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Tarot
Meanings

Here is an extremely basic rundown of the meanings of the tarot cards. These are by no means the one and only set of meanings that exist for the Tarot. Different traditions are followed in different countries and even amongst decks. The following meanings are appropriate for decks based on the Marseilles deck and the Rider-Waite deck. (Note for those using the Rider-Waite deck: Strength appears as card 8 and Justice as card 11.)
What are the cards of the Major Arcana called in more than 35 other languages?
Click here to read some great tarot jokes.
Download Rider Tarot - The Greatest Arcane ver. 6. Fully functional shareware program featuring the Rider-Waite tarot. Read full description on the download page.
SPREADS
MEANINGS
VARIANTS
Extra: INTERPRETATIONS FROM SHUFFLING & CUTTING
Extra: OBSERVATIONS ON THE FANNING OF THE CARDS
The Spreads
Three Card Spread: This spread gives a quick answer/overview to a single question/issue. Lay out three cards in a row from left to right.
                                          1    2    3
The cards represent past (card 1), present (card 2) and future (card 3).
This spread can also be extended to a Nine Card Spread using three cards for the past (top row), three cards for the present (middle row) and three cards for the future (bottom row).
                                          1    2    3
                                          4    5    6
                                          7    8    9
The Horseshoe Spread: This spread gives a more general overview of your life and uses 21 cards. Lay down seven groups of three cards in the shape of a horseshoe (or arch). Each group covers a category.
The seven categories are:
1 The past situation.
2 The present situation.
3 Developments in the near future.
4 What you don't expect.
5 People around you.
6 Obstacles and opposition.
7 The outcome.

The Celtic Cross: This spread gives a more general overview of your life and uses 10 cards.
                                                             10
                                                 3            9
                                          5    1/2    6     8
                                                 4            7
1 Your present situation.
2 What crosses you, obstacles and opposition. (This card is placed across the first card)
3 The very near future (the next couple of weeks).
4 The basis of the situation, often unacknowledged.
5 The past situation.
6 The near future (the next couple of months).
7 Your state of mind.
8 People around you or the environment.
9 Your hopes and fears.
10 The outcome (6-8 months away).

The Gypsy Spread: From left to right, lay three rows of seven cards. The top row of seven cards represents the past. The middle row the present and the bottom row of seven cards the future. This 21 card spread demands great skill and is not to be attempted until you are very confident with the meanings of the cards and combining them into a meaningful narrative.

The Meanings of the Tarot Cards
The Major Arcana

0 The Fool: New developments, fresh starts, taking a risk.
1 The Magician: Opportunities, working with your hands, communication skills.
2 The High Priestess (The Papess): Intuition, hidden motivations, inner wisdom.
3 The Empress: Creativity and abundance.
4 The Emperor: Authority and control.
5 The Hierophant (The Pope): Good advice and conforming to the rules.
6 The Lovers: Emotional choices, relationships.
7 The Chariot: Assertiveness, progress.
8 Justice: Decision, clarity of mind.
9 The Hermit: Going it alone, listening to your own counsel.
10 The Wheel of Fortune: Changes.
11 Strength: Quiet strength, good health, dealing with petty problems.
12 The Hanged Man: Sacrifice, waiting.
13 Death: The end of a situation.
14 Temperance: Balancing, moderation.
15 The Devil: Materialism, greed, lust, bondage, anger.
16 The Tower: Sudden catastrophic change.
17 The Star: Hope for the future, good omen, education.
18 The Moon: Confusion, loss of control.
19 The Sun: Success, fame.
20 Judgement: Rewards, karma, judgement.
21 The World: Completion, success, seeing the whole picture.
The Minor Arcana
CUPS
Ace: A message of love, the start of a romance. Doing something for love. Creativity.
Two: A happy relationship or partnership.
Three: Partying and celebrating.
Four: Boredom and apathy. The grass always seems greener on the other side of the fence.
Five: Depression and regret.
Six: Simple joys, something or someone from the past.
Seven: Confusion, too many choices, dreams and illusions.
Eight: Leaving something behind, change of lifestyle.
Nine: The wish card. Dreams come true.
Ten: Good luck and happiness, satisfaction.
Page: A new friendship. News of something or someone dear to your heart.
Knight: A proposal or invitation. A good-natured, brown-haired youth with light eyes.
Queen: An intuitive woman. A kindly brown-haired woman with light eyes.
King: A gentle man. A healer. A good advisor. A good-natured, brown-haired man with light eyes.

