Tarot & Astrology Correspondences

Tarot and astrology share the same symbolic DNA. Every card in the deck maps to a zodiac sign, planet, or element — and understanding these connections transforms how you read. Instead of memorising 78 isolated meanings, you tap into an interconnected system where each card's energy makes intuitive sense.

This guide gives you every correspondence in one place: Major Arcana to zodiac signs and planets, Minor Arcana to decans and date ranges, suits to elements, and court cards to their elemental blends. Use it as a reference during readings or as a study tool to deepen your understanding of the deck.

Why These Connections Matter

The link between tarot and astrology isn't modern New Age invention. It was formalised by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in the 1880s, drawing on centuries of esoteric tradition. The Golden Dawn mapped each Major Arcana card to a zodiac sign or planet, and divided the 36 numbered Minor Arcana across the zodiac's 36 decans.

Why does this matter for your readings? Three reasons:

The Four Elements: Foundation of Both Systems

The four classical elements — Fire, Water, Air, and Earth — are the bridge between tarot and astrology. Each element governs a tarot suit, three zodiac signs, and a set of psychological qualities.

For a deeper dive into how elements shape card meanings, see our tarot elements guide.

Major Arcana: Zodiac Signs & Planets

Each of the 22 Major Arcana cards maps to either a zodiac sign or a planet. Twelve cards correspond to the twelve signs; the remaining ten correspond to the seven classical planets plus the three outer planets.

Zodiac Signs: Complete Tarot Mapping

This table maps each zodiac sign to its Major Arcana card, ruling planet, element, modality, and natural suit affinity. Use it to find your personal birth card or to understand the astrological energy behind any card in a reading.

Planetary Correspondences

The ten planets (including Sun and Moon as "luminaries") each rule a Major Arcana card. When a planet is in transit or prominent in your chart, its corresponding card often appears more frequently in readings.

For more on how planets shape your life, see our 12 houses in astrology guide and Big Three astrology guide.

Suits, Elements & Seasons

Each Minor Arcana suit embodies one of the four elements, connecting it to three zodiac signs, specific planets, and a season. This is the simplest correspondence to learn and one of the most useful in practice.

Minor Arcana: Decan Correspondences

This is the most detailed correspondence table: every numbered Minor Arcana card (2–10) mapped to its zodiac decan, planetary ruler, and date range. The decan system divides each 30-degree zodiac sign into three 10-degree segments, giving 36 decans across the zodiac — one for each numbered pip card.

Aces are not assigned to decans — they represent the pure, undiluted elemental force of their suit.

Wands (Fire)

Cups (Water)

Swords (Air)

Pentacles (Earth)

Court Cards: Elemental Blends

Court cards work differently from pip cards. Instead of mapping to a single decan, each court card blends two elements: the suit's element and the rank's element. Pages carry Earth energy (grounding, learning), Knights carry Air (movement, action), Queens carry Water (receptive, nurturing), and Kings carry Fire (mastery, direction).

How to Use These Correspondences in Readings

You don't need to memorise every table here. Start with one layer and build from there:

Frequently Asked Questions