- Tarot is a practice that you can constantly build on. It may seem overwhelming with all of the information that is out there about each card, but you do not have to know all of the information right now.
- Here is my advice: the best way to learn the cards is to pull a different card or 2 every single day and do a deep dive with it while journaling.
- Look at the image/words/number. What does it remind you of?
- Look at this reference page, your guidebook, tarot reference books, online references, and more for key words and meanings and then journal with those key words/meanings
- In my opinion, learning tarot is about word association, memorization, and practice. Can you think of synonyms to those key words/phrases you found?
- Try to make connections to your own personal life, things you’ve read, watched, or listened to, and even other people.
- The goal, in my opinion, is to make as many connections as you can and write down everything you can think of (because writing things and making connections helps with memory).
- Stay tuned for more in depth posts about each card. Soon you will be able to jump from these keywords to an in depth post about each card
- Here is my advice: the best way to learn the cards is to pull a different card or 2 every single day and do a deep dive with it while journaling.
- The tarot is usually made up of 78 cards (some have slightly more than 78 and some just contain just the major arcana)
- 22 cards in the major arcana: The Fool, The Magician, the High Priestess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot, Strength, the Hermit, the Wheel, Justice, the Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, the Devil, the Tower, the Star, the Moon, the Sun, Judgement, the World
- 56 cards in the minor arcana (1-10 + page, knight, king, & queen): wands (14), cups (14), swords (14), and pentacles (14)
- The major arcana refers to major archetypes, spiritual matters, and important trends.
- The minor arcana refers to everyday matters
Minor Arcana (the pips)
- Suits
- the wands are associated with the element of fire, days, and the season of spring. creativity, passion, career, ambition, business, and taking action
- the cups/chalices are associated with the element of water, months, and the season of summer, emotions, relationships, and matters of the heart
- the swords are associated with the element of air, weeks, and the season of autumn. intellect, conflict, mental health, and matters of the mind
- the pentacles/coins are associated with the element of earth, years, and the season of winter. grounding, money, confidence, materials, and matters of the body
- Aces: new beginnings, essence, foundations, potential, opportunity, birth
- Ace of Wands: new ideas, inspiration, creative vision/potential, passion, fresh start, adventure. GO FOR IT! Feeling excited about inspired ideas
- Ace of Cups: being open to new connections/relationships, opening up/intimacy, expressing feelings, compassion, a call for self-love
- Ace of Swords: clarity, facing the truth/reality, analyzing thoughts/motives, sudden idea/stroke of genius, going down a rabbit hole/what if
- Ace of Pentacles: starting fresh, beginning a new path (career/business/task), planting seeds for success, abundance, accomplishment, rooted beginning
- Twos: coming together, duality, balance, partnership, harmony
- 2 of Wands: courage, embracing new ideas, possibilities, choice between comfort and adventure, widening perspective, feeling powerful
- 2 of Cups: joyful emotional connection (soulmate, friendship, union, etc.), attraction, alliance/partnership, mutual understanding, romantic love, establishing a bond/connection, needing to practice self-love
- 2 of Swords: blocked feelings, making a difficult choice, in denial, opposing ideas/options, indecision, barriers, impasse/stalemate, blind to the truth, repressing feelings, blocking out others
- 2 of Pentacles: a call to balance, spreading yourself too thin, seeking peace/harmony, multi-tasking, going with the flow/adapting to change, flexibility, grace under pressure
- Threes: journey, growth, expansion, creativity, cooperation, fruitfulness
- 3 of Wands: expansion, exploration, progress, expanding horizons, starting on a new journey, open perspective, arrival of opportunities/manifestation, understanding ambitions/vocation
