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Tarot Card Meanings: All 78 Cards Explained
Clear meanings for all 78 tarot cards — upright, reversed, love, career and yes or no — written by Meriem at PuraTarot.
Tarot card meanings describe the energy, advice and warning each of the 78 cards brings to a reading. Use the quick reference below for all 78 cards, upright and reversed. Explore the linked card guides for more detail, and use each meaning as a prompt for reflection on love, work and your own choices.
Want a quick answer first? Try the free yes or no tarot reading or a free 3-card past, present and future reading.
For reading layouts and practical examples, visit the Guidance Journal, explore the love tarot spread guide or learn how to use cards in a career tarot reading.
How to use these card meanings
A card never speaks alone. Read the meaning, then ask how it answers your question and how it sits beside the other cards in your spread. Upright cards show energy that flows openly; reversed cards often show the same energy blocked, delayed or turned inward.
The Major Arcana
The 22 Major Arcana cards, from The Fool to The World, mark the big turning points of a life: love that changes you, endings that free you, choices that set your direction.
The Minor Arcana
The 56 Minor Arcana cards are split into four suits. Cups speak about feelings and relationships, Wands about passion and action, Swords about thoughts and conflict, and Pentacles about money, work and the body.
All 78 tarot card meanings: a quick reference
These are common symbolic interpretations, rather than fixed rules. Your question, the surrounding cards and the deck you use can change the emphasis. A reversed card may describe an inner experience, a blockage or an imbalance; it does not automatically mean the opposite of the upright card.
Major Arcana: 22 cards
| Card | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|
| The Fool | Curiosity, a fresh start, taking a thoughtful leap. | Acting without preparation, hesitation, overlooking consequences. |
| The Magician | Using your skills, focused action, turning ideas into practice. | Scattered effort, manipulation, resources left unused. |
| The High Priestess | Listening inward, observing, allowing uncertainty. | Ignoring intuition, keeping unhelpful secrets, seeking clarity. |
| The Empress | Nurturing, creativity, comfort, growth. | Neglecting your needs, overgiving, creative frustration. |
| The Emperor | Structure, responsibility, dependable boundaries. | Rigidity, control, weak boundaries or unreliable leadership. |
| The Hierophant | Tradition, shared values, guidance and learning. | Questioning inherited rules, choosing a personal path. |
| The Lovers | Aligned values, connection, a meaningful choice. | Misalignment, indecision, a relationship needing honest discussion. |
| The Chariot | Direction, determination, balancing competing demands. | Losing focus, forcing progress, needing a clearer plan. |
| Strength | Patient courage, compassion, steady self-control. | Self-doubt, exhaustion, treating yourself too harshly. |
| The Hermit | Reflection, solitude, looking for your own answer. | Isolation, avoiding support, returning to connection. |
| Wheel of Fortune | Changing circumstances, cycles, adapting to opportunity. | Resistance to change, setbacks, repeating a familiar cycle. |
| Justice | Fairness, accountability, considering evidence and consequences. | Bias, avoiding responsibility, an imbalance to address. |
| The Hanged Man | Pausing, reframing a situation, releasing pressure. | Feeling stuck, delaying without purpose, resisting another view. |
| Death | An ending, transition, making room for change. | Holding on, fearing an ending, unfinished transition. |
| Temperance | Balance, moderation, integration, a sustainable pace. | Extremes, impatience, restoring balance. |
| The Devil | Attachments, compulsive patterns, examining your choices. | Recognising a limiting pattern, reclaiming agency. |
| The Tower | A disruption, a difficult truth, rebuilding foundations. | Avoiding necessary change, internal upheaval, gradual rebuilding. |
| The Star | Hope, renewal, trust built through care. | Discouragement, disconnection, finding a small source of hope. |
| The Moon | Uncertainty, imagination, feelings that need examination. | Confusion easing, confronting fears, checking assumptions. |
| The Sun | Openness, vitality, shared joy, clarity. | Joy feeling distant, unrealistic optimism, a need for rest. |
| Judgement | Reviewing your life, answering a call, making a considered decision. | Self-criticism, avoiding reflection, postponing a decision. |
| The World | Completion, integration, recognising how far you have come. | Unfinished work, a delayed conclusion, identifying what remains. |
Cups: 14 cards
| Card | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Cups | Emotional openness, affection, a new creative feeling. | Emotional depletion, blocked expression, needing self-care. |
| Two of Cups | Reciprocity, partnership, an honest exchange. | Unequal effort, disconnection, a conversation overdue. |
| Three of Cups | Friendship, celebration, supportive community. | Feeling excluded, social friction, needing healthier company. |
| Four of Cups | Reassessment, emotional stillness, noticing what you need. | Renewed interest, leaving withdrawal, considering an offer. |
