A sample of The Life-Changing Power of Tarot: Reading the Cards for Self-Empowerment
The Major Arcana
The cards in the Major Arcana represent the major events, lessons and individuals we connect with. If multiple Major Arcana cards appear in a reading, it is likely you are experiencing a particularly transformational period of your life. As mentioned previously, each tarot card has a corresponding number. The 22 Major Arcana cards are numbered from 0 to 21. Remember, the higher the number, the further along the development process you are. You can refer to the numerology table in the introduction if you would like to gain a little extra insight on this.
0 — The Fool
Key words: Fresh start • Adventure • Opportunity • Excitement • Optimism Self-discovery • Fulfilment
Card meaning
The Fool serves as a reminder to remain open to fresh starts, new adventures and unforeseen opportunities. It represents stepping outside of the norm for the sake of your own self-discovery. Perhaps you are in the earliest ’idea’ phase of a journey, yet to take a leap of faith.
The Fool can be inexperienced (like many embarking on a new pathway) and this card suggests that you should seek advice and/or listen to any counsel that is offered to you by those with more experience or who are loyal to your best interests (such as family members or close friends who want to look out for you).
Although you may be inexperienced, this card is also a reminder that you should not allow yourself to be too easily swayed by others, but to connect with and follow your own inner instincts. If you are thinking about taking things in a new direction, be sure to honour your own intuition while also being open to any guidance that is offered to you from those you trust. If you have a funny feeling about something - for example, you feel someone might be trying to take advantage of you - try not to sweep this feeling aside and talk to someone you trust.
We often find ourselves drawn towards specific things in life for a reason, but it is important that you do not get too carried away and rush into making a decision without thinking things through properly first. Take time to consider the long-term implications of a decision or journey.
Imagery
The Fool is depicted as a young person gazing off into the distance, almost completely oblivious to the cliff edge right under their nose. This is a reminder that you can lack environmental awareness when in unfamiliar territory, and that you need to survey your surroundings or think about the long-term implications of your decisions before jumping into anything too quickly. The Fool’s festive and youthful appearance suggests that you may have an enthusiastic approach to a new beginning or exciting adventure, but you should be realistic about any experience you have in this area and whether or not you need guidance. The youthful imagery is also a reminder of how much you have to gain or learn from a new and unfamiliar experience (like a young student).
The bag slung across The Fool’s shoulder hints at some kind of last-minute or spontaneous adventure. Therefore, a degree of anticipation and excitement will be fuelling you when it comes to making this exciting new decision.
The bag’s small size suggests either unpreparedness or minimalism. You will benefit from getting things in order so that you can be more prepared, but also so that you are not weighed down too much by baggage.
The white rose in The Fool’s hand is a symbol of having pure intentions and a reminder for you to keep these intentions in mind moving forwards. As long as your intentions are pure, you can rest assured that you are moving in the right direction and that you will reap the rewards of this new venture.
The mountains in the background hint at the bigger picture and future obstacles that may not be in your current awareness but probably need to be taken into consideration.
The Fool’s small, white companion dog embodies the need to seek advice from someone who is loyal to your best interests.
The sun in the top-right corner of the card symbolizes the optimism and joy that can be found from taking things in a new direction.
The red feather on The Fool’s head is a symbol of a new idea/ breakthrough that will begin a new cycle for you.
1 — The Magician
Key words: Manifestation • Untapped potential • Creativity • Willpower Discipline • Imagination • Self-confidence
Card meaning
The Magician represents the different elements that are important in the early stages of a creative process. It asks that you reflect on any untapped potential and consider whether there is something exciting or potentially fruitful that you have not allowed yourself to explore yet.
This card serves as a reminder that you already have the necessary tools to create the life, career or relationship you want for yourself, but that you must both believe something is possible and take action towards it in order for it to become your reality. When you combine these two elements (belief and action) you are able to step into your full potential.
Known as the ’manifestation’ card, whenever The Magician appears in a reading, you must establish a clear vision of what you want to accomplish and why. Ask yourself how your day-to-day life would look if you achieved this goal. Allow yourself to envision this reality in your mind’s eye: What do you see? What do you feel? Where are you and who are you with?
Write all the details down if you can to solidify them further.
This card suggests that it is more important to take things one step at a time than to expect yourself to achieve everything in one go. Limit your distractions and use the knowledge, skills and wisdom you have already gained in order to help guide you towards this new goal.
It is time to tap into your creativity!
Imagery
See how The Magician has one hand pointing towards the sky and the other pointing down towards Earth. This represents the importance of having a balanced connection to both your spiritual and material goals.
