How is the Ramayana connected to tarot?

The Ramayana and tarot share archetypal themes such as duty, courage, temptation, devotion, loss, and transformation. These parallels help interpret tarot cards through familiar cultural and spiritual narratives.

What are the Minor Arcana cards in tarot?

The Minor Arcana consists of four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles—which reflect everyday life experiences, emotions, actions, thoughts, and material realities.

What do the four suits of the Minor Arcana represent?

Wands represent action and purpose, Cups relate to emotions and relationships, Swords reflect thoughts and conflicts, and Pentacles signify work, stability, and material aspects of life.

Can Indian epics be used to understand tarot symbolism?

Yes. Indian epics like the Ramayana offer rich symbolic stories that align with tarot archetypes, making tarot interpretations more relatable and culturally meaningful.

Is tarot compatible with Indian spirituality?

Tarot can complement Indian spirituality by acting as a tool for introspection and self-inquiry, much like traditional stories, scriptures, and philosophical teachings.

A Simple Exploration of Divine Tarot - Ramayana and the Minor Arcana Cards

Q: What is divine tarot?

Divine tarot is a reflective and intuitive practice that uses symbolism, stories, and archetypes to offer guidance, insight, and self-awareness rather than fixed predictions.

Devi Shankar
Nov 2, 2023
8 min read

Updated: Dec 7, 2025

Diwali is coming! And it is all about revisiting the essence of Ramayana in our lives.

The Ramayana is a Sanskrit epic of ancient India and Hindu mythology. The Hindu religion has two most revered epics, of which Ramayana is one.

The lessons from this epic underlie Hindu belief system and our value systems till date.

I would describe Divine Tarot as a form of divination.

Tarot is a pack of cards. Cards that tell stories. Stories that give insights into one’s past, present, or future. Cards that also act as a path of light for those seeking clarity and guidance reading in life.

On the face of it, Ramayana and Tarot may seem like a rare-to-find connection. But, if we dig deeper, we can discover such astounding and fascinating connections between the two.

Neither are the lessons of Ramayana simple, nor are the symbolisms of Tarot.

And yet here, I attempt to make this connection and complex concepts, a simple exploration - as simple as a Sunday evening stroll.

But before that, let’s skim through some basics.

About the Ramayana

The Ramayana is one of India’s most venerated epic. It is about love and duty. It is also about the constant battle between good and evil.

The lessons from this epic have been passed down to us over generations. It is deeply ingrained in Indian culture and Hindu mythology.

The epic is traditionally said to be authored by the sage Valmiki, composed around 2,500 years ago.

At its core, the Ramayana is a story of good versus evil, dharma (duty) versus adharma (unrighteousness), and the triumph of right over wrong.

The key character, Lord Ram, is the prince born in the kingdom of Ayodhya to King Dashrath.

He is also believed to be the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu, the preserver within the Hindu trinity of Gods.

Ram's journey, along with his loyal brother Lakshman and devoted wife Sita, forms the heart of this epic.

The turning point in this epic is when Ram is banished to the forest at the behest of his stepmother, Kaikeyi. He steps up to fulfil his duty and is accompanied by Sita, his beloved wife and Lakshman, his devoted brother.

This unjust and sorrowful exile sets in motion a series of events and characters that have shaped hindu philosophy.

The story tides through Sita's abduction by the demon king Ravan. Ram meets our favourite monkey-god, Hanuman, and with an army of monkeys, embarks on a dangerous journey to rescue his beloved Sita.

This culminates in the defeat of Ravan, and ultimately restoring dharma to the world.

It's a bit like an Indian superhero movie that has forever etched our personal value systems. We learn from and live by them even today.

Now, let's look at the Tarot and its Minor Arcana cards.

What is Divine Tarot, and What Are the Minor Arcana Cards?

Simply put, Divine Tarot is a deck of 78 cards. Each card has a unique image with so many details and symbols that give out a plethora of stories and meanings.

These cards are divided into two main categories: Major Arcana and Minor Arcana.

Major Arcana cards are often seen as signifying major events and considered more important. Minor Arcana cards, on the other hand, provide a whole lot of information about our day-to-day practical aspects of life.

In a way, one can think of it as such. Major Arcana cards are like those special days of the year, while Minor Arcana cards are basically all the other run-of-the-mill days.

The Minor Arcana has four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit represents distinct parts of life. Each suit has ten numbered cards and four court cards (similar to the face cards in regular playing cards).

Now, let's draw parallels between the Ramayana and the Minor Arcana cards to reveal some generally unknown connections.

Wands Suit: The Journey of Lord Ram

Wands represents the suit of fire. This suit is all about ambition and physical movement.

In Ramayan, Ram sets out on a very difficult exile for 14 years. This needs highest level of courage and boldness to embark on something so challenging. Wands are about embracing challenges in the path to personal growth.

The exile is filled with action and fiery energy, similar to the Wands suit. There is constant action and drama that fires the thrill in those who seek adventure.

Wands are also about self-confidence and self-esteem. This is strongly evoked in Ram’s personality who is the epitome of calm and composed bravery. He represents someone who is very self-assured and has highest confidence in himself.

Nothing deters or sways our prince from his mission of successfully completing his exile.

His ambition and determination are the hallmarks of a warrior that stands for truth and justice.

Just like the Wands cards, his journey is a fiery adventure that tests his courage and resolve to accomplish his goals.

Cups Suit: Sita's Emotional Turmoil

Cups stand for emotions, love, and feelings. These could be feelings for others, or internal viz. self-love and inner peace.

Cups represent the element of water, which can, at times, be calm and serene and unpredictably, turbulent and overwhelming at other times.

