Tarot Card Meanings — Upright and Reversed

Major Arcana

The Fool

A new beginning and the courage to step into the unknown. Reversed: a rash step, an unconsidered risk.

The Magician

The will to gather what's at hand and act. Reversed: unused potential, or intentions that aren't quite honest.

The High Priestess

Trusting intuition and patiently waiting on knowledge not yet revealed. Reversed: a suppressed inner voice, feeling disconnected from yourself.

The Empress

Abundance, nurture and creative fertility. Reversed: blocked creativity, or an unhealthy dependence.

The Emperor

Building solid structure, protecting through discipline. Reversed: rigid control, a lack of flexibility.

The Hierophant

Drawing strength from tradition or guidance. Reversed: pushing back against convention to find your own path.

The Lovers

A heartfelt bond, or an important choice. Reversed: misalignment, or a decision you're struggling with.

The Chariot

Advancing toward a goal through sheer will. Reversed: a loss of direction, losing control of the wheel.

Strength

Overcoming difficulty with patience and compassion, not force. Reversed: low self-confidence, patience running thin.

The Hermit

Withdrawing to reflect, a search for wisdom. Reversed: isolation tipping into loneliness, feeling lost.

Wheel of Fortune

An unexpected turn in life's cyclical flow. Reversed: the same cycle repeating, luck turning the wrong way.

Justice

Balance, truth, and facing the consequences of a decision. Reversed: unfairness, or something left unaccounted for.

The Hanged Man

Pausing to surrender and see things from a new angle. Reversed: needless resistance, time spent waiting for nothing.

Death

A chapter closing to make way for a new beginning. Reversed: resisting change, staying stuck in the past.

Temperance

A patiently blended balance and harmony. Reversed: excess, or a balance that's been lost.

The Devil

Facing the shadow side of a dependency or a trap. Reversed: breaking those chains and finding freedom.

The Tower

A sudden, jarring truth that clears the air. Reversed: a crisis postponed but not avoided forever.

The Star

Hope, inspiration and healing after a hard stretch. Reversed: a moment where hope or faith runs thin.

The Moon

Wandering through uncertainty and the subconscious. Reversed: the fog starting to lift, fears coming into focus.

The Sun

A stretch defined by clarity, joy and vitality. Reversed: a passing gloom, or happiness put off for later.

Judgement

An inner awakening, answering a call. Reversed: struggling to face the past, or being too self-critical.

The World

A cycle completing, the reward for the effort put in. Reversed: something left unfinished, a delayed close.

Wands

Ace of Wands

The first spark of a new opportunity, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to a missed or postponed opportunity, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Two of Wands

A search for balance and an important moment of choice, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to indecision and an unbalanced partnership, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Three of Wands

Early growth and the fruits of a shared effort, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to misalignment and delayed collaboration, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Four of Wands

Stability and a solid foundation you can rely on, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to stagnation and monotony, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Five of Wands

The moment of confronting a challenge you're facing, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to conflict resolving and recovery beginning, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Six of Wands

Harmony, sharing, and a return to balance, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to staying stuck in the past, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Seven of Wands

Patient evaluation and a strategic wait, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to impatience and a flawed strategy, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Eight of Wands

Intense progress and focus on a single goal, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to scattered effort and delayed progress, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Nine of Wands

Endurance close to completion and one last effort, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to burnout and an endless struggle, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Ten of Wands

The peak of a cycle, a sense of completion, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to a heavy burden and a process slow to end, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Page of Wands

Curiosity, learning, and a fresh start, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to immaturity and a careless step, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Knight of Wands

Taking action and a passionate pursuit, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to recklessness and an unbalanced push, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Queen of Wands

A mature, nurturing, intuitive perspective, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to withdrawal and insecurity, combined with burnout and postponed action.

King of Wands

Mastery and a settled, balanced authority, within the domain of passion, initiative, and creative action. If reversed, it points to rigidity and a controlling manner, combined with burnout and postponed action.

