A Tarot Breakdown
Brief Introduction
Yay! Tarot. Tarot was the first thing that I got into when I started my practice. I looked through a variety of decks before I decided on the “original” Rider Waite deck. Tarot decks while different images may be used all have similar aspects. And while I am no expert, I definitely love deciphering the messages that they communicate from the universe. I hope to get into Oracle decks soon.Â
The tarot deck has about 78 cards, divided into 2 parts: the Major Arcana (22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards). Arcana is Latin for a secret. The cards that I am writing about are the Rider- Waite deck which came out about 1909, but the cards have been around longer than that. There are some ties to ancient Egypt and older civilizations, but the main focus for most of the meaning behind the cards comes back to Astronomy and the 4 elements. While each card has a “meaning” the card, in my opinion, are meant to be read intuitively to help you find the answers that you seek, either answers that you know that you don’t want to accept or some guidance from the Divine.
Disclaimer
This is a personal interpretation of the cards and definitions based on the Rider – Waite set. I am not a professional tarot reader, but this is how I interpret the cards when I read them. Please use your own intuition when viewing the cards as what I see in the cards may be different for you and the specific situation you are reading for.
Major Arcana
The Major Arcana are the first 22 cards labeled 0 – 21 and represent the LARGER principles of Life. They are also known as TRUMP cards; each next card is a step up from the previous card.
The Major Arcana are divided to symbolize the journey of one and the soul (the Fool’s Journey).
0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
As you can see above there are 3 lines of 7. Seven is a universal number (7 planets, 7 Chakras, 7 colors). Three is also a significant number for divination and the Tarot. (Mother, Maiden, and Crone). Finally, the 3rd significant number, 21, representing the coming of age in most cultures.
The divisions of the Trump Cards in 3 lines of 7 represent the 3 stages of life:
Outer challenges of life – 0 to 7
Internal transformation – 8 – 14
Trancendance – 15 to 21
THE cards
0 – The Fool: A call for change, Blank slate, Freedom, Risk, Follow your instincts.
1 – The Magician: Creativity, Awareness, Action, Singular purpose, Alignment, Easy flow of energy. (Masculine energy)
2 – The High Priestess: Intuition, Guidance, Self-trust, Stillness, Balance of energy, Self. (Feminine Energy)
3 – The Empress: Passion, Love, Motherhood, Abundance, Love, and Family above all else.
4 – The Emperor: Rules, Responsibility, Structure, Order, Fatherhood, Guidance.
5 – The Hierophant: Traditions. Blessings, Sacred, Rules, Morality, Societal Roles, “As above, as below”, Authority.
6 – The Lovers: Relationships, Lovers, Love, Choice between Desire and Expectation.Â
7 – The Chariot: Will, Success, Power, Attainment, Composure, Control over emotions. (1st Victory Card)
8 – Strength: Emotionally Open. Control over Desires, Overcoming, Confidence, Alignment with the true self.
9 – The Hermit: Solitary, Maturity, Guidance, and Wisdom, Internal Reflection
10 – The Wheel of Fortune: Karma, Fate, 4 elements, 4 zodiacs, Turn for the Better, Reincarnation, Unexpected Change.
11 – Justice: Truth, Self – honesty, Just Outcome, Self – Evaluation, Look at the good, Move on, Change your Perspective. (2nd Cardinal Card)
12 – The Hanged Man: Attachment, Suspension, Unconventionality, Different Viewpoints, Revelation or Pain and Suffering in the Attainment of Truth, Release or Weight
13 – Death: Change, Something that needs to/will Change/End/Begin, Purification that comes with End or New PossibilitiesÂ
14 – Temperance: Balance, Call, Sobriety, Overcoming, Moderation, Commitment, New Chapter. (2nd Victory Card)
15 – The Devil: Obsession, Bad Relationship, Low Desire, Bad Choices, Addictive Behavior, Dark Tendencies, Rebellion, Mistakes, Lies, Qualities that hinder us from reaching our True Self. (Check yourself)
16 – The Tower: Upheaval, Release, Revelation, Massive change, Abrupt, Extreme Situations.
17 – The Star:Â Hope, Optimism, Peace, Confidence, Powerful Change, Finding True – Self, Positivity, Reaching Enlightenment.
18 – The Moon: instinct, Lunacy, Intuition, Mystery, Complete Acceptance, Imagination, Dreams Coming True due to Self-Growth.
19 – The Sun: Clarity, Happiness, Freedom, All Truths Revealed, Openness, Good Health, Full Alignment with True Self, “What is in the dark is brought to light.”
20 – Judgement: Great Change, Transcendence, Fresh Start, Renewal, External Realization of Internal Actualization.
