Holding the tarot in your hand is like holding all of life. It’s kind of placating to know that life’s themes, be they past, present or future, can be summed up in just so many cards.
There are a few themes and cards that have really helped me cope with anxiety. It’s interesting to note that these are not new concepts—far from it.
Tarot has helped me discover forever truths about purpose and balance in a very relaxed and focused setting. The combo of mindfulness and repetition (as coach used to say, repetition deepens the impression) has helped so many things click for me.
It’s funny to note that I have also gone through CBT, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a lot of the lessons that I learned then were not cemented until I began learning tarot.
Anyway, here they are…
First, everything happens in cycles.
You are start as nothing & nowhere, then you are born, then you live, then you die. That’s the grand loop of our lives. What tarot has helped me see is that life is comprised of many loops. For example, we tend to take after our parents, letting their mistakes dictate the ones we make. Then the same happens with your kids.
There’s a card dedicated to this concept called The Wheel of Fortune. I love the metaphor of a wheel to symbolize life—it’s always rolling along and there’s no side you’re more likely to get.
This idea of everything happening in cycles helps me to let go. If it’s gonna be random, might as well enjoy the ride. (Besides, another turn is coming up soon.)
Nothing is good or bad, not really.
One question you always get when you’re reading for other people is…
Is that bad?
But there is no good or bad in tarot! Or at least—there’s no state that’s more valuable than another. Similar to the point above, there’s highs and there’s lows. While the lows can genuinely suck and be miserable, they’re very rarely everything. Your life keeps on going.
Death shows us that to make room for the new, we must get rid of the old. This process can be painful, but out of that pain can come something beautiful. I know it and you know it too.
There’s no “there.”
The first time I read a spread, I was surprised to see my life laid out in front of me. Some parts were positive, others were not where I wanted them to be. Regardless, I saw that day after day (and month after month) the theme continued.
I realized that life will never be perfect. Even if all my dreams come true and I’m top of the world as exactly the person I want to be, those victories will bring new struggles.
It’s true, bad comes out of good and vice-versa. Every part of our lives are important. I try to appreciate the present moment instead of yearning for a “brighter” future now.
I am in command.
Although anxiety can sometimes get the better of me, I have learned from tarot that if there’s anything I can control, it’s my actions.
The Strength card really drives this home for me. It features a lion, because it’s about honoring and mastering animal nature. Though the wild can be terrifying, the fact that it is unruly makes it truly powerless.
I have learned to bring anxiety to heel. I see it for what it is now—irrationality standing on weak legs—and I tend to it rather than being upset at it.
You know your deck so well. You hold it in your hands often, and maybe even slept with it under your pillow. But for some reason, it’s given you a “bad” reading and thrown you for a loop. How could it be wrong? You heard the cards were never wrong.
Tarot is a marvelous, magical tool for intuitive insight. When the cards don’t give us a clear answer, it can be disheartening. What could be the matter?
First, check in with yourself. If you are not in a balanced mental state, the cards may be picking up your energy. This can happen because of a crisis or just because you didn’t slept well the night before.
If you are reading for someone else, and they’re giving you a look and a headshake for every card, be sure to ask them what your interpretation means to them. Together you can figure out how the card fits into the person’s life.
Another thing to consider is that a tarot reading is just a snapshot in time. As soon as you put your cards down and read them, the future can change based on what you learn. Sometimes what you think is a “bad” reading is you learning what you actually want, which may have been unclear before the reading. Tarot readings are not prophecies because we are never static.
Remember tarot readings are a mixture of present and future. If just part of the reading seems off, it could mean that those energies haven’t entered your life yet.
Consider that the energy of the cards is there… but the story you’re associating with may be wrong. This is easy to fall into if you use a certain deck for a while. For example, in Rider-Waite, the Ten of Swords shows a man stabbed in the back. If you were to read just what is pictured in the card, you’d see a betrayal. However, while each card represents a focused and isolated energy, realize that the energy is faceted. The Ten of Swords, being a 10 card, can simply mean the end of a cycle. Together with the suit of swords, it’s the end of a cycle of great upheaval and change. In this case, the Ten of Swords can actually be a relief.