WANDS or RODS
Ace: New starts. New business idea. Uprush of energy.
Two: Planning for the future. Anxiety. Working partnership.
Three: Business success, leading a group.
Four: House move, success.
Five: Trouble and strife, especially petty fighting.
Six: Public success, recognition.
Seven: Fighting for your vision, competing.
Eight: Communications, quick movement.
Nine: Last minute problems, self-protection.
Ten: Success which brings (too) many burdens.
Page: News of work or business, new interests.
Knight: Travel and action. A red or fair-haired youth.
Queen: A business-like or active woman. A red or fair-haired woman.
King: An active and influential man. A red or fair-haired man.

COINS or PENTACLES
Ace: Money and security, health.
Two: Juggling time and money, cautiousness.
Three: New job or work, success in work.
Four: Success but unwillingness to move forward or change.
Five: Ill health, financial losses, loss of self-esteem.
Six: Receiving and giving help, financial and otherwise.
Seven: Making adjustments in your plans and being prepared to do the hard work.
Eight: New job, studies, working with a hobby.
Nine: Success from your own efforts, security.
Ten: Money and property, the countryside, inheritance.
Page: News abut money or a job, study for a job.
Knight: Cautious, patient working towards a goal. A dark-haired youth with dark eyes.
Queen: An self-confident and practical woman. A dark-haired woman with dark eyes.
King: An honest and practical man. A dark-haired man with dark eyes.
SWORDS
Ace: Crisis point, success through difficulties.
Two: Sitting on the fence, balance, waiting.
Three: Anxiety, unhappiness, separation.
Four: Rest, hospital, withdrawal.
Five: Fighting for the wrong things, arguments, being forced to recognise your limitations.
Six: Moving away from troubles.
Seven: Deception, theft, non-confrontation.
Eight: Feeling trapped, standstill, restrictions.
Nine: Anxiety, worries, mental anguish.
Ten: Misfortune and endings, failure.
Page: Spying, email or telephone call, brash new idea.
Knight: Upsetting changes, arguments. A dark-haired youth with grey eyes.
Queen: A widow. An unscrupulous woman. A dark-haired woman with grey eyes.
King: An ambitious and authoritative man. A lawyer or doctor. A dark-haired man with grey eyes.

Reversed Cards
Some readers read reversed cards as well. The meanings can be read as the opposite of the meanings listed above, or the reversed cards can simply be interpreted as above but with delays, obstacles or a weakening in strength.
Additional Meanings
Experience will reveal additional personal meanings to you along the way. Remember that the key to successful divination is to believe and to remain consistent.
Variants of Tarot Decks
Thoth
This deck was developed by Aleister Crowley. Strength has been changed to Lust, Temperance to Art, Judgement to Aeon.The King, Queen, Knight and Page are replaced by the Knight, Queen, Prince and Princess. The Minor Arcana has a key word on each card. There are some differences in meaning such as:
4 Cups: Luxury
7 Disks: Failure
Ancient Minchiate Etruria
This deck dating from 1725 has 97 cards. The extra cards include the 12 signs of the zodiac and the 4 elements. Faith, Hope, Prudence and Charity join Strength, Temperance and Justice. The Tower appears as the House of the Devil, the Empress, Papess (High Priestess) and Pope (Hierophant) are replaced by the Eastern Emperor, the Western Emperor and the Grand Duke.
Variant meanings include:
2 Clubs (Wands): Mishap, illness, block.
4 Chalices (Cups): Happy memories, illumination, premonitory dreams.
7 Swords: Project on the way, fruitful negotiations, positive phase.
2 Pentacles: Recklessness, danger on the way, embarrassing news, difficulty, agitation.
Extra: INTERPRETATIONS FROM SHUFFLING & CUTTING
Extra: OBSERVATIONS ON THE FANNING OF THE CARDS
Download Rider Tarot - The Greatest Arcane ver. 6. Fully functional shareware program featuring the Rider-Waite tarot. Read full description on the download page.
What are the cards of the Major Arcana called in more than 35 other languages?
Click here to read some great tarot jokes.