The Complete Guide to Tarot Card Meanings (All 78 Cards)

Introduction

What if tarot cards were not about predicting a fixed future, but about understanding the story you are living right now? Each of the 78 cards in a deck is like a chapter in a book, offering profound insights into your personal journey and the energies surrounding you. Learning to read them is like learning a new language—one that speaks directly to your intuition and helps you navigate life's complexities with greater clarity.

Understanding the cards of tarot and their meanings is the first step toward unlocking this powerful tool for self-discovery and strategic thinking. This guide is designed to make that process simple and encouraging, providing clear interpretations and practical examples for every card, whether you are a complete beginner or looking to deepen your practice.

From the life-altering journey of the Major Arcana to the everyday experiences of the Minor Arcana, we will explore the complete narrative of the tarot. Let’s dive into the symbolism and stories waiting for you in the deck, transforming abstract concepts into actionable wisdom.

The Major Arcana and Minor Arcana Explained

Understanding the structure of a tarot deck is the first step to learning the cards of tarot and their meanings. A standard 78-card deck is divided into two main parts: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. While they work together in a reading, they represent different aspects of the human experience and provide distinct layers of insight.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, often called "trump cards." These cards represent significant life events, major spiritual lessons, and the overarching themes of your personal journey. When a Major Arcana card appears in a reading, it signals a moment of profound importance that requires your attention, as these energies often point to pivotal developmental stages.

The Minor Arcana consists of the remaining 56 cards. These cards reflect the day-to-day situations, challenges, and joys we all experience. They provide context to the Major Arcana's big-picture themes, offering practical guidance on how to navigate your current circumstances and the choices you face.

Here are the key differences:

• Scope: Major Arcana cards represent archetypal energies and major life milestones. Minor Arcana cards represent everyday actions, thoughts, and feelings.
• Impact: The lessons of the Major Arcana are often transformative and long-lasting. The influence of the Minor Arcana is typically more immediate and temporary.
• Control: Major Arcana cards often point to energies or life path lessons that are larger than us, while Minor Arcana cards frequently highlight areas where we have more direct control and can make practical choices.

Grasping this distinction is fundamental to interpretation. The Major Arcana provides the "why," while the Minor Arcana often explains the "how." With this framework in mind, we will now explore the profound symbolism of each of the 22 Major Arcana cards.

The Major Arcana: Meanings of All 22 Cards

This section serves as a complete guide to tarot card meanings for the Major Arcana. These 22 cards tell the story of "The Fool's Journey," a symbolic progression from innocence and new beginnings to wisdom and completion, mirroring the universal stages of human consciousness.

0. The Fool

Keywords: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, faith, a leap of faith. The Fool represents the start of a journey, filled with limitless potential. It encourages you to embrace the unknown with open-mindedness and optimism, even if you do not know the final destination.

I. The Magician

Keywords: Manifestation, willpower, resourcefulness, skill, action. The Magician is the master of manifestation. This card indicates that you have all the tools and resources you need to achieve your goals. It is a call to take focused action and turn your ideas into reality.

II. The High Priestess

Keywords: Intuition, subconscious, mystery, secrets, inner wisdom. The High Priestess represents the realm of the subconscious and intuition. She urges you to look beyond the obvious, trust your inner voice, and listen to the wisdom that lies within you.

III. The Empress

Keywords: Nurturing, fertility, abundance, creativity, femininity. The Empress embodies creation, abundance, and nurturing energy. Her appearance signifies a time of growth, creativity, and connection to the natural world. She encourages you to embrace your senses and care for yourself and others.

IV. The Emperor

Keywords: Authority, structure, stability, control, leadership. The Emperor represents order, structure, and authority. He brings stability and a solid foundation to any situation. This card advises a logical, strategic approach and highlights the importance of discipline and leadership.

V. The Hierophant

Keywords: Tradition, institutions, belief systems, spiritual guidance, conformity. The Hierophant is a symbol of tradition, established beliefs, and spiritual wisdom passed down through institutions. He suggests seeking guidance from a trusted mentor or established tradition to find answers.

VI. The Lovers

Keywords: Love, harmony, relationships, choices, alignment of values. The Lovers card signifies a deep connection, partnership, and harmony. It also represents a significant choice that must be made based on your personal values. This choice often involves aligning your heart with your head.

VII. The Chariot

Keywords: Willpower, determination, control, victory, forward momentum. The Chariot is a card of triumph and forward movement. It signifies that through sheer willpower, focus, and determination, you can overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. It is time to take the reins and drive forward.

VIII. Strength

Keywords: Inner strength, courage, compassion, focus, persuasion. Strength is not about brute force, but about inner courage, patience, and compassion. This card shows the power of gentle persuasion and self-control to tame wild impulses and face challenges with bravery.

IX. The Hermit

Keywords: Introspection, soul-searching, inner guidance, solitude. The Hermit represents a period of introspection and withdrawal from the outside world to seek inner wisdom. It is a call to look inward for answers and guidance, using your inner light to illuminate the path forward.

X. Wheel of Fortune

Keywords: Cycles, change, luck, destiny, turning points. The Wheel of Fortune symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. It reminds us that life is always in motion, bringing unexpected changes and turning points. This card often signifies a shift in luck or a new cycle beginning.

XI. Justice

Keywords: Fairness, truth, cause and effect, law, clarity. Justice represents truth, fairness, and karma. It indicates that your actions have consequences and that a fair and balanced outcome is at hand. It calls for honesty, impartiality, and accountability.

XII. The Hanged Man

Keywords: Surrender, letting go, new perspectives, suspension. The Hanged Man signifies a pause and a need to surrender to the current situation. By letting go of control and seeing things from a different perspective, you can achieve a breakthrough. It is a card of sacrifice for greater wisdom.

XIII. Death

Keywords: Endings, transformation, transition, letting go. This card rarely signifies physical death. Instead, the Death card represents a profound transformation and the end of a major cycle. It is about closing one door to allow a new, more authentic one to open.

XIV. Temperance

Keywords: Balance, moderation, patience, harmony, alchemy. Temperance is the card of balance and integration. It encourages you to find harmony by blending different aspects of your life. It is a reminder to be patient and take a moderate, measured approach.

XV. The Devil

Keywords: Bondage, addiction, materialism, negative patterns, temptation. The Devil represents feelings of being trapped by negative patterns, addictions, or a focus on materialism. It shines a light on your shadow self, urging you to confront your fears and reclaim your personal power and freedom.

XVI. The Tower

Keywords: Sudden upheaval, chaos, revelation, awakening. The Tower signifies a sudden, dramatic, and often disruptive change. While unsettling, this upheaval is necessary to destroy false structures and beliefs, leading to a profound awakening and a new foundation built on truth.

XVII. The Star

Keywords: Hope, inspiration, healing, serenity, spiritual guidance. After the storm of The Tower, The Star brings a sense of hope, healing, and renewal. It is a beacon of light in the darkness, reminding you to have faith in the universe and your path forward.

XVIII. The Moon

Keywords: Illusion, fear, anxiety, intuition, the subconscious. The Moon represents the realm of the subconscious, dreams, and intuition. It can also bring up hidden fears and illusions. This card asks you to trust your intuition to navigate through uncertainty and see past deception.

XIX. The Sun

Keywords: Joy, success, positivity, vitality, clarity. The Sun is one of the most positive cards in the deck. It represents success, joy, and radiant positivity. It brings clarity and confidence, illuminating your path and filling you with vitality and optimism.

XX. Judgement

Keywords: Awakening, reckoning, renewal, reflection, a calling. The Judgement card signifies a period of reflection and self-evaluation. It is a call to rise up and embrace a higher level of consciousness, forgiving the past and answering a deeper calling for your future.

XXI. The World

Keywords: Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel, wholeness. The World represents the successful completion of a cycle. It signifies a sense of wholeness, accomplishment, and integration. You have learned the lessons of your journey and are now ready to celebrate your success before starting anew.

With the Major Arcana's profound life lessons understood, we can now explore how the everyday situations detailed in the Minor Arcana add depth and context to these overarching themes.

The Minor Arcana: What Do the Tarot Suits Symbolize?

The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana provide the detailed narrative of our daily lives. They are divided into four suits, each corresponding to a specific area of human experience and one of the classical elements. Understanding what the tarot suits symbolize is key to a practical tarot card meanings interpretation, as they reveal the specific energies at play.

• The Suit of Wands (Fire): This suit represents passion, energy, creativity, ambition, and action. Wands cards often relate to career, personal projects, and the spark of inspiration that drives you forward. They are about willpower and forward momentum.
• The Suit of Cups (Water): This suit governs the realm of emotions, feelings, relationships, and intuition. Cups cards speak to matters of the heart, love, creativity, and our connections with others and our own inner selves.
• The Suit of Swords (Air): This suit is associated with the mind, intellect, thoughts, communication, and conflict. Swords cards represent truth, clarity, and challenges. They often highlight mental struggles, decisions, and the power of words.
• The Suit of Pentacles (Earth): This suit relates to the material and physical world. Pentacles cards cover topics like finances, work, property, health, and manifestation in the tangible realm. They speak to our relationship with abundance and the physical environment.

Each suit contains 14 cards: numbered cards from Ace (one) to Ten, and four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, and King) that often represent people, personality traits, or approaches to a situation. Let's delve into the specific meanings within the Suit of Wands.

The Suit of Wands: Meanings

Ace of Wands

Keywords: Inspiration, new opportunities, growth, potential. A new spark of passion or a creative idea. This is the seed of a new venture, project, or journey.

Two of Wands

Keywords: Planning, future decisions, progress, discovery. You have had the initial spark; now it is time to plan your next move. This card is about looking ahead and making bold decisions.

Three of Wands

Keywords: Expansion, foresight, progress, awaiting results. Your plans are in motion, and you are beginning to see the first signs of progress. It is about looking to the future with anticipation.

Four of Wands

Keywords: Celebration, harmony, marriage, home, community. A time of joyful celebration and stability, often related to a happy home life, a milestone, or a community gathering.

Five of Wands

Keywords: Conflict, competition, disagreements, tension. Represents minor conflicts, disagreements, or competition. Different ideas are clashing, creating tension that needs to be resolved.

Six of Wands

Keywords: Success, public recognition, victory, progress. You have overcome challenges and are now receiving public recognition for your achievements. A card of victory and well-deserved praise.

Seven of Wands

Keywords: Challenge, perseverance, defensive, standing your ground. A call to stand up for your beliefs and defend your position. You may be challenged, but you have the advantage if you persevere.

Eight of Wands

Keywords: Rapid action, movement, quick decisions, news. Things are moving quickly. This card signifies swift action, progress, and often the arrival of important news or communication.

Nine of Wands

Keywords: Resilience, courage, persistence, nearing completion. You are weary from the battle but are close to the finish line. This card calls for one last push of resilience and courage.

Ten of Wands

Keywords: Burden, responsibility, hard work, stress. You have taken on too much and are feeling burdened by your responsibilities. It is a sign to delegate or release some of your load.

Page of Wands

Keywords: Enthusiasm, exploration, creative sparks, messages. Represents youthful energy, a thirst for exploration, and new, exciting ideas. Be open to creative messages and new paths.

Knight of Wands

Keywords: Energy, passion, action, adventure, impulsiveness. This Knight charges forward with passion and energy. He is all about taking action and embarking on an adventure, though sometimes impulsively.

Queen of Wands

Keywords: Courage, confidence, independence, social butterfly. A confident, charismatic, and determined leader. She is fiercely independent and encourages you to embrace your own vibrant energy.

King of Wands

Keywords: Natural leader, vision, entrepreneurship, honor. A visionary leader who inspires others. He has a clear vision and the determination to see it through, acting with honor and purpose.

While the Suit of Wands fuels our ambitions with fiery energy, our journey is incomplete without understanding the emotional landscape, which is the domain of the Suit of Cups.

The Suit of Cups: Meanings

Ace of Cups

Keywords: New love, compassion, creativity, emotional awakening. A new beginning in the realm of emotions. This card represents an outpouring of love, creativity, and intuitive connection.

Two of Cups

Keywords: Partnership, mutual attraction, connection, harmony. Represents a deep, harmonious connection between two people. It signifies partnership, mutual respect, and unified love.

Three of Cups

Keywords: Celebration, friendship, community, collaboration. A joyful gathering of friends or community. This card is about celebrating connections and sharing happiness with others.

Four of Cups

Keywords: Apathy, contemplation, disconnection, missed opportunities. You may be feeling emotionally withdrawn or apathetic, causing you to miss new opportunities being offered. A call to look up and re-engage.

Five of Cups

Keywords: Loss, regret, disappointment, grief. Focusing on past losses and disappointments. While it is important to grieve, this card reminds you not to overlook what you still have.

Six of Cups

Keywords: Nostalgia, childhood memories, innocence, reunion. A connection to the past, often through happy memories, childhood friends, or a sense of innocence and kindness.

Seven of Cups

Keywords: Choices, illusion, fantasy, wishful thinking. You are faced with many options, but some may be based on illusion or fantasy. This card advises you to gain clarity before making a choice.

Eight of Cups

Keywords: Walking away, disappointment, abandonment, seeking more. A decision to walk away from a situation that is no longer emotionally fulfilling. It is a journey to seek deeper meaning and purpose.

Nine of Cups

Keywords: Wish fulfillment, contentment, satisfaction, gratitude. Often called the "wish card," this represents emotional contentment, satisfaction, and having your desires fulfilled.

Ten of Cups

Keywords: Divine love, blissful relationships, harmony, alignment. The ultimate card of emotional fulfillment. It represents lasting happiness, harmonious family life, and complete emotional alignment.

Page of Cups

Keywords: Creative opportunities, intuition, curiosity, messages of love. A messenger of creative ideas and emotional news. This Page encourages you to be open to your intuition and express your feelings.

Knight of Cups

Keywords: Romance, charm, imagination, beauty, a proposal. This Knight is a romantic idealist who leads with his heart. He represents an offer, a romantic gesture, or a call to follow your creative dreams.

Queen of Cups

Keywords: Compassion, intuition, calm, emotional maturity. A highly intuitive and emotionally balanced figure. She is compassionate and in tune with her feelings and the feelings of others.

King of Cups

Keywords: Emotional balance, compassion, control, diplomacy. A master of his emotions. This King is compassionate and diplomatic, balancing his feelings with his intellect to lead with wisdom.

Having navigated the world of emotions with the Cups, we now ascend into the realm of the intellect, where the Suit of Swords challenges us with truth, clarity, and difficult decisions.

The Suit of Swords: Meanings

Ace of Swords

Keywords: Breakthrough, clarity, new ideas, truth. A moment of powerful clarity or a breakthrough. This Ace cuts through confusion to reveal the truth and offers a new, clear way of thinking.

Two of Swords

Keywords: Stalemate, difficult choices, indecision, avoidance. You are at a crossroads, facing a difficult decision. This card often indicates a refusal to see the truth of a situation, leading to a stalemate.

Three of Swords

Keywords: Heartbreak, sorrow, grief, painful truth. Represents painful separation, sorrow, or a heartbreaking truth. While difficult, this clarity is necessary for healing to begin.

Four of Swords

Keywords: Rest, recuperation, contemplation, retreat. A need for rest and mental recuperation. This is a time to retreat, recharge your mind, and prepare for future challenges.

Five of Swords

Keywords: Conflict, defeat, winning at all costs, betrayal. A conflict where there is no real winner. It can signify betrayal, winning at another's expense, and the need to choose your battles wisely.

Six of Swords

Keywords: Transition, moving on, release, a rite of passage. A journey away from a difficult situation toward a calmer, more hopeful future. It is about releasing the past and moving forward.

Seven of Swords

Keywords: Deception, betrayal, strategy, acting alone. This card can represent deception, theft, or trying to get away with something. It advises a strategic, but not necessarily honest, approach.

Eight of Swords

Keywords: Self-imposed restriction, feeling trapped, limiting beliefs. You feel trapped and restricted, but these limitations are often self-imposed. This card is a call to change your perspective to see the way out.

Nine of Swords

Keywords: Anxiety, worry, fear, nightmares, despair. The card of mental anguish, worry, and fear. These dark thoughts are often exaggerated and can be overcome by seeking help and facing the truth.

Ten of Swords

Keywords: Painful endings, betrayal, rock bottom, crisis. A dramatic and painful ending. While it represents a rock-bottom moment, it also signifies that the worst is over, and a new cycle can begin.

Page of Swords

Keywords: Curiosity, new ideas, truth-seeking, communication. Full of restless energy and a thirst for knowledge. This Page represents a desire to learn, ask questions, and communicate new ideas.

Knight of Swords

Keywords: Ambitious, action-oriented, fast-thinking, assertive. This Knight charges forward with intellectual force and ambition. He is assertive and quick to act, but can sometimes be tactless.

Queen of Swords

Keywords: Independent, clear boundaries, unbiased judgment, direct communication. A sharp-minded, independent thinker. She values truth and clarity, setting clear boundaries and communicating with direct honesty.

King of Swords

Keywords: Intellectual power, authority, truth, clarity, ethical. A master of intellect and truth. This King rules with authority, clarity, and ethical judgment. He is a just and logical leader.

After confronting the mental challenges presented by the Swords, we must ground our insights in the tangible world. This is the role of the Suit of Pentacles, which governs our physical reality.

The Suit of Pentacles: Meanings

Ace of Pentacles

Keywords: New opportunity, manifestation, prosperity, abundance. The seed of a new, tangible opportunity, often related to finances, career, or home. A chance to manifest your goals in the material world.

Two of Pentacles

Keywords: Balancing priorities, adaptability, time management. Juggling multiple priorities, often related to finances or work. This card calls for adaptability and effective time management.

Three of Pentacles

Keywords: Teamwork, collaboration, skill, craftsmanship. Success through collaboration and teamwork. Your unique skills are recognized and valued by others in a joint effort.

Four of Pentacles

Keywords: Security, conservation, scarcity mindset, control. Holding on tightly to what you have, whether it is money or possessions. This can provide security but may also stem from a fear of loss.

Five of Pentacles

Keywords: Financial loss, poverty, isolation, insecurity. A time of hardship, financial insecurity, and feeling left out in the cold. It is a reminder to seek help and know that this period is temporary.

Six of Pentacles

Keywords: Generosity, charity, giving and receiving, sharing wealth. Represents a cycle of giving and receiving. It can signify receiving a gift or loan, or being in a position to be generous to others.

Seven of Pentacles

Keywords: Patience, long-term view, sustainable results, investment. A moment to pause and assess your progress. Your hard work is planted, and now you must be patient to see the long-term results.

Eight of Pentacles

Keywords: Apprenticeship, skill development, mastery, diligence. Dedicating yourself to mastering a skill or craft. It is about hard work, attention to detail, and the pursuit of excellence.

Nine of Pentacles

Keywords: Abundance, self-sufficiency, luxury, financial independence. Enjoying the fruits of your labor. This card represents financial independence, luxury, and a confident self-reliance.

Ten of Pentacles

Keywords: Wealth, legacy, family, long-term security. Represents lasting wealth, family legacy, and long-term security. It is about building a stable and prosperous foundation for future generations.

Page of Pentacles

Keywords: New opportunities, manifestation, financial news, learning. A messenger of tangible opportunities. This Page is eager to learn and start a new project, often related to career or finances.

Knight of Pentacles

Keywords: Hard work, routine, responsibility, diligence. The most dependable of the Knights. He works diligently and methodically toward his goals, representing a responsible and routine approach.

Queen of Pentacles

Keywords: Nurturing, practical, financially secure, down-to-earth. A nurturing and practical figure who creates a warm and secure environment. She is resourceful and connected to the earth.

King of Pentacles

Keywords: Wealth, business, leadership, security, abundance. A master of the material realm. This King is a successful and dependable leader who has built an empire through diligence and practical wisdom.

Now that you have a comprehensive tarot card meanings list, the next step is to learn how to weave these individual definitions together to tell a meaningful story.

How to Read Tarot Cards for Beginners

Having a guide to the meanings of all 78 tarot cards is essential, but true interpretation comes from seeing how the cards interact within the context of a question. Learning how to read tarot cards for beginners is about building a narrative and trusting your intuition to connect the dots.

First, find a quiet space and take a few deep breaths. Hold your deck and shuffle the cards while focusing on a clear, open-ended question. Avoid yes/no questions; instead of "Will I get the job?", ask "What should I focus on to advance my career?" This approach invites guidance rather than a simple prediction.

A simple yet powerful spread for beginners is the three-card Past, Present, Future spread. Let's walk through an example.

Your Question: "What do I need to know about my career path right now?"

You shuffle, draw three cards, and lay them out from left to right.

1. Card 1: The Past - Eight of Pentacles

   • Meaning: This position represents the foundation of your current situation. The Eight of Pentacles signifies a period of hard work, diligence, and honing your skills. In the past, you have been dedicated to your craft, meticulously developing your expertise and focusing on quality work. This has built a solid foundation of competence.

2. Card 2: The Present - The Chariot

   • Meaning: This card reflects your current energy and challenges. The Chariot is a Major Arcana card, signaling a significant moment. It calls for willpower, determination, and focused action. Right now, you are being asked to take all the skills you developed (Eight of Pentacles) and drive forward with ambition. You must balance opposing forces and maintain control to achieve victory.

3. Card 3: The Future - Ace of Wands

   • Meaning: This represents the potential outcome if you continue on your current path. The Ace of Wands signifies a new spark of inspiration, passion, and opportunity. If you harness the determination of The Chariot, a new, exciting creative venture or career opportunity will present itself. This is the potential for a passionate new beginning.

Putting It All Together: The story here is clear. Your past hard work and skill development (Eight of Pentacles) have prepared you for this moment. Currently, you need to apply focused willpower and determination to move forward (The Chariot). If you do, the future holds the promise of a brand new, passionate opportunity that will ignite your creative energy (Ace of Wands).

This example shows how individual tarot card meanings combine to create a cohesive and insightful narrative. This narrative approach can be applied to anything from understanding relationship dynamics and navigating professional crossroads to overcoming creative blocks in business or artistic projects, offering guidance that is far more profound than a single definition.

Conclusion

Understanding the individual meanings of the 78 tarot cards provides a solid foundation, but the true power of tarot lies in weaving those definitions into a cohesive narrative that speaks to your unique circumstances. The Major Arcana sets the stage with life’s profound themes, while the four suits of the Minor Arcana add the rich details of our daily thoughts, emotions, actions, and material concerns. Together, they create a dynamic story that reflects our inner and outer worlds.

Looking ahead, the journey with tarot is one of continuous discovery. It is less about predicting a static future and more about empowering conscious choice in the present. The cards act as a mirror, reflecting subconscious patterns and offering perspectives you may not have considered. They are a tool for strategic self-reflection, enabling you to navigate change with greater awareness and intention, much like how a free astrology birth chart reading can illuminate your innate strengths and challenges.

As you continue your practice, trust the unique insights that arise. The real question is not what the cards will predict—but what choices you will make with the wisdom they reveal. The path to self-mastery belongs to those who can not just adapt to life’s changes, but actively co-create their future.