21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card - Step 13 - Symbols

21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card
Mary K. Greer

In step thirteen of our journey, we explore the symbolism of the tarot.

"As A. E. Waite noted in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, 'The true Tarot is symbolism: it speaks no other language and offers no other signs.'"

"Emotions bridge what goes on in your unconscious to the meaning you give the symbol. It is through symbols that the unconscious speaks to consciousness."

Artwork © Jennifer Galasso, 2011 

Activity 13:1:  1) List the symbols appearing on your chosen card. Write down what you know about the 'meaning" for each without looking it up. 2) What are the objects used for? 3) Where have you seen the symbol? 4) Do any of them remind you of something else. 5) Can you see a recurring themes? If so, summarize the significance.

• Swords - Protection
• Pink Wings - Hope, flight
• Birds - Freedom
• Armor - Protection
• White Feather - Purity, power
• Pink Jewels - Hope, positive energy
• Knives - Protection
• White Snow - Purity, isolation
• Reflection (of bird) - Self-knowledge
• Sunlight - Recognition
• Clouds - Doubt
• Pink Triangle Necklace - Hope, positive energy

What are the objects used for? Swords, knives, and armor are used for protection. The wings, birds, and feather are used in flight. The jewelry is used to decorate. The snow, sunlight, and clouds are part of nature's healing source. Reflections or shadows allow you to see in another light.

Where have you seen the symbols? Other than the obvious birds, sunlight, and clouds can't say where anything has really appeared to me. Although, I have spent some time recently looking through healing stones, which could refer back to the jewelry in the card.

Do any of them remind you of something else? Not really. A bird is a bird, a knife is a knife. :)

Recurring themes? The card concentrates on common themes of protection, freedom, hope, positive energies, and seeing through the doubt.

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Need some extra help with Symbolism? Mary K. Greer goes into great detail in this step, in The Way of the Adept section.

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If you haven’t already, grab a copy of the book for a deeper understanding of 21 Ways to Read the Tarot. Available in Print and Kindle.