This post is part of my 7-part exploration into the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot system, where we’re peeling back the layers of the world’s most iconic tarot deck. If you’re new to the series, 

Have you ever shuffled your RWS Tarot deck and felt like it just knew what you needed to hear? Like the cards weren’t just symbolic—but personal, intelligent, and oddly accurate? That’s not luck or mysticism alone—it’s the result of a carefully crafted tarot structure designed to mirror the human experience.

Let’s pull back the curtain and explore the architectural brilliance of the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System, a system built on esoteric wisdom, psychological storytelling, and symbolic structure.

Table of Contents

Explore More with Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot System (RWS)

Introduction to the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS)Tarot System

How the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System: Changed Everything.

Interpreting Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System: A Framework

Understanding the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System: Deck Structure

Before we dive deeper, let’s take a moment to understand the basic framework of the cards as envisioned by Waite and illustrated by Smith. The deck is intentionally divided into two major parts, each playing a vital role in the story that the tarot tells, which gives far more meaning than just a regular deck of playing cards:

• Major Arcana – 22 cards (numbered 0–21) that represent life-changing themes, spiritual lessons, and transformational moments
• Minor Arcana – 56 cards (Ace–10 plus Court Cards across four elemental suits), illustrating our day-to-day experiences, emotions, and decisions

Together, These Two Parts Tell the Full Story

When you put both together, these primary parts of this system become a mirror of the human experience as a whole. The Major Arcana charts our growth through major life cycles, while the Minor Arcana zooms in on our everyday choices, emotional patterns, and practical concerns.

Think of the Major Arcana as the plot twists, and the Minor Arcana as the character development. One without the other would be incomplete. But woven together? They create a living, breathing narrative, that reflects both the mystery and the mundane, the sacred and the silly, the shadow and the light. Which makes these story cards.

And that’s the real magic of Tarot: it doesn’t predict your future; it helps you understand your story.

The Major Arcana: Life’s Big Themes and the Fool’s Journey

A Tour Through the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System—Major Arcana: The Soul’s Journey in 22 Steps

Each card in the Major Arcana reflects a universal archetype, a powerful core theme of the human experience. The Waite purposely designed the cards to reflect the life chapters that shape our inner and outer worlds, marking turning points, awakenings, breakdowns, and breakthroughs. The journey begins with innocence and ends with fulfillment, reminding us that life is a spiral of evolution, not a straight line.

Let’s take a meaningful stroll through each one of the cards of the RWS Tarot:

0 The Fool – The Innocent Soul Beginnings, trust, leap of faith This is the cosmic “once upon a time.” The Fool represents the raw potential within all of us before experience, before fear, before limits. He steps forward with an open heart, a small bag of dreams, and zero baggage, just curiosity and trust in the unknown.

I. The Magician — Willpower, manifestation, skill The Magician channels divine energy into the material world. He reminds us: you already have the tools, now, what will you create? This card speaks to taking action, focused intention, and turning possibility into reality.

II The High Priestess – Inner Knowing Mystery, intuition, sacred knowledge Guarding the veil between the seen and unseen, the High Priestess invites you to go within. Her energy is quiet but powerful—a pull toward introspection, dreams, and listening to your inner voice before speaking outwardly.

III The Empress – Abundance and Nurturing Fertility, creativity, care She’s Mother Earth embodied—lush, vibrant, and full of potential. Whether birthing art, ideas, or life itself, the Empress teaches us to nurture what we love and to receive the beauty and abundance all around us.

IV The Emperor – Structure and Authority Stability, discipline, leadership If the Empress flows, the Emperor holds firm. He’s the architect of boundaries and systems, the builder of empires. This card is about stepping into your power, creating order, and taking responsibility for your domain.

V The Hierophant – Tradition and Spiritual Guidance Ritual, wisdom, mentorship The Hierophant is the keeper of sacred knowledge and community values. He offers structure through spiritual systems, inviting us to explore teachings, mentors, and the wisdom of the past to find our own truth.

VI The Lovers – Choice and Union Connection, alignment, values While often read as romance, The Lovers card is about so much more: the choices that shape our identity, the relationships that mirror our soul, and the moments when head and heart must unite to move forward authentically.

