Tarot Card Meanings: A Visual Guide

As of June 25, 2025, the world of divination continues to deepen its roots, offering seekers a compass for navigating the ever-shifting currents of life. Among the most beloved and accessible tools for this journey is the Tarot. More than just a deck of cards, Tarot acts as a mirror to our inner landscape and a whisper from the universe, revealing insights into our past, present, and potential futures. For those embarking on their Tarot journey or looking to deepen their understanding, a comprehensive list of tarot card meanings, ideally accompanied by visual cues, is invaluable. This guide aims to demystify the 78 cards of the Tarot, offering both the traditional meanings and practical interpretations that resonate with modern challenges and aspirations.

The Fool's Journey: An Overview of the Tarot Deck

Before diving into individual card meanings, it's essential to understand the structure of the Tarot. The deck is divided into two main parts: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, each representing a significant archetypal energy or life lesson. These cards often signify major turning points, spiritual lessons, and profound experiences. Think of them as the major chapters in the grand narrative of life.

The Minor Arcana comprises 56 cards, divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (or Coins/Disks). Each suit contains 14 cards: Ace through 10, followed by the Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). The Minor Arcana often reflects the more mundane, day-to-day events, challenges, and opportunities we encounter.

• Wands: Associated with the element of Fire, Wands represent passion, creativity, inspiration, ambition, and action. They speak to our drive, our desires, and our spiritual energy.
• Cups: Ruled by the element of Water, Cups relate to emotions, relationships, intuition, love, and spirituality. They tap into our feelings, our connections with others, and our inner emotional world.
• Swords: Connected to the element of Air, Swords deal with the intellect, thoughts, communication, conflict, and truth. They represent our mental processes, our decisions, and the challenges we face that require clarity and courage.
• Pentacles: Governed by the element of Earth, Pentacles symbolize the material world, finances, health, work, and physical reality. They focus on our tangible experiences, our security, and our grounding.

Major Arcana: The Archetypal Pillars of Wisdom

The Major Arcana cards are the heart of a Tarot reading, often highlighting the most significant themes at play. Understanding their imagery and traditional meanings provides a powerful foundation for interpretation.

0. The Fool

• Keywords: New beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, faith, leap of faith, potential, the unknown.
• Visuals: Typically depicted as a young person stepping off a cliff, often with a dog, a bag on a stick, and the sun shining. The cliff edge represents the threshold of a new adventure, undertaken with trust and optimism.
• Meaning: The Fool embodies the spirit of embarking on a new journey, often without a clear plan but with immense faith. It signifies a time of innocence, potential, and embracing the unknown. In a reading, The Fool suggests it's time to take a leap of faith, start something new, or approach life with a fresh, unburdened perspective. It's about trusting the universe and stepping into your potential.
• Modern Application: This card is incredibly relevant today, encouraging us to break free from routine, embrace spontaneity, and not be afraid of venturing into uncharted territory, whether it's a new career path, a creative project, or a personal transformation.

I. The Magician

• Keywords: Manifestation, power, skill, action, resourcefulness, willpower, concentration.
• Visuals: A figure standing with one hand pointing up to the heavens and the other pointing down to the earth, symbolizing the connection between the spiritual and material realms. The lemniscate (infinity symbol) above their head indicates unlimited potential.
• Meaning: The Magician represents the power of manifestation. It signifies that you have all the tools and resources at your disposal to achieve your goals. It’s about harnessing your willpower, focusing your energy, and taking inspired action to bring your desires into reality.
• Modern Application: In today's world, where personal branding and entrepreneurial spirit are celebrated, The Magician speaks to our ability to create our own success through focused intention and skillful execution. It's a reminder that you are the architect of your reality.

II. The High Priestess

• Keywords: Intuition, subconscious, mystery, secrets, hidden knowledge, inner wisdom, spiritual understanding.
• Visuals: A serene woman seated between two pillars (often black and white, representing duality), with a scroll or book of knowledge, and a veil behind her. She guards hidden truths.
• Meaning: The High Priestess signifies the importance of intuition and inner knowing. She represents the subconscious mind, hidden knowledge, and the mysteries of life. When she appears, it's a call to trust your gut feelings, delve into your intuition, and seek answers from within. Things may not be as they appear on the surface.
• Modern Application: In an age of constant information overload, The High Priestess reminds us to slow down, connect with our inner wisdom, and trust our instincts. It’s about seeking deeper meaning beyond the superficial and embracing the contemplative aspects of life.

