Tarot + astrology
Tarot · Esoteric
Tarot and astrology share a deep symbolic correspondence developed most comprehensively by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the late 19th century and refined by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris in the Thoth Tarot — each of the 78 cards carrying a precise planetary, zodiacal, or elemental attribution.
What it is
The 78-card Tarot deck divides into two main sections: the 22 Major Arcana and the 56 Minor Arcana. Each section has its own astrological framework.
The 22 Major Arcana are assigned to planets and zodiac signs according to the Golden Dawn system: The Fool (Uranus/Air), The Magician (Mercury), The High Priestess (Moon), The Empress (Venus), The Emperor (Aries), The Hierophant (Taurus), The Lovers (Gemini), The Chariot (Cancer), Strength (Leo), The Hermit (Virgo), The Wheel of Fortune (Jupiter), Justice (Libra), The Hanged Man (Neptune/Water), Death (Scorpio), Temperance (Sagittarius), The Devil (Capricorn), The Tower (Mars), The Star (Aquarius), The Moon (Pisces), The Sun (Sun), Judgement (Pluto/Fire), The World (Saturn/Earth).
The 56 Minor Arcana divide into four suits: Wands (Fire — Aries, Leo, Sagittarius), Cups (Water — Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces), Swords (Air — Gemini, Libra, Aquarius), Pentacles (Earth — Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn). The Aces through Tens of each suit are assigned to specific decanates (10° segments) of the zodiac, and the Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) are assigned to combinations of element and sign.
How it is calculated
The astrological attributions of the Tarot are not calculated in the same mathematical sense as planetary positions — they are fixed symbolic correspondences established by the Golden Dawn and refined by Crowley in The Book of Thoth (1944). To apply them in practice, a reader identifies which planetary or zodiacal principle corresponds to each card and uses that astrological meaning as a layer of interpretation.
For the Minor Arcana pip cards (Ace through Ten), the decanate system is precise: the Two of Wands = Mars in Aries (first decan, 0°–10°), the Three of Wands = Sun in Aries (second decan, 10°–20°), the Four of Wands = Venus in Aries (third decan, 20°–30°), and so on through all signs and suits. This creates 36 pip cards corresponding to the 36 decanates of the zodiac, with the four Aces representing the pure elemental root force of each suit-element.
In astrological chart reading, a Tarot spread can be performed using the chart structure itself — one card per house to augment the planet's message in that house — or timing can be performed by identifying which decanate is active and reading its corresponding Tarot card as an archetypal mirror of that period's energy.
What it reveals
The Tarot-astrology synthesis reveals the archetypal psycho-spiritual dimensions of every planetary and zodiacal principle through rich visual and symbolic imagery that engages the intuitive, non-rational mind alongside the analytical. A client who struggles to connect with abstract descriptions of 'Saturn square Venus' may immediately understand the same dynamic when shown The Devil (Capricorn/Saturn) in challenging aspect to The Empress (Venus) — the imagery speaks directly.
The 36 decanate cards of the Minor Arcana are especially useful for experiential astrology — reading the 'character' of any 10-day solar period through its Tarot card (the Four of Cups = Moon in Cancer, for instance, describes a period of emotional withdrawal, rich inner life, and dissatisfaction with external offerings). This creates a living almanac where astrology and Tarot mutually deepen each other's meanings. The Golden Dawn and Thoth traditions are the canonical source for these correspondences, and any divergence from them (as in Rider-Waite-Smith, which revised some assignments) should be clearly acknowledged.
Frequently asked questions
Which Tarot system has the most accurate astrological correspondences?
The Thoth Tarot (Crowley-Harris, 1944) and the Golden Dawn system are considered the most systematically rigorous. The Rider-Waite-Smith (1910) system diverges from Golden Dawn in several attributions (notably the placement of Justice and Strength). For serious astrological Tarot work, the Thoth system is the standard reference — every card's astrological attribution is explicitly stated in Crowley's The Book of Thoth.
Can I use Tarot to determine astrological timing?
Yes. The 36 Minor Arcana pip cards (Two through Ten of each suit) each correspond to a 10° decanate of the zodiac, giving a 10-day solar period. When a reading draws the Seven of Cups, for instance, its Venus in Scorpio attribution points to the third decan of Scorpio (20°–30°) as relevant timing. Court Cards, which correspond to sign+element combinations, can indicate the time of year when the energy is most active.
Are the Tarot correspondences the same across all Western esoteric traditions?
No. The Golden Dawn/Thoth correspondences are the most widely accepted in Western ceremonial magic and serious astrological Tarot. Other schools exist — Paul Foster Case's BOTA system, the Marseille tradition (which predates astrological attribution), and newer decks — each with their own interpretive layers. For astrological Tarot work, always identify which system a deck uses before assuming the correspondences match those described here.
Classical sources
- Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth
- Golden Dawn
Related techniques
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