Tarot is a practice that can guide people on their spiritual and psychological journeys – and complement their meditation practice – because it’s a mirror reflecting our subconscious, helping us navigate our inner and outer worlds.
Understanding the Tarot: Major and Minor Arcana
The first fundamental understanding in the tarot is the difference between the Major and Minor Arcana. Here’s how the deck is divided into sections:
The Major Arcana (22 cards) – Represent major life themes, spiritual lessons, and significant turning points.
The Minor Arcana (56 cards) – Deal with everyday experiences and personal development, divided into four suits.
The Court Cards (16 cards) – Though typically classified as part of the minor arcana, the Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings are distinct from the rest of the deck and represent personality archetypes, influences, or aspects of ourselves.
Elements Associated with Tarot Cards
Each of the four suits in the Minor Arcana is connected to an element, offering deeper meaning in readings:
Wands (Fire): Creativity, action, passion, and movement.
Cups (Water): Emotions, intuition, relationships, and the subconscious.
Swords (Air): Thought, intellect, communication, and challenges.
Pentacles (Earth): Stability, material wealth, career, and the physical realm.
The Three-Card Spread: A Simple but Powerful Reading
One of the most common and insightful Tarot spreads is the three-card spread, which can be read in different ways:
1. Elemental Strength of the Reading
The middle card is the significator, answering your question or presenting the main theme.
The left and right cards influence the strength of the reading:
Two surrounding cards of the same element (fire, water, air, or earth) reinforce and strengthen the message.
Opposing elements, such as fire and water, indicate a weaker or conflicted reading.
2. Past, Present, and Future Spread
The middle card represents the present situation.
The left card symbolizes the past, providing context.
The right card indicates the future, offering guidance on what’s ahead.
Daily, Weekly, and Monthly Readings
Using Tarot regularly can help track patterns and provide valuable insights:
Daily Readings: Use a Minor Arcana card to reflect on daily influences.
Weekly Readings: Pull a Court Card to understand personal dynamics and challenges for the week.
Monthly Readings: Draw from the Major Arcana to gain insight into overarching themes and life lessons for the month.
Case Study: The Tower and The Sun
Last month, my girlfriend and I pulled The Tower and The Sun for our monthly reading. At first, we weren’t sure what to make of it, but within that month, our home burned down. The Tower represents sudden destruction and upheaval, while The Sun is a symbol of clarity and renewal. Looking back, this reading served as an important warning—not a prophecy, but a message urging us to be prepared.
Learn about our traumatic but ultimately transformative experience of losing our home here.
Many people fear drawing negative cards, but Tarot isn’t about predicting doom. Instead, it provides awareness. Had we taken The Tower’s lesson to heart, we might have evacuated earlier or safeguarded more of our belongings. Even the most challenging cards hold transformational power—destruction makes space for rebirth. In our case, the fire led us to a new chapter of healing and renewal.
Tarot and Meditation: A Spiritual Practice
Tarot can enhance meditation by offering a visual and symbolic focus for contemplation. Each card contains imagery that connects to the collective unconscious, providing insight into personal psychology and spiritual growth.
How to Meditate with Tarot: A Step-by-Step Guide
Choose Your Daily Card – Draw a card and place it on your altar.
Observe the Imagery – With eyes open, take in the colors, symbols, numbers, and words.
Close Your Eyes – Visualize the card in your mind, holding the image.
Contemplate and Reflect – Let thoughts and associations arise naturally.
Set Your Intention – Use the card’s message to guide your energy for the day.
Tarot is not fortune telling—it’s a spiritual practice for deepening self-awareness, mindfulness, and personal growth.
Looking to deepen your meditation practice? My Journey Through Meditation ebook offers practical techniques to integrate mindfulness and spiritual insight into your daily life. Get your copy here.