Tarot Meaning

Finding meaning in a tarot reading is complicated. Often, there are different definitions assigned to the same cards. There are also hundreds of different decks of tarot, and hundreds of different spreads (the pattern in which a deck is dealt). Therefore, it's difficult to say that one symbol, word, or number has a specific meaning. Sometimes they will mean different things on different cards. So, how can you depend on a reading to be precise? The answer is that you can't.

The meaning that readers find in tarot is not about precision. Tarot is about interpretation, intuition, patterns, and practiced judgment. Therefore you can not count on tarot to be the same every time. It is not an exact science, and even if you believe in the powers of the tarot, you realize that sometimes it can be inaccurate.

It is possible to find common, standard definitions of individual cards. However, these are not simple or straight forward. For example, in the Rider-Waite deck, The Fool represents beginnings. This can refer to a journey that is mental, physical, or spiritual. However, "beginnings" is the representation of The Fool when it is upright. If the card is placed reversed, the meaning is different. It represents impulsive actions and rash decisions. The upright meaning of cards is generally positive, and the reversed meaning is usually negative.

There are many symbols that appear on tarot cards. These symbols don't have consistent meanings, only common ones. Often the pentagram, or the five pointed star, represents protection and balance. In tarot the sun will often represent energy and vitality. Finding meaning in tarot is a complicated process, but if you have the desire, you can be a successful reader of tarot meaning.