Tarot card reading is a form of divination that uses a deck of 78 cards to gain insight into the past, present, and future. The cards are typically divided into two groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that represent major life events or themes, such as The Fool, The Magician, The Empress, The Hanged Man, The Tower, and The World. These cards typically have strong symbolic imagery that is meant to convey deeper meanings and insights.
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards that are divided into four suits: Cups, Swords, Wands, and Pentacles. Each suit represents a different aspect of life: emotions (Cups), intellect (Swords), creativity (Wands), and material possessions (Pentacles). Each suit contains ten numbered cards and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, and King).
During a tarot reading, the reader shuffles the deck and asks the person receiving the reading (known as the querent) to focus on a question or area of their life they would like insight on. The reader then lays out a specific number of cards in a pattern (known as a spread) and interprets their meanings based on their position in the spread, their symbolism, and their relationship to each other.
Tarot card readings are often used as a tool for self-discovery and personal growth. They can help individuals gain deeper insight into their own thoughts, emotions, and behavior patterns. Additionally, tarot readings can provide guidance and support during times of change or uncertainty.
There are many different types of tarot spreads that can be used during a reading. Some spreads are designed to provide insight into specific areas of a person's life, such as relationships, career, or finances. Other spreads are more general and can provide a more comprehensive overview of a person's current situation and potential outcomes.
There are many different approaches to tarot card reading, and different readers may have different interpretations of the cards. Some readers may use intuition and personal experience to guide their interpretations, while others may rely more heavily on traditional meanings and symbolism. Ultimately, the goal of a tarot reading is to provide the querent with insight and guidance that can help them navigate their life's journey.
It is important to note that tarot readings are not necessarily predictive. While they can provide insight into future possibilities, they do not guarantee a specific outcome. The cards are simply a tool for gaining insight and understanding, and it is ultimately up to the querent to use that information to make decisions and take action.
Depicted as a man literally hanging, either by his feet or by his neck. Though sometimes scary to look at, this can be a very helpful piece of advice.
Upright
Keywords: Sacrifice, Surrender, New Perspective
The Hanged Man is often depicted upside down forcing him to see the world from a different point of view. Take a step back and look at the situation without any preconceived ideas or judgment, what new perspectives come up?
Alternatively, what are you sacrificing now? Or what could you need to sacrifice if you move forward with this decision; is it worth it? Perhaps you should wait and let the answer find itâs way to you naturally or allow the world to take itâs course before you jump in.
This card can represent biding time, allowing things to move and allowing you to get a better view. This way you can move when the time is right.
Reversed
Key Words: Fear of sacrifice, Release, Stagnation
You may feel stuck when this card arrives in your spread. Surrender to the way that things are and allow this time to run itâs course. The world may just reward you with new and exciting opportunities. If it does, make sure to explore and embrace them.
Perhaps these previously mentioned opportunities have been here the whole time, right under your nose, you just havenât taken a chance to look at them. Check in with yourself and ask: what chances have you been overlooking?
Cups, Swords, Pentacles, and Wands. The names of these suits can vary by deck but these four are the most commonly used that I have seen.
These are the basic meanings and symbolism in regards to the four suits. The meaning will vary based on which card in that suit you pull. It may also differ if you use reversals.
These cards tend to appear in readings involving emotions, either yours or someone else involved in the reading. It could reflect negative or positive emotions and are likely to emotions or feelings involved with the situation or spread.
Cups are known to represent fantasies and are associated with creativity. As such, dreams and aspirations are often represented in this suit.
It could also mean overreacting to a situation because of let emotions get ahead of you.
Swords
Element: Air
Masculine
Meanings: Conscious minds or intellect, balance, double sided, ambition, courage.
Associated signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius
The suit of swords can be read as constant movement and change since it is related to air which is unseen, constant, and always moving. These cards indicate your actions, knowledge, and ability to change. Swords often depict strength and power and can be seen as influential.
This suit could also represent being overbearing, flaky, forceful, or unreliable.
Pentacles are often best associated with money and finances. They could indicate financial gain or struggles. This could also indicate greediness and materialistic, possessive attitudes. Since they are related to external consciousness, or our physical level of consciousness, they could represent self image; this could also represent self esteem, self acceptance, or ego.
Earth is literally a grounded sign, this suit could represent being (or needing to be) grounded or humble. Pentacles could represent support; supporting others or needing support.
The negatives this suit could be associated with is stubbornness, bullheadedness, or possessiveness.
