There are several ways to do this: some people like to use sage, while others prefer crystals or simply placing the deck in the moonlight. This isn't just about the physical deck; it's a symbolic gesture to reset and establish your personal connection to the cards.

Bonding with your tarot cards involves spending time with them. Start by examining each card, familiarizing yourself with the imagery and how it makes you feel. Try pulling a 'card of the day' to reflect upon. This practice not only gets you accustomed to the tarot visuals but also begins to build your intuition.

Improving your intuitive connection to the tarot comes with time. Practice by doing readings for simple questions and see how the cards' message might apply. Keep a tarot journal to note your thoughts and feelings about the readings; reviewing these can provide you striking insights into your progress.

Engage with the tarot community. Join online forums, attend workshops, or find a local meetup. These interactions can offer support, provide learning opportunities, and even debunk some myths you've encountered about the tarot—leading perfectly into demystifying common misconceptions in the next section of our discussion.

Myth-Busting: Clearing Up Common Tarot Misconceptions

Despite tarot's widespread popularity, many misconceptions surround its practice. I'll address a few common ones to help clarify what tarot can and can't do.

A common fear is that certain cards, like Death or The Tower, only predict doom and disaster. The truth is far more nuanced. For instance, Death often symbolizes transformation or the end of a particular phase, not necessarily physical death. The Tower, on the other hand, might represent the dismantling of old structures or beliefs to make way for new growth.

Another misconception is that tarot cards have the power to seal someone's fate. In reality, tarot is more a reflective tool, offering insights and new perspectives on life. It's not about absolute predictions, but rather about guiding one's personal journey.

Finally, the way tarot is represented in films and television can skew expectations. Often shown as a mysterious or otherworldly device, tarot in everyday life is much more grounded and personal. It's a medium for introspection and self-guidance, not a supernatural oracle.

Moving past these myths, it's essential to recognize tarot's capability to evolve with the times. As we step onto the next topic, we'll explore how tarot integrates with modern technology and what that means for its future.

The Future of Tarot: Trends and Technology

Tarot has an undeniable mystique that has withstood the test of time. The tarot reading seems to be adapting and thriving in our increasingly digital world.

With the evolution of technology, tarot has seamlessly transitioned onto digital platforms. From apps that allow you to pull a 'card of the day' to in-depth online readings, modern tech has expanded access to tarot insights. These digital tools make tarot more accessible and can serve as a complement to the traditional practice.

What's more, online communities dedicated to tarot have sprung up, providing a space for enthusiasts and professionals alike to share knowledge, develop new spreads, and offer support. This collective exploration enriches the tarot experience and ensures a vibrant future for this age-old tradition.

Despite these advances, the heart of tarot remains in its ability to foster self-reflection and personal growth. Whether you prefer your readings on a velvet cloth or via a smartphone screen, the power of tarot endures in its timeless lessons and questions that resonate deeply within us.

The future of tarot is not in replacing the old with the new but in finding harmony between them. As long as there are inquiring minds seeking understanding and guidance, tarot will continue to shine its light as both a beacon and a tool, adaptable and enduring in its essence.