All 78 Tarot Card Meanings: The Complete List & Guide

Introduction

Learning 78 tarot card meanings can feel like trying to memorize an entire language overnight. The good news is that you don't have to. The tarot tells a story, and understanding its core themes and structure is far more powerful than memorizing individual keywords from a book.

This guide is designed to be the only tarot cards meaning list you will ever need. We will explore the epic journey of the Major Arcana and the everyday experiences reflected in the four suits of the Minor Arcana. Here, you will find clear, concise interpretations for both upright and reversed positions, helping you build confidence and clarity with every reading you perform.

Let’s begin your journey and unlock the profound messages waiting for you in the cards.

Understanding the Structure of All 78 Tarot Cards

Before diving into the complete tarot cards meaning list, it is essential to understand the deck's architecture. The 78 cards are divided into two main parts: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Grasping this fundamental distinction is the first step toward conducting insightful and accurate readings.

The Major Arcana vs. The Minor Arcana

The key difference between these two sections lies in the scope of their influence. Think of the [/tarot/major-arcana](Major Arcana) as the headline life events—the major turning points and spiritual lessons—while the [/tarot/minor-arcana](Minor Arcana) represents the day-to-day details, actions, and feelings that constitute that story.

The Major Arcana: These 22 cards, starting with The Fool and ending with The World, represent significant life lessons, karmic influences, and major archetypal themes. When a Major Arcana card appears in a reading, it signals a moment of profound importance that requires your attention. It speaks to the larger journey of your soul and pivotal stages of personal development that shape your destiny.

The Minor Arcana: The remaining 56 cards are divided into four suits, much like a standard deck of playing cards. They reflect the everyday challenges, joys, thoughts, and situations we encounter. While the Major Arcana points to what you are learning on a soul level, the Minor Arcana often reveals how you are learning it, the people involved, and the practical steps you are taking.

The Four Tarot Suits of the Minor Arcana

Each of the four suits in the Minor Arcana corresponds to a specific element and a distinct area of human experience. Understanding what the four tarot suits represent provides immediate context for any card you draw from this part of the deck, allowing for a more intuitive interpretation.

Suit of Wands (Fire): This suit governs passion, creativity, ambition, willpower, and action. Wands cards often relate to career aspirations, personal projects, and the spark of inspiration that drives you forward. They represent momentum, energy, and the process of bringing ideas into reality.

Suit of Cups (Water): Cups are connected to emotions, relationships, intuition, and all matters of the heart. These cards explore the full landscape of your feelings, from profound love and joy to deep loss and healing. They represent your connections with others, your creative expressions, and your inner emotional world.

Suit of Swords (Air): The suit of Swords represents the realm of the mind: thoughts, beliefs, communication, and conflict. These cards highlight your intellectual processes, the challenges you face, and the truths you discover. They often carry messages of clarity, difficult decisions, mental struggles, and the power of communication.

Suit of Pentacles (Earth): Pentacles are tied to the material world, including finances, work, physical health, and the home. This suit deals with tangible outcomes, security, long-term prosperity, and our relationship with the natural world and our physical bodies.

With this foundational knowledge of the deck's structure, we can now explore our comprehensive list of tarot card meanings, starting with the profound journey of the Major Arcana.

The Major Arcana Tarot Cards Meaning List

The 22 cards of the Major Arcana represent life's spiritual lessons and universal archetypes. Each card signifies a major milestone on the human journey, progressing from the innocence of The Fool to the integration and completion symbolized by The World.

0. The Fool: Upright: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, faith, a leap of faith. Reversed: Recklessness, naivete, being taken advantage of, hesitation, holding back.

I. The Magician: Upright: Manifestation, willpower, resourcefulness, skill, inspired action. Reversed: Manipulation, untapped potential, poor planning, trickery.

II. The High Priestess: Upright: Intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, the subconscious mind. Reversed: Secrets, disconnected from intuition, hidden agendas.

III. The Empress: Upright: Femininity, beauty, nature, nurturing, abundance, creativity. Reversed: Creative block, dependence on others, feeling stifled.

