The World (a.k.a The Universe) is a positive card, and in a nutshell, it emphasises that as one door closes, another opens. This card has a strong sense of transition; life is in motion. This card follows Judgement, and we can now see that endings really do bring new opportunities. After the period we spent in the underworld,

I don't mind the energy of Judgement too much, and whilst it usually accompanies some pretty intense emotions, there is the possibility of freeing yourself from an oppressive situation that has been holding you back for too long. Judgement has a connection to the planet Pluto which is renowned for digging deep and forcing

There is a hidden simplicity in the Sun and an enormous amount of creativity. When this card appears, it tells you that joy can be found in life through free stuff like playing and having fun. All artistic pursuits are being given the go-ahead, and you should find everyone around you to be either helpful or just plain happy. There is laughter

This is one of those cards which is usually better understood after the event. Occasionally, there will be a blatantly obvious situation that you can attach to The Moon. Still, more often than not, it manifests as a feeling of not quite being able to put your finger on something. I have known The Moon to appear for varied reasons,

The bottom line of The Star is that all hope is not lost. It frequently turns up in a reading when life looks grim, or someone is not very positive about a certain situation. This card is the spark that twinkles and shines through the darkness; it's the proverbial ray of hope. With The Star, the answer is yes, but the conditions

Another card that can have people worried! The Tower certainly has a habit of appearing in readings when the rug is about to be pulled from under your feet, although sometimes it can be as simple as learning something that shakes at your foundations. Imagine you have been happily married for years, and your partner

Another "oh" card in the deck that is frequently misunderstood. The worst message here is that we are bound to a sense of duty and conditioned responsibility. The Devil can show we're not following our hearts or that we are afraid to be an individual. The old saying of ‘selling one's soul to the devil’ can easily be used as a reference

This card will appear when there is a need to curb knee-jerk reactions. It's possible you're overdoing something and need to take a step back. Even noticing how you breathe when Temperance appears can give you an idea of where you're at. Many decks will show this card with liquid being poured

This card provokes fear in those who don't know the tarot well enough. More often than not, it symbolises a psychological death and a time of irreversible change. Whenever the Death card shows up, there is always some connection to the month of October. It's often the culmination of events for the time of finally letting go,

The Hanged Man is one of those cards that can throw a spanner into a positive reading. Whilst many connect this card to the spiritual, the reality is it's no more spiritual than you make it. This card is far more likely to appear if you have an ongoing situation requiring stupid levels of passivity. Many people under the influence

This card is all about achieving a balance of some sort. In personal relationships, it demands that equality is sought. We can't pull the gender card when the Justice card appears; we must acknowledge that we are both masculine and feminine. Neither sex can ultimately claim power over the other.

The Wheel is an important symbol in many traditions. Many tarot decks will display the astrological wheel. Symbolically this represents all things are part of a cycle with a beginning and an end. The Wheel of Fortune is neither good nor bad; it just is. I have read that the key to mastering this wheel of existence is to

The Hermit tells us we must stop and think more than anything else. Whatever situations are playing out around us, we cannot let ourselves get swept into the chaos; we have to retreat and sort things out in our minds. Things need to be tidied up before we can proceed. Quiet time is essential, and t

All cards can be read from a personal perspective, but the Strength card is one that really does throw it straight back to the one asking the questions. It rarely shows an event and instead asks you to give focus to your inner life. It demands self-mastery over base-level emotions such as lust, laziness, and apathy. Strength tells us

The Chariot is symbolic of the two sides of man/woman. Coming after the Lovers, it is the lesson learned of the benefits of being able to balance two opposing forces. Many decks will show the chariot being pulled by a black and a white horse, yet someone is usually driving the chariot. It is not often shown

The Lovers is one of those cards that generally doesn't show the difficulties it brings. It is easy to assume that you'll see prince charming on his trusty steed when it appears in a reading. After fifteen years of seeing this card appear, I can say that it rarely means a lifelong love. The Lovers is often about having to

The Hierophant is quite a pleasant card to get. It brings a certain kind of peacefulness to the whole reading. If it signifies a person, it is someone who is usually very solid. You can rely on The Hierophant to get or give you much-needed help. It shows consistency and trust are essential to the

The card brings fire energy into play and gives the power to initiate situations in the area where the card falls in the reading. Because of the masculine energy contained in the card, it generally describes a man rather than a woman with a dominant personality. The Emperor represents a forceful

The Empress is another feminine card though the outer expression is very different from the High Priestess. The archetypal Empress shares her energy with others. In contrast, the High Priestess is the energy we need to keep for ourselves. The Empress will be found taking care of others and

Because of the strong associations with the moon, you must be honest about feelings when The High Priestess is present in a reading. Clairsentience is strong, but the best way to use this gift is to learn more about emotions and how they influence and shape our decisions. If we don't know