Tarot Card Meanings List

A Guide to all 78 Tarot Cards

cups major arcana pentacles swords wands

Major Arcana

The Fool's Journey

The Major Arcana is a 22 card set within the tarot that is considered to be the core and the foundation for the deck. All of the deck is filled with archetypal significance, but this is most pronounced within the Major Arcana. These cards follow a storyline that tells of the spiritual travels taken from the innocent wonder of The Fool to the oneness and fulfillment of The World. In other words, these cards tell the story of humanity's spiritual evolution into enlightenment and individuation.

And so, as we follow the journey of the Fool, we can start seeing common parallels between our own stages in life and those in the cards, each card teaching a specific lesson and a concept to meditate over. Because they form the basis of the tarot, some readings can sometimes be conducted with only the Major Arcana as well.

The Fool Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: innocence, new beginnings, free spirit Reversed: recklessness, taken advantage of, inconsideration Full Tarot Meaning

The Magician Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: willpower, desire, creation, manifestation Reversed: trickery, illusions, out of touch Full Tarot Meaning

The High Priestess Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: intuitive, unconscious, inner voice Reversed: lack of center, lost inner voice, repressed feelings Full Tarot Meaning

The Empress Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: motherhood, fertility, nature Reversed: dependence, smothering, emptiness, nosiness Full Tarot Meaning

The Emperor Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: authority, structure, control, fatherhood Reversed: tyranny, rigidity, coldness Full Tarot Meaning

The Hierophant Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: tradition, conformity, morality, ethics Reversed: rebellion, subversiveness, new approaches Full Tarot Meaning

The Lovers Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: partnerships, duality, union Reversed: loss of balance, one-sidedness, disharmony Full Tarot Meaning

The Chariot Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: direction, control, willpower Reversed: lack of control, lack of direction, aggression Full Tarot Meaning

Strength Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: inner strength, bravery, compassion, focus Reversed: self doubt, weakness, insecurity Full Tarot Meaning

The Hermit Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: contemplation, search for truth, inner guidance Reversed: loneliness, isolation, lost your way Full Tarot Meaning

The Wheel of Fortune Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: change, cycles, inevitable fate Reversed: no control, clinging to control, bad luck Full Tarot Meaning

Justice Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: cause and effect, clarity, truth Reversed: dishonesty, unaccountability, unfairness Full Tarot Meaning

The Hanged Man Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: sacrifice, release, martyrdom Reversed: stalling, needless sacrifice, fear of sacrifice Full Tarot Meaning

Death Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: end of cycle, beginnings, change, metamorphosis Reversed: fear of change, holding on, stagnation, decay Full Tarot Meaning

Temperance Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: middle path, patience, finding meaning Reversed: extremes, excess, lack of balance Full Tarot Meaning

The Devil Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: addiction, materialism, playfulness Reversed: freedom, release, restoring control Full Tarot Meaning

The Tower Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: sudden upheaval, broken pride, disaster Reversed: disaster avoided, delayed disaster, fear of suffering Full Tarot Meaning

The Star Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: hope, faith, rejuvenation Reversed: faithlessness, discouragement, insecurity Full Tarot Meaning

The Moon Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: unconscious, illusions, intuition Reversed: confusion, fear, misinterpretation Full Tarot Meaning

The Sun Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: joy, success, celebration, positivity Reversed: negativity, depression, sadness Full Tarot Meaning

Judgement Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: reflection, reckoning, awakening Reversed: lack of self awareness, doubt, self loathing Full Tarot Meaning

The World Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: fulfillment, harmony, completion Reversed: incompletion, no closure Full Tarot Meaning

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Suit of Wands

energy, drive, willpower, creativity, power

Associated with the element of fire, the suit of wands represents passion, inspiration and willpower. The wands imbue their users with primal energy, for it is through them that the cycle of creation can begin. Because of their ability to bring energy into any situation, they are also associated with action, ambition and making plans. At their worst, they can refer to situations that are filled with recklessness and lack of direction. As you follow the journey within the wands, you'll come across these themes again and again.

