Tarot and astrology have a strong link. Understanding this link will help to get a deeper understanding and improve the depth in our Tarot readings.

In this post, I will focus on the Major Arcana. Each Major Arcana card is linked to a specific planet or Zodiac sign with a corresponding element, which I will explore here.

To fully understand the meaning behind any Tarot card, we need to look into all the following aspects. This post will be focused on the bolded ones:

• The energy of the card’s archetype
• Where the card fits into the journey of the fool (Major Arcana)
• Where the card fits into the journey of the suit (Minor Arcana)
• The card’s ruling element (Fire, Air, Earth, Water)
• The card’s ruling Zodiac sign (and the element and modality of the sign)
• The card’s ruling planet
• The numbers on the card
• The symbolism on the card
• How the card is linked to the chakras (also read my post Tarot and the Chakras)

So here is what I found.. 🪐

Which System To Use To Link Tarot To Astrology?

In and around the 19th century in England, there was an esotheric movement called The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn.

There are several types of Tarot decks that emerged from this movement, of which one of them was the famous Rider-Waite Smith Tarot, which I will focus on here. Another well-known deck is the Thoth Tarot.

Tarot is strongly linked to Astrology, and because the mainstream Tarot today in the West is mostly based on Rider-Waite, I will use the Golden Dawn methodology to link the cards to the Astrology.

Interpreting The Cards

When you are new to Tarot, a good starting point is to learn the meaning of the cards individually and in relation to the Fool’s journey.

Once you are more familiar with the Tarot, understanding the astrological links behind the cards can really help to deepen your understanding of them.

The cards are all linked to a planet and an element, and some also to a Zodiac sign.

The Planets

Each planet comes with its own particular energy. Below I will also discuss how this energy affects each card individually. If you like, you can find a list of all the planets and their energy in my post here.

In some cases you will notice that a card has two planets linked to it. Reason for that can be that there is no consensus on which of the two it should be linked to (as some planets were not yet discovered when the system was created).

The Elements

The elements are important to understand and are also an easy way to feel the energy of a card at first glance. The four elements are: Fire, Air, Earth, Water.

Each Zodiac sign is also linked to one of the four elements, which helps to understand the energy of the sign better. If you know both the element as well as the modality of a sign (mutable, fixed or cardinal), it will give you an instant feel of the energy.

Find an explanation of the 4 elements here. Find an explanation of the 3 modalities here.

The Zodiac Signs

Last but not least are the 12 Zodiac signs. Some of the cards in the Major Arcana are linked to a Zodiac sign.

You can also find the card that is related to your own signs and see how it resonates. If you haven’t already, go find your Sun, Moon and Rising sign.

If you are not familiar with the 12 Zodiac signs, you can find a description of them here.

Astrology And The Major Arcana

So let’s have a look at each of the cards in the Major Arcana and their astrological links. I will explain how these energies reflect in the card’s meaning.

—>>> FREE Cheatsheet

If you like, you can download a free cheatsheet HERE. It has a list of all the Major Arcana cards and their astrological links.

0. The Fool

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Uranus	Air	n/a

The Fool card is the first card in the Tarot deck and is all about going out into the world and being ready for a great adventure. The Fool is carefree and naïve.

The Fool card is ruled by Uranus which is all about independence, rebellion and stepping out into the unknown. The air element is the energy of the mind and thinking. In combination with the energy of Uranus, this can be interpreted as having an independent mind and drawing your own plan.

1. The Magician

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Mercury	Air	n/a

The Magician is all about manifestation. The lesson that the Fool will learn very early on in his journey is that he has a great ability to make things happen. He has all the tools he needs to manifest things into reality.

The Magician is ruled by the planet Mercury and the air element. This tells us that the card is about the mind (air) and communiation (Mercury). The card in a reading can therefore announce a communication is on the way, or there is a focus on communication in a certain area.

The Magician marks the first step in the Fool’s journey, where the Fool realizes he has a strong mind that he can, and should, use to his advantage.

2. The High Priestess

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
The Moon	Water	n/a

The High Priestess is all about using your intuition and the realization that you are more than just your mind. This is a card that symbolizes a strong feminine receptive energy and spiritual connection.

The High Priestess is ruled by the moon and the water element. This energy is all about the mystical and what is hidden (the moon), as well as your emotional world and connection with your inner voice (water).

3. The Empress

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Venus	Earth	n/a

The Empress represents the mother and a strong feminine energy of abundance and creativity (creation).

The Empress is ruled by the planet Venus and the earth element. The card expresses pure love, caring and beauty (Venus) as well as an abundant connection with nature and the earth (earth element).

3. The Emperor

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Mars	Fire	Aries

The Emperor represents the masculin energy of taking action, going after what you want, dominance, responsibility and leadership.

It is no wonder that this card is ruled by the sign of Aries, which is going fast and straight toward its goal. It is a fiery and powerful energy that gets things done. Ruled by the masculin planet of Mars, there is a focus on strong assertiveness and the possibility of aggression.

5. The Hierophant

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Venus	Earth	Taurus

The Hierophant represents tradition, cultural structures and convention. It can also represent your inner spiritual teacher.

Taurus is a an earth sign that is reliable, stable and always there when you need it. Taurus is also a fixed sign, which means it is set in its ways and can become rigid. Taurus is ruled by the planet Venus, which brings an energy of being very caring and taking a liking to nice things.

6. The Lovers

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Mercury	Air	Gemini

The Lovers is the card that represents the moment in the Fool´s journey where the fool begins to see outside of himself and finds love with another person.

The Lovers card is ruled by Gemini, which is a fast moving and mutable sign. The energy is very adaptive and focused on the mind, intelligence and communication (air, Mercury). The card in a reading can show (the need of) a certain adaptability to something, a communicative matter at play, or a focus on the mind/thinking.

7. The Chariot

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
The Moon	Water	Cancer

The Chariot is all about going on a journey and finding inner balance. The card shows the strength of the masculin (outward physical power, the head) and of the feminine (inward intuitive power, the heart).

The Chariot is ruled by Cancer, which is a cardinal water sign. There is an underlying energy of needing to be guided by your emotion. When the card comes up in a reading, it can mean there is a decision to be made where your emotions need to be taken into account.

There is a focus on the balance between the head and the heart, yin and yang, the sun and the moon.

8. Strength

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Sun	Fire	Leo

The strength card is all about finding inner strength, being courageous, confident and possessing inner wisdom. Both masculin and feminine strength are in balance, and the card shows a powerful strength with a feminine softness in it.

The Strength card is ruled by the sign of Leo, a fixed fire sign. It radiates a confident, stable energy of calmth, wisdom, generosity and feeling one with the self.

9. The Hermit

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Mercury	Earth	Virgo

The Hermit is all about the inner journey, the search for your inner spiritual wisdom and spending time alone to deepen this connection.

Because the Hermit is related to Virgo, a mutable earth sign, it has an energy of stability, calmth, down-to-earth practicality, adaptability, and an innate drive to think and analyze.

10. The Wheel Of Fortune

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Jupiter	Fire	n/a

The Wheel of Fortune is all about a change coming and some good luck coming your way!

The card is ruled by Jupiter which has an energy of growth and improvement. There is a chance for doing away with old karma, and expand where you are in life. It is a fast moving energy that will propel you forward and will bring you some good luck and opportunities.

11. Justice

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Venus	Air	Libra

The Justice card is all about fairness, finding balance and dealing with karma.

The ruling sign of Libra with the planet Venus indicate the card is striving for balance in a way that is fair to everyone. Libra is an air sign and very social. The Justice card is all about making up the situation with a sharp clear mind. It can also be about connections with others, or about dealing with legal matters.

12. The Hanged Man

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Neptune	Water	n/a

The Hanged Man is all about having a different perspective on something. It can also be about gaining a higher wisdom and surrendering to a higher power (going with the flow). Sometimes it is better to wait it out than to do something.

The card is ruled by Neptune and the water element. Neptune can be very dreamy and the water element is all about the emotions. This means that the card can indicate that a new perspective on an intuitive emotional level is required. It can also refer to you having a slightly unrealistic perspective on something.

13. Death

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Pluto/Mars	Water	Scorpio

The Death card is all about transformation and rebirth on a deep, life changing level.

