Every tarot reader remembers the moment a card stopped them cold and they thought: what does this actually mean? Tarot card meanings are the language the deck speaks, and learning them is less about memorizing a dictionary and more about building a relationship with 78 distinct symbols.
From our shop
Want a deck worth looking at every day?
Every deck includes the full beginner course (4 books) in English, free with the deck.
Holographic Crystal Foil Tarot Cards — 1909 Classic Art
This foil deck is 78 cards with a printed guidebook and gift box, with faces worth looking at daily.
See this foil deck
Moonlight Tarot Cards Gold Rainbow Foil
This foil deck is 78 cards with a printed guidebook and gift box, with faces worth looking at daily.
See this foil deckA note before the 78 cards, because it is the question we are asked most alongside them: every deck we print comes with these meanings as a printed guidebook, upright and reversed, so nothing here needs a separate book. The decks are in our beginner tarot deck collection — and if you want the meanings printed on the cards themselves, those editions exist in German and French.
What are tarot card meanings? Each tarot card carries a set of upright and reversed interpretations drawn from centuries of symbolism, elemental theory, and the Pamela Colman Smith tradition. The 78 cards divide into 22 Major Arcana (life's big lessons) and 56 Minor Arcana (everyday situations across four suits). Together they map the full range of human experience.
This guide covers every one of those 78 cards, with upright keywords, reversed keywords, and a Yes/No answer for each. Interpretations follow the Pamela Colman Smith tradition, the imagery created by Arthur Edward Waite and illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909 and still the most widely used tarot system in the world. Dark Forest Tarot Cards has become a trusted source for readers who take both craft and aesthetics seriously.
If you want to read along with a physical deck, our Pamela Colman Smith Holographic Crystal Foil is the best companion for this guide. Its clean, borderless design makes the card symbols easy to study.
How to use this guide: Find the card you pulled in the table for its suit (or scroll the Major Arcana section). Read the upright meaning if the card appeared right-side up, the reversed meaning if it was upside-down. Each card name links to a full in-depth article where one exists.
Learn with the cards in your hand
The meanings stick faster when the deck is in front of you. Our Moonlight deck brings all 78 Pamela Colman Smith arcana to life in gold rainbow foil, printed by us.
View the deckAll 78 Tarot Cards at a Glance
Every card in the deck with its core upright and reversed meanings, so you can find a card fast mid-reading. Open any row for the full card meaning.
The Fool
The Magician
The High Priestess
The Empress
The Emperor
The Hierophant
The Lovers
The Chariot
Strength
The Hermit
Wheel of Fortune
Justice
The Hanged Man
Death
Temperance
The Devil
The Tower
The Star
The Moon
The Sun
Judgement
The World
Ace of Wands
Two of Wands
Three of Wands
Four of Wands
Five of Wands
Six of Wands
Seven of Wands
Eight of Wands
Nine of Wands
Ten of Wands
Page of Wands
Knight of Wands
Queen of Wands
King of Wands
Ace of Cups
Two of Cups
Three of Cups
Four of Cups
Five of Cups
Six of Cups
Seven of Cups
Eight of Cups
Nine of Cups
Ten of Cups
Page of Cups
Knight of Cups
Queen of Cups
King of Cups
Ace of Swords
Two of Swords
Three of Swords
Four of Swords
Five of Swords
Six of Swords
Seven of Swords
Eight of Swords
Nine of Swords
Ten of Swords
Page of Swords
Knight of Swords
Queen of Swords
King of Swords
Ace of Pentacles
Two of Pentacles
Three of Pentacles
Four of Pentacles
Five of Pentacles
Six of Pentacles
Seven of Pentacles
Eight of Pentacles
Nine of Pentacles
Ten of Pentacles
Page of Pentacles
Knight of Pentacles
Queen of Pentacles
King of Pentacles
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
| The Fool | fresh starts, trusting leap, carefree curiosity, open road | careless leaps, ignoring warnings, hesitating at the edge, naive choices |
| The Magician | willpower, skill, manifestation, resourcefulness, power | manipulation, poor planning, untapped potential |
