Tarot is much more than just a deck of cards- it’s a rich tapestry of symbols, each carrying hidden layers of meaning. From ancient archetypes to subtle colors and animals, every detail in a tarot card holds a message waiting to be uncovered. 🦋
These symbols in tarot guide us to deeper truths, allowing us to tap into intuitive insights and uncover more of what the card’s message has to offer.
Symbols are Universal
Symbols in tarot, such as the sun, moon, stars and animals are drawn from universal archetypes and ancient spiritual traditions, making them resonate across cultures and time periods giving them powerful and timeless meanings.
Colors Carry Meaning
The colors in tarot cards aren’t just for visual appeal- they hold specific symbolic meanings. For example:
Yellow represents creativity, clarity and optimism. Blue is calmness, tranquility and intuition, Green is growth, abundance, and harmony. Red is energy, passion, and action. Purple is spirituality, transformation and wisdom. Black is mystery, the unknown, and endings. White is purity, new beginnings, and innocence. Orange is enthusiasm, courage, and connection. Brown symbolizes stability, practicality, and grounding. Pink can be found in some tarot decks, and it is known to represent love, compassion, and nurturing.
The Elements Speak Volumes
Tarot cards often align with the four elements-Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. These elements help readers interpret the energy of a situation, with each one representing different aspects of life.
Water (Cups) deals with emotions, intuition and spirituality. Fire (Wands) is about passion, creativity and action. Air (Swords) relates to communication, conflict and intellect. While Earth (Pentacles/Coins) is tied to stability, wealth, and health.
Animals Represent Instinct and Spirit
The animals in act as spiritual guides or instinctual symbols in tarot, offering insights into unconscious feelings, or primal instincts. Here are some commonly found animals in tarot and their significance:
Lion- strength, courage, patience, raw power. Dog- loyalty, guidance, protection, primal urges. Horse- freedom, movement, strength, unstoppable change. Eagle- vision, power, spiritual ascension, rise above challenges. Butterfly- transformation, change, rebirth, growth. Snake- temptation, healing, hidden knowledge, renewal. Wolf- instinct, intuition, untamed unconscious mind. Cat- independence, mystery, protection, feminine power. Raven/Crow- omens, mystery, transformation, death of old patterns. Fish- emotions, creativity, inspiration, deep connection with the subconscious. Bull- determination, strength, grounding energy, stability. Crab- vulnerability, protection, emotional cycles, pull of the unknown.
The presence of the animals encourages deeper reflection and connection to the natural world.
Numbers Have Hidden Messages
Numbers play a crucial role within the symbols in tarot. They carry specific meanings that add depth to the cards. Here’s a breakdown of the significance of each number in tarot:
0- infinite potential, new beginnings (associated with The Fool) 1- individuality, leadership (associated with The Magician & Aces) 2- balance, choices, partnerships (associated with The High Priestess & Twos) 3- expansion, creativity, combining two forces to create something new (associated with The Empress &Threes) 4- stability, security, order (associated with The Emperor & Fours) 5- challenges, disruption, conflict (associated with The Hierophant & Fives) 6- harmony, balance, relationships (associated with The Lovers & Sixes) 7- introspection, wisdom, spiritual growth (associated with The Chariot & Sevens) 8- power, strength, mastery ( associated with Strength & Eights) 9- completion, fulfillment, wisdom (associated with The Hermit & Nines) 10- Completion of a cycle, beginning of a new one (associated with The Wheel Of Fortune & Tens)
Astrological Symbols Add Depth
The Astrological signs as symbols in Tarot: Many tarot decks include astrological symbols that link the cards to zodiac signs and planetary energies. These symbols help tie a card’s meaning to certain timeframes, qualities, or characteristics of the zodiac. Here is a relation to the Zodiac and Tarot:
Aries demonstrates traits related to The Emperor, such as leadership. Taurus has traits of The Hierophant which includes tradition. Gemini is associated with The Lovers with traits such as duality. Cancer has traits related to The Chariot such as emotional drive. Leo relates to the Strength card with traits such as courage. Virgo demonstrates traits related to The Hermit card such as introspection. Libra has traits related to the Justice card such as balance. Scorpio is in relation to the Death card with traits such as transformation. Sagittarius relates to Temperance, with traits such as wisdom. Capricorn is associated with The Devil which aligns with control. Aquarius is tied with The Star, with traits such as innovation. Pisces has traits associated with The Moon such as intuition.
For more on astrology and tarot, check out this post: Enhancing Tarot With Astrology: From Stars To Cards – Tarotloom.com
Position and Direction Matter
The placement and direction of symbols in tarot cards play an important role in getting the most out of a reading. Here is a brief look at how they can add depth to your understanding of the message:
Moving Forward or Backward– Characters moving forward can indicate advancement or heading towards a goal. Backwards may depict leaving behind an issue or letting go.
Stationary– Figures which are stationary can imply stuck energy or situations where action is required but not being taken.
Looking Forward or Backward– Characters gazing forward may indicate decision making or clarity, while looking backwards may imply nostalgia and unfinished business from the past.
Looking Upward– Figures looking up could signify hope, or seeking guidance from higher sources.
Looking Downward or Inward– Characters looking downward or inward could be focused on self-reflection or dealing with internal issues. The direction can also represent if it is meditation, soul-searching, or withdrawing from external concerns.
Cultural and Mythological Roots
Many symbols in tarot draw from different cultures and mythologies.
For example, The Empress is often associated with the Greek goddess Demeter, who governs growth and maternal energy. While The Hanged Man has parallels to Norse god Odin, known for hanging himself from the World Tree to gain knowledge from the runes. It is also said that the Greek god Hermes is tied to The Magician. Hermes was known for his cunning, quick thinking, and the ability to move between worlds.
To conclude, the symbols in tarot offer a greater understanding behind the meaning of each card.
The colors, images, and figures within the cards are a tool to guide your intuition and help get a deeper sense of what your readings intel.
We hope this post has been valuable in supporting your spiritual journey and expanding your connection with tarot. 🪄