Astroideal · your guide to tarot cards
Tarot cards: meanings, decks and how a real reading works
Whether you're learning what the tarot cards mean, choosing your first tarot deck, or you simply want a real reading, this guide has you covered — and you can talk to a verified reader in English whenever you're ready.
Astroideal is a Spain-based platform (operated by Etayo Landa S.L., NIF B19825041) that connects you with verified tarot readers by chat or phone, 24/7. No gabinete middlemen, clear per-minute pricing, and your first question to get started.
What are tarot cards?
A tarot deck is a set of 78 cards used as a tool for reflection, guidance and self-knowledge. Each card carries symbolic imagery that a reader interprets in the context of your question. Tarot doesn't predict a fixed future like a crystal ball — it helps you see a situation more clearly and decide with a calmer mind.
The 78 cards are split into two groups:
Major Arcana (22 cards)
The big life themes and turning points — The Fool, The Magician, The Lovers, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, and so on. When these appear, they point to significant influences rather than day-to-day details.
Minor Arcana (56 cards)
Everyday situations, divided into four suits: Wands (action, drive), Cups (emotions, relationships), Swords (thoughts, conflict) and Pentacles (money, work, the material world). Each suit runs Ace to King.
Quick answer — how many cards are in a tarot deck? A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. (Some oracle decks differ, but a traditional tarot deck is always 78.)
Tarot card meanings, in plain terms
Every card has an upright and a reversed meaning, and its message shifts with the cards around it. Here's the high-level map so the tarot cards meaning stops feeling like a foreign language:
Wands 🔥
Energy, ambition, creativity, action. Questions about projects, motivation and momentum.
Cups 💧
Emotions, love, intuition, relationships. The suit that speaks most to matters of the heart.
Swords ⚔️
Thoughts, decisions, truth, conflict. Mental clarity, communication and tough choices.
Pentacles 🪙
Money, work, health, the material world. Stability, career and practical matters.
Learning all 78 meanings takes time — and even seasoned readers say a card only fully "clicks" inside a real question. If you'd rather not memorise a list, a reader can interpret the cards for your exact situation in a few minutes.
Want the cards read for your question?
Skip the 78-card memorising. Choose a verified reader, see their reviews and per-minute price up front, and talk by chat or phone. You only pay for the minutes you use.
Tarot decks: the main types
If you're choosing a tarot deck, most readers start with one of these classics. The system matters less than how the imagery speaks to you.
Rider-Waite-Smith
The most popular deck in the world and the easiest to learn from, because every Minor Arcana card has a full illustrated scene. The reference most guides and apps use.
Tarot de Marseille
An older European tradition with more abstract pip cards. Popular in Spain, France and Italy, and favoured by readers who work intuitively.
Thoth
A symbol-rich deck created by Aleister Crowley and Lady Frieda Harris. Beautiful but denser — usually a second deck rather than a first.
Modern & independent decks
Hundreds of artist-made decks reinterpret the 78 cards. Lovely to collect, but for learning, a Rider-Waite-Smith structure is the gentlest start.
Note: Astroideal is a reading service, not a shop — we don't sell physical decks. What we do is connect you with readers who use these systems professionally. If you just want the insight without buying and learning a deck, a reading is the shortcut.
How a tarot card reading works with Astroideal
- Per-minute price
- From €0.50/minEach reader sets their rate. You see it before you start.
- You pay
- Only the minutes you talkNo forced packages, no minimums. Stop whenever you want.
- Channels
- Chat or phone, in EnglishChat keeps the conversation saved to re-read later.
- Payment
- Visa, Mastercard, PayPalEncrypted gateway. We don't store your card details.
- Availability
- 24/7, every dayIncluding nights, weekends and holidays.
- Operator
- Etayo Landa S.L. — NIF B19825041A registered Spanish company. Real support behind it.
Tarot cards: frequently asked questions
How many cards are in a tarot deck?
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana (big life themes) and 56 Minor Arcana, split into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles), each running Ace to King. Oracle decks can have any number, but a traditional tarot deck is always 78.
What do the tarot cards mean?
Each card has an upright and a reversed meaning, and it shifts with the surrounding cards and your question. As a map: Wands = energy and action, Cups = emotions and love, Swords = thoughts and decisions, Pentacles = money and work. The Major Arcana mark bigger turning points. A reader interprets all of this for your specific situation.
Which tarot deck should a beginner choose?
The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is the usual recommendation, because every card is fully illustrated and most learning resources are based on it. The Tarot de Marseille is popular in Spain and great for intuitive reading. Pick the one whose artwork you connect with.
Can I get a tarot reading online in English?
Yes. You can get a tarot card reading by chat or phone with Astroideal, with readers available in English, 24/7. You choose the reader by their reviews, see the per-minute price before you start, and only pay for the time you use. Start with the online chat.
Is an online reading as good as an in-person one?
Yes. The connection and the quality of the reading don't depend on physical distance — what matters is the reader. Online also lets you choose from far more readers and keeps a written record if you read by chat.
Do you sell tarot decks?
No — Astroideal is a reading service, not a shop. We connect you with verified readers who interpret the cards for you. If you want a reading rather than to buy and learn a deck yourself, that's exactly what we do.
From curiosity to clarity
However you found the cards, the next step is the same: a real reader, your real question. Choose by reviews, see the price up front, pay only for the minutes you talk.
