Every card in a Tarot deck can teach you something valuable, but for each of us, there are a few cards that stand out. You can probably relate to these cards on a deeper level because they resonate with your individual journey through life. If you sit with their lessons and welcome their wisdom, these cards -- known as Tarot birth cards -- can become powerful allies.

What is a Tarot birth card?

A Tarot birth card has special relevance to you based on your date of birth. It reflects a central piece of your path and identifies the life lessons you most need to learn.

For example, if The Hermit is one of your birth cards, you likely have a lot to learn about the value of solitude. If Strength is one of your birth cards, your primary objective in life may be to develop vulnerability. No single card is more positive or negative than another -- they each have their own beauty and brilliance!

In a traditional Tarot deck, the most impactful cards are found in the Major Arcana. Often simply called “the Majors,” these cards represent key turning points and dominant energies.

Numbered from 0 to 21, the Majors come with many layers of meaning to explore. By doing some simple math with your birthday or using our calculator, you can figure out which ones have the most important messages for you.

Most people have two Tarot birth cards, but a select few actually have three! No matter which specific cards you end up with, they combine to provide valuable information about your gifts, your challenges, and your personal path.

Our Tarot birth card calculator breaks down your birthdate into a series of two-digit numbers and adds them together. Another common method works by taking each individual digit of the date and adding them up one-by-one.

There’s not necessarily one right way to figure out your Tarot birth cards. Different tarot readers and experts have their preferred methods, but magically enough, they all produce the same result!

Some people like to keep the math going until they end up with just one birth card, but in our experience, channeling the energy of two -- or even three! -- allows for a more well-rounded interpretation.

How to calculate your Tarot birth cards

Our calculator is happy to do the work for you, but if you’d like to run the numbers yourself, start by breaking your birthday into four two-digit numbers following this formula: MM + DD + YY + YY

For example, if you were born on 06/11/1992, your equation would be: 06 + 11 + 19 + 92

If the sum is a two-digit number, add the two digits together. The Major Arcana card with that number will be your first birth card. In order to find your second birth card, reduce that number to a single digit by adding the two digits together.

Example: 02 + 05 + 19 + 62 = 88
8 + 8 = 16: The Tower (first card)
1 + 6 = 7: The Chariot (second card)

On rare occasions, you can receive a two-digit number and the digits added together will give you a single-digit sum. In that case, the easiest way to find your second birth card is to add 9 to your single-digit number. The digits of the new number will add up to the original single-digit number.

Example: 10 + 23 + 20 + 00 = 53
5 + 3 = 8: Strength (first card)
8 + 9 = 17 (notice how 1 + 7 = 8): The Star (second card)

If the sum is a three-digit number, add the first two digits to the third digit. The Major Arcana card with that number is your first birth card. Reduce this to a single digit to get the second birth card.

Example: 06 + 28 + 19 + 91 = 144
14 + 4 = 18: The Moon (first card)
1 + 8 = 9: The Hermit (second card)

There’s one important exception to these rules, though! If you end up with the number 19 at any point in this process, you’ll have three birth cards instead of two. This is because 19 reduces to another two-digit number, then down to a single digit number (1 + 9 = 10, and 1 + 0 = 1). In this case, your Tarot birth cards are The Sun (#19), The Wheel (#10), and The Magician (#1).

Tarot birth card meanings

Explore all the possible combinations of Tarot birth cards (and their unique gifts, challenges, and lessons) right here …

The Chariot (#7)
The Tower (#16)
Strength (#8)
The Star (#17)
The Hermit (#9)
The Moon (#18)
The Magician (#1)
The Wheel of Fortune (#10)
The Sun (#19)
The High Priestess (#2)
Judgement (#20)
The Empress (#3)
The World (#21)

How to work with your Tarot birth cards

Figuring out your birth cards is easy enough, but once you have them, what’s the next step?

Learn about your birth cards

Once you identify them, start learning about your cards and the body of knowledge that surrounds them! Explore their meanings above to discover the unique gifts and challenges that come with each card -- and more importantly, how you can work with them to your advantage.

While exploring your cards, ask yourself these questions:
- Do I see myself in these cards?
- Do these cards bring any particular memories to mind?
- Which interpretations of these cards feel especially relevant to my life?
- What do my birth cards have in common with each other? How do they differ?

Watch for your birth cards

It’s also wise to watch for your birth cards in any Tarot readings you receive. If they happen to show up, be sure to take their messages extra-seriously! There are no cards more relevant to your personal journey, so when they come along, it’s best to pay attention.

The same concept holds true even in non-Tarot scenarios. Imagery from your Tarot birth cards might pop up in some unexpected places! If you recognize a symbol or other visual cue from one of your cards in a book, a movie, or a shop window, consider it a loving tap on your shoulder from the Tarot -- and a sign that you’re on the right track.

Dive deeper into your card meanings

Tarot has been around for centuries, and as a result, every single card has been interpreted countless times. With a little research, you can find out what themes and symbols are most commonly associated with your cards. You may even want to explore how different artists have portrayed them through the years (our tarot deck collection is the perfect place to start). Little by little, you’ll start to develop a deep understanding of your birth cards that’s unique to you.