By Dr. Monica Agarwal | Founder, IIOST — International Institute of Spiritual Trainings | Professional Tarot Reader & Educator | 21 Years of Experience
Welcome to The Visionary Journal — the official spiritual knowledge blog of Dr. Monica Agarwal and IIOST. This is the first article in our introduction to tarot cards series, and it lays the foundation for everything we will explore together — card meanings, spreads, intuitive reading, professional practice, and the deeper spiritual science behind one of the world’s most powerful wisdom tools.
Whether you are a complete beginner who has never held a deck, a self-taught reader looking to deepen your knowledge, or one of my existing students wanting a structured reference — this series is designed for you. Let us begin at the very beginning.
What Are Tarot Cards?
Tarot cards are a system of 78 illustrated cards used as a tool for spiritual insight, self-reflection, and intuitive guidance. Each card carries a specific image, symbol, colour scheme, and archetype that speaks to a universal aspect of the human experience — from love and loss to ambition, transformation, and spiritual awakening.
The power of tarot is not in prediction in the fortune-telling sense. It is in the card’s ability to act as a mirror — reflecting back what the subconscious already knows, what patterns are at play beneath the surface, and what choices and energies are present in any given situation. A skilled tarot reader does not tell you what will happen. They help you see clearly what is happening — at the soul level.
Used with training, intention, and ethical responsibility, tarot is one of the most precise and nuanced tools available to a professional spiritual practitioner.
The History of Tarot Cards
Tarot cards are believed to have originated in 14th and 15th century Europe — initially in northern Italy, where they were used as playing cards in a game called tarocchi. The earliest known tarot decks were created for the nobility of Milan and Ferrara as luxury entertainment.
Over the following centuries, occultists and esoteric scholars began to recognise the deeper symbolic architecture encoded within the cards. By the 18th century, tarot had been firmly adopted into the Western mystery tradition — connected to Kabbalah, Hermeticism, astrology, and numerology. The cards were understood not merely as a game, but as a map of the soul’s journey through existence.
Today, tarot is used by millions of people worldwide — as a spiritual practice, a professional guidance tool, and a system of self-development. In India, interest in professional tarot has grown enormously over the past decade, and IIOST has been at the forefront of establishing internationally benchmarked professional standards for tarot practice and education in India.
The Rider Waite Tarot Deck — The Foundation of All Tarot
Of the hundreds of tarot decks available today, the Rider Waite Tarot remains the foundational deck — the one every serious student of tarot must learn first. Created in 1909 by artist Pamela Colman Smith under the direction of occultist Arthur Edward Waite, the Rider Waite deck was the first tarot to illustrate all 78 cards with fully realised scenic images — including the 56 Minor Arcana cards, which previously featured only abstract pip symbols.
This innovation transformed tarot from an esoteric tool accessible only to initiates into a system that could be read intuitively — because the images themselves speak directly to the unconscious mind. Every symbol, colour, figure, and landscape in the Rider Waite deck is deliberate and meaningful. Learning to read these images with precision is the foundation of professional tarot practice.
At IIOST, all beginner and intermediate courses begin with the Rider Waite system. Once the student has mastered this foundation, they are equipped to work with any deck — including more advanced systems like the Thoth Tarot or Dr. Monica Agarwal’s own Akashic Soul Journey (ASJ) Oracle Deck.
The Structure of the Tarot Deck — 78 Cards Explained
The 78 cards of the tarot deck are divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana — 22 Cards of Soul Wisdom
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards numbered 0 through 21. These cards represent the major themes, archetypes, and spiritual lessons that shape a soul’s journey through life. When Major Arcana cards appear in a reading, they signal significant, often karmic forces at work — events and energies that carry weight beyond the ordinary day-to-day.
The Major Arcana begins with The Fool (0) — the soul at the beginning of its journey, stepping into the unknown with innocence and potential — and ends with The World (21) — the completion of a full cycle, the integration of all lessons, and the achievement of wholeness. Every card in between represents a stage, a teacher, or a transformation on that journey.
The 22 Major Arcana cards are: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World.
The Minor Arcana — 56 Cards of Daily Life
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards divided into four suits of 14 cards each. These cards address the practical, emotional, mental, and material dimensions of daily life — the situations, relationships, challenges, and opportunities that make up the fabric of our lived experience.
Each suit contains cards numbered Ace through 10, followed by four Court Cards: the Page, Knight, Queen, and King. The Court Cards often represent people in the querent’s life — or aspects of the querent’s own personality.
The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana
Understanding the four suits is one of the most important foundations in tarot. Each suit corresponds to an element, a domain of life, and a dimension of human experience.
Cups — The Suit of Water & Emotions
The suit of Cups corresponds to the element of Water. It governs the emotional and relational dimensions of life — love, relationships, intuition, dreams, creativity, and the inner world of feeling. When Cups dominate a reading, the situation is primarily emotional in nature. Questions of the heart, relationship patterns, and emotional healing are at the forefront.
Wands — The Suit of Fire & Passion
The suit of Wands corresponds to the element of Fire. It governs ambition, passion, inspiration, spiritual energy, creativity, and the drive to act and create. Wands speak to the inner flame — the motivation, vision, and life force that propels us forward. When Wands appear, energy, action, and inspired movement are the themes.
Swords — The Suit of Air & Mind
The suit of Swords corresponds to the element of Air. It governs the mental realm — thought, communication, conflict, truth, decision-making, and the power of the mind. Swords are the suit of clarity and challenge. They cut through illusion to reveal truth — sometimes uncomfortably. When Swords appear, mental clarity, communication, or conflict resolution is required.
