TAROTWAVE

Guidebook + Introduction

Tarotwave by McKenna Calabro

Guidebook Written by:
McKenna Calabro + Aiyana Saletto
Edited by Aiyana Saletto
 Introduction

Tarotwave is a deck heavily inspired by

the imagery of space, glitch art, and online
aesthetics movements such as vaporwave and
seapunk. When designing the cards, I drew
inspiration from these motifs while also
loosely following the designs of the popular
Rider-Waite tarot deck. Because of this, many
of the meanings and symbolism in the Tarotwave
cards follow that of Rider-Waite and similar
decks so if you would like further in-depth
descriptions of the cards and how to read them
most guides will suffice!
This guide is just a good starting place
for interpreting the images on the cards and
what they can represent and mean.
At the end of the day, interpret the cards
as how you feel they should be interpreted.
The meaning of a card can change depending on
the situation, what cards surround it, and who
and what the reading is about.

Also! A special thanks to everyone who

supported this project online and through
Kickstarter. It was thanks to the support and
appreciation of backers and followers online
that this project was able to become a
reality! Thank you!
 THE FOOL
Upright: Adventure,
New Beginnings,
Innocence

Reversed: Naivety,
Ignorance, Reckless-
Ness.

The fool is the first card in the deck.

It represents new beginnings and departing
on new adventures. The fool is represented
by the hiker standing on the tip of the
cliff, overlooking the city and mountains
in the distance on an otherworldly land-
scape. This represents the adventure
awaiting him in the distance, and by the
pack on his back he is ready to take on
wherever his adventure takes him.
 THE MAGICIAN
Upright:Concentration,
Power, skill, focus

Reversed: Manipulation,
Fatigue, Confusion,
Power imbalance

The Magician is a card packed with power

and energy, often hinting towards creative
energy that can be used to pursue goals. This
power brings with it determination and will
that will allow it’s holder to go through and
skillfully accomplish what they need.
On this card is an infinity sign, standing
for the infinite possibilities that could be
achieved, along with the Crab Nebula. The
Nebula is the remnants of a supernova in the
Taurus Constellation.
 THE HIGH PRIESTESS

Upright: Intuition,
Spirituality, The
Subconscious

Reversed:Directionless,
Loss of Intuition, Dysfunc-
tion,

The High Priestess represents a woman sit-

ting amongst the pillars of an ancient temple.
The two moons behind her represent intuition and
the subconscious. The scroll in her lap is a
symbol of her wisdom. She’s a figure who is in
tune with her subconscious and as a result knows
to trust and follow what her intuition tells
her. There’s also a pomegranate in the moon,
which can stand for abundance and fertility as
well as rebirth and the goddess Persephone.
Another way to view this card is that the
mind is the high priestess’s temple of which is
her dominion.
 THE EMPRESS
Upright: Nature, Femi-
nine Power, Energy,
Mother Earth

Reversed: Unhealthy
Dependence, Neglect,
A Dead end

The empress is a card that represents the

forces of mother nature. It has a wise and
maternal figure who sits among a field of
wheat which stands for her oversight on the
flora of the world, nature is her domain. The
stars in the sky behind her represent her
connection to the heavenly world as well. The
clear waterfall is a symbol of her power and
energy, as well as the water that supports
and gives life to the earth.
 THE EMPEROR
Upright: Masculine
Energy, Authority,
Stability, Taking lead

Reversed:Irresponsible,
Manipulative, Uncaring,
Unempathetic

The emperor is a figure of power and au-

thority, he is the overseer of his kingdom
and rules over it with a wise and strong
hand. The bust of the king with the long
beard is a symbol of the years of wisdom the
emperor has behind him. The metal sphere is a
symbol of the world which is his domain. The
bare mountain landscape symbolizes the
heights the emperor has gone to to achieve
his success.
 THE HIEROPHANT
Upright: Religion,
Tradition, community,
Organizations

Reversed: Breaking
rules, Rejecting Tradi-
tion, Following a new
path

The Hierophant symbolizes a religious leader.

In front of him are two disciples, turned away
from the reader to listen to what their leader has
to say. The Hierophant sits among two walls of
temple pillars, just like those that appear in the
priestess card. They represent the support of the
institution the Hierophant stands for.
Behind him is the stained glass window represent-
ing the institution of a church. There is the
faint impression of two crossed keys underneath
the Hierophant that represent the keys to heaven.
The three floating crowns are a callback to the
triple crown of the Rider-Waite deck.
 THE LOVERS
Upright:True Love,
Soulmates, Companionship
Harmony

Reversed:Broken Relation-
ship, Lost connection,
trouble communicating

This is the card of love and relation-

ships. The two lovers on the card are repre-
sented by the embracing statues. The wings
atop the sunburst and among the blue sky and
clouds behind them symbolizes the holy pro-
tection cast over the lovers. The tall green
grass at their feet along with the fruit
trees behind them represents the vibrance and
fertility of their relationship, while the
apples on the trees can also hint at the
temptations of it.
 THE CHARIOT
Upright: Determination,
Drive, Victory, Being in
Control

Reversed:Loss of self-
Control, Imbalance, Getting
stuck.

The chariot is a card of forward motion.

