Tarot cards are a deck of 78 cards, each with unique imagery and symbolism, used for divination, self-reflection, and spiritual guidance. They help people gain insight into their lives and situations. Today, tarot is used worldwide for personal growth, spiritual exploration, and intuitive readings. The tarot deck is divided into two main sections: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards representing major life events and spiritual lessons, while the Minor Arcana includes 56 cards divided into four suits, focusing on everyday experiences and challenges. Some may say that Tarot cards are simply ink on paper. However, what has been discovered from reading the Tarot cards daily for over twenty years is that Tarot is the storybook of our life, the mirror to our soul, and the key to our inner wisdom. Every spiritual lesson we meet in our lives can be found in the seventy-eight Tarot cards. And when we consult the Tarot, we’ll get shown the exact lessons we need to learn and master to live an inspired life.
The Major Arcana Tarot cards reveal messages about the big picture of your life and its long-term direction. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent life's karmic and spiritual lessons, significant life events, and turning points on your soul's journey. Following The Fool's Journey, these cards tell the story of humanity's spiritual evolution into enlightenment and individuation. They represent a path to spiritual self-awareness and depict the various stages we encounter as we search for greater meaning and understanding. In this way, the Major Arcana cards hold deeply meaningful lessons on a soul level.
The 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the trials and tribulations that we experience on a daily basis. These Tarot cards highlight the more practical aspects of life and can refer to current issues that have a temporary or minor influence. Within the Minor Arcana cards, there are 16 Tarot Court Cards each representing 16 different personality characteristics we may choose to express at any given time. There are also the 40 numbered cards organised into 4 Suits – Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands – each with 10 cards, representing various situations that we encounter day-to-day. The tarot deck is divided into two main sections: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana represents transformative life lessons, while the Minor Arcana consists of four suits—each corresponding to an element and different aspects of daily experiences.
Major Arcana Cards
The Major Arcana includes the following cards: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World. These cards reveal messages about the big picture of life and its long-term direction. They represent life's karmic and spiritual lessons, significant life events, and turning points on the soul's journey. Following The Fool's Journey, these cards tell the story of humanity's spiritual evolution into enlightenment and individuation.
The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana consists of four suits, each linked to a classical element and specific aspects of life. These suits help interpret daily experiences, challenges, and opportunities.
The Suit of Wands (Fire)
The Wands cards are about action, initiative, and invention. They help to guide how you move through your life, advising when to move and when to hold back. The suit of Wands carries the spark of fire. It’s about movement, ambition, and the energy that pushes you forward. These cards tap into your drive to create, lead, grow, and take bold steps. Whether it’s about your career, a personal goal, or a dream you can’t shake, Wands speak to the part of you that craves purpose and momentum. Upright, Wands show confidence, vision, and energy. For example, the Ace of Wands may show the beginning of a creative spark or a new project. The Ten of Wands in upright position shows hard work and persistence. Reversed, however, Wands might point to burnout, lack of direction, or holding back due to fear. What do Wands mean in tarot when they show up reversed? Often, it’s a nudge to check in with your inner hesitation or scattered energy. This suit reminds you that passion fuels progress — but it can also burn out if not managed well.
The Wands cards include: Ace of Wands, Two of Wands, Three of Wands, Four of Wands, Five of Wands, Six of Wands, Seven of Wands, Eight of Wands, Nine of Wands, Ten of Wands, Page of Wands, Knight of Wands, Queen of Wands, and King of Wands.
The Suit of Cups (Water)
The Cups cards represent your emotions, intuition, and relationships. They can guide you in love and help you understand and process your highest and lowest feelings. The suit of Cups is connected to the element of Water, symbolizing emotions, relationships, and intuition. The Cups suit (Water element) generally relates to emotions, feelings, and relationships. All Cup cards generally relate to emotions, feelings, and relationships.
The Cups cards include: Ace of Cups, Two of Cups, Three of Cups, Four of Cups, Five of Cups, Six of Cups, Seven of Cups, Eight of Cups, Nine of Cups, Ten of Cups, Page of Cups, Knight of Cups, Queen of Cups, and King of Cups.
The Suit of Swords (Air)
The Swords cards are all about challenges. The suit of Swords is ruled by the element of Air, representing intellect, truth, and challenges. The Swords cards are all about challenges.
The Suit of Pentacles (Earth)
The Pentacles suit (Earth element) generally relates to work, material matters, and financial prosperity. The suit of Pentacles is aligned with the element of Earth, representing stability, finances, and material concerns. The Pentacles suit (Earth element) generally relates to work, material matters, and financial prosperity.
Interpreting Tarot Cards
Interpret tarot cards by considering their imagery, symbolism, and traditional meanings. Trust your intuition and reflect on how each card's message applies to your question or situation. Upright and reversed positions can offer different insights. Look at the imagery and symbols, trust your intuition, and practice regularly with simple three-card spreads. Understanding the four elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) and their associated suits helps deepen your readings.
Reversed Tarot Cards
Reversed tarot cards often indicate blocked energy, internal challenges, or the need for introspection. They can also represent the shadow aspect of a card's meaning or suggest that you're resisting the card's spiritual lesson and guidance.
Tarot Elements Reference
A quick reference for the four elements and their associated suits: - 💧 Cups (Water) = Emotions & Love - 🔥 Wands (Fire) = Energy & Passion - 💨 Swords (Air) = Intellect & Truth - 🌍 Pentacles (Earth) = Material & Prosperity
Tarot for Specific Life Areas
Love and Relationships
Which tarot cards represent love? The Lovers, Two of Cups, and Ten of Cups are primary love cards in tarot readings. The Empress represents nurturing love and fertility, while the High Priestess indicates intuitive connection. All Cup cards (Water element) generally relate to emotions, feelings, and relationships.
Career and Success
What tarot cards indicate career success? The Magician, Three of Pentacles, and Ten of Pentacles represent career achievement and success. The Chariot shows determination and willpower, while the World indicates completion and accomplishment. The Pentacles suit (Earth element) generally relates to work, material matters, and financial prosperity.
How to Interpret Tarot Cards for Beginners
How to interpret tarot cards for beginners? Start by studying each card's basic meaning in both upright and reversed positions, then consider how it relates to your question.
Can Tarot Predict the Future?
Tarot is best used as a tool for guidance and self-discovery rather than fortune-telling. It can highlight potential outcomes and offer advice, but your actions and choices shape your future.
Conclusion
Tarot cards offer a comprehensive system for self-reflection, spiritual guidance, and insight into life's various aspects. Through the 78 cards divided into Major and Minor Arcana, individuals can explore life's spiritual lessons through the Major Arcana and navigate daily experiences through the four suits of the Minor Arcana. By understanding the symbolism, elemental associations, and both upright and reversed meanings, tarot serves as a valuable tool for personal growth, decision-making, and understanding the patterns in one's life journey.