How To Read Tarot Cards

Ever wondered if you could answer the questions that really bug you in life? Does he love me, will I get that promotion, will I lose weight? You can with the Tarot.

Tarot cards are not some unacessible divinatory tool only psychic people can use to see into the future, they are a guiding hand for all of us in the complications life throw at us. That being said you wont be an expert over night, it takes work and a drive to succeed but it will become worth it when you have a truly accurate reading!

Tarot decks come in different shapes and sizes with different themes and pictures but they are all based on a deck of 78 cards. 22 of these cards are called the major arcana and are the cards in the deck concerned with the important and larger changes in our life, when a major card is pulled in a reading you should listen to its message carefully. The other 56 cards are called the minor arcana and include cards that represent the more mundane events in our life as well as the people we interact with.

I recommend that you start with the major arcana, as it is smaller and the symbols used are easier to understand than the minor arcana, so I will go through each of the 22 cards and give the basic meaning, I will use the Rider-Waite imagery but there are many variant decks to choose from. These are basic descriptions because although Tarot readers agree on certain card meanings to some extent, each reader has a different larger explanation of the cards and it is only with meditation and continued reading will your own meanings surface. Here we go...

The Fool:

The first card of the deck shows a young man at the beginning of a long journey. He is full of passion and determination but also foolhardy and naive. This card represents a new exploit in some part of your life but warns that you need "look before you leap". You may be feeling invincible and excited but take a step back and evaluate everything, just in case.

The Magician:

The Magician is usually represented by a man in charge of all the elements, he is balanced and powerful but may also be a trickster. The magician comes up in reading for two main reasons, its either telling you you need to take a leaf out of his book and be a bit more confident, acknowledge the power you have and dont hold yourself back. The other reason is that there may a deceitful person around you, usually someone charasmatic and in charge, be wary of this person.

The High Priestess:

The High Priestess is a woman sitting on a throne, she has two pillars either side of her and shes holding a scroll of knowledge. She is wise and knows much that others dont. The knowledge she holds is instinctual and intuitive. This card can represent someone who is psychic but usually its the card of secrets, it warns to keep your secrets hidden or that someone around you is keeping secrets.

The Empress:

This card shows a woman who is within nature, she is surrounded by fields of grain. She has long beautiful hair and sits on top of her throne. This card represents the earthly sensuality, it is the card of fertility and can predict a future preganancy. It is also the card of blooming and flourishing of health. She is Mother Nature completely but the card asks the reader to remember that you can over nourish something and be too possesive.

The Emperor:

The Emperor is the male version of the Empress, while she is creative, natural and nurturing, he is artificial, ordered and disciplining. He is a strong man sitting on a throne surrounded by mountains. He represents power and leadership and is the Father of control, when this card appears in a reading it is usually to do with control, do you need to take more control in life, become the Emperor of your own destiny, on the other hand it could represent someone in your life who is controlling you.

The Hierophant:

This card shows a religious leader preaching to his flock. The Hierophant is the personification of organised religion, he can be a teacher who guides you through your life, providing you with conviction and solidarity or he can be a conservative tyrant, forcing his beliefs on to his followers and demonising anyone with a different view. This card asks you if your conforming too much, do you really believe in the groups you are apart of, it may also be telling you that a person will come into your life shortly who will be a teach you something important.

The Lovers:

The Lovers depict two people, naked stood under the angel of love. The most obvious meaning to this card is love, union and finding your soulmate as well as sexuality and pleasure. The other main meaning is choice, the card is a card of duality and it may be signalling to the reader that there is an important choice to be made in their life which will have lasting ramifications.

The Chariot:

The Chariot card shows just that, a chariot being pulled by two sphinxes. The theme of the card is that of conquest and victory, the chariot driver is riding forward, he has his goal in sight and cannot be stopped or slowed down. If the Chariot appears in a reading it is usually a good sign, you are on track to acheiving what you have set out to acheive but it could also be telling you that you are veering off course, you are lagging and need the drive of the Chariot to get you where you need to be.

Strength:

This card shows a woman and lion, with the woman completely at ease in the lions presence. This card does mean strength in a literal way, wether that be emotional, intellectual or physical strength. However on a further level the lion could represent our id, our deepest desires and urges that lie dormant in our lives but unconsciously guide us. In this sense the card is telling us to be like the woman, overcome these urges, be strong. Examples of these are cheating on a partner or overeating.

The Hermit:

The Hermit usually depicts an old man alone in some wilderness, he carries a staff and a lantern to guide his path. This is the card of introspection, the Hermit represents us and the wilderness he traverses is our unconscious, our inner mind, our soul. If the Hermit comes up in a reading it means one of two things, either the person needs to look inwards for the answers they seek, sometimes it's not what other people think we should do that is the best course of action it's what we think. The other way of looking at this card is that we have been the Hermit for too long, we have isolated ourselves from everyone and need to listen to others to progress.

