Unlocking Tarot Symbolism: A Guide to Deeper Readings

Feb 255 min read

Updated: Feb 27

Unlocking Tarot Symbolism: A Guide to Deeper Readings

Tarot is a language of symbols, each card rich with imagery that holds layers of meaning. Understanding tarot symbolism allows readers to move beyond memorization and into intuitive, insightful readings.

Symbols in tarot act as keys, unlocking messages that speak to both the conscious and subconscious mind.

By learning to recognize and interpret these symbols, you can strengthen your connection to the cards and deepen your readings. Let’s explore the fascinating world of symbolism and how it can enhance your practice.

The Language of Symbols in Tarot

Symbols are the foundation of tarot, offering meaning that goes beyond words. Every image in a tarot card tells a story, allowing readers to tap into their intuition for guidance.

Universal symbols—such as the sun representing vitality or water symbolizing emotions—carry collective meanings across cultures. However, personal symbols, shaped by individual experiences, can also hold profound insights in a reading.

For example, a dog in tarot often represents loyalty and companionship universally, but for someone who had a difficult experience with dogs, it might symbolize fear or caution.

Similarly, the color red is often associated with passion and energy, yet for an individual who associates it with a past event, it could inspire entirely different emotions.

Understanding both universal and personal symbolism helps create richer, more meaningful interpretations.

The Hidden Power of Colors in Tarot

Color plays a crucial role in tarot, influencing emotions and shaping interpretations. Each hue carries psychological and energetic significance—red often signifies passion and action, while blue represents calm and intuition. The colors in a tarot card set the mood for the message it conveys.

For example, yellow in the background of The Fool symbolizes optimism and new beginnings, while the deep black in The Moon suggests mystery and the unknown.

The lush green in The Empress represents abundance and growth, while the stark gray of The Tower reflects upheaval and destruction.

By paying attention to color symbolism, you can enhance your ability to interpret the subtle nuances of a reading.

Animals, Elements, and Archetypes in Tarot

Animals appear in many tarot decks, acting as messengers of instinct, wisdom, and guidance. A lion symbolizes strength and courage, while a butterfly represents transformation and growth. Similarly, elemental associations—earth, air, fire, and water—shape the energy of the cards, linking them to different aspects of life.

The fish in The Page of Cups represents intuition and creative inspiration, while the raven in The Magician can symbolize intelligence and spiritual messages. The serpent coiled around a staff in The World reflects cycles and rebirth, and the dog in The Fool signifies loyalty and protection on the journey ahead.

Archetypal symbols, found throughout tarot, reflect universal experiences and emotions, making them a powerful tool for storytelling and self-discovery.

Numerology & Sacred Geometry in Tarot

Numbers hold deep meaning in tarot, revealing patterns and themes within a reading. The journey from Ace to Ten tells a story of growth and transformation, while major arcana numbers add another layer of depth:

0 – Potential & Infinite Possibilities: Represents pure potential, limitless opportunities, and the space before something begins.
1 – Beginnings & Leadership: A number of new starts, individuality, independence, and manifestation. It represents raw energy and taking initiative.
2 – Balance & Partnership: Symbolizes duality, harmony, cooperation, and choices. It often relates to relationships and intuitive awareness.
3 – Creativity & Growth: Represents self-expression, expansion, collaboration, and the synthesis of ideas. It’s a number of creative energy and communication.
4 – Stability & Structure: Symbolizes a strong foundation, organization, security, and reliability. It’s about discipline and endurance.
5 – Change & Freedom: A dynamic number representing transformation, adaptability, adventure, and challenges that lead to growth.
6 – Harmony & Responsibility: Associated with love, caregiving, home, balance, and service to others. It represents unity and healing.
7 – Introspection & Spirituality: A deeply intuitive and analytical number, representing wisdom, inner knowledge, and a quest for truth.
8 – Power & Abundance: The number of strength, ambition, success, and material mastery. It represents both giving and receiving energy.
9 – Completion & Wisdom: A number of endings, enlightenment, generosity, and fulfilling one’s purpose. It often relates to self-awareness and spiritual growth.
10 – Transformation & New Cycles: Represents both completion and a fresh start. It signifies endings that lead to new beginnings, wholeness, and evolution.

Numerology offers clarity in spreads, helping readers see connections between cards. Sacred geometry, such as circles representing wholeness or triangles signifying balance, further enriches interpretations, offering new perspectives on familiar cards.

Symbolism in the Major Arcana

The Major Arcana unfolds as a symbolic journey known as the Fool’s Journey. Each card represents a significant life lesson, with symbols acting as guideposts along the way. The High Priestess holds a scroll, symbolizing hidden knowledge, while the Chariot’s black and white sphinxes represent duality and control.

The Star pours water into both a pool and the earth, signifying balance between the subconscious and the material world. The Tower’s lightning bolt represents sudden awakening and transformation, and Death’s white rose symbolizes purification and new beginnings.

Learning to decode these symbols allows readers to extract profound insights, making readings more dynamic and transformative.

Bringing Symbolism Into Your Readings

Trusting your intuition is key when working with tarot symbolism. While traditional meanings offer a foundation, personal interpretations bring readings to life. Practical techniques can help strengthen your symbolic fluency.

Meditating on a card’s energy allows you to connect with its deeper message—imagine stepping into the scene, feeling its atmosphere, and noticing which symbols stand out most.

In a reading, pay attention to the most dominant symbols that immediately draw your eye, as they often hold the key to the message. Identifying repeating symbols, colors, and elements across multiple cards can reveal overarching themes, helping you determine what carries the most weight in the reading.

By blending structured knowledge with intuitive understanding, you create a reading style that is both unique and deeply meaningful.

Looking to unlock the secrets of tarot symbolism step by step?

✨ Dive into the Esoteric Key: Tarot Symbolism for Intuitive Readers! 🔮 This comprehensive training is crafted to guide you in deciphering the profound layers of tarot symbolism, enhancing your intuitive connection with the cards.

In this training, you will:

Unlock Symbolic Wisdom: Master the art of interpreting tarot’s rich and intricate imagery with confidence.
Enhance Your Intuition: Learn to effortlessly tap into the messages the cards are eager to share.
Master Esoteric Symbolism: Go beyond rote memorization and discover how to uncover hidden meanings with ease.