Using Tarot Cards to Interpret the Meaning of Dreams
The core of our dream imagery was the source of the symbols related to the mystical Tarot deck. The Tarot has been closely related to the dream state and offers us a wonderful tool for spiritual and self-development.
The power of the symbolic Tarot does not lay with the cards themselves, but rather, from the reader’s ability to comprehend the relevant messages. Once our psychic abilities have been developed, the Tarot can act as a window into the mind, providing clear images of your inner truths, beliefs, character traits and choices that are available to you.
Using Tarot cards to interpret your dreams is and age-old technique:
- grab a notepad or piece of paper and a pen or pencil.
- create a quiet space where you won’t be interrupted.
- burn some incense or essential oils (aromatherapy).
- light a candle and if you wish, play some empowering music in the background.
- relax and clear your mind, and be open and receptive to messages and images.
- in this intuitive state, focus upon the meaning of the cards in relation to your dream/s.
- use only the Major Arcana as these are the archetypal cards.
- shuffle the deck and focus on the dream, reviewing it in the present tense, in the here and now. Once reviewed and the main points of the dream recalled and remembered, cut the deck into three piles, forming a triangle. Take the pile at the apex of the triangle and turn it over, revealing the bottom card.
- write down what you instantly feel and think upon viewing the card. Look for the intricate details and symbology and write down the first impressions you are given; your first thoughts and feelings. Describe the imagery.
- use the intuitive messages, feelings, emotions and impulses as a catalyst to unlocking hidden meanings and messages of your dreams.
- if you need further details or verification, turn the remaining piles over and view the bottom cards. Repeat the review and writing process above.
- use the guide below as to the meaning and message of the Tarot cards of the Major Arcana.
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The FOOL
The Fool card tells you to ‘loosen up’ and not take life too seriously. It brings a message to allow yourself some personal freedoms and look to the funny, lighter side of life.
The Fool may be appearing to tell you to get out and/or away from a situation using wit and humour, rather than haste and force.
The Fool represents jesters and fools of the royal courts of old. They would relieve tension and pressure by making fun of situations and bringing comic relief to all. The Fool appearing in your dream/s may be suggesting that you give yourself permission to have a good laugh at yourself and your situation. See the brighter, positive side of things.
The Fool is also symbolic of babies and children, simplicity and innocence. Children are straightforward and honest in their views. Think of the phrase ‘out of the mouth’s of babes’. Out of their innocence they speak truths. The Fool appearing in your dream may suggest that you not over-analyse things, but rather, look at them at face value.
The Fool is symbolic of trust and honesty, laughter and happiness. The Fool may be recommending that you welcome and enjoy new beginnings and fresh choices and changes to make.
The Fool can also be implying that a baby is on the way into the family.
Approach your dream with a fresh view and trust that all will work out for your highest good.
The MAGICIAN
The Magician appearing is a reminder of your own unique magic. We all have abilities and resources to create whatever we desire into our lives. We are powerful, spiritual beings who possess the power of manifesting and manifestation.
The Magician indicates a time to make life choices and changes. Mastering your mind and life are at hand. Ensure that you are on the path you wish to be on. If you are not, change direction now.
The Magician is a reminder that your choices are limitless - therefore, do not put limitations and restrictions upon yourself. Know that all the power and resources, answers and solutions are within you already.
The HIGH PRIESTESS
When the High Priestess appears it indicates that there is a need to feel more spirituality and love in your life. Bring the feminine side out and connect with your emotions and intuitive promptings.
The High Priestess represents a connection to all that is feminine, deep and mysterious. She implies that psychic development and enlightenment are taking place. The High Priestess tells you that your intuition is the key to unlocking your dream.
The EMPRESS
The Empress resonates with fertility and the power behind Mother Nature and all things.
The Empress appearing tells us to perceive things that are hidden behind the obvious. Always consider the actions, motivations and intentions behind a situation.
The Empress may be suggesting that you are in a very fertile cycle or phase in your life and could be feeling inspired and full of ideas to pursue. Look to new projects, concepts and actions as they will come to fruition. It is time to nurture your ideas into physical form.
The Empress represents motherhood, fertility and getting in touch with your feminine side (whether you male or female) and expressing yourself with creativity and inspiration.
The Empress appearing may be suggesting a need for nurturing and/or mothering, for yourself or to extend to others. She tells us that it is a time to connect with our inner-selves and follow our intuition.
The Empress can indicate a pregnancy, a birth, your mother and/or maternal side of the family.
The EMPEROR
The Emperor holds a position of power and authority and suggests that you seek the counsel of a professional or someone ‘in the know’.
In regards to a dream symbol, the Emperor portrays one who takes charge of where they are going in their lives, and can represent the need to be more powerful, inwardly and outwardly.
