A Breakdown of the Cards – Major Arcana (0-6)

The Fool

(The Fool from the Rat Tarot)

Number 0 in numerology whis is unlimited potential. It is one of those numbers in mathematics that differs from Tarot. In Tarot, 0 can be at the beginning or the end. They are ever present on their journey, so they have no real number association. Think of them more as the Joker from the (French Pips, aka playing cards) in this aspect.
Aligns with Air and Uranus
Upright Meaning – New beginnings, the start of a journey. Everyday is fresh and new, with an air of excitement hanging about. This is a very creative place to begin with many opportunities. The journey can be created during this process. Are you being asked to begin your journey? Will you leave the realm of comfortability and take a leap of faith into the unknown.This card can also represent a choice being offered. The fool lives a carefree life, not yet weighed down by all of life’s challenges. This is a fearless or naive card about jumping in, and having trust in the process itself. It is said to come up when one has lots of fear in their life and are focusing on the wrong things. Trust that your guide is there and you will successfully navigate through whatever lies ahead on your journey.
Reversed Meaning – The reverse of this card is a negative aspect. It is disregarding the consequences of your actions or possibly being in an opportunity that will prove to be “too good to be true”. Expect challenges ahead on your journey as you are out of your element and pretending to be more skilled or experienced than you are. In a relationship, the appearance of the fool can indicate hidden upcoming changes, or there is an element of risk taking that doesn’t take consequences into consideration.
Key elements – The Fool is a young, androdynous character at the beginning of the Journey of tarot, symbolized by the sun coming up behind him. Notice the direction they are facing (North-West). This is known as the direction of the unknown. They appear as if they are about to step off of a cliff or perhaps they know it is there? The bag hung from their staff is closed and we would hope that all the tools for their journey have been thought of in preparation. They also hold a white rose in his other hand, symbolizing purity and innocence so we can determine from the opposing aspects of that with his bag of tools; they may be ill equipped with unexpected difficulties. Their small white dog is his spirit guide, there to help them navigate them on their journey. The spirit guide will protect them but also push them to learn their lessons on their journey. Interestingly enough, the mountains in the background are supposed to represent the connection with spirit that has left the person, and his journey will be about regaining that connection.

(The Magician from the Robin Wood Tarot)

The Magician

Number 1. In numerology, this represents the primal force, that does not let anything stand in its way. It is a number of creation and although and odd number, it can allow for change and growth along its path.
Aligns with Air and Mercury
Upright Meaning – The power to create and manifest what you want in your life is what this card is about. Either it has been this way or the situation will soon turn to be this way. These manifestations of your desires could be in any of the tarot suits, spiritual (fire), physical (earth), emotional (water), or mental (air). This is an optimistic card, and a good card for anything you have just begun or when you decide to make transformations. If you can focus your energy and power, the underlying motives and intentions, you then have the capability of harnessing that energy and bringing it into fruition. Stay positive and be attentive to your thoughts and feelings and how you use them to manifest your reality towards the positive or negative.
Reversed Meaning – Reversed, this card can be indicating greed or an arrogance with deceit. Are you using your powers to manipulate or bringing confusion to any of the tarot elemental realms? This can be quite a charming individual, and there are many skills but they are not being harnessed properly or are being used negatively.
Key elements – Mercury is associated with skill, logic, and intellect. Notice the magician is using his wand (pointed to the sky) while his other hand points down towards the earth. He is connecting the Universe, with his body, and then into the physical plane. The infinity symbol appears above his head while we see the ouroboros (snake eating its own tail) around his waist. All elements are laid out on the table; earth, air, fire and water. His robes are white as seen in the previous car (the fool) yet he also wears a red cloak (symbolising knowledge and experience). The flowers at his feet are both beautiful and thorny, indicating an aspect of duality.

