Tarot Card Meanings: Complete 78-Card Reference Guide

Introduction: Your Quick-Reference Tarot Dictionary

You're in the middle of a reading. You draw a card. You know you've seen it before, but you can't quite remember what it means.

You need a quick reference—not a 500-page book, not a philosophical deep dive. Just the core meaning, fast.

That's what this guide is: a complete, at-a-glance reference for all 78 tarot cards.

Bookmark this page. Come back to it whenever you need a quick reminder. Use it as a study tool, a reading companion, or a memory refresher.

Each card includes:

• Upright meaning: Core themes and messages
• Reversed meaning: Blocked, internalized, or shadow aspects
• Quick keywords: For fast interpretation

Let's dive in.

How to Use This Guide

For Beginners: Read through one suit at a time. Notice patterns in the numbers (Aces = beginnings, Tens = completion).

For Quick Reference: Use Ctrl+F (or Cmd+F) to search for a specific card name.

For Study: Pick one card per day and meditate on its meaning before checking this guide.

Remember: These are core meanings. Your intuition and the card's imagery in your specific deck may add layers. Trust yourself first, then consult this guide.

The Major Arcana (0-21)

The Major Arcana represents life's big themes, spiritual lessons, and soul-level experiences.

0 - The Fool

Upright: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, leap of faith, adventure, potential

Reversed: Recklessness, naivety, foolishness, missed opportunity, fear of the unknown

Keywords: Fresh start, trust, beginner's mind

I - The Magician

Upright: Manifestation, power, skill, resourcefulness, action, willpower

Reversed: Manipulation, untapped potential, trickery, lack of focus

Keywords: "As above, so below," you have everything you need

II - The High Priestess

Upright: Intuition, mystery, subconscious, inner wisdom, secrets, divine feminine

Reversed: Ignoring intuition, hidden motives, disconnection from inner voice

Keywords: Trust your gut, look beneath the surface

III - The Empress

Upright: Abundance, nurturing, fertility, creativity, nature, motherhood

Reversed: Creative block, dependence, smothering, neglect of self

Keywords: Growth, sensuality, creation

IV - The Emperor

Upright: Authority, structure, control, leadership, stability, father figure

Reversed: Tyranny, rigidity, domination, lack of discipline

Keywords: Order, protection, masculine power

V - The Hierophant

Upright: Tradition, conformity, education, institutions, spiritual guidance, belief systems

Reversed: Rebellion, unconventional, challenging tradition, personal beliefs

Keywords: Teacher, tradition, seeking counsel

VI - The Lovers

Upright: Love, union, partnership, choices, alignment, harmony

Reversed: Disharmony, imbalance, misalignment, difficult choice

Keywords: Relationships, values, important decisions

VII - The Chariot

Upright: Victory, determination, willpower, control, success, forward movement

Reversed: Lack of direction, aggression, loss of control

Keywords: Drive, ambition, overcoming obstacles

VIII - Strength

Upright: Courage, inner strength, patience, compassion, gentle power

Reversed: Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, lack of confidence

Keywords: Taming the beast within, resilience

IX - The Hermit

Upright: Introspection, solitude, inner guidance, wisdom, soul-searching

Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, lost your way

Keywords: Retreat, reflection, seeking truth

X - Wheel of Fortune

Upright: Cycles, fate, turning point, good luck, destiny, change

Reversed: Bad luck, resistance to change, breaking cycles

Keywords: What goes up must come down, karma

XI - Justice

Upright: Fairness, truth, law, cause and effect, accountability

Reversed: Injustice, dishonesty, unfairness, avoiding consequences

Keywords: Balance, karma, legal matters

XII - The Hanged Man

Upright: Surrender, letting go, new perspective, pause, sacrifice

Reversed: Stalling, resistance, indecision, missed opportunity

Keywords: See things differently, release control

XIII - Death

Upright: Endings, transformation, transition, letting go, rebirth

Reversed: Resistance to change, fear of endings, stagnation

Keywords: Transformation, not literal death, necessary endings

XIV - Temperance

Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, harmony, alchemy

Reversed: Imbalance, excess, lack of harmony, impatience

Keywords: Middle path, blending opposites

XV - The Devil

Upright: Bondage, addiction, materialism, temptation, shadow self

Reversed: Freedom, release, breaking chains, awareness

Keywords: What enslaves you? The chains are loose.

