Learn all about what Tarot Cards are and the classical meanings of the Major and Minor Arcana cards so you can do your own free Tarot Card reading. Our guide is the only one you need to quickly understand the meaning of all the cards, and do your own accurate readings today.
Some people spend years studying the multitude of things each Tarot Card can mean, and this lengthy process can be confusing. A worse result is an inability to allow intuition to enter psychic readings with an over emphasis on the book explanations of the cards. Tarot cards are just a tool psychics use for divination, and not everybody’s psychic gifts allow them to do that. If your gifts allow, read on to learn the meanings of all the cards of both the Major and Minor Arcana with SpiritualBlossom’s quick, easy system to understand their meanings.
What Are Tarot Cards?
Tarot Cards are a set of 78 cards that are used as a divination tool. Some people use pendulums, and others use crystal balls, but other people prefer the vivid imagery of the colorful cards to reveal hidden truths in psychic readings. There are 22 cards in the Major Arcana and 56 cards in the Minor Arcana. Classically, there are multiple meanings for each card, and it is up to the reader to discern precisely which meaning the cards are communicating. This can partially be understood by which other cards are drawn in a reading, but without psychic abilities, meaning can be lost. Cards are read right side up or reversed and when they appear reversed in a reading, they mean the opposite of their meaning right side up. Simple meanings of each Major and Minor Arcana Cards are listed below.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana Cards represent major events on your life’s journey and the cards offer perspective and guidance when they are drawn. They fall in order from the beginning of a part on your path, represented by the number 0 to the fulfilling end of a journey, represented by the number 21.
0- The Fool- New Beginnings.
1- The Magician- Use your skills and abilities to manifest your goals.
2- The High Priestess- Intuition, psychic ability, spirituality, knowledge, or mystery.
3- The Empress- Nurturing, fertility, and motherhood.
4- The Emperor- Fatherhood, authority, protection, and stability.
5- The Hierophant- Tradition, ritual, conformity, authority, or organized groups.
6- The Lovers- Perfect harmony in relationships.
7- The Chariot- Forward movement in life
8- Strength- Courage, strength, or compassion.
9- The Hermit- Introspection, solitude, listening to inner wisdom.
10-Wheel of Fortune- Destiny, change, or turning point which is propelling you forward.
11-Justice- Justice is being served.
12-The Hanged Man- Feeling stuck or blocked.
13- Death- Drastic changes are to come that need to be embraced.
14-Temperance- Patience, calmness, mental perspective, and harmony.
15-The Devil- Addiction, depression, abuse, or manipulation.
16-The Tower- Massive disaster that will drastically change everything.
17-The Star- Hold fast to hopes and dreams and keep a positive outlook.
18-The Moon- Psychic abilities, illusions, fears, or amplified emotions.
19-The Sun- Abundance, happiness, success, and vitality.
20-Judgement- Self-awareness, awakening, rebirth, or renewal.
21-The World- The end of a journey, fulfillment, success.
The Minor Arcana
No less important than the Major Arcana, the Minor Arcana is organized into four Suits or Houses, each of which deals with specific areas of our lives, and there are 14 cards for each Suit. A simple method for understanding the meaning of each of the Minor Arcana cards is to know what each Suit means and what each number means, and then combining those meanings. As with the Major Arcana, Minor Arcana cards are read right side up or reversed, with reversed cards meaning the opposite of what they do right side up. The Houses of the Minor Arcana are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.
Wands
The House of Wands deals with actions we take. These actions are based on what we are passionate about and what inspires us. Energy, creativity, and ambition play a part in these cards as well. Wands are also called Clubs.
Cups
The House of Cups is associated with emotions and relationships. They also correspond with natural intuition and another word for this House is the House of Chalices.
Swords
The House of Swords deals with intellect, thoughts, and how we balance that with beliefs and attitudes. All of these things combine to create our consciousness. The Swords are also called the House of Spades.
Pentacles
This House of cards deals with work and career, wealth, and material things in general. This House is associated with stability, and securing abundance. Pentacles are also called Coins in Tarot.
The Cards in Tarot Suits
There are fourteen cards for each Suit of cards, and assigning a set meaning for each of them will help you to know their meaning. They are grouped by numbers, from one to ten. There are four court cards including Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings.
Ones or Aces
This is about new beginnings and opportunities.
Two
This deals with partnerships, balance, and unity.
Three
Threes mean growth, learning, and planning.
Four
Structure, stability, and sharing are symbolized by fours.
Five
Fives deal with conflicts, loss, or challenges that must be faced.
Six
This number deals with balance, reunions, or generosity.
Seven
Sevens are about deciding what is best for long term success.
Eight
Work towards manifestation is the focus of eights.
Nine
Fulfillment, satisfaction, and prosperity are symbolized by nines.
Ten
Completion, perfection, and a culmination of the things the Suit represents.
Page
Pages send messages, calling for some action that is necessary.
Knight
Knight cards represent action, bravery, and loyalty.
Queen
Queens represent the emotional side of the Suit they belong to.
King
These represent mastery of the qualities their Tarot Suit represents.
Using this system, if you pull the Page of Pentacles card, it means it is time to act on something related to your job, or wealth. Reversed, it could be warning you to check the security of your bank account and upright could be encouraging you to go ahead and make an investment you have been contemplating. If you pull a Ten of Cups card, it represents a happy emotional experience like a happy marriage, or happy friendship. A Ten of Swords can indicate being overwhelmed mentally. This can point out that you are overthinking things, and reversed, it can mean an end to mental struggles.
Using our simple guide to interpreting the Tarot Cards, you can do your own readings anytime, but not everybody wants to do their own Tarot reading. That’s okay because SpiritualBlossom has plenty of Tarot Readers happy to serve you today. Make sure to sign up to get free horoscopes emailed to you.
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for Pagan Pages emag.