On the table in front of The Magician are objects representing the four tarot suits: a wand, a sword, a cup and a coin. They suggest that you already have everything you need to manifest the reality you want for yourself: the passion, the intellect, the emotional desire and a material connection.
The red and yellow colours remind you to remain optimistic and to fully honour your own power/potential by choosing to believe in yourself.
The flowers and shrubbery in the foreground represent your own ability to manifest abundance into your life and to bring these goals to fruition if you apply yourself and decide to believe in yourself.
An infinity symbol hovers above The Magician’s head and a snake eating its own tail is wrapped around their body. Both represent limitless potential. Perhaps you are sitting on untapped potential - what do you have to share with the world that you have been holding yourself back from?
2 — The High Priestess
Key words: Intuition • Personal exploration • Conscious and subconscious A quiet and deep inner knowing • Concealment • Secrets
Card meaning
When The High Priestess appears in a reading, it suggests that you should explore something for yourself before deciding to trust someone else wholeheartedly. Sometimes you must look beyond the information that is being shown to you. Do not be afraid to trust your own intuition. This card also highlights the benefits of exploring any subconscious influences that might be affecting or altering your experience.
The High Priestess suggests that not every situation is quite as it appears on the surface. People are not always genuine or honest. Sometimes they opt not to share important details with you.
Because this card is associated with strong intuition and instincts, you are being urged to connect with these. It can be a good exercise to write: ’What is my intuition telling me that I am ignoring?’ List anything that comes to mind - there are no right or wrong answers. It offers an opportunity to make your own personal exploration of something as a way of finding out more information.
The High Priestess can represent hidden secrets and a chance for you to dive into your own spiritual evolution. Those who are brave enough to listen to their inner insight will find greater strength and conviction.
You are being asked to trust your own personal experience and to make sure that you are not allowing anyone else to deceive you. Do some digging before committing yourself to something/someone. Anything that feels ’off’ most likely is.
Imagery
The High Priestess sits peacefully in her temple. Clearly religious, spiritual and intuitive, she serves as a reminder for you to connect with those aspects within yourself.
The white cross around her neck is a symbol of integrity and honour and signifies the importance of purity and truth.
The veil hanging behind The High Priestess represents the separation between the seen and the unseen. What is being shown to you may not be fully accurate; something might be hidden from your view. This can also represent the division between the conscious and the unconscious mind.
The pomegranates on the veil are associated with the Greek goddess Persephone and represent divine feminine energy. Do not be afraid to try to engage with your own intuition and emotions to help you figure out what is really going on behind closed doors, or how something is affecting you. This might lead to you learning more about yourself or somebody/something else.
The partly concealed scroll in her lap suggests you may not have all the information needed just yet and that further exploration or inquiry may be needed.
The crescent moon by her feet is another symbol of intuition, but also hints at something that is not showing in its entirety. Remember to keep a bigger picture in mind!
3 — The Empress
Key words: Divine feminine power • Mother Earth • Creation • Patient nurturing Growth • Development • Action
Card meaning
The Empress card portrays a woman who is focusing on watering her garden with care and patience. She sits comfortable in the knowledge that as long as she carefully tends to her plants, she will reap the rewards of the harvest. The card is a reminder that where your attention goes, energy flows, and that it is time to focus on your own development and growth rather than getting distracted by other people’s projects, goals or appearances.
This card is connected to the Greek goddess Venus and can be a reminder to honour the divine feminine. This may relate to a connection in your life such as a partner, friend or family member or it could be a signal to connect with your own divine femininity.
This card is known as the Mother Earth archetype. When it appears in a reading, you are being encouraged to connect more with the natural world around you. Spend more time outdoors in direct connection to the elements - in a garden, a forest or near a natural body of water, for example. You will gain fresh insight by allowing yourself to reconnect with Mother Earth and by appreciating the different cycles she goes through. The card also asks you to honour the cycles we go through in life - life and death, rest and action, creation and destruction. It is a reminder that one cannot exist without the other and opposing aspects need to be acknowledged and appreciated during a creation process.
This card can also symbolize pregnancy or birth and, more generally, the birthing of a new idea or process. In order for something to grow, you must give it the right conditions. It is time to prioritize your own growth.
Imagery
See how The Empress sits on a luxurious throne in the middle of a lush, fertile garden. This represents the importance of watering your own garden instead of comparing yourself to others or prioritizing their agenda above your own. Her soft feminine features serve as a reminder to approach things with care and compassion. Do not expect too much from yourself and do not try to force anything either. Be patient with the process.
The pomegranates on the The Empress’s dress are a symbol of the divine feminine, fertility and abundance.
The nature that surrounds her suggests there is a time for growth and a time for rest.