VII The Chariot – Willpower and Direction Victory, momentum, self-control This card is all about moving forward with confidence and control—especially when life pulls you in different directions. The Chariot asks you to harness your energy, align your will, and steer toward your goals with determination.

VIII Strength – Inner Fortitude Courage, patience, self-mastery This isn’t brute force—it’s the strength that comes from compassion, endurance, and soft power. The lion in this card is tamed not by domination but by love and steady presence.

IX The Hermit – Inner Search Solitude, reflection, spiritual quest When the noise of the world gets too loud, the Hermit retreats with his lantern of wisdom. He encourages introspection, solitude, and the deep listening that leads to personal truth and guidance from within.

X Wheel of Fortune – Fate and Change Cycles, luck, destiny Everything changes—sometimes in your favor, sometimes not. The Wheel reminds us that life is a series of ups and downs, and the key is learning how to ride those cycles with awareness and grace.

XI Justice – Truth and Accountability Fairness, karma, decisions Here, you meet the consequences of choices—yours and others’. Justice is a reminder that truth cuts both ways, and accountability is sacred. It’s not about punishment, but restoration and alignment with your values.

XII The Hanged Man – Surrender and New Perspective Pause, inversion, acceptance Sometimes, the only way forward is to stop. The Hanged Man asks you to let go of control, flip your perspective, and trust that insight comes from stillness, not struggle.

XIII Death – Transformation and Rebirth Endings, release, evolution Despite its reputation, this card is not about literal death—it’s about necessary endings. Something must die so something new can be born. It’s the caterpillar dissolving before it becomes a butterfly.

XIV Temperance – Balance and Integration Harmony, healing, alchemy Temperance blends opposites into something whole. It’s about patience, divine timing, and walking the middle path. This is the alchemist’s card—reminding you to integrate, not dominate.

XV The Devil – Shadow and Bondage Temptation, patterns, illusion The Devil calls out our attachments—to fear, addiction, control, or ego. He teaches that freedom isn’t about escape, but awareness. Once you see the chains, you can choose whether to keep wearing them.

XVI The Tower – Sudden Awakening Destruction, revelation, breakthrough No sugar-coating here: the Tower shakes everything to its foundation. But the collapse clears the way for truth, for rebuilding on solid ground. It’s painful—but it’s necessary.

XVII The Star – Hope and Divine Guidance Inspiration, renewal, faith After the storm of the Tower, the Star appears as a gentle blessing. This card whispers, “You’re not alone. Healing is possible. The light you seek is also seeking you.”

XVIII The Moon – Mystery and Subconscious Illusion, dreams, intuition Things aren’t what they seem. The Moon stirs up the waters of the psyche, asking you to trust your inner senses when clarity is murky. Here be dreams, shadows, and intuition over intellect.

XIX The Sun – Joy and Illumination Clarity, celebration, vitality Warmth, truth, and confidence radiate here. The Sun reveals everything in its best light—success, clarity, childlike wonder, and the ability to shine fully and freely.

XX Judgement – Awakening and Redemption Rebirth, reckoning, purpose This card calls your soul to attention. It’s a wake-up moment—a realization, a forgiveness, a second chance. Judgement is about rising into your highest potential with open eyes and an open heart.

XXI The World – Completion and Mastery Wholeness, fulfillment, unity The journey comes full circle. You’ve grown, transformed, and integrated your experience. Now, you stand in a place of knowing—ready to dance, to celebrate, and maybe… begin again as The Fool.

These Major Arcana cards of the RWS Tarot deck often appear when you’re facing moments that define your path. They ask, “What is the bigger picture here?”

The Minor Arcana: Daily Life Through the Four Elements

While the Major Arcana reveals life’s milestones, the Minor Arcana in the RWS Tarot deck reflects the everyday experiences that shape our inner and outer world. These 56 cards are grounded in the human journey—our relationships, emotions, struggles, and successes.

Divided into four elemental suits, the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System blends ancient esoteric wisdom with real-life storytelling. Waite and Smith elevated these cards by infusing them with symbolic depth, alchemical ideas, and elemental balance.

