Tarot reference
Tarot Card Meanings:
All 78 Cards Explained
A complete reference guide to the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck — 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, with keywords, upright meanings, and reversed interpretations.
Understanding the Tarot Deck
A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards divided into two main groups:
- Major Arcana (22 cards) — The Fool through The World. These cards represent major life themes, archetypal energies, and significant turning points. When a Major Arcana card appears in a reading, it signals something important.
- Minor Arcana (56 cards) — Divided into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles), each with 14 cards (Ace through 10, plus Page, Knight, Queen, King). These cards reflect day-to-day events, decisions, and energies.
Ready for a personal reading? Try our free Tarot reading with 10 different spreads.
The Major Arcana
The 22 Major Arcana cards trace a journey from innocence (The Fool) to completion (The World), often called "The Fool's Journey."
The Fool
A leap of faith into the unknown. New adventures with trust and openness.
The Magician
You have all the tools needed to create. Power to manifest through focused intention.
The High Priestess
Listen to your inner voice. Hidden knowledge and the wisdom of the unconscious.
The Empress
Creativity, sensuality, and growth. Nurturing yourself and others into bloom.
The Emperor
Leadership through order and discipline. Building a stable foundation.
The Hierophant
Guidance from established wisdom. Spiritual teaching and institutional knowledge.
The Lovers
A meaningful connection or important choice. Aligning heart and values.
The Chariot
Triumph through focused will. Driving forward by integrating opposing forces.
Strength
Inner strength and gentle power. Taming instincts through love, not force.
The Hermit
Going within for answers. Soul-searching and inner guidance.
Wheel of Fortune
Fortune turns. What goes up comes down — embrace the cycle.
Justice
Balance through honesty. Actions have consequences — face them with integrity.
The Hanged Man
Seeing things differently by letting go. A deliberate pause brings insight.
Death
One chapter closes so another can begin. Not literal death — profound change.
Temperance
Harmonizing opposites with patience. Finding the middle path.
The Devil
Chains are self-imposed. Facing unhealthy attachments and material traps.
The Tower
Sudden change breaks false foundations. Truth comes through disruption.
The Star
After the storm, light returns. Faith, healing, and renewed purpose.
The Moon
Things are not as they seem. Navigate uncertainty through instinct.
The Sun
Radiance and positivity. Clarity, warmth, and authentic self-expression.
Judgement
A call to rise and be reborn. Reflecting on the past to move forward renewed.
The World
A cycle fulfilled. Integration and celebration before the next journey begins.
The Minor Arcana
The 56 Minor Arcana cards are divided into four suits, each associated with an element and a domain of life:
Wands — Fire (Passion, Energy, Action)
Wands represent creativity, ambition, drive, and spiritual energy. They speak to what ignites you — your passions, projects, and adventures.
Ace of Wands
A spark of creative energy. The birth of a passion or project.
Two of Wands
Standing at the crossroads. Assessing options before committing.
Three of Wands
Plans in motion. Looking ahead to what's coming over the horizon.
Four of Wands
A milestone reached. Community, home, and joyful gathering.
Five of Wands
Clashing perspectives. Healthy friction or stressful rivalry.
Six of Wands
Public acclaim and success. Being seen for your achievements.
Seven of Wands
Standing your ground. Defending your position against opposition.
Eight of Wands
Rapid progress. Things moving forward quickly — stay alert.
Nine of Wands
Battle-worn but standing. One last push before the finish.
Ten of Wands
Carrying too much. Time to delegate, release, or set down the load.
Page of Wands
A free spirit eager to begin. Creative curiosity and bold ideas.
Knight of Wands
Charging forward with passion. Bold, charismatic, sometimes reckless.
Queen of Wands
Magnetic self-assurance. Bold leadership with warmth and vitality.
King of Wands
Bold, visionary command. Leading with conviction and creative fire.
Cups — Water (Emotion, Relationships, Intuition)
Cups represent the heart — feelings, relationships, emotional connections, and intuitive knowing. They speak to how we love and feel.
Ace of Cups
An overflowing heart. New emotional beginnings, compassion, love.
Two of Cups
Mutual attraction and respect. A meaningful bond between two.
Three of Cups
Joy in community. Friendship, shared happiness, sisterhood.
