Tarot Card Meanings Guide
Overview
A tarot card meaning is the symbolic interpretation of one card in a standard 78-card deck: 22 Major Arcana for life themes and 56 Minor Arcana in four suits—Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles. PullTarot lists upright and reversed readings for love, career, and daily reflection, as entertainment rather than a guaranteed outcome.
Key takeaways
- A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana.
- Cups cover emotion and relationships; Wands cover drive; Swords cover decisions; Pentacles cover work and material life.
- Upright usually reads as the card’s energy in the open; reversed often reads as blocked, internalized, or delayed—not automatically “bad.”
- Look up a card after a tarot pull, then read it against your question rather than as a fixed prediction.
- PullTarot is the publisher of this 78-card library for readers in the United States and Canada.
Look up any card after a tarot pull, or study the full deck. Each page covers symbolism plus upright and reversed interpretations. Start the Major Arcana at The Fool tarot meaning, then return here or open a topic reading or spread layout.
Minor Arcana
The Four Suits of Daily Life
The 56 Minor Arcana cards cover everyday concerns and current energies in daily life.
- Cups (Water) — emotions and relationships
- Wands (Fire) — energy and creativity
- Swords (Air) — thoughts and decisions
- Pentacles (Earth) — work, money, and the body
Suit of Cups
Water Element • Emotions, Love, Relationships, Intuition, Feelings
Associated with the Water element, the Cups suit represents the realm of emotions, relationships, love, and intuitive wisdom. These cards explore matters of the heart and soul.
Ace of Cups
Cups • 1
Upright: love, emotions, compassion
Two of Cups
Cups • 2
Upright: partnership, connection, attraction
Three of Cups
Cups • 3
Upright: celebration, friendship, community
Four of Cups
Cups • 4
Upright: contemplation, apathy, meditation
Five of Cups
Cups • 5
Upright: loss, grief, regret
Six of Cups
Cups • 6
Upright: nostalgia, memories, innocence
Seven of Cups
Cups • 7
Upright: choices, fantasy, illusion
Eight of Cups
Cups • 8
Upright: walking away, seeking truth, spiritual quest
Nine of Cups
Cups • 9
Upright: contentment, satisfaction, wish fulfillment
Ten of Cups
Cups • 10
Upright: family harmony, happiness, fulfillment
Page of Cups
Cups • 11
Upright: creative beginnings, intuitive messages, sensitivity
Knight of Cups
Cups • 12
Upright: romance, charm, imagination
Queen of Cups
Cups • 13
Upright: emotional maturity, compassion, empathy
King of Cups
Cups • 14
Upright: emotional mastery, compassionate leadership, diplomatic wisdom
Suit of Wands
Fire Element • Energy, Drive, Willpower, Creativity, Power
Associated with the Fire element, the Wands suit represents passion, creativity, energy, and primal drive. These cards embody inspiration, ambition, and the spark of action.
Ace of Wands
Wands • 1
Upright: inspiration, creation, potential
Two of Wands
Wands • 2
Upright: planning, decisions, discovery
Three of Wands
Wands • 3
Upright: expansion, foresight, overseas opportunities
Four of Wands
Wands • 4
Upright: celebration, homecoming, community
Five of Wands
Wands • 5
Upright: competition, conflict, struggle
Six of Wands
Wands • 6
Upright: victory, recognition, success
Seven of Wands
Wands • 7
Upright: defensiveness, standing ground, perseverance
Eight of Wands
Wands • 8
Upright: swift action, rapid progress, speed
Nine of Wands
Wands • 9
Upright: resilience, persistence, courage
Ten of Wands
Wands • 10
Upright: heavy burden, responsibility, overwhelmed
Page of Wands
Wands • 11
Upright: enthusiasm, adventure, new ideas
Knight of Wands
Wands • 12
Upright: swift action, adventure, fearlessness
Queen of Wands
Wands • 13
Upright: confident leadership, warmth, determination
King of Wands
Wands • 14
Upright: visionary leadership, honor, integrity
Suit of Swords
Air Element • Logic, Ideas, Intellect, Communication, Truth
Associated with the Air element, the Swords suit symbolizes intellect, logic, thoughts, and communication. These double-edged cards represent the power of the mind.
Ace of Swords
Swords • 1
Upright: clarity, truth, breakthrough
Two of Swords
Swords • 2
Upright: difficult choices, stalemate, avoidance
Three of Swords
Swords • 3
Upright: heartbreak, emotional pain, grief
Four of Swords
Swords • 4
Upright: rest, contemplation, meditation
Five of Swords
Swords • 5
Upright: conflict, defeat, hollow victory
Six of Swords
Swords • 6
Upright: transition, moving forward, progress
Seven of Swords
Swords • 7
Upright: deception, theft, stealth
Eight of Swords
Swords • 8
Upright: mental restriction, feeling trapped, victim mentality
Nine of Swords
Swords • 9
Upright: anxiety, worry, mental anguish
Ten of Swords
Swords • 10
Upright: rock bottom, betrayal, painful ending
Page of Swords
Swords • 11
Upright: intellectual curiosity, new ideas, communication
Knight of Swords
Swords • 12
Upright: swift action, determination, ambition
Queen of Swords
Swords • 13
Upright: clear thinking, intellectual independence, sharp insight
King of Swords
Swords • 14
Upright: intellectual authority, ethical leadership, fair judgment
Suit of Pentacles
Earth Element • Material World, Stability, Nature, Body, Prosperity
Associated with the Earth element, the Pentacles suit relates to material wealth, work, physical health, and earthly matters. These grounded cards address tangible results and prosperity.