| The High Priestess | intuition, mystery, subconscious, inner knowledge, divine feminine | secrets, disconnected from intuition, withdrawal |
| The Empress | fertility, abundance, nurturing, beauty, nature | dependence, creative block, smothering |
| The Emperor | authority, structure, stability, leadership, father figure | domination, rigidity, inflexibility |
| The Hierophant | tradition, conformity, morality, spiritual guidance, institutions | rebellion, subversiveness, challenging convention |
| The Lovers | love, union, alignment, choices, harmony | disharmony, imbalance, misalignment |
| The Chariot | determination, control, victory, willpower, momentum | lack of control, aggression, defeat |
| Strength | inner strength, courage, patience, compassion, influence | self-doubt, weakness, insecurity |
| The Hermit | soul-searching, introspection, solitude, inner guidance, contemplation | isolation, loneliness, withdrawal |
| Wheel of Fortune | changing tides, chance events, natural rhythms, pivotal moment | setbacks beyond control, clinging to the old, repeating a pattern, stalled momentum |
| Justice | fairness, truth, cause and effect, law, accountability | injustice, dishonesty, lack of accountability |
| The Hanged Man | suspension, letting go, new perspective, sacrifice, pause | stalling, needless sacrifice, fear of sacrifice |
| Death | endings, transformation, transition, change, letting go | resistance to change, stagnation, inability to move on |
| Temperance | harmony, blending opposites, steady pace, inner calm, healing | overindulgence, lopsided choices, restlessness, losing your center |
| The Devil | bondage, addiction, materialism, shadow self, dependency | releasing limitations, exploring dark thoughts, freedom |
| The Tower | sudden change, upheaval, chaos, revelation, disruption | avoiding disaster, fear of change, averting crisis |
| The Star | hope, faith, renewal, serenity, inspiration | hopelessness, despair, lack of faith |
| The Moon | illusion, fear, subconscious, anxiety, confusion | releasing fear, repressed emotions, inner confusion |
| The Sun | positivity, success, joy, vitality, optimism | blocked happiness, inner child issues, negativity |
| Judgement | reflection, reckoning, awakening, absolution, self-evaluation | self-doubt, refusal of self-examination, inner critic |
| The World | completion, integration, accomplishment, wholeness, travel | incompleteness, shortcuts, seeking closure |
| Ace of Wands | inspiration, new beginnings, creativity, enthusiasm, potential | lack of direction, delays, creative blocks |
| Two of Wands | planning, making decisions, looking ahead, future goals, expansion | fear of change, playing small, bad planning |
| Three of Wands | progress, foresight, expansion, looking ahead, enterprise | lack of foresight, delays, plans held back |
| Four of Wands | celebration, home, harmony, community, milestones | breakdown in home life, lack of community, instability |
| Five of Wands | conflict, competition, disagreements, struggle, chaos | avoiding conflict, inner conflict, suppressed aggression |
| Six of Wands | success, public recognition, progress, victory, achievement | egotism, lack of confidence, fall from grace |
| Seven of Wands | perseverance, defiance, standing firm, protectiveness, holding ground | giving up, overwhelmed, overly protective |
| Eight of Wands | speed, action, quick decisions, air travel, movement | delays, frustration, poor timing |
| Nine of Wands | resilience, courage, persistence, test of faith, boundaries | stubbornness, inflexibility, refusing to compromise |
| Ten of Wands | burden, extra responsibility, hard work, completion, overload | doing it all alone, collapse, over-commitment |
| Page of Wands | exploration, enthusiasm, discovery, free spirit, creative beginnings | lack of direction, procrastination, pessimism |
| Knight of Wands | energy, passion, lust, action, adventure | haste, impulsive, scattered energy |
| Queen of Wands | courage, confidence, determination, fiery, magnetic | demanding, jealousy, insecure |
| King of Wands | natural leader, vision, entrepreneur, honor, bold | impulsive, overbearing, unachievable expectations |
| Ace of Cups | new love, compassion, creativity, intuition, spiritual gifts | blocked creativity, emptiness, emotional loss |
| Two of Cups | partnership, union, attraction, connection, proposal | imbalanced relationship, broken communication, separation |
| Three of Cups | celebration, friendship, creativity, community, abundance | independence, alone time, over-indulgence |
| Four of Cups | apathy, contemplation, withdrawn, reevaluation, boredom | retreat, avoiding others, excessive contemplation |
| Five of Cups | regret, loss, grief, disappointment, dwelling on the past | moving on, acceptance, forgiveness |
| Six of Cups | nostalgia, childhood memories, innocence, giving, past connections | stuck in the past, naivety, unrealistic |
| Seven of Cups | choices, fantasy, illusion, wishful thinking, temptation | alignment, clarity, making choices |
| Eight of Cups | leaving something behind, seeking deeper meaning, quiet departure, emotional letdown | clinging to the familiar, aimless wandering, hesitating to leave, revisiting the past |
| Nine of Cups | contentment, satisfaction, gratitude, wish card, emotional fulfillment | lack of fulfillment, materialism, complacency |
| Ten of Cups | emotional fulfillment, close-knit family, shared joy, lasting contentment, belonging | family tension, strained bonds, unmet ideals, disconnect at home |
| Page of Cups | emotional messages, creative, intuitive, inner child, unexpected news | emotional immaturity, insecurity, repressing emotions |
| Knight of Cups | romance, charm, imagination, sensitivity, idealism | moodiness, disappointment, jealousy |
| Queen of Cups | compassion, nurturing, empathy, emotional security, intuition | inner feelings neglected, codependency, emotional insecurity |
| King of Cups | emotionally balanced, compassionate, diplomatic, wisdom, calmness | emotional manipulation, volatility, moodiness |
| Ace of Swords | clarity, breakthrough, new ideas, truth, mental force | confusion, chaos, miscommunication |
| Two of Swords | crossroads, uneasy truce, guarded heart, looking away, weighing options | forced hand, mental fog, information overload, truth surfacing |
| Three of Swords | heartbreak, sorrow, grief, loss, emotional pain | healing, forgiveness, recovering from hurt |
| Four of Swords | rest, recovery, contemplation, peace, sanctuary | restlessness, burnout, re-entering the world |
| Five of Swords | conflict, disagreement, defeat, bullying, hollow victory | reconciliation, moving past conflict, forgiveness |
| Six of Swords | transition, change, moving on, rite of passage, releasing baggage | emotional baggage, resisting transition, returning to difficulty |
| Seven of Swords | deception, betrayal, strategy, cunning, getting away with something | coming clean, confessing, self-deception |
| Eight of Swords | imprisonment, restriction, self-victimization, helplessness, trapped | releasing restrictions, mental freedom, facing fears |
| Nine of Swords | anxiety, worry, fear, nightmares, despair | inner turmoil, releasing anxiety, coming to terms with fears |
| Ten of Swords | painful endings, loss, betrayal, rock bottom, crisis | recovery, regeneration, fear of ruin |
| Page of Swords | curiosity, restlessness, mental energy, inquisitiveness, chatterbox | deceptive, manipulative, all talk |
| Knight of Swords | driven, charging ahead, quick wit, bold speech, determined | hasty, scattered, blunt words, rushing without a plan |
| Queen of Swords | clear boundaries, honest, direct, independent, perception | cold-hearted, bitter, cruel |
| King of Swords | authority, clarity, truth, decisiveness, ethics | misuse of power, manipulative, tyrannical |
| Ace of Pentacles | new financial opportunity, abundance, prosperity, stability, manifestation | missed opportunity, poor planning, shaky foundations |
| Two of Pentacles | balance, adaptability, time management, juggling priorities, flexibility | imbalance, disorganization, overwhelmed |
| Three of Pentacles | teamwork, collaboration, skill building, commitment, mastery | disharmony in teams, poor planning, working alone |
| Four of Pentacles | saving money, security, conservatism, scarcity, control | over-spending, greediness, self-protection |
| Five of Pentacles | financial loss, poverty, lack, isolation, adversity | recovery from financial loss, spiritual poverty, isolation ending |
