Tarot Card Meanings
Tarot Card Meanings: All 78 Cards, Upright and Reversed
The tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Each card carries a range of meanings, and its imagery, position, and the question you ask shape how it speaks in a reading.
Use the tables below to look up a card's upright and reversed meaning, spot it by its familiar imagery, and see how the Major Arcana can read in love and career questions. Select any card name to open its full guide.
Once you know a card's traditional meaning, the next question is often what it says about your situation. Ask your question and Tsukishiro Nagi, our AI tarot reader, will interpret the cards in context.
You can start for free without signing in and read the first half of your interpretation.
Major Arcana meanings: all 22 cards
The Major Arcana often marks a central theme, turning point, or defining stage in a situation. In the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition used here, Strength is VIII and Justice is XI.
| No. and card | Image to look for | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 The Fool | A traveler near a cliff, a white dog, a small bundle | New beginnings, freedom, possibility | Carelessness, poor planning, hesitation |
| 1 The Magician | One hand raised, four tools on a table | Initiative, skill, making an idea real | Scattered effort, empty words, untapped ability |
| 2 The High Priestess | A seated figure between two pillars, holding a scroll | Intuition, patience, private knowledge | Overthinking, assumptions, emotional distance |
| 3 The Empress | A lush landscape, wheat, a comfortable throne | Care, abundance, creativity coming to fruition | Overgiving, dependence, feeling unfulfilled |
| 4 The Emperor | A ruler in armor on a stone throne | Structure, responsibility, steady leadership | Control, rigidity, avoiding responsibility |
| 5 The Hierophant | Two followers, crossed keys at the figure's feet | Shared values, trust, guidance | Rigid rules, imposed beliefs, a values gap |
| 6 The Lovers | Two people beneath an angel, two trees behind them | Attraction, harmony, a wholehearted choice | Mixed feelings, misalignment, temptation |
| 7 The Chariot | A chariot drawn by a black and a white sphinx | Momentum, determination, overcoming resistance | Rushing ahead, conflicting aims, stalled progress |
| 8 Strength | A woman with a lion and an infinity symbol | Courage, patience, compassionate self-control | Self-doubt, strained effort, being ruled by emotion |
| 9 The Hermit | A lantern and staff on a mountain | Reflection, careful judgment, inner searching | Isolation, rumination, withdrawing too far |
| 10 Wheel of Fortune | A large wheel surrounded by symbolic creatures | A turning point, timing, opportunity | Delays, resisting change, a stagnant cycle |
| 11 Justice | A balanced scale and an upright sword | Fairness, accountability, a considered decision | Bias, unequal terms, avoiding consequences |
| 12 The Hanged Man | A person hanging by one foot, a halo around the head | A pause, a new perspective, chosen patience | Fruitless sacrifice, delay, refusing to let go |
| 13 Death | A skeleton on a white horse carrying a dark banner | An ending, transition, making room for change | Clinging to the past, resisting a necessary shift |
| 14 Temperance | An angel pouring water between two cups | Balance, cooperation, a workable pace | Extremes, friction, mismatched timing |
| 15 The Devil | Two figures chained below a horned figure | Desire, attachment, a binding pattern | Breaking free, seeing a dependency clearly |
| 16 The Tower | Lightning striking a tower as its crown falls | Sudden change, a shaken assumption, revelation | Prolonged tension, resisting what must change |
| 17 The Star | A bright star above a person pouring water | Hope, renewal, a clearer horizon | Discouragement, lost confidence, an ideal-real gap |
| 18 The Moon | The moon, a dog and wolf, a creature by the water | Uncertainty, intuition, hidden circumstances | Confusion lifting, an illusion or misunderstanding exposed |
| 19 The Sun | A child on a white horse, sunflowers | Joy, openness, visible success | Trouble enjoying a win, delays, forced positivity |
| 20 Judgement | An angel's trumpet and people rising | Renewal, a wake-up call, answering the past | Avoiding a decision, regret, ignoring a call |
| 21 The World | A dancing figure inside a wreath, four corner creatures | Completion, achievement, a full circle | An unfinished step, a delayed ending |
Major Arcana in love and career
The same card answers different questions differently. These examples show how upright and reversed cards can read when the subject is love or work.