Wands
Element: Fire
Masculine
Meanings: Spirituality, Energy, Passion, Vitality
Associated Signs: Sagittarius, Leo, Aries
The suit of wands is full of energy, be it good or bad; the meaning would be based on the rest of the card or spread. This could be energy to create, energy to be, sexual energy, or lack of energy. Since wands are associated with fire they tend to be seen as hot, this could mean attractive, hot headed, or fiery in personality. Fire is enthusiastic and can be seen as energy to pursue, be it a new job, project, partner, or dream.
Wands are based in spirituality, witches often use wands so this suit can be linked to magick and creation.
On the flip side, wands in your spread can also indicate hot-headedness, illusion, lacking purpose of directions, or egotistical behavior.
As the title would suggest, this card often deals in justice- fairness and objectivity. It is often depicted with a scale (scales of justice) somewhere on the card.
Upright
Key Words: Fair, Truth, Accountability
Justice could be literal, such as if you are involved in a legal trial. Truth will prevail and Justice will likely be served, if not by the court of law then by the powers of the world.
It reminds you to seek truth and honesty from an objective perspective. Often we get caught up in our own thoughts and feelings that we may not be truly looking at a situation without bias.
This card may be telling you that you may be made to own up to your actions if you havenât already. If you have wronged someone this could be a chance to hold yourself accountable and grow as a person.
Trust your gut. Especially if this card appears when asking about a decision.
In reverse, this card can represent the feeling of unfairness. You may have been wronged and it is weighing on your mind. Know that vengeance is rarely- if ever- the answer. Trust that the world will make it right.
Are you being unfair? Take an impartial look at yourself through a lens of objectivity. Have you been holding yourself accountable, or are you upset that others are forcing you to be accountable? Know that accountability is one of the many tools we can use to grow.
TL;DR: Trust in the truth. Be prepared to face the consequences if you are refusing to own up to your actions, or to the problems/harm that your actions may have caused.
Kings, queens, knights, and pages. What do they all have in common? They are all names for the main court cards in tarot! While the names of these cards can vary (some cards choose to do away with the more gendered terms) the idea remains relatively the same.
Depending on the suits of these cards (wands, pentacles, swords, cups) the exact meaning will change. But here are the main ideas behind the court cards.
Pages
Pages are often young people who are energetic and at the beginning of their journey. They are learning who they are and face their journey with excitement and energy. They can be seen as naĂŻve and new. Pages can represent a person with the aspects outlined above, or they can represent situations. They are like the young children of the deck.
Knights
Knights as people often are more focused and mature than a page. They are more experienced and know who they are and what theyâre doing- to an extent. They are not as mature as the queens or kings of the arcana.
These cards can also represent egoism and extreme or rash behaviors, as they are more experienced, like the young adults of the deck. They can often be seen as an excess of something and are likely to represent that you need to step back and reevaluate a situation or that you are not quite ready even if you think you are.
Queens
Queens as people are often strong feminine (not necessarily female) people who are mature and tend to nurture. She provides support. Queens in a reading could mean you need support or that you need to support others, look at the suit of the queen for more information. Queens tend to be the more internal expression of their suits; meaning that they are more gentle in their influence and not as forceful as a king could be. These cards encourage you to look for hidden influences in your situation or self. Queens are often women or feminine people between 30 and 50.
Kings
Kings are seen as the most mature and influential of the minor arcana and court cards. They have much more experience than the others and can represent wisdom and understanding. They represent their respective suitsâ fullest personalities.
As people, Kings have full control over the feelings, emotions, thoughts and actions that form part of his personality. As such, they are stable and solid... They like to manage, direct and stabilize the energy associated with their Suit.
They are providers, responsible and make a difference to the world. Kings often represent older men or the masculine energy of a person. They demand respect and are often able to manage or direct others. King cards also tend to have a fatherly undertone to their card. Kings can represent growth and maturity, either of a person, relationship, job, or idea.
In many cultures numbers hold powerful meanings. Seven is often lucky, while 13 is almost always unlucky. In this post we will explore the meaning numbers often have in the practice of Tarot Cards.
One: Independence, new beginnings, isolation. This could indicate starting something new, a relationship, a project, a job, or possibly relocating. It may also indicate focus or concentrated energy, or it could mean that you need to focus and clarify something.
Two: Partnership, unity, balance, security, stability. This can indicate a happy unity, which could be friendship, a relationship, or even a work partnership. Twoâs represent balance but it can represent a need for balance, or for you to correct an imbalance. Since it directly follows the ace (One), it may show the progress of something you have started/something that has started.