The Emperor appearing can indicate a positive change in the direction of your life which will have positive, long-term benefits.
The Emperor can represent your father, fatherhood and/or the paternal side of the family.
The HIEROPHANT
The Hierophant appearing suggests that all of your spiritual needs and decisions come from within. You have all that you could ever need.
The Hierophant shows a need to connect with your intuition and inner-wisdom, rather than outside sources, when seeking answers and solutions. It is time to stop searching for outside approval. Understand and know WHO you are.
The Hierophant may be indicating that it is time to choose a new path or direction, or a new way of doing things. It is time to re-organize and re-structure.
The Hierophant tells of a time to search for true spiritual meaning and enlightenment. It also speaks of traditions and traditional values.
The Hierophant could be indicating that you take up study and/or research into a topic (or topics) of interest.
The LOVERS
The Lovers card tells of love, sexual tension and passion, repression, independence within a partnership and relationships.
The Lovers appearing may be suggesting that you are not being your true self in order to appease or ‘keep’ a partner or relationship. The Lovers can also imply communication difficulties with loved ones.
The Lovers card can indicate a time to regenerate and nurture yourself, while still loving and caring for others. It tells of spirituality intermingled with human urges and emotions.
The Lovers can indicate a connection to a potential life partner or ‘soul mate’. Be open to receiving warm, loving relationships into your life.
The Lovers can be foretelling of a marriage to come.
The CHARIOT
The Chariot symbolizes our inner-drives, ambitions and need to achieve goals.
The Chariot appearing can tell of inner conflicts and opposing views within. Indecisions and confusion about important issues is causing frustration and stagnation. It brings a message to stop procrastinating in order to achieve the results you desire. Make a decision and follow through.
The Chariot may suggest feeling as though you are being pulled in two separate directions. You are to make firm decisions and take positive action.
STRENGTH
The Strength card suggests inner-strength and tenacity, patience, humility, hope and love. Strength comes in many forms. Strength comes not so much from a show of brute force or power, but the key to true strength is endurance.
Strength represents the need for self-discovery. It is a time to get in touch with your true feelings and trust your intuition and inner-wisdom.
The HERMIT
The Hermit indicates that it is time to seek solitude and rest. Create a sacred space or sanctuary for yourself where you won’t be interrupted, and take the time to become silent and peaceful. Take time to reflect and look within.
The Hermit may suggest that you need to change your environment in order to find peace and equilibrium in your life.
The Hermit appearing tells of profound insights and intuitive messages. The Hermit may be a message to take the time for solitude, contemplations, study and learning.
The Hermit can tell of conferring with those in authoritive positions for professional advice and guidance.
The WHEEL of FORTUNE
The Wheel of Fortune tells us that anything is possible. Trust that you can make anything of your dream, and your dreams in waking life.
The Wheel of Fortune suggests solutions and movement, indicating that changes, action and movement is taking place, meaning new opportunities and good luck.
The Wheel of Fortune can tell of a turn for the better and suggests that you go with the flow of the inevitable changes to achieve a favourable outcome.
The Wheel of Fortune represents the ‘wheels in motion’ and rapid life changes taking place in your life.
JUSTICE
Justice is different to everyone, given that we all have individual perspectives, values and ideals. When Justice appears it suggests that you do the honourable thing in any given situation. Always take the ‘high road’.
Justice appearing may be indicating that there is an imbalance, and/or you feel that you have been mis-treated by others. Justice tells you to deal with it in the most positive ways. Trust that justice will always be done.
Justice appearing in your dreams may suggest that legal dealings and/or a court case may be on the horizons, if not already in your life.
Justice indicates that adjustments will need to be made in order to achieve success. Seek out and trust the advice of someone who knows the rules and procedures.
The HANGED MAN
The Hanged Man appearing suggests that it is time to stop questioning, procrastinating and finding excuses and not making decisions or taking action towards things that are of importance in your life. Get ready to take action.
The Hanged Man appearing suggests taking action and bettering your life. It points to the spiritual aspects, yet asks that you live in the material world of experience and lessons.
The Hanged Man can suggest a dream of prophesy and of future events, and tells of clairvoyant and psychic abilities.
Always listen to your intuition.
DEATH
The Death card is an important message foretelling of something new entering your life. Whatever situation or circumstance that was bothering you is now drawing to a close with solutions being found. Expect wonderful, life-changing ‘new’.
Death means endings and completions, with the promise of new beginnings and starting afresh. Death indicates major life changes that will bring a new and exciting future.
Death can indicate a birth or re-birth, and is a deep, renewing and cleansing dream symbol.