| Card | Love: upright / reversed | Career: upright / reversed |
|---|---|---|
| The Fool | A fresh, open connection / unclear commitment | Trying an unfamiliar path / starting without a plan |
| The Magician | Making the first move / words without follow-through | Turning an idea into action / missing preparation or skill |
| The High Priestess | Feelings kept private / distance from holding back | Research and expertise / a narrow point of view |
| The Empress | Giving and receiving affection / overgiving | A project bearing fruit / settling for comfort |
| The Emperor | Taking responsibility together / one person taking control | Setting direction / rigidity or blame-shifting |
| The Hierophant | Building trust and shared plans / pressure to conform | Support from a mentor or team / outdated rules imposed |
| The Lovers | Mutual attraction and a clear choice / uncertainty between you | A values-led choice or partnership / clashing priorities |
| The Chariot | Taking action to meet / pushing too hard | Focused progress / forcing a plan without coordination |
| Strength | Growing trust at a natural pace / testing or pressuring each other | Steady perseverance / running out of energy |
| The Hermit | Time to understand your feelings / avoiding a needed conversation | Deepening expertise / carrying everything alone |
| Wheel of Fortune | A chance for the relationship to shift / timing out of sync | A change in opportunity or role / missing the moment |
| Justice | A fair, mutual agreement / unequal effort | An impartial review / a biased decision |
| The Hanged Man | Seeing the other's position / one-sided waiting | Learning through a new lens / effort with no return |
| Death | The relationship changes form / staying from habit | A role or approach ends / avoiding a needed transition |
| Temperance | Finding a shared rhythm / mismatched communication | Coordination and teamwork / an uneven workload |
| The Devil | Intense attachment / a bond that feels hard to leave | Bound to profit or habit / stepping away from unhealthy work |
| The Tower | A hidden issue comes out / tension keeps being avoided | A sudden restructure / delaying an overdue review |
| The Star | Renewed hope for the connection / disappointment with reality | A promising direction / losing sight of the goal |
| The Moon | Feelings or circumstances remain unclear / a misunderstanding starts to lift | Missing information / unknowns becoming visible |
| The Sun | Sharing happiness openly / strain behind a cheerful front | Recognition and results / success taking longer |
| Judgement | Reconsidering the relationship / unable to answer the past | A second chance or review / hesitation at a key moment |
| The World | A fulfilling stage together / one last condition remains | A completed project / final details still open |
Minor Arcana meanings: the four suits
The Minor Arcana's 56 cards describe the choices, conversations, feelings, and practical details unfolding day to day. Each suit has 14 cards: Ace through Ten, Page, Knight, Queen, and King.
| Suit | Also called / element | Common themes |
|---|---|---|
| Wands | Rods / Fire | Drive, creativity, initiative, ambition |
| Cups | Chalices / Water | Feelings, affection, empathy, connection |
| Swords | Blades / Air | Thought, communication, decisions, conflict |
| Pentacles | Coins / Earth | Work, resources, daily life, steady growth |
No suit belongs to just one topic. Pentacles in a love reading can point to the time and care invested in a relationship; Cups in a career reading can highlight trust and rapport with colleagues.
Wands: motivation and action
| Card | Image to look for | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Wands | A hand from a cloud holding a budding wand | A spark of motivation, a new challenge | Fading enthusiasm, a slow start |
| Two of Wands | A globe held above a view beyond a wall | Planning, choosing a direction, wider horizons | Indecision, staying in the safe zone |
| Three of Wands | A figure watching ships beyond three wands | Expansion, collaboration, a plan in motion | Overlooking obstacles, delayed results |
| Four of Wands | Four flowered wands and people celebrating | Belonging, celebration, a welcome milestone | Unsettled foundations, celebration postponed |
| Five of Wands | Five people competing with wooden staffs | Competition, clashing views, spirited challenge | A conflict escalating, avoiding all disagreement |
| Six of Wands | A laurel-crowned rider on a white horse | Recognition, a win, earned confidence | Feeling overlooked, overconfidence |
| Seven of Wands | A figure defending high ground from six staffs | Holding your ground, meeting resistance | Feeling overwhelmed, losing your position |
| Eight of Wands | Eight staffs flying across the sky | Fast progress, news, a message arriving | Miscommunication, delay, moving too quickly |
| Nine of Wands | A bandaged figure standing guard | Staying alert, resilience, one last effort | Exhaustion, guardedness, nearing a limit |
| Ten of Wands | A person carrying ten staffs toward a town | Heavy responsibility, taking on too much | Need to put something down, abandoning duties |
| Page of Wands | A young figure studying a wand in the desert | Curiosity, exciting news, eagerness to try | Restlessness, inexperience, scattered enthusiasm |
| Knight of Wands | A rider on a rearing horse, wand in hand | Bold action, adventure, a passionate approach | Impulsiveness, impatience, quickly cooling interest |
| Queen of Wands | A sunflower, a black cat, and a confident queen | Confidence, warmth, inspiring others | Jealousy, insecurity, making it all about you |
| King of Wands | A king with a wand and salamander motifs | Leadership, putting a vision into practice | Domineering, impatient, insisting on your own plan |
Cups: feelings and connection
| Card | Image to look for | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Cups | Water flowing from a cup held by a cloud-hand | New affection, emotional openness, inspiration | Holding feelings in, emotional depletion |
| Two of Cups | Two people raising cups toward each other | Mutual understanding, an equal bond, agreement | Mixed signals, an uneven connection |
| Three of Cups | Three people celebrating with raised cups | Friendship, shared joy, community support | Cliques, overindulgence, tension among friends |
