Discover the Tarot Card Meanings to Read the Cards Like An Expert

The Tarot comprises of 78 Tarot cards, each one with its own unique Tarot card meanings. There are 22 Major Arcana cards and 56 Minor Arcana cards across four suits (Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands). Tarot cards can have an upright and a reversed Tarot card meaning.

Major Arcana Tarot Cards

The Major Arcana (also referred to as the trump cards) create the foundation of the Tarot deck. They include twenty-one numbered cards and one unnumbered card (the Fool). They stand for a pathway to inner self-awareness and portray the different stages we discover as we search for increased meaning and understanding. Accordingly, they carry significantly important lessons.

Whenever a Tarot reading is primarily made up of Major Arcana cards, you are dealing with life-changing circumstances that will have long-term effects. There are crucial lessons that you must give thought to so that you can advance further in your spiritual and personal journey. If the majority of the Major Arcana cards are reversed, it indicates that you are not being attentive to necessary life lessons and ought to go back to the lesson of the preceding card before advancing.

The Major Arcana Tarot Card Meanings

Fool - Beginnings, innocence, impulsiveness, a free spirit

Magician - Capability, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness

High Priestess - Instinct, Higher powers, hidden knowledge, subconscious mind

Empress - Fertility, femininity, beauty, mother nature, abundance

Emperor - Authority, father-figure, framework, solid foundation

Hierophant - Faith, group identification, conformity, custom, beliefs

Lovers - Love, partnership, relationships, values alignment, decisions

Chariot - Control, will power, triumph, assertion, drive

Strength - Strength, courage, patience, control, empathy

Hermit - Soul-searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance

Wheel of Fortune - Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, a turning point

Justice - Justice, equity, truthfulness, cause and effect, law

Hanged Man - Suspension, limitation, letting go, compromise

Death - Endings, beginnings, change, transformation, transition

Temperance - Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning

Devil - Bondage, craving, sexuality, materialism

Tower - Tragedy, upheaval, sudden change, revelation

Star - Faith, spirituality, renewal, creativity, serenity

Moon - Illusion, dread, stress and anxiety, low self-esteem, subconscious

Sun - Enjoyment, warmth, success, positivity, vitality

Judgement - Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution

World - Completion, integration, accomplishment, travel

Minor Arcana Tarot Cards

The Minor Arcana comprises four suits - Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands. Each suit is related to a specific element and is associated with various characteristics of day-to-day life.

Suit of Cups (Water) - Emotions, sentiments, creative thinking

Suit of Pentacles (Earth) - Finance, material belongings, career

Suit of Swords (Air) - Power, mind, opinions

Suit of Wands (Fire) - Enthusiasm, spirituality, creative ideas

Each suit consists of fourtee Tarot cards, including ten numbered cards (Ace through to Ten) and four Court Cards (the Page, Knight, Queen and King). The numbered cards show life occasions whereas the Court Cards represent personality-types or actual people.

Even though the Major Arcana suggest occurrences that will naturally occur due to laws of the Universe, the Minor Arcana suggest occurrences that naturallyarise due to laws of human nature. Thus, the Minor Arcana point out the more practical points of life and can focus on existing issues that have a brief or minor influence.

If a reading is mainly characterized by the Minor Arcana Tarot cards, you are dealing with day-to-day matters which will not necessarily have a prolonged impact on your life. These issues are passing through, presenting you with an opportunity to gain knowledge from these occurrences (turn to any Major Arcana cards to identify and appreciate these lessons and how they may impact your life in the long-term).

How to Study the Tarot Card Meanings

Understanding the Tarot card meanings can be a troublesome process. There are 78 Tarot cards and each have their own, specific meaning.

To make the path simpler, you can gain access to Tarot resources like The Ultimate Guide to Tarot Card Meanings. This comprehensive Tarot eBook includes detailed yet practical Tarot card meanings. You can also make use of a Tarot notebook or diary to help your learning.