The 78 Tarot Cards & Their Meanings: A Beginner's Guide

Introduction

A tarot deck isn’t just a collection of 78 cards; it’s a complete storybook of the human experience. From the epic archetypal journey of the Major Arcana to the everyday challenges and triumphs of the Minor Arcana, each card represents a chapter in a universal narrative. Understanding this intricate structure is the key to unlocking the deck’s profound wisdom.

Many beginners feel overwhelmed by the prospect of memorizing dozens of individual meanings. But what if you could learn them faster by understanding the elegant system that connects them all? This guide moves beyond a simple list of definitions. We’ll explore what the 78 tarot cards are by breaking down the deck into its core components: the hero’s journey in the Major Arcana and the practical life lessons within the four suits of the Minor Arcana.

Let’s dive into the complete list of the 78 tarot cards and their meanings, starting with the foundational structure that makes learning them both intuitive and meaningful.

Understanding the Structure of a Tarot Deck

Before diving into individual card meanings, the key to learning what the 78 tarot cards are is to first understand their structure. A standard tarot deck is not a random collection of images but a highly organized system designed for interpretation. The deck is divided into two main parts: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Grasping this division is the first and most crucial step in any beginner's guide to tarot cards.

The Major Arcana: Cards of Major Life Events

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, numbered 0 through 21. These cards represent significant life events, major themes, and profound spiritual lessons that shape our journey. Think of them as the foundational pillars of the human experience—unavoidable milestones like new beginnings (The Fool), pivotal decisions (The Lovers), and periods of deep introspection (The Hermit). They depict an archetypal narrative often called "The Fool's Journey," which follows a soul's path from innocence to enlightenment. When a Major Arcana card appears in a tarot reading, it signals that the situation at hand carries significant weight and is tied to a larger, transformative life lesson.

The Minor Arcana: Cards of Daily Life

The Minor Arcana contains the remaining 56 cards. If the Major Arcana represents the "what" of your life's major themes, the Minor Arcana represents the "how"—the daily actions, emotions, thoughts, and circumstances that shape your reality. These cards are more focused on the practical, day-to-day aspects of life, offering insight into the nuances of your current situation, the people involved, and the immediate challenges or opportunities you face. The Minor Arcana is further divided into four suits, much like a standard deck of playing cards, which helps organize these daily experiences into distinct categories of human activity.

Understanding the interplay between these two sections is fundamental. The Major Arcana provides the overarching spiritual context, while the Minor Arcana fills in the practical details of your everyday world. Having established this framework, we can now explore the powerful narrative of the Major Arcana.

The Major Arcana: The Fool's Journey

The 22 cards of the Major Arcana tell a story known as "The Fool's Journey." This narrative follows The Fool (card 0) as he embarks on a path of discovery, encountering teachers, facing challenges, and ultimately reaching a state of completion and wisdom with The World (card 21). Understanding this symbolic progression provides a powerful framework for learning the 78 tarot cards and their meanings.

Here is a list of the 22 Major Arcana cards that form the backbone of the deck:

• 0. The Fool
  • Upright: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, free spirit, a leap of faith.
  • Reversed: Recklessness, being taken advantage of, inconsideration, holding back.
• 1. The Magician
  • Upright: Manifestation, resourcefulness, power, inspired action, skill.
  • Reversed: Manipulation, poor planning, untapped talents, deceit.
• 2. The High Priestess
  • Upright: Intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, the subconscious mind.
  • Reversed: Secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal, silence.
• 3. The Empress
  • Upright: Femininity, beauty, nature, nurturing, abundance, creativity.
  • Reversed: Creative block, dependence on others, smothering, emptiness.
• 4. The Emperor
  • Upright: Authority, establishment, structure, a father figure, control.
  • Reversed: Domination, excessive control, lack of discipline, inflexibility.
• 5. The Hierophant
  • Upright: Spiritual wisdom, religious beliefs, tradition, conformity, institutions.
  • Reversed: Personal beliefs, freedom, challenging the status quo, rebellion.
• 6. The Lovers
  • Upright: Love, harmony, relationships, values alignment, choices.
  • Reversed: Disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values, conflict.
• 7. The Chariot
  • Upright: Control, willpower, victory, assertion, determination.
  • Reversed: Lack of control and direction, opposition, aggression.
• 8. Strength
  • Upright: Strength, courage, patience, control, compassion.
  • Reversed: Weakness, self-doubt, lack of self-control, raw emotion.
• 9. The Hermit
  • Upright: Soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance.
  • Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, paranoia.
• 10. Wheel of Fortune
  • Upright: Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning point.
  • Reversed: Bad luck, resistance to change, breaking cycles, misfortune.
• 11. Justice
  • Upright: Justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law.
  • Reversed: Unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty, injustice.
• 12. The Hanged Man
  • Upright: Pause, surrender, letting go, new perspectives, suspension.
  • Reversed: Delays, resistance, stalling, indecision, sacrifice.
• 13. Death
  • Upright: Endings, change, transformation, transition, letting go.
  • Reversed: Resistance to change, personal transformation, inner purging.
• 14. Temperance
  • Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, finding meaning, purpose.
  • Reversed: Imbalance, excess, self-healing, re-alignment.
• 15. The Devil
  • Upright: Shadow self, attachment, addiction, restriction, sexuality.
  • Reversed: Releasing limiting beliefs, exploring dark thoughts, detachment.
• 16. The Tower
  • Upright: Sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation, awakening.
  • Reversed: Personal transformation, fear of change, avoiding disaster.
• 17. The Star
  • Upright: Hope, faith, purpose, renewal, spirituality.
  • Reversed: Lack of faith, despair, self-trust, disconnection.
• 18. The Moon
  • Upright: Illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious, intuition.
  • Reversed: Releasing fear, repressed emotion, inner confusion.
• 19. The Sun
  • Upright: Positivity, fun, warmth, success, vitality.
  • Reversed: Inner child, feeling down, overly optimistic, lack of success.
• 20. Judgement
  • Upright: Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution, reflection.
  • Reversed: Self-doubt, inner critic, ignoring the call, indecisiveness.
• 21. The World
  • Upright: Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel, fulfillment.
  • Reversed: Seeking personal closure, short-cuts, delays.

These 22 cards lay the foundation of the tarot's wisdom by outlining the major spiritual lessons we all encounter. With this overarching narrative established, we can now explore how these grand themes play out in the practical, everyday experiences detailed in the Minor Arcana.

Breaking Down the Minor Arcana: The Four Suits

The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana are divided into four suits, each containing 14 cards: ten numbered cards (Ace through 10) and four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, and King). Each suit is connected to a specific element and governs a different sphere of human life. Understanding these associations is essential for interpreting the tarot card meanings list effectively and efficiently.

The Four Tarot Suits and Their Meanings

• Suit of Wands (Element: Fire): This suit represents passion, energy, creativity, ambition, and action. Wands cards often speak to career matters, personal projects, and the spark of inspiration that drives you forward. They are about willpower, growth, and the forward momentum needed to turn ideas into reality.
• Suit of Cups (Element: Water): This suit governs the realm of emotions, relationships, intuition, and creativity. Cups cards delve into matters of the heart, including love, friendships, and spiritual connections. They reflect how you connect with both yourself and others on a deep, emotional level.
• Suit of Swords (Element: Air): This suit is associated with thoughts, intellect, communication, challenges, and beliefs. Swords cards often represent conflict, truth, clarity, and the mental struggles we face. They highlight the power of the mind to create both breakthroughs and limitations.
• Suit of Pentacles (Element: Earth): This suit relates to the material world, including finances, work, physical health, and tangible manifestations. Pentacles cards deal with practical matters like career advancement, investments, property, and our connection to the natural world and physical-well-being.

Within each suit, the numbered cards from Ace to 10 illustrate a progression of that suit's energy—from the initial spark of the Ace to the culmination or completion of the Ten. The Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) often represent people, personality types, or different levels of mastery over the suit's energy. Let's now look at the meanings of the numbered and Court Cards within each of these powerful suits.

The Complete 78 Tarot Cards List with Their True Meanings (Minor Arcana)

Here is the comprehensive tarot card meanings list for the 56 cards of the Minor Arcana, organized by suit. This section provides the keywords you need to begin your journey of understanding the detailed stories within the tarot.