III. The Empress

• Keywords: Nurturing, fertility, abundance, creativity, sensuality, motherhood, nature, comfort.
• Visuals: A regal woman seated on a throne in a lush, fertile landscape, often depicted with symbols of Venus and nature. She exudes warmth and abundance.
• Meaning: The Empress embodies feminine energy, nurturing, fertility, and abundance in all its forms. She represents creativity, sensuality, and the comforts of home and nature. This card signifies growth, creation, and the blossoming of ideas or projects.
• Modern Application: The Empress encourages us to embrace our creative potential, nurture our relationships, and connect with the abundance of the natural world. It's about self-care, creative expression, and experiencing the joys of life.

IV. The Emperor

• Keywords: Authority, structure, control, stability, father figure, leadership, order, discipline.
• Visuals: A stern, powerful man seated on a throne, often with a ram's head (symbolizing Aries and leadership) and holding symbols of authority. He represents order and established power.
• Meaning: The Emperor represents structure, authority, and control. He embodies masculine energy, leadership, and the establishment of order and stability. This card signifies the need for discipline, clear boundaries, and taking charge of your life or a situation.
• Modern Application: In professional or personal life, The Emperor encourages us to take a leadership role, establish firm boundaries, and create a solid foundation. It’s about implementing practical strategies and maintaining discipline to achieve long-term goals.

V. The Hierophant

• Keywords: Tradition, conformity, spiritual guidance, institutions, education, belief systems, conventionality.
• Visuals: A religious or spiritual leader bestowing a blessing upon two figures kneeling before him. He often holds a staff and is surrounded by symbols of religious or educational institutions.
• Meaning: The Hierophant represents tradition, established institutions, spiritual guidance, and conventional wisdom. He signifies conformity to societal norms, adherence to established beliefs, and the importance of learning from established sources or mentors.
• Modern Application: This card can signify seeking formal education, following established traditions, or finding guidance within a spiritual or religious framework. It also prompts reflection on whether current beliefs and practices align with your true path.

VI. The Lovers

• Keywords: Relationships, choices, harmony, union, values, alignment, duality, love.
• Visuals: A man and a woman (often Adam and Eve) beneath an angelic figure. They represent a significant choice or a harmonious union.
• Meaning: The Lovers card is often misunderstood as solely representing romantic love. While it can indicate a significant relationship or partnership, it more broadly speaks to choices, harmony, and alignment. It signifies a crucial decision point where your values and beliefs are tested. It’s about choosing what truly resonates with your soul.
• Modern Application: This card is highly relevant for decisions about career paths, lifestyle choices, or relationships where you must align your actions with your core values. It’s about making conscious choices that lead to inner harmony.

VII. The Chariot

• Keywords: Victory, willpower, determination, control, ambition, focus, overcoming obstacles.
• Visuals: A triumphant figure driving a chariot, often pulled by two sphinxes (one black, one white) representing opposing forces that must be controlled.
• Meaning: The Chariot symbolizes victory achieved through willpower, determination, and focused effort. It represents overcoming obstacles and moving forward with control and conviction. This card indicates that you have the strength and drive to achieve your goals, but you must maintain focus and control over your direction.
• Modern Application: In a world that often feels chaotic, The Chariot is a powerful reminder of our agency and ability to steer our lives towards success, even when faced with conflicting desires or external pressures.

VIII. Strength

• Keywords: Inner strength, courage, compassion, patience, self-control, taming the beast within, resilience.
• Visuals: A woman gently closing the mouth of a lion, symbolizing the taming of one's primal instincts through inner strength, compassion, and patience, rather than brute force.
• Meaning: Strength is not about physical power, but inner fortitude. It signifies courage, compassion, patience, and the ability to overcome challenges with grace and resilience. This card suggests that by mastering your inner impulses and approaching situations with gentleness and understanding, you can achieve greater power.
• Modern Application: In times of stress or conflict, Strength encourages us to tap into our inner reserves of calm, empathy, and perseverance. It’s about finding your voice and standing your ground with quiet confidence.

IX. The Hermit

• Keywords: Introspection, solitude, wisdom, guidance, inner reflection, soul-searching, spiritual seeking.
• Visuals: An old man standing alone on a mountain peak, holding a lantern with a guiding star. He is withdrawn from the world, seeking inner truth.
• Meaning: The Hermit represents introspection, solitude, and the search for inner wisdom. He advises taking time away from the external world to reflect, meditate, and gain a deeper understanding of yourself and your path. It's a time for soul-searching and seeking authentic guidance.
• Modern Application: In our hyper-connected world, The Hermit is a vital reminder of the importance of disconnecting, practicing mindfulness, and engaging in deep self-reflection to find clarity and purpose.

