Tarot is a special way to understand yourself better. Each card works like a mirror, showing your feelings and thoughts. It’s not just about guessing the future—it helps you see your present and learn from your past. Think of it as talking honestly with yourself. Many beginners feel confused by the meanings of tarot cards, but don’t stress. This guide will provide a tarot cards meanings list to help you learn what each card means and make you more confident in reading them. With practice, tarot can become a strong tool for growing and understanding yourself. Did you know 93% of tarot fans use it to grow personally? That’s not surprising. Tarot helps you understand your feelings, find hidden truths, and even heal inside. Whether you’re thinking about your past or looking at future choices, tarot can help you along the way with its rich meanings and insightful list of cards. Tarot is a system of 78 illustrated cards used for divination, meditation, and self-reflection. Each card carries symbolic meaning that, when interpreted in context, provides insight into questions and situations. Contrary to popular belief, tarot doesn't predict a fixed future. Rather, it reveals the energies and possibilities surrounding your current path, empowering you to make informed choices. The 78 cards of a tarot deck are more than just a tool for fortune-telling; they are a powerful key to unlocking your own intuition and navigating life with greater clarity. Learning to read tarot is less about predicting a fixed future and more about understanding the present moment. It empowers you to explore possibilities, identify underlying patterns, and make conscious choices that align with your goals. But where do you even begin? The intricate symbols and vast meanings can feel overwhelming at first. This guide is designed to make learning how to read tarot for beginners simple and accessible. We'll break down the essentials, from the structure of the deck and the art of asking effective questions to interpreting the cards with confidence. Let’s dive into your first steps on this empowering journey, starting with how to choose the perfect deck to accompany you. Your journey into tarot begins with a single, essential tool: your deck. Choosing the right one and preparing it for use are foundational steps that create a personal connection and set the stage for insightful readings. This initial process is less about rigid rules and more about finding what resonates with your unique energy and learning style. The sheer number of tarot decks available can feel overwhelming, but the key is to find one whose imagery speaks to you on an intuitive level.
Understanding the Tarot deck structure is essential for beginners. A standard tarot deck includes 78 cards, divided into 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards. The 22 Major Arcana cards represent life's karmic and spiritual lessons. They represent a path to spiritual self-awareness and depict the various stages we encounter as we search for greater meaning and understanding. In this way, the Major Arcana cards hold deeply meaningful lessons on a soul level. The Major Arcana represents life's spiritual lessons and karmic influences. These cards depict the Fool's Journey—the path from innocence through experience to enlightenment. The 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the trials and tribulations that we experience on a daily basis. These Tarot cards highlight the more practical aspects of life and can refer to current issues that have a temporary or minor influence. Within the Minor Arcana cards, there are 16 Tarot Court Cards each representing 16 different personality characteristics we may choose to express at any given time. There are also the 40 numbered cards organised into 4 Suits – Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands – each with 10 cards, representing various situations that we encounter day-to-day. The Minor Arcana is further divided into four suits: Cups, which relate to emotions, relationships, and intuition; Pentacles, which deal with money, work, and the physical world; Swords, which relate to thoughts, conflict, and truth; and Wands, which relate to passion, creativity, and energy. Each suit has 10 numbered cards (Ace through 10) and 4 court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). Some may say that Tarot cards are simply ink on paper. However, what I have discovered from reading the Tarot cards daily for over twenty years is this: Tarot is the storybook of our life, the mirror to our soul, and the key to our inner wisdom. Every spiritual lesson we meet in our lives can be found in the seventy-eight Tarot cards. And when we consult the Tarot, we’ll get shown the exact lessons we need to learn and master to live an inspired life.