It represents being in control of the wheel
and speeding towards your destination. The
car is speeding away from the city and into
the desert, perhaps signifying moving on what
is familiar or taking steps towards a big
change. This card represents going in a posi-
tive direction.
The two crescent moons in the sky repre-
sent the intuition and spiritual influence
that may be guiding the direction the driver
has taken.
 STRENGTH
Upright: Inner Strength,
Animal Instincts, Courage
Self-control

Reversed:Weakness,
Insecurity, fear

This card stands for inner strength and

courage. The figure on this card is tradi-
tionally the figure of a woman, and the card
thus holds a feminine energy. The figure on
this card is that of a woman with a computer
head, the image on which is that of a lion—
The lion stands for her animal instincts and
the innate courage and strength she holds
within her.
 THE HERMIT
Upright: Mindfulness,
Enlightenment, Peaceful
Solitude

Reversed: Isolation,
Withdrawal, loneliness,
insecurity

The hermit is a figure who has taken a

place of solitude and become spiritually en-
lightened. His silhouette stands atop of a
bare hill, symbolizing his open and clear
state of mind, as he looks out over the de-
sert landscape. The world in this card is
open and everything that can be seen is laid
out before the hermit. The sun rising in the
distance shows that he is now able to look at
the world in a new light.
 WHEEL OF FORTUNE

Upright: Natural cycles,

Luck, fortune, change

Reversed: Setbacks,
Negative Patterns,
Bad luck

This card represents luck, fortune, and

the cycle of life. On it is the image of the
milky way, representing the ever turning gal-
axy we live in. Life keeps moving forward no
matter what, and this card is a symbol of
that movement and how we can sometimes just
ride out what it brings us. Atop the Milky
way is the neon lights of a Ferris wheel— a
modern symbol that stands for the randomized
positions in life we can find ourselves in.
 JUSTICE

Upright:Balance, Karma,
Justice, Law, earned-dues

Reversed:Injustice,
Dishonesty, Close-minded
Judgement

This card stands for exactly what would be

expected: Justice. It’s the card of earning
what is to be deserved, along with divine
justice and oversight. It has the traditional
figure of justice on it, holding her scales,
but additionally in the background is the ce-
lestial body of the butterfly nebula that al-
so represents the balance in the universe for
which this card stands.
 THE HANGED MAN

Upright: Sacrifice,
Suspension, Surrender

Reversed: Missed
Opportunity, stuck,
Indecisiveness

The Hanged man represents moments of sus-

pense and stalling in the face of the un-
known. Instead of the usual imagery of a man
hanging, this card features the Golden Gate
bridge, a well known suspension bridge.
Bridges are commonly seen to represent tran-
sitions from one state to another, and the
hanged man reversed represents an unwilling-
ness to make the transition.
 DEATH
Upright:Endings,
rebirth, change,
transformation

Reversed:Refusal to
Move on, Stagnation

Death is a card that isn’t nearly as in-

timidating as it sounds. In fact, some times
Death can be a welcome card. While it does
stand for endings, it also stands for the new
opportunities and beginnings that follow it.
The image on this card is that of a super-
nova, which perfectly encapsulates what the
Death card stands for. It shows a star at the
end of it’s life, ending in a spectacular ex-
plosion. But what follows the supernova is
the material and energy it throws out into
space that goes into creating new planets and
celestial bodies from the aftermath.
 TEMPERANCE

Upright: Patience,
Balance, Equality,
Harmony, Emotions

Reversed: Conflict,
Instability, short-
Sightedness

The Temperance card represents balance and

harmony in emotions and all things. The hour-
glass featured prominently on the card repre-
sents the passage of time and patience. The
galaxy replaces the usual sand because of the
intrinsic balance and harmony of the uni-
verse. When the card is upside down, there is
less sand in the top of the hourglass, repre-
senting the impatience and short sightedness
characteristic of the reversed Temperance.
 THE DEVIL
Upright: Addiction,
Unhealthy influence,
Corruption, materialism

Reversed:Breaking free,
Righting wrongs, Possible
Temptations

This card represents the common pitfalls

humans must try to avoid. The background of
the card is a casino because it clearly
encapsulates many of the potential vices,
including materialism and addiction. The
gamblers in the casino have fluid, dripping
faces because the devil is everchanging and
can take multiple shapes. They are well
dressed in suits to further represent
materialism and corruption.
 THE TOWER
Upright: Disaster,
Sudden change, Accident,
Upheaval

Reversed: Avoidable
Misfortune, self-made
Injury, depression.

The tower is a card of sudden unexpected

change. The tower depicted on it is finding
itself being torn apart, unraveling at the
top. Lightning fills the air in the storm
surrounding the city in the background.
This card can stand for a disaster, but
also any sudden change. It’s an upheaval to
the way things were that can lead to unex-
pected and even unwanted outcomes, but that
just couldn’t be avoided.
 THE STAR
Upright: Inspiration,
Optimism, Hope, Good
Blessings

Reversed:Setbacks,
Helplessness.Hopeless
Loss of resources

This card stands for hope, optimism, in-

spiration, and creativity. The cool to warm
gradient stands for both the mystery of the
outer world and unknown along with the com-
fort and warmth of home, the many stars are
the countless opportunities and thoughts that
could blossom into a bright and hopeful fu-
ture. A shooting star is featured in the cen-
ter of the card just beyond the bright main
star that represents making wishes— and
achieving them.
 THE MOON
Upright: Dreams,
Emotions, Psychic Power
Intuition

Reversed: Subconscious
Fear, Insecurity,
Deception

This card features a dreamy landscape, a

ghostly city sitting among the clouds with
the full moon clear in the sky just floating
overhead. This card represents dreams and the
subconscious, the surreal landscape a symbol
of the one you would find in a dream. This
card represents the subconscious and your in-
tuition, but can also represent your inner
fears and worries as well.
 THE SUN
Upright: Joy, Success,
Wholeness, Good Help,
Good Companionship

Reversed: Loneliness,
Lingering Worries,
Disappointment,
Misunderstanding.

