Tarot Pendulum: The 22 Major Arcana

How to use this board

This wheel uses the 22 major arcana in the order of the Rider–Waite–Smith deck, published in London in 1909, drawn by Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of Arthur Edward Waite. In that deck Strength is card VIII and Justice is XI, the reverse of the Tarot de Marseille. The text for each card is our own set of reflective keywords, not Waite's interpretation.

Ask about processes and attitudes rather than future events: "What is this stage teaching me?" "What do I need to close this chapter?" "What energy am I bringing to this relationship?" Used this way, the tarot is an album of very old human images, and the pendulum simply turns to one page.

As you read, look at the card in your own deck if you have one, or look up its image, and notice a detail that catches your eye. Cards that sound scary, like Death or The Tower, usually speak of change and necessary endings, not disaster. If you'd like a broader comparison, our article on the pendulum, tarot and the I Ching sets the three tools side by side.

The options

What each answer invites you to consider.

The Fool

The Fool steps out with no map, full of curiosity and a little innocence. What would you do if you weren't afraid of getting it wrong? Maybe you don't need more certainty, just the will to begin.

The Magician

The Magician has every tool laid out on the table. Take stock: which skills, resources and contacts do you already have for what you're asking about? What's missing may simply be deciding to use them on purpose.

The High Priestess

The High Priestess keeps quiet and listens inward. Not everything gets solved by talking or doing. Sit with your question in silence for a while and pay attention to what you know without knowing how.

The Empress

The Empress is abundance, care and creativity that bears fruit. What are you growing, and how are you feeding it? Remember to include yourself in that care: eating well, resting and enjoying things count too.

The Emperor

The Emperor brings structure, rules and clear limits. Your question may call for some order: a plan, a schedule, a firm "this far and no further." Where would it help to use your authority calmly, without going rigid?

The Hierophant

The Hierophant stands for tradition, teaching and institutions. What did your family or culture teach you about this? Sort out which parts still feel like yours, and who you might ask for guidance.

The Lovers

The Lovers speak of bonds and of choices made from the heart. Beyond romance, ask which values you choose when you decide, and whether today's decision is in tune with them.

The Chariot

The Chariot moves forward when two opposing forces pull the same way. Which parts of you are pushing in different directions? Make the goal clear and let your willpower do the rest.

Strength

Strength isn't domination; it's patience that calms what's wild. Whatever is unsettling you may need gentle firmness more than a fight. How would you handle this if you looked at it tenderly?

The Hermit

The Hermit steps away with a lantern to think. It might do you good to turn down the noise, step back from other people's opinions and look for your own light, however small.

Wheel of Fortune

The Wheel reminds you that everything turns: what goes up comes down, and the other way around. Which part of your situation is out of your hands? Let it go and focus on how you want to move when the wheel shifts.

Justice

Justice weighs the facts honestly. Look at your question with no excuses and no excess guilt: what's fair for everyone, you included? Clear decisions tend to bring peace, even when they cost something.

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man sees the world upside down and finds a new perspective. You may be in a pause you didn't choose. What could you understand if you stopped struggling and looked from somewhere else?

Death

Death in the tarot is almost never literal: it speaks of something ending to make room. Which stage, habit or idea of yourself has run its course? Saying goodbye to it may come as a relief.

Temperance

Temperance blends patiently, not too much and not too little. Where are you swinging to extremes? Look for the right measure: a little of this, a little of that, and time for it all to come together.

The Devil

The Devil shows what ties us down: a habit, a fear, a dependence. On the card, the chains are often loose. What keeps you there, and what would happen if you loosened your grip a little?

The Tower

The Tower falls when something built on shaky ground can't stand any longer. If something is crumbling, ask which truth is coming to light. Once the dust settles, there's room to build better.

The Star

The Star brings calm and hope after the storm. It's a good time to heal, to dream quietly and to trust what's ahead. What gives you back your faith in yourself?

The Moon

The Moon gives half a light: dreams, doubts, fears that grow in the dark. Not everything you imagine is actually happening. Write down what you feel and wait for daylight before you decide.

The Sun

The Sun is simple joy, clarity and energy. What brings back that carefree feeling from childhood? Give yourself permission to enjoy what's going well.

Judgement

Judgement is a wake-up call to look back on your story honestly. What is your life asking of you now? Forgiving yourself for what's already past may be the first step toward something new.

The World

The World completes the journey: integration, achievement, a full circle. Acknowledge how far you've come before chasing the next goal. What celebration do you owe yourself?

Frequently asked questions

Can you read tarot with a pendulum?

Yes, as a reflection game. On this wheel the pendulum picks one of the 22 major arcana and you consider what it suggests about your question. It doesn't replace a card spread, but it's an easy way to bring a tarot image into your day. No card predicts the future.

Why is Strength card VIII and Justice card XI?

Because this wheel follows the Rider–Waite–Smith deck (1909), in which Waite swapped those two cards relative to the Tarot de Marseille. The most common explanation is astrological: it ties Strength to Leo and Justice to Libra, in the order of the signs.

What does it mean if I get Death or The Tower?

In tarot these cards are about endings, breaks and change, not literal misfortune. They invite you to ask what is ending in your life and what might grow afterward. If a card frightens you, notice that reaction: it tells you something about what matters to you.

Go deeper

• Pendulum, Tarot or I Ching: How They Differ and Which to Use · Pendulum, tarot and I Ching compared: where each one comes from, which questions suit it best, and how to use all three for reflection instead of fortune-telling.
• Questions to ask a pendulum: how to word them, plus 40+ examples · What to ask a pendulum and how to phrase it: one thing, present tense, no double negatives. Over 40 example questions by topic, plus what not to ask.

Sources

• Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, Rider–Waite–Smith tarot deck (William Rider & Son, London, 1909)
• Arthur Edward Waite, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1910)