Suit of Wands

• Ace of Wands: Upright (inspiration, new opportunities, growth), Reversed (lack of motivation, delays).
• Two of Wands: Upright (future planning, progress, decisions), Reversed (fear of unknown, lack of planning).
• Three of Wands: Upright (expansion, foresight, overseas opportunities), Reversed (lack of foresight, delays).
• Four of Wands: Upright (celebration, harmony, marriage, home), Reversed (lack of support, instability).
• Five of Wands: Upright (conflict, competition, disagreements), Reversed (avoiding conflict, resolution).
• Six of Wands: Upright (public recognition, victory, success), Reversed (egotism, lack of recognition).
• Seven of Wands: Upright (challenge, perseverance, protection), Reversed (giving up, overwhelmed).
• Eight of Wands: Upright (rapid action, movement, quick decisions), Reversed (delays, frustration).
• Nine of Wands: Upright (resilience, courage, persistence), Reversed (on edge, defensive, paranoia).
• Ten of Wands: Upright (burden, responsibility, hard work), Reversed (delegating, releasing burdens).
• Page of Wands: Upright (enthusiasm, exploration, discovery), Reversed (lack of direction, procrastination).
• Knight of Wands: Upright (energy, passion, adventure, action), Reversed (impulsiveness, haste).
• Queen of Wands: Upright (courage, confidence, independence), Reversed (insecurity, jealousy).
• King of Wands: Upright (natural-born leader, vision, entrepreneur), Reversed (impulsiveness, ruthlessness).

Suit of Cups

• Ace of Cups: Upright (new love, compassion, creativity), Reversed (blocked emotions, repressed feelings).
• Two of Cups: Upright (unified love, partnership, mutual attraction), Reversed (break-up, imbalance).
• Three of Cups: Upright (celebration, friendship, community), Reversed (isolation, gossip).
• Four of Cups: Upright (meditation, contemplation, apathy), Reversed (boredom, missed opportunity).
• Five of Cups: Upright (regret, failure, disappointment), Reversed (moving on, forgiveness).
• Six of Cups: Upright (revisiting the past, childhood memories, innocence), Reversed (stuck in the past).
• Seven of Cups: Upright (opportunities, choices, illusion), Reversed (overwhelmed, lack of choice).
• Eight of Cups: Upright (disappointment, abandonment, walking away), Reversed (trying one more time).
• Nine of Cups: Upright (contentment, satisfaction, wish come true), Reversed (unhappiness, materialism).
• Ten of Cups: Upright (divine love, blissful relationships, harmony), Reversed (broken home, disharmony).
• Page of Cups: Upright (creative opportunities, intuition, curiosity), Reversed (creative blocks, emotional immaturity).
• Knight of Cups: Upright (romance, charm, imagination), Reversed (unrealistic, jealousy).
• Queen of Cups: Upright (compassion, calm, intuitive), Reversed (emotional insecurity, co-dependency).
• King of Cups: Upright (emotionally balanced, compassionate, diplomatic), Reversed (emotional manipulation).

Suit of Swords

• Ace of Swords: Upright (breakthroughs, new ideas, mental clarity), Reversed (confusion, clouded judgment).
• Two of Swords: Upright (difficult choices, indecision, stalemate), Reversed (indecision, confusion).
• Three of Swords: Upright (heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow), Reversed (releasing pain, forgiveness).
• Four of Swords: Upright (rest, relaxation, meditation), Reversed (exhaustion, burnout).
• Five of Swords: Upright (conflict, disagreements, competition), Reversed (reconciliation, making amends).
• Six of Swords: Upright (transition, change, rite of passage), Reversed (personal transition, resistance to change).
• Seven of Swords: Upright (betrayal, deception, getting away with something), Reversed (imposter syndrome).
• Eight of Swords: Upright (negative thoughts, self-imposed restriction), Reversed (self-acceptance, new perspective).
• Nine of Swords: Upright (anxiety, worry, fear, depression), Reversed (inner turmoil, deep-seated fears).
• Ten of Swords: Upright (painful endings, betrayal, loss), Reversed (recovery, regeneration).
• Page of Swords: Upright (new ideas, curiosity, thirst for knowledge), Reversed (all talk and no action).
• Knight of Swords: Upright (ambitious, action-oriented, driven to succeed), Reversed (restless, unfocused).
• Queen of Swords: Upright (independent, unbiased judgment, clear boundaries), Reversed (overly emotional, bitchy).
• King of Swords: Upright (mental clarity, intellectual power, authority), Reversed (quiet power, manipulation).

Suit of Pentacles

• Ace of Pentacles: Upright (new financial opportunity, manifestation), Reversed (lost opportunity).
• Two of Pentacles: Upright (multiple priorities, time management, prioritization), Reversed (over-committed).
• Three of Pentacles: Upright (teamwork, collaboration, implementation), Reversed (disharmony, misalignment).
• Four of Pentacles: Upright (saving money, security, conservation), Reversed (greed, materialism).
• Five of Pentacles: Upright (financial loss, poverty, isolation), Reversed (recovery from financial loss).
• Six of Pentacles: Upright (giving, receiving, sharing wealth), Reversed (self-care, unpaid debts).
• Seven of Pentacles: Upright (long-term view, sustainable results, perseverance), Reversed (lack of long-term vision).
• Eight of Pentacles: Upright (apprenticeship, repetitive tasks, mastery), Reversed (self-development, perfectionism).
• Nine of Pentacles: Upright (abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency), Reversed (financial dependency).
• Ten of Pentacles: Upright (wealth, financial security, family), Reversed (financial failure or loss).
• Page of Pentacles: Upright (manifestation, financial opportunity, skill development), Reversed (lack of progress).
• Knight of Pentacles: Upright (hard work, productivity, routine), Reversed (feeling stuck, laziness).
• Queen of Pentacles: Upright (nurturing, practical, providing financially), Reversed (financial independence).
• King of Pentacles: Upright (wealth, business, leadership), Reversed (financially inept, obsessed with wealth).

Now that you have a complete list of all 78 tarot cards with their true meanings, the next step is to move beyond lists and learn how to internalize this knowledge and apply it in a practical, intuitive way.

How to Understand the 78 Tarot Cards as a Beginner

Memorizing 78 individual card meanings can feel overwhelming and counterintuitive. The secret to how to understand the 78 tarot cards is to focus on the system that governs them, not just on rote memorization. By using the deck's inherent structure, you can learn to interpret any card with confidence.

Focus on the System, Not Just Memorization

Instead of trying to memorize a list, focus on the frameworks we've discussed. Ask yourself these questions whenever you draw a card:

• Is this a Major Arcana or Minor Arcana card? This immediately tells you if you're dealing with a major life theme or a more transient, daily situation.
• If it's a Minor Arcana card, what suit is it? This reveals the area of life being addressed (Wands for action, Cups for emotions, Swords for thoughts, Pentacles for the material world).
• What is the number on the card? This gives you a clue about its stage of development. Aces are new beginnings, Fives often represent conflict, and Tens signify completion or culmination.

Connect with the Symbolism and Imagery

Your tarot deck is rich with symbolism. Spend time with each card, especially if you have a deck like the Rider-Waite-Smith with illustrated Minor Arcana. Look at the colors, the characters' postures, the objects, and the scenery. The imagery is designed to tell a story and evoke an intuitive response. For example, the heavy burden carried by the figure in the Ten of Wands visually communicates its meaning of responsibility and being overworked far more effectively than a keyword list ever could.

Use Elemental and Numerological Clues

A powerful shortcut for learning tarot card meanings for beginners is to combine the elements and numbers to deduce a card's core message. For example:

• Five of Cups: The number five often signifies conflict, change, or loss. The suit of Cups relates to emotions. Therefore, the Five of Cups points to emotional conflict or a sense of loss.
• Eight of Pentacles: The number eight relates to mastery, progress, and skill. The suit of Pentacles relates to work and the material world. Therefore, the Eight of Pentacles suggests mastering a craft or skill through diligent work.

Start with Simple Spreads and a Journal

Consistent practice is essential for building confidence. You don't need complex spreads to start gaining valuable insights.

1. Daily Card Draw: Pull one card each morning and reflect on how its energy might appear in your day. If you don't have a physical deck yet, you can always get your free online tarot reading to start. This practice builds a personal and intuitive relationship with the cards.
2. Three-Card Spread: Use a simple Past-Present-Future spread to understand a situation's trajectory. This helps you practice telling a cohesive story with the cards.
3. Keep a Tarot Journal: Write down your readings, the cards you pulled, and your interpretations. Over time, you'll see patterns emerge and your intuitive understanding will grow significantly. This practice transforms a generic list of meanings into your own personal wisdom.

Conclusion

Learning the 78 tarot cards is less about memorizing a static list of keywords and more about understanding a dynamic, symbolic language. By grasping the deck's fundamental structure—the distinction between the Major Arcana's life lessons and the Minor Arcana's daily experiences, alongside the elemental energies of the four suits—you unlock a powerful system for intuitive interpretation. This framework transforms the cards from static images into a dynamic tool for self-reflection and insight.

Looking ahead, the true mastery of tarot comes not from books but from consistent, personal practice. Engaging with the cards daily, journaling your interpretations, and connecting with their rich symbolism will build your confidence far more than memorization ever could. Ultimately, the tarot is a mirror for the human experience, offering a language to explore our deepest truths. As you learn its vocabulary, you are not just reading cards; you are learning to read the profound and evolving narrative of your own life, empowering you to navigate your path with greater awareness and intention. For deeper exploration of this narrative, seeking accurate and insightful guidance can provide valuable perspective.