Tarot Card Meanings
The Rider–Waite Method
The Rider–Waite–Smith deck (1909) is the foundation of nearly every modern tarot system. Created by Arthur Edward Waite, a scholar and mystic, and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith, an artist with a gift for symbolism, this deck transformed tarot from a fortune-telling game into a visual map of human experience.
Both Waite and Smith were members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a 19th-century society devoted to exploring how astrology, numerology, Kabbalah, and elemental symbolism connect the material and spiritual worlds. Their teachings gave tarot its hidden architecture—why certain cards link to planets, zodiac signs, and the numbered sequence of life’s lessons.
That’s what makes the Rider–Waite–Smith system so rich… and also why it can be difficult to learn. Each image carries layers of meaning that overlap and shift depending on color, number, symbol, and more. Without a guide, it can take years to recognize how those layers interact.
Where the “Right” Meanings Come From
The right answer always begins with intuition. The cards don’t create answers. They reveal them. They act as a mirror, reflecting thoughts, emotions, and energy that already exist but haven’t yet taken form in words.
Each image in the deck is a universal symbol of thought, a visual language that speaks directly to the subconscious. Numbers represent cycles and progress. Elements express emotion and motion. Astrology ties each card to the rhythm of the universe itself. Together, they create a system that maps how energy moves through past, present, and future.
When interpreted through your intuition, these symbols form a story, one that explains where you’ve been, what’s unfolding now, and where your current path is likely leading. The more fluently you understand these symbols, the more clearly the story reveals itself.
Explore the Cards
Click any card below to see its full meaning, including astrology, numerology, elemental associations, and upright and reversed interpretations.
If you’re using a TarotSkills deck, you already have these clues printed on the cards themselves—so each spread becomes intuitive from the start. If you’re studying with another deck, you’ll still find this reference helpful for learning how the Rider–Waite structure connects the symbols that shape every story tarot tells.
Each card page includes:
- Traditional Rider–Waite meanings
- Astrological and numerological associations
- Elemental connections and visual symbolism
- Upright and reversed interpretations
Return to this page anytime you want to deepen your understanding, compare cards, or explore how symbolism weaves meaning through the entire tarot system.
