The Tarot serves as a profound instrument for self-reflection, spiritual guidance, and gaining insight into life's diverse questions. It functions as a mirror to the subconscious, offering wisdom that can illuminate one's path forward. A standard Tarot deck comprises 78 cards, each carrying unique symbolism and meaning. These cards are divided into two primary sections: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that represent significant life themes, major turning points, and spiritual lessons encountered over a lifetime. When viewed collectively, these cards form a symbolic path often described as the Fool’s Journey, reflecting universal stages of the human experience from new beginnings to completion. Conversely, the Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards that address everyday situations, practical matters, and nuances of daily life. These cards are further categorized into four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles—each corresponding to elemental energies such as fire, water, air, and earth, respectively. Whether one is a beginner learning the first deck or an experienced reader deepening their practice, mastering the card meanings combines centuries of Tarot wisdom with modern psychological understanding.
Major Arcana: The Fool’s Journey
The Major Arcana cards represent the most significant themes and lessons we encounter. When these cards appear in a reading, they often point to long-term patterns, important experiences, or pivotal life changes. They explore archetypes ranging from the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine to the Hierophant and the Devil, addressing themes of challenge, temptation, loss, strength, and growth.
The Fool (Card 0) The Fool represents innocence, new beginnings, and a free spirit. It embodies the start of a journey and the willingness to step into the unknown. In the reversed position, it signifies recklessness, being taken advantage of, and inconsideration.
The Magician (Card I) The Magician signifies willpower, desire, creation, and manifestation. It is the card of active transformation and utilizing available tools to shape reality. In the reversed position, it indicates trickery, illusions, and being out of touch with one's abilities.
The High Priestess (Card II) The High Priestess embodies intuition, the unconscious mind, and the inner voice. She guards the gateway to deep wisdom. In the reversed position, she suggests a lack of center, a lost inner voice, and repressed feelings.
The Empress (Card III) The Empress represents motherhood, fertility, and nature. She is the embodiment of abundance and nurturing energy. In the reversed position, she points to dependence, smothering, emptiness, and nosiness.
The Emperor (Card IV) The Emperor signifies authority, structure, control, and fatherhood. He provides stability through order and leadership. In the reversed position, he represents tyranny, rigidity, and coldness.
The Hierophant (Card V) The Hierophant represents tradition, conformity, morality, and ethics. It connects to established systems of belief and education. In the reversed position, it suggests rebellion, subversiveness, and the adoption of new approaches.
The Lovers (Card VI) The Lovers card signifies partnerships, duality, and union. It often represents choices regarding values and relationships. In the reversed position, it indicates a loss of balance, one-sidedness, and disharmony.
The Chariot (Card VII) The Chariot represents direction, control, and willpower. It signifies victory through determination and assertion. In the reversed position, it suggests a lack of control, a lack of direction, and aggression.
Strength (Card VIII) Strength embodies inner strength, bravery, compassion, and focus. It represents the taming of primal instincts through patience and love. In the reversed position, it indicates self-doubt, weakness, and insecurity.
The Hermit (Card IX) The Hermit represents contemplation, the search for truth, and inner guidance. It suggests a period of soul-searching and introspection. In the reversed position, it signifies loneliness, isolation, and feeling lost.
Wheel of Fortune (Card X) The Wheel of Fortune signifies change, cycles, and inevitable fate. It reminds us that life is constantly turning. In the reversed position, it indicates no control, clinging to control, and bad luck.
Justice (Card XI) Justice represents cause and effect, clarity, and truth. It is the card of fairness, law, and consequence. In the reversed position, it signifies dishonesty, unaccountability, and unfairness.
The Hanged Man (Card XII) The Hanged Man represents sacrifice, release, and martyrdom. It suggests a need to pause and view situations from a new perspective. In the reversed position, it indicates stalling, needless sacrifice, and fear of sacrifice.
Death (Card XIII) Death represents the end of a cycle, beginnings, change, and metamorphosis. It signifies transformation and the shedding of the old. In the reversed position, it suggests fear of change, holding on, and stagnation.
Temperance (Card XIV) Temperance represents the middle path, patience, and finding meaning. It signifies balance and moderation. In the reversed position, it indicates extremes, excess, and a lack of balance.
The Devil (Card XV) The Devil represents addiction, materialism, and playfulness. It highlights bondage to material or primal desires. In the reversed position, it signifies freedom, release, and restoring control.
The Tower (Card XVI) The Tower represents sudden upheaval, broken pride, and disaster. It signifies the destruction of ego or false structures. In the reversed position, it suggests disaster avoided, delayed disaster, and fear of suffering.
The Star (Card XVII) The Star represents hope, faith, and rejuvenation. It is a card of inspiration and serenity. In the reversed position, it signifies faithlessness, discouragement, and insecurity.
The Moon (Card XVIII) The Moon represents the unconscious, illusions, and intuition. It highlights the realm of dreams and fears. In the reversed position, it indicates confusion, fear, and misinterpretation.
The Sun (Card XIX) The Sun represents joy, success, celebration, and positivity. It is a card of vitality and enlightenment. In the reversed position, it indicates negativity, depression, and sadness.
