A tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. This page is a quick reference to every card's core meaning, upright and reversed, plus the yes or no answer most readers associate with it. Use it while you practice, or alongside a free tarot reading.
How the tarot deck is organized
- Major Arcana (22 cards): numbered 0 to 21, from The Fool to The World. They represent big life lessons and turning points.
- Minor Arcana (56 cards): four suits of 14 cards each (Ace to Ten, plus Page, Knight, Queen and King). They describe everyday events.
- Wands (fire): energy, passion, action, career.
- Cups (water): emotions, love, relationships, intuition.
- Swords (air): thoughts, conflict, truth, decisions.
- Pentacles (earth): money, work, health, the material world.
Reversed cards (upside down) often mean the card's energy is blocked, delayed, internalized or expressed in excess.
Major Arcana meanings
| # | Card | Upright | Reversed | Yes / No |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | The Fool | new beginnings, spontaneity, leap of faith | recklessness, hesitation, naivety | Yes |
| 1 | The Magician | willpower, skill, manifestation | manipulation, untapped talent | Yes |
| 2 | The High Priestess | intuition, mystery, inner knowledge | secrets, ignoring intuition | Maybe |
| 3 | The Empress | abundance, nurturing, creativity | dependence, creative block | Yes |
| 4 | The Emperor | structure, authority, stability | control, rigidity | Yes |
| 5 | The Hierophant | tradition, institutions, guidance | rebellion, unconventional path | Maybe |
| 6 | The Lovers | love, harmony, important choices | disharmony, misaligned values | Yes |
| 7 | The Chariot | determination, victory, control | lack of direction, obstacles | Yes |
| 8 | Strength | courage, patience, inner strength | self-doubt, low energy | Yes |
| 9 | The Hermit | solitude, reflection, inner guidance | isolation, loneliness | Maybe |
| 10 | Wheel of Fortune | cycles, luck, turning points | bad luck, resisting change | Maybe |
| 11 | Justice | fairness, truth, cause and effect | unfairness, avoiding accountability | Maybe |
| 12 | The Hanged Man | pause, surrender, new perspective | stalling, resistance | Maybe |
| 13 | Death | endings, transformation, transition | resisting change, stagnation | No |
| 14 | Temperance | balance, moderation, patience | imbalance, excess | Yes |
| 15 | The Devil | attachment, temptation, unhealthy patterns | release, breaking free | No |
| 16 | The Tower | sudden upheaval, revelation | avoiding disaster, fear of change | No |
| 17 | The Star | hope, healing, renewal | discouragement, lost faith | Yes |
| 18 | The Moon | illusion, intuition, uncertainty | clarity returning, released fear | Maybe |
| 19 | The Sun | joy, success, positivity | temporary sadness, delays | Yes |
| 20 | Judgement | awakening, reflection, renewal | self-doubt, harsh self-judgment | Yes |
| 21 | The World | completion, achievement, wholeness | unfinished business, delays | Yes |
Wands (fire): action and passion
| Card | Upright | Reversed | Yes / No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Wands | inspiration, new venture, spark | delays, lack of motivation | Yes |
| Two of Wands | planning, future vision, decisions | fear of the unknown | Maybe |
| Three of Wands | expansion, progress, looking ahead | setbacks, limited vision | Yes |
| Four of Wands | celebration, home, stability | instability, cancelled plans | Yes |
| Five of Wands | competition, conflict, tension | avoiding conflict, resolution | No |
| Six of Wands | victory, recognition, success | ego, lack of recognition | Yes |
| Seven of Wands | defending your position, perseverance | giving up, overwhelmed | Maybe |
| Eight of Wands | speed, movement, quick news | delays, frustration | Yes |
| Nine of Wands | resilience, persistence, last stretch | exhaustion, defensiveness | Maybe |
| Ten of Wands | burden, responsibility, hard work | release, delegation | No |
| Page of Wands | curiosity, enthusiasm, new ideas | lack of direction | Yes |
| Knight of Wands | adventure, energy, impulsiveness | haste, scattered energy | Yes |
| Queen of Wands | confidence, warmth, determination | jealousy, insecurity | Yes |
| King of Wands | leadership, vision, boldness | impulsiveness, arrogance | Yes |
Cups (water): emotions and relationships
| Card | Upright | Reversed | Yes / No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Cups | new love, emotional beginnings | blocked emotions | Yes |
| Two of Cups | partnership, mutual attraction | imbalance, breakup | Yes |
| Three of Cups | friendship, celebration, community | overindulgence, gossip | Yes |