The abundance of greenery symbolizes the potential of what you could accomplish if you decided to invest your time, energy and effort in your own endeavours.
The crown of stars on her head serves as a reminder to connect with the spiritual realm and your spiritual goals. The 12 stars on the crown represent the natural cycles in life - for example, the 12 months of the year, the 12 signs of the Western zodiac. They signify that spiritual and material aspects must be balanced in order to find sustainability moving forward.
4 — The Emperor
Key words: Confidence • Skilful execution • Foresight • Control and coordination Leadership • Wisdom • Chivalry
Card meaning
When The Emperor card appears in a reading, it is a sign that you could benefit from stepping up into a more leadership-focused role. Whether this involves acting as a father figure (regardless of gender), a leader or more self-governing, you are being asked to put yourself in a position where you have the opportunity to navigate greater challenges and to protect and guide others.
The card shows great potential for embracing a high-pressure environment in which other people look up to you for guidance and wisdom. It is a sign that your willingness to take control of the situation and to show confidence in your own abilities (or maybe even learn directly from someone else who has these qualities) will ultimately lead to your growth. But the card is also a reminder that grand achievements are not always built overnight and that they require a period of dedication, foresight and hard work. It highlights the importance of being strategic and organized in your approach to work or other matters and asks you to use your intelligence and wisdom to create more structure so that you can find the calm within the chaos.
Be sure to get a plan in place as this will make you more likely to follow it through to the end. Anyone who receives this card in a reading has great potential for being a boss, father, teacher, mentor or even just a good friend. Do not underestimate the value you bring to the table.
The card can sometimes suggest that you need to respect and learn from an authority figure in your life such as a father, boss or friend; whether it is representing you or someone else will be determined by your choice of spread.
Imagery
The Emperor clearly depicts somebody in a position of power. Sitting confidently and upright on their throne, they naturally command attention and respect from those around them. The stern face shows that matters should always be taken seriously and with a lot of consideration if you want their outcome to be long-lasting and sustainable. Ask yourself whether you have something to gain by showing more confidence in your own abilities. Do you have something to learn from someone in a position of power?
The Emperor’s white beard is symbolic of the knowledge and wisdom you have gained on your own journey. It may also hint at someone who has an abundance of wisdom and experience to share with you.
The Emperor’s crown suggests that success and influence can be (or have been) gained from a period of dedication, hard work and commitment.
The mountains in the background represent stability and symbolize how important it is to be ’grounded’ and ’secure’ in yourself and your goals. Do you know what you are working towards and why?
The colour red symbolizes the raw power and potential that can come from embracing the qualities of The Emperor.
5 — The Hierophant
Key words: Tradition • Commitment • Integrity • Alliance • Learning Practice • Assurance
Card meaning
The Hierophant card appears in a reading as a reminder that, regardless of how well established you are, you are sometimes in need of guidance and can benefit from a teacher, mentor or authority figure to help show you how to commit to something in a more structured and efficient way.
This card represents a period of dedication or study that must happen before you can continue down a pathway on your own accord. It suggests that you have much to gain from those who have greater knowledge in the area you hope to explore. This card might come through with The Fool card; when it does, it represents the teacher rather than the student.
The Hierophant is a card of tradition and so you will most likely benefit from committing to tried-and-true methods rather than using those that are innovative or risky.
This card can also hint at spiritual, religious or self-care practices that have been neglected or abandoned and the need to re-commit yourself to some of these.
This card can represent a group or institution that has well established beliefs/methods that are known for being successful, and symbolizes the comfort and stability that can be found from that. It could relate to a religious group, support group, family dynamic or specialist led class, for example.
As there are several spiritual elements associated with this card, it is also asking you to keep your values in mind while pursuing something. Ask yourself if your words/intentions are in alignment with your actions. Are you living your truth and doing what you say you are going to do? Do you need to enrol in a course to get a better base knowledge of something? Could you benefit from the guidance of somebody who has more experience?
Imagery
The individuals at the bottom of the image look up to this religious figure for support and guidance. They serve as a reminder that you may also benefit from having a mentor or somebody with an abundance of information in an area you would like to explore or develop in.
The followers awaiting instruction from The Hierophant suggest that an initiation process or rite of passage needs to be gained in order for you to take things to the next level. You may be waiting for approval on something, or you may even need to gain more knowledge about something before you can go out on your own.
The two keys crossed at The Hierophant’s feet represent the fact that this person or institution is the only one that can help you unlock the next chapter.
As the religious symbology is a sign of commitment, ask if you are committing yourself to living a life in alignment with your value system. Are your words and actions lining up? Are you living your truth? Are you doing what you say you are going to do?
