/r/tarotarcana

Photograph via snooOG

A place to talk about the theory, history, symbolism, and interpretations of cartomancy methods—Tarot (RWS, Thoth, etc.), Oracle, Lenormand, and others.

A place to talk about the theory, history, esoterica, and symbolism of the Tarot and related cartomancy methods. Discuss methods, interpretations, thoughts on the history and development of the decks, and anything else you can think of! This is a focused subreddit for discussion of the theory, history, and ideas you have or find interesting about the art, similar to our sister subreddit, /r/TheoryOfAstrology.

Guidelines:

  1. Follow Rediquette. Be civil and kind, and have fun.

  2. Please refrain from advertising services or products.

  3. If you want to request or offer readings or interpretations of spreads, please post them on /r/AskATarotReader. This subreddit is specifically dedicated to the theory surrounding Tarot, not personal readings.

Related Subreddits:

Chat Groups Of Interest:

/r/tarotarcana

1,031 Subscribers

2

What about the Justice card resonates with you?

Pull Justice from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/ybhtr272vuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8569b705f5c6854b080b89f171f2cdffbaaefc6a

0 Comments
2023/05/23
09:57 UTC

3

What do you connect with on the Wheel of Fortune card?

Pull the Wheel of Fortune from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/kbssbtnvuuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e29d1e5dc68735648e66c81cc21f9da229399497

1 Comment
2023/05/22
10:27 UTC

2

What about The Hermit card resonates with you?

Pull The Hermit from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/i68qwy9puuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b259dda88eb703acc867ef3a72d0769784262415

0 Comments
2023/05/21
13:17 UTC

3

What do you connect with on the Strength card?

Pull Strength from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/6146av0iuuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1715d759624ab3ed6b2a5eae585a0c5b1983e76b

0 Comments
2023/05/20
13:07 UTC

1

What about The Chariot card resonates with you?

Pull The Chariot from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/vejrwxz8uuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b5145c6689e603756a594b7c2971944c5e3a725e

0 Comments
2023/05/19
10:17 UTC

3

What do you connect with on The Lovers card?

Pull The Lovers from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/ggag82t3uuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e1a9f9831001900bdcddbd693962c809cd2a13ac

0 Comments
2023/05/18
09:57 UTC

2

What about The Hierophant card resonates with you?

Pull The Hierophant from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/qy3l5poxtuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4cae02a1dfded44e8c1e596311124008eda1169a

0 Comments
2023/05/17
10:57 UTC

2

What do you connect with on The Emperor card?

Pull The Emperor from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/nwnnhkkqtuza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2e46ea29dcd965f06cf4721078ec02f90d5a5b90

0 Comments
2023/05/16
11:37 UTC

2

The red feather in RWS tarot

In the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) system, the red feather symbolizes the subject of the card's life force. And, it appears on The Fool card in his cap, on The Sun card in the child’s crown of flowers, and on the Death card on Death’s helmet.

The red feather is firm and holds its shape on the Fool’s cap, and it’s blowing in the wind and upright on The Sun. It symbolizes the vibrancy of the life force on both cards.

On the Death card, the feather is wilted and dying. It’s at the end of its life.

In tarot, colors also have meaning, and the red on the feather symbolizes energy and passion. You would interpret the energy and passion by whether the feather is wilted or upright.

Interestingly, the red feather isn’t the only symbol The Fool and Death share in the RWS tarot.

Other decks based on RWS, may or may not have the red feather in these cards.

In the Light Seer’s Tarot deck, a feather isn’t featured on The Fool, The Sun, or Death cards. But, the color red does appear on all three cards.

In the Shadowscapes Tarot deck, the phoenix has some red feathers on the Death card and the Sun card features feathers of many colors including red. The Fool has red ribbons, a red rose, and a red heart, but doesn’t have any red feathers.

Take a look at The Fool, The Sun, and Death in your deck. Do they have red feathers? Do they have other red symbols?

Sources:
The Ultimate Guide to Tarot
Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot Deck
Light Seers Tarot Deck
Shadowscapes Tarot Deck

3 Comments
2023/05/15
13:03 UTC

2

What about The Empress card resonates with you?

Pull The Empress from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/75nzqt4ituza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bcf2207f8a2996111efa674c50f5076a1b27b373

0 Comments
2023/05/15
11:07 UTC

3

What about The High Priestess card resonates with you?

Pull The High Priestess from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider Waite Smith tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive interpretation or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/cqms2air7pza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=655eda6300a2ec6a87c5b65924d4eb9fe49da973

4 Comments
2023/05/14
14:17 UTC

2

The Fool holds a rose…

1 Comment
2023/05/14
10:12 UTC

3

The Empress and Pomegranates

In the Rider-Waite-Smith system, pomegranates are seen on the fabric of the Empress' dress. They’re a symbol of the Greek myth with Demeter and Persephone.

