Tarot Symbols Explained: A Complete Guide to the Hidden Codes of All 78 Cards
Tarot Symbols Explained — Unlock the Hidden Codes of All 78 Cards
I. Why Every Tarot Card Is a "Symbol Book"
Every single detail on the 78 Tarot cards carries intentional meaning:
- Colors
- Numbers
- Animals
- Plants
- Elements
- Geometric shapes
- Backgrounds
Each element holds a specific symbolic meaning. Once you learn to read these symbols, you can decode the deeper layers of any card rather than relying on surface-level descriptions.
II. The 4 Major Symbolic Systems (Keys to Reading Tarot)
1. Hebrew Letters (Kabbalah)
The 22 Tarot Major Arcana cards correspond to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. This is why The Fool (Card 0) has no corresponding letter — it represents "void" or "source."
Master this correspondence, and you step into the mystical origins of Tarot.
2. Astrology
Each Tarot card corresponds to a planet or zodiac sign:
- 22 Major Arcana + 12 zodiac signs + 10 planets = layered correspondence
- 56 Minor Arcana connect to elements + astrological layers
Master this correspondence, and you unlock the ability to do dual readings: cards and stars.
3. Elements
The four Tarot elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) map directly onto the four suits:
- Wands = Fire
- Cups = Water
- Swords = Air
- Pentacles = Earth
Master this correspondence, and reading all 78 cards becomes much faster.
4. The Tree of Life (Kabbalah)
The 10 "numbered cards (1–10)" correspond to the 10 Sephirot (spheres) of the Kabbalistic Tree:
- 1: Kether (Crown)
- 2: Chokmah (Wisdom)
- 3: Binah (Understanding)
- 4: Chesed (Mercy)
- 5: Geburah (Severity)
- 6: Tiphareth (Beauty)
- 7: Netzach (Victory)
- 8: Hod (Splendor)
- 9: Yesod (Foundation)
- 10: Malkuth (Kingdom)
Master this correspondence, and you'll perceive the spiritual dimension behind every numbered card.
III. The Symbolism of Colors
Each color carries a fixed meaning in Tarot:
| Color | Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Red | Action / Passion / Fire / Blood / Life |
| Blue | Wisdom / Water / Calm / Reflection |
| Green | Growth / Healing / Nature / Heart Chakra |
| Yellow | Sun / Awareness / Intellect / Fire |
| Purple | Spirituality / Wisdom / High Frequency / Divine |
| Gold | Sacred / Father / Sun / Wholeness |
| Silver | Feminine Energy / Moon / Receptivity |
| White | Purity / Spirit / Beginning |
| Black | Shadow / Unknown / Hidden |
| Brown | Material / Earth / Practical |
Examples
- The Empress — abundant green + red → nurturing (green) + life force (red)
- The High Priestess — blue (robes) + moon → wisdom + subconscious
- Death — black (horse) + white (ground) → death + rebirth
IV. Animal Symbolism
Each animal carries a fixed meaning in Tarot:
| Animal | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Lion | Strength / Royalty / Fire |
| Eagle | Vision / Air / Spirit |
| Ox / Bull | Abundance / Earth / Endurance |
| Serpent | Wisdom / Rebirth / Transformation / also danger |
| Unicorn | Purity / Sacred |
| Dog | Loyalty / Guardian |
| Wolf | Shadow / Instinct |
| Rabbit | Fertility / Abundance |
| Swan | Beauty / Transformation |
| Butterfly | Transformation / Soul |
Examples:
- The Emperor (IV) features a ram = Aries (Fire element) + sovereignty
- The Empress (III) features a golden bull = Venus-ruled + abundance
- The Tower (XVI) shows lightning with serpents = divine destruction
V. Plant Symbolism
Plants on Tarot cards are never decoration — they are symbolic:
| Plant | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Rose | Love / Beauty / Wholeness (can also signal secrecy) |
| Lily | Purity / Divine Feminine |
| Pomegranate | Abundance / Fertility / Fecundity |
| Palm | Victory |
| Oak Leaves | Strength / Masculine Energy |
| Olive Branch | Peace |
| Lotus | Spirituality / Awakening (non-Western tradition) |
| Ivy | Eternity / Immortality |
| Daisy | Innocence / Simplicity |
| Apple | Knowledge / Temptation |
VI. Geometric & Number Symbolism
Number Meanings
| Number | Symbolism |
|---|---|
| 0 | Circle / Wholeness / Void / The Fool |
| 1 | Beginning / Source / Divine |
| 2 | Duality / Partnership / Choice |
| 3 | Creation / Completion |
