Tarot Basics

A much prettier Rorschach Test

I'm superstitious about weird things, and I like thinking about chakras, energy, and meridians, but I'm not a religious person, and I think the strings of fate are much looser than some might. I don't use Tarot cards for fortune telling but for insight into my own thinking.

Most of the cards have multiple meanings even as their getting to a core idea. The insight is as to why one of those meanings resonates for you--what's going on with you right now that makes you think about one interpretation over the other? It's the why beyond the why, so to speak.

The deck I use is the Kawaii Tarot deck by Diana Lopez. I like that the style is playful and fun, not as deadly serious as some decks could be. (See, I told you there were things you wouldn't guess about me.) I find her interpretations very thoughtful as well as clear.

Below is how I see the cards, as well as some spreads you might want to use (keep it simple, my friend). But explore books and websites for your own interpretations.

Major Minor Spreads

Major Arcana – The Fool’s Journey

The Fool – Innocent, naive, or trusting, this card is ready to go on a journey of discovery. Every card after is a teacher the Fool meets along the way or a lesson learned.

The Magician – Magic = power, and this person’s power is that they *can*. This card is potential as well as action.

The High Priestess – High Priestess is in some ways the opposite of the Magician, and thus also represents duality. They are intuition, silence, and pause.

The Empress – This card represents creation and nature. It is filled with bounty, and invites the Fool to create.

The Emperor – This is the card that sees unbridled nature and creation as chaos, and thus needs to define Order. This card dictates the infrastructure from which the known world is built.

The Hierophant – The Emperor has created a set of rules—and their advisor, the Hierophant, is here to make sure they are followed. This card represents tradition and the protection of conformity.

The Lovers – This card is not only an important, intimate relationship—not necessarily romantic—but also duality and choice. The Fool can stay with the important person they’ve encountered, or they can go their separate ways. Either way, it’s the first time the Fool can exercise their agency.

The Chariot – This card is goal-oriented forward motion: the Fool has made a decision, and now they’re committed. The only drawbacks are that this card doesn’t look back or to the sides and might miss what isn’t part of its ambition.

Strength – After the ruthlessness of the Chariot, Strength is there to remind the Fool that those who are genuinely strong don’t need to show off their muscles or pick fights. Strength is confident enough to be gentle and acknowledge their fears.

The Hermit – It’s about this time that the Fool might be feeling overwhelmed with the different, sometimes conflicting lessons they’ve encountered along the journey. They need space and time to think on what they’ve learned and integrate that knowledge.

The Wheel of Fortune – Wheels spin, and eventually the Fool finds themself back where they started. But just because they’re back at the same place doesn’t mean that they’re the same person. A cycle has ended and a new one is beginning; the lesson of the Wheel of Fortune is to bring experience from one cycle into the next.

Justice – One of the first lessons from the Fool’s travels is that actions have consequences (as is seen by the evolution of the Fool’s teachers). Justice isn’t here to punish but to instruct: consider consequences before you act, and ask yourself if they serve the person you think you are or want to be.

The Hanged One – Considering consequences frequently means we need to switch our perspective, and that’s what the Hanged One models for the Fool. It’s disorienting to be upside down—or even cock your head to the side—but sometimes an adjustment is necessary to see things more clearly.

Death – The Fool understands at this point in their journey that some things have to end in order for other things to begin or evolve. It can be painful to let things go, but remember that endings are a natural part of the cycle of growth.

Temperance – This card helps the Fool integrate the more difficult lessons on this leg of their journey. Big concepts like Justice, the Hanged One, and Death are a lot to contemplate, but Temperance demonstrates that they are parts of a greater whole, and that whole is the Fool’s existence. It is ultimately up to the Fool to decide how any concept is going to shape their journey.

The Devil – This card represents the shadow side of ourselves that we don’t want to acknowledge. The temptation isn’t evil or vice, but hiding those aspects under shame. The Fool isn’t going to move forward unless they can acknowledge their fears, things they’d done differently, and that they haven’t always been the person they wanted to be. The key is to listen to face those parts of yourself and your past and be honest about what you have learned and how they have shaped who you are.

The Tower – The kind of growth the Devil challenges us to is jarring and paradigm shifting, and it can feel like the foundations we’ve built for ourselves are crumbling. But the Tower, like Death, is another reminder that some things need to end because what they were built on no longer served their purpose. It’s okay to be disoriented, but the Fool has already lived through how to survive that, and can survive this.

The Star – The Star can be a small light in an otherwise dark sky. It’s hope when everything else seems unsure, and faith that you’ll get through the dark night.

The Moon – A bright moon in a dark night sky can be disconcerting if you’re already ill at ease, and it can be easy to give in to your fears. But our fears are just thoughts, and they don’t have to dictate our lives. Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and meditate on what is real and before you, not the worst case scenarios.

The Sun – The Fool lived through the night—of course they did!--and they are rewarded with the new beginning of the Sun. This beginning can be even more satisfying than the beginning of the Fool’s Journey: you know more, and you have both knowledge and bright promise. The day is yours, and you can go forward confidently.