This is very well reflected by the sign of Scorpio that rules this card. Scorpio is all about intense, sincere and deep relations on a profound emotional level (the water element). When Scorpio goes for something, it will follow it through and not do it half heartedly.

Pluto and Mars as the ruling planets indicates the depth on which it operates (Pluto is all about radical change) and how dedicated it is to taking action (Mars).

14. Temperance

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Jupiter	Fire	Sagittarius

Temperance is all about balance, rebirth and the connection between heaven and earth.

Interestingly, the card is ruled by the sign of Sagittarius, an adventurous fire sign. The ruling planet Jupiter is all about goodness and expansion. The card can therefore also indicate the need to pursue a passion and finding what brings you joy.

15. The Devil

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Saturn	Earth	Capricorn

The Devil is asking you where you are sabotaging yourself. It lays bare all the pleasures in life that are enjoyable but that are not serving you in the long run.

It is ruled by the sign of Capricorn, which is a stubborn earth sign. The ruling planet Saturn gives the card a solemn vibe. In this context, the Devil card can urge you to look at where you need to change your own behavior and be more grounded, hard-working or responsible.

16. The Tower

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Mars	Fire	n/a

When the Tower shows up, things are to be shaken up to pave the way for something new. It will tear down a structure in your life that is not working anymore, or that needs to be changed in order for a new opportunity to arise.

Because the Tower is ruled by Mars, it has a very strong fiery force that comes in and destroys everything that is no longer serving you. This energy does not hesitate or move slowly. It is here to reach its goal.

17. The Star

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Uranus/Saturn	Air	Aquarius

The Star card brings you hope and harmony. It can be an indication of a dream coming true, and the Star can guide you to a happier time in your life.

The Star is also about finding yourself and your strength within. This is also reflected by the ruling sign of Aquarius, which is all about self-reliance with a hint of rebellion and a flair for innovation.

The Star is an energy of going out into the world by yourself (Uranus), finding your true self and relying on it (Saturn/Aquarius) while keeping an innovative mind (air element/ Aquarius).

18. The Moon

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Neptune/Jupiter	Water	Pisces

The moon is all about the unseen, what is hidden in the dark. It is the feminine receptive energy of the night.

Because it is ruled by Pisces, it is a very emotional card. It urges you look at what is playing underneath the surface. How are your emotions serving you in this situation? Can you be more intuitive about it? Are things really what they seem?

19. The Sun

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Sun	Fire	n/a

When the Sun shows up in your reading, it is a radiant sign of positivity, success and an indication that good times are coming. It is also a card about putting yourself in the center of your life.

Astrologically, the card is linked to the sun, which communicates a very action driven fiery energy. The sun energy is all about your power and your ability to shine. The card is also about gaining back a child like innocence after having gained the wisdom of life.

20. Judgement

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Pluto	Fire	n/a

Judgement is all about finding your inner calling. It is about listening to that inner voice and taking action to move toward a higher purpose after a difficult or stagnate time. This card radiates hope for the future and can be an indication of you being called to your higher purpose.

When Pluto comes around, things are always shaken up. It is the planet of major change. And that change never happens gradually. Like fire, Pluto comes and burns the old and makes way for the new.

21. The World

Planet	Element	Zodiac sign
Saturn	Earth	n/a

The World marks the completion of a cycle. It is coming home to yourself after learning many lessons and finding inner peace. The card can also indicate happiness, long travel, spiritual growth and your dreams coming true.

Saturn energy is very interesting with this card. It is a very serious down-to-earth energy. Both the world card, as well as the Saturn energy, are about maturity and responsibility. With all the wisdom you have gained comes a certain responsibility to make the right choices. This energy urges you to use your knowledge wisely.

Want To Know More?

Also read my post Tarot and Astrology: The Minor Arcana.

For more Tarot posts, go HERE.

For more Astrology posts, go HERE.

If you want to go in-depth on Tarot and Astrology, check out the book Tarot and Astrology: Enhance Your Readings with the Wisdom of the Zodiac or get these lovely Black Moon Astrology Cards! 🤩

This post was all about Tarot and Astrology: The Major Arcana.