Pentacles — The Suit of Earth & Material Life
The suit of Pentacles corresponds to the element of Earth. It governs the material dimension — money, career, health, home, abundance, and physical reality. Pentacles speak to what we build in the tangible world — our resources, our security, and our relationship with the physical plane. When Pentacles appear, practical, financial, or career matters are at the centre of the reading.
What This Blog Series Will Cover
Over the course of this blog series, we will study all 78 tarot cards in structured detail — each article focusing on a single card, exploring its upright and reversed meanings, its symbolism, its elemental and numerological associations, and its meaning across different life contexts including love, career, finances, and spiritual growth.
We will progress in order — beginning with the Major Arcana from The Fool to The World, then moving through each suit of the Minor Arcana from Ace to King. Along the way, we will also publish articles on spreads, reading techniques, intuitive development, and the professional standards that distinguish a trained tarot reader from a casual one.
This blog is designed to be a genuine learning resource — not a shortcut to card memorisation, but a deep, considered exploration of one of the world’s most profound wisdom systems.
Blog Learning vs Professional Tarot Courses — What Is the Difference?
The articles on this blog provide a strong intellectual foundation in tarot — card meanings, symbolism, structure, and context. This is valuable and important. However, there is a significant difference between understanding tarot conceptually and being able to read cards with accuracy, depth, and professional confidence.
Professional tarot reading requires more than memorised meanings. It requires:
- Third Eye Attunement — the activation and development of intuitive perception that allows a reader to go beyond the literal card meaning into the specific energetic truth of each reading
- Deck Attunement — a formal energetic connection between the reader and their deck, established through a structured process that most self-taught readers never receive
- Practical Reading Experience — supervised, real-reading practice with feedback, correction, and progressive skill development
- Ethical and Professional Framework — the understanding of how to hold a reading responsibly, how to work with sensitive information, and how to serve clients with integrity
All of these components are integrated into IIOST’s professional tarot certification programmes — available both online and in person across India.
Ready to learn Tarot professionally?
IIOST offers India’s most comprehensive professional tarot certification programmes — designed by Dr. Monica Agarwal with 21 years of teaching and reading experience. Programmes are available online and in person, in Hindi and English, for beginners through to Grandmaster level.Explore Tarot Courses at IIOST →
How to Book a Professional Tarot Consultation
If you are seeking personal guidance — clarity on a relationship, a career decision, a life transition, or a spiritual question — rather than learning to read tarot yourself, a professional tarot consultation with Dr. Monica Agarwal offers direct, precise, and deeply insightful readings drawn from 21 years of professional experience.
Book a Personal Tarot Reading with Dr. Monica Agarwal
Available online across India and internationally. Personal, confidential, and deeply accurate readings for love, career, finances, spiritual guidance, and life decisions.Book Your Tarot Reading →
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best tarot deck for beginners in India?
The Rider Waite Tarot is universally recommended as the best starting deck for beginners. Its fully illustrated cards make it the most accessible and learnable system, and it forms the foundation of all major tarot traditions. Every IIOST tarot course begins with the Rider Waite system.
Can I learn tarot without a teacher?
You can learn card meanings from books and blogs — including this one. However, the intuitive development, attunements, practical reading skills, and professional framework that separate an accurate, confident reader from a hesitant one require structured guidance. Self-teaching has significant limits that only become apparent when you sit with a real client in a real reading situation.
How long does it take to learn tarot professionally?
A solid foundation in tarot — sufficient to begin reading for others with confidence — can be built in three to six months of structured study and practice. Mastery is a lifelong journey. IIOST’s certification programmes are structured to take students from complete beginner to professional reader in a clear, progressive pathway.
Is tarot reading compatible with Indian spiritual traditions?
Absolutely. Tarot works with universal archetypes and the language of the soul — which transcends any particular cultural framework. Many of its themes and symbols resonate deeply with Indian spiritual philosophy, including the concepts of karma, dharma, the journey of the soul, and the interplay of elemental energies. Thousands of professional tarot readers across India integrate tarot with Indian spiritual frameworks seamlessly.
How is this blog different from other tarot blogs?
This blog is written by a professional tarot educator with 21 years of experience — not a hobbyist or enthusiast. Every article is grounded in professional teaching experience, real reading practice, and a commitment to accuracy and depth. The standard here is the IIOST standard — the same standard used in professional certification training.
Dr. Monica Agarwal
Founder, IIOST · Akashic Records Practitioner
Tarot Grandmaster · 21 Years Experience
Dr. Monica Agarwal is one of India’s most respected spiritual educators, Akashic Records practitioners, and professional Tarot readers. With over 21 years of dedicated experience in the occult sciences, she has guided thousands of individuals across India and internationally — helping them understand their karmic patterns, heal soul wounds, and reclaim their spiritual sovereignty.
She is the founder and director of IIOST — the International Institute of Spiritual Trainings, India’s premier institution for professional certification in Tarot, Numerology, Akashic Records, and Healing Sciences. Under the IIOST banner, Dr. Monica has personally trained and certified hundreds of professional spiritual practitioners across India and beyond.
Dr. Monica is the creator of the Akashic Soul Journey (ASJ) Oracle Deck — an original oracle card system designed to access past life patterns, soul contracts, karmic blocks, and lineage healing. She is known for her ability to bridge ancient spiritual wisdom with a grounded, professional, and results-oriented approach that resonates with modern seekers.
She has built a loyal global community through her YouTube channels — Monica Agarwal Tarot Reader and IIOST Global — her blog The Visionary Journal, and her Instagram community @tarot_reader_monica. She is based in India and serves clients worldwide.
Excellent blog eagerly waiting for next lessons. Would also like to join ur online paid courses. Soon contact you.