The Meaning of Each Tarot Card: Symbols and Meanings

Tarot has been a tool people turn to when they’re looking for clarity — not just answers, but understanding.

It’s not really about predicting future events or helping you get intel on your ex. It’s more about reflection and insights, noticing patterns, and making space and time to check in with yourself.

In this list of the meanings of each tarot card (across the traditional 78 cards), we’ll look at the meanings and symbols of each tarot card through more of a self-care lens.

Doing it through the lens of self-care isn’t to overwhelm you, but to help you connect with your deck (or decks if you’re anything like me) in a way more supportive, everyday way.

When you better understand the language of the cards you’re holding, tarot becomes less about getting it “right” and more about using what’s already there to understand yourself more deeply. Eventually, that’ll start to become intuitive tarot card reading and it happens without you even realising it. It’s pretty cool actually 😊✨

Understanding the structure of how Tarot works

A traditional Tarot deck consists of 78 cards, split into two main sections, equally as important as each other but in super different ways: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

The OG tarot deck, the RWS or Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck (created by A.E Waite, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, and first published in 1909) is what we base things on when the term ‘traditional tarot deck’ is used. 

Each card offers a doorway into insight — not in a loud or dramatic way, but through quiet nudges and steady wisdom that helps you pause, reflect, and make choices with a little more awareness.

Tarot doesn’t shout answers at you. It meets you where you are and gently points things out when you’re ready to see them.

Tarot is a mirror. But like any mirror, it can’t make you see what you’re not ready to see, identify, or acknowledge.

The cards don’t take away free will and they most certainly don’t take away the responsibility of you needing to see and recognise what the cards are telling you. 

To make sense of how tarot supports self-care, it helps to look at the deck in two parts. Let’s start with the Major Arcana.

The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana is made up of 22 cards that speak to the bigger moments in life — the shifts, lessons, and inner turning points that shape who we’re becoming.

These cards tend to show up when something meaningful is unfolding, or when you’re being asked to pay attention on a deeper level.

Below, we’ll explore each card and how it can support reflection, growth, and gentle self-care along the way.

🙋🏻♀️ If you’d like to check out my collection of instant download tarot cheat sheets, you can find them here

0. The Fool

The Fool is about beginnings — the quiet kind that don’t come with guarantees. It speaks to curiosity, openness, and the willingness to take a step even when you don’t have the full picture yet.

In self-care readings, The Fool is a reminder that you don’t need certainty to begin — just enough trust to move forward.

Sometimes caring for yourself means letting go of the need to know how it all ends, and allowing yourself to start anyway.

I. The Magician

The Magician embodies resourcefulness and manifestation.

This card suggests that you have all the necessary tools within you to create the reality you desire.

In self-care, this means harnessing your inner strength and recognising your abilities to effect positive change.

II. The High Priestess

The High Priestess represents intuition and the unconscious mind. This card encourages you to tap into your inner wisdom and intuition, essential elements when prioritising self-care.

By listening to your inner voice, you can make choices that resonate deeply with your spirit.

III. The Empress

The Empress symbolises nurturing, abundance, and fertility.

This card reminds you to care for yourself as you would for others.

In terms of self-care, it advocates for indulgence, creativity, and embracing the beauty around you.

IV. The Emperor

The Emperor denotes structure, authority, and control.

This card invites you to establish boundaries in your life, which is crucial for effective self-care.

Prioritising your needs and enforcing limits can help you regain control and balance.

V. The Hierophant

The Hierophant is about tradition, guidance, and spiritual wisdom.

When focusing on self-care, this card can reinforce the importance of community and seeking guidance from mentors or spiritual practices that resonate with you.

VI. The Lovers

The Lovers card signifies relationships and choices, highlighting the importance of emotional connections.

For self-care, this card encourages you to cultivate healthy relationships and make choices that align with your values and self-love.

VII. The Chariot

The Chariot embodies determination and willpower.

This card serves as a reminder that focus and discipline are key to achieving your goals.

In your self-care journey, it emphasises the need to stay motivated and persevere through challenges.

VIII. Strength

Strength represents courage, compassion, and inner strength.

This card emphasises the importance of embracing your vulnerabilities, crucial in the journey of self-care.

It’s about recognising your strengths and using them to support yourself through difficult times.

IX. The Hermit

The Hermit signifies solitude, introspection, and inner guidance.

This card often appears when you need time to reflect and connect with yourself.

In the context of self-care, it emphasises the value of solitude and self-reflection for personal growth.

X. Wheel of Fortune

The Wheel of Fortune represents cycles and change.

It’s a reminder that life is full of ups and downs, and embracing these cycles is essential for self-care.

Recognising that change can bring opportunities preserves your emotional resilience.

XI. Justice

Justice is about fairness, truth, and balance.

This card encourages a fair assessment of your life, both past and present.

When it comes to self-care, it advocates for the need to make decisions that align with your moral compass and values.

XII. The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man signifies surrender and letting go.

This card teaches the importance of perspective shifts, encouraging you to evaluate your life and perspectives critically.

In self-care, it’s about accepting where you are and allowing life to flow without resistance.

XIII. Death

Death represents transformation and endings.

Though it may seem intimidating, this card signifies necessary endings that lead to new beginnings.

Embracing change is vital to self-care, as it allows for growth and renewal.

XIV. Temperance

Temperance embodies balance and moderation, reminding you to blend different aspects of your life.

In terms of self-care, this card encourages finding harmony, whether in emotions, relationships, or day-to-day living.

XV. The Devil

The Devil signifies temptation and materialism but also highlights the importance of acknowledging and confronting your fears.

