The Tarot Magician represents the first moment of creation, the initial act of manifesting "As above, so below." Through intention and will, we can perform the magic to transform our lives. The secret to making wise decisions and creating anything of value is to take our fears and apprehensions to God. We must check in with our creator to ensure that what we decide to manifest in the World gives glory to God by being served up from our highest selves to benefit others.

The Tarot High Priestess is connected to the Virgin Mary and is always aware and understands that there are spiritually two sides to everything. She is highly empathic, privy to spiritual secrets, and seeks to shine a spiritual light on the very depths of both sides of an issue to help others emerge from the shadows. However, many will oppose her due to her sensitivity to the spirit world. She prays to God, her connection to universal consciousness, for equilibrium and humility so as not to become self-serving but, instead, an instrument of peace. The High Priestess always suggests paying attention to your dreams and opening your mind to the unseen.

Regardless of her anxieties, the Tarot Empress carries God in her heart and never forgets to offer thanks to God for every abundance in her life, no matter how small. The Empress prays to be a blessing to others. She knows that blessings are to be shared on earth and are a measure of heavenly reward. But she also knows without the flame of thankfulness in her heart and a passion for nurturing others, she and those she nurtures would be left in the shadows. Some say the Tarot Empress represents Mother Nature, symbolizing the union between God the Mother (feminine) and God the Father (masculine). Others say she is the feminine side of Jesus, the man who loved unconditionally and taught others to do the same. 

The Tarot Emperor represents the law of nature (according to logic and order). He prays to God to recognize and respect the needs of others under his authority and to help him make right and fair decisions as a leader. He is, like Jesus, the fatherly shepherd who provides for and protects his followers. Understanding that he, too, is under the law, he asks God, his steady companion, for help in being a proper, respectful citizen as he goes about his daily tasks. Whether he is rich or poor, he lets go of envy. The Emperor prays not to be selfish or egotistical but to reign and be reigned while allowing God's law to rule over all.

The Tarot Hierophant represents God's everlasting grace. Reminiscent of ancient bards, he is a teacher and storyteller. The Hierophant prays to God for understanding and compassion when listening to others. He prays that he is not overly critical or fanatic. He prays that his actions reveal tolerance and reflect the love that God has for all his children. He does this while defending his beliefs and freeing himself from anything that would turn him away from God's will. However, he may struggle from time to time with pride, which is often related to his traditional (old-school) viewpoints. The danger is in using those traditions to manipulate others for the sake of power over the flock.

The Tarot Lovers represent Adam and Eve's creation and subsequent fall from grace and exile from the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were to rely directly on God's word for their knowledge of good and evil. However, God gave Adam and Eve (Adam's second wife) free will to make their own choices. They chose to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge (of good and evil), which disrupted the relationships between humans and God, between male and female, and between humans and nature. Still, God promised to return to the earth as a human to heal these breakages through grace. The Lovers card may also represent the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus treasured dearly.

The Tarot Chariot represents God helping to carry us forward to where we could not otherwise go on our own. This card's meaning isn't so much about the person commanding the chariot as it is the road or path s/he is on. It's about always being aware of our path or journey in life. We must keep our ethics, beliefs, hopes, love, compassion, and faith close to us, regardless of the path we are on. As long as we do this, all paths have the support of our creator.

The Tarot Strength card says true strength is found in understanding, empathy, and compassion. Inner power isn't inherited physically but spiritually, and it is a gift from God. Strength is about having the compassion to reach out to others, talk to them, listen to them, and help without fear, prejudice, or brutality.

The Tarot Hermit reveals that when we are alone, we find true religion in our heart of hearts. Being alone (not lonely) is an opportunity to be upfront and personal (one-on-one) with God. The Hermit suggests we don't need others to tell us about the word of God. God does this when s/he gets us alone. All we need to do is be still and listen. In the original Hermit cards, the Hermit held a sand clock (not a lantern), implying taking time is necessary to hear the voice of God. 

The Tarot Wheel card displays the four ancient Hebrew letters known as the Tetragrammaton. Latin translates them as YHWH, Yahweh, or Jehovah (the name of God). There are four winged creatures in the corners of the card: an eagle, a man, a bull, and a lion (symbolizing Jesus, the lion of Judah), which support the throne of God in the first chapter of Ezekiel. The two-edged sword represents the word of God, and the clouds refer to Jesus' return through the clouds.

The Tarot Justice reminds us that there is a consequence for everything. All primary religious scriptures consistently point to this. The biblical lesson the Tarot Justice provides is one of forgiveness because life will not always be fair. An "eye for an eye" just doesn't work in the realm of spiritual development. Neither do absolutes. There are no absolutes, including Heaven or Hell. We tend to view consequences based on our earthly judgments, which are often influenced by prejudices stemming from negative emotions. Negative emotions are of no benefit to either the betrayer or the betrayed, which is why justice should always be accompanied by forgiveness. Forgiveness lifts the veil and frees us to see the truth, allowing all to heal by enabling us to use our conscience in considering what is just and what isn't. 

The Tarot Hanging Man is about surrendering the pursuit of material wants and gain and redirecting your footsteps toward God. When you suspend yourself from the way you think things should be or want them to be, you'll be able to see how you've been making useless sacrifices. These sacrifices are not necessarily huge ones, like Jesus dying on the cross. They can be other things, like spending time and money trying to achieve or maintain the status quo. Pausing to meditate on your relationship with God can help you gain perspective and clarify your priorities. In other words, it's time to crucify ego.

Many people fear death. However, for the redeemed, losing one's body is no loss but rather a transformation from one World to the next, a "going home." It is through the symbolic death of Jesus that we are given the gift and hope of rebirth. You'll be happy to know the Tarot Death card is rarely about physical death.

Throughout your life, you'll be engaged in many roles, and balancing aspects of your personality while playing these roles and becoming a whole person is the idea behind the Tarot Temperance card. However, it's not just about focusing on the parts you love about yourself. It's about facing aspects you don't care for (the alcoholic, over-eater, gambler, drug addict, sexaholic, shopaholic) and becoming moderate in all things. The best help for this is to realize good can come from evil by allowing God's will to become your own. Also, in later card versions, the image of the archangel Michael (an angel of protection) has been added.

The Tarot Devil represents the fallen angel, Lucifer, who tempted Eve in the garden to eat the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Therefore, the Tarot Devil represents anything we are tempted by (Jesus being tempted for forty days and forty nights in the desert) and anything that will try to prevent us from walking the straight and narrow path to redemption. 

In France, during the 16th century, the Tarot Tower was known as La Maison Dieu (The House of God). It wasn't so much a tower as it was a temple or church. There's a biblical story about the Tower of Babel, where humans tried to construct a tower to heaven (a highly egotistical endeavor). God was displeased. He..."confused the language of all the earth, and from there...spread them all over the Earth (Genesis 11: 9).

The Tarot Star represents the star of Bethlehem and of David. Like a star, Jesus is the light of the World. The star represents the light that washes us pure, gives us hope, and is the source of all inner strength.

The Tarot Moon represents Jesus at Gethsemane and humanity's struggle with the power of faith. It also represents the struggle over how we react to our fears. We often want to analyze and understand "Why?" and "How?" and "What?". Sometimes, it's better to go with God's power and mystery. Stop fearing. Stop reacting. Go with the flow. Have faith in the confusion.

The Tarot Sun represents Jesus as the "Son" (the light of the World) radiating through you, filling you up with endless joy. Divinity isn't just about the radiance of God from without, but the light of God radiating from within that shines a joyful light on others. It goes both ways, which is the true union of God and people. It is in this union we know true freedom and abundance.