Cups

Ace of Cups

The first spark of a new opportunity, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to a missed or postponed opportunity, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Two of Cups

A search for balance and an important moment of choice, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to indecision and an unbalanced partnership, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Three of Cups

Early growth and the fruits of a shared effort, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to misalignment and delayed collaboration, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Four of Cups

Stability and a solid foundation you can rely on, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to stagnation and monotony, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Five of Cups

The moment of confronting a challenge you're facing, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to conflict resolving and recovery beginning, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Six of Cups

Harmony, sharing, and a return to balance, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to staying stuck in the past, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Seven of Cups

Patient evaluation and a strategic wait, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to impatience and a flawed strategy, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Eight of Cups

Intense progress and focus on a single goal, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to scattered effort and delayed progress, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Nine of Cups

Endurance close to completion and one last effort, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to burnout and an endless struggle, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Ten of Cups

The peak of a cycle, a sense of completion, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to a heavy burden and a process slow to end, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Page of Cups

Curiosity, learning, and a fresh start, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to immaturity and a careless step, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Knight of Cups

Taking action and a passionate pursuit, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to recklessness and an unbalanced push, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Queen of Cups

A mature, nurturing, intuitive perspective, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to withdrawal and insecurity, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

King of Cups

Mastery and a settled, balanced authority, within the domain of emotions, relationships, and intuition. If reversed, it points to rigidity and a controlling manner, combined with suppressed feelings and disconnection.

Swords

Ace of Swords

The first spark of a new opportunity, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to a missed or postponed opportunity, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Two of Swords

A search for balance and an important moment of choice, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to indecision and an unbalanced partnership, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Three of Swords

Early growth and the fruits of a shared effort, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to misalignment and delayed collaboration, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Four of Swords

Stability and a solid foundation you can rely on, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to stagnation and monotony, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Five of Swords

The moment of confronting a challenge you're facing, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to conflict resolving and recovery beginning, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Six of Swords

Harmony, sharing, and a return to balance, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to staying stuck in the past, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Seven of Swords

Patient evaluation and a strategic wait, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to impatience and a flawed strategy, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Eight of Swords

Intense progress and focus on a single goal, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to scattered effort and delayed progress, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Nine of Swords

Endurance close to completion and one last effort, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to burnout and an endless struggle, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Ten of Swords

The peak of a cycle, a sense of completion, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to a heavy burden and a process slow to end, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Page of Swords

Curiosity, learning, and a fresh start, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to immaturity and a careless step, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Knight of Swords

Taking action and a passionate pursuit, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to recklessness and an unbalanced push, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Queen of Swords

A mature, nurturing, intuitive perspective, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to withdrawal and insecurity, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

King of Swords

Mastery and a settled, balanced authority, within the domain of thought, truth, and moments of decision. If reversed, it points to rigidity and a controlling manner, combined with confusion and needless conflict.

Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles

The first spark of a new opportunity, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to a missed or postponed opportunity, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Two of Pentacles

A search for balance and an important moment of choice, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to indecision and an unbalanced partnership, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Three of Pentacles

Early growth and the fruits of a shared effort, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to misalignment and delayed collaboration, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Four of Pentacles

Stability and a solid foundation you can rely on, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to stagnation and monotony, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Five of Pentacles

The moment of confronting a challenge you're facing, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to conflict resolving and recovery beginning, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Six of Pentacles

Harmony, sharing, and a return to balance, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to staying stuck in the past, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Seven of Pentacles

Patient evaluation and a strategic wait, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to impatience and a flawed strategy, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Eight of Pentacles

Intense progress and focus on a single goal, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to scattered effort and delayed progress, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Nine of Pentacles

Endurance close to completion and one last effort, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to burnout and an endless struggle, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Ten of Pentacles

The peak of a cycle, a sense of completion, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to a heavy burden and a process slow to end, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Page of Pentacles

Curiosity, learning, and a fresh start, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to immaturity and a careless step, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Knight of Pentacles

Taking action and a passionate pursuit, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to recklessness and an unbalanced push, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Queen of Pentacles

A mature, nurturing, intuitive perspective, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to withdrawal and insecurity, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

King of Pentacles

Mastery and a settled, balanced authority, within the domain of money, career, and tangible results. If reversed, it points to rigidity and a controlling manner, combined with financial worry and neglected self-care.

Frequently asked questions