21 – The World: Success, Fulfillment, Great Understanding, Wholeness, Full Circle. (3rd Victory Card)
Cardinal and Victory Cards:
Cardinal Cards:
1. Strength
2. Justice
3. Courage
4. Prudence
Victory Card:
1.The Chariot
2. Temperance
3. The World
Minor Arcana
Suits
The Minor Arcana is the other 56 cards. They are divided into 4 suits: Pentacles (earth), Wands (fire), Cups (water), and Swords (air). Each suit has 14 cards. There are 13 cards that are similar to normal playing cards as well as a knight card to create the full court. There card represent the small joys and sorrow of life.
The 4 suits represent the 4 elements and they have their own hierarchy in the deck.
Wands – Fire – Creation, Warmth, Energy, action, Optimism, adventure, Competition
Cups – Water – Imagination, Intuition, Emotion, Love, Family
Swords – Air – Mind, Conflict, Sorrow, Unseen, Constant Heroism
Pentacle – Earth – Solidness, Money, Work, Nature, Possession, Security
When certain suits come up in the same reading additional interpretation can be pulled.
Wands & Cups – Positivity/Optimism
Wands & Pentacles – Active Work
Wands & Swords – Mental Work
Swords & Pentacles – Dark and Difficult
Swords & Cups – Intangible qualities of Emotional Thought
Cups & Pentacles – Intuitive Work
In addition, the numbers on the cards add to the interpretation, and altogether you can create a full story with the cards.
Numbers
Aces: Spirit
Wands – Active Spirit
Cups – Emotional Spirit
Swords – Mental Spirit
Pentacles – Nature Spirit
Twos: Balance
Wands – Security and Adventure
Cups – Relationships
Swords – Mental Choices
Pentacles – Life
Threes: Flowering
Wands – Rootedness
Cups – Friendships
Swords – Heartbreak
Pentacles – Masterful work
Fours: Structure
Wands – Resistance
Cups – Hesitation
Swords – Retreat into Restfulness
Pentacles – Use of Money for Protection
Fives: Life Difficulties
Wands – Energized by Conflict
Cups – Grief
Swords – Humiliating Defeat
Pentacles – Loss
Sixes: Unequal Relationships
Wands – Leaders above others after Adventure
Cups – Family/Love Relationships
Swords – Hero Saving those in Need
Pentacles – Rich Helping the Poor
Sevens: Action/Contemplation of Action
Wands – Forceful Action
Cups – Love/Soft Action
Swords – Mental Action
Pentacles – Action in Nature
Eights: Movement
Wands – Growth
Cups – Movement away
Swords – Mental Movement
Pentacles – Work Completion
Nines: Intensity
Wands – Courage and Strength
Cups – Satisfaction
Swords – Grief
Pentacles – Discipline
Tens: Excess
Wands – ResponsibilitiesÂ
Cups – Happiness
Swords – Suffering
Pentacles – Material Splendor
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Additional cards: Court Cards
Court cards are the King, Queen, Knight (returning from a quest), and the Page (aka the Jack in normal playing cards).
The number 4 here is symbolic, as we have 4 Limbs, 4 seasons, 4 main elements, 4 suits, and 4 court cards.
Each Court card represents 2 elements
|
Wands |
Cups |
Swords |
Pentacles |
|
|
King |
Fire of Fire |
Fire of Water |
Fire of Air |
Fire of Earth |
|
Queen |
Water of Fire |
Water of Water |
Water of Air |
Water of Earth |
|
Knight |
Air of Fire |
Air of Water |
Aire of Air |
Air of Earth |
|
Page |
Earth of Fire |
Earth of Water |
Earth of Air |
Earth of Earth |
*Gender here is irrelevant; our only focus is the qualities that each court card represents.
Kings represent AUTHORITY.
Queens represent the master of the respective Element.
Bother are the mature embodiments of the elements that they represent.
Knights represent ADVENTURE, DEDICATION, and RESPONSIBILITY
Page (Jack) represents LEARNING, BEGINNING, and EXPERIENCING
The Element Supercedes the nature of the court role. For example, the Knight of wands – while the knight represents loyalty, it is overcome by the wand’s creative and competitive nature, which may drive the knight to be a little less loyal.
The Court cards represent the duality of Self. Be sure to view both sides of each card meaning when looking for the message in the cards
Closing Thoughts
The above breakdown encompasses the basic meaning of the cards from the Raider- Waite deck. If you are utilizing a different Tarot deck these meanings may not match up with the imagery on the cards exactly, but you should be able to see some similarities. These are the basic meaning and interpretations that I have found a consensus on. However, nothing is more true than your own intuition and the feeling you receive when viewing the card. By all means, use these interpretations but do not disregard what the universe speaks to you in the process of reading.
The more your work with your card the more you will connect with them and be able to intuitively read them.
Find a deck that resonates with you and happy reading.
