Gods & Goddesses in Tarot

If you’re a Witch, Wiccan, Pagan or spiritual practitioner that honours, worships or ‘works with’ gods and goddesses, you may have heard the term “Matron Goddess” or “Patron God”.

What is a Matron Goddess or Patron God and why is She or He important for a spiritual practice?

Don’t let the terminology of “matron” or “patron” deceive or deter you – the terms “matron” and “patron” don’t have anything to do with “parenting”, “mothering” or “fathering” but rather is associated with “matriarchal” or “patriarchal”, as in being the “head” of a family or group in a traditional sense.

The concept of a personal god or goddess isn’t unique to “new age” spiritual practices, and although it’s heard of in Witchcraft and Wiccan practices, this is a practice that predates back to Hinduism which is called an “ishtadeva” – choosing a personal godform.

The practice of worshipping and being a devotee of a particular god or goddess is said to enhance one’s spiritual progress and further them on their spiritual path. According to Swami Mukundananda, “If you develop love for one particular god, you develop love for all of them.”

How do you find your Matron Goddess or Patron God?

There are a variety of different ways to find out who you Matron Goddess or Patron God is.

Meditations, spiritual journeys, trusting your intuition, noticing symbols or signs or a divination reading can help determine who your Matron Goddess or Patron God is.

Some spiritual practitioners believe that one is called to be a devotee of a particular god or goddess, while other practitioners believe it’s determined by personal choice or preference.

In any event, one’s personal god or goddess should be a deity that you’re drawn towards, that you feel an attraction towards or resonates with you in some way.

If your mind is constantly pulled towards a particular god or goddess, that you develop sentiment towards the deity, then it’s safe to say this is your personal god or goddess (or “ishtadeva” as called in Hinduism.)

Do you always have to honour / be devoted to the same Goddess or God?

In practices such as Hinduism, the idea is that choosing your “ishtadeva” (or personal godform) should have an attracting form that the mind is immediately drawn towards.

This is why Lord Krishna has one of the most followers in Hinduism, including the International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON.)

The belief is that the more you devote your love, affection and self towards one particular deity and offer your “service” to the deity, then you’ll begin to reap the benefits without expectations.

However, in witchcraft and Wicca, many practitioners will call upon a particular deity when something is needed such as for a spell, protection, healing, etc.

This isn’t wrong either as there is no “right” or “wrong” way to connect or honour Divinity. This practice is also seen in Hinduism, for example, praying to particular gods or goddesses for specific purposes.

How to Find Your Matron Goddess or Patron God with Tarot

A tarot reading may assist you to find your Matron Goddess or Patron God, or the particular god or goddess with whom you should connect with or honour at the present time or for the foreseeable future.

If you’re comfortable performing a tarot reading for yourself, this can be done with the Major Arcana cards from any preferred tarot deck to determine who your Matron Goddess or Patron God is.

If you’re not comfortable performing the tarot reading for yourself, the Matron Goddess & Witch Tarot Reading is available.

Gods & Goddesses in Tarot

The 22 Major Arcana cards may be able to help you find your Matron Goddess or Patron God.

Let’s go into more details.

Note – These interpretations aren’t set in stone. More than one card may indicate the same god or goddess as some deities are multi-faceted and have more than one attribute or quality.

This list is a starting point and may be elaborated upon based on your own personal experience and may depend on your intuition also.

The following list of deities is not exclusively for witches, Wiccans or pagans, but for any spiritual practitioner that uses tarot in their practice.

The names of deities associated with each tarot card may be helpful to identify which God or Goddess is communicating with you, which may be unique to you, your tradition or spiritual practice.

The interpretation for the cards below may also include astrological planets which are associated with deities.

When performing your reading, avoid drawing more than two additional cards if you need clarification to determine which god or goddess is listed underneath the tarot card.

In most cases, it’ll be best to go with your first “gut reaction” to a name on the list underneath the tarot card as listed below.

Take time to meditate, journal, serve or pray to the god or goddess and focus on building a relationship. An example of loving devotion to a personal, chosen god form is seen in Bhakti Yoga.

Rosie, the Tarot Pug featuring The Sun card from Pug Tarot by Pug & Duck Publishing

Gods and Goddesses in the Major Arcana Tarot

The Fool

Gods:

Loki
Bacchus
Hermes
Mercury
Uranus
Caelus
Anu
Janus
Culsans
Ganesha

Goddesses:

Aurora
Eos
Brigit

The Magician

Gods:

Loki
Hermes
Mercury
Dhanvantari
Thoth
Asclepius
Elegua
Papa Legba
Agni

Goddesses:

Isis
Circe
Hygeia
Heka
Eir
Żywie

The High Priestess

The High Priestess may be associated with gods or goddesses of magic, witchcraft, prophecy, oracles, wisdom.