Shuffling also resets the deck and connects it to you. While shuffling, think about your question or goal. This step helps match your energy with the cards. When starting, a guidebook or tarot cards meanings list is very helpful. These explain what each card means and its symbols. Look up the cards you draw to understand them. Over time, you’ll see patterns and feel more confident. Tarot cards have lots of symbols, colors, and pictures. For example, yellow often means happiness, and swords can show challenges. Pay attention to these details—they make your readings deeper. Trust your feelings too. A symbol might mean something special to you, and that’s okay. Psychologist Carl Jung thought tarot symbols connect to shared human experiences, helping us understand ourselves better. Beginner-friendly spreads are easy to use and very useful. Let’s look at three spreads that are great for beginners. The one-card pull is the easiest way to begin. You pick one card to answer a question or think about your day. This spread helps set goals or understand your feelings quickly. For example, if you’re unsure about a hard talk, one card can guide you. This spread is great for daily practice. Every tarot card tells a story—it reflects your journey, emotions, choices, and truth. In this list, you’ll find each card’s keywords, symbolism, classical element, and upright and reversed meanings. All interpretations are based on the timeless imagery of the Universal Waite deck, thoughtfully integrated with Ceerly’s own visual style. If you’ve ever asked, “What does each tarot card mean?” or “How can I start learning tarot as a beginner?”, you're not alone. Just click on any card below to uncover its meaning.
Major Arcana Meanings
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that represent life's major lessons and spiritual growth. These cards often indicate significant life events or deeper soul-level lessons. Below is a quick meanings guide for the Major Arcana cards:
- The Fool (0): New beginnings, leap of faith
- The Magician (1): Manifestation, power, skill
- The High Priestess (2): Intuition, secrets, inner wisdom
- The Empress (3): Nurturing, abundance, fertility
- The Emperor (4): Stability, authority, structure
- The Hierophant (5): Tradition, spiritual guidance
- The Lovers (6): Choices, love, alignment
- The Chariot (7): Willpower, direction, success
- Strength (8): Courage, patience, inner power
- The Hermit (9): Solitude, self-reflection, truth
- Wheel of Fortune (10): Change, cycles, destiny
- Justice (11): Truth, fairness, balance
- The Hanged Man (12): Letting go, new perspective
- Death (13): Transformation, endings, new beginnings
- Temperance (14): Balance, moderation, harmony
- The Devil (15): Bondage, addiction, materialism
- The Tower (16): Sudden change, upheaval, revelation
- The Star (17): Hope, inspiration, serenity
- The Moon (18): Illusion, fear, subconscious
- The Sun (19): Joy, success, vitality
- Judgement (20): Reflection, reckoning, inner calling
- The World (21): Completion, accomplishment, travel
These cards hold deeply meaningful lessons on a soul level and represent the path to spiritual self-awareness. When these cards appear in a reading, they often point to important life transitions or spiritual growth opportunities.
Minor Arcana Meanings
The Minor Arcana cards deal with day-to-day experiences and decisions. They are divided into four suits, each representing different aspects of life.
Wands Suit
The suit of wands carries the spark of fire. It’s about movement, ambition, and the energy that pushes you forward. These cards tap into your drive to create, lead, grow, and take bold steps. Whether it’s about your career, a personal goal, or a dream you can’t shake, Wands speak to the part of you that craves purpose and momentum. Upright, Wands show confidence, vision, and energy. For example, the Ace of Wands may show the beginning of a creative spark or a new project. The Ten of Wands in upright position shows hard work and persistence. Reversed, however, Wands might point to burnout, lack of direction, or holding back due to fear. What do Wands mean in tarot when they show up reversed? Often, it’s a nudge to check in with your inner hesitation or scattered energy. This suit reminds you that passion fuels progress — but it can also burn out if not managed well.
Cups Suit
The Cups suit relates to emotions, relationships, and intuition. These cards often appear in readings about love, friendship, and emotional matters. The Ace of Cups represents new emotional beginnings, love, and intuition. The Two of Cups signifies partnership and mutual attraction. The Three of Cups celebrates friendship and community. The Ten of Cups represents emotional fulfillment and happiness in family life. When Cups cards appear reversed, they may indicate emotional blockage, heartbreak, or imbalance in relationships.
Pentacles Suit
The Pentacles suit deals with money, work, and the physical world. These cards relate to practical matters, career, finances, and health. The Ace of Pentacles signifies new opportunities in wealth or career. The Eight of Pentacles shows dedication to mastering a skill. The Ten of Pentacles represents long-term wealth, family legacy, and stability. Reversed Pentacles may indicate financial difficulties, lack of ambition, or disconnection from the material world.