Sita’s character in Ram is symbolic of the Cups suit. One can liken her with the Queen of Cups who has cultivated emotional maturity to be able to not only look out for others but also be in tune with your inner self.

She goes through a rollercoaster of emotions – love, sorrow, and longing.

Her connection with Lord Ram and her time in captivity with Ravan highlight the depths of her emotions, like the ups and downs we see in the Cups cards.

Swords Suit: Lakshman's Loyalty and Conflict

Swords stand for thoughts, intellect and communication. It is related to the air element, reflecting our mental aptitude and its importance in dealing with life’s challenges.

Lakshman's character is a fitting match for the Swords suit.

Lakshman is a person who rationalizes decisions rather than being swayed by his heart and emotions. A classic example is where he feels so compelled by his sense of duty and devotion to his brother, that he chose to leave back his newly wed and beloved wife Urmila and join his brother on his exile.

This is a clear victory of the mind over heart.

He faces many internal as well as external conflicts and battles in his quest to protect his brother and sister-in-law. But he is firm in his mind and faces challenges with clarity and intelligence.

He is a charming and true warrior (similar to the Knight of Wands) that fights for truth and justice.

Pentacles Suit: The Kingdom of Ayodhya

Pentacles suit stands for material wealth and the earthly physical world. This is associated with the earth element, representing the tangible aspects of our lives.

The Kingdom of Ayodhya was ruled by King Dashrath, father of Lord Ram, and later by Ram himself on completion of his exile.

Ayodhya was a thriving empire where its peoples grew and prospered materially.

There was love and trust amongst its people. People are happy, stable and secured under their king.

Ayodhya, like the Pentacles suit, represents a thriving kingdom with earthly prosperity.

Finding Harmony in Stories

What is tarot reading is the final question - seems like a blend of myth, psychology, and energy?

Even in stories like the Ramayana, many symbolisms exist that are revealed in tarot.

The Ramayana and the Minor Arcana cards in Tarot might seem worlds apart, but when we explore their themes, we discover amazingly resonating connections.

These parallels demonstrate how universal themes of action, emotion, thought, and material well-being are interwoven into various narratives, whether ancient epics or tarot card systems.

So, the next time you explore Tarot, keep the Ramayana in mind.

It's a reminder that stories from different cultures and belief systems can resonate with each other and offer us new perspectives on life's journey, emotions, thoughts, and material wealth.

In this simple exploration, we've unveiled a connection that might inspire you to look at both the Ramayana and the Tarot in a new light.

So, as you continue your journey through the Tarot, keep the spirit of Lord Ram, Sita, and their companions close, and let their timeless wisdom guide your path.

Like they say, Tarot card reading is all about story telling. It contains the stories about most of us, and the connection with Ramayana just takes this a step ahead in our spiritual growth.

Read more about Ramayana and Major Arcana, and how they bring out valuable everyday life lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How does online tarot reading correspond with mythological tales such as the Ramayana?

The Ramayana conveys life lessons through symbolism and character development. Online tarot reading employs card imagery to mirror who we truly are on the inside. Therefore, many individuals today are drawn to online tarot reading as a way of gaining insights into the areas of Dharma, Duty, Emotions and personal growth.

2. Do online tarot readings serve a greater purpose than just providing predictions for the future; do they offer spiritual clarity?

Online tarot readings can absolutely be used for spiritual clarity as well as suggesting what the future may hold (i.e., "What does the future have in store for me?"). A trusted online tarot reading can assist in introspection or self-awareness, similar to the way Ram's exile from Ayodhya was a catalyst for his developing inner strength. The images represented in the tarot cards give you insight into who you are and what choices you have made.

3. Which suits correspond best with characters from the Ramayana?

As noted in this blog, there are many parallels:

Ram: The Wands Suit (Courage and Movement)
Sita: The Cups Suit (Emotions)
Lakshman: The Swords Suit (Decisions)
Ayodhya: The Pentacles Suit (Stability).

These parallels closely connect to the meaning and feelings associated with tarot card symbols; in other words, thoughts, feelings, action and material wealth.

4. Can studying along with mythological texts aid in my interpretation of tarot?

Studying mythology, such as the Ramayana, can certainly add another dimension of meaning to your tarot spread. When you relate your tarot card reading to epic tales such as the Ramayana, it adds more context to the cards such as the Three of Pentacles, Ace of Pentacles or the Nine of Cups and can provide you with richer insights into what those cards may reveal. Storytelling provides greater context for feelings in tarot readings and makes the symbolism much easier to decipher.

5. Must I have the best tarot card reader in India to understand the connections made in this blog?

Not necessarily. You can gain insights into the symbolism associated with tarot cards without the assistance of a skilled tarot reader. However, if you do have access to one of best tarot readers who can interpret and relate the life lessons of the ancient texts to your present day questions, you will benefit from the guidance of an experienced reader through your tarot reading session.

6. What are some questions I may wish to ask of the tarot after having read this blog connecting the Ramayana to the tarot?

You may consider asking yourself some of the following tarot questions regarding your own self-reflection and how your own personal journey relates to the teachings of the Ramayana:

Where am I in need of inner strength?
What emotional patterns need healing?
What Dharma or Duty should I concentrate on right now?

These are a few of the most frequently asked questions regarding tarot cards based upon the lessons of epic narratives.

7. Why would combining mythology with tarot benefit me?

Mythology is used to view tarot not as a tool for divination, but as a source of guidance. Just as every character in the Ramayana represents a unique role or lesson, so too does each tarot card, such as the Ace of Cups, Two of Swords or The Sun tarot card, represent a reflection of our daily lives and challenges through our emotional experiences and decisions.