Tarot Card Meanings

Let’s dive into some tarot card meanings. A standard tarot deck is divided into two main categories: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. Each Arcana represents certain archetypes, stories, and lessons to learned from the cards.

Major Arcana Tarot Cards

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, each representing significant life themes, spiritual lessons, or major transitions. These cards often hold deeper meaning and are interpreted as more impactful or influential than Minor Arcana cards. They are numbered from 0 to 21, starting with The Fool and ending with The World.

The Fool (0)
- Meaning: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, adventure
- Associations: Air, youth, freedom, open-mindedness
The Magician (I)
- Meaning: Manifestation, skill, resourcefulness, power
- Associations: Mercury, creativity, ambition, intention
The High Priestess (II)
- Meaning: Intuition, mystery, spiritual insight, inner voice
- Associations: Moon, subconscious, dreams, secrets
The Empress (III)
- Meaning: Fertility, abundance, nurturing, nature
- Associations: Venus, femininity, beauty, creation
The Emperor (IV)
- Meaning: Authority, structure, control, father figure
- Associations: Aries, stability, leadership, power
The Hierophant (V)
- Meaning: Tradition, conformity, morality, spiritual guidance
- Associations: Taurus, education, beliefs, ritual
The Lovers (VI)
- Meaning: Relationships, choices, harmony, love
- Associations: Gemini, union, values, attraction
The Chariot (VII)
- Meaning: Willpower, determination, victory, control
- Associations: Cancer, success, movement, ambition
Strength (VIII)
- Meaning: Courage, inner strength, compassion, patience
- Associations: Leo, resilience, kindness, self-confidence
The Hermit (IX)
- Meaning: Introspection, solitude, guidance, wisdom
- Associations: Virgo, reflection, inner guidance, retreat
Wheel of Fortune (X)
- Meaning: Change, cycles, destiny, luck
- Associations: Jupiter, fate, unpredictability, karma
Justice (XI)
- Meaning: Fairness, truth, law, balance
- Associations: Libra, cause and effect, objectivity, decisions
The Hanged Man (XII)
- Meaning: Surrender, letting go, new perspective, suspension
- Associations: Water, patience, contemplation, release
Death (XIII)
- Meaning: Endings, transformation, transition, rebirth
- Associations: Scorpio, renewal, metamorphosis, change
Temperance (XIV)
- Meaning: Balance, moderation, patience, purpose
- Associations: Sagittarius, healing, harmony, blending
The Devil (XV)
- Meaning: Bondage, materialism, temptation, shadow self
- Associations: Capricorn, attachments, control, indulgence
The Tower (XVI)
- Meaning: Upheaval, sudden change, revelation, awakening
- Associations: Mars, destruction, release, enlightenment
The Star (XVII)
- Meaning: Hope, inspiration, renewal, spirituality
- Associations: Aquarius, optimism, faith, healing
The Moon (XVIII)
- Meaning: Illusion, fear, intuition, subconscious
- Associations: Pisces, dreams, mystery, deception
The Sun (XIX)
- Meaning: Joy, success, positivity, vitality
- Associations: Sun, enlightenment, clarity, growth
Judgement (XX)
- Meaning: Reflection, reckoning, awakening, purpose
- Associations: Fire, self-assessment, renewal, truth
The World (XXI)
- Meaning: Completion, achievement, fulfillment, harmony
- Associations: Saturn, unity, cycles, culmination

Minor Arcana Tarot Card meanings

The Minor Arcana is composed of 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit corresponds to a different area of life and is further divided into cards numbered 1 to 10, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Cups: Represents emotions, relationships, and intuition.
Wands: Associated with energy, action, and creativity.
Swords: Linked to thoughts, communication, and conflict.
Pentacles: Represents material aspects, like work, money, and stability.

While the Major Arcana represents overarching themes, the Minor Arcana cards reflect day-to-day situations and more specific challenges or influences in one’s life.

Suit of Cups (Water – Emotions & Relationships)

Cups are linked to love, emotions, intuition, and connections with others. They deal with feelings and often represent relationships and self-reflection.

Ace of Cups – New beginnings in love, joy, emotional fulfillment
Two of Cups – Partnership, harmony, attraction, unity
Three of Cups – Celebration, friendship, community, support
Four of Cups – Contemplation, apathy, discontent, re-evaluation
Five of Cups – Loss, regret, disappointment, grief
Six of Cups – Nostalgia, childhood, innocence, reunions
Seven of Cups – Choices, illusions, wishful thinking, temptation
Eight of Cups – Moving on, seeking truth, introspection, leaving behind
Nine of Cups – Contentment, satisfaction, wishes coming true
Ten of Cups – Happiness, harmony, family, lasting relationships
Page of Cups – Curiosity, creativity, messages, intuition
Knight of Cups – Romance, idealism, charm, following the heart
Queen of Cups – Compassion, intuition, empathy, emotional maturity
King of Cups – Emotional balance, diplomacy, generosity, wisdom

Suit of Wands (Fire – Creativity & Action)

Wands represent inspiration, ambition, and action. They are often associated with personal growth, career, and creative endeavors.