Ace of Pentacles
Pentacles • 1
Upright: prosperity, abundance, opportunity
Two of Pentacles
Pentacles • 2
Upright: balance, adaptability, priorities
Three of Pentacles
Pentacles • 3
Upright: teamwork, collaboration, skill
Four of Pentacles
Pentacles • 4
Upright: security, conservation, saving
Five of Pentacles
Pentacles • 5
Upright: hardship, poverty, insecurity
Six of Pentacles
Pentacles • 6
Upright: generosity, charity, sharing
Seven of Pentacles
Pentacles • 7
Upright: patience, perseverance, investment
Eight of Pentacles
Pentacles • 8
Upright: apprenticeship, skill development, craftsmanship
Nine of Pentacles
Pentacles • 9
Upright: independence, luxury, self-sufficiency
Ten of Pentacles
Pentacles • 10
Upright: generational wealth, family legacy, inheritance
Page of Pentacles
Pentacles • 11
Upright: new opportunities, practical study, manifesting
Knight of Pentacles
Pentacles • 12
Upright: reliability, methodical progress, hard work
Queen of Pentacles
Pentacles • 13
Upright: nurturing abundance, practical care, material comfort
King of Pentacles
Pentacles • 14
Upright: financial mastery, business leadership, material success
How to use this tarot card meanings guide
This hub lists all 78 tarot card meanings—Major and Minor Arcana—with upright and reversed notes for love, career, health, and personal growth.
Start with a card from a recent pull, or browse by suit when you are learning the deck.
- Open any card page for symbols, keywords, and context
- Compare upright vs reversed energy on the same card
- Cross-check with your question before drawing conclusions
Major Arcana (22): spiritual lessons and major life events.
Minor Arcana (56): Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles for everyday situations.
Each suit has ten numbered cards (Ace–Ten) plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).
A Brief History of Tarot
Tarot began in the 15th century as playing cards in Europe (World History Encyclopedia).
Early luxury decks such as the Visconti-Sforza tarot shaped the imagery in Renaissance Italy.
Centuries later the system was adapted for reflection and cartomancy. Readers still use these symbols for personal growth and intuitive practice.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tarot Card Meanings
What are tarot cards?
Tarot cards are a deck of 78 cards, each with unique imagery and symbolism. They are used for divination, self-reflection, and spiritual guidance, helping people gain insight into their lives and situations.
What is the difference between Major and Minor Arcana?
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards representing major life events and spiritual lessons, while the Minor Arcana includes 56 cards divided into four suits, focusing on everyday experiences and challenges.
How do I interpret tarot card meanings?
Interpret tarot cards by considering their imagery, symbolism, and traditional meanings. Trust your intuition and reflect on how each card's message applies to your question or situation. Upright and reversed positions can offer different insights.
Can tarot predict the future?
Tarot is best used as a tool for guidance and self-discovery rather than fortune-telling. It can highlight potential outcomes and offer advice, but your actions and choices shape your future.
How many cards are in a tarot deck?
A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana cards representing life's spiritual lessons and turning points, and 56 Minor Arcana cards across four suits (Cups, Wands, Swords, Pentacles) with 14 cards each.
Where can I learn more about tarot?
Explore the PullTarot blog for tarot tips, spreads, and in-depth guides, or get a personalized tarot reading for deeper insight.
Continue with the PullTarot blog, the About PullTarot page, or a personalized tarot reading.
Understanding Tarot Card Meanings
How to interpret tarot cards for beginners?
Learn each card upright and reversed, then apply it to your question.
- Read the imagery and traditional keywords
- Note which suit/element is speaking
- Practice with simple three-card spreads
What do reversed tarot cards mean?
A reversal usually means the card's energy is blocked, internalized, or resisted—not simply “the opposite.”
- Blocked or delayed expression of the upright theme
- Inner process rather than outer event
- Shadow side or lesson you may be avoiding
Which tarot cards represent love?
Primary love cards include The Lovers, Two of Cups, and Ten of Cups.
- The Empress — nurturing love and creative fertility
- The High Priestess — intuitive, quiet connection
- Cups suit (Water) — emotions and relationships in general
What tarot cards indicate career success?
Career momentum often shows as The Magician, Three of Pentacles, or Ten of Pentacles.
- The Chariot — determination and follow-through
- The World — completion and recognition
- Pentacles suit (Earth) — work, money, and material results
Quick Tarot Elements Reference
Cups (Water) = Emotions & Love | Wands (Fire) = Energy & Passion | Swords (Air) = Intellect & Truth | Pentacles (Earth) = Material & Prosperity
Understanding the Tarot Deck Structure
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards in two sections:
- Major Arcana (22) — spiritual lessons, karmic themes, and major turning points.
- Minor Arcana (56) — Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles for daily life.
Inside each suit you will find:
- Ten numbered cards (Ace through Ten)
- Four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King)
Where Tarot Card Meanings Come From
Most modern English-language meanings follow the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, published in 1909 by Arthur Edward Waite with art by Pamela Colman Smith.
Waite's explanations appear in The Pictorial Key to the Tarot, a public-domain primary source.
PullTarot's upright and reversed write-ups build on that lineage for reflection and entertainment—not medical, legal, or financial outcomes.
Earlier 15th-century decks, including the Visconti-Sforza cards, began as game cards.
Cartomancy came later (historical overview). Treat each meaning as documented symbolism—not a random oracle.
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