IV. The Emperor: Upright: Authority, structure, control, father figure, solid foundation. Reversed: Domination, excessive control, rigidity, lack of discipline.

V. The Hierophant: Upright: Spiritual wisdom, tradition, conformity, institutions, belief systems. Reversed: Personal beliefs, challenging tradition, freedom from convention.

VI. The Lovers: Upright: Love, harmony, relationships, values alignment, choices. Reversed: Disharmony, misalignment of values, relationship issues.

VII. The Chariot: Upright: Control, willpower, victory, assertion, determination. Reversed: Lack of control, lack of direction, aggression, obstacles.

VIII. Strength: Upright: Courage, persuasion, influence, compassion, inner strength. Reversed: Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, lack of self-control.

IX. The Hermit: Upright: Soul-searching, introspection, inner guidance, solitude. Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal from society.

X. Wheel of Fortune: Upright: Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning point. Reversed: Bad luck, resistance to change, breaking cycles, misfortune.

XI. Justice: Upright: Justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law. Reversed: Unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty, karmic imbalance.

XII. The Hanged Man: Upright: Pause, surrender, new perspectives, letting go, sacrifice. Reversed: Delays, resistance, stalling, indecision.

XIII. Death: Upright: Endings, change, transformation, transition, letting go. Reversed: Resistance to change, holding on, stagnation.

XIV. Temperance: Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, finding middle ground. Reversed: Imbalance, excess, extremes, lack of patience.

XV. The Devil: Upright: Addiction, materialism, bondage, negative patterns, temptation. Reversed: Breaking free, detachment, reclaiming power.

XVI. The Tower: Upright: Sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation, awakening. Reversed: Avoidance of disaster, fear of change, delaying the inevitable.

XVII. The Star: Upright: Hope, faith, purpose, renewal, spirituality. Reversed: Lack of faith, despair, disconnection, hopelessness.

XVIII. The Moon: Upright: Illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious, intuition. Reversed: Releasing fear, repressed emotion, inner confusion, clarity.

XIX. The Sun: Upright: Positivity, fun, warmth, success, vitality. Reversed: Inner child, feeling down, overly optimistic, lack of success.

XX. Judgement: Upright: Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution, reflection. Reversed: Self-doubt, inner critic, ignoring the call, fear of judgement.

XXI. The World: Upright: Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel, fulfillment. Reversed: Lack of completion, shortcuts, delays, feeling incomplete.

While the Major Arcana outlines life's great themes, the Minor Arcana details the day-to-day experiences that shape them. Our exploration of these suits begins with the fiery and passionate Suit of Wands.

The Suit of Wands Tarot Card Meanings

The Suit of Wands embodies the element of Fire, representing passion, action, and creativity. These cards speak to your ambition, energy, and the driving forces that propel your goals from concept to reality.

Ace of Wands: Upright: Inspiration, new opportunities, growth, potential. Reversed: Delays, lack of motivation, a false start.

Two of Wands: Upright: Future planning, progress, decisions, discovery. Reversed: Fear of the unknown, lack of planning, playing it safe.

Three of Wands: Upright: Expansion, foresight, overseas opportunities, growth. Reversed: Obstacles to long-term goals, delays, frustration.

Four of Wands: Upright: Celebration, harmony, marriage, home, community. Reversed: Lack of support, instability, a breakdown in communication.

Five of Wands: Upright: Conflict, competition, disagreements, tension. Reversed: Avoiding conflict, finding common ground, resolution.

Six of Wands: Upright: Public recognition, victory, success, progress. Reversed: Private success, fall from grace, egotism.

Seven of Wands: Upright: Challenge, competition, perseverance, standing your ground. Reversed: Giving up, feeling overwhelmed, exhaustion.

Eight of Wands: Upright: Rapid action, movement, quick decisions, travel. Reversed: Delays, frustration, slowing down, resisting change.

Nine of Wands: Upright: Resilience, courage, persistence, a final challenge. Reversed: On the defensive, paranoia, giving up, exhaustion.

Ten of Wands: Upright: Burden, extra responsibility, hard work, stress. Reversed: Delegating, releasing burdens, letting go of responsibilities.