Gods:

Ganesha
Óðinn
The Dagda

Goddesses:

Hekate
Freyja
Isis
Circe
Morana / Marzanna
Selene
Diana
Trivia
Ereshkegal
Ragana
Brigid

The Empress

Goddesses:

Ceres
Demeter
Durga
Parvati
Shakti
Lakshmi
Radha
Gaia
Lady Guadalupe
Virgin Mary
Sita
Rhea
Mat Zemlya
Guanyin
Asase Ya / Afua
Cybele
Izanami
Aditi
Rukmini
Māra
Žemyna

The Emperor

Gods:

Ram
Ares
Týr
Mars
Thor (Þór)
Perun
Zeus
Kartikeya
Indra
Shiva
Murugan

Goddesses:

The Morrigan
Sekhmet
Anann
Athena
Minerva
Bellona
Durga
Freyja
Macha
Nemain

The Hierophant

Gods:

Ganesha
Thoth
Tir (Armenian)
Óðinn
Osiris

Goddesses:

Saraswati
Isis
Seshat
Gayatri
Minerva
Athena
Frigg
Hera

The Lovers

Gods:

Krishna (together with Radha as a pair)
Eros
Min

Goddesses:

Radha (together with Krishna as a pair)
Bastet
Nanaya
Oshun
Branwen
Áine
Freyja
Aphrodite
Venus
Inanna
Hathor
Ishtar
Lada
Sjöfn
Voluptas
Albina

The Chariot

The symbolism of the chariot may be associate with gods and goddesses that have chariots or vehicles. This is based on intuitive interpretation of the symbolism of “the chariot” itself, rather than the general interpretation of the card.

Let your intuition guide you in your readings to notice any symbols or images in the card that may draw your attention or spark your intuition.

Gods:

Hanuman
Helios
Apollo
Poseidon
Dionysus
Vishnu (Garuda)
Shiva (Nandi)

Goddesses:

Durga
Nike
Astarte
Freyja
Inanna
Ishtar
Athena

Strength

Deities of strength and associated with lions, tigers or cats may be seen with the Strength card.

Gods:

Narasimha
Hanuman
Hercules
Cratus (Kratos)

Goddesses:

Sekhmet
Durga
Bastet
Minerva
Athena
Kuan Yin

The Hermit

Gods:

Brahma
Mímir
Fukurokuju
Nabu
Ọrunmila

Goddesses:

Persephone
Baba Yaga
Saraswati
Athena
Sága
Vör
Gamayun

Wheel of Fortune

Gods:

Jupiter
Zeus
Hemes
Mercury
Shai
Kubera
Vishnu

Goddesses:

Fortuna
Tyche
Klotho
Lakshmi
Gefjon

Justice

Gods:

Forseti
Thoth

Goddesses:

Themis
Išartu
Kali
Maat
Dike

The Hanged Man

This may include gods and goddesses that are associated with sacrifice, surrender, initiation, enlightenment and alleviating suffering/complex issues.

Gods:

Óðinn
Krishna
Neptune
Poseidon
Varuna

Goddesses:

Green Tara
Kuan Yin

Rosie, the Tarot Pug featuring The Death card from Pug Tarot by Pug & Duck Publishing

Death

Gods:

Veles
Hades
Pluto
Anubis
Osiris
Chernobog
Arawn
Shiva

Goddesses:

Hekate
Kalma
The Morrigan
Scáthach
Freyja
Hel
Persephone
Morana / Marzanna
Ragana
Asase Yaa
Erishkegal
Mania
Mama Brigitte
Ọya
Kali
Baba Yaga
Nephthys

Temperance

Gods:

Jupiter
Hermes Trismegistus (Hermes / Thoth as god of alchemy)
Asclepius (for healing)
Dhanvantari
Apollo (for medicine, healing)

Goddesses:

Nephthys (for healing)
Iris
Aušrinė
Hygieia
Eir
Żywie

The Devil

Gods:

Pan / Cernunnos (only due that Pan / Cernunnos looks similar to the Christian Devil, it’s must be mentioned that the deity is not the same as the depiction of a Christian “devil”.)
Lucifer (as the Light Bringer – also pertinent to anyone who practices or is interested in the Left Hand Path (LHP) – this is association here is only due to the word/similarity in the imagery of the standard Rider Waite Smith Tarot.)
Baphomet
The Horned God
Dionysus

Goddesses:

Lilith
Baba Yaga
The Morrigan

The Tower

Gods:

Shiva
Mars
Indra
Chernobog
Ares
Baal
Hadad
Zeus
Thor (Þór)
Vulcan
Hephaetus
Loki
Aganjú

Goddesses:

Kali
The Morrigan
Pele
Eris
Black Tara (may indicate a need for protection from the effects of The Tower)

The Star

Gods:

Thoth
Crius (Krios)
Astraeus (Astraios)

Goddesses:

Asteria
Venus
Nuit
Ishtar
Virgin Mary
Isis
Aphrodite
Green Tara

The Moon

Gods or goddesses with an association to the moon may include those who are lunar deities, have traits or qualities associated with the Moon card, or have mythologies that mention the moon.

