Complete Tarot Card Meanings: Your Essential Guide to All 78 Cards

The tarot has been a trusted tool for spiritual guidance and self-discovery for centuries. Whether you’re just beginning your tarot journey or looking to deepen your existing practice, understanding the meanings of all 78 cards is essential for insightful and accurate readings.

A traditional tarot deck is divided into two main sections. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that represent life’s significant spiritual lessons and karmic influences. The Minor Arcana contains 56 cards split into four suits, each reflecting different aspects of our daily experiences.

The Major Arcana

The Fool
Upright: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, free spirit, leap of faith, adventure, unlimited potential
Reversed: Recklessness, naivety, poor judgment, taken advantage of, fear holding you back

The Magician
Upright: Manifestation, willpower, resourcefulness, inspired action, power, skill, creation
Reversed: Manipulation, trickery, untapped talents, poor planning, deception

The High Priestess
Upright: Intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, inner voice, mystery, spiritual insight
Reversed: Disconnection from intuition, repressed feelings, secrets, lost inner voice

The Empress
Upright: Motherhood, fertility, nature, beauty, creativity, abundance, sensuality, nurturing
Reversed: Creative blocks, dependence, neglect, smothering, lack of growth

The Emperor
Upright: Authority, leadership, structure, stability, discipline, control, protection
Reversed: Tyranny, rigidity, coldness, domination, abuse of power, lack of discipline

The Hierophant
Upright: Tradition, conformity, spiritual wisdom, education, belief systems, ceremony
Reversed: Rebellion, unconventional approaches, challenging tradition, personal beliefs

The Lovers
Upright: Love, partnerships, harmony, union, relationships, choices, values alignment
Reversed: Disharmony, misalignment of values, poor choices, imbalance, separation

The Chariot
Upright: Direction, control, willpower, determination, success, victory, ambition
Reversed: Lack of control, scattered energy, lack of direction, aggression, opposition

Strength
Upright: Inner strength, courage, compassion, patience, gentle persuasion, bravery
Reversed: Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, lack of confidence, vulnerability

The Hermit
Upright: Contemplation, inner guidance, soul-searching, solitude, spiritual enlightenment
Reversed: Loneliness, isolation, lost your way, withdrawal, paranoia

Wheel of Fortune
Upright: Change, cycles, destiny, good luck, karma, turning points, fate
Reversed: Bad luck, resistance to change, no control, clinging to control

Justice
Upright: Truth, fairness, cause and effect, clarity, law, accountability, balance
Reversed: Dishonesty, unfairness, lack of accountability, legal complications, bias

The Hanged Man
Upright: Sacrifice, new perspectives, surrender, letting go, pause, contemplation
Reversed: Stalling, resistance, needless sacrifice, fear of letting go, stagnation

Death
Upright: Transformation, endings, change, transition, letting go, new beginnings
Reversed: Resistance to change, fear of endings, stagnation, unable to move on

Temperance
Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, harmony, purpose, middle path, tranquility
Reversed: Extremes, excess, imbalance, lack of balance, overindulgence

The Devil
Upright: Addiction, materialism, bondage, attachment, restriction, shadow self
Reversed: Freedom, breaking free, release, detachment, independence, empowerment

The Tower
Upright: Sudden upheaval, chaos, revelation, disaster, awakening, destruction
Reversed: Disaster avoided, delayed disaster, fear of suffering, resisting change

The Star
Upright: Hope, faith, renewal, inspiration, spirituality, healing, serenity, purpose
Reversed: Faithlessness, discouragement, insecurity, lack of faith, despair

The Moon
Upright: Illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious, intuition, dreams, uncertainty
Reversed: Release of fear, clarity emerging, repressed emotion, overcoming anxiety

The Sun
Upright: Success, happiness, joy, vitality, confidence, warmth, positivity, truth
Reversed: Overly optimistic, unrealistic expectations, sadness, inner child issues

Judgment
Upright: Reflection, reckoning, awakening, absolution, rebirth, second chances
Reversed: Lack of self-awareness, self-doubt, inability to forgive, harsh judgment

The World
Upright: Completion, fulfillment, harmony, achievement, wholeness, travel, success
Reversed: Incompletion, lack of closure, unfinished business, seeking closure

The Minor Arcana - Suit of Wands

Represents passion, inspiration, willpower, creativity, and action.