| Six of Pentacles | generosity, charity, giving, taking, prosperity sharing | selfishness, debt, one-sided charity |
| Seven of Pentacles | patient tending, steady growth, evaluating progress, slow rewards, dedicated effort | short-sighted thinking, disappointing returns, putting things off, wasted effort |
| Eight of Pentacles | diligence, knowledge, craftsmanship, skill development, dedication | perfectionism, boredom, work done without care |
| Nine of Pentacles | abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency, financial independence, gratitude | dependence on others, overwork, comfort bought at a cost |
| Ten of Pentacles | legacy, culmination, family, wealth, lasting success | failing family structures, financial failure, loss of legacy |
| Page of Pentacles | ambition, diligence, manifestation, financial opportunity, new skills | procrastination, lack of progress, underachieving |
| Knight of Pentacles | efficiency, routine, conservative, methodical, hardworking | laziness, boredom, feeling stuck |
| Queen of Pentacles | practical, homebody, motherly, down-to-earth, financial security | financial dependency, work-family imbalance, smothering |
| King of Pentacles | abundance, prosperity, security, ambition, discipline | corruption, greed, over-indulgence |
Major Arcana Meanings -- All 22 Cards
The Major Arcana are the 22 cards that carry the heaviest symbolic weight in a tarot deck. They follow what readers call the Fool's Journey: the Fool (card 0) sets out into the world knowing nothing, encounters teachers and trials represented by cards I through XXI, and arrives at the World (card XXI) having completed a full cycle of experience. When a Major Arcana card appears in a reading, it signals a significant theme or turning point rather than a routine daily matter. The more Major Arcana cards you pull in a spread, the more a situation touches on deeper life patterns rather than surface circumstances. For a full walk through all 22 cards and the Fool's Journey in depth, see the complete Major Arcana guide.
What are the 22 Major Arcana cards? They are: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement, and The World.
Minor Arcana Meanings -- All 56 Cards
The 56 Minor Arcana cards reflect the texture of everyday life: the decisions, emotions, conflicts, and small wins that fill each day. They are split into four suits of 14 cards each. Every suit has an Ace through Ten, plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). The suit tells you which area of life the card touches. The number or rank tells you what stage that situation is at.
The imagery behind these meanings has an author worth knowing: read about Pamela Colman Smith, the artist behind the 1909 deck.
Many of the meanings above follow one well-known tradition, so it helps to know what the 1909 deck is and why so many decks follow it.
Suit of Wands -- Fire, Action, Ambition
Wands correspond to the element of Fire and the fire signs Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius. This suit governs creative energy, ambition, career drive, and the spark that pushes you to start something new. When Wands dominate a reading, there is momentum present, but also a risk of burning out or acting without enough planning. Wands are the suit of what you want to build and why it excites you.
Suit of Cups -- Water, Emotion, Relationships
Cups correspond to the element of Water and the water signs Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces. This suit rules the emotional world: love, intuition, relationships, grief, creativity, and spiritual connection. Many readers find Cups the most personal suit because these cards speak directly to how things feel rather than how they look on paper. A reading heavy with Cups suggests the emotional dimension of a situation needs attention before action makes sense.
Suit of Swords -- Air, Intellect, Conflict
Swords correspond to the element of Air and the air signs Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. This suit covers the mind: thoughts, communication, conflict, truth, and decision-making. Swords can be uncomfortable cards to pull because they show situations as they actually are, without softening the picture. That directness is their gift. Three of our published in-depth guides live in this suit.
