In this post Ocean lists the first eleven of the 22 cards of the Major Arcana used as your Year Cards, and gives a brief explanation of the meaning of each card. Be sure to first read “Finding Your Year Card…” as you will need to do the calculation first to determine which is your card!
Zodiac Arts – Sandra & David Mosley
1 The Magician – strength of mind and power of positive thinking; the planning and directing of an idea; ambition and accomplishment; awareness of power; strength and will; independence and self-confidence.
NOTE: NOBODY WILL HAVE THE MAGICIAN AS A YEAR CARD IN THIS LIFETIME!
The Tarot of Transformation by Willow Arlenea
2 The High Priestess – concealed forces; mysterious and secretive; psychic or intuitive; focus on personal, moral, or ethical beliefs; spiritual attunement; passive withdrawal; potential; sense of inner self; focus on the feminine or the Divine Feminine
NOTE: SINCE 1998, NOBODY WILL HAVE THE HIGH PRIESTESS AS A YEAR CARD UNTIL 9958 A.D. YOU WILL ONLY HAVE THE HIGH PRIESTESS AS A YEAR CARD ONCE IN YOUR LIFETIME, AND MANY WILL NOT HAVE HER AT ALL.
“The Enchanted Tarot” by Amy Zerner & Monte Farber
3 The Empress – creation, growth, and attraction; giving and receiving love; growth and development; emotional and financial prosperity; harmony and beauty; marriage and motherhood; creativity; giving birth to new ideas; passion, feelings, and pleasure; emotions; indulgence; relationships with others; connecting with Mother Earth
Voyager Tarot by James Wanless
4 The Emperor – goals and ideas achieving form; “the real world”; energy, passion, and action; plans come to pass; successful management & administration; analysis and reason; leadership; responsibility; control; father figure; authority; stability and order; power; recognition & approval; assertiveness
The Tarot of Prague by Karen Mahony and Alex Ukolov
5 The Hierophant – education; religious schools of thought; spiritual authority; conservative approach; higher conscience; conformity; surrender of responsibility; obedience; teacher; going back to school; tradition; stress and adversity; inner knowledge; values and beliefs; an authority figure; emotional reactions; find your own answers
Examples of The Lovers tarot card from older decks
6 The Lovers – three different functions of human consciousness; mental consciousness, subconsciousness, & spiritual/super consciousness; the triple aspect; past, present and future; making a choice; a correct decision/selection; an honest, balanced relationship; marriage; blending the emotional and intellectual selves; balance; dualities of life; importance of love; nostalgic for past love; communication; blending of male and female energies
from the Cary-Yale Visconti deck,
a faithful reproduction of an original Italian 15th century tarot deck
7 The Chariot – control and balance; negative vs. positive; triumph through balance; victory; accomplishment; balanced application of power & resources; adherence to will; mastery; mind over matter; controlling emotions and desires; discipline; centering; overcoming difficulties; charting your path; determining your direction; success; moving ahead with decisions; being a warrior; travel or relocation; goal-oriented
8 Strength – increase in occult power; “know thyself”; self-understanding; the power of love; personal growth; psychoanalysis; self-respect and self-acceptance; unconscious energy/conscious understanding; inner strength; ability to face life; dealing with challenges and difficulties; finding the strength to continue; essential emotions re-emerging; lust for life; sensual & sexual exploration
NOTE: SOME DECKS PUT STRENGTH AS THE ELEVENTH CARD, AND JUSTICE AS CARD EIGHT. I HAVE FOLLOWED THE RIDER-WAITE TRADITION HERE AND THUS LIST THESE CARDS AS SHOWN. YOU MAY SWITCH THEM IF PREFERRED.
9 The Hermit – individual journey; spiritual enlightenment; wisdom; balancing opposites; service to people; healer or counselor; selfless giving; inner guidance; wise advice; independence; trust inner judgment; receiving counsel; withdrawal; example and guide; personal development & transformation; transition; inner needs; introspection; humanitarianism
Shadowscapes Tarot by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
10 Wheel of Fortune – “pride goeth before a fall”; mystery of life/nature; random turnings of luck; fate; destiny; laws of karma; wheel of the year; change of circumstances; adaptation; self-knowledge; rewards; opportunity; change for the better; a new start; success; social whirl; initiating new projects; long-range planning; seeing results; things just “turn up”
This is another card from an old 15th century deck.
I believe the deck is known as the Gringonneur Tarot.
11 Justice – new beginnings; decisions to be made; assessing pros and cons; adjustment; legal matters; financial affairs; Compromise and negotiation; be true to yourself; inner judgments; accept responsibility for self; evaluate changes; act on wisdom; resolve issues; see the truth; fairness; just and positive decisions; correct actions; balance; getting what one deserves
Deaf Pagan Crossroads would like to thank the many tarot creators whose beautiful designs illustrate this post.
Most of these designs are copyrighted, please respect them as such.