(The High Priestess from the New Vision Tarot)

The High Priestess

Number 2 in numerology represents duality. These are likely opposites or different approaches. It is a number with creative and underestimated power when successful in integrating both aspects.
Aligns with the Moon in Scorpio
Upright Meaning – Knowledge, the guardian of the unconscious, spiritual enlightenment, and divine knowledge. This card suggests to pay attention to dreams and symbolism and how this information is appearing in the physical world. Your strength is intuition and not intellect. If this appears in a reading for a male, it suggests they need to focus on their female “Anima” aspects, trust yourself, your intuition, and stay away from the social norms. This could be an indication of psychic abilities and 6th senses.
Reversed Meaning – The reverse of this card means the intellect is louder than your inner, intuitive voice. It calls out to be listened to but you have chosen to shut it off. Meditation and a spiritual practice would allow this voice to regain momentum. Do not look for outside validation. Your validation comes with listening to this voice and watching it manifest as truth. If this card is pulled for a scenario and not a person, this card means there may be gossip or negative social aspects happening behind the scenes. By listening to your inner voice you can help navigate what is not being said to your face.
Key elements – She is known as Persephone, Isis, the Corn Maiden and Artemis. She sits on a throne in front of a veil and the other realms. Two columns from Solomon’s Temple (represents that only the initiated may pass) surround her, one black and one white (darkness and light). She wears a blue robe (symbolizing knowledge) and a crown of Isis (triple goddess), whilst the cross on her chest represents the balance of masculine and feminine. Her hand partially hides the Torah (esoteric knowledge) and she has the moon under her left foot (dominion over intention and manifestation).

(The Empress from the Loki Tarot)

The Empress

Number 3 in numerology represents a disharmony of sorts but looking towards the future. I always see it as building for the stability and balance of 4, but not quite there yet.
Aligns with Venus in Taurus
Upright Meaning – This card represents the connection to beauty, fertility, sensuality, creativity, and nurturing behavior. This card asks, no matter your gender or sensitivities, to embrace these aspects. Choose to create beauty in your life, get in touch with your sensuality, appreciate the things you enjoy in life. This card can sometimes indicate a pregnancy or birth when paired with other minor arcana cards, or even the birth of an idea. Spend time in nature to stay balanced and allow your manifestations of the mind materialize in the material plane. This card can be someone exploring the role as the ’Mother’ in the triple goddess aspect. Nurture your children as this connection with beauty, fertility, and so on. By approaching this aspect, we allow this to manifest in our lives as well as those that surround us.
Reversed Meaning – This represents a loss of personal power either through ignoring your own needs or putting the emotional or material needs or desires before your own. Are you doing too much for others or are you having trouble cooperating? This unbalance is from your approach and choices. If you are struggling with balance, take some time for yourself. It’s possible you have an unhealthy perspectives about relationships and what role you play. Are you attempting to manipulate someone through overprotective choices (the demanding/smothering mother). It may also be that the nest has emptied and you don’t know how to put your energy into re-inventing your role and creative energies.
Key elements – She is the female ruler Demeter, Freyja and the goddess of fertility. We see a full-figured woman with a calm demeanor sitting on a throne. She wears a crown of stars (showing the connection with the realm of angels and Fey) and pomegranates (fertility) adorn her dress. She sits on a red velvet throw with the symbol of Venus. Surrounding her is a vibrant forest with a stream running through (connection with Mother Earth). Energy is both calming and rejuvenating to her. Golden wheat cut in the foreground indicates a healthy harvest in the past and future.

(The Emperor from Tarot del Fuego)

The Emperor

Number 4 in numerology represents a balance, strength and stability. it is a masculine number and somewhat based in logic, organization and patience.
Aligns with Aries and the Sun in Capricorn
Upright Meaning – The emperor is the provider, protecting and defending his loved ones. He always has guidance and wisdom through his authority, although he remains grounded. By carefully taking inventory of his thoughts he can create order from chaos. If you get this card, it is suggested to maintain the plan, and allow those ideas to manifest on the physical plane. A sort of sad but realistic aspect is the Emperor dominates the mind over the heart. Instead maintain confidence in your approach, do what you know, and master yourself.
Reversed Meaning – This is an overuse and abuse of power. It is the patriarchy and all that is unbalanced in this realm. Dominating and rigid thinking, insecure men throwing their weight around. Perhaps this card is asking you to stand up to this authority in your own life or that which affects your own life? You may feel powerless, but strangely enough your power can come from structure here. It is possible your intention is to avoid this type of emperor role in your job or family life. Are you looking to add chaos into your life? Perhaps your partner has become the overbearing individual of a relationship and your freedom has been stifled. This is a card of many unbalanced possibilities.
Key elements – The Emperor is the male compliment to the Empress. He is the “Animus” in Jungian Archetypes and the patriarch. He has a long white beard (showing experience),and sits on a throne decorated with four ram’s horns (meaning intellectual achievements of determination, action, initiative, and leadership). Behind the throne are barren mountains and are in contrast to the rams heads; which are a symbol of Aries. In his hand he holds an Ankh (symbol of life) and in the other an orb (the world he rules). His colors are red and orange, of passion and life and the lower chakras.

