Tarot meanings & definitions

The simple definition of the tarot is a set of 78 cards with pictures and symbols on them, used for divination. The meaning of the tarot cards depends on your preferred sources, and the deck you use. In my experience, tarot can be use for a whole lot more than people realise, hence this website.

• Major
• Wands
• Cups
• Swords
• Disks

Compare the meanings of the tarot cards between the main versions. The definition section has been expanded to give you probably the most comprehensive list of meanings to choose from:

• My definitions based upon years of reading the tarot
• Rider-Waite by A.E. Waite
• Golden Dawn meanings probably by McGregor Mathers
• Book of Thoth by Aleister Crowley and Frida Harris, including his mnemonics for the Major Arcana
• McGregor Mathers, Head of the Golden Dawn (see how the meanings slightly differ to the Golden Dawn meanings above)
• Etteilla, the French card reader
• Thierens, an enthusiastic amateur astrologer and tarot reader under the thrall of A.E. Waite
• Ouspensky (Major Arcana only)
• Links to Liber 777

You can read the original book sources for:

• McGregor Mathers
• Ouspensky
• Thierens

Who can we rely on?

Of all the writers listed here, the Book of Thoth, Mathers and the Golden Dawn, and the Rider-Waite definitions are probably most accurate. Etteilla is an early and prime source for the Golden Dawn.

The difficulty in obtaining a tarot deck is exploited by P.D. Ouspensky, who pretends to have visions of the Major Arcana, but it is clear that he has the Rider-Waite deck in front of him. However, Ouspensky is redeemed by bringing a spiritual dimension to the interpretations.

Thierens on the other hand is genuine in his belief in the attributions of the Tarot - he is guided by A.E. Waite. Unfortunately Thierens manages to be wrong on just about everything, from the elemental attributions to the astrological attributions, even when he gleefully quotes from the Rider-Waite! I can only hope Waite wrote the Introduction without actually seeing the manuscript. I suppose Thierens was never an initiated member of the Golden Dawn or other esoteric Masonic organisation, which is why Waite was so disingenous.

Tarot Magic

If you want to use tarot for magic try this system.