What is the meaning of the Tarot cards? The purpose of the cards is to establish the when and why of some important events that took or will take place in the life of a person. In that matter, the meaning of the cards is very important.

However, different decks will deal with meaning in different ways. What the cards mean depends to some extend on what you decide they mean. But then you get into the argument of the chicken and the egg problem about where the meaning comes from. That is why you should consult a professional tarot readers whom experience as be proven throught the years.

Here’s a general meaning of each cards:

Fool is the person whose moral code is being changed. The image on the card shows the fool carrying a satchel, which contains the treasure of true happiness, though apparently the fool isn’t aware of this.

Magician represents powers unleashed by the new moral code, resulting from tapping the energy of the underlying desires.

High Priestess represents the serenity generated by the new moral code, along with the sense of having an intuitive grasp as to the right and wise course of action to take in life.

Empress represents the idea that experiencing pleasure or pain allows us to construct a better moral code. Imagining that we will enjoy something isn’t enough. We must experience pleasure in reality to know for sure whether it is right for us or not.

Emperor represents the idea that taking an active role in life allows us to construct a better moral code. Merely thinking about what we should do isn’t sufficient. We must test our ideas by putting them into practice and seeing what works and what doesn’t.

Hierophant represents the idea that helping and teaching other people allows us to construct a better moral code. Solitary thinking is often confused and irrational. In order to explain our ideas to someone else, we are forced to make our thinking clear and logical.

Lovers represents a union between all components of the mind such that the reasoning mind and moral code work together to satisfy the underlying desires to the maximum extent possible, thereby producing maximum happiness and minimum pain.

Chariot represents the power of control of the mind, symbolized by a team of horses or sphinxes in harness. Controlling the mind means not allowing it to be excessively disturbed by emotions such as anger, greed, fear, worry, jealousy, etc.

Strength represents the power of control over the body, symbolized by a tamed lion. It is the body and its pleasures which are the true source of pleasure and zest in life.

Hermit represents the ability to accept guidance from others. In the image on the card, the hermit is holding a lamp which casts a light who represents the wisdom available from others.

Wheel of fortune represents the power to accept fate. If some people are born physically deformed while others are born healthy, then we must just accept this as the way things are.

Justice represents the power of correct judgement and common sense and healthy skepticism.

Hanged man represents the ability to see that every experience of suffering has something to teach us, and that, to a great extent, we are the cause of our own troubles in life.

Death represents the final destruction of the old moral code, allowing for the creation of a new moral code.

Temperance represents an attempt to rational analyze the existing moral code. This card is related to the alchemical process of purifying a substance through a series of dissolving and combining operations.

Devil represents confrontation with socially disapproved underlying desires. Very often, a moral code that is causing problems for a person is one which has not properly taken into account these socially disapproved desires.

Tower represents a violent rebellion against the old moral code–it is as if we were breaking open the walls of a mental prison. A little discussed esoteric meaning of this card is that it represents the rite of circumcision.

Star represents the moral code, or spirit. The figure is standing on both earth and water. This represents the idea that the optimal moral code results from relying on a blend of emotions and sensation to guide us in the process of change.

Moon represents the underlying desires, or soul. Underlying desires are often hidden, which is why they are associated with the moon, which is associated with the night and darkness.

Sun represents the reasoning mind. The reasoning mind includes the ego, which distinguishes and thus imposes a barrier between the self and the not-self. This barrier is symbolized by the wall in the image on the card.

Judgement represents dissatisfaction and desire to change. Once dissatisfaction is admitted, the next step is to take stock of the existing situation in the mind.

World represents renewed satisfaction with life. So, we return to the starting point, with the cycle repeating each time the moral code becomes obsolete.

Queens, Kings and Knights represent the cardinal, fixed and mutable astrological signs of the element corresponding to the card’s suit.

Numbered cards show how the various aspects of the conscious mind behave in the face of a need for spiritual change.

Aces show the aspect itself. it can be interpreted as a power or opportunity being handed to us, with the exact type of power or opportunity corresponding to the suit of the card.