The sun is a card bursting with good feel-

ings. Heavenly sunrays fill the card from
over the hills in the background, giving the
cherub a halo of light. The rising sun repre-
sents the dawn of a new and better day. Sun-
flowers, symbols of happiness and longevity,
also surround the Cherub. This card is an af-
firmative sign full of positivity. A blessing
of good luck and fortune and brighter skies.
 JUDGEMENT
Upright: Awakening,
Good Karma, Reward,
Positivity

Reversed:Remorse,
Dissatisfaction,
Imprisonment, Negativity

In this card the towering figure of the

angel oversees the golden valley before. This
angel is a benevolent guardian that brings
karmic rewards. The skies behind it are full
of golden thick clouds that part to reveal
the light behind them. The parting of the
clouds represent a spiritual awakening, lead-
ing to the positive vibes of the sunrays be-
yond.
 THE WORLD
Upright: Achievement,
Success, Travel,
Fulfillment

Reversed: Resisting
Change, Stagnation,
Delay, Frustration

The World represents humanities achieve-

ments and successes, as well as travel. Here
the globe is depicted surrounded by a mesh of
electrical plasma, representing the recent
explosion in technological advancement, fur-
ther connecting us to each other. This recent
scientific success is also represented in the
graph paper motif. Finally, the moon is hov-
ering above the earth to remind us to reach
for the stars and continue to seek fulfill-
ment.
 ACE OF CUPS
Upright: Love, Over-
Whelming emotion,
Compassion

Reversed: Sadness,
Loneliness, Anxiousness

The cups suit represents the element of

water and often involves subject matter re-
lated to our emotions. In this ace card the
cup is standing on a lily pad, whose flower
symbolizes the rebirth one experiences when
entering a new love. The water lily also sym-
bolizes all that is good and pure.
The cup is overflowing with the water,
which seemingly appears out of abundance of
water from the ocean behind. The healthy
stream of water filling the cup represents
the torrent of emotion and love this card can
represent.
 TWO OF CUPS
Upright: Union, Friend-
ship, Marriage, Bond,
Commitment

Reversed:Broken
Relationships,
Disagreement, Separation

The Two of Cups represents people commit-

ting to each other, either platonically
or romantically. The angel wings repre-
sent that this is a blessed union, and
the white clothed
table in the background is a gathering
place for compassionate people to meet
and bond.
 THREE OF CUPS
Upright: Celebration,
Victory, Union,
Fertility

Reversed: False-Friends,
Isolation, Over-
Indulgence, Gossip

The Three of Cups is a card of joy and

celebration. The three cups are positioned in
a way reminiscent of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd
place steps used in the Olympics. The laurel
wreaths behind the cups symbolize victory and
further the Olympic analogy. A basket of
fruit at the base of the cups symbolizes fer-
tility. When reversed, this card can mean
over-indulgence and gossip which is charac-
terized by the overflowing fruit basket
filled with grapes (representative of the so-
called “grape-vine”).
 FOUR OF CUPS
Upright: Discipline,
Being Patient, Apathy,
Contemplation, Day-
Dreaming

Reversed: Motivation,
Ending Stagnation,
Opportunities

This is a very introspective card, repre-

senting quiet contemplation and discipline.
The large central tree symbolizes the pa-
tience required for a tree to grow to this
size. The beautiful scenery brings to mind a
daydream. The rocky shore exemplifies apathy,
because it does not care about the continual
beating of the water. This again represents
patience and diligence, because over time the
water will manage to wear away the uncaring
rocks.
 FIVE OF CUPS
Upright: Loss, Despair,
Grief, Heartbreak,
Disappointment

Reversed: Healing,
Letting Go, Moving on,
Acceptance

The Five of Cups is a card that forebodes

disappointment and grief. The card seems to
be viewed through a rainy window, which
evokes a feeling of gloominess. Two of the
cups are on the ground, seemingly broken,
representing broken hearts and the danger
posed by broken glass. The upturned glass is
pouring liquid into a puddle, its contents
lost forever.
 SIX OF CUPS
Upright: Kindness,
Nostalgia, Reunion,
Childhood

Reversed: Stuck in
The past, Letting go,
Independence

On this card, the six cups are arranged in

a circle, representing the cyclical nature of
time and nostalgia. The card features bright
and cheerful pinks, purples, and blues
reminiscent of childhood. The pink carnations
are symbolic of motherly love, again harken-
ing back to childhood and nostalgia.
 SEVEN OF CUPS
Upright: Illusions,
Fantasies, Imagination,
Different Choices

Reversed:Temptation,
False Promises, Avoiding
Reality

Seven of Cups exhibits an array of cups,

all with different images within their bowl.
The images all represent illusions being pre-
sented to the viewer. These fantasies range
both from the good, such as a pile of treas-
ure, to the dangerous, such as the snake that
could strike out and bite the hand which
reaches for it.
The cups all hold the different possible
choices some of which would turn out to be
false promises.
 EIGHT OF CUPS
Upright: Escape,
Solitude, Withdrawal,
Spiritual Journey,
Sadness