Suit of Pentacles -- Earth, Work, Abundance
Pentacles correspond to the element of Earth and the earth signs Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn. This suit governs practical matters: money, work, health, home, and the slow-building kind of progress that comes from showing up consistently. Pentacles are grounding cards. They ask you to look at what is real and tangible in a situation rather than what is hoped for or feared. When Pentacles dominate a reading, resources, security, and practical planning deserve attention.
Two free tools for working through the 78 cards
Prefer the whole deck on paper? Take the free printable tarot guidebook and journal — all 78 meanings as a PDF, no purchase or email needed.
Want the card tied to your own birthday? The tarot birth card calculator maps your date of birth to its Major Arcana card in seconds. Free, no signup.
How to Read Tarot Cards with This Guide
The first thing to know is that tarot meanings are not fixed rules. They are starting points. The Pamela Colman Smith tradition gives each card a set of core themes, and those themes interact with the question you asked, the position the card landed in, and the other cards around it.
Upright vs reversed: An upright card expresses its energy in a direct, forward-moving way. A reversed card (drawn or placed upside-down) often signals that same energy turned inward, delayed, or meeting resistance. Some readers use reversals, some do not. Neither approach is wrong. If you are new to reading, starting with upright meanings only is a practical choice until the cards feel familiar.
Which card did you pull? Scroll to its suit table above and read across the row. If it is a Major Arcana card, check the first table. The Yes/No column gives a quick intuitive answer: Yes means the energy generally favors a positive outcome, No means it signals a challenge or block, and Maybe means the outcome is genuinely uncertain or conditional.
A full guide to reading tarot spreads, choosing a layout, and interpreting card combinations is coming soon as part of this series. The cards in the tables above link to longer individual guides as they are published. Check back as we work through all 78.
Your Deck Matters
Meanings come alive when you read with cards that hold your attention. A deck you find beautiful is one you will actually pick up. The images matter because your eye is always catching something new, and that is where intuition enters the reading.
Our Pamela Colman Smith Holographic Crystal Foil follows the original Pamela Colman Smith symbolism, the same system this guide is based on. The borderless design keeps your focus on the imagery, and the laminated 350GSM cardstock makes the cards smooth and pleasant to shuffle. It is the deck we recommend for readers studying card meanings because every symbol Pamela Colman Smith drew is visible and clear.
If you want something with more visual drama, the Moonlight Tarot and our other foil and holographic decks carry the same 78 cards in finishes that catch the light. 4.9 ★ · 20,000+ reviews on Etsy The most common thing they say is that the pictures do not do the cards justice. You have to hold them.
A full tarot course in English comes with every deck.
Browse our full range of craft tarot decks and best sellers to find the one that speaks to you.
Shop Pamela Colman Smith Holographic Crystal Foil -->
Not sure whether a classic illustrated deck, a Marseille-style one or a themed edition suits you? Our guide to different tarot deck types sets out what makes each one distinct.
Reading with the Pamela Colman Smith system this guide illustrates? The Pamela Colman Smith Borderless Vintage is that deck: 78 cards on 350GSM standard cardstock stock with a printed guidebook. It is currently available to pre-order and ships within 14 days.
Letters from the Forest
Tarot readers on our list get card guides, spread ideas, and the occasional secret -- things we only share by letter. Subscribe and receive a welcome gift: a discount on your first order plus a free tarot guidebook.
Subscribe and Claim Your Gift
Borderless Vintage Tarot Cards — Light Edition, 1909 Classic Art
78 cards on white 350 gsm cardboard with lamination, printed guidebook included.
From $34.99
Shop this deckFrequently Asked Questions
What do tarot cards represent?