Ace of Wands
Upright: Creation, willpower, inspiration, desire, new opportunities, enthusiasm
Reversed: Lack of energy, lack of passion, delays, creative blocks, boredom

Two of Wands
Upright: Planning, making decisions, future planning, progress, discovery
Reversed: Fear of unknown, poor planning, disorganization, bad decisions

Three of Wands
Upright: Expansion, foresight, rapid growth, progress, overseas opportunities
Reversed: Obstacles, delays, frustration, lack of foresight, limitations

Four of Wands
Upright: Celebration, community, home, harmony, gatherings, marriage, homecoming
Reversed: Lack of support, home conflicts, transience, lack of harmony

Five of Wands
Upright: Competition, rivalry, conflict, disagreements, diversity, tension
Reversed: Avoiding conflict, respecting differences, inner conflict, end of competition

Six of Wands
Upright: Victory, success, public reward, recognition, acclaim, achievement, pride
Reversed: Excess pride, lack of recognition, punishment, fall from grace

Seven of Wands
Upright: Perseverance, defensive, maintaining control, challenge, standing firm
Reversed: Giving up, destroyed confidence, overwhelmed, exhaustion

Eight of Wands
Upright: Rapid action, movement, quick decisions, speed, progress, swiftness
Reversed: Delays, frustration, panic, waiting, slowdown, resisting change

Nine of Wands
Upright: Resilience, persistence, grit, last stand, determination, courage
Reversed: Exhaustion, fatigue, paranoia, defensive, questioning motivations

Ten of Wands
Upright: Burden, responsibility, hard work, accomplishment, stress, duty
Reversed: Inability to delegate, burnt out, overstressed, releasing burdens

Page of Wands
Upright: Exploration, excitement, freedom, enthusiasm, adventure, good news
Reversed: Lack of direction, procrastination, immaturity, hastiness

Knight of Wands
Upright: Action, adventure, fearlessness, energy, impulsiveness, passion, confidence
Reversed: Anger, impulsiveness, recklessness, haste, scattered energy

Queen of Wands
Upright: Courage, determination, joy, confidence, independence, vibrancy
Reversed: Selfishness, jealousy, insecurity, demanding, low confidence

King of Wands
Upright: Natural leader, vision, entrepreneur, big picture, overcoming challenges
Reversed: Impulsive, overbearing, ruthless, arrogant, unachievable expectations

Suit of Cups

Represents emotions, feelings, relationships, intuition, and creativity.

Ace of Cups
Upright: New feelings, love, intuition, spirituality, compassion, new relationships
Reversed: Emotional loss, blocked creativity, emptiness, repressed emotions

Two of Cups
Upright: Unity, partnership, connection, attraction, mutual respect, balance, love
Reversed: Imbalance, broken communication, tension, misalignment, separation

Three of Cups
Upright: Friendship, community, celebration, gatherings, joy, collaboration
Reversed: Overindulgence, gossip, isolation, independence, alone time

Four of Cups
Upright: Apathy, contemplation, reevaluation, meditation, boredom, introspection
Reversed: Sudden awareness, choosing happiness, acceptance, new possibilities

Five of Cups
Upright: Loss, grief, disappointment, sadness, regret, despair, mourning
Reversed: Acceptance, moving on, finding peace, healing, forgiveness, recovery

Six of Cups
Upright: Nostalgia, memories, innocence, childhood, reunion, past influences
Reversed: Living in past, independence, releasing past, difficult childhood memories

Seven of Cups
Upright: Choices, fantasy, illusion, wishful thinking, options, imagination
Reversed: Alignment, personal values, clarity, making choices, blocked imagination

Eight of Cups
Upright: Walking away, disillusionment, leaving behind, withdrawal, seeking truth
Reversed: Aimless drifting, avoidance, fear of change, stagnation, surrender

Nine of Cups
Upright: Satisfaction, contentment, wish fulfillment, happiness, gratitude, luxury
Reversed: Dissatisfaction, greed, materialism, unhappiness, unfulfilled wishes

Ten of Cups
Upright: Inner happiness, fulfillment, dreams coming true, harmony, family
Reversed: Shattered dreams, broken family, disconnection, disharmony

Page of Cups
Upright: Creative opportunities, intuitive messages, curiosity, playfulness, sensitivity
Reversed: Emotional immaturity, insecurity, disappointment, creative blocks

Knight of Cups
Upright: Following the heart, idealist, romantic, charm, imagination, proposals
Reversed: Moodiness, disappointment, overactive imagination, unrealistic, jealousy

Queen of Cups
Upright: Compassion, calm, comfort, intuition, emotional security, nurturing, psychic
Reversed: Emotional insecurity, codependency, martyrdom, giving too much

King of Cups
Upright: Emotional balance, control, generosity, diplomacy, wisdom, calm, tolerance
Reversed: Coldness, moodiness, manipulation, emotional volatility, withdrawal

Suit of Swords

Represents mental energy, intelligence, communication, conflict, and truth.

