Tarot Card Meanings: All 78 Cards, Upright and Reversed

A tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana for life's big themes and 56 Minor Arcana across four suits.

Use tarot as a tool for reflection rather than prediction.

Major Arcana

• The Fool: new beginnings, spontaneity, a leap of faith. Fool tarot card meaning
• The Magician: skill, willpower, making things happen. Magician tarot card meaning
• The High Priestess: intuition, mystery, inner knowledge. High priestess tarot card meaning
• The Empress: abundance, nurturing, creativity. Empress tarot card meaning
• The Emperor: structure, authority, stability. Emperor tarot card meaning
• The Hierophant: tradition, guidance, shared values. Hierophant tarot card meaning
• The Lovers: love, harmony, important choices. Lovers tarot card meaning
• The Chariot: determination, control, victory. Chariot tarot card meaning
• Strength: courage, compassion, inner strength. Strength tarot card meaning
• The Hermit: reflection, solitude, inner guidance. Hermit tarot card meaning
• Wheel of Fortune: cycles, luck, turning points. Wheel of fortune tarot card meaning
• Justice: fairness, truth, cause and effect. Justice tarot card meaning
• The Hanged Man: pause, surrender, new perspective. Hanged man tarot card meaning
• Death: endings, transformation, transition. Death tarot card meaning
• Temperance: balance, moderation, patience. Temperance tarot card meaning
• The Devil: temptation, attachment, restriction. Devil tarot card meaning
• The Tower: sudden change, upheaval, revelation. Tower tarot card meaning
• The Star: hope, renewal, inspiration. Star tarot card meaning
• The Moon: uncertainty, illusion, intuition. Moon tarot card meaning
• The Sun: joy, success, positivity. Sun tarot card meaning
• Judgement: reflection, reckoning, awakening. Judgement tarot card meaning
• The World: completion, achievement, fulfilment. World tarot card meaning

Suit of Wands (energy, passion and ambition)

• Ace of Wands: inspiration, new ventures, spark. Ace of wands tarot card meaning
• Two of Wands: planning, decisions, future vision. Two of wands tarot card meaning
• Three of Wands: expansion, foresight, progress. Three of wands tarot card meaning
• Four of Wands: celebration, home, harmony. Four of wands tarot card meaning
• Five of Wands: competition, conflict, rivalry. Five of wands tarot card meaning
• Six of Wands: victory, recognition, success. Six of wands tarot card meaning
• Seven of Wands: standing your ground, perseverance. Seven of wands tarot card meaning
• Eight of Wands: speed, movement, swift action. Eight of wands tarot card meaning
• Nine of Wands: resilience, persistence, last push. Nine of wands tarot card meaning
• Ten of Wands: burden, responsibility, hard work. Ten of wands tarot card meaning
• Page of Wands: enthusiasm, exploration, free spirit. Page of wands tarot card meaning
• Knight of Wands: action, adventure, impulsiveness. Knight of wands tarot card meaning
• Queen of Wands: confidence, warmth, determination. Queen of wands tarot card meaning
• King of Wands: leadership, vision, boldness. King of wands tarot card meaning

Suit of Cups (emotions, love and relationships)

• Ace of Cups: new love, compassion, emotional fresh start. Ace of cups tarot card meaning
• Two of Cups: partnership, unity, attraction. Two of cups tarot card meaning
• Three of Cups: friendship, celebration, community. Three of cups tarot card meaning
• Four of Cups: apathy, contemplation, missed chances. Four of cups tarot card meaning
• Five of Cups: loss, grief, regret. Five of cups tarot card meaning
• Six of Cups: nostalgia, childhood, happy memories. Six of cups tarot card meaning
• Seven of Cups: choices, daydreams, illusion. Seven of cups tarot card meaning
• Eight of Cups: walking away, seeking more. Eight of cups tarot card meaning
• Nine of Cups: contentment, wishes fulfilled. Nine of cups tarot card meaning
• Ten of Cups: happiness, harmony, family. Ten of cups tarot card meaning
• Page of Cups: creative messages, curiosity, sensitivity. Page of cups tarot card meaning
• Knight of Cups: romance, charm, following the heart. Knight of cups tarot card meaning
• Queen of Cups: compassion, care, intuition. Queen of cups tarot card meaning
• King of Cups: emotional balance, diplomacy, kindness. King of cups tarot card meaning

Suit of Swords (thoughts, truth and challenges)

• Ace of Swords: clarity, breakthrough, new ideas. Ace of swords tarot card meaning
• Two of Swords: difficult choices, stalemate. Two of swords tarot card meaning
• Three of Swords: heartbreak, sorrow, grief. Three of swords tarot card meaning
• Four of Swords: rest, recovery, contemplation. Four of swords tarot card meaning
• Five of Swords: conflict, winning at a cost. Five of swords tarot card meaning
• Six of Swords: transition, moving on, calmer waters. Six of swords tarot card meaning
• Seven of Swords: strategy, stealth, getting away with it. Seven of swords tarot card meaning
• Eight of Swords: feeling trapped, restriction. Eight of swords tarot card meaning
• Nine of Swords: anxiety, worry, sleepless nights. Nine of swords tarot card meaning
• Ten of Swords: painful ending, rock bottom. Ten of swords tarot card meaning
• Page of Swords: curiosity, new ideas, communication. Page of swords tarot card meaning
• Knight of Swords: ambition, fast action, drive. Knight of swords tarot card meaning
• Queen of Swords: clear thinking, independence, honesty. Queen of swords tarot card meaning
• King of Swords: intellect, authority, truth. King of swords tarot card meaning

Suit of Pentacles (money, work and home)

• Ace of Pentacles: opportunity, prosperity, new venture. Ace of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Two of Pentacles: balance, juggling priorities. Two of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Three of Pentacles: teamwork, skill, learning. Three of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Four of Pentacles: saving, security, control. Four of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Five of Pentacles: hardship, insecurity, worry. Five of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Six of Pentacles: generosity, giving and receiving. Six of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Seven of Pentacles: patience, long-term view, investment. Seven of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Eight of Pentacles: skill, diligence, mastery. Eight of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Nine of Pentacles: independence, luxury, self-sufficiency. Nine of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Ten of Pentacles: wealth, legacy, family. Ten of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Page of Pentacles: ambition, study, new skills. Page of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Knight of Pentacles: hard work, routine, reliability. Knight of pentacles tarot card meaning
• Queen of Pentacles: nurturing, practicality, security. Queen of pentacles tarot card meaning
• King of Pentacles: wealth, discipline, abundance. King of pentacles tarot card meaning

How to write it so it lands

• Start with the Major Arcana; they're the easiest to learn.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are in a tarot deck?

78: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.

Can I copy these messages word for word?

Yes. Everything on this page is free to copy, print and read out - no permission or credit needed. Changing one detail so it fits the person is all we would suggest.

How long should a card message be?

One to three lines suits most cards. Write the message before the name so you can start again if it goes wrong, and if you run out of room, carry on inside the back cover rather than shrinking your handwriting.

Where can I buy a card to go with this?

We design and print our cards in the UK and post them the same working day when you order on a weekday. Browse the full range to see the current range.

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