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What are Tarot cards?
Tarot cards are fortune-telling cards. A tarot deck is similar to a regular deck of playing cards. Both decks have four suits numbered from ace to ten. In a tarot deck, this is known as the Minor Arcana. Instead of Hearts, Diamonds, Spades, and Clubs, a tarot deck has Pentacle, Swords, Wands, and Cups. Unlike a regular deck of cards, in the Minor Arcana, each suit has 4 court cards rather than 3: King, Queen, Knight, and Page. Also, the tarot deck has an additional 22 cards known as the Major Arcana. Each card in the Major Arcana has it’s own number (except the Fool), a title, and an image. If when reading your cards, there are more cards of the Minor Arcana than the Major, your destiny is mostly in your hands. If when reading your cards, there are more cards of the Major Arcana than the Minor, fate governs your future.
Using your Cards:
Once you get your deck of cards, the first thing you have to do is become familiar with your cards. Examine them, handle them, sleep with them by your bed,… Let them absorb your personal energy. The more personal energy is infused in you cards, the more accurate the reading. When I first got a deck as a present, I didn’t personalize them. My readings weren’t accurate at all. My friend suggested I make my own. I am currently in the middle of drawing the pictures on them. By making my own deck, I am infusing my personal energies into the cards with every stroke of my pencil. Keep your cards in a special place. Handle them with care. Don’t let others touch your cards or play with them without your permission. Also, you shouldn’t let others read your cards. Once you have personalized your cards, you can begin to read them.
Card Meanings: Major Arcana from Silver RavenWolf’s To Ride a Silver Broomstick, Minor Arcana from Jonathan Dee’s Tarot
The Major Arcana:
*Note* This is only for the upright position. Reversed meanings not included. These are just basic meanings. For more detailed meanings, consult any books on Tarot (Check Recommended Reading).
The Fool: The beginnings of a new cycle or enterprise; a matter that is unexpected or unplanned; moving in a different direction; heading toward an unknown future; look before you leap; use hidden talents.
1, The Magician: Master of self; readiness to put plans into action; great power and energy at your disposal; time to use your skills.
2, The Priestess: Awareness of planes of existence; hidden forces with new solutions; feminine balance and occult learning; utilize leadership potential; matriarchal thought.
3, The Empress: Financial and emotional security; motherly or womanly love; good fortune and happiness; epitome of a female partner; pregnancy.
4, The Emperor: Reason over emotion; government, politics, system; command and authority; patriarchal thought; the need to be famous.
5, The Priest: Conformity and tradition; going with the flow because everyone else is; dealing in a facade; Karma.
6, The Lovers: A choice between opposites; a decision that will affect several people; second sight; love versus practicality.
7, The Chariot: Balance through movement; bringing two opposing points under control; self-control; vehicular movement.
8, Strength: Victory over difficulty; successful end to a tiresome event; spiritual strength; sharp and incisive mental action.
9, The Wheel: Rotation of any situation or life event; tidal movement; steady and even turn of events; upward mobility.
10, The Hermit: Introspection and spiritual enlightenment; planning and evaluating the next move; seeking a higher intelligence; meeting a physical teacher.
11, Justice: Legalities, contracts, agreements; what you sow so shall ye reap; think before you act; the Goddess will balance the situation.
12, The Hanged Man: Thoughts, ideas or projects in suspension; stuck between a rock and a hard place; obtaining second sight.
13, Death: Radical, unplanned change; old ripped away to prepare for the new; illusions swept instantly away; a new life path.
14, Temperance: Ability to adapt to new circumstances; action as a result of higher self or guide information; mature love; control through wisdom; the art of mixing and matching.
15, The Devil: Binding in thought, word, or deed; unbridled lust or deep passion; charismatic but untrustworthy person; fate through human frailties.
16, The Tower: A breakdown in a situation; seeing a situation as it really is; unexpected setbacks or repercussions; danger; fate.
17, The Star: Faith, confidence and hope; positive influences; ability to cut through illusion; new life with wider choices.
18, The Moon: Dreams, intuition, vision questing; imagination; emotionally charged circumstances; being pulled in two different directions; psychic work or magickal work; possibility of deception.
19, The Sun: Joy and happiness; well earned rewards; new creative environment; good news on its way.
20, Judgement: Project or situation nearing completion; final decision has yet to be made; awakening at the end of a long process; ending may not be what is expected; the past comes back to haunt you.
21, The World: End of a cycle in a situation; scenario has played itself completely out; no loose ends left; satisfactory conclusion; possibility to explore new avenues.
The Minor Arcana:
Wands: Fire; Growth, Creativity; Work; Enterprise; Masculine; Aries; Leo; Sagittarius.
Ace: Enterprise
Two: Partnership
Three: Opportunity
Four: Prosperity
Five: Challenge
Six: Victory
Seven: Defiance
Eight: Swiftness
Nine: Resilience
Ten: Burden
Page: Physical Description: A fair or brown-haired youngster with blue of hazel eyes. Meaning: A traveller. An adaptable, hard-working and enthusiastic young person with an impulsive nature. A messenger. The Page of Wands may be hyperactive with little staying power and easily bored.
