What Do All These Symbols on Tarot Cards Mean?
Aug 17, 2025
Tarot Tips: Symbols, Spreads, and Meaning
Welcome to the mystical world of Tarot, where the four classical elements, Earth, Air, Fire, and Water, are like the Avengers of symbolism, each with their own superpowers to spice up your readings!
Earth is your financial advisor, personal trainer, and life coach rolled into one. It's all about the Benjamins, your health, and keeping your feet on the ground, literally and metaphorically.
In Tarot, Earth struts its stuff as the suit of Pentacles or Coins, the bling-bling of the deck. When Earth pops up in your reading, it’s time to check your bank account, hit the gym, or maybe just water your plants.
Air is the brainiac of the bunch, the one who always has a witty comeback or a killer idea. It's the realm of thoughts, ideas, and the occasional "Eureka!" moment.
The suit of Swords slices through the nonsense, representing Air. When these cards show up, prepare for mental gymnastics, a reality check, or a good old-fashioned debate. It's like a TED Talk in card form.
Fire is the rockstar, the dynamo, the one who jumps on stage and sets everything ablaze with passion and creativity. It's the spark that lights up your ambition and gets you moving.
The suit of Wands is all about Fire's energy, urging you to chase your dreams or perhaps just start that art project you've been putting off. When Fire blazes into your reading, it's time to channel your inner superhero.
Water is the poet, the dreamer, the one who feels all the feels. It's all about emotions, intuition, and relationships that tug at your heartstrings.
The suit of Cups is where Water makes its splash, focusing on love, connections, and spiritual journeys. When Water cards flow into your reading, it might be time for a deep dive into your emotional ocean or a Netflix marathon with your favorite rom-com.
Mixing these elements in a Tarot reading is like throwing a cosmic cocktail party. Fire and Water together? That's a steamy romance waiting to happen. Earth and Air.
Time to get practical about those big ideas.
By tuning into these elemental vibes, Tarot readers can unlock the secret messages of the cards.
Dive into the Tarot universe and see how these elements dance through your life and the lives of those you read for.
Who knows, you might just stumble upon the meaning of life, or at least the meaning of that mysterious card spread.
In the world of tarot, the Minor Arcana suits are like a quirky elemental family reunion: Wands crash the party with Fire (think passion, action, creativity), Cups bring the emotional Waterworks (emotions, intuition, relationships), Swords cut through the air with their Airy intellect (intellect, communication, decisions), and Pentacles ground everyone with their Earthy vibes (material matters, stability, the physical world).
Each suit's elemental personality sums up our human thought process, like "I think" for Swords/Air, "I desire" for Wands/Fire, "I possess" for Pentacles/Earth, and "I feel" for Cups/Water.
It's like a tarot therapy session.
Even the Court Cards have their own elemental quirks: Knights are fiery hotheads, Queens are as fluid as water, Kings have their heads in the airy clouds, and Pages are down-to-earth.
This leads to some interesting elemental mashups, like the Knight of Wands being "Fire of the suit of Fire" or the Queen of Wands being "Water of the suit of Fire." It's like a cosmic cocktail party!
And don't forget the elemental creatures that crash this tarot bash: salamanders for Fire, sylphs for Air, mermaids or undines for Water, and gnomes or goblins for Earth. It's a magical zoo out there!
There are so many tarot tips hiding in The Magician's Symbols
The Magician is like the ultimate party host, juggling all the elements like a pro.
He's got the lemniscate (a.k.a. the infinity symbol) floating around, showing he's all about balance, staying busy, and hitting the refresh button on life.
His magic wand has two ends, just like a cosmic remote control, channeling the Hermetic motto "As above, so below," which means he's got a hotline between the clouds and the ground.
With one hand up and the other pointing down, he's basically saying, "I'm the Wi-Fi router of the universe, connecting Earth and heaven."
The roses and lilies around him are Mother Nature's way of saying, "Hey, life’s a garden, dig it!" when you're following your dreams.
Crowns
Crowns are like the ultimate bling for royalty, screaming "I'm the boss!" and demanding the wearer to be nothing short of perfect. It's like a gift from the universe with a side of pressure.
The High Priestess rocks the crown of Isis/Hathor, the Egyptian goddess who’s all about being the Great Mother. Her headgear features a sun disk chilling between moon-cow horns, showing off some serious divine girl power and lunar vibes.
The Empress sports a crown with twelve stars, which is like having the zodiac, the twelve tribes of Israel, and a unity party on your head.
The Chariot’s crown is a cosmic mashup with the sun, moon, and stars, all about finding that inner zen and mastering the art of balance.
The Emperor’s crown is closed, sending out vibes of "I got this all by myself."
Pillars
Pillars come in pairs, acting like the bouncers to sacred spaces and higher thinking.
They make appearances on cards like The High Priestess, The Hierophant, and Justice.
The High Priestess’s pillars are a classic black and white duo, representing the whole yin and yang, light and dark, and the earthly versus the heavenly. They’re marked with "B" and "J" for Boaz and Jachin, the famous pillars of Solomon's Temple, and are basically the VIP entrance to the secrets of Western magic.