Reversed: Stagnation,
Acceptance, Insecurity,
Fear of moving on

Eight of cups is a somber card that re-

flects the more lonely aspects of isolation.
The moon half that has risen over the moun-
tains is an allusion to the spirituality that
an escape or journey can bring, but overall
the blues and purples give the card a more
melancholy feeling. Furthermore the partially
transparent image of a curtain partially ob-
scures the barren mountain, another symbol of
the quiet solitude and withdrawal from socie-
ty.
 NINE OF CUPS
Upright: Fulfillment,
Hard Work, Achieving
Goals and Dreams,
Security

Reversed: Disappointment
Unfulfilled, Unrealized
Success

This card features a couple of different

brick structures, all symbols of hard work.
The wall has been built up overtime and leads
to a sense of security. The archway is a
pathway to the star in the middle which sig-
nifies goals and dreams. The arch supports
the array of cups that sits on it’s top,
demonstrating that through hard work we can
support each other.
 TEN OF CUPS
Upright: Wholeness
Union, Achieved Peace,
Fulfilment.

Reversed: Emotional
Turmoil, Falling out,
Familial Problems

In this card the ten cups are united around a

rainbow ring thrown out by the sun peeking
out from behind the earth’s horizon. This
card has a feeling of warmth and wholeness,
along with a celestial oversight as the heav-
ens illuminate the entire background, even
overlapping with the almost transparent
silhouette of the earth.
The seemingly calm oceanic overlay represents
that even though this card may appear peace-
ful at the surface, when viewed reversed it
is actually turbulent and filled with
turmoil.
 PAGE OF CUPS
Upright:Messenger,
Good News, Youthfulness

Reversed: Bad News,

Change of Plans,
Disappointment

The suit of cups is the suit dominated by the

element of water, and as a result the royal
cards for this suit boast a lot of water
Imagery. The dolphin is a highly intelligent
Mammal with a developed communication system
so they represent a messenger. They are also
known for being playful and filled with
youthful glee.
 KNIGHT OF CUPS

Upright: Gentleness,
Affection, Invitation,
Good News

Reversed: Deception
Unreciprocated Feelings,
Heartbreak

This Knight features a gentle stream flowing

through a forest, another reference to the
elemental essences of the cups suit and the
benign energy of this card. Blue butterflies
symbolize joy and a positive change in luck.
In the other window we see someone preparing
to write a message, possibly about this good
news. The flower symbolizes love implying
that perhaps the message being written might
be affectionate in nature.
 QUEEN OF CUPS
Upright: Intuition,
Devotion, Mystery,
Control of Emotions

Reversed:Insecurity
Emotional Problems,
Disorganization

This card is decorated with imagery linked to

water and the ocean; it all speaks to the pow-
erful psychic energy and intuitive power the
queen of cups card usually represents. The
feathers on the card symbolize being spiritual-
ly in tune with yourself, and having the self
possession to control your emotions like the
wise queen.
 KING OF CUPS
Upright: Emotional
Balance, Wisdom,
Experience, Compassion

Reversed:Manipulation,
Out of Control Emotions,
Emotional Vulnerability

The ocean on this card features crashing

waves, a symbol of the King of Cups’ power.
In order to sail a ship you need to have ex-
perience, wisdom, and balance. Without those
qualities you leave yourself out of control
and vulnerable. The dolphin is a callback to
the page, once again representing an intelli-
gent being. Here though it has a more power-
ful presence, leaping up into the air, almost
over the cup as if to conquer it’s emotions.
 ACE OF SWORDS
Upright: Creative
Potential, Clarity,
Concentration, Ability

Reversed:Loss of Ideas,
No Motivation, Chaos
Difficulty concentrating

Ace of Swords is a weapon to be used to forge

your way to your goals and achieve success.
It symbolizes a powerful force of concentra-
tion and mental clarity that allows the
wielder great potential in their work and
life. The rocky mountains in the background
are a symbol of the clear mind.
 TWO OF SWORDS
Upright: Hard choices,
Blocked paths, Stress,
Stalemate

Reversed: Indecision,
Overwhelmed, Turmoil

In the two of swords we see a gateway with

iron fences on either side. This gateway is
the only possible path that leads to the
great beyond shown on the other side, however
the two swords of this card are crossed and
blocking access. The lions on either side of
the gate are a hint towards the recommended
courage and strength it can take to overcome
whatever obstacle has halted progress onward.
 THREE OF SWORDS

Upright: Heartbreak,
Disappointment,
Depression, Grief, Loss

Reversed:Letting go,
Emotional Release,
Healing, Overcoming
Hardship

Three of swords is a card that means

heartbreak, disappointment, and loss. It’s
art depicts a melancholy rainy day that is
covering the window with fog and rain, making
it hard to see the city on the other side.
The three neon swords strike through the
heart that someone has drawn onto the window,
giving it the appearance that the heart has
been stabbed into. The drawn heart also be-
gins to drip and deform.
 FOUR OF SWORDS
Upright: Solitude,
Getting away, Spiritual
Contemplation

Reversed:Awakening,
Rejoining Society,
Leaving Isolation

The figure depicted on this card sits atop

a outcropping on the cliff about halfway up
its face. In the background, the distant sky-
line of a city is visible, yet the figure has
managed to make their own space away from the
noise and stress of the city in the distance.
This card represents getting away and resting
ones mind and body, a retreat from the life
they had in order to quietly contemplate
themselves and their status.
 FIVE OF SWORDS
Upright: Conflict,
Disagreement, Defeat,
Surrender, Hostility