As a last resort, you can also clean your cards. After so many readings, your cards will absorb energy—good and bad—and may feel a little off. You can clean your cards by placing them under the light of the full moon overnight or placing them in salt overnight with plastic wrapped to protect them. A quartz crystal also helps as it absorbs energy indiscriminately as well.
Tarot is a rich tapestry of interwoven themes. From numerology to elements, suits to modalities, there’s no end to studying the tarot because there is always deeper meaning when you take a look.
Today I’d like to discuss the astrology of the minor arcana specifically. These are cards 2–10 in each suit: pentacles, wands, cups, and swords. We’re not counting the aces or court cards for now, to keep things simple, but there is still a treasure trove to cover and practice with just in cards 2–10.
First, let’s go over the basic structure (you may know some of this information already but bear with me) and then we’ll go into detail on how astrology touches each and every card.
Astrology in tarot, the basics for beginners
Wands correspond to FIRE signs: Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius.
Cups correspond to WATER signs: Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces.
Swords correspond to AIR signs: Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini.
Pentacles correspond to EARTH signs: Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo.
Here’s the next step.
Astrology modalities and tarot
Each element (fire, earth, air, and water) has 3 signs. But, an Aries is very different from a Sagittarius and Leo, though they have the same element of fire within them.
The thing that makes different is a called a modality or quality. There are 3 modalities.
#1. Cardinal
These signs, Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn BEGIN their respective seasons. Aries begins spring; Cancer, summer; Libra, fall; and Capricorn, winter. They’re the first sign of each season. This gives them the special quality of being go-getter starters. They’re great with leadership.
In tarot, the cardinal modality rules the numbers 2, 3, and 4.
#2. Fixed
These signs, Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius are in the MIDDLE of their respective seasons. Taurus, spring; Leo, summer; Scorpio, fall; and Aquarius, winter. They’re the middle sign of each season. They’re great for keeping things going at a steady pace, something like a workhorse.
In tarot, the fixed modality rules the middle numbers, 5, 6, and 7.
#3. Mutable
These signs, Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces are at the END of their respective seasons. Gemini, spring; Virgo, summer; Sagittarius, fall; and Pisces, winter. They’re the last sign of each season. They’re great for behind-the-scenes work that requires improvisation and communication, because they don’t like staying still.
In tarot, the mutable modality rules the last numbers, 8, 9, and 10.
Here’s the last step which involves the planets.
Role of astrological planets in tarot
The inner planets (Sun, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn) play a role in the minor arcana. Starting from Aries, the order goes Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, and Jupiter, then it repeats around the wheel.
Planets are the very base of astrology. Signs, like Leo and Aquarius, are abstract so there’s not much realism depicted in them. When a planet is under a sign, such as Moon in Libra, then things get clearer. Here is a list of the planets’ keywords as relevant to tarot.
Sun—ego.
Venus—love.
Mercury—intellect.
Moon—hidden.
Saturn—restriction.
Jupiter—expansion.
Each planet is associated with one number card at a time, so Mars in Aries is the 2 of Wands. Sun in Aries is the 3 of Wands, and Venus in Aries is 4 of Wands.
Now let’s look at each card with this new knowledge.
How to read astrology in tarot
Take a look at the charts together, and let’s start with the Wands.
The Wands
Wands 2, 3, and 4 are ruled by Cardinal Fire (Aries).
The Two of Wands in tarot usually describes choice, prosperity, and opportunity. This card falls under Cardinal Fire and represents Mars in Aries. So this card is very fiery and very ready to get started on something new.
The Three of Wands: peace, waiting period, and vision. I used to always get the Two and Three of Wands mixed up. With astrology in the mix, I can see where they differ. Sun in Aries rather than Mars, this card is much less aggressive.
