Tarot
Spanish Tarot Cards Meanings and Benefits
This article discusses Spanish Tarot card meanings. You will also learn about the history and benefits of the Spanish tarot reading.
Are you curious about the Spanish tarot cards?
Spanish tarot, or baraja española, is great for self-discovery, healing, and spiritual journey. You can use it to gain spiritual insights into your love life, career, and well-being.
In this blog post, our online psychics will explain Spanish tarot card meanings to help you understand their secrets and wisdom.
Spanish Tarot Cards
The Spanish playing cards is associated with Spain. Unlike a traditional tarot deck with 78 cards, the Spanish tarot uses 40 or 48 cards divided into four suits. Each suit and all the cards hold specific meanings you can interpret to shed light on your path.
Source: Pixabay
History of Spanish tarot readings.
The exact origins of Spanish tarot readings are still a mystery. Some historians believe the practice became popular between the 14th and 16th centuries.
There is a belief that Spanish playing cards, or baraja española, are the foundation for Spanish tarot. Like traditional tarot decks, Fortune-tellers started giving symbolic meanings to the suits and individual cards.
Meanwhile, unlike traditional tarot decks with 78 cards, Spanish tarot focuses on the four suits (Cups, Coins, Clubs, Swords) and lacks the Major Arcana cards (The Fool, The Emperor, etc.). This means it involves a more practical and direct interpretation of the cards.
Spanish Tarot readings continue to gain popularity worldwide. Their deck focuses on the four core aspects of life—emotions, finances, action, and intellect—and resonates with many people.
The spreads.
Spanish tarot readings rely on specific card layouts called spreads. Each spread offers a unique fortune-telling to your questions. The three popular spreads are:
- Three-card spread:
The three-card spread offers a quick snapshot of your past, present, and future. The first card represents where you’ve been, the second reveals your current situation, and the third hints at what lies ahead.
- The Horseshoe spread:
This seven-card spread has a horseshoe shape. It provides a detailed look at your situation with the center card, signifying your core issue. Surrounding cards offer insights into aspects of your life, like love, career, finances, and health.
- The Gypsy spread:
This thirteen-card spread is perfect for in-depth readings. It provides information on past influences, present circumstances, and hidden factors. This spread also gives knowledge of future possibilities and potential outcomes.
Choosing the right spread.
The best spread depends on your specific question. For a quick answer, a three-card spread is a good option. If you want a broader picture, the horseshoe spread is better. The Gypsy spread is best for complex situations that need a thorough exploration.
Need a reading for accurate answers or exploration of what your life holds? Try this online psychic reading app with expert tarot readers.
The Meaning of the Cards

Source: Pixabay
The heart of the Spanish tarot lies in the symbolism of its cards. Each suit (four in total) and individual card carries specific meanings in various contexts. Here are the four suits and general interpretations of baraja española :
- Copas (Cups): These cards often represent emotions, intuition, relationships, and creativity. Copas cards often deal with matters of the heart. Depending on the surrounding cards, they can signify love, happiness, or emotional turmoil.
- Oros (Coins): Associated with material wealth, prosperity, success, and financial security. Oros cards offer insights into your career, finances, and abundance. They can represent achievement, stability, or potential challenges related to money.
- Bastos (Clubs): These cards symbolize action, passion, willpower, and determination. Bastos cards shed light on your drive, ambition, and life path. They can represent new beginnings, journeys, or the strength to achieve your goals.
- Espadas (Swords): These cards represent intellect, communication, challenges, and conflict. Espadas cards deal with aspects of your mind and how you navigate life’s difficulties. They can signify clarity, truth, or arguments.
Meaning of Individual Cards Within Each Suit
Now, let’s look into the heart of the Spanish Tarot: the individual cards within each suit. Each card carries a unique meaning with different interpretations depending on the context. Here are some of the individual cards within each suit:
1: Copas (Cups)
- Ace of Cups: New love, emotional connection, deep feelings.
- Two of Cups: Partnership, harmony, unity.
- Three of Cups: Celebration, joy, abundance.
- King of Cups: Compassion, empathy, emotional intelligence.
2. Oros (Coins)
- Ace of Coins: Financial success, new opportunities, prosperity.
- Knight of Coins: Hard work, dedication, achieving goals.
- Queen of Coins: Security, stability, resourcefulness.
- Ten of Coins: Wealth, money, financial security.
3. Bastos (Clubs)
- Ace of Clubs: New beginnings, taking action, pursuing dreams.
- Knight of Clubs: Determination, courage, overcoming challenges.
- Queen of Clubs: Independence, strength, leadership.
- Nine of Clubs: Recognition, promotions, rewards for hard work.
4. Espadas (Swords)
- Ace of Swords: New ideas, clarity of thought, making decisions.
- Knight of Swords: Impulsiveness, taking risks, assertiveness.
- Queen of Swords: Justice, fairness, intellectual strength.
- Seven of Swords: Deception, manipulation, hidden agendas.
The meaning of the extra cards.

Unlike traditional tarot decks, Spanish decks don’t have cards like The Fool in the Major Arcana. Instead, they often include two extra cards, sometimes called “blank” cards. The cards are not numbered and hold various interpretations depending on the reader and spread.
- The Blank Card: This card is like a wild card. It can represent new beginnings, unforeseen events, or hidden potential. It can also act as a blank slate, allowing the reader to use intuition in the interpretation.
- The Knight of Gold: This card is sometimes in the Spanish decks. It can symbolize unexpected financial gain, a helpful mentor, or a period of stability.
Benefits of Spanish Tarot Readings
Here are some key benefits you can experience with Spanish tarot readings:
-
Gaining clarity: Confused about a situation? A Spanish tarot reading can shed light on hidden factors and potential outcomes.
-
Empowering decision-making: Feeling stuck at a crossroads? The cards can offer insights into different paths. This will allow you to make informed decisions aligned with your goals and values. A free yes/no tarot reading can be particularly helpful for decision-making.
-
Boosting self-awareness: The reading can help you explore your inner thoughts and better understand yourself.
-
Identifying blockages: Are negative patterns holding you back? Spanish Tarot can reveal hidden obstacles and steps towards overcoming them.
-
Connecting with intuition: The cards can help you tap into your inner wisdom and make choices aligned with your gut feeling.
Final Thoughts
You can gain insights into your life by understanding Spanish tarot meanings. Remember, Spanish tarot readings are not about fortune-telling. They are a tool for self-reflection and spiritual guidance you need to take charge of your life.
Do you like the idea of finding your soulmate? Consider a soulmate sketchalongside your Spanish tarot reading.
FAQs
What are the symbols on Spanish cards?
Spanish cards use the four suits of Coins (Oros), Cups (Copas), Clubs (Bastos), and Swords (Espadas). These represent wealth, emotions, action, and intellect.
Why are Spanish cards different?
Spanish decks have a different history and tradition compared to tarot decks. For example, they lack Major Arcana and some other cards. Spanish Tarot also focuses on a more direct interpretation of the four suits.
What is the name of the Spanish deck of cards?
The Spanish deck of cards used for tarot readings is baraja española.