Swords Suit
The Swords suit relates to thoughts, conflict, and truth. These cards often deal with mental challenges, decisions, and communication. The Ace of Swords represents mental clarity and breakthrough. The Three of Swords shows heartbreak, sorrow, or betrayal. The Ten of Swords indicates painful endings and the need to release what no longer serves. Reversed Swords cards may suggest releasing negative thoughts, finding mental peace, or avoiding conflict.
Court Cards Meanings
The Minor Arcana includes 16 court cards representing personality characteristics. These cards can represent people in your life or aspects of your own personality. The court cards are divided into four pages, four knights, four queens, and four kings, one for each suit.
Pages
Pages represent youthful energy, new beginnings, and messages. The Page of Wands brings exciting ideas and inspiration. The Page of Cups offers emotional news or creative inspiration. The Page of Pentacles suggests practical learning and new opportunities in work or study. The Page of Swords indicates curiosity and the need to gather information.
Knights
Knights represent action, movement, and forward momentum. The Knight of Wands shows adventurous energy and bold action. The Knight of Cups follows the heart and seeks romantic or creative pursuits. The Knight of Pentacles represents steady, methodical progress. The Knight of Swords suggests quick action and sometimes hasty decisions.
Queens
Queens represent nurturing, mature feminine energy, and mastery of their suit's domain. The Queen of Wands is confident, passionate, and influential. The Queen of Cups is intuitive, compassionate, and emotionally intelligent. The Queen of Pentacles is practical, nurturing, and financially savvy. The Queen of Swords is clear-thinking, direct, and independent.
Kings
Kings represent mature masculine energy, authority, and mastery. The King of Wands is a visionary leader with charisma and influence. The King of Cups is emotionally balanced, wise, and compassionate. The King of Pentacles is successful, prosperous, and practical. The King of Swords is intellectual, authoritative, and truth-seeking.
Understanding Card Meanings Through Symbols and Colors
Tarot cards have lots of symbols, colors, and pictures. For example, yellow often means happiness, and swords can show challenges. Pay attention to these details—they make your readings deeper. Trust your feelings too. A symbol might mean something special to you, and that’s okay. Psychologist Carl Jung thought tarot symbols connect to shared human experiences, helping us understand ourselves better. When interpreting cards, consider the following elements:
- Colors: Different colors evoke different emotions and energies. Yellow often represents happiness and intellect, red can indicate passion or anger, blue may suggest calm and intuition, and green often relates to growth and healing.
- Symbols: Common symbols include stars (hope and guidance), moons (intuition and subconscious), suns (joy and success), crosses (balance and sacrifice), and animals (instincts and qualities).
- Numbers: Numbers in tarot carry numerological significance. Aces represent beginnings, twos represent partnerships or choices, threes represent expansion, and so on.
- Elements: Each suit corresponds to an element: Wands (Fire), Cups (Water), Pentacles (Earth), and Swords (Air). These elements influence the card's meaning and energy.
Beginner-Friendly Tarot Spreads
When starting with tarot, spreads act like helpful guides. They help you focus on questions and organize your thoughts. Beginner-friendly spreads are easy to use and very useful. Let’s look at three spreads that are great for beginners.
One-Card Pull
The one-card pull is the easiest way to begin. You pick one card to answer a question or think about your day. This spread helps set goals or understand your feelings quickly. For example, if you’re unsure about a hard talk, one card can guide you. This spread is great for daily practice. To use this spread: 1. Take a few deep breaths and focus on your question or intention 2. Shuffle the deck while thinking about your question 3. Draw one card and place it face up 4. Study the imagery, symbols, and your intuitive feelings about the card 5. Consider how the card's meaning relates to your question
Three-Card Spread
A simple three-card spread can provide more depth while remaining accessible. The positions might represent: - Past: What has led to the current situation - Present: The current state of affairs - Future: Potential outcome or direction
Or they might represent: - Situation: The context of your question - Action: What you can do about it - Outcome: The potential result
Celtic Cross Spread
While more complex, the Celtic Cross is a classic spread that many beginners learn. It typically includes ten cards that provide insight into: - The heart of the matter - What crosses you (challenges) - Your conscious thoughts - Your unconscious thoughts - Your past influences - Your future - Your attitude - What you hope for - What others think - Outcome
How to Begin Your Tarot Practice
Starting a tarot practice involves more than just memorizing meanings. Here's how to build a foundation:
Choosing Your Deck
Select a deck whose imagery speaks to you on an intuitive level. The Universal Waite deck is often recommended for beginners because of its traditional symbolism and clear imagery. However, many other beginner-friendly decks exist with more modern or artistic interpretations.