| Five of Cups | Disappointment, grief, acknowledging what hurts. | Acceptance, finding support, noticing what remains. |
| Six of Cups | Memory, kindness, familiar connections. | Idealising the past, revisiting patterns, growing beyond them. |
| Seven of Cups | Many possibilities, imagination, choosing carefully. | Clarifying priorities, narrowing options, seeing through fantasy. |
| Eight of Cups | Walking away from what no longer fits. | Fear of leaving, reconsidering a departure, unfinished feelings. |
| Nine of Cups | Satisfaction, gratitude, enjoying progress. | Seeking approval, short-lived gratification, redefining enough. |
| Ten of Cups | Shared belonging, emotional harmony, supportive relationships. | Expectations in conflict, family tension, rebuilding connection. |
| Page of Cups | Curiosity about feelings, a gentle message, creativity. | Immaturity, sensitivity, finding a safe way to express yourself. |
| Knight of Cups | Romantic expression, imagination, following a meaningful invitation. | Inconsistent affection, idealisation, promises needing substance. |
| Queen of Cups | Empathy, emotional awareness, compassionate boundaries. | Overgiving, overwhelm, caring for yourself as well as others. |
| King of Cups | Emotional steadiness, diplomacy, responding with care. | Suppressed feelings, manipulation, needing grounded support. |
Wands: 14 cards
| Card | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Wands | A spark of inspiration, motivation, a new initiative. | A stalled idea, low energy, preparing before beginning. |
| Two of Wands | Planning, considering your options, looking ahead. | Fear of the unfamiliar, indecision, reviewing your plan. |
| Three of Wands | Expansion, preparation paying off, a wider perspective. | Delays, limited outlook, adjusting expectations. |
| Four of Wands | A milestone, shared celebration, feeling at home. | Unsettled foundations, a postponed celebration, finding belonging. |
| Five of Wands | Competition, disagreement, learning through friction. | Avoiding conflict, resolving tension, choosing useful debate. |
| Six of Wands | Recognition, confidence, acknowledging achievement. | Doubt, dependence on praise, private progress. |
| Seven of Wands | Standing your ground, persistence, protecting priorities. | Feeling overwhelmed, excessive defensiveness, choosing your battles. |
| Eight of Wands | Momentum, communication, developments moving quickly. | Delays, rushed messages, slowing down to coordinate. |
| Nine of Wands | Resilience, caution informed by experience, endurance. | Burnout, lowered defences, asking for help. |
| Ten of Wands | Heavy responsibilities, effort, completing a demanding task. | Releasing burdens, delegating, recognising overcommitment. |
| Page of Wands | Exploration, enthusiasm, trying a new direction. | Scattered enthusiasm, hesitation, giving an idea structure. |
| Knight of Wands | Bold action, adventure, energetic pursuit. | Impulsiveness, frustration, energy without follow-through. |
| Queen of Wands | Confidence, warmth, creative independence. | Insecurity, comparison, rebuilding confidence gently. |
| King of Wands | Vision, leadership, purposeful initiative. | Dominating, unrealistic demands, listening before directing. |
Swords: 14 cards
| Card | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | Clarity, an honest conversation, a useful insight. | Confusion, poor communication, checking your reasoning. |
| Two of Swords | A difficult choice, weighing alternatives, needing information. | Information overload, avoiding a choice, seeing a blind spot. |
| Three of Swords | Heartache, disappointment, facing an uncomfortable truth. | Recovery, expressing grief, releasing resentment. |
| Four of Swords | Rest, recovery, taking distance before responding. | Restlessness, exhaustion, returning before you are ready. |
| Five of Swords | Conflict, a victory with costs, examining how you argue. | Repair, accountability, stepping away from a destructive argument. |
| Six of Swords | Transition, moving toward calmer circumstances. | Resistance to moving on, unfinished business, gradual adjustment. |
| Seven of Swords | Strategy, discretion, questioning whether something is being avoided. | Honesty, a plan exposed, recognising self-deception. |
| Eight of Swords | Feeling restricted, beliefs narrowing your options. | Recognising choices, asking for support, loosening a limiting belief. |
| Nine of Swords | Worry, rumination, fears weighing heavily. | Seeking support, perspective returning, noticing persistent distress. |
| Ten of Swords | An ending, exhaustion, accepting that a chapter is finished. | Recovery, a slow reset, resisting closure. |
| Page of Swords | Questions, observation, curiosity, checking facts. | Gossip, defensiveness, assumptions without evidence. |
| Knight of Swords | Direct action, determination, speaking decisively. | Rushing, harsh communication, reconsidering your approach. |
| Queen of Swords | Discernment, honest boundaries, clear judgement. | Cynicism, hurt shaping decisions, balancing truth with compassion. |
| King of Swords | Reason, impartiality, responsible use of expertise. | Rigid thinking, misuse of authority, clarity without empathy. |
Pentacles: 14 cards
| Card | Upright meaning | Reversed meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ace of Pentacles | A practical opportunity, a first step, building something tangible. | A missed opportunity, insufficient preparation, checking feasibility. |