Judgment – The Fool is not here to be “judged”, but to judge what they have learned throughout their journey. Take an honest assessment of what has happened, then let go of any guilt or regret. You did your best and got this far. Celebrate this moment of renewal.

The World – The Fool has reached the end of their journey, not just by luck and generosity, but by learning what their teachers—the world—had to tell it. It is a satisfying conclusion for a person who has grown immensely, but it doesn’t have to be the end. What can the Fool do now that they see it is the world they can travel, not just one path?

Minor Spreads Top

Minor Arcana

Pentacles Cups Wands Swords Top

Pentacles – Physical, Material, Grounded

Ace – The seed of something to build on, usually something material or financial

Two – Managing multiple responsibilities; as with juggling, you can do it for only so long; how you might feel when you’re still learning a job or craft

Three – Starting to get comfortable with something you’re learning and developing mastery, particularly by plugging into a network of people.

Four – Having worked so hard to gain skills and resource, your instinct is to be jealous of what you have earned; careful that you don’t become a miser

Five – The loss you were terrified of at Four of Pentacles becomes reality here. This can feel like the Book of Job. Having lost material assets, this is the time to examine what matters to you aside from physical security; don’t lose sight of your values

Six – The losses of Five of Pentacles remind everyone of the importance of working together. This card is fairness in reciprocity: give when you have things to give, take when you are in need.

Seven – You’re slowly rebuilding, and you’ve done everything you can. Now you have to wait for circumstances to catch up to your preparation. This is the time to learn patience

Eight – You’re mastering your skills at a deeper level. You’re a craftsperson now, and your pride is deserved.

Nine – The work you’ve put in is bearing fruit, and you can afford indulgence. Ask yourself why something is a luxury and if it’s worth it

Ten – You’ve earned a deeper understanding of the material world, and you feel more secure, not only financially and materially, but also emotionally. You’re now a resource to others.

Page – This is an enthusiasm to learn. There’s some naivete, but also genuine excitement.

Knight – Enthusiasm has honed itself to dedication. The Knight of Pentacles might believe that only they can do the job in question—and sometimes they’re right.

Queen – This the Queen of their castle; even if they didn’t build it, this is the person who knows how to repair everything in the house—including the house—and is the CEO, CPA, gardener, chef, and generally knows how to make the unglamorous day-to-day work.

King – The King has seen it all and still remains energetic about the field they’re in. This is the person you come to when you have big questions about the how and why.

Cups Wands Swords Major Spreads Top

Cups – Emotions, Feelings, Intuition

Ace – A pure expression of emotion. Emotions are healthy! But when they overflow, they can get messy.

Two – A partnership, not necessarily romantic, and also a choice. A decision to align yourself with someone that could be very consequential.

Three – Community, and sometimes family.

Four – Feelings—perhaps in that new community—might be hurt, and you still haven’t mastered your emotions. Careful not to blow things out of proportion.

Five – This is the card of grief. Accept your grief and fully experience it so you can move forward.

Six – After the grief of Five of Cups, the safest place might be the past. This is the card of nostalgia. It can be a good thing to revisit who you used to be to re-center yourself, but take care not to get lost in the past.

Seven – Careful not to get lost in flights of fancy as you continue to heal. You may not be imagining opportunities, but sooner or later, you have to stop dreaming and start doing.

Eight – This is the card of bittersweet: it’s time to move on and say goodbye to the past as well as present circumstances that are keeping you in a holding pattern. Change can sometimes feel like abandonment.

Nine – It took work, but you’ve found your footing. Nine of Cups replaces the overwhelming emotion of Ace of Cups with contentment and calm.

Ten – You’re not compromising with the universe anymore—you’ve found genuine happiness, both with yourself and the people in your life. You’ve earned this, and you know how to hold onto it.

Page – The enthusiasm of the Page plus the emotion of Cups can easily turn into infatuation, though not necessarily with a person (falling in love with an idea can be just as heady). Enjoy this, but it isn’t going to last.

Knight – If the Page of Cups might have at times been in love with love, the Knight of Cups might wish they could stop feeling at all, because the emotions are so intense. This is the Emo of the Tarot, and can easily go to a deep place it might be hard to emerge from. Might be worth remembering the lesson of Five of Cups: deep emotions will let go of you once you fully experience them.

Queen – The suffering the Knight endured transforms into the insight and compassion of the Queen. Known for their kindness, they can also be fierce if they think someone needs protection.

King – The King has *felt* it all, and learned the lesson that this, too, shall pass. The King hasn’t mastered emotions as much as accepted that they cannot be mastered—and that they will live through them. Their presence itself can be comforting to others in turmoil.

Pentacles Wands Swords Major Spreads Top

Wands – Creativity, Consciousness

Ace – A spark of an idea

Two – Options, and good ones at that! This is an either-or, but whatever the choice is, this should workd out well.

Three – Creative energy, and you’re starting to see ideas come to fruition.

Four – Work on your ideas has started to make your corner of the world a better place in small ways. Celebrate that...but don’t get too carried away.

