All 78 Tarot Cards Meanings Explained

If you learned about tarot cards online, you notice a deck has seventy-eight cards. Yet you don’t have to memorize seventy-eight keywords.

You can learn how tarot cards operate as a system rather than focusing on individual cards. The tarot consists of twenty-two major arcana cards and fifty-six minor arcana cards.

The tarot cards relate to each other like an alphabet with letters functioning together to make words and tell a story. The tarot contains patterns and mystical wisdom.

Major Arcana

Rather than memorizing seventy-eight cards, you can learn to understand tarot as a holistic system. The deck consists of twenty-two major arcana cards and fifty-six minor arcana cards.

Of all the tarot cards, major arcana cards relate to spiritual lessons and archetypal wisdom. These cards are not more important than the minor cards, yet they portend overarching themes.

Whether you buy tarot cards or use an online tarot deck, you can break down the parts of the tarot to learn the cards’ meanings. The Rider-Waite deck is the best tarot card for beginners.

A story emerges when you examine the major arcana cards from the Fool to the World. The major arcana tells the story of the Fool’s journey from innocence to wisdom.

Understanding the path of the Fool’s journey makes it easier to comprehend what each major arcana card means. The major arcana tarot card lists in order and reads like a storyboard.

Learning the system of the tarot frees your mind to gain more from readings. You won’t be distracted by forcing memorization during a tarot card reading.

The first of the tarot cards is The Fool. The Fool is associated with the number zero, corresponding to openness. The Fool is a clean slate, symbolizing innocence and faith. The Fool is spontaneous and has no agenda.

While the Fool operates on instinct and curiosity, the next card is the Magician. This card represents the consciousness of creative willpower. Suddenly aware of the power of intentions, the Fool finds focus and channels his ambition.

The Fool can’t progress on his quest alone. The next card is the High Priestess, who brings divine guidance and encourages the Fool to pay attention to his intuition and seek hidden wisdom.

Next is the Empress, who has material resources to share with the Fool. Her abundant garden is a reminder that the Fool needs to be practical and with effort, will reap the harvest he sows.

The Emperor is next. The Emperor teaches lessons about boundaries. The Emperor is protective and territorial; this archetype is authoritative and represents paternalistic power.

The Empress and Emperor are parental figures who represent different nurturing styles. The Fifth card is the Hierophant, indicating the institutions in society the Fool encounters.

The Hierophant is a gatekeeper of wisdom that requires obedience and preserves tradition. The Hierophant may be religion, the school system, or the government. This card represents impersonal institutions that influence the Fool.

The Fool’s carefree nature is now hindered by the boundaries, rules, and order of the Empress, Emperor, and Hierophant. The sixth card is the Lovers. This card reminds the Fool to find balance and be authentic.

The Lovers relates to love and romance. But this card is primarily about partnerships and balancing your perspective with someone who sees things differently. The Fool learns to balance and harmony from this archetype.

Now well into his adventure, the next card is the Chariot. The Fool reaches a crossroads and can’t progress until he overcomes ambivalence and confusion. He’s received mixed messages and needs to figure out what is true for him before proceeding.

Next is Strength, an archetype corresponding to lessons about inner fortitude. Strength is a reminder that raw physical power is not the only source of strength, and inner peace is a form of power.

The Hermit follows this card, teaching the Fool to be open to a solitary path and not be influenced by the crowd. The Hermit brings spiritual wisdom from solitude and encourages the Fool to seek unconventional answers.

Next is the Wheel of Fortune; unexpected twists and turns help the Fool progress. This card represents divine intervention and surprises.

The eleventh card is Justice, representing Karma and reminding the Fool of the importance of balance. The Justice card teaches that actions have consequences.

The twelfth card is the Hanged Man. The Fool is at an impasse and can’t control his surroundings no matter how hard he tries. Introspection brings freedom and empowerment.

Next is the Death card, symbolic of the transformation the Fool achieves when he realizes he is free to reinvent himself and change his path. The Death card represents a profound change.

Temperance comes next, bringing lessons on moderation and using creative gifts to accomplish your goals. The Fool learns the wisdom of slowing down and being more intentional.

The fifteenth card corresponds to the sixth card. The Devil card relates to the Lovers card image and brings an inverse meaning. The Lovers represent balance, while the Devil represents control and hedonism.

The Fool is enticed by temptation and wanders from his path, pursuing pleasure and spiraling into obsession and addiction. The Devil represents vice and desire that becomes consuming.

The Fool would remain distracted by the pursuit of ego desires if it weren’t for the next card, the Tower. A crisis ensues, which leaves the Fool feeling powerless. Yet this crisis is a wake-up call that saves the Fool from perpetual distraction.

The Tower is followed by the Star, which reminds the Fool of his higher ideals and hopes. The Fool has endured hardship but finds faith again.

The Moon follows the Star. This card is a reminder that things aren’t always what they seem. Appearances can be deceiving.

The Sun is next, bringing strength and renewal. The Fool has found meaning and purpose. He can now continue his quest having an enlightened understanding of his transformation.

The next card is Judgement. This archetype deals with discernment and evolution. The Fool has endured many trials and tribulations and must now determine what priorities are part of his quest and what are distractions.

The final major arcana card is the World. The Fool completes his quest, but the end of this adventure brings the beginning of a new phase.

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Minor Arcana

There are fifty-six minor arcana cards divided into a subsystem in tarot. The minor arcana contains four suits. The tarot card names vary, but traditionally they are called the wands, swords, cups, and pentacles.

Each suit consists of an ace and cards numbered two through ten. They also have a court containing a page, knight, queen, and king.

You can understand the minor arcana with a basic knowledge of the suit’s elemental correspondence and numerology. The minor arcana cards relate to mundane issues that arise in daily life and provide more nuance than the major cards.

The wand suit relates to the fire element. Like fire, this suit can be exciting and brings optimism, hope, and action. The wand cards relate to initiative and creativity.

The sword suits correspond to the air element. This suit often depicts conflict and challenges. The sword suit relates to intellect, focus, and communication.

The cup suit corresponds to the water element. The cup cards speak to relationships and emotions and are generally associated with happiness and fulfillment.

The pentacles suit corresponds to the earth element. The pentacles cards speak to career, money, and health. These cards relate to stability and security.

Combine the suit meaning with the meaning of each number and you can easily understand the interpretation of the minor arcana cards.

The number two speaks to balance and partnerships. Three corresponds to expansion. Four relates to harmony and complacency. Five is a catalyst and brings disruption. Six represents harmony and resolution.

Seven brings ideals and perfection. Eight is a number of power and infinity. Nine is a mystical number associated with spirituality and growth. Ten corresponds to completion and fulfillment.

Court Cards

The court cards baffle beginning tarot readers. These cards portray situations, people, or both. Pages correspond to children or childlike, enthusiastic people.

Knights represent adolescents or passionate, active people. Queens represent nurturing, encouraging people or mature women. Kings represent men or mature authority figures.

Apply the meaning of each suit to the characteristics of each court and you can understand the meaning of these cards. As situations, the Page represents an early process or new experience.

The Knights bring changes or new directions. Queens represent situations that require nurturing and are not yet complete. Kings represent mastery or completion.

Seasons change and so do you. Chat with a psychic!

Aces

Aces correspond to the number one hence there is no card marked one of the wands, one of swords, etc. The Aces embody the raw energy and power associated with each suit.

Ace cards represent seasons and can be time markers. They represent new opportunities and motivation to pursue new interests.

Aces can bring sudden inspiration and new passion. These cards are positive catalysts that trigger insight and epiphanies. The Ace of Cups brings new love.

Ace of Pentacles is associated with a new job or career change. The Ace of Wands brings new motivation, and the Ace of Swords brings new insights.