Reversed:Compromise,
Moving on, Open to
Change, End of Conflict

This card represents that aftermath of an

altercation. The figures on the card are all
facing away from one another, the conflict is
over but things still aren’t good between
those who participated in it. Two swords lie
on the ground discarded by their users who
have have given up and admitted defeat.
This card is about conflict and disagree-
ment, but also about the aftermath in which
neither of the sides really feel like the
winner.
 SIX OF SWORDS
Upright:Driving Forward,
Progress, Stability,
Navigating Obstacles

Reversed: Trouble Times,

Feeling Overwhelmed,
Instability, Trapped

In this card the undine controlling the

boat is quickly navigating down the waterway.
The lights of the city quickly whip past, but
even with the speed the boat seems to be
maintaining its direction and stays steered
steadily forward.
This card represents driving forward, nav-
igating through obstacles and challenges
while trying to stay strong and keep every-
thing as is. The swords on the boat stand up
straight, but any possible misdirection or
unexpected bump could cause problems and even
their toppling.
 SEVEN OF SWORDS
Upright: Deceit, Theft,
Secrecy, Risks, Scheming

Reversed:Getting Caught,
Revealing self, Breaking
Habits

On this card a dark hooded figure is walk-

ing through a dimly lit alleyway, their back
away from the viewer as they go towards the
distance. Tucked under their arms, clutched
in their hand, and strapped to their back,
are the neon swords that can only be found
elsewhere hanging up on the walls. The figure
in this card has been taking what isn’t
theirs, and is making off with their stolen
goods. The card stands for deceit, thievery,
and general underhanded and dark secret deal-
ings.
 EIGHT OF SWORDS

Upright: Feeling
trapped, Entanglement,
Limitations

Reversed:Freedom,
Open opportunities,
Self-confidence

The swords on this card are all arranged

in a circle, surrounded by a tightly wound
web that tangles together and covers the en-
tire card. This card represents feeling
trapped. Getting caught in intricate entan-
glements. The swords create a tight enclosure
that can be hard or impossible to escape. The
sky and the background of the card are dark,
making it hard to show the true way to navi-
gate through the maze.
 NINE OF SWORDS
Upright: Anxiety, Fear,
Despair, Nightmares

Reversed:False Fears,
Created Anxieties,
Letting go and Overcoming
Stress

The swords on this card are hanging up on

the wall in a staggered formation. The com-
puter screen at the center is displaying any
user’s worst nightmare: The blue screen of
death. Any work or progress is now possibly
lost, and in the moment this screen shows
whether or not you’ve actually lost any in-
formation is irrelevant as the initial anxie-
ty and fear of what might have truly happened
or caused this moment takes the priority. The
screen seems to bleed downwards, distorting
the desk underneath, giving the whole scene
an unreal façade.
 TEN OF SWORDS
Upright: Endings,
Destruction, Being
Betrayed, Back stabbing

Reversed: New Beginning,

Better Horizons,
Surviving Hardship

Ten of swords is a card that depicts that

aftermath of some sort of destructive event.
On this card the wood flooring is dark and
worn, the walls are crumbling and bare, and
the computer monitor front and center is bro-
ken and discarded on the floor. The swords
are clustered around the screen, all having
been stabbed into its sides and left there.
This card gives the feeling that we’re look-
ing at the scene of a crime that may have
even had multiple participants.
 PAGE OF SWORDS
Upright: Restlessness,
Energetic, Agility,
Many Ideas

Reversed: Poor Planning,

Bad News, Lack of Ideas,
Directionless

The swords suit is linked to the element

of air, which is represented on this card
through the cloud motif and avian imagery.
The birds are midflight in migratory for-
mation, which symbolizes restlessness and en-
ergy. In the background, palm trees seem to
be blown by strong winds, again alluding to
the air element and the bad news this card
can portend if drawn reversed.
 KNIGHT OF SWORDS

Upright: Taking Action,

Forging a path, Making
Haste, Big Changes

Reversed:Impatience,
Impulsiveness,
Disorganization

This card features a silhouette of a horse

front and center. The horse is mid leap,
symbolizing action and energy. There is no
road or even ground for the horse to follow,
so it must create its own path. In the back-
ground birds are featured once again, but
this time they are in a random swarm. When
drawn reversed, this card symbolizes impul-
siveness and disorganization, represented
here by the birds that are flying around
willy-nilly.
 QUEEN OF SWORDS
Upright: Organization,
Wisdom, Intelligence,
Protection, Sharp Wit

Reversed:Irrational
Thinking, Letting
Emotions take control

This card specifically features an owl and

a dove. The owl is a well known symbol of
wisdom, intelligence, and wit. The dove
commonly symbolizes peace, in this case the
sense of security that can be achieved
through organization and feeling protected.
The cherry blossoms in the background add
to this serenity.
 KING OF SWORDS
Upright: Authority,
Wisdom, Mental Clarity,
Truth, Power

Reversed:Manipulation,
Abuse of Power, Power
Imbalance, Tyranny

The King of Swords is a king of wisdom,

truth and power. The pink tulips represent
well wishes and caring; this is a benevo-
lent ruler and generally good card. The
crescent moons on this card symbolize
growth and prosperity brought about by the
wise and fair king. The butterfly is a sym-
bol of transformation and represents the
steps it takes to achieve a state of mental
clarity.
 ACE OF PENTACLES

