Learn what each of the 78 tarot cards mean and incorporate these meanings into your readings and predictions!
As a form of divination, Tarot cards can mystically unravel the aspects of our existence. Whether it is a past event or an impending one, Tarot reading unveils the unknown as it illuminates one’s path.
In a deck of 78 tarot cards, the Tarot reader asks the truth-seeker to pick a card in a specific order. Depending on the Tarot spread that’s used, these cards will be interpreted according to their underlying meaning and purpose.
And as a card is revealed, the Tarot reader interprets it to the truth-seeker.
For instance, one popular approach is the 3-Card spread. As three cards are drawn, the Tarot deck will speak to you about your:
Past...
Present...
Future...
Simultaneously co-existing with each other, the complex interweaving of these three seemingly conflicting timelines are illuminated by the Tarot cards themselves.
With the help of a Tarot reader, you can gain invaluable insight into these three archetypal phases of your life.
Over the years, this form of Cartomancy has transformed. With shifting archetypal imagery and gradually evolving meanings, its significance has never been lost as mankind seeks the answers for their own existential struggles.
With some accounts tracing it as far as the Egyptian Book of Thoth, these cards and its readings have guided even the most mysteriously advanced civilization.
Furthermore, even the famous psychologist Carl Gustav Jung recognizes its significance. Acknowledging the archetypal nature of the Tarot, these cards almost reflect the subconscious ideas within us that are intuitively channeled in the symbolisms and artworks utilized.
Ergo, Tarot reading is truly indispensable for the mystical truth-seekers. Transcending all forms of reason, logic, and intuition, this form of divination can practically spell out what we need to do in our lives.
Often perceived from their mystical nature, Tarot cards are revered by those that understand its value, while feared by those who don't. After all, who wouldn't freak out when seeing the card of Death popping out for one's present reading?
As such, it is crucial for beginners and intermediate Tarot practitioners to see how Tarot cards are archetypal images.
Instead of portraying them with that simplistic occultist bias, seeing how these images are rooted in nature and mankind is essential in properly interpreting its corresponding meaning.
Given that each image has an underlying socio-cultural and mystical value seeing its overall correlation to and with life is the key in properly deriving its meaning.
For instance, seeing ‘The Fool’ can be wrongly judged in the absence of a skilled Tarot interpreter. Even so, looking at its archetypal nature is something that gives us a good start in drawing out its enigmatic meaning to our lives.
By looking at these images from a collective unconscious standpoint, you’ll realize that it is no coincidence why and how each card is there. Borne out of the collective imagination of the psyche, Tarot cards are definitely primordial archetypes in themselves.
It is often said that life is like a theater in which we all play our individual parts. Parents, workers, lovers-- we all do what we can to play our part in our little place within the cosmos.
Much like any theater, there is a stage through which snapshots of our lives, dreams, and aspirations can be seen and felt. Little may be shown, but each scene, each act says so much about what makes us human. From this ability to relate, we get to understand and even predict the actions of our fellows, and one way through which we do this is with the Arcana.
Each card is full of life and imagery that represents both our fantastical ambitions and our more modest aims. However, some cards capture more important snippets of our lives than others, and it is from these snippets that we get the distinction: Major and Minor Arcana.
The Major Arcana consists of cards which govern the highest and most important aspects of our life: our deepest regrets, our crowning moments of victory and glory, and most importantly, the virtues upon which we stake our very lives.
In other words, the cards in this category are those which capture humanity’s goals in general.