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Knight of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: action, adventure, fearlessness Reversed: anger, impulsiveness, recklessness Full Tarot Meaning

King of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: big picture, leader, overcoming challenges Reversed: impulsive, overbearing, unachievable expectations Full Tarot Meaning

Queen of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: courage, determination, joy Reversed: selfishness, jealousy, insecurities Full Tarot Meaning

Page of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: exploration, excitement, freedom Reversed: lack of direction, procrastination, creating conflict Full Tarot Meaning

Two of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: planning, making decisions, leaving home Reversed: fear of change, playing safe, bad planning Full Tarot Meaning

Three of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: looking ahead, expansion, rapid growth Reversed: obstacles, delays, frustration Full Tarot Meaning

Five of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: competition, rivalry, conflict Reversed: avoiding conflict, respecting differences Full Tarot Meaning

Six of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: victory, success, public reward Reversed: excess pride, lack of recognition, punishment Full Tarot Meaning

Eight of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: rapid action, movement, quick decisions Reversed: panic, waiting, slowdown Full Tarot Meaning

Nine of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: resilience, grit, last stand Reversed: exhaustion, fatigue, questioning motivations Full Tarot Meaning

Ten of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: accomplishment, responsibility, burden Reversed: inability to delegate, overstressed, burnt out Full Tarot Meaning

Ace of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: creation, willpower, inspiration, desire Reversed: lack of energy, lack of passion, boredom Full Tarot Meaning

Four of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: community, home, celebration Reversed: lack of support, transience, home conflicts Full Tarot Meaning

Seven of Wands Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: perseverance, defensive, maintaining control Reversed: give up, destroyed confidence, overwhelmed Full Tarot Meaning

Suit of Cups

emotion, feelings, intuition, relationships

The suit of cups rules over all that is associated with emotions, the unconscious, creativity, and intuition. They frequently talk about relationships, whether romantic or otherwise, and one's imagination and inner world. They are associated with the element of water, which becomes a frequent visual theme within this suit. At their worst, the cups suit is fret with uncontrolled feelings, fantasy, and a disconnect with one's inner voice.

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Ace of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: new feelings, spirituality, intuition Reversed: emotional loss, blocked creativity, emptiness Full Tarot Meaning

Two of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: unity, partnership, connection Reversed: imbalance, broken communication, tension Full Tarot Meaning

Three of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: friendship, community, happiness Reversed: overindulgence, gossip, isolation Full Tarot Meaning

Four of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: apathy, contemplation, disconnectedness Reversed: sudden awareness, choosing happiness, acceptance Full Tarot Meaning

Five of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: loss, grief, self-pity Reversed: acceptance, moving on, finding peace Full Tarot Meaning

Six of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: familiarity, happy memories, healing Reversed: moving forward, leaving home, independence Full Tarot Meaning

Seven of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: searching for purpose, choices, daydreaming Reversed: lack of purpose, diversion, confusion Full Tarot Meaning

Eight of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: walking away, disillusionment, leaving behind Reversed: avoidance, fear of change, fear of loss Full Tarot Meaning

Nine of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: satisfaction, emotional stability, luxury Reversed: lack of inner joy, smugness, dissatisfaction Full Tarot Meaning

Ten of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: inner happiness, fulfillment, dreams coming true Reversed: shattered dreams, broken family, domestic disharmony Full Tarot Meaning

Page of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: happy surprise, dreamer, sensitivity Reversed: emotional immaturity, insecurity, disappointment Full Tarot Meaning

Knight of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: following the heart, idealist, romantic Reversed: moodiness, disappointment Full Tarot Meaning

Queen of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: compassion, calm, comfort Reversed: martyrdom, insecurity, dependence Full Tarot Meaning

King of Cups Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: compassion, control, balance Reversed: coldness, moodiness, bad advice Full Tarot Meaning

Suit of Swords

logic, ideas, intellect, communication

The swords is the suit of intelligence, logic, truth, ambition, conflict and communication. It is associated with the element of air. In readings, these cards focus on the faculty and power of intellect, which like the swords themselves, are double-edged. This can be used for both good or evil, to help and to harm, and our greatest conflicts usually come from this delicate balance. At their worst, the swords can be abusive, harsh, and lack empathy.

