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Core Tarot Meanings: Not Just a Keyword
- María Alviz Hernando
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
Tarot meanings: The never-ending quest
Core meanings are the ultimate tarot meanings cheat sheet. They are not, though, any random keyword that you just repeat without any further understanding, and that is precisely the trick. Core meanings are a key that captures the essence of each card and unlocks its interpretations. It is based on understanding the card, not memorizing it, and while I have my own, they don't have to be yours.
There's no memorization involved, there's no forgetting, there's understanding and integrating so that you are able to adapt it to the situation that you are reading about.
This word, or keyword, has certain requirements.
It is one word or a short concept.
Ideally, it is neutral, this is, not "good" or "bad" by itself.¹
It captures the essence of the cards, in it lights and shadows.
Here you will find a list with my own current² core meanings (some of which may be weird, but I suggest you look at each description before taking the word and running with it / being horrorized by the simplification or weirdness of the concept) if you click on each card, you will find more information about it. You are welcome to use my own core meanings, but I invite you to discover your own following my method.
1. What if I can't find a neutral word?
That's okay, it is not always possible. However, keep an open mind when it comes to it and understand that while some words can have a positive or negative connotation, they often have neutral ones. An example of this is The Magician.
2. What do you mean by "current"?
I developed my first list years ago. After having read tarot for over half of my life, my knowledge and experience has evolved. The words that defined the cards have evolved with it, and while I have maintained some, I have learned more or found words that more accurately describe the essence of the cards. Learning is always a work in progress.
My core tarot meanings (not necessarily yours)
Here's my list of core meanings (and they link to other blog posts elaborating on the thought, updated every now and then until I complete the list one day!) Some of these associations might puzzle you, but they all come from an understanding of the cards and finding a way that works for me to tie the concept with the card. For instance, when I associate The High Priestess with the word "hidden", to me that word evokes one's inner world, the intuitive side that lives within and isn't loud or obvious, knowledge and wisdom that is not readily available but opens up if you know where to look for or what are you looking at, and many other aspects of the card. The Court Cards have even weirder associations, when I associate the King of Pentacles to "a mountaintop" what that means to me is the stability of a mountain with the clarity of looking at things from an ample perspective, as a king would do. This is to illustrate that your core meanings have to make sense to you, you might find inspiration in some of mine, or they won't make sense to you at all, and that's alright, they don't have to.
XI. JUSTICE - LAW
XII. THE HANGED MAN - SUSPENSION
XIII. DEATH - DEATH
XIV. TEMPERANCE - FLOW
XV. THE DEVIL - PERCEIVED ENTRAPMENT
XVI. THE TOWER - COLLAPSE
XVII. THE STAR - HOPE
XVIII. THE MOON - DISTORTION
XIX. THE SUN - JOY
XX. JUDGEMENT - DESERVING
XXI. THE WORLD - COMPLETION
ACE OF SWORDS - IDEA
TWO OF SWORDS - AVOIDANCE
THREE OF SWORDS - REVELATION
FOUR OF SWORDS - STILLNESS
FIVE OF SWORDS - INNER CONFLICT
SIX OF SWORDS - JOURNEY
SEVEN OF SWORDS - STRATEGY
EIGHT OF SWORDS - LIMITATIONS
NINE OF SWORDS - WORRY
TEN OF SWORDS - PAIN
PAGE OF SWORDS (EARTH OF AIR) - A WINDY DAY
KNIGHT OF SWORDS (FIRE OF AIR) - A TORNADO
QUEEN OF SWORDS (WATER OF AIR) - A RAINSTORM
KING OF SWORDS (AIR OF AIR) - THE SKY
ACE OF WANDS - DESIRE
TWO OF WANDS - PLANNING
THREE OF WANDS - EXPANSION
FOUR OF WANDS - FOUNDATION
FIVE OF WANDS - OUTER CONFLICT
SIX OF WANDS - CONQUERING
SEVEN OF WANDS - DEFENSE
EIGHT OF WANDS - SPEED
NINE OF WANDS - LONG GAME
TEN OF WANDS - BAGGAGE
PAGE OF WANDS (EARTH OF FIRE) - A TEA CANDLE
KNIGHT OF WANDS (FIRE OF FIRE) - A WILDFIRE
QUEEN OF WANDS (WATER OF FIRE) - A HEARTH
KING OF WANDS (AIR OF FIRE) - A FORGE
ACE OF CUPS - CALLING
TWO OF CUPS - TOGETHERNESS
THREE OF CUPS - SOCIAL
FOUR OF CUPS - ENNUI
FIVE OF CUPS - GRIEF
SIX OF CUPS - PAST
SEVEN OF CUPS - PROCRASTINATION
EIGHT OF CUPS - NECESSARY ABANDONMENT
NINE OF CUPS - SATIETY
TEN OF CUPS - MAXIMUM GROWTH
PAGE OF CUPS (EARTH OF WATER) - A SPROUT
KNIGHT OF CUPS (FIRE OF WATER) - BOILING WATER
QUEEN OF CUPS (WATER OF WATER) - WATER OF THE WOMB
KING OF CUPS (AIR OF WATER) - A RAFT IN CALM WATERS
ACE OF PENTACLES - OPPORTUNITY
TWO OF PENTACLES - JUGGLING
THREE OF PENTACLES - TEAM
FOUR OF PENTACLES - HOARD
FIVE OF PENTACLES - LACK
SIX OF PENTACLES - CHARITY
SEVEN OF PENTACLES - WAIT
EIGHT OF PENTACLES - MASTERY
NINE OF PENTACLES - ATTAINMENT
TEN OF PENTACLES - LEGACY
PAGE OF PENTACLES (EARTH OF EARTH) - FERTILE SOIL
KNIGHT OF PENTACLES (FIRE OF EARTH) - A DIAMOND IN THE MAKING
QUEEN OF PENTACLES (WATER OF EARTH) - WATERED PLANTS
KING OF PENTACLES (AIR OF EARTH) - A MOUNTAINTOP
The Method Explained
Follow these simple instructions to create your own list of core meanings. This is a lengthy process, specially when you are getting started with your tarot learning, so don't rush it.
Even if you are an experienced reader, finding your own core meanings can be beneficial. The first step is gathering information about traditional card meanings. There are lots of resources that you can use for that purpose, from books to websites. Read a lot. Not to memorize, but to understand what's going on in each card.
Read about the story behind each card, its symbolism, meaning and keywords. Take some notes but not a whole testament. Only what's important.
What does this information have in common?
When you have learned about a single card, find a word (or simple concept) that encompasses all that you have learned, and that helps you unlock that information.
It sounds complicated, but it is not that difficult.
See an example of my train of thought here with The Fool.
My core meaning for The Fool is "new".
Here's how I have arrived to this conclusion.
Most reliable sources of information will tell you that The Fool is associated to beginnings, innocence, originality, potential, risk-taking, recklessness, freedom.
You may now be wondering how or even why would I simplify all of that to "new".
Well, it is not exactly a simplification and it does not deny the other meanings. It simply unlocks them in my mind.
A beginning is new, an spontaneus adventure is a new plan, innocence derives from inexperience, ergo, new. Original, never done before? Also new. A risk? It wouldn't be a risk if you knew what's going to happen, so it's also new. Freedom? Infinite potential, the clean slate, untouched, so again, new.
As you can see, it's not that you have simplified it to mean one single thing, but that you have found a way to attach all of those meanings to a word, and if you have followed the process, you will be able to remember the connections that you made to arrive to that single word or concept, thus having a more ample view of the essence of the card.
But don't just take my word for it. Try it!