Whether you're a beginner or seasoned reader, understanding the meaning of each tarot card is essential for accurate readings. This comprehensive guide covers all 78 cards—22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana—with both upright and reversed interpretations.
The Major Arcana (22 Cards)
The Major Arcana represents life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences. These 22 cards depict the journey of the Fool through life's major milestones.
0. The Fool
Upright: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, free spirit, adventure, potential, leap of faith
Reversed: Recklessness, risk-taking, naivety, foolishness, holding back, fear of the unknown
The Fool represents unlimited potential and the courage to begin a new journey without knowing the outcome.
I. The Magician
Upright: Manifestation, resourcefulness, power, inspired action, willpower, skill, concentration
Reversed: Manipulation, poor planning, untapped talents, deception, illusion, trickery
The Magician reminds you that you have all the tools needed to manifest your desires.
II. The High Priestess
Upright: Intuition, sacred knowledge, divine feminine, subconscious mind, inner voice, mystery
Reversed: Secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal, silence, repressed feelings
The High Priestess urges you to trust your inner wisdom and look beyond the surface.
III. The Empress
Upright: Femininity, beauty, nature, nurturing, abundance, fertility, creativity, sensuality
Reversed: Creative block, dependence, emptiness, smothering, neglect of self
The Empress embodies the nurturing energy of Mother Earth and creative abundance.
IV. The Emperor
Upright: Authority, structure, control, fatherhood, stability, discipline, leadership, logic
Reversed: Domination, excessive control, rigidity, lack of discipline, inflexibility
The Emperor represents masculine energy, structure, and the establishment of order.
V. The Hierophant
Upright: Spiritual wisdom, religious beliefs, conformity, tradition, institutions, mentorship
Reversed: Personal beliefs, freedom, challenging the status quo, non-conformity, new methods
The Hierophant connects us to sacred traditions and established spiritual teachings.
VI. The Lovers
Upright: Love, harmony, relationships, values alignment, choices, union, partnerships
Reversed: Self-love, disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values, difficult choices
The Lovers represents not just romantic love, but meaningful choices and personal values.
VII. The Chariot
Upright: Control, willpower, success, determination, ambition, direction, victory through effort
Reversed: Self-discipline issues, opposition, lack of direction, aggression, scattered energy
The Chariot signals triumph through focused determination and unwavering will.
VIII. Strength
Upright: Courage, persuasion, influence, compassion, inner strength, patience, soft control
Reversed: Self-doubt, weakness, insecurity, raw emotion, lack of confidence, giving up
Strength reminds us that true power comes from compassion and gentle persistence.
IX. The Hermit
Upright: Soul-searching, introspection, inner guidance, solitude, wisdom, contemplation
Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, anti-social behavior, rejection, lost
The Hermit encourages a period of reflection and seeking answers within.
X. Wheel of Fortune
Upright: Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, turning point, change, fortune, fate
Reversed: Bad luck, resistance to change, breaking cycles, external forces, setbacks
The Wheel reminds us that life moves in cycles—what goes up must come down.
XI. Justice
Upright: Justice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law, clarity, accountability
Reversed: Unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty, legal complications, bias
Justice represents karmic balance and the consequences of our actions.
XII. The Hanged Man
Upright: Pause, surrender, letting go, new perspectives, sacrifice, contemplation, waiting
Reversed: Delays, resistance, stalling, indecision, avoiding sacrifice, stagnation
The Hanged Man asks you to pause and see things from a completely new angle.
XIII. Death
Upright: Endings, change, transformation, transition, letting go, release, renewal
Reversed: Resistance to change, fear of change, stagnation, decay, holding on
Death rarely means physical death—it signals profound transformation and rebirth.
XIV. Temperance
Upright: Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning, middle path, harmony
Reversed: Imbalance, excess, self-healing, re-alignment, extremes, discord
Temperance teaches the art of balance and finding the middle way.