Upright: Financial
Opportunity, Good
Fortune, Prosperity

Reversed:Financial
Misfortune, Problems
With Money, Missed
Opportunities

In this Ace card a divine golden hand

holds the pentacle aloft. The clouds in the
background have parted and the heavenly light
Is shining through, downwards onto the hand
and the symbol. This card represents finan-
cial prosperity and opportunity. It can sig-
nify either a change in finances or new job
and career opportunities, but with both com-
ing as a divine blessing. With this card the
powers that be have gone into motion granting
a gift of good fortune.
 TWO OF PENTACLES

Upright: Balance, Juggl-

ing Life, Adaptability,
Management

Reversed: Disorganized,
Overexertion, Disarray

In this card the stormy sea churns in the

background along with a dark cloudy sky. The
two pentacles are adorned on top of gears,
who act as gateways to a brighter scene of
flowers and green grass. The gears fit per-
fectly together, completing a wider window to
what lies beyond. The gears on this card
stand for working through the unpredictabil-
ity of life methodically and trying to bal-
ance and adapt to challenges in order to keep
moving forward.
 THREE OF PENTACLES

Upright: Hard Work,

Multitasking, Skilled
Work, Dedication

Reversed: Stagnation,
Not Growing or Learning,
Lack of Effort

On the Three of Pentacles an offscreen fig-

ure is working at their desk, using a mul-
tiscreen computer. In the background, a
nighttime city’s lights can be seen through the
window on the wall. By the positions of their
hand, one on the mouse and one on the keyboard,
you can tell the figure is in the middle of
whatever work they’re engaged in. This card
stands for hard work and dedication. By the
dimly lit room and the dark blues and purples
the figure looks like they’re pulling an all
nighter. It’s not easy work, and the figure is
obviously skilled at what they’re doing since
they’re able to juggle screens, but its all a
symbol of the figures dedication to the task
despite the temptations of the city outside.
 FOUR OF PENTACLES

Upright: Possession,
Saving fortune, Money
Management, Security

Reversed:Greed,
Possessiveness, Letting
go, Financial trouble

This card features the lucky cat, a symbol

of good fortune and luck: especially when it
comes to finances. With a pentacle at each
paw this cat obviously is in possession of
some wealth. The pentacle underfoot symboliz-
es sitting on, or placing protection over,
finances. This card stands for saving your
fortune and watching over it, managing and
protecting it.
 FIVE OF PENTACLES

Upright: Hardship,
Poverty, Money Troubles,
Isolation

Reversed:Being Accepted,
Overcoming Hardship,
End of Poverty, increase
In Finances

The Five of Pentacles features a lonely

church standing tall against a cold land-
scape. Snow covers the roof and shows no sign
of slowing as it falls thickly down blanket-
ing the landscape. This washed out church’s
doors are closed to the viewer, and the pen-
tacles obscure the stained glass windows
blocking view to the inside. This creates a
sense of isolation, like the doors have been
closed and you’ve been left out alone in the
snow.
 SIX OF PENTACLES

Upright: Charity,
Sharing Wealth, Support,
Kindness

Reversed: Lack of
Charity, Ill Intentions,
Cruelty, Inequality

In the Six of Pentacles a pair of hands

are cupped as if asking for a donation. This
card symbolizes charity and sharing, and you
can see that some of the pentacles have been
given to the hands while others seem to fall
to the earth below. The hands take only what
they need and leave the rest for those who
might come after them. The hands and penta-
cles are positioned in a clear sky above the
clouds, indicating they are above the greed
and cruelty commonly found on the earth be-
low.
 SEVEN OF PENTACLES

Upright: Investment,
Hard work, Harvest,
Profit

Reversed:Bad Business,
Lack of Vision / No
Goals, Little Success

The Pentacles represent coins and money.

On this card six of the pentacles are grow-
ing out of a rice paddy and one of them is
in the sky replacing the sun. This means
that with hard work and a little initial in-
vestment, you will be able to make a profit.
It’s a literal interpretation of the phrase
“money comes to money”.
 EIGHT OF PENTACLES

Upright: Craftsmanship,
Working, Self-
employment, Hard Work,
Dedication

Reversed:Not Working,
No Determination, Poor
Work ethic

The welder featured on the Eight of Pen-

tacles is clearly working hard to perfect
his craft. This is characteristic of the
card, which represents self employment and
dedication. The pentacles are hanging above
his head as if they were displayed after
completion, a symbol of the final product
to his hard work.
 NINE OF PENTACLES

Upright: Fruits of your

Labor, Reward, Success,
Fulfilment

Reversed:Setbacks,
Poor Investment, Burning
Out, Someone getting
Undeserved reward

The Nine of Pentacles symbolizes being

rewarded for your hard work. The fruits of
your labor are finally in bloom, and it’s
time pick them for profit. This card shows
a vineyard, with an up close image of a
ripe bundle of grapes. The Grapes are full
of pentacles hanging from the vine to fur-
ther draw the connection between the ful-
filment of the harvest and the financial
success that can come with it.
 TEN OF PENTACLES