In your self-care journey, this card urges you to let go of limiting beliefs and confront what holds you back.

XVI. The Tower

The Tower represents chaos and upheaval, often signalling necessary changes.

Though it might bring discomfort, this card serves as a transformative force.

In self-care, it encourages you to challenge the status quo and consider what aspects of your life need rebuilding.

XIV. The Star

The Star embodies hope, inspiration, and spiritual clarity.

This card reinstates confidence in oneself and the universe.

For self-care, it’s about fostering optimism and believing in the potential of new beginnings.

XIV. The Moon

The Moon signifies intuition, illusion, and dreams.

This card encourages exploration of your subconscious, essential for self-discovery.

For self-care practices, it urges you to delve into what lies beneath the surface of your conscious mind.

XIV. The Sun

The Sun is a card of positivity, vitality, and joy.

It signifies success and abundance.

In your self-care routine, The Sun advocates for embracing happiness and recognising the light in your life.

XIV. Judgement

Judgement is about reflection, reckoning, and transformation.

This card indicates a call for awakening, essential for personal growth.

In self-care, it highlights the importance of evaluating your life and making necessary changes.

XIV. The World

The World represents completion, accomplishment, and fulfilment.

This card signifies successful integration of experiences.

In the realm of self-care, it advocates for celebrating achievements and recognising your journey’s worth.

The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands.

Each suit reflects different aspects of life, providing insights into emotions, material concerns, thoughts, and creativity.

Understanding these cards is crucial in harnessing Tarot for self care, but also gaining a grasp of tarot overall. The major arcana and minor arcana are like peanut butter and jelly. I actually prefer peanut butter and honey but you get the point 😊

Cups

The Cups suit represents emotions and relationships. It delves deep into feelings, intuition, and connection.

Pentacles

The Pentacles suit is associated with material aspects, career, and physical well-being. It reflects our relationship with the physical world.

Swords

The Swords suit embodies thoughts, intellect, and conflict. It reveals how our mental landscape influences our well-being.

Wands

The Wands suit reflects creativity, passion, and ambition. It’s about inspiration and personal growth.

Bringing Tarot into The Fold: Why Not Add Some Intuition To Your Self Care Routine?

Using Tarot for self care is a powerful method for connecting with yourself on a much deeper level. Increasing your intuitive superpowers is a beautiful thing.

Bringing Tarot into your routine can boost and evolve your self-reflection and inspire you to try out how exploring your emotions, thoughts, and relationships are sitting. 

This can eventually open the doors to inner child/inner teen healing, reparenting yourself, heal past hurts and traumas in a safe and gentle way, past life healing, exploring Akashic records, and getting to know yourself for who you are now.

Not a past version of you that just won’t go away, or a future version of you that the gurus keep saying you need to “birth into your reality”. Cue the spiritual b.s jargon eyeroll and a hand-covered *gag* 

Here are some practical ways to integrate Tarot into your self-care practices:

Daily Card Draws

Begin your day with a simple daily card draw. Reflect on what the card means to you today and how it applies to your life at that moment. This practice can set a positive tone for your day and encourage mindfulness.

Journaling

Pair your Tarot practice with journaling. You’ll thank me later.

Try this tarot journal Canva template that you can make your own, I reckon you’ll love it!

Write down your card pulls, thoughts, and feelings surrounding each card. This allows for such deeper, more meaningful introspection and can help in processing emotions - the good ones and the not-so-good ones.

Because they all matter and they all have their place within us. 

Life is about balance and tarot journaling can seriously help us to learn that and see the lessons that the universe is trying desperately to make us take notice of.

Having a tarot journal on hand means we can go back over past daily draws, tarot spreads, and tarot readings to see life’s puzzle pieces, trends, links, plus our own self destructive patterns, way more clearly and with a fair amount of clarity

And really, this can only be a good thing. Self awareness is important. I think we can all agree on that.

Tarot Readings

Doing regular Tarot readings for yourself is really fun, super helpful in learning, and opens a world of healing and peace.

Consider trying out themed tarot readings that focus on self-care, emotional balance, or personal growth. These readings can offer insights into areas of your life that may need attention. I have a heap of tarot spreads that I’ve created over on Pinterest

Creating Rituals

Use Tarot cards in your self-care rituals. For example, create a calming atmosphere and meditate on a specific card’s meaning. Allow the symbolism to guide your reflections on your current life situation.

Group Reflection

Engage with a community or a group interested in Tarot. Share your interpretations and insights. This collaborative approach can bring new perspectives and foster emotional connections.

Your (sometimes winding) Path to Insights You Didn’t Know You Needed

Getting into tarot isn’t really about “reading cards” in the dramatic sense — it’s more about learning how to check in with yourself.

As you spend time with the symbols and meanings, you start noticing patterns in how you feel, how you react, and what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

That kind of awareness makes everyday life feel a little easier to navigate.

Tarot as self-care isn’t about predicting anything — it’s about creating space to listen, reflect, and reconnect with yourself in a way that feels truly honest and supportive.

I created a TarotGPT to make sure you can keep up your tarot reading practices while on the go, or don’t have a deck with you, want to know more about your daily card, and so much more! Best part? It’s free af! All you need is a free ChatGPT account and you’re good to go 😊 Find yours here

Always in your corner,

Rachael | MoonHaus Studio

Rachael Jean is the spiritual af artist, fur mum, and tarot deck creator behind MoonHaus Studio. From her beachside home in Victoria, Australia, this top 0.2% Etsy seller with over 41,000 sales, hand-draws indie tarot & oracle decks and designs soul-led journals and grounded printables for intuitive, slow-living women.