Reference

Tarot Card Meanings

A condensed reference for all 78 Rider-Waite tarot cards — upright keywords for everyday use.

Major Arcana

  • The Fool — new beginnings, leap of faith, innocence
  • The Magician — manifestation, willpower, focus
  • The High Priestess — intuition, mystery, inner voice
  • The Empress — abundance, fertility, sensuality
  • The Emperor — structure, authority, foundation
  • The Hierophant — tradition, mentorship, belief
  • The Lovers — union, choice, alignment
  • The Chariot — willpower, victory, drive
  • Strength — courage, gentle power, patience
  • The Hermit — solitude, soul searching, inner light
  • Wheel of Fortune — cycles, fate, turning point
  • Justice — truth, fairness, cause and effect
  • The Hanged Man — surrender, new perspective, pause
  • Death — transformation, endings, rebirth
  • Temperance — balance, blending, patience
  • The Devil — shadow, attachment, addiction
  • The Tower — sudden change, awakening, collapse
  • The Star — hope, healing, inspiration
  • The Moon — illusion, intuition, the unconscious
  • The Sun — joy, vitality, success
  • Judgement — awakening, reckoning, calling
  • The World — completion, wholeness, fulfillment

wands

  • Ace of Wands — raw potential, gift, seed
  • Two of Wands — duality, partnership, balance
  • Three of Wands — growth, expression, plans forming
  • Four of Wands — structure, rest, foundation
  • Five of Wands — challenge, conflict, change
  • Six of Wands — harmony, generosity, transition
  • Seven of Wands — reflection, choice, illusion
  • Eight of Wands — movement, mastery, refinement
  • Nine of Wands — near completion, attainment, wishes
  • Ten of Wands — completion, burden, fulfillment
  • Page of Wands — curious messenger, beginnings
  • Knight of Wands — driven pursuit, action
  • Queen of Wands — embodied mastery, grace
  • King of Wands — sovereign mastery, command

cups

  • Ace of Cups — raw potential, gift, seed
  • Two of Cups — duality, partnership, balance
  • Three of Cups — growth, expression, plans forming
  • Four of Cups — structure, rest, foundation
  • Five of Cups — challenge, conflict, change
  • Six of Cups — harmony, generosity, transition
  • Seven of Cups — reflection, choice, illusion
  • Eight of Cups — movement, mastery, refinement
  • Nine of Cups — near completion, attainment, wishes
  • Ten of Cups — completion, burden, fulfillment
  • Page of Cups — curious messenger, beginnings
  • Knight of Cups — driven pursuit, action
  • Queen of Cups — embodied mastery, grace
  • King of Cups — sovereign mastery, command

swords

  • Ace of Swords — raw potential, gift, seed
  • Two of Swords — duality, partnership, balance
  • Three of Swords — growth, expression, plans forming
  • Four of Swords — structure, rest, foundation
  • Five of Swords — challenge, conflict, change
  • Six of Swords — harmony, generosity, transition
  • Seven of Swords — reflection, choice, illusion
  • Eight of Swords — movement, mastery, refinement
  • Nine of Swords — near completion, attainment, wishes
  • Ten of Swords — completion, burden, fulfillment
  • Page of Swords — curious messenger, beginnings
  • Knight of Swords — driven pursuit, action
  • Queen of Swords — embodied mastery, grace
  • King of Swords — sovereign mastery, command

pentacles

  • Ace of Pentacles — raw potential, gift, seed
  • Two of Pentacles — duality, partnership, balance
  • Three of Pentacles — growth, expression, plans forming
  • Four of Pentacles — structure, rest, foundation
  • Five of Pentacles — challenge, conflict, change
  • Six of Pentacles — harmony, generosity, transition
  • Seven of Pentacles — reflection, choice, illusion
  • Eight of Pentacles — movement, mastery, refinement
  • Nine of Pentacles — near completion, attainment, wishes
  • Ten of Pentacles — completion, burden, fulfillment
  • Page of Pentacles — curious messenger, beginnings
  • Knight of Pentacles — driven pursuit, action
  • Queen of Pentacles — embodied mastery, grace
  • King of Pentacles — sovereign mastery, command

Want to see the cards in motion? Start a reading or read our guide to tarot readings.

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