| Two of Pentacles | Balancing priorities, adaptability, managing resources. | Overload, uneven priorities, simplifying commitments. |
| Three of Pentacles | Collaboration, learning a skill, shared standards. | Poor coordination, mismatched expectations, asking for feedback. |
| Four of Pentacles | Security, conserving resources, maintaining stability. | Holding too tightly or loosening control, reviewing your needs. |
| Five of Pentacles | Hardship, feeling unsupported, recognising a need for help. | Support becoming available, rebuilding stability, accepting help. |
| Six of Pentacles | Giving and receiving, fairness, practical assistance. | Unequal exchange, strings attached, reviewing boundaries. |
| Seven of Pentacles | Patience, evaluating effort, tending long-term progress. | Impatience, wasted effort, deciding where to invest your time. |
| Eight of Pentacles | Practice, craftsmanship, steady improvement. | Perfectionism, shortcuts, reconnecting with your purpose. |
| Nine of Pentacles | Independence, enjoying earned comfort, self-reliance. | Overwork, dependence on appearances, redefining security. |
| Ten of Pentacles | Continuity, family resources, a stable foundation. | Conflicting values, instability, discussing shared responsibilities. |
| Page of Pentacles | Study, a practical goal, learning through small steps. | Procrastination, unclear goals, beginning with a manageable task. |
| Knight of Pentacles | Consistency, reliability, patient effort. | Stagnation, excessive caution, making room for flexibility. |
| Queen of Pentacles | Practical care, comfort, tending daily needs. | Neglecting yourself, imbalance between care and work. |
| King of Pentacles | Stewardship, stability, responsible leadership. | Materialism, controlling resources, reassessing your priorities. |
Using the meanings for love, work and yes or no questions
For love, ask how the card describes communication, boundaries or your own needs. For work, translate the same theme into a choice or practical next step: the Eight of Pentacles can prompt you to practise a skill, while the Two of Swords invites you to gather information before deciding. The cards cannot verify another person’s private thoughts or promise a job, relationship or financial result.
A yes or no reading is a reflection prompt, not evidence that an event will happen. Instead of assigning an absolute answer to every card, ask what supports your next step and what needs attention. Try the free yes or no tarot tool, or read the guide to clearer love tarot questions.
Detailed card guides
- The Fool Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Magician Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Empress Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Emperor Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Hierophant Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Lovers Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Chariot Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Strength Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Hermit Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Justice Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Death Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Temperance Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Devil Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Tower Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Star Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Moon Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The Sun Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Judgement Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- The World Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Ace of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Two of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Three of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Four of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Five of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Six of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Seven of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Eight of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Nine of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Ten of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Page of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Knight of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Queen of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- King of Cups Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Ace of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Two of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Three of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Four of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Five of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Six of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
- Seven of Swords Tarot Card Meaning: Upright, Reversed, Love & Yes or No
When a meaning is not enough
A dictionary of cards cannot know the person you are thinking about. If you want the cards read for your own situation, choose a personal reading and select the delivery option shown on its product page. Meriem prepares it personally and sends the listed deliverable to your order email after payment and complete intake.