TEMPERANCE
Temperance resonates with renewal, transformation, spirituality, kindness and compassion. Temperance appearing may suggest that it is time to spread some love and kindness towards your fellow man. Do some good deeds for others, and be ready to receive in kind. Giving and receiving in balance is an essential life lesson to learn.
Temperance appearing is an important reminder that you need to find balance in all that you do. Temperance tells us that there is a great deal of strength and power in balance and moderation.
The Temperance card can indicate Divine providence and assistance and guidance from the angelic and spiritual realms. Listen to your intuition and follow its direction and instruction.
Temperance tells of being practical yet spiritual. The balance of two leads to a happy and fulfilled life.
The DEVIL
The Devil card represents a need to release all fears, worries and concerns and face your problems head-on with self-confidence and strength of conviction.
The Devil card encourages us to explore and find out more about our ‘dark side’ or 'shadow side'. We all have both positive and negative aspects to our personalities, and to know one, we must know the other. The Devil is a reminder that there are two polarities and you must acknowledge them both.
The Devil appearing tells us not to feel guilty about being who we truly are. Don’t allow fears to hold you back or rule your actions.
If your dream was frightening or scary, the Devil card appearing may be telling you to be aware to not give your personal power away to others. Stand in your own truths.
The Devil appearing can imply repressed sexual impulses and urges and the need to take time to play and have fun in your life.
The Devil can tell of repressing and suppressing your vital life force, and encourages us to get out there and live our lives with passion and enthusiasm.
The TOWER
The Tower card appearing can imply that your old beliefs and patterns are to be cast off once and for all. It is time to reinvent yourself and your life. Take a good look at yourself, your life and lifestyle and decide what needs to go.
The Tower card is a trigger for the intuition and prompts us the make necessary changes in our lives, sometimes with unexpected haste. Once these changes are triggered, there is no going back.
The Tower suggest that when opportunity knocks, open the door.
The STAR
The Star appearing in your dreams suggests that you continue along your path, knowing that you are fulfilling your destiny.
The Star card suggests that you are quietly and diligently achieving your goals and serving your life purpose. Know that you are loved and appreciated by the Universe.
The Star appearing implies that clarity, vision and new goals abound. Be enthusiastic and optimistic as doors that were previously closed to you have now opened. Be true to yourself and celebrate your uniqueness.
The MOON
The Moon appearing may be a suggestion that someone is trying to block you or thwart your efforts. Know that you have enough personal power and conviction to see beyond the manipulation, and do your own thing. The person or people trying to drag you down are presenting as ‘tests’. It is up to you to stand in your own truths and follow your own path, regardless of perceived obstacles and hindrances.
The symbolism of the Moon depicts two dogs - one that is wild (the wolf) and one that is tame or domesticated. They represent the ‘wild’ and ‘tame’ sides within all of us. The Moon card appearing can represent an active dream state full of confusing and conflicting images and messages. It can be a trigger for the imagination and can represent prophetic dreams and those of a psychic nature.
The symbol of the Moon can bring clarity and enlightenment.
The SUN
The Sun appearing suggests that it is time to bask in the warm sunshine and light of success of fulfilment. The Sun prompts us to savour the moment.
The Sun card is associated with connecting with our ‘inner-child’ within.
The Sun appearing asks that you celebrate your successes and achievements and honour who you are.
The Sun appearing can suggest that you take time to celebrate yourself and your wonderful achievements and successes. Bask in your own light and warmth and give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it. Honour yourself.
The Sun encourages you to play, have fun, laugh and enjoy your life.
JUDGMENT
The Judgment Tarot card symbolizes going beyond fears and limitations. It brings a message that whatever problems you may be confronting will be overcome and a solution found. Your angels are helping, guiding and encouraging you to stay strong and focused.
Judgment is a card of ‘triumph’. It asks you to believe in your own abilities and go beyond and outside of your comfort zone. Know that you have all that you need to achieve your goals, so do not allow false insecurities or other people to hinder you in any way.
Judgment can refer to clear focus, analysis, renewal and resurrection. It may indicate that a new spiritual path or direction is opening for you.
Judgment appearing in your dreams may suggest that there is a need to be less critical and more accepting of yourself and others.
The WORLD
The World Tarot card appearing suggests that you work towards making the most of what the world has to offer you. Make a point of seeing the positive side of situations and people, and be grateful for your blessings.
The World suggests a need for clear communication, co-operation and co-existence with others, and encourages us to accept and understand the people around us. Remember that it takes all kinds to make up the world.
The World appearing in regards to your dream indicates that it is time to accept differences and learn to live with them.
The World card appearing in your dream/s suggests that things in your waking life are totally in your control, and it is time to be the master of your own destiny.
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Everyone of us has intuitive abilities that can be developed into a useful tool for interpreting our dreams and their messages and meanings.
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Joanne Walmsley
Sacred Scribes