XVI - The Tower

Upright: Sudden change, upheaval, revelation, destruction, awakening

Reversed: Avoiding disaster, fear of change, delayed upheaval

Keywords: Necessary destruction, truth revealed

XVII - The Star

Upright: Hope, inspiration, healing, renewal, faith, serenity

Reversed: Hopelessness, despair, disconnection, lack of faith

Keywords: Light after darkness, wish upon a star

XVIII - The Moon

Upright: Illusion, intuition, subconscious, fear, dreams, mystery

Reversed: Clarity, truth revealed, overcoming fear, release of anxiety

Keywords: Not everything is as it seems, trust intuition

XIX - The Sun

Upright: Joy, success, vitality, positivity, celebration, clarity

Reversed: Temporary setback, pessimism, delayed success

Keywords: Pure happiness, everything is illuminated

XX - Judgement

Upright: Rebirth, reckoning, awakening, decision, absolution

Reversed: Self-doubt, refusal to learn, harsh judgment

Keywords: Rise up, second chances, calling

XXI - The World

Upright: Completion, accomplishment, wholeness, travel, success

Reversed: Incompletion, lack of closure, seeking closure

Keywords: The cycle is complete, you've arrived

The Minor Arcana: Wands (Fire)

Suit Theme: Passion, creativity, action, ambition, energy, willpower

Ace of Wands

Upright: Inspiration, new opportunity, creative spark, potential, enthusiasm

Reversed: Lack of direction, delays, missed opportunity, creative block

Two of Wands

Upright: Planning, decisions, discovery, personal power, future vision

Reversed: Fear of unknown, lack of planning, playing it safe

Three of Wands

Upright: Expansion, foresight, overseas opportunities, progress

Reversed: Delays, obstacles, lack of foresight, playing small

Four of Wands

Upright: Celebration, harmony, homecoming, community, milestone

Reversed: Lack of support, instability, cancelled plans

Five of Wands

Upright: Conflict, competition, tension, disagreement, struggle

Reversed: Resolution, avoiding conflict, inner conflict

Six of Wands

Upright: Victory, success, recognition, pride, achievement

Reversed: Ego, lack of recognition, fall from grace, self-doubt

Seven of Wands

Upright: Defense, perseverance, standing your ground, challenge

Reversed: Giving up, overwhelmed, exhaustion

Eight of Wands

Upright: Speed, action, movement, quick decisions, momentum

Reversed: Delays, frustration, slow progress, impatience

Nine of Wands

Upright: Resilience, persistence, last stand, boundaries, courage

Reversed: Exhaustion, paranoia, giving up, stubbornness

Ten of Wands

Upright: Burden, responsibility, hard work, stress, overwhelm

Reversed: Release, delegation, lightening the load

Page of Wands

Upright: Enthusiasm, exploration, discovery, free spirit, good news

Reversed: Lack of direction, procrastination, bad news

Knight of Wands

Upright: Action, adventure, impulsiveness, passion, energy

Reversed: Recklessness, haste, scattered energy, frustration

Queen of Wands

Upright: Confidence, independence, determination, charisma, warmth

Reversed: Selfishness, jealousy, insecurity, temperamental

King of Wands

Upright: Leadership, vision, entrepreneur, honor, boldness

Reversed: Arrogance, impulsiveness, ruthlessness, high expectations

The Minor Arcana: Cups (Water)