(The Hierophant from Pierpont Morgan Visconti Sforza Tarocchi)

The Hierophant

Number 5 in numerology represents dynamic energy, a bit of chaos, change or the need for freedom.
Aligns with Taurus and the Sun in Sagittarius.
Upright Meaning – Adapt to the boundaries of your situation. Don’t try to think outside the box. It suggests to think about honoring some tradition or ceremony in your life, or perhaps think about creating your own tradition for yourself. It is not a time to be innovative but instead stick with the ‘expected rules’. He can also symbolize a wise counsellor, priest or spiritual mentor that has entered your life. He is the systematic structure of institutional learning and knowledge. The Magician points the way while the Hierophant is the spiritual teacher who helps us connect with the divine. His magic is found through social means and not of the elemental realms.
Reversed meaning – Reversed this can indicate you feel restricted and unable to have the flexibility you desire in your own life. Here it is all about breaking free and breaking the rules. Buck the system, and seek opportunities that are outside of the norm. Have you been running on automatic, following the crowd? This reversed Hierophant is like the young teenager rebelling against authority. It could also represent an authority figure who rules with an iron fist; for the sake of rules and appearances.
Key elements – He is the masculine counterpart to the High Priestess. he is the Chiron, the Pope, and the Shaman. We see a male religious figure in a church, wearing three representations of his religious status. A crown with three tiers, and his hand in benediction, the triple sceptre, and the cross key (balance between conscious and subconscious). As the Magician uses his power of the elemental realms, the Hierophant uses society to manifest. His job is to bring initiates into the church so they can participate in their roles.

(The Lovers from Trionfi della Luna)

The Lovers

Number 6 in numerology represents harmony and is one of the most balanced numbers when thinking of kindness, love, satisfaction, and so on.
Aligns with Gemini in Venus and Mars
Upright Meaning – This could represent mutual attraction and balance in a relationship. They have created strength and trust between them and a desire to be intimate with each other. It can also indicate having clear boundaries between the individualism of each person, perhaps suggesting the strength in being true to oneself. It could also represent a choice or dilemma. Are you at a moral crossroad, where you need to make a decision that requires you to own your own beliefs about what is important in life? Seek higher guidance to help you decipher what is the best for you or the situation. Further, you may see this as a need to represent and balance both male and female qualities within the self. More often it is seen as a reflection of the self when compared to that of a relationship.
Reversed Meaning – The Lovers reverse can indicate inner conflicts and an unbalance of the dualities of the self. It suggest a disharmony perhaps within the self or a relationship. The potential was there in the relationship but it has fallen out of sync. If it cannot be resolved it will become the ‘make or break’ in the relationship. With this in mind one can accommodate this adjustment into their relationship to help bring it back to balance. Other cards nearby this card will help indicate if this is internal or external.
Key elements – We see two figures (male & female) being blessed or protected by an angelic force above (Raphael the angel of Air). The brings deeper meaning to the connection of Gemini and the aspect of communication for a healthy relationship. The sun shines over the couple bringing warmth and security, and the garden behind them is lush and fertile. The snake behind the woman reminds us of the story of Adam and Eve. Notice there are flames (perhaps of passion) behind the man. 12 flames represent the 12 zodiac signs. The mountain in the background is phallic reminding us of the balance between the two figures.