Tarot cards and zodiac signs have been linked for more than a century, and each sign has a Major Arcana card of its own: Aries is The Emperor, Leo is Strength and Pisces is The Moon. The pairings were set down in the late nineteenth century by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a British esoteric society that shared out the 22 Major Arcana among the 12 signs, the 7 classical planets and three elements.
Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, both members of the order, drew on that system to create the Rider-Waite deck in 1909. Below you will find the tarot card for each zodiac sign, plus its decans and its planet. An honest note: this is a symbolic system for reflection and enjoyment, not a science or a prediction.
Quick table: the tarot card for each zodiac sign
| Sign | Dates | Tarot card | Element and suit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aries | March 21 – April 19 | The Emperor (IV) | Fire · Wands |
| Taurus | April 20 – May 20 | The Hierophant (V) | Earth · Pentacles |
| Gemini | May 21 – June 20 | The Lovers (VI) | Air · Swords |
| Cancer | June 21 – July 22 | The Chariot (VII) | Water · Cups |
| Leo | July 23 – August 22 | Strength (VIII) | Fire · Wands |
| Virgo | August 23 – September 22 | The Hermit (IX) | Earth · Pentacles |
| Libra | September 23 – October 22 | Justice (XI) | Air · Swords |
| Scorpio | October 23 – November 21 | Death (XIII) | Water · Cups |
| Sagittarius | November 22 – December 21 | Temperance (XIV) | Fire · Wands |
| Capricorn | December 22 – January 19 | The Devil (XV) | Earth · Pentacles |
| Aquarius | January 20 – February 18 | The Star (XVII) | Air · Swords |
| Pisces | February 19 – March 20 | The Moon (XVIII) | Water · Cups |
These are the usual dates; depending on the year, the first and last day of each sign can shift by a day.
Find your sign: Aries · Taurus · Gemini · Cancer · Leo · Virgo · Libra · Scorpio · Sagittarius · Capricorn · Aquarius · Pisces
What tarot card is your zodiac sign? The 12 signs, one by one
Besides its Major Arcana card, each sign has three decans: ten-degree segments, about ten days each, that the Golden Dawn matched with Minor Arcana cards from 2 to 10 in the suit of the sign's element (2 to 4 for cardinal signs, 5 to 7 for fixed signs and 8 to 10 for mutable ones). Decan dates are approximate.
Aries (March 21 – April 19): The Emperor
Aries opens the zodiac at the March equinox: the urge to begin, fire that does not ask for permission. The Emperor founds and sets things in order, and the Rider-Waite deck makes the link plain with the rams' heads carved on his throne. The light here is initiative, leadership and the instinct to protect what has just been born. The shadow is impatience, giving orders without listening and pushing harder whenever something resists.
Its decans are the Two of Wands (March 21–30), the Three of Wands (March 31 – April 9) and the Four of Wands (April 10–19): making plans, setting out and celebrating what you have achieved. A good question for Aries: “What do I want to start, and what structure will help it last?” Full card meaning: The Emperor.
Taurus (April 20 – May 20): The Hierophant
Taurus is fixed earth: it looks for what lasts and what is worth keeping. The Hierophant (called the Pope in the Marseille tarot) is the keeper of tradition and the patient teacher, and he shares with Taurus a love of solid values and slow, thorough learning. The light here is steadiness, loyalty and common sense. The shadow is stubbornness, clinging to routine and resisting any change you did not choose.
Its decans are the Five of Pentacles (April 20–29), the Six of Pentacles (April 30 – May 9) and the Seven of Pentacles (May 10–20): the fear of scarcity, the art of giving and receiving, and the patience to wait for the harvest. A good question for Taurus: “Which habit truly supports me, and which one only makes me feel safe?” Full card meaning: The Hierophant.
Gemini (May 21 – June 20): The Lovers
Gemini, the twins, is the sign of duality, curiosity and conversation. The Lovers is the card of pairs and of choices: in the Marseille tarot a young man hesitates between two women, while in the Rider-Waite deck a couple stands beneath an angel's blessing. Two forces in dialogue and a decision waiting to be made: pure Gemini. The light here is a quick mind and a gift for connecting ideas and people. The shadow is indecision and saying yes to everything to avoid giving anything up.
Its decans are the Eight of Swords (May 21–30), the Nine of Swords (May 31 – June 10) and the Ten of Swords (June 11–20): three mental cards about thoughts that go round in circles, and how to break out. A good question for Gemini: “Which choice am I putting off, and what would I gain by making it today?” Full card meaning: The Lovers.
Cancer (June 21 – July 22): The Chariot
Cancer, ruled by the Moon, is the sign of home, family and memory, and its animal, the crab, carries its house on its back. The Chariot is that shell on the move: an armored charioteer rides inside a canopied chariot, with crescent moons on his shoulders. The light here is protectiveness, emotional tenacity and moving forward without leaving loved ones behind. The shadow is armor that lets no one in, mood swings and control that passes for care.
Its decans are the Two of Cups (June 21 – July 1), the Three of Cups (July 2–11) and the Four of Cups (July 12–22): connection, celebrating with the people you love and the risk of withdrawing. A good question for Cancer: “What do I need to protect, and what am I protecting myself from too much?” Full card meaning: The Chariot.
Leo (July 23 – August 22): Strength
Leo is the lion, and Strength puts a lion at the heart of the card: a woman calmly holds its jaws, with the infinity sign above her head. It is Leo's courage at its best, the kind that leads without crushing. The Golden Dawn numbered it VIII to keep the Major Arcana in zodiac order. The light here is bravery, generosity and a big heart. The shadow is pride, the need for applause and confusing leading with outshining everyone else.
Its decans are the Five of Wands (July 23 – August 1), the Six of Wands (August 2–11) and the Seven of Wands (August 12–22): competition, victory that gets noticed and standing your ground. A good question for Leo: “Where do I need more courage, and where do I need more tenderness?” Full card meaning: Strength.
Virgo (August 23 – September 22): The Hermit
Virgo is mutable earth ruled by Mercury: analysis, method, service and very high standards. The Hermit stands on a mountaintop with a lantern that holds a shining star: he seeks the truth patiently, away from the noise, and then lights the way for others. That is Virgo's discernment: separating what matters from what does not. The light here is practical wisdom, attention to detail and discretion. The shadow is perfectionism, harsh self-criticism and withdrawing so as never to fail.
Its decans are the Eight of Pentacles (August 23 – September 1), the Nine of Pentacles (September 2–11) and the Ten of Pentacles (September 12–22): a craft learned with patience, the independence it brings and the legacy it leaves. A good question for Virgo: “What am I still polishing that is already ready to share?” Full card meaning: The Hermit.
Libra (September 23 – October 22): Justice
Libra is the scales, and Justice holds them in one hand while raising a sword in the other: balance and decision, harmony and truth. It is the sign of relationships and agreements, and the card is a reminder that real harmony does not mean avoiding conflict but sharing things out fairly. The light here is diplomacy, a strong sense of fairness and the ability to see both sides. The shadow is indecision, keeping the peace at any price and judging coldly.
Its decans are the Two of Swords (September 23 – October 2), the Three of Swords (October 3–12) and the Four of Swords (October 13–22): the decision on hold, the truth that hurts and the rest that heals. A good question for Libra: “Which agreement needs reviewing, and which part of it is mine?” Full card meaning: Justice.
Scorpio (October 23 – November 21): Death
Scorpio is the sign of transformation: intensity, depth and the ability to be reborn several times in one life. In tarot, Death is not read as physical death; it speaks of endings that make room for something new, and in the Rider-Waite card the sun rises between two towers in the background. The light here is loyalty, emotional honesty and the strength to start again from scratch. The shadow is jealousy, control and finding it hard to let go.
Its decans are the Five of Cups (October 23 – November 1), the Six of Cups (November 2–11) and the Seven of Cups (November 12–21): grief, nostalgia and the illusions worth facing head-on. A good question for Scorpio: “What would I have to let go of to be reborn?” Full card meaning: Death.
Sagittarius (November 22 – December 21): Temperance
Sagittarius is the archer: mutable fire that aims far, in search of meaning. Temperance brings the sense of measure it sometimes lacks: an angel pours water from one cup into another with one foot on land and one in the water, while behind it a path winds towards distant mountains. That is the archer's journey, made with patience and without burning out. The light here is optimism and a love of learning. The shadow is excess, haste and preaching more than practicing.
Its decans are the Eight of Wands (November 22 – December 1), the Nine of Wands (December 2–11) and the Ten of Wands (December 12–21): speed, resilience on the final stretch and the weight of carrying too much. A good question for Sagittarius: “What am I really looking for on this journey, and what pace will get me there?” Full card meaning: Temperance.
Capricorn (December 22 – January 19): The Devil
Capricorn is the goat that climbs to the summit one step at a time: ambition, discipline and mastery of the material world. The Rider-Waite Devil has a goat's horns and deals with the same themes in their shadow form: power, money and attachments that bind. Yet the chains on the couple at his feet are loose; they could lift them off. The light here is perseverance, responsibility and building for the long term. The shadow is living to work, control and pessimism.
Its decans are the Two of Pentacles (December 22–30), the Three of Pentacles (December 31 – January 9) and the Four of Pentacles (January 10–19): juggling priorities, teamwork and the fear of losing what you have. A good question for Capricorn: “What am I working so hard for, and is it bringing me closer to what I really want?” Full card meaning: The Devil.
Aquarius (January 20 – February 18): The Star
Aquarius is the water bearer, and The Star is its portrait: a naked woman pours water from two jugs, one onto the land and one into a pool, beneath a great star. It is the sign of the future, friendship and shared causes, and the card brings the hope that follows the storm of The Tower. The light here is vision, solidarity and an independent mind. The shadow is emotional distance, rebelling on principle and loving humanity more than the people close by.
Its decans are the Five of Swords (January 20–29), the Six of Swords (January 30 – February 8) and the Seven of Swords (February 9–18): the conflict nobody wins, the crossing to calmer waters and strategy played alone. A good question for Aquarius: “What future do I want to help build, and who do I want to build it with?” Full card meaning: The Star.
Pisces (February 19 – March 20): The Moon
Pisces closes the zodiac: mutable water, dreams, empathy and boundaries that dissolve. The Moon is the card of what cannot be seen clearly: a path between two towers, a dog and a wolf howling and a crayfish crawling out of a pool. It speaks of the unconscious, of intuition and of the fears that grow at night, which is Pisces territory. The light here is compassion, imagination and an artist's sensitivity. The shadow is confusion, escapism and soaking up other people's emotions.
Its decans are the Eight of Cups (February 19–27), the Nine of Cups (February 28 – March 9) and the Ten of Cups (March 10–20): walking away from what no longer nourishes you, the wish come true and happiness shared. A good question for Pisces: “Which of my feelings are mine, and which am I absorbing from other people?” Full card meaning: The Moon.
The planets and their tarot cards
The seven classical planets have Major Arcana cards too, which gives every sign a second card from its ruling planet. For Aries, that is The Tower, the card of Mars.
| Planet | Tarot card | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | The Sun (XIX) | Leo |
| Moon | The High Priestess (II) | Cancer |
| Mercury | The Magician (I) | Gemini and Virgo |
| Venus | The Empress (III) | Taurus and Libra |
| Mars | The Tower (XVI) | Aries and Scorpio |
| Jupiter | Wheel of Fortune (X) | Sagittarius and Pisces |
| Saturn | The World (XXI) | Capricorn and Aquarius |
| Uranus | The Fool (0) | Aquarius (modern) |
| Neptune | The Hanged Man (XII) | Pisces (modern) |
| Pluto | Judgement (XX) | Scorpio (modern) |
The last three rows are modern attributions that came after the Golden Dawn, which gave those cards to the elements instead: The Fool to air, The Hanged Man to water and Judgement to fire.
The four elements and the tarot suits
Each Minor Arcana suit belongs to an element and its three signs:
- Fire, Wands: Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. Energy, desire and action.
- Water, Cups: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. Emotions, relationships and intuition.
- Air, Swords: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. Thought, words and decisions.
- Earth, Pentacles: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. Money, the body and work.
This is the Golden Dawn attribution, the most widely used (some schools swap fire and air between Wands and Swords). The aces, from the Ace of Wands to the Ace of Pentacles, are the root of each element and have no decan. You can browse every suit in the tarot card index.
Your zodiac card and your birth card are not the same
Your zodiac card depends only on the day and month you were born: every Aries shares The Emperor. Your tarot birth card, on the other hand, comes from adding up the day, month and year of your birth and reducing the total to a number from 1 to 22. Someone born on September 19, 1990 is a Virgo (The Hermit), but their birth card is Justice; someone born on August 5, 1993 gets Strength twice over. Work out yours with the tarot birth card calculator, and your card for the year with the 2027 tarot year card.
The signs also guide the full moon tarot spread: every full moon falls in a sign, and that sign's card becomes the ally card for the reading.
Frequently asked questions
What tarot card is my zodiac sign?
Under the Golden Dawn system, the most widely used: Aries, The Emperor; Taurus, The Hierophant; Gemini, The Lovers; Cancer, The Chariot; Leo, Strength; Virgo, The Hermit; Libra, Justice; Scorpio, Death; Sagittarius, Temperance; Capricorn, The Devil; Aquarius, The Star; and Pisces, The Moon.
What if I was born on the cusp between two signs?
The Sun changes sign at a moment that varies from year to year. A birth chart will show where it was; if you do not know your birth time, read both cards and keep the one that speaks to you most.
Why is Strength VIII and Justice XI?
In the Marseille tarot it is the other way round. The Golden Dawn swapped them to follow the zodiac (Cancer, Leo, Virgo and, after the Wheel of Fortune, Libra), and Waite kept the change. The pairings still work with a Marseille deck because they go by card, not number: Leo is still Strength even when numbered XI.
How can I use my zodiac card in a reading?
Choose it as your significator (the card that represents you), place it above the spread as an ally card or watch for it turning up on its own, which is often read as a sign that the question is about you.
Now ask the cards
Now you know which card is your sign. To see what the cards say about your life right now, try a three-card reading with Vera, the yes or no tarot or the love tarot reading, or draw your tarot card of the day. Every free reading is on the Tarot Vera Luna home page, and all 78 cards are in the tarot card index.
Tarot Vera Luna is an entertainment site: no reading replaces medical, legal, financial or psychological advice. Read this page in Spanish.