| 4 | Structure / Stability |
| 5 | Change / Conflict |
| 6 | Harmony / Beauty |
| 7 | Introspection / Spirituality |
| 8 | Strength / Justice |
| 9 | Completion / Peak |
| 10 | Fullness / Cyclical Return |
| 11 | Transcendence (Master Number) |
| 12 | Zodiac / Cycle |
| 21 | Completion (Self + Relationship) |
| 22 | Number of Major Arcana (0–21) |
Geometric Symbolism
| Shape | Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Circle | Wholeness / Eternity / Divine |
| Triangle (↑) | Fire / Ascension / Masculine |
| Triangle (↓) | Water / Descent / Feminine |
| Hexagram | Elements + Planets / Grand Balance |
| Pentagram (↑) | Spirit (pointing upward) |
| Pentagram (↓) | Matter (inverted) |
| Cross | Matter + Spirit |
| Eight-Pointed Star | Abundance / Rebirth |
| Arch | Passage to the "Unknown" |
| Pyramid | Ascension / Divine |
| Eye | Awareness / Sight |
VII. Crown & Throne Symbolism
Every King and Queen sits upon some form of seat:
| Seat | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cubic Stone | Material Authority |
| Throne Covered in Symbols | Mastery of Wholeness |
| Water / Fire / Air / Earth | Maturity in That Element |
| Mountain | Spirit / Higher Ground |
| Clouds | Spirituality / Levitation |
| Crown Shape | Divine Authority |
VIII. Sun / Moon / Celestial Symbolism
Tarot cards feature abundant celestial imagery:
| Celestial Body | Symbolism |
|---|---|
| Sun | Awareness / Father / Wholeness |
| Moon | Feminine / Subconscious / Cycles |
| Venus | Love / Beauty |
| Mars | Action / War |
| Mercury | Wisdom / Communication |
| Jupiter | Expansion / Philosophy |
| Saturn | Limitation / Responsibility / Time |
| Uranus | Revolution / Breakthrough |
| Neptune | Spirituality / Fantasy |
| Pluto | Transformation / Death / Rebirth |
IX. Posture & Gesture Symbolism
The poses of figures on Tarot cards also carry meaning:
| Posture | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Standing | Action / Initiative / Present Moment |
| Sitting | Reflection / Internalization / Waiting |
| Kneeling | Humility / Prayer / Petition |
| Leaping | Release / Transformation / Action |
| Flying | Freedom / Spirit |
| Sleeping | Subconscious / Transition |
| Walking | Journey / Progress |
| Embracing | Connection / Acceptance |
| Gazing | Awareness / Mindfulness |
| Covering Eyes | Concealment / Refusal to See |
X. 5 Common Symbolic Pairings
Certain combinations appear repeatedly in Tarot:
Pairing A: Sun + Moon
Sun = masculine / consciousness; Moon = feminine / subconscious. Together = "the integrated Self."
Pairing B: Fire + Water
Fire = action; Water = emotion. Together = "balanced energy."
Pairing C: Rose + Lily
Rose = wholeness / beauty / fleeting; Lily = purity. Together = "beauty + purity."
Pairing D: Triumph + Coronation
"Raising the banner" = completion / victory; "Donning the crown" = acceptance / wholeness.
Pairing E: King + Queen
Masculine + feminine = integrated duality / yin + yang.
XI. Three Steps to Decode Symbolism
Step 1: Observe (5 seconds)
When you draw a card → simply describe what you see, without interpreting.
Step 2: Associate (5 seconds)
For each observed element, ask "what does it make me think of?" and write down 1–3 associations.
Step 3: Integrate (30 seconds)
Weave all your associations into a single story.
Example: You draw The Hermit (IX).
- Seen: an old man / a lantern / a mountaintop / a staff / gray background
- Associations: old man = wisdom / lantern = guidance / mountaintop = higher perspective / staff = support / gray = introversion
- Integration: "This depicts a state of guided clarity through inner wisdom — finding illumination in solitude."
XII. Closing Thoughts: Symbolism Is the "Skeleton" of Tarot
Standard meanings are Tarot's "face," but symbolism is Tarot's "skeleton." Learn the symbols, and you can read any card you've never seen before.
Our Lotus Tarot app comes with multilingual interpretations for all 78 cards, including each card's symbolism and meaning. This makes learning the symbolic language structured and efficient.
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For entertainment purposes only. Symbolism is a tool for interpretation — there are no absolute answers.