Tarot card meanings — all 78 cards

A tarot card meaning is the set of themes a card raises in a spread: not a ready answer but a pointer to where to look. The Rider–Waite deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana (the big plots — choice, turning point, outcome) and 56 Minor Arcana in four suits (everyday matters: feelings, work, money, disputes). Here you will find the meaning of every card: upright and reversed, love, work, money, advice, combinations — and which event a card can mark in a spread.

How to use the meanings

First put your question into one sentence — "how will this relationship develop", "should I change jobs". Without a question a card describes a general background and the reading goes vague. Then read the card in the section you need (love, work, advice) rather than the whole article: one card answers one question.

Upright and reversed. An upright card means the theme is in force and events run their course. A reversed card usually means the same theme with interference: a delay, a weakening, a skew — rather than the opposite. If you do not turn cards when you shuffle, read only the upright meanings — that is enough.

Cards are tendencies, not a verdict. A spread shows where a situation leads given the present state of things and your decisions. Change the decision and the picture changes. That is why every meaning has an "as advice" block: it matters more than the prediction.

Event markers. Experienced readers know which cards signal a specific event (pregnancy, a court case, a breakup) even without a direct question. One card alone is never a marker; look at several cards next to each other and at the position.

Major Arcana — 22 cards

Numbered as in the Destiny Matrix (1 The Magician … 21 The World, 22 The Fool; 8 Justice, 11 Strength). Every Major Arcana card has a second article: the same arcanum as a number in your birth chart (the Destiny Matrix) — the link is inside.

The Magician you have what you needThe High Priestess not everything is on the surfaceThe Empress the harvest comes inThe Emperor order and authorityThe Hierophant tradition and the mentorThe Lovers love and a choiceThe Chariot moving forwardJustice fair and by the rulesThe Hermit time alone to thinkWheel of Fortune the turn of luckStrength quiet strengthThe Hanged Man a pause, a new angleDeath an ending, a renewalTemperance measure and blendingThe Devil dependence and moneyThe Tower a sudden shake-upThe Star hope and the futureThe Moon fog and intuitionThe Sun success and joyJudgement the verdict is inThe World the circle closesThe Fool a step into the unknown

Suit of Wands — 14 cards

Wands: fire — action, drive, work, initiative. Ace to Ten — the course of events; Page, Knight, Queen, King — people and roles.

Ace of Wands the first sparkTwo of Wands planning the next moveThree of Wands ships on the wayFour of Wands celebration and homeFive of Wands competition and argumentSix of Wands victory and recognitionSeven of Wands holding your groundEight of Wands fast newsNine of Wands the last stretchTen of Wands carrying too muchPage of Wands news and a sparkKnight of Wands bold move, fast tripQueen of Wands warm and confidentKing of Wands leader with fire

Suit of Cups — 14 cards

Cups: water — feelings, relationships, intuition. Ace to Ten — the course of events; Page, Knight, Queen, King — people and roles.

Ace of Cups the heart opensTwo of Cups two people, one wishThree of Cups a reason to celebrateFour of Cups not looking upFive of Cups grieving what spilledSix of Cups the past comes callingSeven of Cups too many cupsEight of Cups walking awayNine of Cups the wish cardTen of Cups home and familyPage of Cups a sweet messageKnight of Cups an offer with flowersQueen of Cups care and intuitionKing of Cups steady heart

Suit of Swords — 14 cards

Swords: air — thoughts, decisions, conflict, clarity. Ace to Ten — the course of events; Page, Knight, Queen, King — people and roles.

Ace of Swords a clear cutTwo of Swords eyes closed, choice pendingThree of Swords a truth that hurtsFour of Swords rest and waitFive of Swords winning at a costSix of Swords the crossingSeven of Swords sneaking off with itEight of Swords trapped by fearNine of Swords the 3 a.m. worryTen of Swords rock bottom, then dawnPage of Swords news worth checkingKnight of Swords full speed aheadQueen of Swords says it straightKing of Swords cold, clear judgment

Suit of Pentacles — 14 cards

Pentacles: earth — money, body, home, results. Ace to Ten — the course of events; Page, Knight, Queen, King — people and roles.

Ace of Pentacles a coin in handTwo of Pentacles keeping two in the airThree of Pentacles paid for your skillFour of Pentacles holding on tightFive of Pentacles out in the coldSix of Pentacles giving and receivingSeven of Pentacles waiting for the harvestEight of Pentacles work and craftNine of Pentacles your own gardenTen of Pentacles family wealthPage of Pentacles the practical studentKnight of Pentacles slow but sureQueen of Pentacles comfort and careKing of Pentacles the owner

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are in a tarot deck, and how do the Major Arcana differ from the Minor?

The Rider–Waite deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor. The Major describe big turns and states (a choice, a turning point, an outcome); the Minor describe everyday events in four themes: Wands — action and work, Cups — feelings, Swords — thoughts and conflict, Pentacles — money and home.

Do I have to read reversed cards?

No. Many readers use upright meanings only. If reversed cards do come up for you, read them as the same theme with interference: a delay, a weakening or a skew, not the complete opposite.

Can one card predict an event?

No. One card shows a theme and a tendency. An event is suggested by several cards that point the same way (markers) and by the card's position in the spread. That is why a card of the day is about the focus of the day, not about what will happen.

Which tarot cards mean love, and which mean money?

Love is the suit of Cups (the Two, Ten and Ace of Cups, the Lovers), money is the suit of Pentacles (the Ace, Nine and Ten of Pentacles). But any card can speak about love or money if that is the question: read the love or work block on the card's page. The same 22 Major Arcana also appear in the Destiny Matrix as numbers from your date of birth — a different reading, linked from every Major Arcana page.

Meanings describe tendencies and are not predictions or professional advice. Illustrations: the Rider–Waite deck (Pamela Colman Smith, 1909), public domain.