Connecting with Your Deck
Once you have your deck, spend time with it. Handle the cards, look through them, and get familiar with the imagery. Some people like to "clear" their deck by shuffling, smudging with sage, or simply leaving it in moonlight, though these practices vary by tradition.
Daily Practice
Start with simple exercises: - Draw one card each morning and journal about its meaning - Ask "What do I need to know today?" and draw one to three cards - Practice interpreting cards without looking at a guidebook - Notice patterns when the same cards appear repeatedly
Asking Effective Questions
The quality of your tarot reading often depends on the quality of your questions. Open-ended questions tend to yield more insightful readings than yes/no questions. Instead of "Will I get the job?" try "What do I need to know about my job search?" or "What energy should I bring to my interview?"
Trusting Your Intuition
While learning traditional meanings is important, your intuition is equally valuable. The cards may spark personal associations or memories that aren't in any guidebook. That's part of what makes tarot so powerful—it's a conversation between the cards, your subconscious, and your intuition.
Using Guidebooks and Resources
When starting, a guidebook or tarot cards meanings list is very helpful. These explain what each card means and its symbols. Look up the cards you draw to understand them. Over time, you’ll see patterns and feel more confident. Don't feel pressured to memorize all 78 cards at once. Start with the Major Arcana, then move to the suits one at a time.
Common Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
- Memorizing too much too fast: Focus on core meanings first
- Relying only on the book: Trust your intuition alongside traditional meanings
- Asking the same question repeatedly: Give the cards and situation time to evolve
- Overcomplicating spreads: Start simple and build complexity gradually
- Ignoring reversed cards: Reversed meanings add depth, though some beginners choose to read them as "not applicable" initially
The Value of Tarot for Self-Discovery
Tarot is not just a deck of cards—it's a tool for self-reflection and growth. Many people find that tarot helps them: - Gain clarity on confusing situations - Understand their emotions better - See situations from different perspectives - Identify patterns in their life - Make decisions with more confidence - Connect with their intuition
Remember, tarot doesn't predict a fixed future. Rather, it reveals the energies and possibilities surrounding your current path, empowering you to make informed choices. The cards show you what you need to see at this moment for your growth and understanding.
Building Confidence in Readings
As you practice, you'll develop your own relationship with the cards. Here are ways to build confidence:
- Keep a tarot journal: Record your daily draws, questions, and interpretations. Review them monthly to see your growth.
- Read for yourself first: Practice in a low-pressure environment before reading for others.
- Study one card per day: Deeply explore one card's imagery, symbolism, and meanings.
- Join tarot communities: Learning with others can provide support and new perspectives.
- Trust the process: Some readings will feel more powerful than others. That's normal. Keep practicing.
Conclusion
Tarot is a powerful tool for self-discovery, divination, and personal growth. The 78-card deck, with its Major and Minor Arcana, offers profound insights into life's spiritual lessons and daily experiences. By understanding the structure of the deck—the Major Arcana's soul-level teachings, the Minor Arcana's practical guidance, and the Court Cards' personality reflections—you can begin to unlock the wisdom within the cards.
Starting your tarot journey involves choosing a deck that resonates with you, learning basic meanings through guides and lists, and practicing with simple spreads like the one-card pull. Remember that tarot is not about predicting a fixed future but about understanding the present moment and exploring possibilities. Trust your intuition as you learn, pay attention to symbols and colors, and don't be afraid to develop your personal connection with the cards.
Whether you're seeking clarity about relationships, career decisions, or personal growth, tarot can serve as a mirror to your soul and a key to your inner wisdom. With patience, practice, and an open heart, you'll find that tarot becomes an invaluable companion on your journey of self-understanding and empowerment.