Quick Reference Tarot Card Meanings

By Robert McDonald


People of a certain generation will probably remember driving in the car with their parents to some vacation destination. As you looked out of the window, you might have noticed a palm reader sign in the window of a house or commercial building. Most parents would never stop and go in even if their children begged them to. Today fortune tellers are more likely found by going online, and many skeptics are still intrigued by the unknown. Palm readings, crystal balls, and Tarot cards are all used by those who claim the ability to predict the future.

Depending on what you read or who you believe, these cards may or may not go back to ancient times. Some adamantly state that they were commonly used in early Egyptian civilization. Someone else will tell you that there is no evidence for that, and the cards did not show up historically until the fourteenth century. Still others point to the eighteenth century as the earliest indication they existed.

Whatever the truth, the cards are pretty consistent in what they show. One of the cards depicts a character generally known as the Fool. He has the sort of personality that most of us think we would like to have. The Fool is devil may care and individualistic. He does not make plans, and he never seems to know what he is going to do next.

The card called the Empress is an earth mother type of personality. She is creative and loves nature. Abundance seems to surround her as she takes everything in stride. The Empress is a confident, calm female entity who seems to believe that there are solutions to any problem that arises if you just relax and let things work themselves out.

Another card that is generally positive is the Emperor. This individual has strong opinions and a strong personality to match them. He is not opposed to going his own way and making unpopular decisions if he feels justified. His confidence and sense of power make him a formidable adversary, but he is not one to shy away from controversy and can be a strong ally.

The Hermit, not so surprisingly, symbolizes solitude, introspection, and even wisdom. The drawing on the card shows an old man with a long beard, cloak and cane holding up a lighted lantern. He apparently retreats from the outside world in order to contemplate the meaning of his life and the lives of others.

The Lovers card of course represents connection, sexual energy, collaboration, and unity. When people think of fortune tellers, many imagine them giving advice and information about who is going to come into the subject's life and whether or not he or she can be expected to stay. Not everyone understands that a union is not necessarily between two people attracted to one another.

Having your future read by a believer can be very interesting and might give you something to think about on your own. It may help you work through some problems in your life in new ways. Even if you are skeptical and take the whole idea with a huge grain of salt, you will at least have fun.




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