10 Ways to Interpret Tarot Combinations

Did you know that there are over 3,000 different two-card combinations in the Tarot?

Do you know what that means? Learning 3,000 meanings by rote is not a good option!

Here are 10 ways to learn how to read tarot card combinations! Learn it now!

1. Keywords

If you are a beginner in tarot, start here! Creating tarot deck combinations with keywords and phrases is the easiest way.

How to...

Choose a word or phrase for each card. Put them all together, and the tarot cards make sense to you.

Example: Eight of Wands (travel) + Six of Cups (childhood friendship) = travel to meet childhood buddies.

Or, Priestess (Intuition) + Coin Eight (Skill Development) = Develop your Intuition skill.

You can also mix and match keywords and phrases typically associated with each card until you find a combined meaning that really resonates.

2. Numerology

All cards in the tarot have numbers associated with them. Look at the two card numbers in the pairing to discover the numerological meaning of the combination.

How to...

If two cards share the same number, the importance of that number increases.

Example 1: Two of Cups + Two of Wands show a focus on partnership.

In this case, it could be a couple (the Two of Grails) planning a future together (the Two of Wands) based on their relationship.

If both tarot cards are numbered +/- each other, the cycle phase is important. If both cards have a range between 1 and 3, the cycle begins. If the hand is in the range of 4-6, it is the middle of the cycle; if the hand is in the range of 7-10, it is the end of the cycle.

Example 2: The swords Ace (1) and the queen (3) indicate the beginning of a cycle.

Specifically, an idea or thought (Sword Ace) comes into being (Queen ˋ). The Queen "has" this new idea or thought and is ready to "born" it into the world.

If the numbers on the tarot cards are not very close, it may indicate progress (increase in numbers) or regression (decrease in numbers) to move from one stage to another. There is a general tendency to read this from left to right to see if the numbers are increasing or decreasing.

Example 3: The Grail II + Grail Eight show the development of a relationship.

While the relationship between the two parties is starting to look promising (chalice two), both parties can decide to go a different way (chalice eight).

Change the order of the cards and you get a different story. Eight of Grails + Two of Grails show that the old relationship (8) becomes a new relationship (2). This may indicate that the end of one relationship opens up space for a new one. Or, it could be a sign that a difficult relationship is about to turn around.

3. Symbolism

Finding common symbols in a tarot deck can alert you to important themes related to those symbols.

How to do it…

Read two tarot cards together. Is there a universal symbol? Maybe a castle? dark clouds? Or even a normal color? (If you don't see a common symbol, don't worry! Use another method instead.)

What does this symbol mean to you now? And, what new information does it give you about tarot combinations?

Example: Temperance + Judgment both have archangels.

This may indicate that your angels are taking care of you and expressing hope and faith in difficult times.

Remember that symbols have shared and personal meanings. Common meanings are the ones you find in books, websites, courses, etc. Personal meanings are meanings that arise from your past experiences, subconsciousness, and intuition.

4. Elements

These elements make the most sense in The Little Arcana. Each card in the Minor Arcana belongs to one of four decks, and each deck is associated with an element.

• The Holy Grail represents the element of water .
• Coins represent the element of earth .
• The sword represents the element of wind .
• The scepter represents the element of fire .

When a tarot deck consists of two minor arcana decks, these elements can help you interpret the combination.

How to...

If two tarot cards share the same element, the energy of that element will be enhanced.

Example 1: Coin Three + Coin Eight = Focus on work, money or material things.

If each tarot card shares a different element, combine the meanings of those elements.

Example 2: Sword (wind) + Holy Grail (water) = balance head and heart.

Or sword (wind) + scepter (fire) = primary male energy.

(Wind and Fire are both male) and put thought (sword) into action (scepter).

5. Major and Minor

The Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana tell a different story. So see which group the two cards belong to to reveal whether you're dealing with a temporary problem or a major life theme.

How to...

If both tarot cards are from the Great Arcana, you know it's about a karma lesson or a major life theme.

Example 1: Priestess + Hermit = A period of deep introspection or self-reflection, connected with higher energy.

If both tarot cards are from Minor Arcana, then you know it's a temporary problem, situation or event.

Example 2: Waiter of Grail + Coin Three = Mentor and apprentice are young and creative people.

If one card is the Major Arcana and the other is the Minor Arcana, the larger card will tell you "what" or "why" and the smaller card will tell you "how".

Example 3: Priestess + Three of Wands = Gain insight into your intuition (what) to connect with the future (how) to create a vision.