They also get a cheeky nod as the "labia that mark the vaginal entrance to the Holy of Holies."
Roses and Lilies
Picture this dynamic duo showing up on cards like The Magician, The Hierophant, the Ace of Pentacles, and the 2 of Wands, like they're crashing a tarot party.
On The Magician card, they’re the life of the party, representing the mysterious cycle of life and death. Talk about party tricks!
The white lily is like the spiritual GPS for guys, guiding them back to the spirit world and a spiritual "off switch."
Together, the rose and lily are like the Qabalistic power couple, mixing red and white to create ultimate harmony, kind of like a cosmic smoothie.
In the Ace of Pentacles, the lily and roses are like the biblical dynamic duo, nodding to the "lily of the valley and the rose of the deep" from the Song of Solomon.
They're basically the original BFFs.
Paths
Paths pop up on cards like the 8 of Pentacles, Ace of Pentacles, The Moon, and Temperance, like they're on a spiritual road trip.
They’re like your inner GPS, nudging you to follow your spiritual whims.
The Ace of Pentacles' path is like a mystical escalator, whisking travelers from the everyday grind to spiritual enlightenment. It's the ultimate lift!
The Moon card's path is a rollercoaster of personal growth, taking you from low valleys to high peaks. It's the path that picks you, not the other way around!
Mountains
Mountains are the overachievers of tarot, showing up in at least 25 cards, symbolizing the extraordinary and lifting your consciousness to new heights.
They're the spiritual stairmasters!
In the 10 of Swords, they’re the edge of knowledge, sharp and pointy, just like your wit.
Judgement's ice mountains are the ultimate chill, representing pure Qabalah and a path on the Tree of Life. Cool, right?
In The Lovers, the single mountain is the ultimate peacemaker, resolving the battle of the sexes and giving everyone that warm, fuzzy "home sweet home" feeling.
Crosses
Crosses are the drama queens of opposites, showcasing their creative clashes with flair.
The equal-armed cross on The High Priestess is all about balance and serenity, like a zen master with a love for the number four and the Tetragrammaton.
The Latin cross is the rebel, with its longer vertical line suggesting dynamic change and a serious case of wanderlust.
The Hierophant’s papal triple cross is the ultimate symbol of the Holy Trinity, covering all spiritual bases: earth, heaven, and the spirit world. It's like a spiritual hat trick!
On the 6 of Cups, a tilted equal-armed cross is like a nod to alchemical and Rosicrucian secret societies, blending ecstasy with sacrifice. It's the ultimate mystery party!
The Hanged Man sports the Tau cross, an early Christian symbol that's been hanging around for centuries.
The World card's Hebrew letter, Tav, is the grand finale, symbolized by a cross that means "completion." It's the ultimate mic drop!
Moons (as a symbol)
The moon in astrology is like that friend who knows all your secrets, it’s all about intuition, feminine vibes, and the natural groove of life. It’s also got a thing for the number nine in Qabalah and is a magickal powerhouse!
On The High Priestess card, the moon in her crown is like her wearing three hats at once (Maiden, Mother, Crone) and gives a shout-out to goddesses like Hathor and Mary (Stella Maris).
On The Chariot, those waxing and waning crescent moons on the shoulders are like cosmic shoulder pads keeping balance in check.
On the Moon card itself, it’s a sun-moon mashup with howling dogs, showing off duality, illusions, and dreams, while the crayfish is just trying to find its way out of the emotional swamp. The watchtowers are like bouncers between your conscious and unconscious mind.
Stars
Stars are like cosmic emojis, each shape with its own vibe.
The pentagram (five-pointed star) is the rock star of magick symbols, representing the human form and Earthly goodies like wealth and health. It’s all over the Pentacles cards and flips upside down for The Devil’s gig.
The hexagram (six-pointed star), a.k.a. the Star of David or Seal of Solomon, is all about wisdom and light. You’ll find it in The Empress’s crown (zodiac bling) and The Hermit’s lantern (worlds’ nightlight).
The eight-pointed star, hanging out with The Fool and The Star, is all about perfection and spiritual glow-ups. On The Star card, it’s the poster child for hope and divine GPS.
The starry canopy on The Chariot is like a cosmic GPS, offering hope and a hotline to the heavens.
Suns
Suns are like the batteries of the universe, packed with power.
The white sun on The Fool is like a big ol' lightbulb of consciousness and purity, marking the start of everything and anything.
On The Lovers, the sun is the cosmic referee, showing how light needs dark and love needs a little hate for balance.
On the Sun card itself, it’s all about success, joy, and vitality, pure, unfiltered sunshine power for everyone!
The winged sun disk on The Chariot is like a solar-powered brain boost for the conscious mind.
Banners
Banners are like the cryptic tweets of the universe, with meanings borrowed from Freemasonry and the Golden Dawn.
The Masonic standard is a mashup of symbols from Israel’s top four tribes: the man (reason), the lion (power), the ox (patience), and the eagle (wisdom), basically, the ultimate squad goals.
