Tarot cards are among the most fascinating and widely used tools for divination, self-discovery, and spiritual guidance. For centuries, seekers, mystics, and everyday people have turned to tarot to uncover hidden truths, clarify decisions, and explore their inner wisdom.

At the heart of every tarot reading lies a crucial element: understanding tarot card meanings. While spreads and intuition play essential roles, your ability to interpret the symbolism of each card determines the depth and accuracy of your reading.

Whether you are a complete beginner or someone who has dabbled in tarot before, this guide will provide you with all you need to know about tarot card meanings. From the powerful archetypes of the Major Arcana to the practical lessons of the Minor Arcana, we’ll explore upright and reversed interpretations, examples for different life areas, and practical tips to help you master tarot card readings.

By the end of this article, you’ll not only know the meanings of every tarot card but also understand how to apply them in real-life contexts—for love, career, spirituality, and personal growth.

Table of Contents

• What Are Tarot Card Meanings?
• The Structure of a Tarot Deck
  • Major Arcana (22 cards)
  • Minor Arcana (56 cards)
  • Court Cards (16 cards)
• Upright vs Reversed Meanings
• The Major Arcana Meanings (Card by Card)
• The Minor Arcana Meanings (Suits & Cards)
  • Wands (Fire: Passion, Career, Creativity)
  • Cups (Water: Love, Emotions, Relationships)
  • Swords (Air: Intellect, Challenges, Decisions)
  • Pentacles (Earth: Money, Work, Stability)
• The Court Cards: Pages, Knights, Queens, Kings
• How to Read Tarot Card Meanings in Context
  • Intuition + Symbolism
  • Card Combinations
  • Position in a Spread
• Common Tarot Spreads for Beginners
  • One Card Pull
  • Three Card Spread
  • Celtic Cross
  • Relationship Spread
  • Career Spread
• Examples of Tarot Card Meanings in Action
  • Love Reading Example
  • Career Reading Example
  • Spiritual Guidance Example
• Tips for Learning Tarot Card Meanings
• Common Mistakes Beginners Make
• FAQs About Tarot Card Meanings
• Conclusion: Unlocking the Wisdom of Tarot
• High-Ranking Keywords

What Are Tarot Card Meanings?

Every tarot card carries a symbolic meaning that represents energies, archetypes, and lessons in life. These meanings are derived from history, numerology, astrology, and archetypal psychology.

For example:

• The Lovers represents love, relationships, and choices.
• The Tower signals sudden upheaval and transformation.
• The Ace of Pentacles symbolizes new financial opportunities.

Tarot card meanings can change depending on the question, spread, position, and surrounding cards. They serve as mirrors of your subconscious, helping you see clarity where confusion exists.

The Structure of a Tarot Deck

A standard tarot deck has 78 cards, divided into:

• Major Arcana (22 cards): Represent big life lessons and spiritual archetypes.
• Minor Arcana (56 cards): Cover daily events and practical matters.
• Court Cards (16 cards): Represent personalities, roles, or aspects of yourself.

Upright vs Reversed Meanings

• Upright: The “direct” energy of the card (positive or challenging).
• Reversed: Blocked, hidden, or opposite energy.
  • Example: Upright The Sun = joy, success.
  • Reversed The Sun = delays, self-doubt, temporary setbacks.

The Major Arcana Meanings (Card by Card)

Here are the 22 Major Arcana cards and their core meanings:

1. The Fool – New beginnings, innocence, leap of faith. (Reversed: recklessness, hesitation.)
2. The Magician – Manifestation, power, resourcefulness. (Reversed: manipulation, untapped potential.)
3. The High Priestess – Intuition, secrets, wisdom. (Reversed: hidden motives, ignoring intuition.)
4. The Empress – Nurturing, fertility, abundance. (Reversed: dependence, blocked creativity.)
5. The Emperor – Authority, structure, stability. (Reversed: control issues, rigidity.)
6. The Hierophant – Tradition, guidance, spirituality. (Reversed: rebellion, unconventional paths.)
7. The Lovers – Relationships, choices, harmony. (Reversed: disharmony, wrong choices.)
8. The Chariot – Willpower, victory, control. (Reversed: lack of direction, aggression.)
9. Strength – Courage, inner power, patience. (Reversed: fear, weakness, doubt.)
10. The Hermit – Introspection, solitude, wisdom. (Reversed: isolation, withdrawal.)
11. Wheel of Fortune – Fate, cycles, change. (Reversed: setbacks, bad luck.)
12. Justice – Truth, fairness, law. (Reversed: dishonesty, imbalance.)
13. The Hanged Man – Surrender, new perspective. (Reversed: resistance, stagnation.)
14. Death – Endings, transformation, rebirth. (Reversed: resistance to change.)
15. Temperance – Balance, harmony, patience. (Reversed: excess, lack of balance.)
16. The Devil – Temptation, addiction, materialism. (Reversed: freedom, breaking chains.)
17. The Tower – Sudden change, upheaval. (Reversed: avoiding disaster, fear of change.)
18. The Star – Hope, inspiration, renewal. (Reversed: hopelessness, lack of faith.)
19. The Moon – Illusion, intuition, dreams. (Reversed: confusion, deception revealed.)
20. The Sun – Joy, vitality, success. (Reversed: doubt, temporary setbacks.)
21. Judgment – Awakening, reflection, decisions. (Reversed: denial, fear of change.)
22. The World – Completion, wholeness, achievement. (Reversed: delays, unfinished business.)

