Tarot Card Meanings
All 78 cards of the tarot, each with its meaning upright and reversed, the meanings A. E. Waite gave it in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot (1911), its picture in three historical decks, and its place in the Golden Dawn's system: the Hebrew letters and paths of the twenty-two trumps, the decans of the numbered cards and the elements of the court.
To draw a card or lay a spread, open the Tarot tool; to learn how the deck is built, start with The Structure of the Tarot.
The Major Arcana
The twenty-two trumps, from the Fool to the World.
The Foolbeginnings, innocence
The Magicianwill, skill
The High Priestessintuition, mystery
The Empressabundance, nurture
The Emperorstructure, authority
The Hierophanttradition, teaching
The Loversunion, choice
The Chariotwillpower, victory
Strengthcourage, compassion
The Hermitsolitude, introspection
Wheel of Fortunecycles, fate
Justicefairness, truth
The Hanged Mansurrender, pause
Deathendings, transformation
Temperancebalance, moderation
The Devilattachment, temptation
The Towerupheaval, revelation
The Starhope, renewal
The Moonillusion, dreams
The Sunjoy, success
Judgementawakening, reckoning
The Worldcompletion, wholeness
🜂 The Suit of Wands
Fire: will, energy and ambition. Ace to Ten, then the Page, Knight, Queen and King.
Ace of Wandsinspiration, potential
Two of Wandsplanning, decisions
Three of Wandsexpansion, progress
Four of Wandscelebration, home
Five of Wandscompetition, conflict
Six of Wandsvictory, recognition
Seven of Wandsdefence, perseverance
Eight of Wandsspeed, news
Nine of Wandsresilience, persistence
Ten of Wandsburden, responsibility
Page of Wandsenthusiasm, discovery
Knight of Wandsaction, adventure
Queen of Wandsconfidence, warmth
King of Wandsvision, leadership
🜄 The Suit of Cups
Water: emotion, love and intuition. Ace to Ten, then the Page, Knight, Queen and King.
Ace of Cupslove, new feelings
Two of Cupspartnership, attraction
Three of Cupsfriendship, celebration
Four of Cupsapathy, contemplation
Five of Cupsloss, grief
Six of Cupsnostalgia, memories
Seven of Cupschoices, fantasy
Eight of Cupswithdrawal, seeking
Nine of Cupscontentment, satisfaction
Ten of Cupsharmony, family
Page of Cupsintuition, messages
Knight of Cupsromance, charm
Queen of Cupscompassion, care
King of Cupsbalance, diplomacy
🜁 The Suit of Swords
Air: thought, conflict and truth. Ace to Ten, then the Page, Knight, Queen and King.
Ace of Swordsclarity, truth
Two of Swordsstalemate, indecision
Three of Swordsheartbreak, grief
Four of Swordsrest, recovery
Five of Swordsconflict, defeat
Six of Swordstransition, moving on
Seven of Swordsstrategy, deception
Eight of Swordsrestriction, victimhood
Nine of Swordsanxiety, worry
Ten of Swordsending, rock bottom
Page of Swordscuriosity, vigilance
Knight of Swordsambition, haste
Queen of Swordsindependence, clarity
King of Swordsauthority, intellect
🜃 The Suit of Pentacles
Earth: money, work and the body. Ace to Ten, then the Page, Knight, Queen and King.
Ace of Pentaclesopportunity, prosperity
Two of Pentaclesbalance, adaptability
Three of Pentaclesteamwork, craft
Four of Pentaclessecurity, control
Five of Pentacleshardship, poverty
Six of Pentaclesgenerosity, charity
Seven of Pentaclespatience, investment
Eight of Pentaclesdiligence, skill
Nine of Pentaclesindependence, luxury
Ten of Pentacleslegacy, inheritance
Page of Pentaclesstudy, ambition
Knight of Pentacleshard work, routine
Queen of Pentaclesnurture, practicality
King of Pentaclesabundance, security
Images: Pamela Colman Smith, 1909 (public domain); the RWS1909 scans on Wikimedia Commons.