- 3 of Cups: friendship/soulmate/sibling, celebration, making friends, soul family, being part of a group/community, communication, abundance, camaraderie, synergy
- 3 of Swords: loss, grief/sorrow, heartbreak, invitation to heal/grieve, discovering a painful truth, love triangle/affair, emotional pain, rejection, betrayal, abandonment
- 3 of Pentacles: teamwork/collaboration, teaching/learning, cooperation, strategy, team spirit, skill & detail, material/professional growth
- Fours: resting, stability, security, strong foundation
- 4 of Wands: celebration, freedom, stability in home/relationships, milestone, releasing others’ expectations, spontaneity
- 4 of Cups: withdrawal/retreat, passive/apathetic, doubt/hesitation, feeling defensive/hurt, questioning yourself, time to meditate
- 4 of Swords: rest/sleep, heal from burnout, taking a break/vacation, meditation/reflection, recovery
- 4 of Pentacles: stability, saving money, generosity, resisting change, limiting beliefs about money
- Fives: renewed action, challenge, change, issues, loss, instability
- 5 of Wands: competition/rivalry, disagreement, dissonance, conflict with other people, pushed by others to excel, dynamic energy
- 5 of Cups: grieving, loss, disappointment, holding onto things from the past, shadow work/release, emotional imbalance, pessimism
- 5 of Swords: conflict/loss, defeat, deceitful strategies/manipulation, feeling guilty, an invitation to build skills/confidence,
- 5 of Pentacles: financial/health problems, feeling alone, worrying about money/health, hardship, neglecting your needs
- Sixes: recognition, re-centering, harmony, peace, comfort
- 6 of Wands: success, being seen/center of attention, inspiring others, pride, accomplishment/triumph, victory/reward
- 6 of Cups: nostalgia, childhood/inner child, innocence, reconnecting with people from the past, harmony, fond memories, playfulness
- 6 of Swords: new perspective, moving away/changing locations, leaving past behind, transition, moving on/hope, healing, personal evolution
- 6 of Pentacles: generosity, giving and receiving, help coming from others, advancement/awakening, being “in flow” with the universe
- Sevens: conflict, assessment, reflection, discovery
- 7 of Wands: challenge, receiving hate for your growth/changes, continue being yourself, shining your light, and sharing ideas.
- 7 of Cups: fantasies, choices/options, invitation to move forward without knowing the full story, wishful thinking, feeling disorganized
- 7 of Swords: dishonesty/deception, running away from the truth/avoiding responsibility, getting away with something, be honest w/ yourself, the universe witnessing your true intentions
- 7 of Pentacles: fruits of labor, state of gratitude, an invitation to keep going, investment, diligence, progress
- Eights: hope, progress, self-mastery, accomplishment
- 8 of Wands: action, split-second decision, speed/momentum, traveling, good news, change in the air, in the flow, quick developments
- 8 of Cups: changing direction/moving on, letting go, releasing that which no longer resonates, invitation to move stuck energy, disappointment/losing hope
- 8 of Swords: restriction, feeling stuck/trapped, blinded by your old stories, invitation to open eyes to see the truth, let go of old stories, scatter-brained, lacking direction
- 8 of Pentacles: methodical progress, diligence, discipline, knowledge, focus, mastery, developing skills, soul purpose, craftsmanship
- Nines: awareness, awakening, fruition, achievement
- 9 of Wands: determination, excitement for what’s to come, perseverance, commitment, finding motivation in the face of difficulty
- 9 of Cups: gratitude, abundance, invitation to focus on joy/gratitude, contentment, wish fulfillment, manifestation
- 9 of Swords: insomnia, depression/anxiety, nightmares, worry/fear, a time to focus on what is going well, despair, distress
- 9 of Pentacles: abundance, financial success, independence, inner peace, milestones met, contentment/satisfaction
- Tens: excess, endings/beginnings, renewal, pause between states
- 10 of Wands: taking on too much, spreading yourself too thin, invitation to prioritize/ask for help, overload, burdens, responsibilities
- 10 of Cups: family, blessings, harmony, community, wholeness, heart opening/expansion, completion of a cycle,
- 10 of Swords: painful endings, hitting rock bottom, feeling attacked, death/rebirth, invitation to find hope/healing
- 10 of Pentacles: stability/security, sharing the abundance, community, building a legacy
