A
Akashic Records: Book of cosmic memory. Said to hold a collection of mystical knowledge from all ages. It contains information on all the past lives you have ever lived and every event that has ever happened in the Universe, and will happen in the future; and all thoughts and ideas that have ever transpired, or will transpire in the future; Every event that has ever happened in the Universe, and will happen in the future; and all thoughts and ideas that have ever transpired, or will transpire in the future.
Amulet: Charm carried to ward off evil
Anchor cross: Christian cross symbolic of salvation and hope
Angels: Four archangels appear in the Rider Waite: Raphael, angel of air (The Lovers); Michael, angel of fire (Temperance); Gabriel, angel of water (Judgement); and Uriel, angel of earth (The Devil)
Ankh cross: Ancient Egyptian cross and symbol of life
Anubis: Ancient Egyptian god with the head of a jackal, represents the evolution of consciousness
B
Bird: Message from the spirit world, also symbol of the soul
Blood: Sacrifice
Bridge: Symbolizes a way forward, from one state to another, like an ascension process
Blindfold: Turning a blind eye
C
Caduceus: Winged wand entwined by two serpents, symbol of Mercury, messenger of the gods
Castle: Represents home and safety
Cat: Witch’s familiar, magic and luck
Child: Innocence, the future
Cliff: Obstacles to overcome
Clouds: The spirit world, and all that is mysterious and sacred
Crab: Symbol of the astrological sign Cancer
Crescent Moon: Symbol of Isis, the ancient Egyptian Queen of Heaven
Cross: Protection
Crown: Achievement and mastery
Cup: Emotions
D
Devil: Subconscious desires, and materialism
Desert: Clarity of thought, a landscape void of distraction
Dog: Faithful companion, messengers of spirit
Dolphin: The need for playtime, take a break
Door: New opportunity, barrier through which only initiates in the Golden Dawn or Masons may unlock
Dove: Peace, holy spirit
E
Eye of Horus: Symbol of the watchful Egyptian lord of the skies
F
Feather: Angel sign, spirit message. See also: Meaning of Feathers
Flag: Victory
Fleur-de-lis: Royalty; the trinity of body, mind and spirit
G
Garden: Cultivation of the human soul
Globe: The world is your oyster, expansion
Glove: Protection
Goat: Symbol of the astrological sign Capricorn
Grapes: Abundance and celebration
H
Halo: Glowing sphere around the head chakra, to signify saints, holy people and enlightenment
Hammer: In the Freemasons, the Hammer symbolizes willpower and a person’s willingness to obtain
Hexagram: 6-pointed star; combination of material and spiritual
Horse: Symbol of forward momentum
I
Ibis: Ancient Egyptian bird, symbolic of thought and inspiration
IHVH: Hebrew initials of the holy name of God; also symbolic of the four Minor Arcana suits
Ice: Isolation and separation
Infinity sign: Eternity
J
Jewels: Spiritual truths
K
Key: New opening, change
King: Expresses the highest qualities of the Tarot suit
Knight: Events start moving, picking up pace
L
Lemniscate: Infinity sign, eternity
Lightning: Flash of illumination; a bolt from the blue
Lily flower: Virgin Mary, purity of thought, afterlife
Lion: Symbol of the astrological sign Leo, ego, pride and courage
Lotus flower: Spiritual awakening
M
Moon: Inner world, intuition, subconsciousness, passage of time, cycles of life
Mountain: Obstacles to overcome, meeting of heaven and earth, ascension
N
Nimbus: A halo or aura, sign of spiritual enlightenment
O
Ocean: Reflects emotions and how you feel at the time of a Tarot reading
P
Page: Messages and news; and young people related to the Tarot suit
Pentacle: Money, earthly values, materialism
Pentagram: Symbol of perfection and wholeness. Each point symbolizes the four elements plus ether
Phallus: Power, life force and propagation
Pyramids: Symbolize ancient magic, in particular forms of divination like prophecy.
Pillars: Duality, choice, balance
Pomegranate: Fertility
Q
Queen: Expression of the highest feminine qualities of the Tarot suit
R
Rain: Cleansing, healing
Rainbow: Good luck, God’s protection
Ram: Symbol of the astrological sign Aries
Ribbons: immortality, victory, fulfillment
River: Change, passage of time
Rock: What is stable in your life
Rose: Love, appreciation
Rota: Latin for wheel, anagram of tarot
S
Salamander: Favorite symbol of alchemists and was used to represent the element Fire
Scales: Justice, balance and symbol of the astrological sign Libra
Scarab: Renewal and regeneration
Scorpion: Symbol of the astrological sign Scorpio
Scrolls: Hidden mysteries, divine and universal law
Ship: Represents a journey of education, faith, business or personal development
Sphinx: Combination of four creatures – human head, a bull’s body, lion’s feet, and eagle’s wings. Represents all four elements and symbolizes the riddle of human existence
Star: Cosmic order and radiant energy of life.
Sun: God, illumination, in astrology, the self and ego
Sunrise: New beginnings, initiation
Sunflower: Happiness and attraction
T
Three: Body, mind and spirit; birth, life and death; past, present and future; holy trinity
Throne: Monarchy, divinity and wisdom
Tomb: Gateway to another life
Tower: Man’s creation
Trees: Symbolize growth and prosperity
U-Z
Veil: Hidden emotions, actions, thoughts and ideas
Wand: Channel for spirit, creative powers
Wolf: Sign of the Devil, violence
Wheat: Abundance, growth and harvest
Wreath: Victory
Yod: Hebrew letter; the hand of God, represents the world to come and completeness