The Fool
Upright: Beginnings, possibilities, pleasure, adventure, opportunity
Reversed: Indecision, hesitation, injustice, apathy, bad choice
Full Tarot MeaningThe Magician
Upright: Creativity, self-confidence, dexterity, sleight of hand, willpower, skill
Reversed: Delay, unimaginative, insecurity, lack of self-confidence
Full Tarot MeaningThe Empress
Upright: Development, accomplishment action, evolution
Reversed: Inaction, lack of concentration, vacillation, anxiety, infidelity
Full Tarot MeaningThe Emperor
Upright: Authority, structure, control
Reversed: Tyranny, rigidity, coldness
Full Tarot MeaningThe High Priestess
Upright: Knowledge, wisdom, learning, intuition, virtue, purity
Reversed: Selfishness, shallowness, misunderstanding, ignorance
Full Tarot MeaningThe Hierophant
Upright: Mercy, conformity, forgiveness, inspiration
Reversed: Vulnerability, foolish generosity, frailty
Full Tarot MeaningThe Lovers
Upright: Harmony, trust,romance, optimism, honor, love, harmony
Reversed: Separation, frustration, unreliability,fickleness, untrustworthy
Full Tarot MeaningThe Hermit
Upright: Inner strength, prudence, withdrawal, caution, vigilance
Reversed: Hastiness, rashness,immaturity, imprudence, foolishness
Full Tarot MeaningThe Chariot
Upright: Perseverance, rushed decision, turmoil, vengeance, adversity
Reversed: Vanquishment, defeat, failure, unsuccessful
Full Tarot MeaningStrength
Upright: Courage, conviction, strength, determination, action, heroism
Reversed: Pettiness, sickness, unfaithfulness, weakness
Full Tarot MeaningJustice
Upright: Equality, righteousness, virtue, honor, harmony, balance
Reversed: False accusation, unfairness, abuse, biased
Full Tarot MeaningThe Wheel Of Fortune
Upright: Unexpected events, advancement, destiny, fortune, progress
Reversed: Interruption, outside influences, failure, bad luck
Full Tarot MeaningThe Moon
Upright: Deception, disillusionment, trickery, error, danger, disgrace
Reversed: Trifling mistakes, deception discovered, negative advantage
Full Tarot MeaningThe Sun
Upright: Accomplishment, success, love, joy, happy marriage, satisfaction
Reversed: Loneliness, canceled plans, unhappiness, break ups
Full Tarot MeaningThe Star
Upright: Balance, pleasure, optimism, insight, spiritual love, hope, faith
Reversed: Disappointment, bad luck, imbalance, broken dreams
Full Tarot MeaningThe Devil
Upright: Downfall, unexpected failure, controversy, disaster, ill tempered
Reversed: Release, enlightenment, divorce, recovery
Full Tarot MeaningThe Hanged Man
Upright: Change, reversal, boredom, improvement, rebirth, suspension, change
Reversed: False prophecy, useless sacrifice, unwillingness
Full Tarot MeaningDeath
Upright: Unexpected change, loss, failure, transformation, death, bad luck
Reversed: Immobility, slow changes, cheating, death, stagnation
Full Tarot MeaningTemperance
Upright: Patience, good influence, confidence, moderation
Reversed: Conflict, disunion, frustration, impatience, discord
Full Tarot MeaningThe Tower
Upright: Disruption, abandonment, bankruptcy, downfall, unexpected events
Reversed: Entrapment, imprisonment, old ways, rustic
Full Tarot MeaningJudgment
Upright: Awakening, renewal, rejuvenation, rebirth, improvement
Reversed: Indecision, death, failure, ill-health, theft, worry
Full Tarot MeaningThe World
Upright: Perfection, recognition, success, fulfillment, eternal life
Reversed: Lack of vision, disappointment, imperfection
Full Tarot MeaningThe Minor Arcana possesses cards that reveal our more specific aims. The perfect complement to the Major Arcana, they portray through their various suits the resources we use to accomplish our goals.
By the sword, we wield authority; by the coin, we acquire wealth; by the cup, we show virtue, and by the wand, we display creativity. As such, their influence in a Tarot reading can never be ignored. The name may say otherwise, but each card is anything but minor.
Creativity is the engine we use to remind ourselves of our humanity in the dullest and most painful moments of our lives alike. It is the driver of our desires and the tool we use to turn them into reality, and what better way to express this fact than with the Suit of Wands? Belonging to the fire element, each card acknowledges creativity as a necessary component of the fabric of life and therefore details how imagination can destroy and change lives for the better. It also seeks to instruct and motivate you when you are feeling lost in your own thoughts and emotions.