XV. The Devil
Upright: Shadow self, attachment, addiction, restriction, sexuality, materialism, bondage
Reversed: Releasing limiting beliefs, exploring dark thoughts, detachment, freedom
The Devil represents the chains we create for ourselves through unhealthy attachments.
XVI. The Tower
Upright: Sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation, awakening, destruction, liberation
Reversed: Personal transformation, fear of change, averting disaster, resistance
The Tower brings sudden, dramatic change that ultimately leads to liberation.
XVII. The Star
Upright: Hope, faith, purpose, renewal, spirituality, inspiration, serenity, healing
Reversed: Lack of faith, despair, self-trust issues, disconnected, hopelessness
The Star brings hope, healing, and renewed faith after difficult times.
XVIII. The Moon
Upright: Illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious, intuition, dreams, confusion, deception
Reversed: Release of fear, repressed emotions, inner confusion clearing, truth revealed
The Moon illuminates our deepest fears and hidden aspects of ourselves.
XIX. The Sun
Upright: Positivity, fun, warmth, success, vitality, joy, confidence, truth, clarity
Reversed: Inner child, feeling down, overly optimistic, temporary depression
The Sun radiates pure joy, success, and the warmth of achievement.
XX. Judgement
Upright: Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution, reflection, reckoning, awakening
Reversed: Self-doubt, inner critic, ignoring the call, self-judgment, refusing to learn
Judgement calls you to rise up, answer your higher calling, and embrace renewal.
XXI. The World
Upright: Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel, wholeness, achievement, fulfillment
Reversed: Seeking personal closure, short-cuts, delays, incompletion, stagnation
The World represents the successful completion of a major life cycle.
The Minor Arcana (56 Cards)
The Minor Arcana reflects daily trials and tribulations across four suits: Wands (Fire), Cups (Water), Swords (Air), and Pentacles (Earth).
Suit of Wands (Fire Element)
Wands represent creativity, passion, energy, ambition, and spiritual growth.
Ace of Wands
Upright: Inspiration, new opportunities, growth, potential, creative spark
Reversed: Delays, lack of motivation, creative blocks, missed opportunities
Two of Wands
Upright: Future planning, progress, decisions, discovery, personal power
Reversed: Fear of unknown, lack of planning, playing it safe, bad planning
Three of Wands
Upright: Progress, expansion, foresight, overseas opportunities, growth
Reversed: Obstacles, delays, frustration, lack of progress, limited vision
Four of Wands
Upright: Celebration, harmony, marriage, home, community, reunions
Reversed: Personal celebration, inner harmony, conflict with others, transition
Five of Wands
Upright: Conflict, disagreements, competition, tension, diversity, struggle
Reversed: Inner conflict, conflict avoidance, tension release, finding common ground
Six of Wands
Upright: Success, public recognition, progress, self-confidence, victory
Reversed: Private achievement, fall from grace, egotism, lack of recognition
Seven of Wands
Upright: Challenge, competition, protection, perseverance, standing your ground
Reversed: Exhaustion, giving up, overwhelmed, yielding, admitting defeat
Eight of Wands
Upright: Movement, fast-paced change, action, air travel, swift decisions
Reversed: Delays, frustration, resisting change, internal alignment needed
Nine of Wands
Upright: Resilience, courage, persistence, test of faith, boundaries, grit
Reversed: Inner resources, struggle, overwhelm, defensive, paranoia
Ten of Wands
Upright: Burden, responsibility, hard work, stress, achievement, duty
Reversed: Doing it all, carrying burden, delegation, release, burnout
Page of Wands
Upright: Inspiration, ideas, discovery, limitless potential, free spirit
Reversed: Newly-formed ideas, redirect energy, self-limiting beliefs, spiritual path
Knight of Wands
Upright: Energy, passion, adventure, impulsiveness, fearlessness, action
Reversed: Haste, scattered energy, delays, frustration, recklessness
Queen of Wands
Upright: Courage, confidence, independence, social butterfly, determination
Reversed: Self-respect, self-confidence, introverted, demanding, jealousy
King of Wands
Upright: Natural-born leader, vision, entrepreneur, honor, big picture
Reversed: Impulsive, overbearing, unachievable expectations, ruthless
Suit of Cups (Water Element)
Cups represent emotions, relationships, feelings, creativity, and intuition.
Ace of Cups
Upright: New love, compassion, creativity, overwhelming emotion, spiritual love
Reversed: Self-love, intuition, repressed emotions, emotional loss
Two of Cups
Upright: Unified love, partnership, mutual attraction, connection, close bonds
Reversed: Self-love, break-up, disharmony, distrust, imbalanced relationship
Three of Cups
Upright: Celebration, friendship, creativity, collaborations, community, joy
Reversed: Independence, alone time, hardcore partying, gossip, overindulgence
Four of Cups
Upright: Meditation, contemplation, apathy, reevaluation, dissatisfaction
Reversed: Sudden awareness, choosing happiness, acceptance, moving forward
Five of Cups
Upright: Regret, failure, disappointment, pessimism, grief, loss, mourning
Reversed: Personal setbacks, self-forgiveness, moving on, acceptance
Six of Cups
Upright: Revisiting the past, childhood memories, innocence, joy, nostalgia
Reversed: Living in the past, forgiveness, lack of playfulness, naivety
Seven of Cups
Upright: Opportunities, choices, wishful thinking, illusion, fantasy, dreams
Reversed: Alignment, personal values, overwhelmed by choices, clarity
Eight of Cups
Upright: Disappointment, abandonment, withdrawal, escapism, walking away
Reversed: Trying one more time, indecision, aimless drifting, fear of change
Nine of Cups
Upright: Contentment, satisfaction, gratitude, wish come true, happiness
Reversed: Inner happiness, materialism, dissatisfaction, indulgence, greed
Ten of Cups
Upright: Divine love, blissful relationships, harmony, alignment, family
Reversed: Disconnection, misaligned values, struggling relationships, shattered dreams
Page of Cups
Upright: Creative opportunities, intuitive messages, curiosity, possibility
Reversed: Newly-formed creativity, emotional immaturity, insecurity, escapism
Knight of Cups
Upright: Creativity, romance, charm, imagination, beauty, grace
Reversed: Overactive imagination, unrealistic, jealous, moodiness
Queen of Cups
Upright: Compassionate, caring, emotionally stable, intuitive, in flow
Reversed: Inner feelings, self-care, self-love, co-dependency, martyrdom
King of Cups
Upright: Emotionally balanced, compassionate, diplomatic, calm, wise
Reversed: Self-compassion, inner feelings, moodiness, emotionally manipulative
Suit of Swords (Air Element)
Swords represent thoughts, words, actions, conflict, power, and truth.
Ace of Swords
Upright: Breakthroughs, new ideas, mental clarity, success, vision, truth
Reversed: Inner clarity, re-thinking an idea, clouded judgment, confusion
Two of Swords
Upright: Difficult decisions, weighing options, impasse, avoidance, stalemate
Reversed: Indecision, confusion, information overload, no right choice
Three of Swords
Upright: Heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow, grief, hurt, betrayal
Reversed: Negative self-talk, releasing pain, optimism, forgiveness, recovery
Four of Swords
Upright: Rest, relaxation, meditation, contemplation, recuperation, solitude
Reversed: Exhaustion, burn-out, deep contemplation, stagnation, restlessness
Five of Swords
Upright: Conflict, disagreements, competition, defeat, winning at all costs
Reversed: Reconciliation, making amends, past resentment, desire for resolution
Six of Swords
Upright: Transition, change, rite of passage, releasing baggage, moving on
Reversed: Personal transition, resistance, unfinished business, stuck
Seven of Swords
Upright: Betrayal, deception, strategy, sneakiness, getting away with something
Reversed: Imposter syndrome, self-deceit, coming clean, conscience
Eight of Swords
Upright: Imprisonment, entrapment, self-victimization, limiting beliefs
Reversed: Self-limiting beliefs, inner critic, releasing negative thoughts, freedom
Nine of Swords
Upright: Anxiety, worry, fear, depression, nightmares, negative thinking
Reversed: Inner turmoil, deep-seated fears, releasing worry, hope, recovery
Ten of Swords
Upright: Painful endings, deep wounds, betrayal, loss, crisis, rock bottom
Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, resisting an inevitable end, fear of ruin
Page of Swords
Upright: New ideas, curiosity, thirst for knowledge, new ways of communicating
Reversed: Self-expression, all talk no action, haste, scattered energy
Knight of Swords
Upright: Ambitious, action-oriented, driven to succeed, fast-thinking
Reversed: Restless, unfocused, burnout, aggressive, impatient
Queen of Swords
Upright: Independent, unbiased judgment, clear boundaries, direct communication
Reversed: Cold, cruel, bitterness, dependent, over-emotional
King of Swords
Upright: Mental clarity, intellectual power, authority, truth, integrity
Reversed: Quiet power, inner truth, misuse of power, manipulation
Suit of Pentacles (Earth Element)
Pentacles represent material aspects of life: finances, career, health, and physical world.
Ace of Pentacles
Upright: New financial opportunity, manifestation, abundance, prosperity
Reversed: Lost opportunity, lack of planning, scarcity mindset, instability
Two of Pentacles
Upright: Balance, adaptability, time management, prioritization, juggling
Reversed: Over-committed, disorganization, reprioritization, overwhelmed
Three of Pentacles
Upright: Teamwork, collaboration, learning, implementation, achievement
Reversed: Disharmony, misalignment, working alone, lack of teamwork
Four of Pentacles
Upright: Saving money, security, conservatism, scarcity, control, stability
Reversed: Over-spending, greed, self-protection, financial insecurity
Five of Pentacles
Upright: Financial loss, poverty, lack mindset, isolation, worry, hardship
Reversed: Recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty, finding help
Six of Pentacles
Upright: Giving, receiving, sharing wealth, generosity, charity, balance
Reversed: Self-care, unpaid debts, one-sided charity, strings attached
Seven of Pentacles
Upright: Long-term view, sustainable results, perseverance, investment, patience
Reversed: Lack of long-term vision, limited success, impatience, wasted effort
Eight of Pentacles
Upright: Apprenticeship, repetitive tasks, mastery, skill development, diligence
Reversed: Self-development, perfectionism, misdirected activity, lack of focus
Nine of Pentacles
Upright: Abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency, financial independence, success
Reversed: Self-worth, over-investment in work, hustling, financial setbacks
Ten of Pentacles
Upright: Wealth, financial security, family, long-term success, inheritance
Reversed: Financial failure, loneliness, family disputes, loss of stability
Page of Pentacles
Upright: Manifestation, financial opportunity, skill development, new ventures
Reversed: Lack of progress, procrastination, learn from failure, missed chances
Knight of Pentacles
Upright: Hard work, productivity, routine, conservatism, reliability
Reversed: Self-discipline, boredom, laziness, stuck in routine, workaholic
Queen of Pentacles
Upright: Nurturing, practical, providing financially, working parent, generous
Reversed: Self-care, work-home conflict, financial independence, smothering
King of Pentacles
Upright: Wealth, business, leadership, security, discipline, abundance, success
Reversed: Financially inept, obsessed with wealth, stubborn, materialistic
How to Use This Guide
- Daily Card Pull: Draw one card each morning and reflect on its meaning throughout the day
- During Readings: Reference this guide when you need clarity on a card's meaning
- Study Sessions: Go through one suit at a time to deepen your understanding
- Journaling: Write about how each card's energy shows up in your life
Conclusion
Understanding the 78 tarot cards takes time and practice. Each card contains layers of meaning that reveal themselves as you develop your intuition. Use this guide as a foundation, but always trust your own inner knowing when interpreting the cards.
Ready to start your tarot journey? Download Manifestly to track your daily card pulls and manifestation practice.
