Angels: Divine messenger, inspiration, important news, noble ideals. 

Ankh: The Egyptian symbol we find in the right hand of the Emperor. It symbolizes immortality and life 

Arches: New path, an opening in a new direction. 

Armor: Protection, strength, getting ready for adversity.

Banner/ Flag: Change, transformation, freedom

Bird: Higher ideals and thoughts, taking off to a higher level

Blindfold: Inability to discern what is around us, incapability to accept the truth.

Boat/Ship: Journey, moving, taking a different direction.

Books: Knowledge, understanding.

Bridge: Transition, support to accomplish something, connection.

Bull: Strength, a powerful force, strong will.

Butterfly: metamorphosis, change, transformation.

Caduceus: The wand of Hermes represents duality, partnership, negotiation but also lies and theft.

Castle: Shelter, accomplishment.

Chains: Slavery, restrictions, self-imposed limits.

Children: Harmony, happiness, family, new beginnings.

Circle: Unity, wholeness, continuity.

City: Protection, social interaction, group energy.

Clouds: Messages, revelations, disclosure, epiphany.

Crab/Lobster: regeneration, the subconscious.

Crown: Mastery, royalty

Dog: Loyalty, fidelity, steadiness.

Dove: Pure love, hope, longing.

Falcon/Eagle: Rising above ordinary life, transcending the mundane, superiority, power.

Fire: Creative energy, passion, and destruction. 

Fish: Emotions, intuition, creativity, the subconscious mind.

Flowers: Creativity, beauty, happiness, abundance.

Grapes/Grapevines: Abundance, fertility, fruitfulness. 

Hammer: Work, getting the job done.

Hand: Force, power, protection.

Heart: Emotions, love, courage.

Horse: Energy, strength, power, movement, progress.

House: Protection, security, family.

Infinity Sign: This tarot symbol represents the eternal cycle of life.

Keys: Discover what is hidden, gaining knowledge. 

Lamp: Learning the truth, enlightenment, awareness, keeping watch. 

Leaves: Vitality, creativity, abundance

Lightning: Act of God, striking message from above, creation and destruction, blinding clarity.

Lily: Purity and innocence

Lion: Courage, strength, power, beastly instincts.

Moon: Feminine tarot symbol, it represents the intuition, the cycles of nature, and the element of water.

Mountains: Difficulty, challenge, obstacles, and goals, overcoming troubles.

Path: Finding our way, the chosen path, life journey.

Pillars: Looking for the right balance, diplomacy.

Pomegranates: Abundance, fertility, riches, love, sensuality. 

Ram: Leadership, authority, determination, action.

Rose: Beauty, commitment, promise.

Rainbow: Hope, happiness, a new beginning.

Salamander: Rebirth, renovation, renewal.

Sea/Ocean: Immensity of the unknown, depths of mystery, emotions.

Shield: Protection and defense, getting ready.

Snake: Rebirth an renewal, flexibility, adaptability.

Square: Structure, stability.

Sphinx: Mythological creature that guards life secrets.

Star: Hope, guidance, healing, guiding light.

Sun: Creativity, growth, energy.

Sunflower: Optimism, energy.

Tree: Protection, growth.

Tomb: Rest, getting rid of wrong attitudes, rebirth.

Veil:  Hidden Knowledge

Wall: limitation, blocks.

Water: Subconscious mind and emotions.

Wreath: Victory, peace, success.

Secret Tarot Symbols

Some symbols are less conspicuous than others and recognizing them can give your reading an interesting depth.

Using the Rider-Waite deck I’ll point out some of these secret tarot symbols you can use as a key to an insightful interpretation.

The Fool – The rose in his hand represents purity and rebirth.

The Magician – The stick you see in the magician’s hand is a magic wand, a symbol of his power over the material world.

The High Priestess – The two pillars at the sides of the Priestess represent the duality of the world.

The Empress –  The twelve stars on the crown of the Empress are the zodiac signs.

The Emperor – Under his robes, The Emperor wears a protecting suit of armor.

The Hierophant – The triple crown on his head stands for the three stages of masonry apprenticeship.

The Lovers – The Angel and the Sun represent knowledge and logical thinking.

The Strength – The figure of eight on the woman’s head stands for infinity.

The Hermit – The six-pointed star and the lantern represent enlightenment.

The Wheel of Fortune – The four winged creatures represent the elements.

The Justice – The two columns are symbols of the balance of opposites.

The Hanged Man – The tree supporting the hanged man is the surrender to the flow of life.

Death – The rose on the standard represents life and purification.

The Temperance – The symbol on the temperance forehead is the alchemical sign for gold.

The Devil – The star pointing down is a symbol of negativity.

The Tower – The circular crown on the square tower represents human arrogance.

The Stars – The four elements are represented by the star (fire), the bird (air), the pool (water), the ground (earth).

The Moon – The lobster in the water stands for the unconscious mind.

The Sun – The feather on the boy’s head is the vital energy we also find in Death and in the Fool.

Judgment – The red cross on the flag recalls the symbol of the Knights Templar and the call to arms.

The World – The sticks in the hands of the female figure represent the unifying of the opposites and the wreath around her recall the number zero of the Fool.