Ace of Wands – New inspiration, potential, passion, new project
Two of Wands – Planning, decision-making, personal goals, ambition
Three of Wands – Progress, expansion, opportunities, foresight
Four of Wands – Celebration, homecoming, harmony, stability
Five of Wands – Conflict, competition, challenges, rivalry
Six of Wands – Victory, success, recognition, self-confidence
Seven of Wands – Perseverance, defending beliefs, resilience
Eight of Wands – Speed, movement, swift progress, news
Nine of Wands – Resilience, courage, persistence, final push
Ten of Wands – Burden, hard work, responsibility, stress
Page of Wands – Enthusiasm, exploration, discovery, ambition
Knight of Wands – Energy, adventure, impulsiveness, passion
Queen of Wands – Confidence, warmth, determination, sociability
King of Wands – Leadership, vision, charisma, long-term success

Suit of Swords (Air – Intellect & Conflict)

Swords relate to thoughts, communication, and conflicts. They usually symbolize challenges, clarity, and logical reasoning.

Ace of Swords – Breakthroughs, mental clarity, truth, new ideas
Two of Swords – Indecision, stalemate, difficult choices, compromise
Three of Swords – Heartbreak, grief, betrayal, sorrow
Four of Swords – Rest, recuperation, meditation, recovery
Five of Swords – Conflict, tension, loss, betrayal
Six of Swords – Transition, moving on, relief, hope
Seven of Swords – Deception, strategy, stealth, caution
Eight of Swords – Restriction, anxiety, self-doubt, feeling trapped
Nine of Swords – Fear, worry, nightmares, mental anguish
Ten of Swords – Endings, defeat, backstabbing, rock bottom
Page of Swords – Curiosity, intellect, communication, alertness
Knight of Swords – Action, assertiveness, drive, impatience
Queen of Swords – Clarity, independence, logic, honesty
King of Swords – Authority, intellect, truth, analytical thought

Suit of Pentacles (Earth – Material & Physical World)

Pentacles cover material wealth, career, and physical health. They can symbolize financial matters, work, and practical decisions.

Ace of Pentacles – Prosperity, new opportunity, financial gain, manifestation
Two of Pentacles – Balance, multitasking, adaptability, priorities
Three of Pentacles – Collaboration, skill, teamwork, quality work
Four of Pentacles – Control, security, saving, possessiveness
Five of Pentacles – Financial loss, hardship, isolation, insecurity
Six of Pentacles – Generosity, sharing, charity, support
Seven of Pentacles – Patience, investment, growth, perseverance
Eight of Pentacles – Diligence, hard work, skill development, dedication
Nine of Pentacles – Independence, self-sufficiency, luxury, achievement
Ten of Pentacles – Wealth, family legacy, long-term success, stability
Page of Pentacles – Ambition, opportunity, potential, new studies
Knight of Pentacles – Patience, responsibility, practicality, routine
Queen of Pentacles – Nurturing, resourcefulness, home, abundance
King of Pentacles – Prosperity, leadership, stability, financial wisdom

What About Reverse Tarot Card Meanings?

Not all tarot readers use reversed meanings, but they can provide added layers of depth in a reading. Reading tarot cards in reverse unlocks a deeper layer of insight, revealing hidden challenges, unexpected shifts, and untapped strengths. Rather than a negative omen, reversed cards can offer fresh perspectives on tarot card meanings.

Reading a reversed tarot card goes beyond simply interpreting the “opposite” of its upright meaning. While some readers view reversals as indicating blocks, delays, or diminished energy in a card’s traditional meaning, there are a few main ways to approach them:

Internal Influence

A reversed card may suggest that the card’s energy is present internally rather than externally. For example, the Nine of Cups reversed could mean that you need to focus on self-fulfillment or reevaluate what genuinely brings joy, rather than looking outward for satisfaction.

Blockages or Delays

Reversals often point to challenges or obstacles in an area. The energy of the card may be present but slowed down or blocked in some way. If the Chariot appears reversed, it might indicate a lack of direction or control, suggesting a need to reexamine one’s goals.

Lesson or Warning

Reversed cards can also highlight lessons or warnings, nudging the reader to reflect. For instance, a reversed Tower could signify that changes are looming and that preparation might mitigate disruption.

Subtle or Weakened Influence

Sometimes, reversals represent a milder or more subtle version of the upright meaning. The reversed King of Swords, for instance, might indicate less direct communication or a need for clarity.

Approaching reversals as nuanced variations allows for a deeper, more personalized reading and encourages reflection rather than fixed interpretations.