| Four of Cups | A seated figure beneath a tree, offered a cup | Discontent, apathy, missing an offer | Renewed interest, beginning to re-engage |
| Five of Cups | Three spilled cups, two still standing behind | Loss, regret, focusing on what is gone | Noticing what remains, acceptance, recovery |
| Six of Cups | Children exchanging flowers in cups | Nostalgia, kindness, a familiar bond | Clinging to the past, moving beyond it |
| Seven of Cups | Seven cups filled with different visions | Fantasy, many choices, scattered desires | Seeing clearly, narrowing your options |
| Eight of Cups | A traveler leaving eight cups for the mountains | Leaving what no longer fulfills you, searching | Unable to leave, torn between staying and going |
| Nine of Cups | A content figure seated before nine cups | Satisfaction, a wish fulfilled, enjoyment | Taking more than you need, a hollow win |
| Ten of Cups | A family beneath a rainbow of ten cups | Shared happiness, belonging, family harmony | Friction at home, an ideal that does not fit |
| Page of Cups | A fish appearing in a young figure's cup | A sincere feeling, sensitivity, a touching message | Emotional immaturity, oversensitivity, neediness |
| Knight of Cups | A knight offering a cup on a calm horse | A heartfelt invitation, expressing affection | Empty promises, moodiness, idealizing someone |
| Queen of Cups | A queen studying a covered cup beside water | Empathy, deep care, emotional understanding | Overwhelm, dependence, giving too much |
| King of Cups | A composed king seated amid restless waves | Emotional maturity, patience, generosity | Emotional manipulation, suppression, volatility |
Swords: thoughts, words, and decisions
| Card | Image to look for | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | A hand raises a sword through a crown | Clarity, truth, a decisive breakthrough | Confusion, cutting words, a flawed decision |
| Two of Swords | A blindfolded figure crosses two swords | A pause, balance, withholding judgment | A stalemate breaks, uncertainty surfaces |
| Three of Swords | A heart pierced by three swords in rain | Heartbreak, painful clarity, separation | Healing a hurt, keeping pain bottled up |
| Four of Swords | A resting figure beneath three swords and one below | Rest, a pause, taking space | Returning to activity, being unable to rest |
| Five of Swords | One person gathers swords as two walk away | Conflict, a costly win, self-interest | Dealing with fallout, a hard reconciliation |
| Six of Swords | A boat carries people and six swords away | Transition, distance, accepting help | Stuck in place, carrying an old problem forward |
| Seven of Swords | A figure slips away with five of seven swords | Secrecy, strategy, avoiding a direct answer | A secret exposed, changing your approach |
| Eight of Swords | A bound, blindfolded figure surrounded by swords | Feeling trapped, limits, assumptions | Seeing an opening, finding room to act |
| Nine of Swords | A figure sits up in bed beneath nine swords | Anxiety, regret, a restless night | Speaking about fear, distress that lingers |
| Ten of Swords | A figure pierced by swords as dawn breaks | A painful ending, reaching a limit | Passing the worst point, beginning to recover |
| Page of Swords | A young figure watches the horizon with sword raised | Observation, gathering facts, caution | Suspicion, gossip, careless words |
| Knight of Swords | A rider charges through strong wind with sword raised | Quick thinking, directness, debate | Jumping to conclusions, aggression, forcing an issue |
| Queen of Swords | A queen holds a sword upright and extends one hand | Independence, clear judgment, healthy boundaries | Harsh criticism, coldness, shutting down |
| King of Swords | A seated king holds a sword and looks ahead | Reason, fairness, sound expertise | Using logic to dominate, biased judgment |
Pentacles: work, resources, and daily life
| Card | Image to look for | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Pentacles | A hand offers a coin above a garden path | A practical opportunity, a solid beginning | Missed opportunity, poor preparation |
| Two of Pentacles | Two coins linked by an infinity-shaped ribbon | Flexibility, juggling priorities, adaptation | Too much to manage, muddled priorities |
| Three of Pentacles | A craftsperson consults with two others | Teamwork, skill recognized, shared effort | Weak coordination, lack of skill, going alone |
| Four of Pentacles | A seated figure clutches coins at head and feet | Saving, protecting what you have, security | Holding on too tightly, loosening control |
| Five of Pentacles | Two people pass a lit window through snow | Hardship, exclusion, support out of reach | Finding help, recovery from scarcity |
| Six of Pentacles | A giver weighs coins on a scale | Generosity, support, balanced exchange | Strings attached, unequal giving and receiving |
| Seven of Pentacles | A worker pauses to study a growing plant | Reviewing progress, patience, assessing results | Effort not paying off, impatience, revising the plan |
| Eight of Pentacles | A craftsperson engraves coins one by one | Practice, diligence, building expertise | Cutting corners, monotony, losing the purpose |
| Nine of Pentacles | A figure in a vineyard with a bird on one hand | Independence, enjoying what you have built | Dependence, appearances, fear of losing comfort |
| Ten of Pentacles | A family, dogs, and an elder at a stone archway | Lasting security, family resources, legacy | Unsteady foundations, family or workplace pressure |
| Page of Pentacles | A young figure studies a coin in a green field | Learning, careful preparation, a concrete plan | Procrastination, failing to use what you learn |
| Knight of Pentacles | A still horse and rider holding a coin | Reliability, consistency, follow-through | Stagnation, stubbornness, resisting change |
| Queen of Pentacles | A queen holds a coin in a garden, rabbit nearby | Practical care, comfort, tending daily needs | Taking on too much, insecurity about stability |
| King of Pentacles | A king among vines and bull motifs | Steady success, capable management, security | Materialism, possessiveness, profit above all |
The court cards describe ways of thinking, feeling, and acting; they do not have to represent a person of a particular age or gender. Read the card alongside its position and the rest of the spread.