Page of Wands: Upright: Enthusiasm, exploration, discovery, free spirit. Reversed: Lack of direction, procrastination, creating drama.

Knight of Wands: Upright: Energy, passion, action, adventure, impulsiveness. Reversed: Haste, scattered energy, frustration, delays.

Queen of Wands: Upright: Courage, confidence, independence, social butterfly. Reversed: Selfishness, jealousy, insecurity, a demanding nature.

King of Wands: Upright: Natural-born leader, vision, entrepreneur, honor. Reversed: Impulsiveness, haste, ruthlessness, high expectations.

While the Wands ignite our ambitions, the Suit of Cups invites us to explore the emotional currents that fuel them. We now move into the intuitive depths of this suit, which governs our relationships and inner world.

The Suit of Cups Tarot Card Meanings

The Suit of Cups is associated with the element of Water, reflecting the world of emotions, intuition, relationships, and creativity. These cards tap into the heart's landscape, revealing our deepest connections and feelings.

Ace of Cups: Upright: New love, compassion, creativity, emotional awakening. Reversed: Blocked emotions, repressed feelings, emptiness.

Two of Cups: Upright: Unified love, partnership, mutual attraction, connection. Reversed: Break-up, disharmony, imbalance in a relationship.

Three of Cups: Upright: Celebration, friendship, creativity, community. Reversed: An affair, gossip, isolation, "three's a crowd."

Four of Cups: Upright: Apathy, contemplation, disconnection, re-evaluation. Reversed: Retreat, withdrawal, checking in for alignment.

Five of Cups: Upright: Loss, regret, disappointment, grief, sadness. Reversed: Moving on, acceptance, forgiveness.

Six of Cups: Upright: Nostalgia, childhood memories, innocence, reunion. Reversed: Stuck in the past, naivety, unrealistic expectations.

Seven of Cups: Upright: Opportunities, choices, wishful thinking, illusion. Reversed: Alignment, personal values, feeling overwhelmed by choices.

Eight of Cups: Upright: Disappointment, abandonment, withdrawal, walking away. Reversed: Trying one more time, indecision, fear of moving on.

Nine of Cups: Upright: Contentment, satisfaction, gratitude, wish come true. Reversed: Dissatisfaction, materialism, unfulfilled wishes.

Ten of Cups: Upright: Divine love, blissful relationships, harmony, alignment. Reversed: Disconnection, misaligned values, struggling relationships.

Page of Cups: Upright: Creative opportunities, intuition, curiosity, possibility. Reversed: Creative blocks, emotional immaturity, insecurity.

Knight of Cups: Upright: Romance, charm, imagination, beauty, an invitation. Reversed: Unrealistic, moody, emotionally manipulative.

Queen of Cups: Upright: Compassionate, caring, emotionally stable, intuitive. Reversed: Emotional insecurity, co-dependency, martyrdom.

King of Cups: Upright: Emotionally balanced, compassionate, diplomatic, in control. Reversed: Emotional manipulation, moodiness, volatility.

Having explored the emotional currents of Cups, we now turn to the sharp, intellectual realm of the Suit of Swords, where thoughts, communication, and challenges take center stage.

The Suit of Swords Tarot Card Meanings

The Suit of Swords is linked to the element of Air, representing thoughts, words, actions, and challenges. This suit brings powerful clarity but can also signify conflict, difficult truths, and mental anguish.

Ace of Swords: Upright: Breakthroughs, new ideas, mental clarity, success. Reversed: Confusion, clouded judgment, chaos.

Two of Swords: Upright: Difficult decisions, stalemate, avoidance, impasse. Reversed: Indecision, confusion, information overload.

Three of Swords: Upright: Heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow, grief, separation. Reversed: Releasing pain, forgiveness, moving on.

Four of Swords: Upright: Rest, relaxation, meditation, contemplation, recuperation. Reversed: Exhaustion, burnout, stagnation, restlessness.

Five of Swords: Upright: Conflict, disagreements, competition, defeat, winning at all costs. Reversed: Reconciliation, making amends, past resentment.