Ace of Swords
Upright: Breakthrough, clarity, sharp mind, new ideas, mental clarity, success, truth
Reversed: Confusion, chaos, lack of clarity, brutal truths, overwhelming thoughts

Two of Swords
Upright: Difficult choices, indecision, stalemate, avoidance, denial, truce
Reversed: Indecision, confusion, information overload, no right choice

Three of Swords
Upright: Heartbreak, suffering, grief, sadness, emotional pain, sorrow, loss
Reversed: Recovery, forgiveness, moving on, healing, releasing pain, optimism

Four of Swords
Upright: Rest, restoration, contemplation, relaxation, recuperation, meditation
Reversed: Restlessness, burnout, stress, exhaustion, lack of progress

Five of Swords
Upright: Unbridled ambition, win at all costs, conflict, defeat, betrayal, empty victory
Reversed: Reconciliation, making amends, past resentment, ending conflict

Six of Swords
Upright: Transition, leaving behind, moving on, change, travel, recovery
Reversed: Emotional baggage, unresolved issues, resisting transition, unable to move on

Seven of Swords
Upright: Deception, betrayal, getting away with something, cunning, sneaky, theft
Reversed: Confession, conscience, keeping up appearances, coming clean

Eight of Swords
Upright: Imprisonment, entrapment, self-imposed restriction, victim mentality, powerlessness
Reversed: Self-acceptance, new perspective, freedom, release, empowerment

Nine of Swords
Upright: Anxiety, hopelessness, trauma, nightmares, worry, fear, depression
Reversed: Hope, reaching out, overcoming fear, despair, recovery

Ten of Swords
Upright: Rock bottom, painful endings, betrayal, loss, crisis, hitting bottom
Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, fear of ruin, inevitable end, rising above

Page of Swords
Upright: Curiosity, restlessness, mental energy, new ideas, vigilance, communication
Reversed: Scatterbrained, cynical, sarcastic, gossip, deception, all talk

Knight of Swords
Upright: Action, impulsiveness, defending beliefs, ambition, fast thinking, assertive
Reversed: Scattered, unfocused, impatience, aggressive, impulsive, rude

Queen of Swords
Upright: Complexity, perceptiveness, clear boundaries, independent, unbiased judgment
Reversed: Cold-hearted, cruel, bitterness, lack of empathy, harsh judgment

King of Swords
Upright: Head over heart, discipline, truth, authority, mental clarity, ethics
Reversed: Manipulative, cruel, weakness, irrational, lack of discipline, controlling

Suit of Pentacles

Represents material aspects, finances, career, health, and the physical world.

Ace of Pentacles
Upright: Opportunity, prosperity, new venture, manifestation, abundance, wealth
Reversed: Lost opportunity, missed chance, bad investment, lack of planning

Two of Pentacles
Upright: Balancing decisions, priorities, adapting to change, time management, flexibility
Reversed: Loss of balance, disorganized, overwhelmed, financial stress

Three of Pentacles
Upright: Teamwork, collaboration, building, learning, competence, craftsmanship
Reversed: Lack of teamwork, disorganized, group conflict, poor quality

Four of Pentacles
Upright: Conservation, frugality, security, saving, possessiveness, control, stability
Reversed: Greediness, stinginess, possessiveness, letting go, overspending

Five of Pentacles
Upright: Need, poverty, insecurity, hardship, isolation, unemployment, struggle
Reversed: Recovery, charity, improvement, overcoming adversity, positive change

Six of Pentacles
Upright: Charity, generosity, sharing, giving, receiving help, support, equality
Reversed: Strings attached, stinginess, power and domination, inequality

Seven of Pentacles
Upright: Hard work, perseverance, diligence, investment, patience, long-term view
Reversed: Work without results, distractions, lack of rewards, frustration

Eight of Pentacles
Upright: Apprenticeship, passion, high standards, skill development, mastery, dedication
Reversed: Lack of passion, uninspired, no motivation, mediocrity, lack of commitment

Nine of Pentacles
Upright: Fruits of labor, rewards, luxury, independence, self-sufficiency, refinement
Reversed: Reckless spending, living beyond means, false success, financial dependence

Ten of Pentacles
Upright: Legacy, culmination, inheritance, wealth, family, tradition, long-term success
Reversed: Fleeting success, lack of stability, financial failure, family issues

Page of Pentacles
Upright: Ambition, desire, diligence, manifestation, new financial opportunity, goals
Reversed: Lack of commitment, greediness, laziness, lack of progress

Knight of Pentacles
Upright: Efficiency, hard work, responsibility, routine, methodical, dedication, productivity
Reversed: Laziness, obsessiveness, work without reward, perfectionism, boredom

Queen of Pentacles
Upright: Practicality, creature comforts, financial security, nurturing, down to earth
Reversed: Self-centeredness, jealousy, smothering, work-life imbalance, self-care neglect

King of Pentacles
Upright: Abundance, prosperity, security, wealth, success, leadership, stability
Reversed: Greed, indulgence, sensuality, materialistic, financially inept, poor judgment

Conclusion

This comprehensive guide provides the foundation for understanding all 78 tarot cards. Remember that tarot is a deeply intuitive practice. While these traditional meanings offer valuable guidance, trust your own intuition and the specific context of each reading. The cards work together to tell a story, and their meanings can shift based on their position in a spread and the cards surrounding them. With regular practice and an open heart, you will develop your own unique relationship with the tarot.