Interpreting the Cards
There are 78 Tarot Cards which are placed into 2 groups, Major Arcana and Minor Arcana. The cards in the Major Arcana are numbered 0 to 21 and the Minor Arcana are divided into 4 different suits - Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
Each Tarot card has a different meaning and if the card is reversed, this will change the tarot card meanings as well.
The Major Arcana Cards Explained
- 0 The Fool - Beginning, being spontaneous, having faith, youthful folly
- 1 The Magician - Taking charge, acting consciously, concentrating, experiencing power
- 2 The High Priestess - Accessing the subconscious, seeing the potential, sensing the mystery
- 3 The Empress - Fertility, abundance, experiencing the senses, responding to nature
- 4 The Emperor - Father figure, emphasizing structure, exercising authority, regulating
- 5 The Hierophant - Getting an education, having a belief system, conforming, identifying with a group
- 6 The Lovers - Relating to others, sexual union, establishing personal beliefs, determining values
- 7 The Chariot - The driving force, triumph, using your will, asserting yourself
- 8 Strength - Showing strength, being patient, being compassionate, self-discipline
- 9 The Hermit - Being introspective, searching, receiving and giving guidance, seeking solitude
- 10 Wheel of Fortune - Destiny, being at a turning point, feeling movement, having a personal vision
- 11 Justice - Respecting justice, assuming responsibility, preparing for a decision, understanding cause and effect
- 12 The Hanged Man - Self-sacrifice, letting go, reversing, suspending
- 13 Death - Transformation, ending, eliminating excess, events beyond your control
- 14 Temperance - Being temperate, maintaining balance, experiencing health, combining forces
- 15 The Devil - Experiencing bondage, focusing on the material, staying in ignorance, feeling hopeless
- 16 The Tower - Going through sudden change, releasing, falling down, having a revelation
- 17 The Star - Hope, inspired, generous, feeling serene
- 18 The Moon - Feeling fear, believing illusions, stimulating the imagination, feeling bewildered
- 19 The Sun - Becoming enlightened, experiencing greatness, feeling vitality, having assurance
- 20 Judgment - Making a decision, feeling reborn, hearing a call, finding absolution
- 21 The World - Integrating, accomplishing, becoming involved, feeling fulfilled
The Minor Arcana Cards Explained
The Suit of Wands
The Wands are associated with energy, growth, enterprise, animation and glory.
Ace of Wands - Marks a new beginning in ideas, growth, ambition
Two of Wands - Creative, mature and strong personality
Three of Wands - Group activities, trade and commerce will flourish, help may come from a successful person
Four of Wands - Established home and financial life, prosperity, peace
Five of Wands - Change, challenge, competition, difference of opinions, conflict in business
Six of Wands - Victory through intelligent decisions and diplomacy, success after a struggle
Seven of Wands - Mental and physical strength is needed, effort and courage is needed to stay on top
Eight of Wands - Positive change of mind, new ideas, vacation, a journey by air, quick travel to a new location
Nine of Wands - Events are near completion or have just been completed, preparedness, strength in reserve
Ten of Wands - Depression caused by too much stress, being overworked, burden of responsibility
Page of Wands - Charismatic, blunt, edgy, progressive, instinctive, great enthusiasm
Knight of Wands - Energetic, restless, impulsive, not ready to settle
Queen of Wands - Sincere, loyal, fondness of nature or of home-life, attraction, patient, loving
King of Wands - Wise, intelligent, educated, gentlemen, fatherly, passionate, loyal, a good leader
The Suit of Cups
The Cups are associated with love, happiness, emotions, fertility and beauty.
Ace of Cups - Beginning of great love, joy, desires, spiritual enlightenment
Two of Cups - Union, commitment, mutual love and understanding
Three of Cups - Happiness, celebration, abundance of food and friends
Four of Cups - Great opportunities offered from others
Five of Cups - Disappointment, guilt, attention is focused on misfortune and regrets
Six of Cups - Undemanding love, accepting one for who they are, meeting with a friend from the past
Seven of Cups - Unable to choose one's direction in life, need to focus your energy on one goal to assure success
Eight of Cups - Positive change of mind, abandonment of one's current path in life, emotional dependence on someone decreases
Nine of Cups - An assured future, physical well-being, self-satisfaction with friends and accomplishments
Ten of Cups - Lasting happiness, contentment with the one you love, family and friends
Page of Cups - Youthful, gentle, sensitive, kind, artistic, meditative
Knight of Cups - Intelligence, romantic dreamer, both convincing and easy to convince
Queen of Cups - Spiritual, gentle, a good natured person, generous
King of Cups - Authoritative, responsible, ambitious, strong, demands respect
The Suit of Swords
The Swords are associated with aggression, force, ambition, courage and misfortune.
Ace of Swords - Victory, freedom, commencing a struggle for a noble cause
Two of Swords - Indecision, in need of direction
Three of Swords - Disappointment, lovers separated, shattered emotions
Four of Swords - Temporary exile to rejuvenate emotionally and physically
Five of Swords - Temporary advancement, empty victory
Six of Swords - Moving away from sorrow to a more peaceful place, smoothing of difficulties
Seven of Swords - Betrayal, greed, theft without guilt
Eight of Swords - Lack of confidence and motivation, indecision, temporary illness, weakness, isolation
Nine of Swords - Suffering, doubt, feeling unfulfilled and useless, lack of help or understanding from others
Ten of Swords - Failure, pain, tears, accepting ideas and ways of others leads to defeat and ruin
Page of Swords - Patient, understanding, sensual, needs concrete results and knows how to get them
Knight of Swords - Fearless, confident, career minded, will stop at nothing to get what he wants
Queen of Swords - Quick and confident decisions, determined, sharp witted, always on guard
King of Swords - Cautious by weighing all options before decisions, a wise counselor, powerful, determined
The Suit of Pentacles
Pentacles are associated with money, industry and material gain.
Ace of Pentacles - Spiritual blessing in the material world, the path of great wealth and prosperity
Two of Pentacles - Effort is required to handle multiple situations, care is needed in scheduling time and energy
Three of Pentacles - Reward for skills or abilities, success through effort, confidence, inner satisfaction
Four of Pentacles - Love of power or money suppresses feelings in other areas, stingy personality
Five of Pentacles - Loneliness, extreme poverty, hardships, loss of possessions, seeking spiritual guidance
Six of Pentacles - Generosity, good money management and business sense
Seven of Pentacles - Effort and hard work will bring financial reward, patience while waiting for benefits of labor
Eight of Pentacles - Craftsmanship, skill, handiwork, financial gain from these skills
Nine of Pentacles - Things in life are enjoyed alone, solitude, self-sufficient
Ten of Pentacles - Family and financial security
Page of Pentacles - Scholar, opinionated, appreciative of the finer things in life
Knight of Pentacles - Dependable, capable, diligent
Queen of Pentacles - Intelligent, cultured, elegant
King of Pentacles - Shrewd, established, successful, sensible, proud