Upright: Family,
Success, Secure Home,
Inherited finances

Reversed: Family
Financial problems,
Instability, Dishonesty

On the Ten of Pentacles the silhouette of

a woman can be seen holding her child up in a
playful manor amongst a field of tulips. In
the far off background, the lights of a city
can be seen fading off into a pink sky. Tulips
symbolize love and pink tulips specifically
represent familial love and affection.
The Ten of Pentacles represents being sur-
rounded by family. It’s a card that evokes a
sense of comfort and security. Like most of
the pentacles it stands for finances, but in
this case it is also heavily coded to stand
for wealth in life and family.
 PAGE OF PENTACLES

Upright:New Opportunity,
Making Plans, Good -
Foundations

Reversed:Ignorance,
Irresponsibility, Poor
Planning

The Page of Pentacles is rife with budding

flowers and fruits. The fields of lavender that
make up the base image symbolize fields of
wealth. The small pink flowers with buds repre-
sent new life and youthful energy. The apple
orchard’s fruit stand for the future potential
of work and labor. The contrast of both new and
old growth on this card paint a picture of the
possible outcomes of careful planning and good
foundations.
 KNIGHT OF PENTACLES

Upright: Hard Work,

Fruitful Labors, Loyalty,
Responsibility

Reversed: Unskilled,
Laziness, Impatience,
Careless

On this Knight of Pentacles there’s multiple

images of rolling green farm fields. The one
human figure on this card is hard at work on
their field, carrying heavy bushels across his
shoulders as he walks past. This Knight repre-
sents working hard and diligently. It’s tied in
heavily to the earth, the element of the penta-
cles suit, and as a result represents a more
modest and down to earth variation of labor
compared to the other Knight cards.
 QUEEN OF PENTACLES

Upright: Quick Thinking,

Fertility, Nature,
Distinguished, Grounded

Reversed: Immature,
Jealousy, Disloyalty,
Narcissistic

On the Queen of Pentacles card we see a

river flowing downward from a green hilly
valley. Pink blossoms frame both corners of
the card as well. This helps lend the card a
feminine and dainty feeling. The image of the
rabbit represents quick thinking, wit, and
fertility. This card represents a mother
earth-like figure.
 KING OF PENTACLES

Upright:Wise,Courageous,
Grounded, Accomplished,
Seniority, Hard Worker

Reversed:Corrupted,
Materialistic, Stubborn,
Weak

The background on the King of Pentacles

card shows an entanglement of blooming vines.
Also on this card are the images of bundles
of grapes, and the image of a bull. The abun-
dance of fruits, vines, and flowers are all
symbols of the King’s earthly successes and
accomplishments. The bull is a symbol of
strength and hard work.
 ACE OF WANDS

Upright:Ambition,
Vision, Energy, Creative-
Energy, Beginnings

Reversed:Creative Block,
Missed Opportunity,
Lacking Energy

Ace of Wands is the first card in the

fiery wands suite and immedietly brings in
warm yellows and reds to evoke that element.
Behind the wand orange leaves can be seen
falling. Farther beyond that, a castle sits
underneath an orange sky amongst a forest of
trees.
This card holds energy and potential for
success and ambition. The lush flora on this
card signifies the abundance of creative pos-
sibilities, with the castle standing for the
possible rewards and success that the energy
of this card can lead to.
 TWO OF WANDS

Upright:Making Decisions,
Choosing a Path,
Wandering, Planning

Reversed:Indecisive,
Restriction, Poor -
Planning, Fear of Change

On the Two of Wands we see the faint image

of a world map stretching across the card. On
the bottom small globes can also be seen. The
two wands standing tall on this card are pil-
lars standing atop the world. They stand for
making plans for the future and finding direc-
tion for oneself. This card represents plan-
ning for the future, but can also stand for
travel and wandering across the worlds shown
on the card.
 THREE OF WANDS

Upright: Different
Lands, Adventure, Hard -
Work, Rewards

Reversed:Poor Foundation,
Delay, Lack of Progress

On this card we see an alien landscape. The

ghostly image of the ruins on this card symbol-
ize what remains of great societies and struc-
tures long after they fall. It’s a symbol of how
legacies live onward and can continue to be dis-
covered by others. It’s a more long-term symbol
of hard work and rewards. This card also is
about journeying and experiencing different
things and different lands.
 FOUR OF WANDS

Upright:Celebration,
Prosperity, Surprise,
Earned Success and Joy

Reversed:Unhappiness,
Cancelled Celebration,
Community Problems

On the Four of Wands the four wands are

splayed outwards in front of a city in the
midst of celebration. Fireworks burst overhead,
and the city itself seems to be glowing. This
card sports a great celebration. It’s a very
energetic and active feeling card.
 FIVE OF WANDS

Upright:Fighting,
Arguments, Conflict, Chaos,
Competitive Egos

Reversed: Harmony,
End of Conflict,
Compromise

The Five of Wands card represents

fighting, conflict, and chaos. The five fig-
ures on this card are the silhouettes of mar-
tial artists and sword fighters who have been
altered to hold the wands for this suit. Atop
the tree tops their fighting poses have come
to resemble something more alike to a close
quarters and chaotic dance.
 SIX OF WANDS

Upright:Praise,
Celebration, Achievement,
Joy, Triumph

Reversed:Failure,
Unsuccessful Venture,
Conceit

The Six of Wands card exhibits a dance

party at its apex. Hands are thrown into the
air, and above the crowd in the midst of
their celebration is one wand from which the
light show seems to emanate. With one wand
separate from the rest, and the others gath-
ered below amongst the party, this card sym-
bolizes a scene of celebration and triumph.
 SEVEN OF WANDS

Upright:Competition,
Success, Making it Work,
Fighting for Yourself,
Defensiveness