Six of Swords: Upright: Transition, change, rite of passage, moving on. Reversed: Personal transition, resistance to change, unfinished business.

Seven of Swords: Upright: Betrayal, deception, getting away with something, strategy. Reversed: Imposter syndrome, keeping secrets, coming clean.

Eight of Swords: Upright: Negative thoughts, self-imposed restriction, imprisonment, victim mentality. Reversed: Self-acceptance, new perspective, releasing limiting beliefs.

Nine of Swords: Upright: Anxiety, worry, fear, depression, nightmares. Reversed: Inner turmoil, deep-seated fears, releasing worry.

Ten of Swords: Upright: Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss, crisis. Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, resisting an inevitable end.

Page of Swords: Upright: New ideas, curiosity, thirst for knowledge, energy. Reversed: All talk and no action, haste, undelivered promises.

Knight of Swords: Upright: Ambitious, action-oriented, fast-thinking, driven to succeed. Reversed: Restless, unfocused, impulsive, burnout.

Queen of Swords: Upright: Independent, unbiased judgment, clear boundaries, direct communication. Reversed: Overly emotional, easily influenced, cold-hearted.

King of Swords: Upright: Mental clarity, intellectual power, authority, truth. Reversed: Quiet power, inner truth, misuse of power, manipulation.

From the mental plane of Swords, our journey through all 78 tarot cards concludes with the grounded, material world of the Suit of Pentacles, where abstract ideas and ambitions are brought into tangible reality.

The Suit of Pentacles Tarot Card Meanings

The Suit of Pentacles is tied to the element of Earth, governing the physical and material realms. This includes finances, work, property, health, and the tangible manifestation of your efforts.

Ace of Pentacles: Upright: A new financial or career opportunity, manifestation, prosperity. Reversed: Lost opportunity, lack of planning, missed chance.

Two of Pentacles: Upright: Multiple priorities, time management, prioritization, adaptability. Reversed: Over-committed, disorganization, reprioritization.

Three of Pentacles: Upright: Teamwork, collaboration, learning, implementation. Reversed: Disharmony, misalignment, working alone.

Four of Pentacles: Upright: Saving money, security, conservatism, scarcity mindset. Reversed: Over-spending, greed, self-protection, letting go.

Five of Pentacles: Upright: Financial loss, poverty, isolation, worry. Reversed: Recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty.

Six of Pentacles: Upright: Giving, receiving, charity, generosity, sharing wealth. Reversed: Self-care, unpaid debts, one-sided charity.

Seven of Pentacles: Upright: Long-term view, sustainable results, perseverance, investment. Reversed: Lack of long-term vision, limited success or reward.

Eight of Pentacles: Upright: Apprenticeship, repetitive tasks, mastery, skill development. Reversed: Self-development, perfectionism, misdirected activity.

Nine of Pentacles: Upright: Abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency, financial independence. Reversed: Self-worth, over-investment in work, hustling.

Ten of Pentacles: Upright: Wealth, financial security, family, long-term success, contribution. Reversed: Financial failure or loss, lack of stability.

Page of Pentacles: Upright: Manifestation, financial opportunity, skill development. Reversed: Lack of progress, procrastination, learn from failure.

Knight of Pentacles: Upright: Hard work, productivity, routine, conservatism. Reversed: Self-discipline, boredom, feeling ‘stuck’.

Queen of Pentacles: Upright: Nurturing, practical, providing financially, a working parent. Reversed: Financial independence, self-care, work-home conflict.

King of Pentacles: Upright: Wealth, business, leadership, security, discipline. Reversed: Financially inept, obsessed with wealth, stubbornness.

Having access to this complete tarot cards meaning list provides the vocabulary of tarot. However, true fluency comes from learning how to construct sentences and tell a story. The true art of tarot lies in weaving these definitions together to create a coherent narrative that offers meaningful insight.

How to Interpret Tarot Cards: A Quick Guide for Beginners

Having a complete list of tarot card meanings is like having a dictionary—it's an essential resource, but it doesn't teach you how to write a compelling story. To truly learn how to interpret tarot cards, you must move beyond individual definitions and see how the cards interact within the context of a reading. This framework will help you connect the dots and unlock deeper meaning.

1. Consider the Context of the Question

The meaning of a card is never absolute; it is always colored by the question being asked. The Empress, for example, could signify a literal pregnancy if the query is about family, but it could represent a flourishing creative project if the question is about a career. In a business context, The Tower might not mean personal disaster but a necessary market disruption that creates new opportunities. For a student, The Hermit could suggest a period of focused study rather than social isolation. Always hold the querent's specific situation and question in mind as you interpret each card.

2. Understand Upright vs. Reversed Meanings

A common mistake for beginners is to see upright cards as "good" and reversed cards as "bad." A more nuanced approach is to view reversed cards as energy that is blocked, internalized, delayed, or in need of your focused attention.

Upright cards typically represent the card's energy flowing outward and being expressed externally and productively in your life. Reversed cards can suggest that the card's energy is being experienced internally, is being suppressed, or requires a different approach. The reversed Ten of Wands doesn't necessarily mean you won't have burdens; it might mean you are in the process of learning to release them, or that the burden is internal, like self-criticism.

3. Connect the Cards to Tell a Story

A tarot reading is not a series of disconnected statements; it is a narrative. To uncover the story, look for patterns and connections between the cards laid out before you.

Observe the Suits: Is there a predominance of one suit? A reading full of Cups points to a deeply emotional situation. Many Swords suggest a conflict that is primarily mental or communicative. A spread with many Pentacles indicates a focus on material, financial, or practical matters. Look at the Numbers: Are there repeating numbers? Multiple Fours could indicate a strong need for stability and structure, while several Eights might point to movement, progress, and change. A progression from a Two to a Ten could show the full development of an idea or situation. Follow the Gaze: In many decks, the figures on the cards look in certain directions. If the Queen of Cups is looking toward the Ten of Pentacles, she may be focusing her emotional energy on family and long-term security. If she is looking away from the Five of Swords, she may be turning her back on a recent conflict.

Starting with a simple layout, like a [/tarot/three-card/free-3-card-tarot-reading-online-instant-clarity-and-guidance](three-card spread), is an excellent way to practice seeing these narrative connections.

4. Trust Your Intuition

This is the most critical and often overlooked step. The list of tarot card meanings provides the vocabulary, but your intuition provides the syntax and grammar that bring the story to life. Pay close attention to the feelings, images, or words that come to mind when you look at a card. If the Seven of Swords traditionally means deception but your gut tells you it represents a clever, out-of-the-box strategy for your querent's business problem, trust that insight. Your intuition is the bridge between the traditional meanings and the specific, personal message the universe is delivering in that moment. Practicing with a single card is a great way to build this skill and get [/tarot/daily-reading/draw-a-random-tarot-card-daily-insight-and-guidance](daily insight and guidance).

Conclusion

Mastering the tarot is a journey from structure to story. By first understanding the distinction between the life-defining Major Arcana and the day-to-day Minor Arcana, you gain a solid framework for interpreting the messages within the cards. This comprehensive list provides the foundational meanings, but the true art of reading lies in weaving these individual threads into a cohesive and insightful narrative.

Looking ahead, the practice of tarot is evolving beyond simple divination. It is becoming a powerful tool for [/tarot/spiritual-reading/best-tarot-readings-houston-tx-accurate-and-insightful-guidance](spiritual reading), strategic self-reflection, and psychological exploration in fields ranging from business coaching to therapeutic practices. The cards are not merely predictive instruments; they are a mirror reflecting the complex interplay of our thoughts, emotions, actions, and material circumstances, offering a dynamic blueprint for navigating the future.

Ultimately, the most crucial element in any reading is your own intuition. Use these meanings as your guide, but trust the personal insights that arise as you connect with the cards. The power of the tarot is unlocked not when you know what every card means, but when you learn to listen to the unique story they tell you. The real question isn’t if you will learn the cards—but how effectively you will use their wisdom to gain a competitive edge in your own life's journey.