Tarot Card Meanings: A Complete Guide to All 78 Cards
All 78 tarot cards carry a meaning that deepens in context. This guide lists every card, Major and Minor Arcana, with its symbolic reading.
The 78 tarot cards each have their own meaning, which deepens in the context of a reading. This guide lists every card — from the Major to the Minor Arcana — with its symbolic meaning.
Direct answer
Tarot is made up of 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, each with its own symbolic meaning. The Major Arcana mark archetypes and milestones; the Minor Arcana describe everyday situations across four suits, Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands. Treat each card as a letter in a symbolic alphabet: it has a base meaning, but position, question and neighbours decide what it says here. This is a reference, not a verdict.
The 22 Major
Arcana These carry the most weight in a reading: when they appear, the theme is large rather than everyday. The run from 0 to 21 is called the Fool's Journey.
The Fool (0)
Beginnings, a leap of faith, spontaneity. Trust in the unknown, not foolishness.
The Magician (1)
Action and capability. Every element is already on the table.
The High Priestess (2)
Intuition and the quiet voice that speaks before reason. To go deeper, read about The High Priestess and intuition.
The Empress (3)
Creativity and abundance. The nurturing principle: what makes things grow.
The Emperor (4)
Structure and authority. Not oppression, but the frame that lets the painting exist.
The Hierophant (5)
Tradition and teaching. What you inherit from teachers, institutions and culture.
The Lovers (6)
Choice, connection, desire. Not only romance, but the decision made from the heart. For the love context, read The Lovers in love readings.
The Chariot (7)
Determination and momentum. Not speed, direction.
Justice (8) Balance, truth, consequence.
Not punishment, the scale.
The Hermit (9)
Introspection and retreat. The light that comes from within.
Wheel of Fortune (10)
Cycles, change, timing. For a longer look, read about the Wheel of Fortune in life.
Strength (11) Emotional courage.
Facing what frightens you without being devoured by it.
The Hanged Man (12)
Suspension and perspective. What you see once you stop struggling.
Death (13) Transformation and the end of a cycle.
Not physical death, and the most misread card in the deck.
Temperance (14) Balance and blending.
The art of combining without cancelling out.
The Devil (15)
Attachment and shadow. What holds you captive: habits, bonds, fears.
The Tower (16)
Rupture and revelation. What falls because it had no real foundation.
The Star (17)
Hope and renewal. The calm that arrives once the worst has passed.
The Moon (18)
Illusion and the unconscious. What you feel but cannot yet see.
The Sun (19)
Clarity, vitality, joy. What is out in the light, with nothing hidden.
Judgement (20) Reckoning and awakening.
Taking stock, then deciding who you are from here.
The World (21)
Completion and integration. Not an ending, the sum of what has been lived.
The 56 Minor
Arcana Where the Major Arcana speak of archetypes, the Minor Arcana speak of a Tuesday afternoon. Four suits, each tied to an element and an area of life.
Suit of Cups (Water — emotions and relationships)
| Card | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace of Cups | Emotional beginnings, new connection |
| Two of Cups | Meeting, partnership, attraction |
| Three of Cups | Celebration, friendship, community |
| Four of Cups | Emotional boredom, discontent |
| Five of Cups | Loss, sadness, partial grief |
| Six of Cups | Nostalgia, memory, childhood |
| Seven of Cups | Illusion, fantasy, too many options |
| Eight of Cups | Walking away, leaving behind, moving on |
| Nine of Cups | Satisfaction, personal fulfilment |
| Ten of Cups | Emotional fulfilment, family |
| Page of Cups | Emotional message, new beginnings |
| Knight of Cups | Romance, idealism, pursuit |
| Queen of Cups | Empathy, sensitivity, care |
| King of Cups | Emotional maturity, emotional authority |
Suit of Pentacles (Earth — material matters, work, money)
| Card | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace of Pentacles | New material opportunity |
| Two of Pentacles | Balancing resources, adaptability |
| Three of Pentacles | Teamwork, collaboration |
| Four of Pentacles | Security, holding on (or stinginess) |
| Five of Pentacles | Material hardship, scarcity |
| Six of Pentacles | Generosity, exchange, support |
| Seven of Pentacles | Patience, waiting for results |
| Eight of Pentacles | Dedication, skill, focused work |
| Nine of Pentacles | Material independence, reward |
| Ten of Pentacles | Prosperity, legacy, stability |
| Page of Pentacles | Practical learning, new project |
| Knight of Pentacles | Perseverance, slow progress |
| Queen of Pentacles | Practical care, security, nurturing |
| King of Pentacles | Stability, material success, provider |
Suit of Swords (Air — thought, conflict, decisions)
| Card | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | Mental clarity, decision, truth |
| Two of Swords | Stalemate, denial, difficult choice |
| Three of Swords | Heartache, rupture, hurt |
| Four of Swords | Rest, recovery, pause |
| Five of Swords | Conflict, defeat, hollow victory |
| Six of Swords | Transition, moving away, improvement |
| Seven of Swords | Strategy, deception, cunning |
| Eight of Swords | Mental imprisonment, self-limitation |
| Nine of Swords | Anxiety, insomnia, worry |
| Ten of Swords | Painful ending, rock bottom |
| Page of Swords | Curiosity, vigilance, a new idea |
| Knight of Swords | Fast action, impulsiveness |
| Queen of Swords | Sharp clarity, independence |
| King of Swords | Mental authority, fair judgment |
Suit of Wands (Fire — energy, passion, action)
| Card | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace of Wands | Inspiration, new drive, a spark |
| Two of Wands | Choosing a direction, planning |
| Three of Wands | Expansion, long-term vision |
| Four of Wands | Stability, celebration, a pause |
| Five of Wands | Conflict, competition, friction |
| Six of Wands | Recognition, victory, return |
| Seven of Wands | Defence, perseverance, standing your ground |
| Eight of Wands | Fast movement, messages, momentum |
| Nine of Wands | Resilience, watchfulness, almost there |
| Ten of Wands | Heavy burden, exhaustion, responsibility |
| Page of Wands | Enthusiasm, a new adventure |
| Knight of Wands | Passion, impulse, courage |
| Queen of Wands | Confidence, warmth, independence |
| King of Wands | Leadership, vision, creative authority |
How to interpret a card in the context of a reading
A card's meaning shifts depending on three factors:
| Factor | Example |
|---|---|
| Position in the spread | The Moon in the "present" position vs the "advice" position |
| The question asked | The Tower in a question about love vs about career |
| Surrounding cards | Death flanked by The Star and The Sun vs by The Devil and the Nine of Swords |
That's why reading tarot isn't about rote memorisation. It's the ability to place a symbol in the context of a question. The same Sun card that signals joy in a relationship reading can signal oversharing in a reading about privacy.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to memorise the meaning of all 78 cards?
No, and almost no reader does. Meanings are absorbed through practice rather than memorised. Start with the Major Arcana, add one suit at a time, and after a few weeks of regular reading the meanings start arriving before you have looked them up.
Does the meaning change from deck to deck?
The structure stays the same, but the artwork shapes the reading. The Rider-Waite-Smith has narrative imagery that makes interpretation easier for beginners. The Thoth deck leans on astrological symbolism, and the Marseille is more minimalist and asks more of the reader.
Do I have to memorise all seventy-eight meanings before I can read?
No, and trying to usually slows people down. The faster route is to learn the four suits and the arc of the major arcana, then read the card against the question you actually asked. Meaning shifts with position and context, so a memorised sentence often fits worse than a considered one.
A symbolic reading can bring clarity, but it doesn't replace therapy, medical care or psychological support.