Tarot and Astrology: A Guide to Using Them Together
Tarot and astrology are two practices, which often cross roads and complement each other. Is it possible to use tarot and astrology together? Some people might think they confront each other and must be used separately.
In our article, you will discover how to create a powerful combination of tarot and astrology for self-relearning and divination.
The Main Features of Tarot
Tarot practice is an ancient and widespread tool for divination, and modern people are more likely to consider tarot as an instrument for self-learning.
- The tarot deck in its classical form consists of seventy-eight cards that contain twenty-two Major Arcana and fifty-six Minor Arcana (including Aces and court cards: Knights, Pages, Queens, and Kings).
- Each card has a unique interpretation and imagery.
- Over time, tarot cards absorbed many symbols and have been influenced by numerous cultures.
- Their genesis took at least several centuries.
- Today, people turn to the cards when they need to find connections between their thoughts and feelings, or try to understand their inner desires better.
The Main Features of Astrology
Astrology is the art of interpretation of the positions and combinations of planets and stars that may affect people in different times. Celestial bodies are constantly moving and align differently throughout the year. Astrology studies their transitions and directions at different times.
- There are twelve Zodiac signs and houses.
- Each sign is tied to a certain one of the four elements – Earth, Water, Air, Fire – and corresponds with a certain time of year.
- Astrologists can define the meanings of different planets and signs in relation to a person’s character, destiny, divisions, etc.
- Astrology can provide you with insights on the main events in your life, see compatibility between different signs, analyze the planet transitions, etc.
Why Сombine Two Practices in One?
Since tarot and astrology are quite different instruments, they effectively work together adding senses to each other. Reading cards and stars together creates a perfectly balanced combination.
Astrology creates a core that characterizes our individual skills, talents, strengths, and so on. We can compare it to the basic information about a person. Tarot helps to add details and momentum hints that help to find answers to important questions about situations this person gets to.
In other words, you can compare astrology to a house with floors, ceilings, flor, walls, windows, doors, chimneys, and so on. Then tarot would be the designer elements that describe the house and add it with unique details. The house will reflect the mood and vision of its owner only when it has furniture, decor, music, smells, colors, and other unique objects in it.
The Correspondences Between the Zodiac Sings and Major Arcana
Experienced readers who learn tarot for professional purposes, realize that knowing the exact associations between planets, Zodiac signs, and cards makes reading efficient. Each Zodiac sign corresponds to a Major Arcana card:
- Aries: The Emperor
- Taurus: The Hierophant
- Gemini: The Lovers
- Cancer: The Chariot
- Leo: Strength
- Virgo: The Hermit
- Libra: Justice
- Scorpio: Death
- Sagittarius: Temperance
- Capricorn: The Devil
- Aquarius: The Star
- Pisces: The Moon
Using these correspondences you can adjust the efficiency of tarot readings. However, it’s not enough to have only basic knowledge of signs like elements associated with each one of them. You must understand at least the basic meaning of each Zodiac sign.
The Correspondences Between the Planets and Major Arcana
As far as you know, planetary rulership is crucial in astrology. You can use these characteristics by learning the associations between planets and cards:
- The Sun: The Sun
- The Moon: The High Priestess
- Mercury: The Magician & The Lovers
- Venus: The Empress & The Hierophant
- Mars: The Tower & The Emperor
- Jupiter: The Wheel of Fortune & Temperance
- Saturn: The World & The Devil
To use the correspondences between the planets and tarot Major Arcana, you can consider not only their direct movement periods but also retrograde ones.
How to Effectively Use Tarot and Astrology Together in a Spread?
You might wonder, does tarot and astrology go together well, or are there some situations when you had better use them separately? Combining these two practices is a way to get more insights and enrich your spiritual journey. One of the ways to get the most out of the union between astrology and tarot is to seek inspiration for spreads in astrology. Here are some examples:
Three card spread
One of the most popular tarot readings is the three-card spread that involves three cards randomly pulled that usually indicate the past, the present, and the future. By adding astrology to the concept of this spread, you can create a spread focused on the qualities of an individual.
For example, in natal cards, there are Sun, Moon, and Rising signs that define the character of a person. Together they create a unique portrait of an individual. The Sun is the center of a person’s identity and their core. The Moon is subconscious, with emotions, and a dark side. The Rising is your social expression and your identity for the outer world.
To do a three-card spread based on the associations of the Sun, Moon, and Rising signs, assign each card with the Sun, the Moon, and the Rising respectfully. The interpretation will be focused on the person’s character. As a result, they’ll get guidance on how to harmonize their individuality.
Twelve card spread
This spread is one of the ways to analyze all aspects and situations in every life area. It’s easy to understand that each card of this spread represents one of the twelve Zodiac signs. At the same time, each card matches a specific life sphere. It’s up to a reader to assign a specific card to a certain sign. However, pay attention to a sign of a person whose reading as the card that matches their sign will show what’s exactly going on in their mind, love life, career, health, and other areas. This spread will be a good fit for experienced readers who look for inspiration and a good mix of various practices to experience a boost of creativity.
Planet transitions spread
This type of tarot spread is one of the advanced options, which will fit those who have a deep understanding of celestial bodies’ movements and can adjust their readings to planetary transitions. Since many people can realize and feel the influence of different planets’ positions on their lives, it’s possible to bind these processes to various life areas with the help of tarot.
Examples of Tarot Readings Added with Astrology
Experienced readers know that tarot and astrology can efficiently work together. In fact, this combination can bring more clarity and level up the number of insights one gets during a reading. While astrology provides the context creating a ‘playground’, tarot adds the space with senses and practical meanings. Here’s how it may work in real life:
Decision making
Some life events are time-sensitive. For example, launching a new project or switching careers. A lot depends on choosing the best moment of action. While tarot helps figure out the right direction of movement forward, astrology can point to the best timing. Making big decisions with this powerful combination can be highly beneficial.
Love life insights
Many people read love horoscopes in a search for hints on what awaits them in their love life. Suppose, you have read that you’re gonna meet a new crush soon. What’s next? By adding some advice from tarot cards, you can find out what to expect from these relationships and what energy they bring.
Problem-solving
Astrologists operate through natal cards that show challenges one might face in their lives. While astrology shows the movement of planets, the cards can bring more clarity and help you understand situations better providing even some hints on the steps to make.
Afterall
Hopefully, our article provided you with powerful and meaningful insights. We are sure that by combining tarot and astrology one can get a level up outcome of any reading. These two practices beautifully compliment each other serving as powerful instruments for self-learning and personal growth. Good luck!
