From the origins of tarot and what to expect from a reading, to how to interpret tarot card meanings to find your soulmate, learn everything you need to know about the esoteric power of tarot here.
Even if you’re not familiar with spiritual themes, you’ll have likely heard of tarot cards. They’re usually associated with mysticism and magic, and sometimes are even met with a little fear or skepticism. But learning tarot card meanings and getting a reading is actually a great way to honor your intuition and gain greater insight into what’s going on in your world.
Tarot cards are made up of 78 different cards in a deck, and each card has its own imagery, symbolism, and story to tell. The aim of using tarot cards isn’t necessarily to predict the future, but rather to reflect on anything that comes up during your reading. A reading will often be read like a story, helping you to understand yourself and guide you through different circumstances in your life.
Although today we know tarot cards as a divination tool, they originated in the 15th Century as the original playing cards. The Duke of Milan first mentioned the cards which were used to play Tarocchi, a game similar to bridge, that was played amongst nobles of the time. Tarocchi then spread across Europe, gradually becoming known as tarot.
How Tarot Card Readings Are Performed
When performing tarot, or receiving a reading, you should be in a calm receptive state of mind. Relax and trust your own agency.
The tarot deck is divided into two different types of cards. The Major Arcana cards, such as the Fool, the Empress, and the Wheel of Fortune, represent the big picture in our lives. The Minor Arcana cards, such as the Queen of Wands, Two of Cups, and Six of Swords, depict our daily trials and tribulations. Each card has its own interpretation, which will vary slightly depending on the subject.
Once pulled, the cards can be laid in different ways. Typically, either three cards or the Celtic Cross are pulled. The three cards represent the individual’s past, present, and future, while the Celtic Cross is a 10-card spread which allows for lots of detail in a simple layout. In this case, each card has a specific location and significance.
The Big Picture
The Major Arcana cards represent the big picture view of your life, including fate, or important lessons to be learned in your lifetime. Here are some of the Major Arcana cards that might be pulled in a reading:
The Fool
This card is all about new beginnings and fresh starts. When this card is pulled, it calls for optimism, faith, and enthusiasm. It’s about gathering courage and taking steps towards something new.
The High Priestess
Calling for you to trust your intuition, this card invites you to look inwards and seek out answers before making any big decisions. You already have everything you need within yourself. It’s also about keeping secrets, so if someone is confiding in you, make sure to keep it to yourself.
The Lovers
This card can indicate a relationship coming into your life. This can be any sort of relationship with good communication, although it’s often romantic. The card can also indicate a choice and asks you to follow your heart toward your highest good.
Death
Don’t fear the death card, this one is a sign of endings. It represents shedding the old and embracing the new. It usually indicates a major transition in your life, which should be welcomed. It asks you to let go and accept change, releasing your attachment to what was.
The Star
When The Star is pulled, it’s a sign of renewal and hope. Think of it as the calm after the storm, where healing and peace take place. Hope is restored and wishes begin to be fulfilled.
The World
If The World is pulled, congratulations are in order. It means that you’ve just completed a major cycle or lesson in your life. One chapter is ending and another one is about to begin. It’s also a good omen for any long-distance travel.
The rest of the Major Arcana Cards are:
- The Magician
- The Empress
- The Emperor
- The Hierophant
- The Chariot
- Strength
- The Hermit
- The Wheel of Fortune
- Justice
- The Hanged Man
- Temperance
- The Devil
- The Tower
- The Moon
- The Sun
- Judgment
Day-to-day happenings
The Minor Arcana cards explain our day-to-day realities. These are things that are going on in your life, and the cards may even refer to people that are influencing us or our situations. They’ll help you understand how your current situation is impacting you and how to move forward.
There are four groups of cards in the Minor Arcana cards which are divided into wands, cups, swords, and pentacles. Each group has cards numbered one to 10, along with a page, knight, king, and queen.
The Wands
The wands are associated with energy, creativity, inspiration, work, and enthusiasm. They often appear when there are themes of life meaning, spirituality, and new ideas. The element associated with this group is fire.
The Cups
The suit of cups represents your thoughts, instincts, emotions, and imagination. They often symbolize love and relationships in our lives. The element for the suit of cups is water.
The Swords
Swords represent words, acts, and feelings. They often also symbolize conflicts and mental processes and tend to come up in readings about making choices, sharing your opinion, or asserting your authority. The element for swords is air.
The Pentacles
The pentacles refer to finance, work, and material possessions. They usually appear in tarot readings about money and career. Themes of security and values are also often associated with the pentacles. The element is Earth.
Can I do my own tarot reading?
Yes, you can! Although you’ll need to have experience and knowledge to understand the tarot card meanings. If you don’t have any basic knowledge, but are willing to spend some time on it, then you can learn to do successful readings by yourself. It’s a good way to learn more about your current situation as well as learn of potential outcomes.
If you are looking for a clear, insightful reading, then you can opt for a reading with an experienced and knowledgeable professional tarot reader, who doesn’t hold any personal bias and will be able to offer you insight and guidance.
A reading to find your next soulmate
Receive a reading along with a soulmate sketch and you can discover what your soulmate will look like. This may be a soulmate currently in your life, or it could be your next long-term romantic relationship. It might even be a fleeting but powerful soulmate connection that helps you to move forward with your life in some way. With a reading to guide you on your journey and a sketch of that person, you’ll know that it must be divine intervention.
Get in touch to find out more about yourself with a Tarot Reading Now