Reversed: Confusion,
Anxiety, Defeat, Giving up,
Yielding

The surfer on this Seven of Wands card

has their knees bent as they swoosh in to
navigate through the maze of Wands stick-
ing through the water as they ride the
wave forward. This is not an easy task,
but the surfer is moving forward having
braced themselves for the challenge re-
gardless. The surfer is making the best
of the sudden obstacles and is determined
to succeed no matter what.
 EIGHT OF WANDS

Upright: Swiftness,
Progress, Action,
Going Forth, Travel,
Making Haste
Reversed: Slow Progress,
Meandering, Poor Start,
Lack of Speed or Action

This card is a high energy card. It repre-

sents quickly moving forward, making swift pro-
gress, and going forth in your travels and on
your journey in life. It encompasses Making
haste and moving quickly in all matters and in
a broad number of interpretations. The wands on
this card are staggered in a line as they shoot
forward, the stars in the background moving by
so fast that their form has been blurred.
 NINE OF WANDS

Upright:Suspicion,
Being on Guard, Continuous
Struggle, Fatigue

Reversed: Stubbornness,
Stale Mate, Confusion,
Conflict

On the Nine of Wands we see the empty shell

of an old computer. Standing inside the hol-
lowed out shell of the monitor is a wand, but
it’s image wavers as if it isn’t fully formed.
The other wands gather around the computer as
if watching or guarding against the wand with-
in. The floor is worn concrete, and in the
background neon purple palm fronds cover the
walls. This card carries a discordant feeling
to it. The surrounding wands seem to be wary of
the wand wavering in the screen.
 TEN OF WANDS

Upright: Burdened,
Excessive Responsibilities,
Commitment

Reversed: Too much

Stress, Too Much of a
Burden, Struggle,
Exhaustion

On the ten of wands card a figure walks to-

wards the viewer, head bowed down as they carry
the weight of two heavy buckets full of wands
on both sides. The desert stretches out far in-
to the distance, and over the furthest ridge a
city’s lights sit against the starry night sky.
In this card the figure represents someone who
is burdened by their responsibilities. They’re
a hard worker, but they’re committed to their
trade even at whatever the physical or mental
cost is.
 PAGE OF WANDS

Upright:Good News,
Youthful Energy, New
Ideas, Exploration

Reversed: Lethargy,
Haste, Lack of Energy/
Creativity

On this card we see the Page of Wands de-

picted by a series of heat baked images. The
warm sky and orange road along with the desert
imagery introduce us to the first card in the
wands’ royal suit. The salamander on this card
is a call back to the salamanders that are com-
mon images on the Rider-Waite card for the
wands’ royal suit. The salamander symbolizes a
creature of magic energy that is often associ-
ated with fire, the element of this suit. The
wide open road and empty skies on this card are
symbols of the open possibilities to the future
that the Page of Wands is ready to explore.
 KNIGHT OF WANDS

Upright: Ideas, Change,

Adventure, Movement,
Excitement, Fearless

Reversed: Arrogance,
Overly Confidence,
Lack of Ambition/Purpose

The Knight of Wands depicts a horse and rid-

er navigating through rocky terrain with an
endless row of mountains fading off into the
distance in the background. The Knight of this
card is heading out for adventure to distant
and new lands. The desert imagery and the warm
hues of this card help lend it the fiery energy
of the other cards in this suit. While the
Knight of this card is courageous and adven-
turous, the heat of this card can get to his
head and cause him to also be arrogant and
reckless.
 QUEEN OF WANDS

Upright: Purposeful,
Strong, Energetic,
Confident, Motherly

Reversed: Unfriendly,
Antisocial, Poor-
Temperament, Deceitful

The Queen of Wands card is heavy with the

imagery of sunflowers. These flowers are a
symbol of joy and positive energy, but also
can stand for loyalty. The young buds and
blossoms on the top image of this card stand
for warmth and life. The black cat hiding be-
hind the sunflowers is a symbol of the
Queen’s supernatural power, but can also
stand for luck and having cat-like qualities.
 KING OF WANDS

Upright:Powerful,
Wise, Energetic,
Courageous, Loyal,
Natural Leader

Reversed: Tyrannical,
Powerless, Lack of
Energy and Wisdom
Intolerant

The King of Wands boasts a powerful fiery

energy. Flames cover the sky in the back-
ground, resembling solar flares from the sun
that fade into clouds towards the top of the
image. The picture in the top window is the
close up base of a mature tree trunk, a sym-
bol of aged and experienced wisdom. The lion
in the other window is the face of the King
himself, a symbol of courage and power. This
card represents a powerful and energetic,
courageous, and loyal natural leader.
 GLITCH.EXE

Upright: Hidden Secrets,

Not what it Seems,
Alteration, Sudden Change,
Unexpected Development

Reversed:Wholeness,
Distant Change/Problems,
Avoidable Change

This is the final card and one that is unique

to the Tarotwave deck.
The title of this card, Glitch.exe, is written
so that it resembles the name of a program. “.EXE”
is a suffix that means “Executable.” At the end of
a program name it means that the program is able
to be executed, or ran, on the device.
Normally glitches are a sign of some sort of
error or unexpected problem, not something you
would willingly execute. The dark alleyway of this
card seems to be glitching, but through the broken
open spaces in the image we can see the shining
stars and swirling clouds of somewhere far off in
space. This card has a very otherworldly surreal
atmosphere to it.