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Tarot Quick Reference

Note: This quick reference is based off the Rider-Waite-Smith tarot deck. Other tarot decks may have unique meanings, or some of these meanings may not apply.

Major Arcana

Card Name Upright Meaning Reversed Meaning
0 - The Fool Naivete, new starts, potential, beginnings, spontaneous, faith Imbalance, impatience, lack of control, unpreparedness, recklessness
1 - The Magician Balance, power, magic, creation, skill, action Imbalance, impatience, lack of control, inaction
2 - The High Priestess True knowledge, intuition, inner voice, wisdom, truth, tenacity Ignored intuition, incorrect gut feelings, secrets, shallow understanding
3 - The Empress Fertility, abundance, emotional freedom, fruitful efforts, nature Over-dependence, lack of confidence, stagnation in growth
4 - The Emperor Confidence, command, control, stability, leadership Tyrant, stubbornness, inflexibility, immaturity, wavering
5 - The Hierophant Structure, traditions, divine knowledge, social norms, servitude Changing foundations, breaking out of patterns, rebellion, weakness
6 - The Lovers Love, compromise, communication, balance, relationships, duality Disconnected, imbalance, one-sided feelings, lack of consummation
7 - The Chariot Momentum, direction, power, triumph Loss of control, loss of direction, abrupt stop, defeat
8 - Strength Inner power, fortitude, bravery, belief, action Weakness, giving up, doubt, fear
9 - The Hermit Reflection, looking inward, self-discovery, distance, inner wisdom, solitude Loneliness, isolation, anti-sociality, concealment, fear of others
10 - Wheel of Fortune Chance, fate, destiny, uncertainty, cycles, luck, movement No control, bad luck, vicious cyles
11 - Justice Balance, fairness, equity, payment, being right, law, responsibility Unfairness, unequal, being owed, being wrong, bias, bigotry, irresponsible
12 - The Hanged Man Patience, waiting, perspective, rest, sacrifice, trials Impatience, impulsivity, being stuck, unnecessary sacrifice, selfishness
13 - Death Change, endings, transition, transformation, mortality Resisting change, painful change, fear of change, inertia
14 - Temperance Patience, balance, moderation, best of both worlds Excess, extremes, impulsive behavior, competing interests
15 - The Devil Temptation, trickery, materialism, devilry, being controlled, manipulation Self control, independence, pettiness, freedom
16 - The Tower Destruction, sudden change, upheaval, shaking foundations, distress Fear of destruction, avoiding disaster, reducing fallout
17 - The Star Hope, dreams, goals, inspiration, generosity Loss of faith, broken dreams, lack of clear goals, arrogance
18 - The Moon Secrets, illusions, obscured truth, the unconscious mind, hidden, fear Lack of clarity, confusion, anxiety, misunderstanding, silence
19 - The Sun Happiness, success, enjoying where you are, contentment, enlightenment, vitality Sadness, pessimism, loss of happiness, dimmed or dulled happiness, hopelessness
20 - Judgment Reckoning, enlightenment, purification, understanding, renewal Doubt, lessons not learned, not ready to learn, deliberation
21 - The World Completion, consummation, endings and beginnings, victory, fulfillment Failure, lack of closure, incomplete cycles, stagnation

Suit of Wands

Card Name Upright Meaning Reversed Meaning
Ace of Wands Creation, beginning, new starts, motivation, enthusiasm Obscured joy, hesitation, ruin, doubt
Two of Wands Personal power, originality, consideration, good and bad balance Trouble, surprise, problems
Three of Wands Foresight, exploration, thinking, discovery, effort Disappointment, fading desires, focus on the present, doubt
Four of Wands Celebration, accomplishment, abundance, harmony, prosperity Work yet to be done, no time to celebrate, reluctance
Five of Wands Disagreement, conflict, competition, struggles Resolution, compromise, finding common ground, understanding
Six of Wands Pride, triumph, desires, recognition Disloyalty, false pride, past rewards, condescending
Seven of Wands Aggression, conviction, certainty, negotiation, success Anxiety, extreme measures, inability to compromise
Eight of Wands Movement, news, action, speed Dispute, barriers, slowing, conflicts
Nine of Wands Defensiveness, perseverence, strength, delay Obstacles, adversity, difficulty
Ten of Wands Burdens, struggle, heavy weight, hard work, hard-won success Difficulties, burden without reward, long road ahead
Page of Wands Creativity, courage, enthusiasm, faith, news, originality Bad news, loss of motivation, anxiety, lost interest
Knight of Wands Energy, daring, adventure, journey Superficial, foolish, restless, division
Queen of Wands Cheerfulness, self-confidence, inner power Opposition, jealousy, self-doubt
King of Wands Charisma, inspiration, bold, nobility, strength, force Tyrancy over actions, severity, weakness, tolerance

