Tarot Card Meanings
Explore all 78 tarot cards with detailed interpretations for love, career, and personal growth. Click on any card to learn its full meaning both upright and reversed.
Suit of Swords
Air Element • Logic, Ideas, Intellect, Communication, Truth
Associated with the Air element, the Swords suit symbolizes intellect, logic, ideas, thoughts, challenges, communication, and truth. Swords cards reflect mental clarity, decision-making, overcoming obstacles, and the power of the mind. This double-edged suit can represent both helpful analysis and harmful conflict.
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
Tarot Card Meanings
Welcome to your comprehensive guide to tarot card meanings. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced reader, understanding the symbolism and interpretations of all 78 tarot cards is essential for insightful readings. The tarot deck is divided into the Major Arcana and Minor Arcana, each card offering unique guidance for love, career, health, and personal growth. Use this resource to deepen your intuition and unlock the wisdom of the tarot.
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards representing life's spiritual lessons and major events. The Minor Arcana is made up of 56 cards across four suits—Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles—reflecting everyday situations and challenges. Each suit contains ten numbered cards and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King), symbolizing different aspects of human experience.
A Brief History of Tarot
Tarot cards originated in the 15th century as playing cards in Europe and evolved into a tool for divination and self-discovery. Over centuries, tarot has become a mirror to the soul, offering guidance, clarity, and insight into life's mysteries. Today, tarot is used worldwide for personal growth, spiritual exploration, and intuitive readings.
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.
Where can I learn more about tarot?
Explore our blog for tarot tips, spreads, and in-depth guides, or get a personalized tarot reading for deeper insight.
Understanding Tarot Card Meanings
How to interpret tarot cards for beginners?
Start by studying each card's basic meaning in both upright and reversed positions, then consider how it relates to your question. Look at the imagery and symbols, trust your intuition, and practice regularly with simple three-card spreads. Understanding the four elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) and their associated suits helps deepen your readings.
What do reversed tarot cards mean?
Reversed tarot cards often indicate blocked energy, internal challenges, or the need for introspection. They can also represent the shadow aspect of a card's meaning or suggest that you're resisting the card's spiritual lesson and guidance.
Which tarot cards represent love?
The Lovers, Two of Cups, and Ten of Cups are primary love cards in tarot readings. The Empress represents nurturing love and fertility, while the High Priestess indicates intuitive connection. All Cup cards (Water element) generally relate to emotions, feelings, and relationships.
What tarot cards indicate career success?
The Magician, Three of Pentacles, and Ten of Pentacles represent career achievement and success. The Chariot shows determination and willpower, while the World indicates completion and accomplishment. The Pentacles suit (Earth element) generally relates to work, material matters, and financial prosperity.
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
The tarot deck consists of 78 cards divided into two main sections. The Major Arcana contains 22 cards representing life's spiritual lessons, karmic events, and major turning points on your soul's journey. The Minor Arcana comprises 56 cards across four suits—Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles—reflecting everyday situations, challenges, and practical matters. Each suit contains ten numbered cards (Ace through Ten) and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King), symbolizing different aspects of human experience and stages of development.
A Brief History of Tarot
Tarot cards originated in the 15th century as playing cards in Europe and evolved into a powerful tool for divination, self-discovery, and spiritual guidance. Over centuries, tarot has become a mirror to the soul, offering guidance, clarity, and insight into life's mysteries and spiritual lessons. Today, tarot is used worldwide for personal growth, spiritual exploration, intuitive readings, and understanding the deeper patterns in our lives. The rich symbolism and archetypal imagery make tarot an invaluable tool for those seeking wisdom and self-knowledge.
Get a Personalized Tarot Reading
Want to know what message the cards have specifically for you? Get a personalized tarot reading for deeper insights into your unique situation.
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