Tarot cards represent the full range of human experience through symbolic imagery. The 78 cards in a standard deck cover life themes from new beginnings and love to loss, ambition, fear, and spiritual growth. Each card's symbols draw from astrology, numerology, Kabbalah, and Renaissance art. When used for readings, the cards act as mirrors: they reflect patterns in a situation back to the reader so the person can see it from a new angle. Tarot does not predict the future in a fixed sense; it offers perspective on what forces are currently active in a situation and what possible paths exist.
What are the 22 Major Arcana cards?
The 22 Major Arcana cards are: The Fool (0), The Magician (I), The High Priestess (II), The Empress (III), The Emperor (IV), The Hierophant (V), The Lovers (VI), The Chariot (VII), Strength (VIII), The Hermit (IX), Wheel of Fortune (X), Justice (XI), The Hanged Man (XII), Death (XIII), Temperance (XIV), The Devil (XV), The Tower (XVI), The Star (XVII), The Moon (XVIII), The Sun (XIX), Judgement (XX), and The World (XXI). Together they trace what readers call the Fool's Journey -- a symbolic path through the major milestones of a human life.
What are all 78 tarot cards?
A standard tarot deck contains 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana divides into four suits of 14 cards each. The Suit of Wands (Fire) covers action and ambition. The Suit of Cups (Water) covers emotion and relationships. The Suit of Swords (Air) covers intellect and conflict. The Suit of Pentacles (Earth) covers work and material life. Each suit runs from an Ace through Ten, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. All 78 meanings with upright and reversed keywords are listed in the tables on this page.
Which is the strongest card in tarot?
There is no single strongest card in tarot because each card carries its own type of power. That said, certain cards consistently signal major life shifts. The World (XXI) represents completion and mastery -- the highest point of the Major Arcana cycle. The Wheel of Fortune signals fate-level turning points outside personal control. Death (XIII) signals profound transformation, not literal death. The Tower (XVI) signals sudden, unavoidable change. In practical readings, the card that carries the most weight is usually the one that resonates most strongly with the question asked, regardless of its number or suit.
What is the difference between upright and reversed tarot meanings?
An upright card expresses its core energy outwardly and actively. A reversed card (drawn upside-down) typically indicates that the same energy is blocked, delayed, internalized, or expressing itself in a more challenging way. For example, the upright Ace of Cups signals new emotional beginnings; reversed, it can point to blocked creativity or emotional withdrawal. Not all readers use reversals. Some readers interpret all cards upright and rely on surrounding cards for nuance. If you are learning tarot, starting with upright meanings only is a reasonable approach until the deck feels familiar.
Can you read tarot cards for yourself?
Yes. Reading tarot for yourself is one of the most common ways people use the cards. Many readers do daily one-card pulls as a journaling or reflection practice, and our daily tarot card is a way to start one without having to choose the card yourself. The main challenge with self-reading is objectivity: it is easy to over-interpret cards that confirm what you want to hear or dismiss cards that make you uncomfortable. A few practical habits help: write your reading down before analyzing it, sit with the cards for a few minutes before reaching for meaning, and resist reshuffling if you draw a card you do not like. With practice, self-reading becomes a useful tool for thinking through decisions and understanding your own patterns.
Do you need a special deck to read tarot?
No specific deck is required, but choosing one based on the Pamela Colman Smith tradition makes it much easier to learn because the vast majority of books, courses, and guides (including this one) reference that imagery. Any deck you find genuinely beautiful and can read intuitively is a good deck. The physical quality of the cards matters more than many beginners expect: thick cardstock shuffles more smoothly, the images stay clear longer, and cards you enjoy handling are cards you will actually use. Our Pamela Colman Smith Holographic Crystal Foil is a strong starting point for anyone learning from this guide.
Making a deck rather than reading one? The standard tarot card size is 70 x 120 mm (2.76 x 4.72 in), printed on a 74 x 124 mm canvas — the full tarot card size and print template is free to download.
Ready to start your own practice? Use code STAR20 at checkout to save 20% on your first Dark Forest deck.
Includes a free full tarot course in English