Gods:

Ganesha
Máni
Khonsu
Thoth
Chandra
Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto

Goddesses:

Selene
Diana
Astarte
Artemis
Devana
Hekate
Luna

The Sun

Gods:

Helios
Apollo
Surya
Ra
Lugh
Horus
Baldur
Dagr
Thor (Þór)
Dazhbog
Lucifer (Light Bringer)

Goddesses:

Sunna / Sól
Aurora
Saulė
Brigid
Päivätär
Euphrosyne
Hathor
Theia
Amaterasu Ōmikami

Judgement

Gods:

Pluto
Hades
Thoth

Goddesses:

Maat
Persephone (in connection with Hades)
Proserpina (in connection with Pluto)

The World

Gods:

Saturn
Kronos
Geb
Vishnu

Goddesses:

Gaia
Bhumi
Sif
Jörð
Māra
Mat Zemlya
Terra
Žemyna

Gods & Goddesses in the Minor Arcana Tarot

In addition to the Major Arcana, some Minor Arcana cards may indicate gods or goddesses.

Here are a few select Minor Arcana:

Ace of Cups

Love / Romance Gods & Goddesses:

Venus
Aphrodite
Adonis
Ishtar
Inanna
Eros
Freyja
Dionysus

10 of Cups

Rainbow Gods & Goddesses:

Heimdallr
Iris
Manzat
Indra (the rainbow is called Indra’s bow)

3 of Cups

Triple Goddess:

Persephone, Demeter, Hecate
The Morrigan (Badb, Macha, Nemain or Badb, Macha, Anand)
The Norns
The Fates
Saraswati, Lakshmi, Parvati (or Kali / Durga) [Hindu Tridevi]

Ace of Wands

Sexuality / Passion Gods & Goddesses:

Pan
Cernunnos
Aphrodite
Qadesh
Rati

2 of Swords or 2 of Wands

Crossroads / Liminal Gods & Goddesses:

Anubis,
Dionysus
Persephone
Proserpina
Culsans
Osiris
Papa Legba
Hekate / Hecate
Janus
Perun
Enodia

6 of Wands

Fairy / Faery Queens:

Áine
Oonagh

Ace of Swords

Intellect / Knowledge / Education / Justice Gods & Goddesses:

Athena
Minerva
Themis
Forseti
Dike
Nike
Maat

7 of Swords

Deceptive / Trickery Gods & Goddesses:

Loki
Mercury
Hermes

Ace of Pentacles

Luck / Fortune / Money / Agricultural / Animal Gods & Goddesses:

Lakshmi
Fortuna
Kubera
Veles
Ceres
Demeter

9 of Pentacles

Underworld Queens or Faery Queens:

Persephone
Proserpina
Hekate / Hecate
Áine
Oonagh

Cheat Sheet for Court Cards – Gods & Goddesses

Here is a quick cheat sheet to narrow down what kind of god or goddess may be associates with a court card.

This will likely require some personal research to find the name of the appropriate god or goddess. However, a search online may yield proper results.

Kings = Gods

Queens = Goddesses

Knights = Gods

Pages = Goddesses

Cups = Gods & Goddesses of Love, Marriage, Fertility, Arts, Music, Dance, Poetry, Wine and/or Beauty

Wands = Gods & Goddesses of Passion, Sex, Creativity, Vertility and/or War

Swords = Gods & Goddesses of Intelligence, Education, Bravery, Courage, Justice and/or Wisdom

Pentacles = Gods & Goddesses of Money, Wealth, Luck, Fortune, Business, Agriculture and/or Animals

Here are a few examples, but are not limited to:

Queen or Page of Cups: Hera

King or Knight of Wands: Pan

Queen of Page of Swords: Saraswati

King or Page of Pentacles: Veles (although Veles is an underworld God and associated with cattle and livestock, the more livestock a person owned, the more wealthier they were.)

Notably, not every possible deity is included in this list. For example, deities from Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Africa, Polynesia, etc., are limited in this list due to the amount of detail and unfamiliarity of the folklore and mythology.

However, if you’re familiar with deities from these cultures and the meanings of the cards, look to a deity listed above to find the one that may have something in common or may be an equivalent to the deity in the culture that you wish to honour or connect with.

The list above is intended to provide a wide range of deities to make comparisons which may prompt further research, study or learning.

For example, the Temperance card may indicate healing or alchemy gods or goddesses which may be found in a variety of cultures.

The Death card may indicate death deities which are also found in different cultures all over the world from Africa, Asia, Scandinavia, Europe, and Polynesia, etc.

Your Tarot Reading, Your Way

This list is just an example of gods and goddesses associated in tarot.

There may be some associations that will resonate with you and some that may not. The key will be to develop your own association of gods and goddesses in your own tarot readings and see what works for you.

Whether you’re reading tarot for yourself as part of your spiritual practice or workings, or you’re reading tarot for someone else, trust your instincts, first thoughts and inklings when it comes to interpreting which deities may be coming through in your tarot reading.