Ace of Wands
Upright: New business, beginning, new career, birth, inheritance
Reversed: Selfishness, lack of determination, setback
Full Tarot MeaningTwo of Wands
Upright: Generous person, courage, patience
Reversed: Impatience, domination
Full Tarot MeaningThree of Wands
Upright: Cooperation, good partnership, success
Reversed: Carelessness, arrogance, pride, mistakes
Full Tarot MeaningFour of Wands
Upright: Dissatisfaction, kindness, reevaluation
Reversed: New relationships, new ambitions, action
Full Tarot MeaningFive of Wands
Upright: Lawsuit, quarrel, courage, competition
Reversed: New opportunities, harmony, generosity
Full Tarot MeaningSix of Wands
Upright: Leadership, good news, success
Reversed: Postponement, bad news, pride in riches
Full Tarot MeaningSeven of Wands
Upright: Stiff competition, victory, courage, energy
Reversed: Advantage, patience, indecision
Full Tarot MeaningEight of Wands
Upright: New ideas, love, journey
Reversed: Violence, quarrels, courage
Full Tarot MeaningNine of Wands
Upright: Victory, good health, obstinacy
Reversed: Weakness, ill-health, adversity
Full Tarot MeaningPage of Wands
Upright: Enthusiasm, exploration, discovery, free spirit
Reversed: Setbacks to new ideas, pessimism, lack of direction
Full Tarot MeaningKnight of Wands
Upright: Generous, journey, impetuous
Reversed: Suspicion, jealousy, narrow-mindedness
Full Tarot MeaningQueen of Wands
Upright: Fondness, attraction, command
Reversed: Jealous, revengeful, infidelity
Full Tarot MeaningKing of Wands
Upright: Passionate, good leader, noble
Reversed: Unyielding, prejudice, quarrels
Full Tarot MeaningThroughout history, humans have drunk to the gods, with the blood of gods. It is for this reason that the suit of cups is associated with the water element and also considered the suit of morals and virtue. This irrevocable relationship to religious iconography means that every card displays both the harmony and imperfections of our every action and how they can impact other people. It informs you whether you have been a good person or not, and what this could all mean for you. Thus, readings of this suit should not be taken lightly, because virtue often determines both the reward and consequences of your actions.
Ace of Cups
Upright: Good health, love, joy, beauty
Reversed: Egotism, selfishness, hesitancy
Full Tarot MeaningTwo of Cups
Upright: Romance, friendship, cooperation
Reversed: Violent passion, misunderstanding
Full Tarot MeaningThree of Cups
Upright: Fortune, hospitality, discovery
Reversed: Hidden, overindulgence, pain, gossip
Full Tarot MeaningFour of Cups
Upright: Dissatisfaction, kindness, reevaluation, redemption
Reversed: New goals, ambitions, beginning
Full Tarot MeaningFive of Cups
Upright: Broken marriage,vain regret, sorrow, loss
Reversed: Return, summon, hope
Full Tarot MeaningSix of Cups
Upright: Acquaintance, good memories, happiness
Reversed: Friendship, disappointment, past
Full Tarot MeaningSeven of Cups
Upright: Imagination, illusion, directionless
Reversed: Willpower, determination
Full Tarot MeaningEight of Cups
Upright: Disappointment, abandonment, misery
Reversed: Pleasure, success, joy
Full Tarot MeaningNine of Cups
Upright: Physical well-being, hopes, security
Reversed: Illness, failure, overindulgence
Full Tarot MeaningTen of Cups
Upright: Friendship, happiness, life
Reversed: Waste, broken relationships, quarrel
Full Tarot MeaningPage of Cups
Upright: Sweetness, interest in literature, gentleness
Reversed: Poor imagination, selfishness, no desires
Full Tarot MeaningKnight of Cups
Upright: Emotional, romantic dreamer, intelligence
Reversed: Idleness, untruthful, fraud, sensuality
Full Tarot MeaningQueen of Cups
Upright: Loving mother, gentle, happiness
Reversed: Perverse, unhappy, gloom, over-active imagination
Full Tarot MeaningKing of Cups
Upright: Kindness, willingness, enjoyment
Reversed: Double-dealer, scandal, crafty, violent
Full Tarot MeaningThe Suit of Swords, belonging to the air element, is the suit that is concerned with authority and power. From the nobility down to the lone hand that is the Ace, each card shows how we manifest and use this power in our own individual ways: how we harm people, how we help them, how we rule over them, and even how we rule ourselves. In a way, it can be said that people who pick cards from this suit have a unique relationship with power and that this can influence the events and people within their lives in some small way.