| Four of Cups | apathy, contemplation, missed chances | renewed interest | No |
| Five of Cups | loss, regret, grief | acceptance, moving on | No |
| Six of Cups | nostalgia, childhood, reunion | living in the past | Yes |
| Seven of Cups | choices, fantasy, illusion | clarity, focus | Maybe |
| Eight of Cups | walking away, seeking more | fear of leaving, stagnation | No |
| Nine of Cups | wishes fulfilled, contentment | dissatisfaction, smugness | Yes |
| Ten of Cups | harmony, family, lasting happiness | broken expectations | Yes |
| Page of Cups | creative message, emotional curiosity | emotional immaturity | Yes |
| Knight of Cups | romance, invitations, idealism | moodiness, unrealistic | Yes |
| Queen of Cups | compassion, intuition, care | emotional overwhelm | Yes |
| King of Cups | emotional balance, diplomacy | manipulation, moodiness | Yes |
Swords (air): thoughts and truth
| Card | Upright | Reversed | Yes / No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Swords | clarity, breakthrough, truth | confusion, misinformation | Yes |
| Two of Swords | indecision, stalemate | information overload, choosing | Maybe |
| Three of Swords | heartbreak, grief, painful truth | healing, forgiveness | No |
| Four of Swords | rest, recovery, contemplation | burnout, restlessness | Maybe |
| Five of Swords | conflict, winning at a cost | reconciliation | No |
| Six of Swords | transition, moving on | resistance to change | Yes |
| Seven of Swords | strategy, deception, sneaking | coming clean | No |
| Eight of Swords | feeling trapped, self-limiting beliefs | release, new perspective | No |
| Nine of Swords | anxiety, worry, sleepless nights | hope, recovery | No |
| Ten of Swords | painful ending, rock bottom | recovery, regeneration | No |
| Page of Swords | curiosity, new ideas, vigilance | gossip, hasty words | Maybe |
| Knight of Swords | ambition, fast action, directness | recklessness, burnout | Yes |
| Queen of Swords | independence, clear thinking, honesty | coldness, bitterness | Maybe |
| King of Swords | intellect, authority, truth | misuse of power | Maybe |
Pentacles (earth): money and work
| Card | Upright | Reversed | Yes / No |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Pentacles | new opportunity, prosperity | missed chance, poor planning | Yes |
| Two of Pentacles | balance, adaptability, juggling | overwhelm, disorganization | Maybe |
| Three of Pentacles | teamwork, skill, collaboration | lack of teamwork | Yes |
| Four of Pentacles | security, saving, control | greed, letting go | Maybe |
| Five of Pentacles | hardship, insecurity, isolation | recovery, help arriving | No |
| Six of Pentacles | generosity, giving and receiving | debt, strings attached | Yes |
| Seven of Pentacles | patience, long-term investment | impatience, poor returns | Maybe |
| Eight of Pentacles | diligence, mastery, hard work | perfectionism, lack of focus | Yes |
| Nine of Pentacles | independence, luxury, self-sufficiency | overwork, dependence | Yes |
| Ten of Pentacles | wealth, family, legacy | financial loss, family conflict | Yes |
| Page of Pentacles | ambition, new study, opportunity | lack of progress | Yes |
| Knight of Pentacles | reliability, routine, hard work | boredom, stagnation | Yes |
| Queen of Pentacles | nurturing, practical, abundant | self-neglect, imbalance | Yes |
| King of Pentacles | wealth, security, leadership | greed, stubbornness | Yes |
How to learn the tarot card meanings
- Start with the Major Arcana: 22 cards that tell the story of the Fool's journey.
- Learn the suits by element: Wands (fire), Cups (water), Swords (air), Pentacles (earth).
- Learn the numbers: Aces are beginnings, Fives are conflict, Tens are completion.
- Draw one card a day with the tarot card of the day and read its meaning.
- Notice your own associations: the imagery often suggests meanings that the keywords don't capture.
FAQ
How many cards are in a tarot deck?
78: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana in four suits of 14.
What is the most powerful tarot card?
Many readers consider The World or The Sun the most positive, and The Tower or Death the most dramatic. Every card can be powerful in context.
What does a reversed tarot card mean?
It usually means the card's energy is blocked, delayed, turned inward or expressed in excess. Some readers don't use reversals at all.
Which tarot cards mean yes?
The Sun, The Star, The World, The Lovers, Ace of Cups, Ten of Cups and Nine of Cups are among the clearest yes cards. Try the yes or no tarot.
What is the death card in tarot?
Death rarely means physical death. It represents endings, transformation and making room for something new.