Here’s how the suits break down:

The four suits of the Tarot: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles aren’t just decorative dividers. They’re the foundation of the Minor Arcana and the symbolic backbone of the Tarot. Each suit is infused with its own elemental energy, exploring a particular realm of life that reflects the joys, struggles, lessons, and transformations that define the human journey.

Together, these suits form a layered and deeply relatable map of experience—one that’s both timeless and personal. They help us track where we are, what we’re navigating, and which part of ourselves is calling for attention.

Let’s take a stroll through each terrain:

Each suit contains 10 numbered cards (Ace through Ten) and 4 Court Cards, each telling part of a larger story. The suits form a complete symbolic map of human experience, layered, relatable, and brimming with archetypal wisdom.

Numberology in the Minor Arcana: The Hidden Code of the Suits

In the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS)Tarot System, each numbered card in the Minor Arcana isn’t just a count. It’s a symbolic step in an evolutionary journey. Drawing on numerology, Hermetic philosophy, and Kabbalistic thought, these numbers reveal how we navigate cycles of experience.

Let’s break down the numerology in tarot and how it reveals meaning across all four suits.

Ace (1): The Spark of Pure Potential

The Ace is the purest form of potential, a concentrated spark of possibility waiting to take shape. It’s the seed before the bloom, the idea before the plan, the invitation before the journey begins. Aces aren’t about outcomes; they’re about beginnings, raw and undiluted. Each one holds the essence of its suit in its most primal form, offering a “Yes” from the universe—a green light, a door cracked open, a breath before the first step. They’re not promises, but possibilities; what you do with them determines the story that follows.

• Ace of Cups – A heart opens; emotional connection begins
• Ace of Swords – Truth hits like lightning; clarity arrives
• Ace of Wands – Inspiration strikes; motivation ignites
• Ace of Pentacles – A new job, investment, or grounded opportunity

Think: Something is just beginning to bloom.

Two: Duality and Decision

The Two introduces duality. It’s where singularity splits into a pair, and with that comes tension, balance, and relationship. Twos ask us to hold space for opposites: action and stillness, self and other, head and heart. They bring the first stirrings of decision, the awareness that there is more than one path, one feeling, one truth. This is the energy of potential meeting resistance, where harmony is possible, but not guaranteed. The Two is the moment before the scale tips, where reflection, cooperation, or choice is needed to move forward.

• Two of Cups – New connection or emotional exchange
• Two of Swords – Mental stalemate; blocked feelings
• Two of Wands – Planning the next move
• Two of Pentacles – Juggling priorities, finding balance

Think: Two forces can they work together or will they clash?

Three: Growth and Expansion

The Three is where momentum begins. With duality navigated, creation follows collaboration, expansion, and expression. Threes bring growth, movement, and a sense that something is truly happening. It’s the initial spark taking form, the concept becoming action, the support system forming around an idea. There’s often celebration here, but also vulnerability, because when things start growing, they also become real enough to lose.

• Three of Cups – Celebration and joyful connection
• Three of Swords – Heartbreak; emotional disruption
• Three of Wands – Progress; momentum builds
• Three of Pentacles – Skill-sharing; building something bigger

Think: Something is becoming real, through unity or pain.

Four: Stability and Pause

The Four offers structure. It’s the first solid ground in the numerical sequence, a place of order, routine, and stability. This is where we build walls, claim territory, and attempt to establish security. Fours can feel comforting or confining, depending on how we relate to control and consistency. They bring a pause in the action, a moment to stand still, gather strength, and check if the foundation is strong enough to support what comes next.

• Four of Cups – Emotional numbness; what’s being missed?
• Four of Swords – Rest and mental recovery
• Four of Wands – Home, milestones, celebration
• Four of Pentacles – Holding tight; fear of loss

Think: A pause for protection or preparation.

Five: Disruption and Challenge

The Five breaks what the Four built. After stability comes movement, sometimes messy, sometimes necessary. It’s the number of tension, friction, and growth through discomfort. Fives shake the foundations, testing whether the structures we created can bend without breaking. They bring challenge, competition, loss, and rebellion all the catalysts that push us out of complacency. Through the chaos, something vital awakens: the will to adapt and evolve.

