Tarot 101 - Symbolism

People often get so wrapped up in the origins of the Tarot that they lose sight of the most important aspect.  Instead of asking 'where did it come from?', you should be asking 'why is it still here'?  The answer to that is simple, it's still here because it's still relevant.  It's my personal belief that all of life's journey can be found in the Tarot.  All one has to do is interpret, for themselves, the meaning of the symbols on any given card.  It's all about the symbolism.

Symbolism can be viewed as a mental process.  It occurs when a pictorial representation or things reminds us of another thing.  the thing we are reminded of is the "meaning" and the thing that caused the meaning is the "symbol".  ~ Kim Huggens

Here's an easy example:

Remember Miss Cleo?  The psychic on t.v. with the Jamaican accent?  She pops into my head when I see this card.  All her jewelry, the wrapping on her head.  If I didn't know any better, I'd think she personally posed for this picture.  Ever wonder how much money she actually made?  I like to think she was filthy rich!
The actual interpretation of this card is 'attainment of financial success and material comforts.  Independent enjoyment of luxury and accomplishments in the material plane'.
So by this definition, what I see in this card fits quite well.

I'm on my way to thinking that, much like beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, the meaning of the cards is in each and every one of us.  We might not all see the same thing but we still get what we need from them.  Because the symbolism is personal, the meaning will be too. 
*For a deeper analysis of the individual cards, go to http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/.  The story given there, beginning with the first steps taken on the Fool's path to enlightenment, is beautifully told.