The Four of Wands: small celebration, thrill, togetherness. Traditionally the card of marriage and small, local-based celebrations (like house parties) you can see Venus in Aries here as a balanced, and calmer fire.
Wands 5, 6, and 7 are ruled by Fixed Fire (Leo).
The Five of Wands: tension, competition, and new Business. Far from being shy, Leo is ready to take on this restrictive challenge. Saturn in Leo doesn’t have an easy time at all, but this card is one of action and activity, not defeat.
The Six of Wands: recognition, celebration, and victory. This card just feels great to get because it’s pretty much a parade. Jupiter in Leo has a great time soaking in the admiration and pride they get from this card.
The Seven of Wands: under siege, defiance, challenge. Mars in Leo here is about the warring of inner and outer worlds. This card comes up for example when people close to you are against you on a matter.
Wands 8, 9, and 10 are ruled by Mutable Fire (Sagittarius).
The Eight of Wands: swift movement, busy activity, change. This card represents Mercury in Sagittarius so its energy is ever-changing and dynamic.
The Nine of Wands: on guard, defense. The Moon is Sagittarius makes this card about things that are hidden. With this card, you’re not sure what you’re guarding against. Because Sagittarius, jovial and communicative, doesn’t like being under the Moon, this card is full of inner conflict.
The Ten of Wands: overworking. The old, “forgot why I’m doing this in the first place” card. When you’re burdened, this card comes up. As the Saturn in Sagittarius card, it represents restriction of joy, exploration, and movement.
The Pentacles
Pentacles 2, 3, and 4 are ruled by Cardinal Earth (Capricorn).
The Two of Pentacles: juggling, disorganized, scattered. Jupiter in Capricorn may be overwhelming. Capricorn is about hard work and structure. What happens when you multiply that concentration and effort by two?
The Three of Pentacles: mastery, networking, investment. Here Mars helps Capricorn seize the opportunity to get what it needs to move ahead in the corporate world, which is recognition.
The Four of Pentacles: miserliness, closed, stability. When the Sun is in Capricorn, everything goes towards the center, the ego of the person. All of this material abundance ends up not moving.
Pentacles 5, 6, and 7 are ruled by Fixed Earth (Taurus).
The Five of Pentacles: setback, rocky times , financial loss. Rather at a loss for what to do with themselves, and with their mouth shut, Mercury in Taurus is stuck in a bad situation. Will they learn to communicate their needs?
The Six of Pentacles: generosity, charity, accepting help. The Moon in Taurus represents material things that are hidden. When giving charity, we know not to give so much that we put ourselves at a disadvantage. So although this is a card of charity, there are definitely some calculations in the background.
The Seven of Pentacles: vision, waiting, time will tell. Saturn in Taurus asks, “Was my work enough?” Perhaps, perhaps not, but it’s a solid (fixed) time of waiting that feels closed off from clear hope.
Pentacles 8, 9, and 10 are ruled by Mutable Earth (Virgo).
The Eight of Pentacles: craftsmanship, pride, spiritual peace. The Sun (ego) in Virgo takes pride in their work, though they are not as tied to the work itself (like fixed earth, Taurus) but rather what it means and where it gets them.
The Nine of Pentacles: comfort, solitary happiness, luxury. It’s a beautiful sight to see—Venus in Virgo! Careful, kind, loving of small animals, this card represents a time when you achieve a personal paradise through diligence work.
The Ten of Pentacles: fortune, family, big money. Mercury in Virgo is a natural match. Mercury loves being in Virgo. This mutable earth sign gives Mercury the freedom—and ground—to grow into something fruitful.
The Swords
Swords 2, 3, and 4 are ruled by Cardinal Air (Libra).
The Two of Swords: hard choice, stalemate, truce. The Moon (what is hidden) shows itself through the Air sign of Libra as a mental block between two decisions.
