It’s All in the Clouds: A Journey into Tarot Symbolism

Aug 17, 2025

Discover the captivating symbolism of clouds in tarot as they embody transition and the unknown. Learn how clouds contrast with fixed zodiac signs in the Wheel of Fortune, reflecting mental states and emotional journeys. From evoking feelings of turbulence in the Swords suit to representing completion in The World, clouds are more than just a backdrop—they mirror the human experience. This exploration encourages us to embrace change and view our challenges with fresh eyes, reminding us that nothing is static.

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ANECDOTE

Journal Work Sparked This Episode

Shannon describes writing a 2026 Wheel of Fortune guided journal and deconstructing the card's symbols.
That work inspired this episode's focused exploration of cloud symbolism in tarot.

INSIGHT

Clouds As Liminal Thresholds

Clouds in tarot act as liminal thresholds between the known and the unknown.
They symbolize transition, mutability, and spaces where hidden information may emerge.

INSIGHT

Clouds Carry All Four Elements

Clouds combine symbolic elements: air (thought) and water (emotion), plus traces of earth and potential fire.
This makes clouds a compact symbol carrying all four classical elements and psychological layers.

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When you think of the Wheel of Fortune, you might focus on the wheel itself - the chaos, the symbols, the turning of fate. But what about the soft, billowy clouds that frame the card?

In this week’s episode of The Tarot Diagnosis, I take a journey into the symbolism of clouds in tarot, exploring how they quietly anchor some of the most profound archetypes in the deck. Far from being just background art, clouds emerge as powerful metaphors for transition, liminality, and the unknown.

Together, we’ll explore:

Why clouds in tarot represent thresholds between the known and the unknown
How their mutability contrasts with the fixed zodiac signs in the Wheel of Fortune
What clouds reveal in cards like the Aces, Four of Cups, and Seven of Cups
How darker, jagged clouds in the Swords suit mirror mental turbulence and grief
The surprising role clouds play in The Lovers, Judgment, The World, and The Tower

From “your head is in the clouds” to having “clouded judgment,” our language reflects how deeply clouds connect to the psyche. In tarot, they remind us that nothing is static, that change is always underway, even when we resist it.

Clouds offer us valuable lessons. Perhaps the most important being to step into the role of mindful observer and to witness shifts without being consumed by them.

If you’ve ever overlooked the clouds in your deck, this episode will help you see them in a whole new way - as mirrors of the human experience, as symbols of impermanence, and as invitations to trust the unfolding process of change.

🔮 Listen now and discover how clouds can shift your perspective on tarot, psychology, and the weather of your own inner world.

Deck Used: Tarot Vintage

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Audio Edited by Anthony DiGiacomo of⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Deep Resonance Sound⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Contact: DeepResonanceSound@gmail.com

Music by Timmoor from Pixabay