TAROT
A DEEP DIVE INTO SYMBOLIC WISDOM, ARCHETYPES, AND INNER GUIDANCE
What Is Tarot?
Tarot is a symbolic system composed of 78 illustrated cards used for divination, contemplation, storytelling, and psychological insight. More than a fortune-telling tool, the Tarot is a mirror of the human soul, a language of archetypes that reflect inner truth and help decode the unseen patterns at play in one’s life.
Rooted in Renaissance esotericism and enriched by centuries of mystical, philosophical, and artistic tradition, Tarot is both intuitive and structured. It bridges the conscious and unconscious, the personal and the collective, the spiritual and the practical.
This deep dive explores the origins, structure, symbolic systems, card meanings, spreads, psychological applications, and modern uses of Tarot as a tool for inner transformation and self-awareness.
Historical Origins of the Tarot
Early Roots: Tarot originated in 15th-century Italy as a card game called “tarocchi.” The first known decks were beautifully hand-painted for nobility.
Esoteric Turn: In the 18th century, occultists like Antoine Court de Gébelin and Eliphas Levi began interpreting the cards as carriers of mystical wisdom. Tarot was linked to the Kabbalah, astrology, and alchemy.
Modern Revival: The Rider-Waite-Smith deck (1909), created by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, popularized symbolic, accessible imagery. Today it remains the most widely used deck in the world.
Structure of the Tarot Deck
A full Tarot deck contains 78 cards, divided into two major sections:
Major Arcana (22 cards)
Represent spiritual archetypes, life lessons, and transformational milestones
Numbered 0 (The Fool) through 21 (The World)
Often seen as a “Hero’s Journey” through initiation, challenge, and enlightenment
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
Reflect everyday experiences, emotions, thoughts, and events
Four suits: Cups (Water), Pentacles (Earth), Swords (Air), Wands (Fire)
Each suit has 14 cards: Ace–10 (pip cards) and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King)
The Major Arcana: Archetypes of the Soul
The Major Arcana charts a journey of self-discovery. Each card represents a universal archetype:
The Fool (0): Innocence, new beginnings, the soul before incarnation
The Magician (1): Willpower, manifestation, focused intention
The High Priestess (2): Intuition, mystery, inner wisdom
The Empress (3): Fertility, abundance, the nurturing principle
The Emperor (4): Authority, structure, divine order
The Hierophant (5): Tradition, spiritual teachings, initiation
The Lovers (6): Choice, union, duality
The Chariot (7): Determination, control, victory
Strength (8): Courage, inner resilience, taming instinct
The Hermit (9): Solitude, introspection, illumination
Wheel of Fortune (10): Fate, cycles, turning points
Justice (11): Truth, fairness, karmic balance
The Hanged Man (12): Surrender, reversal, new perspective
Death (13): Transformation, endings, renewal
Temperance (14): Balance, integration, alchemy
The Devil (15): Temptation, attachment, shadow work
The Tower (16): Sudden change, upheaval, liberation
The Star (17): Hope, spiritual guidance, healing
The Moon (18): Illusion, subconscious, emotional tides
The Sun (19): Joy, clarity, illumination
Judgement (20): Revelation, redemption, awakening
The World (21): Completion, wholeness, cosmic unity
The Minor Arcana: The Human Experience
Each suit represents an elemental force:
Cups: Emotion, relationships, creativity (Water)
Swords: Thought, conflict, clarity (Air)
Pentacles: Materiality, work, body, home (Earth)
Wands: Passion, purpose, energy, transformation (Fire)
Each number (Ace to 10) reflects a stage of development:
Ace: New beginnings
Two: Duality, balance
Three: Creation, expansion
Four: Stability, rest
Five: Conflict, instability
Six: Harmony, reciprocity
Seven: Challenge, assessment
Eight: Movement, mastery
Nine: Fulfillment, nearing completion
Ten: Culmination, transition
Court Cards as Personalities and Energies
Page: Curiosity, novice, potential
Knight: Action, questing, momentum
Queen: Inner mastery, nurturing, intuition
King: Leadership, outward mastery, command
Each court card can represent aspects of the querent, another person, or a developmental phase.
Reading the Tarot: Intuition and Structure
Reading Tarot involves both symbolic interpretation and intuitive perception. Key principles include:
Question clarity: Tarot reflects the depth and precision of the question asked
Card position: The meaning of a card depends on its position in the spread (e.g., past/present/future)
Reversals: Some readers include reversed meanings (e.g., blocked energy, internalization)
Intuitive imagery: Readers are encouraged to connect with the art, symbols, and colors emotionally
Popular Spreads
One-Card Pull: Clarity or guidance for the moment
Three-Card Spread: Past / Present / Future or Situation / Challenge / Advice
Celtic Cross: Classic 10-card spread for complex questions
Relationship Spread: Insight into dynamics, needs, and mutual growth
The Tarot as a Mirror of the Psyche
Many modern practitioners view Tarot as a psychological tool:
Carl Jung saw Tarot as a projection device for the unconscious
Each card becomes a symbolic mirror, revealing inner patterns, blind spots, and hidden strengths
The Tarot can aid in shadow work, dream integration, and creative problem-solving
Tarot and Spiritual Development
The Major Arcana aligns with the journey of individuation
Cards like The Hermit, The Tower, and Death are seen not as doom, but as spiritual thresholds
Tarot fosters self-reflection, surrender, and alignment with universal cycles
Correspondences and Integration
Tarot connects with multiple symbolic systems:
Astrology: Many cards are aligned with zodiac signs and planets (e.g., The Moon = Pisces)
Numerology: Card numbers reflect archetypal forces
Kabbalah: The Major Arcana maps onto the paths of the Tree of Life
Alchemy: The Great Work is echoed in the alchemical stages of the Fool’s Journey
Common Misconceptions
Tarot tells the future: Tarot reflects potentials, not certainties. It mirrors the now.
It’s supernatural: Tarot is a symbolic system—it works through resonance, not magic
Only psychics can use it: Tarot is a skill anyone can cultivate through study and intuition
How to Begin Working with Tarot
Choose a deck that speaks to you visually and emotionally
Start with daily card pulls and journaling
Read traditional meanings, but trust your impressions
Focus on inner guidance, not external prediction
Ethical Considerations
Respect the querent’s autonomy
Avoid fatalistic interpretations
Create a safe, open environment for inquiry
Conclusion: Tarot as a Journey of the Soul
The Tarot is a sacred mirror—a language of images that reveals the soul’s journey through life. Whether used for divination, introspection, or spiritual practice, it invites the seeker to awaken, reflect, and evolve.
Its power lies not in telling you what will happen, but in helping you listen more deeply to what is happening—within and around you. In this way, Tarot becomes less a fortune-telling device and more a companion for conscious living.
To work with Tarot is to walk the archetypal path—through challenge and triumph, mystery and mastery, shadow and light—toward greater wholeness and presence. And in doing so, you begin to write your own myth, one card at a time.