The Wheel of Fortune:

This card shows a wheel inscribed with different symbols and surrounded various creatures. Basically it is the wheel of life, as we all know life moves in a cyclical way, you can be on top of the world and have it all taken away in a instant. It is for this reason that the Wheel of Fortune represents fate, we are on the wheel all the time and we cannot control its turning. If this card comes up in a reading whatever issue you are wondering about is out of your hands, you just have to lie back and let life take you wherever.

Justice:

Justice shows a woman holding a sword in one hand and a pair of scales in the other. This card is all about being fair, making decisions and judgements with an objective mind. Although the card says to look at things in an analytical and impartial light it can also be quite a cold way of living, everyone is subjective so the card usually refers to a specific situation or person rather than an outlook on life.

The Hanged Man:

The Hanged Man card marks the middle of the Major Arcana and it is reflected in its meaning. The card shows a man hung upside down by his foot contemplating where hes come from and where hes going. This is the card of sacrafice, not complete sacrafice though as he is not hanging by his neck, its the sacrafice of something detrimental to you, a relationship, a job, whatever you are holding onto that is draining you. The card also represents a time to step out of your life and evalutate everything, it is in silence that you here the most.

Death:

Easily the most misunderstood and famous of the Tarot cards. Death usually depicts the grim reaper on top of a horse, in his wake, a king, a pope, a child all dead, this shows that Death stops for noone, no matter how important, powerful or vulnerable they may be. However the card itself never really represents physical death, it is a meataphorical death, the end of a relationship or career, moving house, in general its the end of an era. The card tells us that it is going to be scary and new and different, change is hard for everyone but to grow and expand, everything must change and become anew. If you get this card do not worry, be excited for what is to come.

Temperance:

Temperance shows an angel pouring water from one cup into another, she has one foot on the land and one in a river. This is the card of harmony, everything is working in total unison and it is in the balance that happiness and peace can be acheived. Usually this card is drawn when the reader needs to find the balance that temperance brings, modern life is hectic and stressful, finding some affinity within oneself, even for just a moment can be extremely enlightening.

The Devil:

This card shows the devil, underneath him stand a man and a woman naked, they are chained to the ground but their chains are lose enough for them to break free. The devil represents all of the devils within each of us, the part of us that reciprocates negative, unhealthy attitudes and practices. By this I mean negative thought patterns, addictions, self doubts, the chains on the card are worn willingly as it is only through our own choice that we can break these bad habits. This card will show itself at times when you know your doing something bad and usually the victim of what your doing is yourself, do not be your own devil.

The Tower:

The Tower shows just that, a tower however it has just been struck by lightening and is falling down, the occupants outside are falling to their deaths. This card tends to be negative, it represents a sudden event that will shake you, that does not mean it has to be a massive event, it could be something that hurts your pride or a self esteem knock but sometimes it can mean a bit of a crisis. If this cards comes up in your reading do not panic, it is there to help you, it is warning you to be vigilant and learn from whatever event it is predicting.

The Star:

The Star is a very positive card, a woman pours water onto the earth and into a river whilst a star shines above her. This is the card of hope, everything you have hoped and wished for can come true, with the help of the star. It also tells the reader to think positive because things are going to work out for the best. The pouring of water represents regeneration, new life, new determination and new dreams.

The Moon:

This card shows the moon high in the sky as dogs below bark up at it. Under the light of the moon everything is distorted, nothing is what it seems. This the the main theme of the card, confusion, deception and worry. The moon warns that there maybe someone deceitful around you and your friendship with them may be an illusion. It also warns against self delusion, lying to yourself about something even though deep down you no its a bad idea. The moon can also represent a mother figure.

The Sun:

The Sun card shows a young boy riding a white horse under a blazing bright sun. Under the light of the sun everything is as it should be, the sun provides energy and life and this is why this is such a positive card. When this card shows up, you are powerful and happy and at the top of your game, it can also along with the Empress, represent the birth of a child, especially a boy.

Judgement:

The penultimate card shows the dead rising from their graves under the sound of an angel playing a trumpet. This is the card of rebirth, whatever has gone wrong, there can always be a second chance and it is through this new beginning that you will find what you are looking for. Never take this card for granted, if you ignore or refuse your second chance there is usually not a third.

The World:

The World is the last card of the Major arcana and shows a figure flying high above the earth, surrounded by a green wreath. This is the card of accomplishment, it is the plateu and the highest accolade. Whatever part of your life you are asking about, getting The World card is confirmation that you are content and completely whole in that area. In my opinion its the best card you can get.

So that is the Major Arcana, buy your own deck and see what the cards mean to you, you may uses these descriptions as a guide but it is through your own interpretation that you will find you answers!