The Minor Arcana Meanings (Suits & Cards)

Suit of Wands (Fire – Passion, Career, Creativity)

• Ace of Wands: New inspiration, beginnings.
• 2 of Wands: Planning, future vision.
• 3 of Wands: Expansion, progress.
• 4 of Wands: Celebration, harmony.
• 5 of Wands: Competition, conflict.
• 6 of Wands: Victory, recognition.
• 7 of Wands: Defense, perseverance.
• 8 of Wands: Speed, communication.
• 9 of Wands: Resilience, persistence.
• 10 of Wands: Burden, hard work.

Suit of Cups (Water – Love, Emotions, Relationships)

• Ace of Cups: Love, new relationships.
• 2 of Cups: Partnership, attraction.
• 3 of Cups: Friendship, community.
• 4 of Cups: Apathy, reevaluation.
• 5 of Cups: Regret, grief.
• 6 of Cups: Nostalgia, childhood.
• 7 of Cups: Choices, illusion.
• 8 of Cups: Walking away, withdrawal.
• 9 of Cups: Contentment, satisfaction.
• 10 of Cups: Happiness, family harmony.

Suit of Swords (Air – Intellect, Conflict, Decisions)

• Ace of Swords: Clarity, breakthrough.
• 2 of Swords: Indecision, stalemate.
• 3 of Swords: Heartbreak, sorrow.
• 4 of Swords: Rest, recovery.
• 5 of Swords: Conflict, betrayal.
• 6 of Swords: Transition, moving on.
• 7 of Swords: Deception, strategy.
• 8 of Swords: Restriction, fear.
• 9 of Swords: Anxiety, worry.
• 10 of Swords: Endings, rock bottom.

Suit of Pentacles (Earth – Money, Work, Stability)

• Ace of Pentacles: Prosperity, new opportunities.
• 2 of Pentacles: Balance, adaptability.
• 3 of Pentacles: Collaboration, skill.
• 4 of Pentacles: Control, security.
• 5 of Pentacles: Poverty, struggle.
• 6 of Pentacles: Generosity, charity.
• 7 of Pentacles: Patience, long-term view.
• 8 of Pentacles: Mastery, learning.
• 9 of Pentacles: Luxury, self-sufficiency.
• 10 of Pentacles: Wealth, family, legacy.

The Court Cards

• Pages: Messages, youth, curiosity.
• Knights: Action, pursuit, change.
• Queens: Nurturing, wisdom, emotional maturity.
• Kings: Authority, mastery, leadership.

Each suit’s court cards bring personality traits tied to their element.

How to Read Tarot Card Meanings in Context

• Look at card position in the spread (past, present, future).
• Consider surrounding cards (The Lovers + The Devil = toxic love).
• Use intuition—your feeling matters as much as the book meaning.

Common Tarot Spreads

• One Card Pull: Daily guidance.
• Three Card Spread: Past, present, future.
• Celtic Cross: Complex, deep insight.
• Relationship Spread: Love & compatibility.
• Career Spread: Work and finance focus.

Examples of Tarot Card Meanings in Action

• Love: 2 of Cups = soulmate connection.
• Career: 8 of Pentacles = mastering your craft.
• Spirituality: The Hermit = inner wisdom.

Tips for Learning Tarot Card Meanings

• Start with one card a day.
• Keep a tarot journal.
• Meditate on the imagery.
• Learn both upright and reversed meanings.
• Practice readings with friends.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Memorizing without intuition.
• Asking yes/no questions.
• Reading when emotionally overwhelmed.
• Fearing reversed cards.

FAQs About Tarot Card Meanings

• Do I need to memorize all 78 cards? No—focus on learning core themes, the rest comes with practice.
• Can tarot predict the future? Tarot shows possibilities, not certainties.
• Which tarot deck is best for beginners? The Rider-Waite deck is the most beginner-friendly.
• What if I pull scary cards like Death or The Tower? These often mean transformation and growth, not literal doom.

Conclusion

Tarot card meanings are the foundation of tarot practice. By understanding the Major Arcana’s life lessons and the Minor Arcana’s everyday experiences, you can unlock a deeper awareness of yourself and the world around you.

Learning tarot is not about memorizing definitions—it’s about developing a relationship with the cards, trusting your intuition, and allowing their symbolism to guide you.

Whether you’re pulling a daily card, exploring relationships, or making career decisions, tarot card meanings provide clarity, wisdom, and empowerment.

👉 Start today: shuffle your deck, pull a card, and see what message it brings you.