All 78 Tarot Card Meanings — Complete Reference
Whether you're a beginner learning the cards or an experienced reader seeking a quick reference, this guide covers all 78 tarot cards with their core upright and reversed meanings.
The 22 Major Arcana
The Major Arcana represent life's major themes, karmic lessons, and archetypal forces.
| # | Card | Upright Keywords | Reversed Keywords |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | The Fool | New beginnings, innocence, adventure | Recklessness, naivety, fear of leaping |
| I | The Magician | Manifestation, willpower, skill | Manipulation, untapped potential |
| II | The High Priestess | Intuition, mystery, inner knowing | Hidden secrets, blocked intuition |
| III | The Empress | Fertility, abundance, nurturing | Creative blocks, over-mothering |
| IV | The Emperor | Authority, structure, fatherhood | Domination, rigidity, power abuse |
| V | The Hierophant | Tradition, religion, conformity | Rebellion, unconventional path |
| VI | The Lovers | Love, choice, values alignment | Misalignment, poor choices |
| VII | The Chariot | Willpower, victory, determination | Lack of control, aggression |
| VIII | Strength | Inner strength, courage, compassion | Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity |
| IX | The Hermit | Solitude, introspection, inner guidance | Isolation, withdrawal, loneliness |
| X | Wheel of Fortune | Fate, cycles, turning point | Bad luck, resistance to change |
| XI | Justice | Fairness, truth, cause and effect | Injustice, dishonesty, avoidance |
| XII | The Hanged Man | Surrender, new perspective, pause | Stalling, martyrdom, resistance |
| XIII | Death | Transformation, endings, rebirth | Resistance to change, stagnation |
| XIV | Temperance | Balance, patience, moderation | Imbalance, excess, impatience |
| XV | The Devil | Bondage, materialism, shadow self | Breaking free, releasing addiction |
| XVI | The Tower | Sudden change, upheaval, revelation | Avoiding disaster, delayed chaos |
| XVII | The Star | Hope, healing, inspiration | Despair, lack of faith, lost hope |
| XVIII | The Moon | Illusion, fear, subconscious | Confusion clearing, deception revealed |
| XIX | The Sun | Joy, success, vitality | Temporary delays, excessive optimism |
| XX | Judgement | Awakening, reckoning, absolution | Self-doubt, ignoring the call |
| XXI | The World | Completion, wholeness, achievement | Incompletion, shortcuts, lack of closure |
Minor Arcana — Wands (Fire)
Wands represent passion, creativity, inspiration, and career ambitions.
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Wands | Creative spark, new venture | Delays, lack of motivation |
| Two of Wands | Planning, future vision, choice | Fear of unknown, poor planning |
| Three of Wands | Expansion, foresight, progress | Delays, frustration |
| Four of Wands | Celebration, homecoming, harmony | Transition instability |
| Five of Wands | Conflict, competition, diversity | Avoiding conflict, inner conflict |
| Six of Wands | Victory, public recognition | Ego, fall from grace |
| Seven of Wands | Perseverance, standing ground | Overwhelm, giving up |
| Eight of Wands | Swift action, communication | Delays, miscommunication |
| Nine of Wands | Resilience, last push | Exhaustion, paranoia |
| Ten of Wands | Burden, responsibility, hard work | Delegation, releasing pressure |
| Page of Wands | Curiosity, free spirit, new ideas | Hastiness, lack of direction |
| Knight of Wands | Energy, adventure, passion | Recklessness, impulsiveness |
| Queen of Wands | Confidence, determination, charisma | Jealousy, insecurity |
| King of Wands | Leadership, vision, entrepreneur | Impulsive, ruthless |
Minor Arcana — Cups (Water)
Cups govern emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity.