Suit Theme: Emotions, relationships, intuition, love, feelings, connections

Ace of Cups

Upright: New love, emotional beginning, intuition, creativity, overflowing feelings

Reversed: Emotional loss, blocked creativity, emptiness, repressed emotions

Two of Cups

Upright: Partnership, union, connection, attraction, mutual respect

Reversed: Imbalance, broken relationship, disharmony, miscommunication

Three of Cups

Upright: Celebration, friendship, community, joy, collaboration

Reversed: Overindulgence, gossip, isolation, cancelled plans

Four of Cups

Upright: Apathy, contemplation, reevaluation, boredom, missed opportunity

Reversed: Awareness, acceptance, new perspective, motivation

Five of Cups

Upright: Loss, grief, disappointment, regret, focusing on the negative

Reversed: Acceptance, moving on, forgiveness, finding peace

Six of Cups

Upright: Nostalgia, childhood, innocence, reunion, happy memories

Reversed: Living in the past, unrealistic expectations, letting go

Seven of Cups

Upright: Choices, illusion, fantasy, wishful thinking, imagination

Reversed: Clarity, reality check, alignment, making a decision

Eight of Cups

Upright: Walking away, seeking deeper meaning, disappointment, transition

Reversed: Fear of change, stagnation, avoidance, return

Nine of Cups

Upright: Contentment, satisfaction, wish fulfillment, emotional stability

Reversed: Greed, dissatisfaction, materialism, unfulfilled wishes

Ten of Cups

Upright: Harmony, happiness, family, emotional fulfillment, lasting love

Reversed: Broken family, disconnection, misalignment of values

Page of Cups

Upright: Creative opportunity, curiosity, intuitive messages, new feelings

Reversed: Emotional immaturity, creative block, unrealistic ideas

Knight of Cups

Upright: Romance, charm, idealism, following your heart, proposals

Reversed: Moodiness, unrealistic expectations, jealousy, disappointment

Queen of Cups

Upright: Compassion, intuition, emotional security, nurturing, empathy

Reversed: Emotional instability, co-dependency, martyrdom, insecurity

King of Cups

Upright: Emotional balance, control, diplomacy, compassion, calm

Reversed: Emotional manipulation, moodiness, volatility, coldness

The Minor Arcana: Swords (Air)

Suit Theme: Thoughts, communication, conflict, truth, intellect, decisions

Ace of Swords

Upright: Breakthrough, clarity, new ideas, mental clarity, truth

Reversed: Confusion, chaos, lack of clarity, miscommunication

Two of Swords

Upright: Difficult decision, stalemate, avoidance, blocked emotions

Reversed: Indecision, confusion, information overload, choice made

Three of Swords

Upright: Heartbreak, grief, painful truth, sorrow, betrayal

Reversed: Healing, forgiveness, recovery, releasing pain

Four of Swords

Upright: Rest, recovery, contemplation, recuperation, peace

Reversed: Restlessness, burnout, stagnation, lack of progress

Five of Swords

Upright: Conflict, defeat, winning at all costs, tension, hostility

Reversed: Reconciliation, making amends, moving on, compromise

Six of Swords

Upright: Transition, moving on, leaving behind, travel, change

Reversed: Resistance to change, unfinished business, stuck

Seven of Swords

Upright: Deception, strategy, sneakiness, getting away with something

Reversed: Coming clean, conscience, getting caught, honesty

Eight of Swords

Upright: Trapped, restricted, victim mentality, self-imposed limitations

Reversed: Freedom, release, new perspective, empowerment

Nine of Swords

Upright: Anxiety, worry, nightmares, fear, mental anguish

Reversed: Hope, recovery, reaching out, releasing worry

Ten of Swords

Upright: Rock bottom, betrayal, ending, painful conclusion, defeat

Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, resisting end, learning from pain

