The Tarot
A guide to the structure, history, and symbolism of the Rider-Waite deck.
What is the Tarot?
The Tarot is a deck of 78 cards, each rich with symbolism and meaning. For centuries, it has been used as a tool for reflection, guidance, and self-discovery — not as a way to predict the future, but as a mirror to help you see your present more clearly.
The deck used here is the Rider-Waite Tarot, first published in 1909. It was created by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, and it remains the most widely recognized tarot deck in the world. Its imagery is vivid, accessible, and deeply layered with symbolic meaning.
"The Tarot does not tell you what will happen. It shows you what is — and what could be, if you choose to see it."
Structure of the Deck
The 78 cards are divided into two main groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.
Major Arcana — 22 Cards
The Major Arcana represents the big themes of life — the soul's journey, major life lessons, and deep archetypal forces. These cards often appear in readings when something significant is at play.
Minor Arcana — 56 Cards
The Minor Arcana reflects the everyday — the small choices, emotions, challenges, and practical matters of daily life. It is divided into four suits, each representing a different aspect of human experience.
The Four Suits
Each suit has 14 cards: Ace through Ten, plus Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Together, they map the full spectrum of human experience.
Wands
Fire · Passion · Creativity · Ambition
Cups
Water · Emotion · Love · Intuition
Swords
Air · Mind · Conflict · Clarity
Pentacles
Earth · Body · Work · Material World
Wands ask: What drives you? · Cups ask: What do you feel? · Swords ask: What do you think? · Pentacles ask: What do you have?
Court Cards
Each suit has four court cards — Page, Knight, Queen, and King. They often represent people, personality traits, or aspects of yourself.
- Page — Messenger, student, curiosity, a fresh start.
- Knight — Action, movement, courage, the one who goes after it.
- Queen — Nurturing, wisdom, emotional depth, mastery of the suit.
- King — Authority, structure, leadership, the mature expression of the suit.
Why Upright Only?
This reader uses only upright cards — every card is read in its positive, clear expression. There are no reversed meanings here.
This is a deliberate choice. Reading upright-only keeps the interpretation direct and focused, especially for those who are new to tarot or who prefer clarity over complexity. The upright meaning of a card is its most essential message — and that is often exactly what you need to hear.
If you want to explore reversals, you can always turn to your own deck and explore the other side of each card. But here, we keep it clear.