Judgement (Card XX) Judgement represents reflection, reckoning, and awakening. It signifies absolution and a calling to a higher purpose. In the reversed position, it suggests a lack of self-awareness, doubt, and self-loathing.
The World (Card XXI) The World represents fulfillment, harmony, and completion. It signifies the successful end of a major journey. In the reversed position, it indicates incompletion and a lack of closure.
Minor Arcana: Everyday Experiences
The Minor Arcana reflects everyday experiences and practical matters across four suits: Wands (fire/passion), Cups (water/emotions), Swords (air/thoughts), and Pentacles (earth/material). These cards provide nuanced guidance for navigating daily life, addressing specific situations and interactions.
The Suit of Wands (Fire/Passion)
This suit deals with energy, action, creativity, and ambition. It represents the spark of life and the drive to achieve goals.
- Ace of Wands: Represents a spark of energy, new beginnings in creative or professional pursuits, and inspiration.
- Two of Wands: Signifies planning for the future, making decisions, and looking ahead.
- Three of Wands: Represents waiting for results, expansion, and looking beyond the immediate horizon.
- Four of Wands: Signifies celebration, harmony, and a sense of community or homecoming.
- Five of Wands: Represents conflict, competition, and the need to channel energy productively.
- Six of Wands: Signifies victory, success, and public recognition.
- Seven of Wands: Represents defending one's position, perseverance, and standing firm.
- Eight of Wands: Signifies rapid movement, travel, and messages arriving quickly.
- Nine of Wands: Represents resilience, grit, and standing guard after a struggle.
- Ten of Wands: Signifies burden, overload, and taking on too much responsibility.
The Suit of Cups (Water/Emotions)
This suit deals with feelings, relationships, intuition, and creativity. It represents the realm of the heart and emotional connections.
- Ace of Cups: Represents new love, intuition, and emotional opening.
- Two of Cups: Signifies partnership, mutual attraction, and connection.
- Three of Cups: Represents celebration, friendship, and community.
- Four of Cups: Signifies introspection, contemplation, and withdrawal.
- Five of Cups: Represents loss, regret, and focusing on what is missing.
- Six of Cups: Signifies nostalgia, childhood, and happy memories.
- Seven of Cups: Represents choices, illusions, and fantasy.
- Eight of Cups: Signifies leaving something behind, moving on, and searching for more.
- Nine of Cups: Represents wish fulfillment, satisfaction, and contentment.
- Ten of Cups: Signifies emotional fulfillment, harmony, and happiness in the family.
The Suit of Swords (Air/Thoughts)
This suit deals with the intellect, thoughts, communication, and conflict. It represents the power of the mind and the challenges of mental clarity.
- Ace of Swords: Represents a breakthrough, clarity, and the power of truth.
- Two of Swords: Signifies a stalemate, difficult decisions, and weighing options.
- Three of Swords: Represents heartbreak, grief, and sorrow.
- Four of Swords: Signifies rest, recovery, and contemplation.
- Five of Swords: Represents defeat, conflict, and winning at a cost.
- Six of Swords: Signifies transition, moving away from trouble, and healing.
- Seven of Swords: Represents deception, strategy, and getting away with something.
- Eight of Swords: Signifies restriction, imprisonment, and self-imposed limitations.
- Nine of Swords: Represents anxiety, worry, and nightmares.
- Ten of Swords: Signifies endings, betrayal, and reaching a low point.
The Suit of Pentacles (Earth/Material)
This suit deals with the material world, finances, career, and physical health. It represents tangible results and the practical aspects of life.
- Ace of Pentacles: Represents a new financial opportunity, prosperity, and manifestation.
- Two of Pentacles: Signifies balance, juggling priorities, and adaptability.
- Three of Pentacles: Represents teamwork, collaboration, and mastery of craft.
- Four of Pentacles: Signifies security, saving, and holding onto resources.
- Five of Pentacles: Represents financial hardship, isolation, and lack.
- Six of Pentacles: Signifies generosity, receiving, and giving.
- Seven of Pentacles: Represents patience, investment, and waiting for results.
- Eight of Pentacles: Signifies hard work, dedication, and skill-building.
- Nine of Pentacles: Represents luxury, self-sufficiency, and abundance.
- Ten of Pentacles: Signifies legacy, family wealth, and long-term security.
Using the Tarot for Guidance
Utilizing the Tarot involves more than memorizing definitions; it requires building a personal relationship with the cards. For beginners, starting with the Major Arcana helps understand primary archetypal energies. As one progresses, exploring the Minor Arcana allows for detailed insights into daily situations. When studying, one might pick one card per day to meditate upon. For quick reference during a reading, the core upright and reversed meanings provide a foundation. However, the Tarot is ultimately intuitive. Over time, personal insights and experiences with the cards will shape how they speak to the individual. The imagery in a specific deck may add layers of meaning beyond the core definitions. The goal is to use the cards as a tool for self-reflection and to gain clarity on one's path forward, whether regarding relationships, career, or personal growth.