Suit of Cups

Card Name Upright Meaning Reversed Meaning
Ace of Cups Emotion, intuition, new love, new feelings Instability, lack of opportunity, fickleness, lack of intimacy
Two of Cups Connection, balance, agreement, conversation Imbalance, power dynamics, dishonesty, poor outlook
Three of Cups Friendship, community, celebration Loneliness, lack of support, sadness
Four of Cups Apathy, discontent, self-absorbed, pessimism, frustration Accepting circumstances, novelty, new light
Five of Cups Loss, grief, regrets, not receiving expected outcome, setbacks Acceptance, permanent loss, long-term pain
Six of Cups Childhood, memories, innocence, happiness, nostalgia The future, letting go, being stuck in the past
Seven of Cups Options, imagination, hopes, ideals, thinking Determination, action, taking on projects
Eight of Cups Moving on, weariness, leaving something behind Joy, honor, end of a journey
Nine of Cups Satisfaction, contentment, success, advantages Mistakes, imperfections, dissatisfaction
Ten of Cups Family, peace, home, happiness Instability, discord, familial strife
Page of Cups Emotional thinking, naivete in relationships, intuitive, opportunity Deception, seduction, missing signs, out of touch
Knight of Cups Romance, imagination, arrival, propositions, messages Introversion, subtlety, temperamental, missed messages, trickery
Queen of Cups Wisdom, virtue, pleasure, emotional guidance, emotional fulfillment Vice, over-indulgence, uncontrolled emotion
King of Cups Emotional wisdom and intelligence, fairness, creativity, honesty, diplomacy Dishonesty, injustice, tyrancy over emotions

Suit of Swords

Card Name Upright Meaning Reversed Meaning
Ace of Swords Triumph, conquest, justice, truth, strength of mind Failure, unpleasant truth, sharp tongue, excessive force
Two of Swords Decisions, stalemate, blockages, uncertainty, ignorance Honesty, making choices, facing facts, finding peace
Three of Swords Heartbreak, betrayal, division, removal, pain, disappointment Overcoming, healing, resolution, moving on
Four of Swords Rest, retreat, contemplation, preparation Returning to the fight, no time to rest, impulsivity
Five of Swords Disrespect, victory and loss, a winner and a loser, selfishness, cheating Reversal of positions, cruelty, end of battle, becoming more honest
Six of Swords A journey, travel, recovery, sadness, running away Returning, healing, change of scenery
Seven of Swords Over-confidence, ambition, working alone, pride Foolishness, failure due to hubris, refusing good advice
Eight of Swords Anxiety, crisis, restriction, confusion, powerlessness Breaking free, seeing truth, facing difficulties, taking a stand
Nine of Swords Failure, disappointment, nightmares, worry, anguish Overcoming, daybreak, light at the end of the tunnel
Ten of Swords Pain, desolation, victimhood, martyrdom, rock bottom Difficult healing, starting over, recovery, regaining power
Page of Swords Truth, vigilance, clear sight, fortitude, belief in justice, wit Unpreparedness, hubris, lies, gossip, paranoia
Knight of Swords Bravery, energy, impatience, sudden opportunity, logic Missed opportunity, falling behind, unfeeling, cutting, destructive impulsivity
Queen of Swords Seriousness, honesty, experience, wit, information Cruelty, malice, deceit, intentional harm
King of Swords Command, authority, efficiency, analytical mind, justice Cruelty, oppression, dictator, anger

Suit of Pentacles

Card Name Upright Meaning Reversed Meaning
Ace of Pentacles Prosperity, practicality, material gain, opportunity for wealth Loss of wealth, failure, end of prosperity, poor foundations
Two of Pentacles Exchange, flexibility, balance, commerce Dropping the ball, stubbornness, slowing, lack of enjoyment
Three of Pentacles Teamwork, planning, cooperation, building, competence, shared responsibility Mediocrity, weakness, inability to cooperate, problems within a team
Four of Pentacles Protectiveness, control, saving money, insistence, rules Anxiety over loss, refusing to budge, selfishness, greed
Five of Pentacles Hardship, rejection, neediness, asking for help Refusing help, prolonging suffering, finding security
Six of Pentacles Gifts, giving, resources, sharing, equity Envy, selfishness, desire, abuse of power dynamics
Seven of Pentacles Reward, working toward goals, management, growth Weariness, poor management, temporary failure, changing direction
Eight of Pentacles Hard work, diligence, details, skill, employment Lack of ambition, laziness, stagnation
Nine of Pentacles Discipline, accomplishment, self-reliance, refinement Burnout, trying and failing, trying too hard, lack of reward
Ten of Pentacles Wealth, permanence, gain, foundations, success Loss, gamble gone wrong, crumbling foundations
Page of Pentacles Study, practicality, prosperity, trustworthiness, planning Unstable, impractical, lack of goals, unattainable goals
Knight of Pentacles Caution, thorough, hardworking, responsibility, persistence, support Shifting, carelessness, stubbornness, pessimism, obsession
Queen of Pentacles Opulence, generosity, nurturing, resourcefulness, loving Suspicion, misplaced trust, bad advice, discomfort
King of Pentacles Successful, aptitude, fulfilling goals, conservative investment, reliability Unreliable, unsteady, corruption, ultimate failure

Resources used for this guide: The Big Book of Tarot by Joan Bunning; The Universal Rider-Waite Booklet (the Universal RWS's little white book).