Whether you are searching for guidance or you want to deepen a relationship with your inner-self, tarot cards can pave the way for clarity and understanding. Are you striving to overcome challenges and motivate self-growth? If so, this beginner’s guide and printable activities from Redbubble will help you to learn the strings of the cards so you can embark on a journey of self-understanding.
What is the Major Arcana?
These 22 cards represent life themes that are central to your identity. Major Arcana cards have karmic influences and archetypal matters that guide your soul’s exploration to enlightenment. A few of the most common major arcana cards and their meanings include:
- The Fool: beginnings
- The Fool has a number of 0 and can be positioned at the beginning or end of the Major Arcana.
- The Magician: resourcefulness, action
- The Magician is numbered 1 and this card represents skillful resourcefulness and power.
- The High Priestess: intuition
- The High Priestess represents a connection with the inner world. She is sometimes seen as a partner to the Magician and is a master of one’s subconscious thoughts.
To learn more about all the Major Arcana cards and their meanings, download this tarot card guide for future readings.
Court Cards and Personas
Known as the “personality” cards, the 16 court cards allow you to choose which cards you identify with most. Although they don’t have to always correspond with a person’s entire identity, they can express one’s emotions at a given state in life. Here are just several of the court cards:
- Kings:
- leadership, self-control, and discipline over one’s inner self
- Queens:
- maturity, compassion, and kindness to others and to one’s self
- Knights:
- action, movement, and effective routines in everyday life
Because tarot cards are all about self-reflection, print out this fun court card exercise to analyze the personalities of individuals in your life!
Reading tarot cards
Interpreting tarot cards may seem tricky, but there isn’t really a “wrong” way to read them. Trying out different spreads and recording interpretations can gradually help you improve and get the hang of complicated card combinations.
A 3-card spread is a great place to begin reading the cards. Draw 3 cards and lay them out in front of you. Interpreting the cards is all about intuition, but here is a guide to help you get started:
- Card 1:
- Symbolizes the past and analyze reflections
- Card 2:
- Represents the present, current challenges, and opportunities
- Card 3:
- Relates to the future and what may be coming
To help you practice and understand your deck, print out this three-card spread reflection sheet to impress all of your friends and learn more about what comes next!
