Tarot and Astrology: The Major Arcana Correspondences with Signs and Planets
Tarot and Astrology: The Major Arcana Correspondences with Signs and Planets
Tarot and astrology are two symbolic languages that have been in conversation for a very long time. If you have ever wondered why Strength shows a lion or why Justice holds a pair of scales, the answer lies in the astrological correspondences of the Major Arcana. At Aspectados we believe that understanding these bridges enriches both how you read your birth chart and how you read your cards. In this guide you will discover which card belongs to each sign and planet, and how to combine both tools in everyday life.
What the Major Arcana Represent in Astrology
The 22 Major Arcana are the great archetypes of the tarot: stages of a life journey that begins with The Fool and ends with The World. In the Hermetic tradition, each card is linked to one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet and, through them, to an astrological force. The distribution is precise:
- 12 cards for the 12 zodiac signs, describing different ways of living experience.
- 7 cards for the 7 classical planets (Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn).
- 3 cards for the elements Air, Water, and Fire, which modern astrology links to Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
- A map of universal archetypes that speaks to the planets, signs, and houses of your chart.
The Golden Dawn System
The most widely used correspondences today come from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a British esoteric society of the late 19th century that wove tarot, astrology, and Kabbalah into a single system. Its influence reached hugely popular decks such as the Rider-Waite-Smith.
One important detail: the Golden Dawn swapped the numbering of Strength and Justice compared to the Marseille tarot. In the Marseille deck, Justice is VIII and Strength is XI; in the Golden Dawn system, Strength becomes VIII and Justice becomes XI. This way, the sign cards follow the natural order of the zodiac, with Leo coming before Libra.
The Major Arcana and the Zodiac Signs
Aries: The Emperor
The Emperor embodies authority, structure, and leadership. It is Aries' initiative turned into command and the ability to steer your own life. In many decks his throne is decorated with ram heads, a direct nod to the sign.
Taurus: The Hierophant
The Hierophant represents tradition, values, and inherited wisdom. It connects with the Taurean need for stability and solid roots. It speaks of what endures and of the beliefs that sustain us.
Gemini: The Lovers
More than a romantic card, The Lovers symbolizes choice, duality, and the union of opposites. It reflects Gemini's twin nature and its need for dialogue. It appears when a decision calls for both the head and the heart.
Cancer: The Chariot
The Chariot represents moving forward with willpower and protection. Its armor recalls the crab's shell: Cancer advances when it feels safe. It speaks of mastering conflicting emotions in order to reach the goal.
Leo: Strength
A figure gently calming a lion: the perfect image of Leo. Strength speaks of courage, heart, and the gentle mastery of instinct. It is not brute force, but the serene confidence of someone who can shine without dominating.
Virgo: The Hermit
With his lantern in the darkness, The Hermit represents introspection, discernment, and inner wisdom. He reflects Virgo's analytical mind, which withdraws in order to understand and to serve better. He invites you to look for answers in silence.
Libra: Justice
The scales of Justice are also the scales of Libra. The card symbolizes balance, fairness, and responsibility for our choices. It reminds us that every action has consequences and that harmony is born from honesty.
Scorpio: Death
Death rarely speaks of anything literal: it symbolizes transformation, necessary endings, and regeneration. It is the quintessential Scorpio archetype, dying to the old in order to be reborn. It appears when a cycle needs to close.
Sagittarius: Temperance
An angel pouring liquid between two cups: Temperance represents synthesis, moderation, and inner alchemy. It balances Sagittarian enthusiasm with the search for deeper meaning. It speaks of healing by integrating opposites.
Capricorn: The Devil
The Devil symbolizes matter, ambition, and attachment. It shows Capricorn's shadow side: control, the fear of loss, and the chains we accept ourselves. It also reminds us that those chains can be loosened.
Aquarius: The Star
A figure pours water beneath a starry sky, like the Aquarian water bearer. The Star is the card of hope, inspiration, and renewal. It connects with collective ideals and with faith in the future.
Pisces: The Moon
The tarot's Moon belongs to Pisces and speaks of intuition, dreams, and the unconscious. It reflects Piscean sensitivity, but also its confusion and fears. It asks you to move forward by trusting your intuition when the path is unclear.
The Planetary Cards
Seven cards correspond to the classical planets. The Magician is Mercury (skill and communication), The High Priestess is the Moon (intuition and hidden knowledge), and The Empress is Venus (beauty and abundance). The Wheel of Fortune is Jupiter (cycles and luck) and The Tower is Mars (rupture and liberation). The Sun is the Sun (vitality and joy), and The World is Saturn, also associated with Earth (completion and integration).
The Elemental Cards
Three cards correspond to the elements, and modern astrology adds a planet to each. The Fool is Air, linked to Uranus (freedom and new beginnings). The Hanged Man is Water, associated with Neptune (surrender and a change of perspective). Judgement is Fire, connected to Pluto (awakening and rebirth).
The Minor Arcana: Suits, Elements, and Decans
The link with astrology continues in the Minor Arcana. Each suit is associated with an element: Wands with Fire, Cups with Water, Swords with Air, and Pentacles (or Coins) with Earth. In addition, in the Golden Dawn system, the numbered cards from 2 to 10 in each suit correspond to the 36 decans of the zodiac, the 10-degree divisions of each sign.
How to Combine Tarot with Your Birth Chart
Both tools work best as symbolic mirrors for reflection rather than as deterministic oracles. These ideas will help you bring them together:
- Find your Sun sign card. The card of your Sun sign describes your essence: a Leo might meditate with Strength, a Virgo with The Hermit.
- Add your Ascendant and your Moon. Your Ascendant card speaks of how you present yourself to the world, and your Moon sign card of your emotional needs. Together they form a small tarot "portrait" of you.
- Look for your chart ruler. If your Ascendant is Gemini, your ruling planet is Mercury, so The Magician can become your personal power card.
- Relate each spread to your chart. If The Tower appears, think of Mars: which house does it occupy in your birth chart? That area of life may offer useful clues.
- Follow the seasons. During each sign's season, reflect with its corresponding card.
Conclusion
The correspondences between tarot and astrology turn the cards into a doorway to the zodiac, and the zodiac into a gallery of living images. Knowing which card rules your Sun, your Moon, or your Ascendant gives you a new language for understanding yourself, always as a tool for reflection rather than fate. If you want to explore the signs, planets, and houses that shape your story, Aspectados is an AI-powered astrology platform that interprets your birth chart and transits to help you discover your own archetypes.