- Page: newness, fresh perspective, child-like, inner child, literal child
- Page of Wands: creative beginnings, new skill/passion, curiosity
- Page of Cups: dreamer, new relationship, magic/synchronicity, sensitivity
- Page of Swords: thirst for knowledge, curious, student of life, love of learning
- Page of Pentacles: new opportunities, gaining new skills, undergoing training, new career paths, a beginner
- Knight: decisive/rash, impulsive, excited, young
- Knight of Wands: passion, impulse/spontaneity, pursuing dreams/goals, adventurous
- Knight of Cups: romantic, sensitive, passionate, artistic, creative, seeking connection, highly emotional
- Knight of Swords: ambition, haste, quick decision, opinionated, influential
- Knight of Pentacles: routine, discipline, endurance, safety, pragmatism, expansion
- Queen: grace, generosity, divine feminine/mother, loving, nurturing, integrity
- Queen of Wands: creative, passionate, confident, stepping into power, invitation to not make yourself small to make others feel comfortable
- Queen of Cups: intuitive, emotionally intelligent, leading with the heart, healing energy
- Queen of Swords: direct communication, perceptive, intelligent, seeking truth, wise/logical
- Queen of Pentacles: grounded, material wealth/abundance, down-to-earth, a healer
- King: mature, authority, divine masculine/father, strong moral compass, black/white thinking
- King of Wands: natural leader, entrepreneur/business-minded, visionary, magnetism
- King of Cups: love, emotional intelligence, patience, supportive, calming/meditative energy, accepting/open-minded
- King of Swords: insightful, quick-witted, a fast learner, problem-solver, very ethical/logical, rules/law, clear thinker, great communicator
- King of Pentacles: material abundance, patience, a warm, welcoming, and grounded leader, discipline, management skills
Major Arcana (the trumps)
- The Minor Arcana deals with everyday mundane matters: people, tasks, actions to take, behaviors, etc. However, the major arcana is about archetypes, overarching themes, lessons, etc.
- There are 22 cards in the major arcana (0-21) and in Mindful Tarot, we break the major arcana up into 3 parts, which is based on Rachel Pollack’s breakdown of the tarot as well as Lindsay Mack’s Tarot for the Wild Soul
- The major arcana is representative of a journey that we all go on as humans.
- Each major arcana card represents an archetype
- Archetypes are symbols, metaphors, images, and stories that are repetitive throughout literature, mythology, and seen in multiple cultures
- We cycle through these archetypes constantly.
- Each card can be connected to something in astrology and can represent specific days/years/seasons. (we will not be going over this in depth because it is super advanced, but you can add this to your practice later if you are interested)
- We are “the fool” going on this journey. It is for this reason that the fool is both part of the major arcana (0) and also somehow not part of it as well.
- Part 1: “Me” (1-7)
- the Magician, the High Priestess, the Empress, the Emperor, the Hierophant, the Lovers, the Chariot
- Part 2: “Finding Me” (8-14)
- Strength, the Hermit, the Wheel of Fortune, Justice, the Hanged Man, Death/Rebirth, Temperance
- Part 3: “Becoming Me” (9-21)
- the Devil, the Tower, the Star, the Moon, the Sun, Judgment, the World
- Part 1: “Me” (1-7)
The trumps/Major Arcana (keywords)
- The Fool (0)
- Starting an adventure, starting something new, invitation to take a leap of faith, new beginnings, optimism, enthusiasm, innocence/naivety, spontaneous/adventurous, free spirit, freedom, young/youth, inner child/literal child
- The Magician (I)
- Skills, talent/gifts (sometimes spiritual/psychic gifts), creativity, invitation to realize that you have everything you need within you, manifestation/ability to manifest, connecting to 4 elements, bringing ideas/thoughts into your reality
- The High Priestess (II)
- Invitation to follow your intuition, dreams/visions, sometimes psychic/spiritual gifts, invitation to reflect/introspect/meditate, uncovering your truth, divine feminine, the occult/mystery/hidden or sacred knowledge
- The Empress (III)
- Abundance, fertility (not usually referring to pregnancy), creativity, the divine feminine/mother-figure, invitation to bring forth/birth your desires, sensuality, care-giving/nurturing, empathy/compassion, beauty, nature
