The Rider Tarot Deck Meanings: A Simple Guide to Understanding

Alright, let’s talk about them Rider Tarot cards, you know, the ones with all them fancy pictures. I ain’t no scholar or nothin’, but I’ve seen enough of life to know a thing or two, and these cards, well, they got stories to tell, just like us old folks.

The Big Shots: The Major Arcana

First off, you got the big shots, the Major Arcana. These ain’t your everyday cards; they’re like the big bosses, talking ’bout the big stuff in life.

• The Fool: This one’s a young’un, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, steppin’ off a cliff, like a fool, right? But it ain’t always bad. Sometimes it just means a new start, takin’ a leap of faith. You gotta be a little foolish sometimes, or you’ll never get nowhere.
• The Magician: Now this fella, he’s got all the tools, all the know-how. He can make things happen, he’s a real go-getter. He’s tellin’ you, you got the power within you, you just gotta use it.
• The High Priestess: She’s quiet, she’s mysterious, like that old wise woman down the road. She knows things, secrets, she’s a good listener. She’s sayin’, listen to your gut, your intuition, it knows more than you think.
• The Empress: This one’s all about motherly love, you know, comfort, growin’ things. She’s tellin’ you to nurture yourself, nurture your ideas, and watch them grow.
• The Emperor: He’s the boss, the father figure. He’s about rules, structure, gettin’ things done. Sometimes you need a little bit of that, you know, to keep things from fallin’ apart.
• The Hierophant: He’s the preacher, the teacher, the one who tells you the rules, the traditions. He’s about doin’ things the right way, the way they’ve always been done. But you gotta wonder sometimes, whose rules are they anyway?
• The Lovers: Ah, love. But it ain’t always just about romance, you know. It’s about choices, too. Big choices that can change your life. You gotta choose what’s right for you, even if it’s hard.
• The Chariot: This one’s about drivin’, movin’ forward, gettin’ where you wanna go. You gotta take control, steer your own life, and don’t let nothin’ stop you.
• Strength: This ain’t about muscles, it’s about inner strength, you know, the kind you need to get through tough times. It’s about havin’ the guts to face your fears, like that time I had to chase a raccoon out of the hen house, that darn critter.
• The Hermit: He’s gone off on his own, thinkin’, soul-searchin’. Sometimes you need to do that, you know, get away from the noise and listen to your own heart.
• Wheel of Fortune: This one’s about luck, fate, the ups and downs of life. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down, that’s just how it is. You gotta ride the wheel, see where it takes you.
• Justice: This one’s about bein’ fair, doin’ what’s right. You reap what you sow, that’s what my grandpa always said, and it’s true, you know.
• The Hanged Man: Now this fella looks uncomfortable, hangin’ upside down like that. But it ain’t always bad. Sometimes you gotta look at things from a different angle, let go of what you think you know.
• Death: Don’t go gettin’ all scared now, it ain’t always about dyin’. It’s about endings, yes, but also about new beginnings. One door closes, another one opens, that’s what they say.
• Temperance: This one’s about balance, patience, findin’ the middle ground. You can’t always go to extremes, you gotta find a way to mix things up, make them work together. Like makin’ a good stew, gotta have just the right amount of everything.
• The Devil: Now this fella, he’s trouble. He’s about bad habits, things that hold you back. He’s like that whisper in your ear, tellin’ you to do things you know you shouldn’t. You gotta be strong, fight him off.
• The Tower: Boom! This one’s about sudden change, things fallin’ apart. It’s scary, yeah, but sometimes things need to fall apart so you can build somethin’ better. Like that old barn we had to tear down, it was rotten right through, but the new one, it was somethin’ else.
• The Star: After the storm, there’s hope. This one’s about faith, inspiration, knowin’ that things will get better. You gotta keep lookin’ up, keep believin’.
• The Moon: This one’s tricky, all shadows and illusions. You gotta be careful, don’t let your fears trick you, be careful who you trust. Sometimes things ain’t what they seem.
• The Sun: Ah, happiness, joy, success. This one’s a good one. It’s like a sunny day after a long rain. Everything feels good, feels right. Enjoy it while it lasts.
• Judgement: This one’s about wakin’ up, seein’ things clearly, makin’ big decisions. It’s like a calling, you know, tellin’ you what you gotta do.
• The World: This one’s about completion, fulfillment, everything comin’ together. You’ve reached the end of a journey, and it’s a good one. You did it! But life ain’t over, there’s always a new journey just around the corner, you know.

The Little Folks: The Minor Arcana

Then you got the Minor Arcana, the little folks. They’re about everyday life, the things that happen day in and day out. They got four suits, just like a regular deck of cards, but with different names and different meanings.

Cups: Feelings, relationships and emotions, you know, all the heart stuff.

The queen in cups means your soft hearted, that’s what I think anyway. I knew a gal who was real caring; she must have been a queen of cups.

Wands: Action, passion, gettin’ things done.

Swords: Thoughts, words, challenges. Sometimes they cut deep, them swords.

Pentacles: Money, work, the practical stuff, you know, keepin’ a roof over your head and food on the table.

Each suit got cards numbered one to ten, and then you got the court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. They’re like people, you know, different personalities, different ways of doin’ things.

Put it all together

Now, readin’ these cards ain’t just about lookin’ at the pictures and readin’ the book. It’s about feelin’ the cards, listenin’ to what they’re tryin’ to tell you. It’s about connectin’ them to your own life, your own experiences. And that, well, that takes time and practice. But even an old woman like me can understand a thing or two, if I pay close attention. These cards, they ain’t magic, not really. They’re just a way of lookin’ at life, a way of understandin’ ourselves and the world around us. And that, well, that’s somethin’ worth doin’, don’t you think? So whether you’re a city slicker or a country bumpkin, these here cards can help you through life, that is if you give them a chance.