What's in the Cards? Finding Ourselves Through the Lens of Tarot and Astrology

Danielle Nugent

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In an era of change, one constant remains: the need for deep self-reflection. When the world feels turbulent, you can only control how you respond to the chaos. Esoteric tools like Tarot and astrology offer a path inward, a means to explore your emotional patterns, desires, and fears. You can cultivate personal growth, resilience, and a more profound sense of inner peace through that exploration. In an ever-changing world, knowing yourself may be the only lasting truth.

Tarot offers a path to truth; it is a way of tapping into your higher self. Like astrology, it uses archetypes and symbols to convey meaning. The cards can be used for inner work. A 2009 thesis by Gigi Hofer explored how regular Tarot users engaged with the cards as a tool for self-reflection. Hofer found that the Tarot offers comfort, insight, affirmation, and perspective shifts during challenging times. Users intentionally employed different spreads and decks based on their emotional or situational needs. The study concludes that Tarot can benefit therapeutic work by promoting personal growth, clarity, and self-awareness. Like astrology, Tarot can help us to better understand ourselves.

There is much speculation about how the Tarot deck came to be. It is believed to have started in the 15th century in Italy as a card game called Carte da Trionfi. Evidence of its use as a divination tool doesn’t start until the 17th century. Jean Baptiste Alliette, better known as Etteilla, wrote the first book on how to use Tarot for divination, “How to Entertain Oneself with a Pack of Cards Called Tarot,” in 1785. He is considered one of the first professional Tarot readers.

The Tarot deck underwent a period of reinvention in 1909 with the creation of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, one of the most widely used versions to date. It was created by members of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Arthur Edward Waite, William Rider, and Pamela Coleman Smith. The deck incorporates symbolism from Christian and Jewish traditions, as well as elements from astrology (Edington, 2022).

Another widely known deck, the Thoth deck, was created by Aleister Crowley and Frieda Harris in the 1940s. This deck also incorporates symbolism from astrology, the Kabbalah, and other esoteric practices (TarotX, n.d.). The Thoth deck and the Rider-Waite Smith deck have stylistic and naming differences. For this article, the Rider-Waite Smith deck was the primary focus.

The Tarot deck, as it is known today, contains 78 cards, with 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana cards (Dean, 2015). Each card includes signs and symbols that practitioners use to discern meaning and answer questions. Similar to how an astrologer reads a birth chart to aid clients in finding meaning and clarity, a Tarot reader uses the cards to do the same.

Tarot and astrology share a symbolic language, with many meaningful crossovers that deepen both practices. The elements, zodiac signs, and planetary influences in astrology are mirrored in the Tarot through specific cards that embody similar themes and energies. For instance, the astrological sign Aries, known for its boldness and leadership, corresponds to the Emperor card, representing authority, structure, and initiative. Aries' ruling planet, Mars, is linked to the Tower card, symbolizing sudden upheaval, transformation, and the raw force of change. These are qualities Mars governs in astrology (Edington, 2022).

These associations offer a multidimensional approach to readings. By integrating astrological correspondences, card readers can gain additional insights into a querent’s situation or personality. Understanding a person's natal chart can enhance a Tarot spread, adding layers of meaning through planetary influences or elemental balances.

An astrologer can utilize Tarot to explore the themes of their birth chart from a different perspective. For example, someone with an Aries rising might meditate on the Emperor card to reflect on their relationship with leadership and authority. A person with the Sun in Capricorn might use the Devil card to consider their relationship with material wealth and possessions. An Aquarius Moon might ponder the Star card to explore their relationship with faith.

To help you with associations, I have provided a table connecting each zodiac sign with its corresponding Tarot card and potential reflection questions generated by ChatGPT (OpenAI, 2025).

ChatGPT and other generalized AI (GenAI) models can be helpful for directing Tarot-based inquiry. Try this customizable prompt: "Please provide me with reflection questions based on (insert name of the card) Tarot card."

You could also prompt GenAI to provide reflection questions specific to a particular area of life, like spirituality, career, or love. For example: “Please provide me with reflection questions based on the Emperor Tarot card; please specify these questions around career” (OpenAI, 2025).

By interacting with these thought-provoking questions, you can gain a richer understanding of the archetypes in both astrology and Tarot. Using Tarot to complement your astrology practice can provide a more nuanced approach in personal readings and client sessions. Together, these tools offer distinct yet supportive perspectives for exploring your cosmic identity and assisting others during challenging times.

As above, so below, as within, so without, as the universe, so the soul.
— Hermes Trismegistus

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References:

• Dean, L. (2015). The ultimate guide to Tarot: A beginner's guide to the cards, spreads, and revealing the mystery of the Tarot. Fair Winds Press.
• Edington, L. (2022). The complete guide to Tarot and Astrology: Everything you need to know to harness the wisdom of the cards and the stars. Rockridge Press.
• Hofer, G. (2009). Tarot cards: An investigation of their benefit as a tool for self-reflection (Master's thesis). University of Victoria. https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/server/api/core/bitstreams/fa98a1d1-0507-45b9-8a8e-6f93c66467cd/content
• OpenAI. (2025, April 11). Reflection questions based on Tarot cards: The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Justice, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Star, The Moon [Large language model]. ChatGPT. https://chat.openai.com/
• TarotX. (n.d.). 78 tarot cards based on Thoth tarot deck – Aleister Crowley. TarotX. https://tarotx.net/tarot-card-meanings/thoth/

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Images

• Tarot: ai subarasiki, Pixabay
• Chart: Mira Cosic, Astrologer, Pixabay

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Author: Danielle Nugent

Danielle Nugent is a professional astrologer, educator, and founder of Cardinal Readings, www.cardinalreadings.com. She blends over a decade of experience in adult education and transformational coaching with her passion for astrology and Tarot, creating grounded, empowering learning experiences for individuals and communities.

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Published in: The Evolving Astrologer, June 2025.
© 2025 - Danielle Nugent - The Evolving Astrologer

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