Three: Self-expression, growth, development. Often indicates the fruition of something, most likely a project or idea you have been nurturing. It can also indicate that you are broadening your horizons. On the other hand this can represent something developing too fast, you may be stressing yourself out and need to slow down and take some time to reflect. The number three can also suggest reaping what you sow (good or bad).
Four: Stability, work, perspective. Four indicates stability, this could mean a stable job, or self discipline. This could also suggest putting down roots and establishing yourself, perhaps making a family. Often four may indicate the need to ground yourself and organize. The message this card sends is âslow and steady wins the raceâ.
Five: Change, instability, restlessness, stress, unexpected travel. Not seen as a very happy number in tarot, the five often represents indecision, restlessness, instability, or change. While change is not inherently a bad thing it could represent a change that you arenât happy with, even if itâs for your own benefit. Five can also indicate changes happening to fast as well. Sometimes this card tells you to change your perspective about a situation that is stressful, especially if it involves change.
Six: Contentment, harmony, community, friends and family. Six, following five, often represents the calm after the storm. It can indicate establishing harmony and rest, or the need for rest. This is a âcatch your breathâ card. Six is a very cooperative and caring number.
Seven: Retreat, spirituality, luck, inner growth, reflection, personal doubts or yearning. Seven is a very spiritual card. This could mean soul searching or taking a break from the physical and learning more about yourself and your beliefs. This number tells you that it is not a good time to start anything material or financial.
Eight: Money, inheritance, finances, material gain, success. This is a number of abundance and prosperity. It indicates that you know and possess the skills for material success. This suggests that it is time for you to get your financial situations in order. Eight is also linked with honor, respect, awards, respect, and abundance in all aspects for your life. This can also caution you to be careful with your money or possessions.
Nine: Completion, the beginning of the end, wisdom, humanitarianism. Nine can represent tolerance, compassion and wisdom through experience. This could mean dedicating yourself to helping others or to a worthy cause. Nine tells you to see the big picture. Nine is the last digit in the single digit succession which represents the end of something and often indicates completion and fulfillment.
Ten: Endings and beginnings, fulfillment, the end of a cycle. Ten often means the end of something but also the beginning. The end of one cycle and the beginning of a new cycle. This could also mean the end of something with the promise of something new. This can also mean it is time to move on, youâve gotten what you can or done what you can and now itâs time to move to the next thing. It is also an affirmation card. Ten can also represent that a decision needs to be made.
With this I hope you have learned a little bit more about the numbers involved in tarot cards. At the very least you can use this post as a cheat sheet to remind you of their associations!
Have a lovely day~
Citations:
Biddy Tarot
The Modern Witchcraft Book of Tarot by Skye Alexander
Not like your grandma's favorite tv show (no hate, I used to love that show) this card is the perfect example of a cycle and often represents the idea that everything comes full circle eventually.
The wheel indicates a cycle and tells you that things are in constant motion, ever-changing. It reminds you that what comes up must come down.
The wheel is always turning, things are always changing and often times this can make us feel out of control. However, change is not good or bad, your perception of it makes it so. Center yourself and remind yourself of that which you are in control of. What keeps you grounded in this ever-changing world?
The wheel may indicate the start of something, an initiation, or the beginning of a turn of events. On the other hand, this card could represent the ending of something cyclical. Is there an identifiable pattern in your life that you need to break? Take note of the themes in your life right now, recognizing and understanding these patterns can help you to move forward.
Reversed
Key Words: Repetition, Breaking cycles, Bad luck, Disorder, Upheaval
Your luck may be taking a turn for the worst.
Alternatively, this card represents change and could mean that you may not like the change that is coming. Fear not, things are always changing, just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's bad. Know that the wheel is always turning so even the worst situations will eventually fall away to new and possibly wonderful things.
The wheel reversed could also tell you to stop trying to avoid your destiny, even if the changes around you are not to your liking, swallow your fears and-just like the wheel-keep on keeping on.
Understand that you cannot control change. No matter how much we try, the wheel keeps turning, unbothered by those that try to change it's course.
On a more positive note, this card could be telling you that you are breaking a cycle; stepping away from a bad relationship or situation that you had hoped would pan out but never did; breaking out of a bad habit, etc.
TL;DR - This card reminds you that what goes around comes around and that everything is always changing.
tangentwithtanner
stormborns
blakekathryn
areudirty
snowghoul
yousharknotpass
romaincrisis
dededos
