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Astrology and Tarot
These distinct esoteric practices share a deep and intricate connection to one another. Both are rooted in the exploration of human nature, the cycles of life, and the pursuit of wisdom. By examining how these two systems intertwine, we can better understand how they complement each other to provide psychological insight, spiritual guidance, and clarity.
I do quite a bit of tarot myself. I use it on myself a lot to gain more particular clarity about situations I find myself in. I think it’s very useful for people to know how it relates to astrology. If your anything like me a couple years ago and you feel like you have more knowledge about astrology than tarot, then this one’s for you.
The more I’ve dabbled into tarot, the more I see how I can look to astrology to help me with interpretation when I’m stuck trying to find the meaning of a card I’ve drawn in regards to a specific situation.
I’m going to cover the ways in which these two practices are connected and why it’s excellent to have the fundamental knowledge of both for enriched personal evolution and spiritual growth.
Brief Overview of Astrology and Tarot
Astrology is the study of celestial bodies (Sun, Moon, planets and the. zodiac signs they’re in) and how their positions influence human behavior and earthly events. Each zodiac sign is associated with certain character traits and the Sun, Moon, and planets symbolize the different aspects of the human behavior.
Tarot, on the other hand, is a deck of 78 cards divided into two categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana represents significant life events, lessons, and spiritual forces, while the Minor Arcana is concerned more with everyday issues, emotions, and actions. Like astrology, tarot is used for introspection and guidance that serves to help individuals gain clarity on their life path, identify current challenges, and opportunities to grow.
Though they are separate systems, astrology and tarot have been known to align beautifully thanks to their rich symbolism and use of universal archetypes.
A Profound Connection
At the heart of both astrology and tarot lie the drawing upon archetypes to represent fundamental aspects of human life on Earth. These archetypes reveal internal, truths about one’s personality, growth, where and how to go about personal transformation, and the forces that shape our lives.
Did you know though that each zodiac sign is linked different tarot cards? To name a a few examples, let’s look at the first 3 signs in the zodiac:
Aries is often represented by The Emperor due to it’s symbol of leadership, authority, and the power of personal will. Taurus connects to The Hierophant, representing tradition, values, and spiritual guidance. Gemini reflects the duality of The Lovers, indicating choices, communication, and the balance of opposites. For a full list of the zodiac signs and their symbolic tarot, check tarot.com‘s article, Reveal Your Zodiac Sign’s Tarot Card.
In the Major Arcana of the tarot, certain cards are associated with astrological elements. The Star card, for instance, is associated with the sign of Aquarius. It’s representation of hope, renewal, and visionary thinking and water bearer illustration aligns almost identically with the 11th zodiac sign. Likewise, The Moon card is connected with Pisces. Both symbolize reflecting on one’s intuition, dreams, and unlocking the mysteries of the subconscious.
Planetary Influences on the Tarot
The planetary system of astrology deeply influences the essence of the tarot. Each planet has a corresponding tarot card(s) which reflects the planet’s energy and mirrors the astrological representation of the planet found in an astrological chart.
For example, The Magician is often thought to relate to the planet of Mercury. This card represents intellect, communication, and the ability to manifest with focused intention. Another example is The Empress. Denotingthe themes of Venus (beauty, love, and abundance) she embodies fertility, creative power, and a nurturing energy. The Tower card has a very Mars-like quality. The purpose of this card aims to represent upheaval and conflict through painful revelations and transformations.
When we understand the planetary connections in their corresponding tarot cards, we are treated to an extra layer of interpretation when we use both systems together. Let’s say, you draw The Magician card at a time when Mercury is in retrograde (a time that is famous for bringing widespread miscommunication and going quiet). The combination of the universe’s current cosmic climate and seeing this particular card in your reading may be showing you the challenges in communication you’re experiencing and to take caution when talking to a particular person in a time sensitive to verbal slip ups and misreading the intentions of others.
Why Astrology Enhances the Power of Tarot Readings
Combining astrology with tarot can bring the already depth and nuance of tarot readings to a whole new level. Hyper individualizing it by integrating one’s own the birth chart and considering current astrological transits, can help one interpret the cards in a way that is better relevant to the individual’s life and circumstances.
For instance, let’s say you were going through your Saturn return. This isa MAJOR astrological transit, that happens between the ages of 27-30, that calls upon the individual to buckle down and get serious about their life and what they want out of it. The person experiences a great deal of maturing and hones on a sense of responsibility. Pulling a card like The Hermit or The Devil can support the notion of taking this time to introspect, establish personal discipline, and start doing the work needed to confront your fears and limitations.
Another example could be during a full moon. If this moon is in a water sign (Cancer, Scorpio, or Pisces) and you drew a card like The High Priestess or The Moon this could signal to the individual to start uncovering hidden feelings or seek guidance for emotional healing.
Complementary Tools for Self-Discovery
While astrology can offer potential life paths of a person based on their cosmic blueprint, tarot offers guidance for navigating these paths. Together, these two practices can provide an enhanced approach to understanding ourselves and our place in the universe.
Astrology reveals to us changing cycles and universal energies as well as the potential challenges we may face with them. Tarot on the other hand is immediate intuitive revelations. Astrology is offers a more broad narrative that can sheds light on the past, present AND future. Tarot is more situational and represents what is happening internally here and now.
Weaving together these 2 cosmic languages, we unlock a deeper understanding of both the cosmic forces at play and the personal choices available to us.