Four of Cups
Discontent and withdrawal. Overlooking what's being offered.
Five of Cups
Mourning what's gone. Focusing on spilled cups while some remain.
Six of Cups
Sweet memories and childhood joy. Reconnecting with the past.
Seven of Cups
Many options, some illusory. Discerning dreams from reality.
Eight of Cups
Leaving behind what no longer serves. Seeking deeper meaning.
Nine of Cups
The "wish card." Emotional fulfillment and sensual pleasure.
Ten of Cups
Emotional wholeness. Joyful family, lasting love, spiritual alignment.
Page of Cups
A gentle, creative messenger. Emotional openness and artistic stirrings.
Knight of Cups
Following the heart. Charm, romance, and pursuit of beauty.
Queen of Cups
Deeply caring and receptive. Emotional intelligence and healing presence.
King of Cups
Master of feelings. Compassionate authority, emotional balance.
Swords — Air (Intellect, Communication, Conflict)
Swords represent the mind — thoughts, communication, decisions, and conflict. They cut through illusion to reveal truth, sometimes painfully.
Ace of Swords
A flash of insight. Mental clarity cutting through confusion.
Two of Swords
Blindfolded at a crossroads. Avoiding a difficult choice.
Three of Swords
Emotional pain and sorrow. A piercing truth that must be felt.
Four of Swords
A necessary pause. Healing through stillness and contemplation.
Five of Swords
Pyrrhic victory or hollow win. The cost of winning at all costs.
Six of Swords
Leaving troubled waters for calmer shores. A healing journey.
Seven of Swords
Cunning and indirect action. Deception or strategic withdrawal.
Eight of Swords
Feeling trapped, but the binds are mental. Freedom is a shift in perspective.
Nine of Swords
Sleepless worry. Fears that loom larger in the dark than in daylight.
Ten of Swords
The darkest hour before dawn. A painful ending that releases you.
Page of Swords
Sharp-minded and alert. New ideas, honest communication, mental agility.
Knight of Swords
Charging in with truth and conviction. Fast, decisive, sometimes blunt.
Queen of Swords
Sharp wit and honest discernment. Clear boundaries, intellectual depth.
King of Swords
Commanding intellect. Fair, logical, decisive leadership through truth.
Pentacles — Earth (Material, Work, Body)
Pentacles represent the material world — money, work, health, home, and the physical body. They speak to what we build and sustain.
Ace of Pentacles
A new material beginning. Job offer, investment, or tangible gift.
Two of Pentacles
Managing multiple priorities. Flexibility and adaptability in flux.
Three of Pentacles
Teamwork and skilled craft. Building something of value together.
Four of Pentacles
Holding tightly to what you have. Conservation or possessiveness.
Five of Pentacles
Material struggle and feeling left out in the cold. Help is nearer than you think.
Six of Pentacles
Giving and receiving in balance. Charity, fair exchange, shared wealth.
Seven of Pentacles
Pausing to evaluate progress. Tending what you've planted.
Eight of Pentacles
Deep focus on craft. Skill-building, apprenticeship, diligent work.
Nine of Pentacles
Enjoying the fruits of your labor. Independence, refinement, comfort.
Ten of Pentacles
Long-lasting prosperity. Family wealth, home, and generational security.
Page of Pentacles
Eager to learn and build. New skills, careful planning, grounded dreams.
Knight of Pentacles
The dependable worker. Slow, steady progress toward material goals.
Queen of Pentacles
Grounded abundance. Caring for body, home, and resources with warmth.
King of Pentacles
Material mastery. Prosperous, reliable, and generous stewardship.
How to Read Tarot Cards
- Set an intention. Before drawing, take a breath and focus on your question or situation. Clarity in leads to clarity out.
- Trust your intuition. The card meanings above are a starting point. What you feel and see in the image matters just as much.
- Consider reversals. A reversed card doesn't mean "bad" — it often signals internalized energy, blocked flow, or a need to look deeper.
- Read the spread as a story. Don't isolate cards. Notice how they flow and interact — the narrative between cards is where insight lives.
- Use tarot for reflection, not prediction. Tarot is a mirror, not a crystal ball. It reveals patterns and perspectives, not fixed futures.
Ready to draw your cards? Get a free Tarot reading →