Page of Swords

Upright: Curiosity, new ideas, communication, vigilance, mental energy

Reversed: Gossip, haste, lack of planning, all talk no action

Knight of Swords

Upright: Action, ambition, driven, fast thinking, assertive

Reversed: Impulsive, reckless, unfocused, aggressive

Queen of Swords

Upright: Independent, clear thinking, direct communication, perceptive

Reversed: Cold, bitter, cruel, overly emotional, harsh

King of Swords

Upright: Authority, truth, intellectual power, clear judgment, ethical

Reversed: Manipulative, cruel, tyrannical, irrational

The Minor Arcana: Pentacles (Earth)

Suit Theme: Material world, money, career, health, physical reality, security

Ace of Pentacles

Upright: New opportunity, prosperity, manifestation, abundance, potential

Reversed: Lost opportunity, lack of planning, financial loss

Two of Pentacles

Upright: Balance, adaptability, juggling priorities, flexibility

Reversed: Imbalance, overwhelm, disorganization, loss of balance

Three of Pentacles

Upright: Teamwork, collaboration, skill, learning, implementation

Reversed: Lack of teamwork, disharmony, poor quality work

Four of Pentacles

Upright: Control, stability, security, possessiveness, conservation

Reversed: Greed, materialism, letting go, generosity

Five of Pentacles

Upright: Financial loss, poverty, hardship, isolation, worry

Reversed: Recovery, improvement, charity, end of hard times

Six of Pentacles

Upright: Generosity, charity, sharing, fairness, giving and receiving

Reversed: Strings attached, inequality, debt, one-sided

Seven of Pentacles

Upright: Assessment, patience, long-term view, perseverance, investment

Reversed: Impatience, lack of reward, poor investment

Eight of Pentacles

Upright: Skill development, dedication, craftsmanship, hard work, mastery

Reversed: Lack of focus, mediocrity, shortcuts, perfectionism

Nine of Pentacles

Upright: Independence, luxury, self-sufficiency, success, abundance

Reversed: Overwork, financial dependence, superficiality

Ten of Pentacles

Upright: Legacy, inheritance, family, long-term success, tradition

Reversed: Financial failure, family conflict, fleeting success

Page of Pentacles

Upright: Opportunity, new venture, manifestation, student, ambition

Reversed: Lack of progress, procrastination, missed opportunity

Knight of Pentacles

Upright: Efficiency, routine, conservatism, methodical, hard-working

Reversed: Laziness, obsessiveness, stuck in routine, workaholic

Queen of Pentacles

Upright: Nurturing, practical, providing, down-to-earth, resourceful

Reversed: Self-care neglect, work-life imbalance, smothering

King of Pentacles

Upright: Abundance, prosperity, security, leadership, provider

Reversed: Greed, materialism, financial failure, stubbornness

How to Remember Card Meanings

Tip 1: Learn by Suit Themes

Wands = Fire = Action, Cups = Water = Emotions, Swords = Air = Thoughts, Pentacles = Earth = Material

Tip 2: Learn by Numbers

• Aces = New beginnings, potential
• Twos = Balance, partnership, choices
• Threes = Growth, creativity, groups
• Fours = Stability, foundation, structure
• Fives = Conflict, challenge, change
• Sixes = Harmony, communication, problem-solving
• Sevens = Assessment, reflection, spirituality
• Eights = Movement, action, power
• Nines = Near completion, fruition
• Tens = Completion, endings, cycles

Tip 3: Look at the Imagery

The pictures tell the story. Trust what you see before you memorize meanings.

Tip 4: Practice Daily

Pull one card each morning. Check this guide. See how it relates to your day.

Final Thoughts: Your Tarot Companion

This guide is a starting point, not a rulebook. The cards will speak to you in ways that go beyond these definitions.

Use this as a reference when you're stuck, a study tool when you're learning, and a reminder when you forget.

But always, always trust your intuition first.

The cards are a mirror. What you see in them is just as valid as what this guide says.

Now go read some tarot. You've got this.