- The Emperor (IV) Aries
- Divine masculine, invitation to take action, natural leader, father-figure, entrepreneurial, authority/power, establishment/structure, a provider/protective, practical/strategic, visionary, building a legacy/empire
- The Hierophant (V) Taurus
- Invitation to realize you are your own best teacher, follow your intuition, spiritual awakening, moving away from old beliefs/traditions/thought patterns, growing/transforming/transcending, learning new lessons
- The Lovers (VI) Gemini
- Love (romantic/platonic/familial/etc.), invitation to find balance/harmony, unity, major choices/decisions, friendship/soulmates, alignment, desire/attraction, shared values/kinship
- The Chariot (VII) Cancer
- Travel/movement, invitation to realize that everything is not meant to come with you, victory/success, believing in yourself/confidence, momentum/speed, taking steps toward your dreams and goals, will-power/self-discipline
- Strength (VIII) Leo
- Inner strength/quiet strength, invitation to be your authentic self even in the face of people not supporting you, fierce but graceful leadership, pure thoughts/actions, confidence, letting go of self-doubt, serenity in the face of doubt/uncertainty, bravery/courage, compassion/empathy
- The Hermit (IX) Virgo
- Invitation to meditate, reflection/introspection, spending time alone, taking a break, a call to listen to your intuition/heart/gut feeling, pause/break/transition, soul-searching/contemplation, inner teacher, finding guidance from within
- The Wheel of Fortune/Fate (X)
- Cycles of life, karmic cycles, destiny/fate, the rollercoaster of life/ups and downs, invitation to realize that healing is a journey and you are not going backwards, surrendering to what you cannot control, a change/turning point
- Justice (XI) Libra
- Balance, truth/honesty, laws in general or laws of the universe, natural consequences, cause/effect, values, integrity, accountability, invitation to do the right thing and/or find balance/harmony
- The Hanged One/Man (XII)
- A pause/suspension, invitation to pause/take a break, surrender, flowing with the universe, letting go/releasing, lack of direction, realigning with self/purpose, learning new things & integrating
- Death & Rebirth (XIII) Scorpio
- End of a cycle/beginning a new cycle, change/transformation/transition, symbolic death/rebirth, metamorphosis, letting go of/leaving behind what no longer resonates, invitation to embrace changes/new opportunities
- Temperance (XIV) Sagittarius
- Invitation to find balance/harmony, moderation/staying away from excess, masculine/feminine balance, yin/yang, alchemy, patience, purpose, perspective, meaningful connections/soulmates
- The Devil (XV) Capricorn
- Invitation to do shadow work and embrace/integrate your shadow, addictions/vices, feeling trapped/stuck, struggles with mental health, attachments, escapism, holding onto old stories/thought patterns, judging yourself harshly (the devil whispering on your shoulder)
- The Tower (XVI)
- Unexpected/sudden change, the rug being pulled out from underneath you/upheaval, new beliefs/perspectives, an opportunity to rebuild, trauma, disaster/chaos (death, natural disaster, divorce/break-up, losing job)
- The Star (XVII) Aquarius
- Healing, hope, an invitation to believe in your dreams again, wishes granted/ dreams manifested, purpose, renewal, creativity, inspiration, serenity/peace, faith/spirituality, opportunities, newfound sense of direction
- The Moon (XVIII) Pisces
- Dreams/visions, the unconscious mind, insecurity, fear/anxiety, invitation to release/let go of what/who no longer resonates, illusions/hidden truths, mystery, symbolism/metaphor, invitation to follow/trust intuition
- The Sun (XIX)
- Invitation to say yes to yourself and your dreams, abundance, joy/fulfillment/contentment, success, dreams manifesting, positivity, freedom, warmth/vitality, creativity, embrace your inner child, fun, celebration, family
- Judgement (XX)
- Spiritual awakening, epiphany, a reckoning, knowing your purpose, a major realization about yourself/career/relationship/etc., rebirth, finding your calling, forgiveness, acceptance, introspection, soul-searching
- The World (XXI)
- Completion, end of a cycle/project, closure, joy/happiness, wholeness, abundance, success, ascension, invitation to follow through/complete a project/task, integration, accomplishment, literally traveling the world