On Death, the black and white banner with a white rose is like a goth sunburst in the underworld, promising a comeback tour.
On The Sun, the red-orange banner is the Qabalistic sun’s selfie in nature with a nod to the Hebrew letter Resh (beginning/source).
On Judgement, the red cross on a white field is like the Knights Templar’s business card, marking the border between spiritual hangouts.
Armor
Armor is like your favorite pajamas, but for knights, it screams "I'm ready to party" with a side of bravery and duty.
For the Knights, it's their version of a business suit, showing off their job title and good manners.
On The Chariot, the armor is more about style points, nodding to Cancer's hard shell and showing off some mystical bling. It's like a cosmic security blanket.
On Death, black armor is the ultimate goth fashion statement, keeping Death looking sharp and protected.
Blindfolds
Blindfolds are like instant naps for your eyes, either to keep you from seeing the chaos around or to help you focus on your inner zen
On the 2 of Swords, the blindfold is the ultimate "Do Not Disturb" sign, helping the figure find inner peace and wisdom.
On the 8 of Swords, it's the ultimate optimism booster, representing the darkness before you become a butterfly.
It's worth noting Justice doesn't need a blindfold, because she's got 20/20 vision and sees through all the nonsense.
Feather
Feathers are nature's way of saying, "You can fly high and hang out with angels," while also being a nod to Fire and Air.
Angels' wings (seen on The Lovers, Temperance, and Judgment) are like the ultimate VIP passes for spiritual adventures.
On The Chariot, feathered wings are all about air, purity, and thinking way above the clouds.
On The Fool, The Sun, and Death, red feathers are like fiery mohawks, channeling divine energy or, in Death's case, looking cool while wilting.
On the Knight of Swords, birds and butterflies on the horse's collar are like air traffic controllers. The Queen of Swords has her own winged entourage on her throne and crown.
Castles
Castles are like the ultimate "Keep Out" signs, radiating power and good vibes from their lofty towers.
In The Chariot, a castle behind a wall is basically saying, "Welcome to the House of Good Stuff," where all the positive vibes flow.
On the Ace of Wands, a distant white castle is like a power-up symbol, boosting creativity and energy.
The Two of Wands shows a gray castle wall, reminding you it's wise to take that first step, even if it feels like climbing a fortress.
Clouds
Clouds are like nature's way of saying, "Change is in the air," always ready to shake things up.
They're the ultimate Air element mascots, especially in the Suit of Swords, where they love to hang out.
Clouds also bring a touch of mystery, often hanging out under angels or delivering surprise gifts from the sky in the Aces.
Gardens
Gardens are like Mother Nature's way of saying, "Welcome to paradise," where everything is in perfect harmony.
In Tarot, every garden is a mini-Eden, offering innocence, bliss, and a touch of zen to anyone who visits.
The Ace of Pentacles is like a "garden of earthly delights," reminding us the real world can be a joyful playground.
The Star card gives you a front-row seat to Eden, complete with the Tree of Life and flowing streams of awesomeness.
Rivers
Rivers in Tarot are like the mythical water slides from Eden, carrying the essence of life and the four elements.
They symbolize the flow of time, change, and the ultimate refresh button for the soul.
Rivers are all about going with the flow, suggesting that if you ride the current, your troubles will wash away like yesterday's news.
Towers
Towers are like the ultimate skyscrapers of ambition, reaching for the sky while defying gravity.
The Tower card shows a building having a bad hair day, struck by lightning, symbolizing the chaos before the calm and the chance to rebuild bigger and better.
On the Moon card, two ominous towers are like the bouncers at the gates of the subconscious, guarding the entrance to your inner world.
Angels
Angels are like those mysterious neighbors who live in a realm beyond our own, yet somehow always manage to influence our lives. They remind us that connecting "upstairs and downstairs" requires more than just a good Wi-Fi signal.
Meet the fabulous four Archangels: Raphael, who moonlights as a love guru and healer (The Lovers); Michael, the ultimate guardian and spiritual GPS (Temperance); Gabriel, the town crier of prophecies and wake-up calls (Judgement); and Uriel, the fiery transformer who’s always ready to spice things up (The Devil).
On The Wheel of Fortune and The World cards, an angel and three animals crash the party, representing the four evangelists, the elements, and the zodiac signs, basically the ultimate cosmic cocktail party.
Temples
Apparently, Tarot cards are too cool for visible temples. Instead, the entire Tarot deck is like a temple made of symbols, talk about a fancy invisible clubhouse!
Learning Tarot is like joining a secret society, much like Freemasonry but with more cards and fewer handshakes. It's a journey towards never-ending enlightenment and cosmic group hugs.
The temple is the ultimate storage unit for everything that exists, covering the realms of here, there, and everywhere in between. Its walls are made of explanations that keep us safe from the big, scary unknown.
These symbols and their connections form the Tarot’s secret language, offering deep insights into life, the universe, and everything, perfect for those late-night philosophical chats.
WELCOME!