• Five of Cups – Grief and emotional disappointment
• Five of Swords – Ego battles; hollow victory
• Five of Wands – Competition; chaotic passion
• Five of Pentacles – Hardship; being left out

Think: The structure cracks transformation begins.

Six: Harmony and Movement

The Six brings resolution, harmony, or at least the search for it. After the disruption of the Five, Six is the regrouping, the attempt to restore balance, reconnect with values, or offer support. It’s a number of reciprocity, healing, and reflection. In many cases, it represents a kind of moral or emotional checkpoint: What did we learn from the struggle? What are we choosing to carry forward, and what can we let go of?

• Six of Cups – Nostalgia; giving and receiving
• Six of Swords – Moving away from conflict
• Six of Wands – Recognition; public success
• Six of Pentacles – Support; restored balance

Think: Restoration, return, or realignment.

Seven: Evaluation and Inner Tests

The Seven is introspective and often spiritual. This number introduces the need for more profound truth, strategy, or conviction. Sevens challenge the easy path; they ask us to examine motives, confront doubts, and persist when progress isn’t guaranteed. There’s often an element of isolation here, not loneliness, but the sense that certain journeys must be walked alone. The Seven is where we push through resistance with wisdom rather than brute force.

• Seven of Cups – So many choices; emotional overwhelm
• Seven of Swords – Secrets, strategy, or deception
• Seven of Wands – Defend your stance
• Seven of Pentacles – Waiting, evaluating, slow growth

Think: Inner work meets outer pressure.

Eight: Power and Progress

The Eight represents mastery through motion. This is the number of sustained effort, movement, and transformation through focused intention. Eighths often bring a sense of flow, or at least the demand for it. They teach us about power, discipline, and cycles that repeat until we learn how to break or refine them. Whether it’s physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, the Eight asks: How are you channeling your energy? Are you in control, or are you being controlled?

• Eight of Cups – Walk away from what’s unfulfilling
• Eight of Swords – Trapped by your own mind
• Eight of Wands – Fast movement or communication
• Eight of Pentacles – Practice makes mastery

Think: Commitment or escape, either way, something moves.

Nine: Attainment and Fulfillment

The Nine is near completion. It carries the weight of everything that came before, the lessons, the scars, the growth. There’s a sense of maturity here, but also pressure. Nines often hold themes of solitude, reflection, boundaries, and preparation. It’s the moment just before the end, where the story deepens and clarity sets in. We start to understand what it was all for. The Nine is the soul that exhales before the final act.

• Nine of Cups – Wish fulfilled; emotional contentment
• Nine of Swords – Anxiety; restless mind
• Nine of Wands – You’re tired—but not done yet
• Nine of Pentacles – Self-sufficiency; earned success

Think: You’re almost there. What did it cost to get here?

Ten: Completion and Legacy

The Ten is the end of the cycle and the fullness of experience. It can be a peak or a burden, a triumph or a tipping point. Tens show us what happens when something runs its full course, whether that’s fulfillment, closure, exhaustion, or abundance. There’s often a sense of transition here, too, because after Ten comes the return to One. In the Ten, we see what we’ve built and what we’re ready to release to begin again.

• Ten of Cups – Emotional fulfillment; family harmony
• Ten of Swords – Painful ending or betrayal
• Ten of Wands – Heavy burdens; too much responsibility
• Ten of Pentacles – Wealth, roots, long-term legacy

Think: The story ends… and prepares to begin again.

The Court Cards: The Personality and Dynamics of the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System

The Court Cards are where the Minor Arcana gets personal. Think of them as characters in a story, personality archetypes who walk, talk, challenge, and inspire. Each Court Card represents a stage of development, a role we play, or an energy influencing the situation.

They can represent:

• People in your life
• Aspects of your own personality
• Roles you’re stepping into
• Maturity levels in a process
• Energies at play in a reading

Each suit contains four Court Cards:

The Page – The Curious One

Vibe: “I just learned something amazing, wanna see?!”
The Page is your excitable little sibling, your starry-eyed intern, your friend who always has a new hobby (and never finishes the last one). They ask a lot of questions, sometimes awkwardly so. There’s innocence here, and a deep desire to learn, connect, and experience. They might trip over their own enthusiasm, but they mean well. Pages are the text-you-at-midnight-to-share-an-epiphany kind of people.

