Interpretation is the last step of daily tarot pulls. The card you grab doesn’t necessarily predict your future — it explains the vibe around you. The great thing about tarot is that you can work with what’s being revealed at the current moment in time. You have free will! You can work with it OR choose not to. You control your own destiny. The cards are simply there to give you insight or read situations for filth… when they feel like it.
Understanding The Cards:
The Major Arcana
There are 22 Major Arcana, or trump cards, in the deck. All of these cards are numbered from 0-21. They are the important and karmic lessons in life. The Major Arcana point to big feelings, emotions, and decisions. They start with The Fool card, which means beginnings, and end with The World card, which means endings. It is a full journey.
The Minor Arcana
There are 56 Minor Arcana cards, with 14 cards numbered from ace to ten in each suit that represent the essential elements of life. The suits are Wands (fire), Cups (water), Swords (air), and Pentacles (earth). Each number and suit represent a different perspective. For instance, the Ace of Wands is the manifestation of inspiration, while the Ace of Swords is an intellectual breakthrough.
For more tarot basics, head here.
Reversals:
Reversals are when you pull a card and it appears upside down. Pulling reversals can mean many things: that the card needs cleansing, that the shadow side of the card is being expressed, or that the messages are flipped. (Many professional tarot readers do not read reversals. They believe that a card means what it means and ensure their cards are always upright to guarantee that they don’t pull reversals. It's up to you as the tarot reader on how to proceed.)
Pro Tips:
Journaling your daily pulls will allow you more insight into them. Not only will you learn a lot more about yourself, but you’ll develop a relationship with the cards over time by processing your thoughts, emotions, questions, and the answers that have been brought to you.
I like to take a picture of the card that I pulled for myself that day and set it as the screensaver on my phone. That way, I can visually manifest and lean into the meaning of the card throughout the day. Also, it serves as a reminder of how to best deal with any situations that come my way.
How To Care For Your Tarot Cards:
It’s super important to cleanse your cards everyday, or between pulls and readings. Cleansing is also crucial if someone else has used your deck, if you bought a used deck, or if the cards have gotten dirty. If you’ve been pulling a lot of reversals, had an intense reading, or your energy is drained and the readings are not resonating, try cleansing your cards.
To cleanse your tarot cards, first place all of your cards back in order. Then, you have a few options for the cleansing process:
