Tarot Card Meanings: The Complete Guide to All 78 Cards

This guide provides a summary of each of the 78 tarot cards, organized by suit. Use it as a quick reference during readings or as a starting point for deeper study.

Each card entry covers the core theme, upright meaning, and reversed meaning. For a more detailed exploration — including symbolism breakdowns, reading contexts (love, career, spirituality), and interactive quizzes — visit the individual card guide pages in our complete card library.

The Major Arcana traces the Fool's Journey — a symbolic path from innocence to wholeness. These 22 cards represent the big themes and turning points of life.

0 — The Fool: New beginnings, innocence, a leap of faith. Reversed: recklessness, fear of change.

I — The Magician: Willpower, manifestation, skill. Reversed: manipulation, untapped potential.

II — The High Priestess: Intuition, mystery, the subconscious. Reversed: secrets, disconnection from inner voice.

III — The Empress: Abundance, nurture, creativity, nature. Reversed: dependence, creative block.

IV — The Emperor: Structure, authority, stability. Reversed: rigidity, domination.

V — The Hierophant: Tradition, spiritual wisdom, conformity. Reversed: rebellion, unorthodox approaches.

VI — The Lovers: Choice, union, values alignment. Reversed: disharmony, misalignment.

VII — The Chariot: Determination, willpower, victory. Reversed: lack of direction, aggression.

VIII — Strength: Courage, patience, inner power. Reversed: self-doubt, weakness.

IX — The Hermit: Solitude, wisdom, inner guidance. Reversed: isolation, withdrawal.

X — Wheel of Fortune: Cycles, fate, turning points. Reversed: resistance to change, bad luck.

XI — Justice: Truth, fairness, cause and effect. Reversed: dishonesty, imbalance.

XII — The Hanged One: Surrender, new perspective, letting go. Reversed: stalling, resistance.

XIII — Death: Endings, transformation, renewal. Reversed: resistance to change, stagnation.

XIV — Temperance: Balance, moderation, patience. Reversed: excess, imbalance.

XV — The Devil: Shadow, attachment, materialism. Reversed: release, breaking free.

XVI — The Tower: Sudden upheaval, revelation, awakening. Reversed: avoidance of change, fear.

XVII — The Star: Hope, inspiration, serenity. Reversed: despair, disconnection.

XVIII — The Moon: Illusion, dreams, the unconscious. Reversed: clarity emerging, fears released.

XIX — The Sun: Joy, success, vitality. Reversed: temporary sadness, lack of clarity.

XX — Judgement: Rebirth, calling, self-evaluation. Reversed: self-doubt, refusal to learn.

XXI — The World: Completion, integration, wholeness. Reversed: incompletion, shortcuts.

Wands represent passion, creativity, ambition, and action. They correspond to the fire element and often relate to career, projects, and personal drive.

Ace of Wands: New creative spark, inspiration, potential. Two of Wands: Planning, future vision, making decisions. Three of Wands: Expansion, foresight, progress. Four of Wands: Celebration, homecoming, harmony. Five of Wands: Competition, conflict, tension. Six of Wands: Victory, recognition, confidence. Seven of Wands: Defensiveness, perseverance, standing your ground. Eight of Wands: Speed, movement, swift action. Nine of Wands: Resilience, persistence, last push. Ten of Wands: Burden, responsibility, overcommitment. Page of Wands: Exploration, enthusiasm, discovery. Knight of Wands: Energy, adventure, impulsiveness. Queen of Wands: Confidence, determination, warmth. King of Wands: Leadership, vision, entrepreneurship.

Cups represent emotions, relationships, intuition, and the inner world. They correspond to the water element.

Ace of Cups: New love, emotional awakening, compassion. Two of Cups: Partnership, mutual attraction, unity. Three of Cups: Friendship, celebration, community. Four of Cups: Contemplation, apathy, reevaluation. Five of Cups: Loss, grief, focusing on the negative. Six of Cups: Nostalgia, innocence, reunion. Seven of Cups: Illusion, fantasy, choices. Eight of Cups: Departure, leaving behind, seeking deeper meaning. Nine of Cups: Satisfaction, wish fulfillment, contentment. Ten of Cups: Emotional fulfillment, family harmony, happiness. Page of Cups: Creativity, intuitive messages, sensitivity. Knight of Cups: Romance, charm, imagination. Queen of Cups: Empathy, intuition, emotional depth. King of Cups: Emotional maturity, diplomacy, compassion.

Swords represent the intellect, communication, conflict, and truth. They correspond to the air element and often address challenges, decisions, and mental clarity.

Ace of Swords: Clarity, breakthrough, new idea. Two of Swords: Indecision, stalemate, avoidance. Three of Swords: Heartbreak, grief, sorrow. Four of Swords: Rest, recovery, contemplation. Five of Swords: Conflict, defeat, winning at a cost. Six of Swords: Transition, moving on, finding peace. Seven of Swords: Deception, strategy, stealth. Eight of Swords: Restriction, self-imposed limitation, feeling trapped. Nine of Swords: Anxiety, nightmares, worry. Ten of Swords: Endings, rock bottom, new dawn. Page of Swords: Curiosity, vigilance, new ideas. Knight of Swords: Ambition, action, haste. Queen of Swords: Independence, clear boundaries, perceptiveness. King of Swords: Authority, intellect, truth.

Pentacles represent the material world — finances, career, health, and physical reality. They correspond to the earth element.

Ace of Pentacles: New opportunity, prosperity, manifestation. Two of Pentacles: Balance, adaptability, juggling priorities. Three of Pentacles: Teamwork, collaboration, skill. Four of Pentacles: Security, control, possessiveness. Five of Pentacles: Financial hardship, isolation, worry. Six of Pentacles: Generosity, charity, sharing wealth. Seven of Pentacles: Patience, investment, long-term view. Eight of Pentacles: Mastery, skill development, dedication. Nine of Pentacles: Abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency. Ten of Pentacles: Legacy, family wealth, establishment. Page of Pentacles: Ambition, desire to learn, new venture. Knight of Pentacles: Reliability, hard work, routine. Queen of Pentacles: Nurturing, practicality, abundance. King of Pentacles: Wealth, business acumen, stability.

Knowing individual meanings is the foundation, but a real reading requires weaving cards into a story. Here are tips: