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A general overview of each Tarot card in the deck.
By Samantha Maffucci and Kayla Baptista — Written on Oct 27, 2020
Before delving into the world of Tarot, it's important to understand the basic makeup of a deck, as well as each of the 78 Tarot card's upright and reversed meanings.
The list of Tarot cards below offers an introduction to the 78 cards found in a typical deck, including the 22 cards in the Major Arcana and the 56 cards in the Minor Arcana.
While today most of us only known Tarot card readings as a way of predicting of the future or understanding our present situation, Tarot cards, invented in 15th century Italy, were historically used to play games, including Tarocchini in Italy, Königrufen in Austria, and jeu de tarot in France.
The first record of Tarot decks back dates to 1440. Standard playing cards were decorated with hand-painted illustrations and called triumph cards, which we now refer to as trump cards. The original assortment of suits and trump suits later became known as the Minor Arcana and Major Arcana, respectively.
By the end of the 18th century, the use of Tarot cards for divination and the occult had begun to be popularized in France.
As mentioned above, each deck of Tarot cards is made of Major Arcana and Minor Arcana cards. As the name implies, the Major Arcana focuses on major life events, which the Minor Arcana is made up of four suits that deal with life's everyday events.
List of 78 Tarot Cards and Their Meanings
Major Arcana
Because the Major Arcana deals with the greatest events in life, these cards are considered to be the most important in a Tarot card reading.
Numbered from 0 to 21, the order tells an allegorical story, beginning with the Fool as a metaphor for your life’s journey, as well as the problems and phases you’ll experience.
0. The Fool
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The Fool represents the start of a new journey filled with opportunities and an optimistic outlook. Receiving this card also provides a reminder not to rush ahead, being aware of what you don’t know, and following the path to self-realization.
Upright meaning: New beginnings, spontaneity, leap of faith, innocence
Reversed meaning: Folly, recklessness, bad judgment, chaos
1. The Magician
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The second card of the Major Arcana, the Magician symbolizes talent, sacrifice, mystery and knowledge. It can also indicate bad health and loss in a metaphorical sense; it’s loss of ability or dignity brought on by taking the wrong direction.
Upright meaning: Power, skill, manifestation, concentration, willpower, psychic powers
Reversed meaning: Bad planning, manipulation, greed, untrustworthiness
2. The High Priestess
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In a Tarot card reading, the High Priestess has great significance in terms of our intuition and trusting our gut. To receive this spiritual divine card symbolizes the need to trust your intuition, and if you’re blocking it.
Upright meaning: Truth, Intuition, subconscious mind, higher power or self
Reversed meaning: Repressed feelings, frustration, mental blocks, holding secrets
3. The Empress
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The Empress holds a powerful message dedicated to divine feminine energy. A call to womanhood and motherhood, receiving this card symbolizes the need to indulge in your nurturing side and home life, as well as taking a new path of spirituality.
Upright meaning: Divine femininity, motherhood, creativity, pregnancy, womanhood
Reversed meaning: Insecurity, trouble conceiving, lack of growth, domineering
4. The Emperor
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The Emperor is a symbol of leadership and the desire to attract a strong mate. This leader is also a symbol of wisdom, only attainable through life experiences. He’s the Father archetype, where the Empress is the Mother.
Upright meaning: Stability, control, discipline, a father figure
Reversed meaning: Stubborn, reckless, lack of control, inflexibility
5. The Hierophant
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The sixth card in the Major Arcana, receiving the Hierophant means tradition, the old way of doing things, and aligning with a large institution to achieve your goals. His purpose is to set you in the right direction to find your truth with the help of his guidance.
Upright meaning: Traditional values, religion, commitment, conformity
Reversed meaning: Freedom, challenging traditions, role-reversal
6. The Lovers
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To receive the Lovers Tarot card means you have a decision to make, and two paths to choose from. With this crossroads, this card encourages finding balance in yourself, despite uncertainty with those in your life.
Upright meaning: Harmony, love, complementary energy, attraction
Reversed meaning: Imbalance, fear of commitment, coldness, failure
7. The Chariot
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The Chariot represents the need to push forward and be unwavering, as well as overcoming challenges. It can mean good things will come to us, but it’s also a reminder that we must do the work to reap the benefits.
Upright meaning: Success, persistence, strength, ambition, overcoming obstacles
Reversed meaning: Lack of direction, lack of willpower, being out of control
8. Strength
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Just as the word suggests, Strength indicates courage and an upcoming victory. This card presents itself when we need a reminder to push forward, and that we will see success if we put our all into something.
Upright meaning: Good health, inner strength, courage, bravery, compassion
Reversed meaning: Weakness, lack of confidence, vulnerability, insecurity
9. The Hermit
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When you receive this card in a reading, the Hermit means you need to connect with yourself, taking a step back to prepare for a task that needs wisdom and strength. It’s a need to retreat and find spiritual renewal.
Upright meaning: Introspection, looking inward, inner guidance, spiritual enlightenment
Reversed meaning: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal
10. Wheel of Fortune
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Just like its name, the Wheel of Fortune card symbolizes an opportunity coming your way. But it’s all about what you choose to do with the opportunity that will determine the outcome.
Upright meaning: Good luck, soulmates, good karma, taking positive risks
Reversed meaning: Bad luck, misunderstandings, lateness, interruptions, delays
11. Justice
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A symbol of fairness and balance, the Justice card appears as a reminder to trust your intuition, just like the High Priestess. This card represents the need to make decisions using logic, as well as clarity.
Upright meaning: Justice, law, karmic justice, truth, honesty
Reversed meaning: Dishonesty, poor treatment, imbalance
12. The Hanged Man
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The Hanged Man symbolizes waiting on someone else, and feeling impatient. It appears when you need to take a step back and realize what you have in your life, the consequences of your choices, and accepting your situations without expecting something different.
Upright meaning: Uncertainty, surrender, lack of direction
Reversed meaning: Indecision, stagnation, apathy, resistance, detachment
13. Death
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While you may think the Death card is a bad sign, it actually symbolizes the start of a new beginning; one chapter is ending so another can begin. It’s a chance to welcome in new energy or circumstances, removing all that no longer serve us.
Upright meaning: New beginnings, transitions, unexpected change, spiritual transformation
Reversed meaning: Inability to move forward, resistance to change, fear, unhealthy patterns
14. Temperance
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Though Temperance symbolizes thinking and worry, it is also a welcome sign and means attaining balance in life after the challenges. To receive this card means to do the best you can, every day, for true peace.
Upright meaning: Balance, inner peace, soulmate connections
Reversed meaning: Imbalance, chaos, closed-mindedness, lack of caring
15. The Devil
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The Devil appears when you have fallen into bad habits and lean on your vices. It’s a warning to be weary of difficult situations, as things are not what they seem.
Upright meaning: Dishonesty, abuse, immoral activity, mental health issues
Reversed meaning: Independence, freedom, insight
16. The Tower
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A card of sudden trouble, the Tower means that change is coming and it’s impossible to avoid, no matter how unpleasant it may be. It also symbolizes the truth coming out, as well as reaching the point of no return.
Upright meaning: Chaos, disaster, transformation, unexpected change
Reversed meaning: Avoiding change, delaying inevitable situations
17. The Star
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Receiving the Star Tarot card in a reading means you should pay attention to your spirituality, as you are being gifted with opportunity and blessings. It’s also associated with angels and positive omens.
Upright meaning: Hope, faith, creativity, spirituality, inspiration
Reversed meaning: Disconnection, despair, lack of creativity, lack of inspiration
18. The Moon
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In Tarot, the Moon is a chance to try again, accepting fate or changing yourself for the better. It’s an indicator that balance is needed in life if you want good things to come your way.
Upright meaning: Uncertainty, illusion, confusion, secrets, instability, fear
Reversed meaning: Repressed emotion, subsiding anxiety, truth, composure, clarity
19. The Sun
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As a metaphorical and literal source of light, the Sun card means good times, even during adversity. Good fortune is in the future, as is a warning to stop straining yourself.
Upright meaning: Confidence, good luck, truth, success, positivity
Reversed meaning: Indifference, pessimism, conceit
20. Judgement
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When you receive the Judgement card, it symbolizes the need to think for yourself, giving us the push to make better decisions and free yourself from inner turmoil.
Upright meaning: Self-awareness, forgiveness, new beginnings, closure
Reversed meaning: Indecision, self-hate, ignorance, blaming others
21. The World
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The last card of the Major Arcana, the World signifies the circle of life and the start of a new period of time. The efforts you have put in are coming to fruition, leading to completion and achievement.
Upright meaning: Achievement, positivity, creation, fulfillment
Reversed meaning: Failure, loss, stagnation, laziness
Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana is comprised of 56 cards divided into 4 suits of 14 — the Suit of Wands, the Suit of Cups, the Suit of Swords and the Suit of Pentacles. Each suit includes 10 numbered cards and four face cards: King, Queen, Knight, and Page.
Unlike the Major Arcana, which represents significant turning points in life, Minor Arcana cards deal with the everyday events of life, with the different suits and numbers pertaining to different things that can happen.
Suit of Wands
The Suit of Wands is associated with the element of fire and pertains to will, inspiration, passion and the ability to create new things. Wands bring energy and ambition into a reading, and point out your lack of direction.
Ace of Wands Meaning: New beginnings
Two of Wands Meaning: Thinking of life direction
Three of Wands Meaning: Looking ahead
Four of Wands Meaning: Celebration and safety
Five of Wands Meaning: Competition
Six of Wands Meaning: Victory
Seven of Wands Meaning: Maintaining control
Eight of Wands Meaning: Quick decision-making
Nine of Wands Meaning: Resilience
Ten of Wands Meaning: Accomplishment
Page of Wands Meaning: Exploration and freedom
Knight of Wands Meaning: Adventurous and action-oriented
Queen of Wands Meaning: Focus and courage
King of Wands Meaning: Maturity and fearlessness
Suit of Cups
The Suit of Cups is associated with the element of water and pertains to emotions, Intuition, creativity and unconscious feelings surrounding situations. This suit is connected to relationships in life, as well as imagination and fantasy.
Ace of Cups Meaning: Intuition
Two of Cups Meaning: Connection and unity
Three of Cups Meaning: Friendship and celebration
Four of Cups Meaning: Disconnect
Five of Cups Meaning: Grief and loss
Six of Cups Meaning: Healing and moving forward
Seven of Cups Meaning: Life purpose
Eight of Cups Meaning: Leaving the past behind
Nine of Cups Meaning: Emotionally stable
Ten of Cups Meaning: Fulfillment and happiness
Page of Cups Meaning: Innocence and inner child
Knight of Cups Meaning: Romance or disappointment
Queen of Cups Meaning: Comfort
King of Cups Meaning: Compassion
Suit of Swords
The Suit of Swords is associated with the element of air and pertains to logic, reason, truth, conflict, ambition and communication. This suit is connected to actions and behavior, how a person responds to situations, or what is holding them back.
Ace of Swords Meaning: Clarity
Two of Swords Meaning: Indecision
Three of Swords Meaning: Heartbreak and grief
Four of Swords Meaning: Meditation and rest
Five of Swords Meaning: Hostility and ambition
Six of Swords Meaning: Moving forward
Seven of Swords Meaning: Deception and secrecy
Eight of Swords Meaning: Feeling powerless
Nine of Swords Meaning: Anxiety and trauma
Ten of Swords Meaning: Defeat and self-sabotage
Page of Swords Meaning: Mental instability or restlessness
Knight of Swords Meaning: Impulsiveness
Queen of Swords Meaning: Intelligence and clarity
King of Swords Meaning: Control and discipline
Suit of Pentacles
The Suit of Pentacles is associated with the element of earth and pertains to the material aspects of life, especially finances, security, nature, and health. This suit is also connected to the long-term in career, home, and self.
Ace of Pentacles Meaning: New opportunities
Two of Pentacles Meaning: Changes
Three of Pentacles Meaning: Collaboration
Four of Pentacles Meaning: Frugality and limitations
Five of Pentacles Meaning: Insecurity
Six of Pentacles Meaning: Generosity
Seven of Pentacles Meaning: Diligence and hard work
Eight of Pentacles Meaning: Passion
Nine of Pentacles Meaning: Luxury or recklessness
Ten of Pentacles Meaning: Privilege and affluence
Page of Pentacles Meaning: Desire and learning
Knight of Pentacles Meaning: Responsibility and caution
Queen of Pentacles Meaning: Financial security
King of Pentacles Meaning: Abundance
How to Choose a Tarot Deck
Though there is an endless number of decks to choose from with different variations — such as cat-themed options, decks with vampires, and even decks featuring photos from famous artists — one of the most popular is the Universal Waite deck.
In choosing the best deck for you, try picking one you feel an intuitive connection with that includes imagery you are drawn to and is made of good quality material. You should also take into account your level of experience, the complexity of the deck, and whether you want something traditional or more contemporary.
Above all, remember that it’s just hearsay that you should never buy your own deck!
Learning How to Read Tarot
At first, becoming a Tarot reader may feel overwhelming, but the more you learn about the cards, how Tarot works, and connecting the story, you’ll become more confident in your abilities.
The first step is to figure out what kind of reading you want. This means recognizing your goals and understanding that a reading can bring about truths of which you may be unaware. Think of the cards as a guide.
The next step is to understand the vocabulary of the cards themselves, and what each represents. This also includes how the meaning pertains to your life or the life of someone you are giving the reading to. Each card possesses its own unique meaning, but represents something different for everyone.
Finally, depending on the type of reading or spread you choose, once you draw the cards, piece together the unique story the cards tell. What order are they in? What are the surrounding cards? How does one particular card add to a reading? What does the combination of cards add to the story?
The most important thing to remember is to trust yourself and listen to the cards.
Samantha Maffucci is an editor for YourTango who writes trending news and entertainment pieces, and covers zodiac, relationships, and lifestyle topics.
Kayla Baptista is a writer who covers astrology, pop culture and relationship topics.