6. Court Cards

Court cards often get many tarot beginners into trouble. Are they people, personalities or situations? If they are human, who are they? Client or someone else? (Keep it simple and think of the court card as a personality or characteristic of a person. Of course, you could interpret the court card in other ways, but this is the easiest place to start.)

How to...

If both tarot cards are court cards, the combination is likely to represent two people who are connected to each other. Each court card represents the primary character expressed in the relationship.

Example 1: This Queen of Wands + King of Swords = Interaction between a confident attractive woman and a dominant, authoritative male.

Also, look at the location of the court cards. For example, is it a combination of two waiters, or a waiter and a king. This will give you insight into maturity, balance of power or stages of development.

Example 2: Waiter of Wands + King of Coins = a young apprentice working with an experienced merchant.

In some cases, two court cards may represent different aspects of a person. You need to use your judgment and intuition to know when is the best way to use it!

Example 3: King of Swords + Waiter of Grail = Someone will be ready to take their newfound creative action.

7. Strengthen / weaken

Some tarot cards are very antagonistic. They're always screaming "Watch out!" (think, the devil, the tower, and the bad guys in the tarot), or they're actively displayed (think, the sun, the stars, and the good guys in the tarot). ). These seemingly negative and positive cards must be noted in tarot combinations as they can strengthen or weaken the combination. But keep in mind that tarot cards are not entirely positive, nor are they entirely negative, there is always light and dark in each card.

Here's how...

If both cards are mostly positive or mostly negative, the energy is boosted.

Example 1: Sun + Stars = Success. And demons + towers = terrible consequences of addiction.

If one card is mostly positive and one card is mostly negative, the energy of both is diminished, or more accurately balanced. This combination shows you the light and dark of the situation.

Example 2: Sun + Tower = A blessing in disguise.

8. Human interaction

This is where things get interesting! If there are characters on both tarot cards, see how they interact for new insights. Are they facing each other or looking away? Could this possibly tell you about their relationship?

How to...

First, look for people in two cards. How do they affect each other? If they don't meet each other's eyes, it could be a sign of tension or disengagement in the relationship.

Example 1: Queen of Grail + Waiter of Wands = A teenage son ignores his mom!

If both parties are looking towards each other, that can be a sign of balance and interconnectedness.

Example 2: Waiter of Wands + Queen of Grail = Healthy relationship between mother and child.

If both look to the right, it could signal a shared focus on the future. If both look to the left, it may be a sign of reflecting on the past. Looking ahead may be a signal to deal with the problem you're facing, while standing stooped may be a signal to ignore the "now" or to want to escape. Play different combinations and watch your tarot come to life with this fun technique.

9. Upright/Reversed

If you use upside and reverse tarot cards in your readings, you'll find some interesting insights from the combination of these two cards.

How to...

If both cards are upright, energy will flow easily and more activity will take place in the outside world.

Example 1: Nine of Cups + Queen of Swords = Decision making for all interests.

If one card is upright and the other is reversed, both the inner world and the outer world will be focused.

Example 2: Nine of Cups + King of Swords Reversed = Expressing satisfaction with personal decisions.

If both cards are reversed, energy may be blocked, or more activity is taking place in the inner, more private world.

Example 3: Nine of Grails reversed + Queen of Swords reversed = dissatisfaction with personal decisions, or dissatisfaction with personal decisions you have made.

10. Flow

Finding the flow between tarot cards is one of the more advanced techniques. The process is to look for common symbols, characters or themes in the cards and observe how these symbols, characters or themes change or evolve from one card to another.

How do i do this…

First, find the commonalities between the two cards. It could be shared symbols, objects, people, backgrounds, or even entire subjects. Next, see how it changes from one card to another. What new information will this give you about tarot combinations?

Example 1: In Ten of Grails and Six of Grails, a common element is a pair of children.

Children dance happily beside their parents. At Grail Six, they were still happily playing, but now they're alone. It can be interpreted as "the child grows up" or an increase in independence, but still full of playfulness.

Example 2: "The Waiter of the Grail and the Sun". A common element is the flower.

In "The Waiter of the Grail," the flowers are on the waiter's tunic, and in the sun, the flowers tower over the walls and surround the toddler's head. This may indicate that you closed what was previously closed (the Holy Grail) and now make it public (the sun). Layer it with the meaning of the card, which can be a sign that the combination represents a lot of success in bringing your art into a public space (perhaps in a gallery or exhibition). Once you start getting into the "flow", you'll have a lot of fun with this technique!

So you have ten ways to interpret tarot card combinations. As you become familiar with these techniques, you will find yourself combining various techniques to interpret the card in multiple layers. I wish you all a happy study!