How do I read upright and reversed tarot cards?
An upright card appears right side up; a reversed card appears upside down. Reversals can show a card's energy blocked, overdone, delayed, or beginning to shift. The Devil reversed, for example, can speak to loosening an attachment, while the Five of Cups reversed can point toward recovery.
Start with the card's central theme, then ask how its position and surrounding cards shape that theme. A reversal is not automatically a bad outcome, and upright does not always mean an easy one.
What does the card imagery tell me?
The scene gives the card's meaning a concrete shape. In the Five of Cups, the figure mourns three spilled cups while two remain standing behind them. That image can hold grief and the possibility of a remaining connection at the same time. Notice what the figure faces, what is left out of view, and what details repeat.
For the Minor Arcana, suit and number offer a useful starting point: the suit names the area of life, while the number or court role describes a stage or way of acting. Always bring the specific image back into the reading.
How are tarot decks different?
This guide follows the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck. Marseille decks commonly number Justice as VIII and Strength as XI, and their numbered Minor Arcana cards use different imagery. Thoth and other traditions may use different names or reading conventions. Check the guidebook that came with your deck when a title or image differs.
Turn a card meaning into a reading
A card meaning is a starting point; a reading connects that meaning to a question and a position in the spread. Choose a question with a clear subject and timeframe, draw the card or cards, then consider the upright or reversed meaning alongside the surrounding cards.
If you want to see how the cards speak to your own situation, ask about what is on your mind. Tsukishiro Nagi interprets the spread in context, so you can ask about love, work, a decision, or what may happen next.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cards are in a tarot deck?
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana has four suits of 14 cards each.
What is the difference between the Major and Minor Arcana?
The Major Arcana often describes a central theme or turning point, while the Minor Arcana adds detail about everyday events, choices, and feelings. They are not a ranking of more and less important cards; together they show the larger pattern and how it is unfolding.
What does a reversed tarot card mean?
A reversed card can show blocked, excessive, delayed, or changing energy. Its meaning depends on the card and the question. The Devil reversed can indicate release from an attachment, while the Five of Cups reversed can describe recovery.
Which tarot card is the best?
There is no single best card for every question. The Sun can be encouraging for joy and success, while the World can point to completion. A card that calls for rest or a difficult decision may be the most useful answer for the situation you asked about.
Which tarot card is the worst?
Cards such as the Tower, Death, and the Devil can bring challenging themes like upheaval, endings, or attachment. Their meaning depends on what you asked: Death often marks a transition, while the Tower can reveal a structure that needs to change.
Can I read tarot with only the Major Arcana?
Yes. You can read with the 22 Major Arcana when you want to focus on broad themes and turning points. Add the Minor Arcana when you want more detail about daily events, feelings, and practical choices.
How do I learn the Minor Arcana meanings?
Learn the four suits first, then connect each card's number or court role to its image. The Eight of Pentacles, for example, shows a craftsperson working carefully on each coin, making practice and skill-building easy to recognize. Use the card's own scene instead of relying on number meanings alone.
How do I interpret a tarot card in a reading?
Start with the question and the card's position. Then consider its central meaning, orientation, imagery, and relationship to the other cards. A card in a feelings position answers what someone feels; it does not automatically answer what they will do next.
Do tarot card meanings change between decks?
The broad themes often overlap, but names, numbering, imagery, and reading methods can differ. This page uses the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition; Marseille and Thoth decks have distinct features, so use a guide written for your deck when needed.