Is There a Link Between Tarot and the Zodiac Signs?
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Tarot and the zodiac signs share a common origin: both have reached us from ancient, mysterious knowledge, wrapped in a haze of fascination and deep spirituality.
They may look like separate disciplines, but on closer inspection they clearly draw from the same well.
Both the oracle of the stars and the oracle of the tarot aim to guide us along a path that helps us develop our best abilities.
Of course horoscopes and tarot are mostly used to find out what the future holds, but both are also very useful for an inner journey towards greater awareness.
Many esoteric and mysterious traditions seem connected to one another, as if they all led along the same path.
This strengthens the idea that each of them is a gateway to an invisible world of subtle forces that shapes our destiny.
What is the link between the stars and the cards?
The connections between astrology and cartomancy are many, right from the foundations, so much so that once you study them it is hard to see them as two separate bodies of knowledge.
The sky holds 12 zodiac signs or constellations. To these we add 8 planets and 2 luminaries, the Sun and the Moon.
Add the twelve signs, the eight planets and the two luminaries and you get 22. How many Major Arcana are there in a tarot deck? 22!
This simple observation alone shows how the two disciplines draw from a common source.
As further proof of this close link, each Arcanum in the deck corresponds to a body in the sky or in your birth chart.
Through a more complex calculation, a clear relationship can also be found between the Minor Arcana and the signs of the zodiac.
Below we set out in full the direct correspondences between the Major and Minor Arcana and the zodiac signs.
Aries
The first sign, which starts the whole cycle, corresponds to the Major Arcanum of the Emperor and the Minor Arcanum of the King of Wands. Authority, self-control and the other traits of these two cards fully match the typical Aries character.
Taurus
Taurus is associated with the Major Arcanum of the Pope and the Minor Arcanum of the King of Coins. Important qualities such as wisdom, loyalty and practicality are found both in these two cards and in the second sign of the zodiac.
Gemini
The third sign corresponds to the Major Arcanum of the Lovers and the Minor Arcanum of the King of Swords. Passion, moodiness and fickleness, even to the point of changing sides, are typical of the sign and appear in both Arcana.
Cancer
The Chariot among the Major Arcana and the King of Cups among the Minor share many meanings with Cancer: spiritual growth, constant evolution and an inclination towards spirituality, but also a particularly strong tendency to introspection.
Leo
The Major Arcanum of Strength speaks of a clear inner energy, while the Minor Arcanum of the Queen of Wands speaks of practicality and playfulness. These elements are very evident in the typical Leo character.
Virgo
Among the Major Arcana, Virgo is linked to the Hermit; among the Minor Arcana, to the Queen of Coins. Both cards are closely related to Mercury, the planet that matters so much to Virgo and gives it its drive for inner research and its proactivity.
Libra
Not surprisingly, the Major Arcanum linked to Libra is Justice, while among the Minor Arcana we find the Queen of Swords. What these cards share with Libra is balance resting on solid foundations, on inner strength, but also on physical and social strength.
Scorpio
Death among the Major Arcana and the Queen of Cups among the Minor are the cards directly linked to Scorpio. Their meanings are tied to the senses, to a certain hedonism and to very earthly passions.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius is connected to the Major Arcanum of Temperance and the Minor Arcanum of the Page of Wands. These cards point to a tendency towards inner peace and balance, which is exactly where the typical Sagittarius heads, especially in love.
Capricorn
The cards linked to Capricorn are the Devil among the Major Arcana and the Page of Coins among the Minor. Very strong-willed and determined in reaching its professional and personal goals, Capricorn shares with these two cards a powerful energy that can sometimes become dangerous.
Aquarius
The Star is the Major Arcanum linked to Aquarius, and the Page of Swords is the Minor Arcanum closely connected to this sign. The emotional and dreamy nature of those born under this sign, and their attraction to all the beautiful things in life, are traits we find in these two cards.
Pisces
The Moon is the Major Arcanum directly connected to Pisces, while the Page of Cups is the Minor Arcanum closely linked to this sign. Symbolically the Moon is a light coming from the unconscious that can illuminate a person's path. Pisces are drawn to introspection and spirituality, traits closely tied to these two cards.
A deck with zodiac symbols on the cards
In Vera Petruk's Fantasy World Tarot, every card shows the zodiac symbol it is linked to. You can find it in the limited edition in a wooden box and in the numbered edition of 890 copies.