Knight: Physical Description: A robust young man with ruddy complexion. Meaning: An energetic warrior, a generous friend or a lover. He has a hasty personality and is quick to love or hate. This Knight can also mean a change of home.
Queen: Physical Description: A dignified woman of fiery temperament. She is likely to be fair with blue or hazel eyes. Meaning: A freedom-loving woman who is lively, active and creatively gifted. She may run a business or hold a responsible position. She is warm-natured and a practical organizer of others. A lover of nature.
King: Physical Description: A mature man of authority. He is much travelled and worldly wise. His hair is probably brown, his eyes blue or hazel. Meaning: An athletic man, strong and healthy. Honourable in an old-fashioned sense, he may be a businessman. He is just, kind and generous. He makes an excellent advisor. He is sexually passionate.
Cups: Water; Emotions; Love; Feminine; Cancer; Scorpio; Pisces.
Ace: Love
Two: Commitment
Three: Celebrations
Four: Boredom
Five: Sorrow
Six: Memory
Seven: Choices
Eight: Seeking
Nine: Pleasure
Ten: Contentment
Page: Physical Description: Pale, with fair hair and blue eyes.Meaning: A young person or one with a youthful cast of mind, gentle and loving, artistic and insightful. If a girl, somewhat tomboyish, if a boy, then somewhat feminine. This person could be emotionally vulnerable and needs affection.
Knight: Physical Description: A young man, often well travelled with a fair complexion, casual in appearance. Meaning: A faithful lover or good friend, enthusiastic, passionate and amiable. He brings offers and opportunities. The knight is often poetic and graceful.
Queen: Physical Description: A beautiful woman, with expressive eyes and sensuous lips. Her hair coloring is generally fair. Meaning: A warm, sympathetic and sociable woman. She may be artistically gifted and very imaginative. The Queen is honest, loyal and devoted to those she loves.
King: Physical Description: A mature man who has achieved something in life. Usually with a good complexion and clear, liquid eyes. Meaning: A sociable, loving, sensuous man who has intelligence combined with a strong intuition. Warm-hearted and loyal, he enjoys the comforts of life and has a love of the arts. His attitude is responsible and generous.
Swords: Air; Mental Activity; Strife; Troubles; Masculine; Gemini; Libra; Aquarius.
Ace: Force
Two: Balance
Three: Heartache
Four: Recuperation
Five: Defeat
Six: Travel
Seven: Dishonesty
Eight: Restriction
Nine: Cruelty
Ten: Ruin
Page: Physical Description: A dark-haired youngster with deep penetrating eyes. Meaning: A quick-witted and intelligent youngster, eloquent and sharp. Eager to learn and adept at turning situations to his or her advantage. The Page may bring news, contacts and gossip.
Knight: Physical Description: A tall, dark-haired young man with a lot of charm and wit. Meaning: An eloquent and confident person who is fast-moving and easily bored. He can be impetuous and is the type who breezes into one’s life and just as swiftly breezes out again. A good ally with subtle reasoning powers.
Queen: Physical Description: A mature woman, possibly a widow or divorcee. Meaning: An independent lady, she is intelligent, rational and tends to be cool in a crisis. Graceful, possibly with a fondness for music and dancing. She is very alert to undercurrents and should not be underestimated.
King: Physical Description: A mature man with dark hair and eyes, possibly a lawyer, doctor or other professional advisor.Meaning: An intelligent man in a position of trust and authority. He is a wise and loyal advisor. Logical and calm, he dislikes overt displays of emotion. He requires a lot of mental stimulation.
Pentacles: Earth; Money; Prosperity; Land; Feminine; Taurus; Virgo; Capricorn.
Ace: Foundation
Two: Juggling
Three: Skill
Four: Possessions
Five: Poverty
Six: Generosity
Seven: Planning
Eight: Learning
Nine: Comfort
Ten: Wealth
Page: Physical Description: An introverted boy or girl with black hair and eyes and a swarthy or tanned complexion. Meaning: A conscientious person, thrifty and capable. Someone who has little money but splendid prospects. A student with a sense of duty. A patient person. Also there may be good news about money.
Knight: Physical Description: A swarthy or earthy young man with dark hair and eyes. Meaning: A conventional, practical young man who leaves nothing to chance. The Knight accepts responsibility easily and is no stranger to hard work. He is trust worthy and steadfast.
Queen: Physical Description: A large. Motherly woman with a strong constitution and cheerful demeanour. Her colouring is dark.Meaning: A sensible, matronly woman who has a good head for business. Kind-hearted and charitable, she also has a taste for luxury. Sometimes moody, her general personality is very caring.
King: Physical Description: A dark man who holds considerable responsibility. Meaning: A practical realist. A businessman, bank manager or farmer who has considerable wealth. He is generally married and is very shrewd. Despite his wealth he is unpretentious. He has a stable personality and is slow to anger.
To come: Card Layouts.
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