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King of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: head over heart, discipline, truth Reversed: manipulative, cruel, weakness Full Tarot Meaning

Knight of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: action, impulsiveness, defending beliefs Reversed: no direction, disregard for consequences, unpredictability Full Tarot Meaning

Queen of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: complexity, perceptiveness, clear mindedness Reversed: cold hearted, cruel, bitterness Full Tarot Meaning

Page of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: curiosity, restlessness, mental energy Reversed: deception, manipulation, all talk Full Tarot Meaning

Ten of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: failure, collapse, defeat Reversed: can't get worse, only upwards, inevitable end Full Tarot Meaning

Nine of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: anxiety, hopelessness, trauma Reversed: hope, reaching out, despair Full Tarot Meaning

Eight of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: imprisonment, entrapment, self-victimization Reversed: self acceptance, new perspective, freedom Full Tarot Meaning

Seven of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: deception, trickery, tactics and strategy Reversed: coming clean, rethinking approach, deception Full Tarot Meaning

Six of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: transition, leaving behind, moving on Reversed: emotional baggage, unresolved issues, resisting transition Full Tarot Meaning

Five of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: unbridled ambition, win at all costs, sneakiness Reversed: lingering resentment, desire to reconcile, forgiveness Full Tarot Meaning

Three of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: heartbreak, suffering, grief Reversed: recovery, forgiveness, moving on Full Tarot Meaning

Four of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: rest, restoration, contemplation Reversed: restlessness, burnout, stress Full Tarot Meaning

Two of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: difficult choices, indecision, stalemate Reversed: lesser of two evils, no right choice, confusion Full Tarot Meaning

Ace of Swords Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: breakthrough, clarity, sharp mind Reversed: confusion, brutality, chaos Full Tarot Meaning

Suit of Pentacles

nature, body, material world, stability

The pentacles is the suit of all things worldly and material. Though we will immediately think of the pentacles as relating to financial matters, we also can understand them as being associated with security, stability, nature, health, and prosperity. The pentacles are of earth element. When we see pentacles show up in a reading, they are usually concerned with your long term future, career, generosity, your household, business investments and your feelings of sensuality. The negative side of the pentacles show up as greed, jealousy, miserliness, and unbridled ambition at the cost of all else.

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King of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: abundance, prosperity, security Reversed: greed, indulgence, sensuality Full Tarot Meaning

Queen of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: practicality, creature comforts, financial security Reversed: self-centeredness, jealousy, smothering Full Tarot Meaning

Knight of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: efficiency, hard work, responsibility Reversed: laziness, obsessiveness, work without reward Full Tarot Meaning

Page of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: ambition, desire, diligence Reversed: lack of commitment, greediness, laziness Full Tarot Meaning

Ten of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: legacy, culmination, inheritance Reversed: fleeting success, lack of stability, lack of resources Full Tarot Meaning

Nine of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: fruits of labor, rewards, luxury Reversed: reckless spending, living beyond means, false success Full Tarot Meaning

Eight of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: apprenticeship, passion, high standards Reversed: lack of passion, uninspired, no motivation Full Tarot Meaning

Seven of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: hard work, perseverance, diligence Reversed: work without results, distractions, lack of rewards Full Tarot Meaning

Six of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: charity, generosity, sharing Reversed: strings attached, stinginess, power and domination Full Tarot Meaning

Five of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: need, poverty, insecurity Reversed: recovery, charity, improvement Full Tarot Meaning

Four of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: conservation, frugality, security Reversed: greediness, stinginess, possessiveness Full Tarot Meaning

Three of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: teamwork, collaboration, building Reversed: lack of teamwork, disorganized, group conflict Full Tarot Meaning

Two of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: balancing decisions, priorities, adapting to change Reversed: loss of balance, disorganized, overwhelmed Full Tarot Meaning

Ace of Pentacles Meaning

✦ ✦ ✦ Upright: opportunity, prosperity, new venture Reversed: lost opportunity, missed chance, bad investment Full Tarot Meaning