Tarot lesson
Tarot Symbols: How to Read Rider-Waite-Smith Imagery Step by Step
When you look at a Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) tarot card, you do not need to memorize a universal dictionary of colors, animals, or objects to read it well. A symbol on a card works best when you separate three things: the literal detail drawn in the scene, the historical commentary or scene context recorded in reference texts, and the practical connection you make to your own question.
Treating symbols as fixed codes often makes readings feel stiff or contradictory. What looks like a warning in one question might simply highlight a boundary or a habit in another. If you are building your basic reading skills in our tarot learning hub, learning to observe visual details step by step will help you read both Major and Minor Arcana cards without guessing or relying on rigid checklists.
Why a Universal Symbol Dictionary Falls Short
Many beginner guides list single-word meanings for recurring images, claiming that every crown means authority or every body of water means emotion. While those shortcuts are easy to memorize, they often obscure what is actually happening in a specific card.
In A. E. Waite's 1910 text, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, he provides historical commentary on the imagery of the 22 Major Arcana cards; this guide uses those historical descriptions for reflective study rather than factual prediction. Likewise, in Part 3 of Waite's text, numbered cards from Ace through Ten and the four court ranks across Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles are discussed individually, and the same number does not carry an identical meaning across every suit.
Because visual context changes from card to card, a detail only makes sense inside its scene. Separating observation from interpretation keeps your reading grounded in reflection rather than false certainty.
Eight Verified Symbols in the Major Arcana
Looking at concrete details from Waite's descriptions of the Major Arcana shows how an object on the card connects to a broader reflective theme without guaranteeing any real-world outcome.
| Card | Visible Detail in the Scene | Historical / Scene Context (Waite) | Example Reflective Prompt (Hypothetical) |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Magician (I) | Four suit emblems resting on a table | Four suit emblems positioned on the table before the figure | What existing skills or tools do I already have on the table for this project? |
| The Magician (I) | Figure-eight sign above the head | Described in Waite's text as a horizontal figure-eight sign of life above the head | Where am I trying to sustain steady focus instead of rushing for a quick fix? |
| The High Priestess (II) | Black and white pillars on either side | Frames the seated figure alongside a partly covered scroll | What two opposing options am I weighing before I decide what to share? |
| The Empress (III) | Wheat field in the foreground | Paired with a Venus shield in Waite's account of the card | Which part of my daily routine is actually producing steady results right now? |
| The Emperor (IV) | Ram heads carved into the throne | Marks the throne on which the figure is seated | Where do I need firmer boundaries or a clearer plan before pushing ahead? |
| The Hierophant (V) | Crossed keys at the feet of the figure | Placed at the feet of the central figure in Waite's description | Whose rules or established methods am I following in this situation, and why? |
| The Chariot (VII) | Two sphinxes positioned at the front | Drawn as a pair positioned before the chariot | How can I get two competing priorities pulling in the same direction? |
| The Hermit (IX) | Lantern holding a star | Held aloft by the figure with a star inside the lantern | What single piece of information do I need just to take my next small step? |
Notice how the fourth column frames each symbol as a question for reflection. The third column records checked source commentary and scene placement, while your reading applies that visual cue to a specific moment in your life.
Reading Scene Composition: The Five of Cups
Symbols do not work in isolation; how they are arranged in the frame tells you where the tension lies. A clear example appears in the Minor Arcana descriptions in Part 3 of The Pictorial Key to the Tarot.
In the Five of Cups, Waite describes a cloaked figure looking sideways at three fallen cups on the ground while two cups remain standing behind them, with a bridge in the background. If you only looked up the word "cup" in a symbol list, you would miss the entire point of the drawing.
Here, you can see how visible placement leads to a reflective association:
- What is spilled (visible detail): Three cups lie overturned in front of the cloaked figure.
- What remains (visible detail): Two cups still stand upright behind the figure.
- Where the scene leads (proposed reading): A bridge stands in the background, which a reader can interpret as a prompt to turn around and look toward a practical way forward.
In a reading, this composition does not predict a guaranteed loss or diagnose a state of mind. Instead, it asks a practical visual question: Are you staring so hard at the three things that went wrong that you are overlooking the two resources still standing behind you?
The Three-Column Symbol Worksheet
When you pull a card and a specific detail catches your eye, use a three-column separation to keep your interpretation clear. This prevents you from jumping straight from a picture to a dramatic prediction.
How the Three Columns Work
- Column 1: Literal Image. Write down only what a camera would see—posture, objects, direction of gaze, or placement.
- Column 2: Historical or Scene Context. Note only what the source text records about that detail or how the object is positioned in the scene.
- Column 3: Question Connection. Write your own interpretive association and one concrete action or question linking that detail to the topic you asked about.
Worked Example (Hypothetical Question)
Suppose a reader asks: "How should I handle the feedback on my draft proposal before Friday's meeting?" They draw The Hermit (IX) and focus on the lantern.
| 1. Literal Image | 2. Historical / Scene Context | 3. Connection to My Question |
|---|---|---|
| A standing figure holds up a single lantern containing a star. | In Waite's Major Arcana description, the Hermit carries a raised lantern with a star inside. | Treating the lantern as a modern prompt to focus on my immediate next step rather than the whole project at once, I will review the three comments on the budget section today and clarify those numbers before Friday. |
By keeping the three steps separate, the symbol leads to a calm, manageable action—reviewing one section of a draft—rather than a vague claim about the future.
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
- Treating a symbol as proof of real-world facts. Seeing two pillars on The High Priestess or a cloaked figure on the Five of Cups never proves what another person is secretly thinking, nor does it predict medical, financial, or relationship outcomes.
- Forcing every detail to speak at once. A card like The Magician contains a table, four suit tools, a figure-eight sign, roses, and lilies. Pick the one or two details that directly answer your question instead of trying to weave every background plant into a single sentence.
- Confusing study aids with fixed laws. If you use a personal 1-to-10 number checklist to remember Minor Arcana cards, treat it as a flexible study prompt rather than a universal law, since Waite's text interprets each numbered card individually.