The Three of Swords: heartbreak, war, pain. What could this heartbreak be but Saturn in Libra? Saturn, the planet of restrictions and hard knocks, and Libra, the one who thrives on relationships?
The Four of Swords: rest, observation, preparation. With Jupiter in Libra, this card represents a big breath of relief as you get time to think and rest your mind.
Swords 5, 6, and 7 are ruled by Fixed Air (Aquarius).
The Five of Swords: hubris, pride, defeat. Representing new and sometimes foolish beginnings, this is the Venus in Aquarius card. Showing off and rebellion are clear in this placement, as they are in this card. Venus doesn’t like being in close-minded Aquarius, so there’s an factor of detriment.
The Six of Swords: journey, companion, peace. Mercury is the planet that brings forward motion to Aquarius. This card represents freedom which is something that Aquarius loves and will work more-or-less with Mercury (traditionally ruled by Gemini) to achieve.
The Seven of Swords: theft, hidden, deception. This infamous card is the Moon in Aquarius card, also known as the “unsustainable deception” card. In this placement, Aquarius is detached and likes to shock people just because. They consider themselves “above” emotion which is of course not entirely right nor beneficial—unsustainable indeed.
Swords 8, 9, and 10 are ruled by Mutable Air (Gemini).
The Eight of Swords: isolation, pain, trapped. Gemini is overwhelmed here, being under Jupiter which multiplies its mercurial, anxious energy. However, Gemini also has all its positive attributes multiplied here, so it can get itself unstuck with a change in perspective.
The Nine of Swords: anguish, worrying, rumination. Mars in Gemini gives this card an aggressive edge compared to the Eight of Swords. There’s a bite to this anxiety—it haunts you from wake to sleep.
The Ten of Swords: betrayal, ending, fate. The Sun in Gemini shows its shadow aspect: being detached and flighty in relationships. It comes back to bite them when all is said and done, if they don’t balance out their ego.
The Cups
Cups 2, 3, and 4 are ruled by Cardinal Water (Cancer).
The Two of Cups: compatibility, partnership, meeting. Venus in Cancer. Is there anything sweeter when it comes to emotional expression? The balance and relationship aspect of Venus is strong here.
The Three of Cups: abundance, commitment, togetherness. Mercury in Cancer—communication is with people close to the home. It’s prosperous times all-around with this openness of emotion.
The Four of Cups: trivial loss, self-absorbed, daze. When the Moon is in Cancer, there are bound to be some aspects of the heart that are obscured. Here it’s gratitude that’s obscured, hard to see.
Cups 5, 6, and 7 are ruled by Fixed Water (Scorpio).
The Five of Cups: loss, regret, crash. Emotions are felt so strongly, it feels like an internal war. That’s what Mars in Scorpio brings. The depths of despair feel as deep as a well.
The Six of Cups: nostalgia. On the positive side of Scorpio, as it’s under the Sun, we see deep appreciation for spiritual aspects of life.
The Seven of Cups: illusion, choice paralysis, fantasy. Venus in Scorpio always wants more. In astrology and tarot, this can lead to some tricky situations. This card comes up when you’re not closing doors and instead opening new ones.
Cups 8, 9, and 10 are ruled by Mutable Water (Pisces).
The Eight of Cups: moving on, journey, abandonment. Saturn in Pisces. It’s not a match made in heaven. When Pisces feels out of control, like it will when it’s under Saturn, it chooses to just decline the challenge.
The Nine of Cups: satisfaction, accomplishment, indulgence. This card can come up when you feel great satisfaction in providing for your friends or family. Jupiter expands the compassionate, generous qualities of Pisces.
The Ten of Cups: peace, joy, family. Although Mars and Pisces do not typically get along, the combination leaves a door open yearning for more, more, and more. A great trait for the “happy family” card.
That’s it.
Hope you enjoyed this post! Leave a comment with what you got out of it: any insights or realizations?