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Cups | New love, compassion, overflow | Emotional blocks, repression |
| Two of Cups | Partnership, attraction, union | Imbalance, broken trust |
| Three of Cups | Friendship, celebration, community | Gossip, excess, isolation |
| Four of Cups | Contemplation, apathy, re-evaluation | Motivation returning, missing gifts |
| Five of Cups | Grief, loss, regret | Acceptance, moving forward |
| Six of Cups | Nostalgia, reunion, innocence | Stuck in past, naivety |
| Seven of Cups | Fantasy, choices, wishful thinking | Clarity, making a choice |
| Eight of Cups | Walking away, seeking deeper meaning | Fear of moving on, stagnation |
| Nine of Cups | Wish fulfillment, contentment | Greed, dissatisfaction |
| Ten of Cups | Harmony, family happiness, completion | Dysfunctional home, broken dreams |
| Page of Cups | Creative sensitivity, intuitive messages | Emotional immaturity |
| Knight of Cups | Romance, charm, following heart | Moodiness, unrealistic |
| Queen of Cups | Nurturing, empathic, intuitive | Codependency, emotional manipulation |
| King of Cups | Emotional intelligence, diplomacy | Emotional manipulation, moodiness |
Minor Arcana — Swords (Air)
Swords deal with the mind, truth, conflict, and communication.
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | Breakthrough, clarity, truth | Confusion, chaos, brutality |
| Two of Swords | Indecision, truce, blocked emotions | Indecision breaking, information revealed |
| Three of Swords | Heartbreak, grief, sorrow | Recovery, forgiveness |
| Four of Swords | Rest, contemplation, recovery | Restlessness, burnout |
| Five of Swords | Conflict, defeat, betrayal | Reconciliation, releasing resentment |
| Six of Swords | Transition, moving on, calmer waters | Unfinished business, resistance |
| Seven of Swords | Deception, strategy, getting away with it | Confession, coming clean |
| Eight of Swords | Self-imprisonment, limiting beliefs | Freedom, release, self-acceptance |
| Nine of Swords | Anxiety, nightmares, despair | Hope, working through fear |
| Ten of Swords | Painful ending, rock bottom, betrayal | Recovery beginning, inevitable end passed |
| Page of Swords | Curiosity, communication, vigilance | Gossip, lack of planning |
| Knight of Swords | Action, ambition, driven | Reckless action, scattered energy |
| Queen of Swords | Independent, perceptive, direct | Cold, bitter, overly critical |
| King of Swords | Authority, truth, intellectual power | Tyranny, abuse of power |
Minor Arcana — Pentacles (Earth)
Pentacles represent material world: money, career, health, and practicality.
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Pentacles | New financial opportunity, manifestation | Missed opportunity, poor planning |
| Two of Pentacles | Balance, adaptability, juggling | Overwhelmed, financial instability |
| Three of Pentacles | Teamwork, learning, craftsmanship | Disharmony, lack of teamwork |
| Four of Pentacles | Security, control, saving | Hoarding, materialism, insecurity |
| Five of Pentacles | Financial hardship, poverty, isolation | Recovery, spiritual wealth |
| Six of Pentacles | Generosity, giving/receiving, charity | Debt, strings attached, unequal power |
| Seven of Pentacles | Patience, investment, long-term view | Impatience, lack of reward |
| Eight of Pentacles | Skill-building, diligence, craftsmanship | Poor quality, lack of focus |
| Nine of Pentacles | Abundance, self-reliance, luxury | Financial dependence, shallow |
| Ten of Pentacles | Legacy, family wealth, permanence | Family conflict, loss of inheritance |
| Page of Pentacles | Ambition, diligence, new goals | Lack of progress, poor focus |
| Knight of Pentacles | Hard work, reliability, patience | Laziness, stagnation, boredom |
| Queen of Pentacles | Practical nurturing, financial security | Financial insecurity, self-neglect |
| King of Pentacles | Wealth, stability, abundance | Greed, materialism, stubborn |
How to Use This Reference
- When a card appears in your spread, start with its core keywords
- Consider whether it is upright or reversed
- Reflect on which area of life you asked about (love, career, spiritual)
- Notice adjacent cards — their energy modifies the meaning
- Trust your intuitive response to the imagery