Ace of Swords
Upright: Love, valiant, victory
Reversed: Obstacles, tyranny, power
Full Tarot MeaningTwo of Swords
Upright: Indecision, trouble, balanced
Reversed: Unscrupulous, release
Full Tarot MeaningThree of Swords
Upright: Broken relationship, civil war
Reversed: Sorrow, loss, confusion
Full Tarot MeaningFour of Swords
Upright: Temporary exile, strife, retreat
Reversed: Social unrest, labor strikes, renewed activity
Full Tarot MeaningFive of Swords
Upright: Defeat, cowardliness, empty victory
Reversed: Unfairness, defeat, loss
Full Tarot MeaningSix of Swords
Upright: Harmony, sorrow, journey
Reversed: Obstacles, difficulties, defeat
Full Tarot MeaningSeven of Swords
Upright: Betrayal, insolence, unwise attempt
Reversed: Counsel, helpful, advice
Full Tarot MeaningEight of Swords
Upright: Weakness, indecision, censure
Reversed: Freedom, new beginnings, relaxation
Full Tarot MeaningNine of Swords
Upright: Desolation, illness, suspicion, cruelty
Reversed: Altruism, good news, healing
Full Tarot MeaningTen of Swords
Upright: Defeat, failure, pain
Reversed: Courage, positive energy, good health
Full Tarot MeaningPage of Swords
Upright: Grace, diplomacy, dexterity, grace
Reversed: Imposture, ill-health, cunningness
Full Tarot MeaningKnight of Swords
Upright: Strong, brave, clever
Reversed: Troublemaker, a crafty, tyranny
Full Tarot MeaningQueen of Swords
Upright: Skillful, brave, clever, rush
Reversed: Sly, keen, deceitful
Full Tarot MeaningKing of Swords
Upright: Powerful, friendship, counselor
Reversed: Obstinate, evil intentions, judgments
Full Tarot MeaningThe Suit of Pentacles , associated with the earth element, governs the realm of wealth and its possibilities. It shows the true extent of our relationship with money and how we manage our resources. Some hoard wealth to the detriment of those who need it, others freely give it away in order to pursue some other path, and some prefer to stay in the middle and live a life of general stability. Every single card, therefore, shows the potential through which we use wealth and even informs us whether our past, present, or future actions would yield more or less of it.
Ace of Pentacles
Upright: Prosperity, happiness, pleasure
Reversed: Misery, greedy, money
Full Tarot MeaningTwo of Pentacles
Upright: Harmony, new projects, helpful
Reversed: Difficulty, discouragement
Full Tarot MeaningThree of Pentacles
Upright: Abilities, approval, effort
Reversed: Preoccupation, ambitions
Full Tarot MeaningFour of Pentacles
Upright: Selfish, greed, misery
Reversed: Spendthrift, obstacles, earthly possessions
Full Tarot MeaningFive of Pentacles
Upright: Destitution, poor health, despair, loneliness
Reversed: Employment, courage, revival
Full Tarot MeaningSix of Pentacles
Upright: Prosperity, philanthropy, charity, gifts
Reversed: Kealousy, misery, unfairness
Full Tarot MeaningSeven of Pentacles
Upright: Development, re-evaluation, effort, hard work
Reversed: Impatience, slow progress, investments
Full Tarot MeaningEight of Pentacles
Upright: Employment, money, learning, trade
Reversed: Void, no ambition, dislike
Full Tarot MeaningNine of Pentacles
Upright: Solitude, well-being, green thumb
Reversed: Caution, possible loss
Full Tarot MeaningTen of Pentacles
Upright: Wealth, property, stability
Reversed: Dull, slothfulness, misfortune
Full Tarot MeaningPage of Pentacles
Upright: Kindness, new ideas/opinions, scholar
Reversed: Luxury, rebellious, bad news
Full Tarot MeaningKnight of Pentacles
Upright: Dull outlook, patience, animal lover, trustworthy
Reversed: Carelessness, standstill, irresponsible
Full Tarot MeaningQueen of Pentacles
Upright: Thoughtfulness, intelligence, talents
Reversed: Mistrust, suspicion, neglect
Full Tarot MeaningKing of Pentacles
Upright: Reliablity, steadiness
Reversed: Bribes, materialistic, calm
Full Tarot Meaning