Think: a college freshman with a tote bag full of dreams and too many stickers on their laptop.

The Knight – The Intense One

Vibe: “I’m either all in, or I’m already out the door.”
The Knight is a passionate doer with a hint of chaos energy. They’re your friend who shows up ready to fight for a cause or a crush at full volume. Driven, loyal, and occasionally dramatic, they’re fantastic in a crisis and exhausting at a picnic. Knights take themselves seriously, even when you wish they wouldn’t. They crave motion, meaning, and momentum, often without stopping to think first.

Think: the group chat warrior who signs up for everything and burns out two weeks later.

The Queen – The Wise One

Vibe: “Let’s talk, would you like tea or wine?”
The Queen is the friend who reads your texts like a mood ring. Compassionate, perceptive, and composed, she (or they/he we’re using titles loosely here) leads by influence, not force. This person knows what’s really going on before anyone says a word. Queens are supportive but not enabling. They teach through example and emotional resonance, offering deep insights when you least expect them.

Think: the mentor who makes you cry and feel empowered in the same sentence.

The King – The Responsible One

Vibe: “I’ve got this handled. What do you need?”
The King is the one who quietly pays for dinner, remembers your birthday, and shows up early with jumper cables. This person exudes authority without being authoritarian (ideally). They’re structured, calm under pressure, and focused on the bigger picture. Kings don’t need the spotlight; they just want results. However, if they’re out of balance, they can tip into either control-freak or emotionally distant territory.

Think: that friend who has a five-year plan and a backup charger in their car.

Think: that friend who has a five-year plan and a backup charger in their car.

The Elemental Overlay: Court Card Alchemy

Each Court Card also blends elemental energies like Tarot chemistry!

Rank	Element
Page	Earth of the Suit
Knight	Air of the Suit
Queen	Water of the Suit
King	Fire of the Suit

So, the Knight of Cups becomes “Air of Water,” a questing heart, poetic and restless. The Queen of Swords becomes “Water of Air” intuitive intellect, deeply thoughtful yet sharp as a blade.

This elemental blending reveals how that suit expresses itself in human form. The Court Cards complete the suit’s journey from raw potential (Ace) to personal embodiment (Court).

Why the Court Cards Matter in the RWS Tarot deck

• They complete the narrative. The numbered cards show progression; the Court shows who you become.
• They humanize the abstract. “Emotion” becomes the Queen of Cups, nurturing, intuitive, and compassionate.
• They offer a mirror. Are you the curious Page, the driven Knight, the wise Queen, or the commanding King? The answer shifts with each spread and each stage of your life.

The Court Cards prompt us to examine our relationships with power, maturity, and identity. Where are you right now? What’s evolving? What energy are you being asked to embody?

The Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System: A Web of Meaning

The RWS Tarot deck is more than just 78 cards; it’s a symbolic structure, a layered map of life’s patterns, cycles, and truths. Every card you pull is part of an interconnected system that mirrors your internal and external world.

The Major Arcana reveals why something matters—those big-picture themes of fate, identity, transformation, and purpose.
The Minor Arcana shows how it plays out through your thoughts, relationships, actions, and daily experiences.
The Suits tell you where the energy is focused: emotion (Cups), action (Wands), thought (Swords), or reality (Pentacles).
The Numbers tell you when and how things evolve, beginning, conflict, growth, or closure.
The Court Cards show who is involved, within or around you.

When you lay out a Tarot spread, you’re not just placing random cards; you’re drawing threads from this intricate web. The Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System structure helps you interpret not just what’s happening but why it’s happening and what it means for your soul’s story.

This is what makes the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) Tarot System so timeless. It’s structured enough to study, intuitive enough to trust, mythic enough to inspire, and flexible enough to evolve with you.

It’s not just a deck.
It’s a mirror.
It’s a compass.
It’s a map of becoming.