With 78 cards to a deck, the meanings and symbolism within tarot are quite limitless. Whether you're exploring tarot cards for the first time or deepening a long-held practice, understanding what each card represents is a rewarding journey.
While traditional designs, such as the Rider-Waite deck, are still popular and seen on our shelves today, we are now in a time where tarot has branched out, giving readers a vast, beautiful variety of styles, cultures, and creators to choose from.
While the world of Tarot evolves, the core elements of the deck haven't changed a great deal. In most decks, you will discover Major Arcana cards, such as The Empress, The Star, or the Fool, plus Minor Arcana cards, which are split into four key suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.
However, there truly is a myriad of Tarot decks available today, with variations of the Major and Minor Arcana tropes. For example, rather than pentacles some would present coins, and in others the suits have been changed altogether to reflect the overall design or message of the entire deck.
Tarot Deck Structure
Major Arcana
Major Arcana cards are the 22 named cards in the Tarot deck, and are among the most recognisable. These include The Lovers, The Empress, The Sun, and Death.
They represent major life lessons and important turning points. The Major Arcana cards call on us to look at and understand significant spiritual moments in our lives. They are often events or experiences we cannot control, and encourage us to remember we are on a journey, constantly carving out and moving towards the truest and most complete versions of ourselves.
The Major Arcana cards will certainly bring these character-defining aspects of our lives into the light and encourage us to examine, look inward, and transform.
Minor Arcana
While the Major Arcana explore major life themes, the Minor Arcana address everyday events and situations. Although it has 56 cards, the Minor Arcana bears similarities to a traditional playing deck. Presented in four suits, it contains Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages, known as Court Cards. Should one of these characters appear in a reading, it could be alluding to an aspect of your personality or a strong force or presence around you at that time.
Rather than spades and hearts, the suits are Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. The suits have their own meanings and relate to specific aspects of life, as well as an earthly element:
★ Wands — Fire: creativity, willpower, inspiration
★ Cups — Water: emotions, relationships, intuition
★ Swords — Air: intellect, communication, conflict
★ Pentacles — Earth: material aspects, stability, the physical world
The Fool's Journey
Despite its mysterious reputation, Tarot has a structure. At the start of the deck, we have card 0, The Fool, who in common depictions, is seen looking out over the edge of a cliff. Bag packed and ready to embark on a great journey, the Fool is full of potential and innocence, representing new beginnings, much like children at the start of their lives.
The Fool journeys through the deck, gaining experience, learning lessons, and forming an understanding about the world, himself, and his values. Finally, he concludes on card 21, The World — the final Major Arcana card — representing accomplishment, the completion of a successful journey, and travel. This is The Fool's Journey.
It is this journey that really shines a light on the whole point of tarot cards, and why people choose to use them. To receive guidance, uncover life's lessons, and examine ourselves through introspection and reflection.
Why Do People Use Tarot Cards?
For many, Tarot decks are viewed as tools for divination. A way to seek guidance, insight, or answers from spiritual sources, personal intuition, or the subconscious mind. While some believe the cards connect them to Spirit, deities, or spiritual guides, others use Tarot primarily for self-reflection, problem-solving, or gaining perspective on personal situations.
Whether you receive a reading from an experienced card reader or perform one yourself, many describe Tarot as a mirror to the mind and soul. Tarot can help bring subconscious thoughts or feelings to the surface, encourage intuitive decision-making, and foster greater self-awareness.
Historically, Tarot has also been used for fortune-telling and predictions, though its origins were as playing cards in 15th-century Europe. You may have heard of ‘cartomancer cards’ before, a term which refers to someone who uses cards, including Tarot, for divination or fortune-telling.
Tarot Cards for Beginners — Where to Start
If you're new to Tarot, it can feel like a lot to take in at first, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. Tarot cards for beginners often come with guidebooks, illustrated references, and simplified interpretations to help you build confidence with each card at your own pace.
A great starting point is familiarising yourself with the Major Arcana before moving into the Minor Arcana suits. Trust your instincts, keep a journal of your readings, and let your relationship with the cards develop naturally over time.
Buy Tarot Cards in Australia
Ready to begin your Tarot journey? If you're looking to buy tarot cards, there are more options than ever before, from classic decks to stunning contemporary designs crafted by independent artists. For those searching for tarot cards in Australia, you'll find a wonderful and growing selection available online and in local spiritual and wellness stores.
Whether you're drawn to a traditional Rider-Waite style or something more modern and artistic, there's a deck out there waiting for you.
Summary — What Are Tarot Cards?
At the core of the cards, Tarot is a tool to provide guidance and clarity on situations in your life and yourself. Every card from the Major and Minor Arcana offers symbolism, questions, and a message for you to consider, encouraging you to reflect, connect, and look inward.
Over time, we have and will continue to see more creative iterations of Tarot emerge into the mainstream. However, the essence is unchanging. It isn't a rigid system, and there's no wrong way to read your cards. Follow your gut, connect with your deck, and you'll find the right answers.
Using Tarot cards offers a way to assist you in personal growth, help you trust your intuition, and encourage exploration into your spiritual journey.
Photography from Victoria Maxwell's 'Tarot Card Companion', a comprehensive 355-page guide for tarot users of all levels, featuring her Tarot deck 'Your First Tarot'.