In the myth, Persephone's fate was decided when she ate six pomegranate seeds in the Underworld with Hades. In short, she had to split her time between her mother (Demeter) and Hades (god of the Underworld).

She returned to Demeter and Earth for 6 months of the year and 6 months in the Underworld with Hades which brings about the seasonal changes on Earth. In this myth and the Rider–Waite card, pomegranates symbolize fertility, death, and rebirth.

The pomegranate appears on one other Rider–Waite Tarot card—The High Priestess.

Pomegranates aren’t on all Empress cards in every deck. They don’t make an appearance on the Light Seer’s or Shadowscapes tarot decks.

Are pomegranates on your deck’s Empress? (Share the deck too.)

https://preview.redd.it/48s0yop20oza1.jpg?width=288&format=pjpg&auto=webp&v=enabled&s=48f19e148b9c0ec0259eda8f5542bc995cf828dc

Source: The Ultimate Guide to Tarot; Pg. 44

0 Comments
2023/05/13
21:14 UTC

1

What do you connect with on The Magician card?

Pull The Magician from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider Waite tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

https://preview.redd.it/mh7wprk4hfza1.png?width=602&format=png&auto=webp&s=670bd3664502de63a5c049711ee6806845693c5c

0 Comments
2023/05/13
13:27 UTC

4

What about The Fool card resonates with you?

Pull The Fool from your deck (or look at the picture from the Rider Waite tarot deck).

Look at the imagery, the symbols, the colors, everything you can see.

Share in a post or comment what resonates with you, why it does, and what it means. You can share the traditional meaning or your intuitive mean or both (tell us which one you choose).

Credit your deck in your post or comment.

1 Comment
2023/05/12
11:27 UTC

2

TarotFloof Practice: 6 of Cups

1 Comment
2023/05/05
14:00 UTC

3

tarotarcana is open for business under new mod-management

Hello, everyone! The tarotarcana community has had a facelift!

What’s new?

  • Rules
  • Post Flair (a glossary is in the sidebar (community info)
  • All posts require flair
  • Similar Communities in the sidebar (community info)

After being without a mod for a few years and the group restricted, you can now post!

This is a community – a shared space that we build together. I can’t run it without you! If you have questions, or suggestions, or would like to share anything with me, reach out through ModMail.

If you see this, give it an upvote so more people see it!

1 Comment
2023/05/04
13:02 UTC

3

tarotarcana is under new mod-management

Hello, everyone! I’m your new mod, Intrepid-Ingrid.

The community is undergoing a facelift before I open it back up for posting.

What’s new?

  • Rules
  • Post Flair (a glossary is in the sidebar (community info)
  • Similar Communities in the sidebar (community info)

When can you post?

I have a couple more things on my to-do list – set up AutoMod and give the community a new look.

I’m expecting to have this done by the end of the week and will share a post letting you know that tarotarcana is open for business.

This is our community, and I can’t run it without you! If you have questions, or suggestions, or would like to share anything with me, reach out through ModMail.

0 Comments
2023/05/03
13:56 UTC

4

r/tarotarcana needs moderators and is currently available for request

If you're interested and willing to moderate and grow this community, please go to r/redditrequest, where you can submit a request to take over the community. Be sure to read through the faq for r/redditrequest before submitting.

0 Comments
2019/11/21
01:57 UTC

7

Please help, found tarot cards outside literally right after a bad experience. Does it mean anything?

If you want more info on what happened I could tell you, but basically I got sent home from work because I make a stupid mistake. I was walking home, panicking for what will happen next time I go to work, when I found 6 tarot cards on the side walk. The order they were in were XIII Death XIV Temperance Ace of Cups Eight of Cups Knight of Swords Two of Cups I know nothing of Tarot, but I believe everything happens for a reason. If you have any input please chime in, and thank you for your time.

3 Comments
2018/08/06
17:57 UTC

1

Why don't I believe what my tarot cards are telling me, regards to my romantic feelings for my best friend?

I did a few readings about this relationship, asking the cards what this relationship is between us. I am aware of my emotional attachment to her and that I must move on with my life. But what are these cards telling me about this relationship?

First reading, I drew three cards. The Emperor (reversed), Strength and The Sun

Second reading, I only drew one card. The Ace of Pentacles

0 Comments
2017/07/19
22:37 UTC

5

Synchronicity amusement

When your doing tarot and you get the wheel of fortune for a 1 card reading and you hear the wheel in the sky keeps on turning on the radio

0 Comments
2017/07/18
17:42 UTC

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