Five – You’re hit with competition and challenge for the first time. It’s uncomfortable, but this is an opportunity for you to up your game—and encourage other people to up theirs.

Six – A challenge answered is rewarded with recognition. Enjoy the party!

Seven – The challenge of Five of Wands has become a standoff. There might be some compromises you need to make, but hold fast to what is non-negotiable.

Eight – If Seven looked like you might be locked in a conflict, Eight finds you working at top speed to keep up with everything coming at you. Change is good and necessary, but take a second to catch your breath.

Nine – The busyness of Eight is starting to wear on you. You’ve got this, but you’re not sure if you want it anymore. What felt like a creative endeavor is now starting to feel like work. A good time to check in with yourself to make sure you really want this. If so, keep pushing through.

Ten – You’ve completed the project, but you’ve learned the hard way that ideas and excitement are just the beginning—creation is otherwise a lot of work.

Page – This card wants everything to be fun. On the plus side, they’re an optimist who can find the good side of any project; on the downside, they are not here for things they don’t enjoy (but have to do anyway).

Knight – Fun graduates to Passion—and Adventure. The Knight wants speed and excitement, but everything requires a little bit of patience.

Queen – Everyone wants to be around the charming, extroverted, and determined Queen of Wands. They aren't a Muse, but other people are inspired by the confidence they've built from getting things done.

King – Think creative director, owner of an ad agency, editor-in-chief: a figure so creative, they know they can’t create it all. The King knows how to delegate because they have confidence in the team they’ve built.

Pentacles Cups Swords Major Spreads Top

Swords – Ideas, Mentality, Cognition, Strategy

Ace – Clarity and purpose

Two – Like other Twos, this represents a choice, but both options are going to hurt; this is the proverbial rock and a hard place. Not choosing is itself a choice, and will only delay the inevitable. Make the least worst choice and deal with the consequences so you can move on.

Three – One of those consequences might be betrayal, or at the very least heartbreak. As with Five of Cups, this isn’t something you can hide from; in this case, the injury might be serious.

Four – It’s time for a strategic retreat. This isn’t an act of cowardice; this is a necessity so you can heal from your wounds and live to fight another day.

Five – This is the card of Hubris. Someone wants a fight, and you can give it to them. You’re well-rested, and now you’re a more than worthy opponent. Careful not to escalate—don’t fight as if it’s a battle to the death if it’s not.

Six – Whether you won or lost the battle, it’s time to move on. Take the lessons you learned with you, but don’t obsess or carry grudges. The more baggage you carry, the harder the journey will be.

Seven – This is known as the Thief card. You can’t move out in the open, so you need to employ some subterfuge. Maybe it’s for things you need and you don’t have time for red tape, or maybe you know you need to hide your motives, because other people won’t agree. Do what you have to do—but make sure you actually have to do it. Be honest with yourself if you can’t be with anyone else.

Eight – The dishonesty of Seven of Swords has lead to Eight’s isolation. Perhaps their theft was discovered, or perhaps they see how dishonest the people around them can be. Let Eight of Swords spend some time working it out for themselves, but eventually they have to rejoin the world.

Nine – This is the card of Anguish and possibly Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Eight of Swords has stayed away from others for too long, and now their treacherous thoughts are their only companions. The conflicts in the physical world might have ended, but Nine of Swords is going to keep reliving them until they can see their thoughts for what they are—thoughts—and let them go. Speak to another person about what’s been tormenting you.

Ten – Stabbed in the back and betrayed all over again—maybe just as you were starting to feel safe, so this feels even worse. You’re very injured—but you’re still here. Forget retribution and walk away, taking with you the lessons you’ve learned so you can get through the next cycle with a little less injury and grief.

Page – Isn’t this card smart? It is—and it will let you know. This Page might be as enthusiastic about sharing what it knows as the other Pages, but it might not be the most curious card. They might also need to learn the hard way that not every problem can be solved with something learned in a book.

Knight – Just as smart as the Page, the Knight is also ambitious, a great trait as long as it doesn’t turn into ruthlessness. This card might embody “move fast and break things”, something most people won’t find endearing if they happen to be in the Knight’s path. Look where you’re going—you’re smart enough to adjust course if needed.

Queen – The Queen of Swords has been there, done that, and gets to the heart of the matter quickly. They’re not cruel, but they’re also not going to hold back their assessment just to spare someone’s feelings. Intelligence plus experience makes them a valuable resource as long as you’re not expecting anyone to be kind for its own sake.

King – Having lived through unwanted battles, adventures into unknown parts, and service as an advisor, the King of Swords is the person you want in charge of not just the battles but the war. Dispassionate but not ruthless, it is their clarity of vision that makes them a master strategist who won’t incur losses unless they can’t be avoided.

Pentacles Cups Wands Major Spreads Top

Spreads to Pull

Design your own spreads, but keep it simple! A lot of people like the idea of pulling a lot cards, but frequently, the fewer cards, the better, especially as you're getting to know the deck.

Major Minor Top