X. Wheel of Fortune

• Keywords: Cycles, change, destiny, luck, turning points, karma, fate, movement.
• Visuals: A wheel with various figures and symbols, representing the ups and downs of life, the cycles of fate, and the constant movement of time and destiny.
• Meaning: The Wheel of Fortune signifies change, cycles, and turning points. It suggests that life is in constant motion, and what goes up must come down, and vice versa. This card often indicates a period of significant change, good or bad luck, and the unfolding of destiny. It’s about embracing the flow of life.
• Modern Application: This card is a potent reminder that change is the only constant. It encourages adaptability and acceptance of life's inherent unpredictability, urging us to make the most of opportunities as they arise.

XI. Justice

• Keywords: Fairness, truth, cause and effect, law, balance, accountability, impartiality, consequences.
• Visuals: A figure seated between two pillars, holding scales and a sword. She represents impartiality, truth, and the balance of cause and effect.
• Meaning: Justice signifies fairness, truth, and accountability. It speaks to the law of cause and effect – what you sow, you shall reap. This card indicates that a situation will be judged fairly, or that you need to approach a situation with impartiality and honesty. It’s about taking responsibility for your actions.
• Modern Application: In legal matters, ethical dilemmas, or personal disputes, Justice calls for honesty, fairness, and understanding the consequences of our actions and decisions.

XII. The Hanged Man

• Keywords: Suspension, new perspective, surrender, letting go, sacrifice, waiting, contemplation.
• Visuals: A figure hanging upside down by one foot, with a serene expression. This is not a punishment, but a voluntary suspension for a new perspective.
• Meaning: The Hanged Man represents a period of suspension, introspection, and gaining a new perspective. It signifies a time to surrender to circumstances, let go of control, and see things from a different angle. While it may feel like a pause or a sacrifice, it ultimately leads to greater wisdom and understanding.
• Modern Application: This card is a powerful metaphor for embracing periods of waiting or uncertainty, understanding that sometimes the best action is inaction, allowing for growth and a shift in perspective.

XIII. Death

• Keywords: Endings, transformation, transition, new beginnings, release, change, rebirth.
• Visuals: A skeletal figure on horseback, often carrying a banner with a mystical rose. It signifies the end of one phase and the beginning of another.
• Meaning: Contrary to popular belief, the Death card rarely signifies physical death. Instead, it represents endings, transformation, and profound change. It signifies the necessary release of the old to make way for the new. It’s about shedding what no longer serves you to allow for rebirth and growth.
• Modern Application: This card is highly relevant for periods of significant life transition – ending a job, a relationship, or a phase of life. It encourages embracing change as a catalyst for personal evolution.

XIV. Temperance

• Keywords: Balance, moderation, harmony, patience, purpose, synthesis, blending, flow.
• Visuals: An angelic figure pouring liquid between two cups, symbolizing the blending of opposites and the finding of balance and moderation.
• Meaning: Temperance is about finding balance, moderation, and harmony. It signifies the blending of different elements, energies, or perspectives to create something new and whole. This card encourages patience, adaptability, and finding a middle path.
• Modern Application: In a world of extremes, Temperance is a crucial reminder to seek balance in our lives – between work and rest, giving and receiving, logic and emotion. It’s about finding a harmonious flow.

XV. The Devil

• Keywords: Bondage, materialism, addiction, obsession, shadow self, temptation, earthly desires, illusion.
• Visuals: A horned, winged figure with a torch, often depicted with two naked figures chained to his pedestal. It represents being trapped by material desires or negative patterns.
• Meaning: The Devil represents being trapped by our own desires, addictions, or negative thought patterns. It signifies materialism, obsession, and the darker aspects of our shadow selves. However, it also highlights that we have the power to break free from these chains by acknowledging them.
• Modern Application: This card is a stark reminder to examine our attachments, our vices, and any patterns that keep us feeling stuck or powerless. It’s about confronting our shadow self and reclaiming our freedom.

XVI. The Tower

• Keywords: Sudden change, upheaval, destruction, revelation, crisis, liberation, breaking free.
• Visuals: A tall tower struck by lightning, with figures falling from its windows. It signifies sudden, disruptive change and the collapse of old structures.
• Meaning: The Tower represents sudden, often disruptive, change, upheaval, and the shattering of illusions or false structures. While it can signify crisis, it ultimately leads to revelation and liberation by clearing away what is no longer sustainable.
• Modern Application: This card often appears during times of unexpected crisis or major life shifts. It’s about recognizing that sometimes, old structures must fall to make way for new, more authentic foundations.

XVII. The Star

• Keywords: Hope, inspiration, serenity, healing, faith, guidance, optimism, peace.
• Visuals: A naked woman pouring water from two jugs onto the land and into a pool, beneath a large, radiant star. She symbolizes hope and spiritual renewal.
• Meaning: The Star signifies hope, inspiration, and spiritual renewal. After the upheaval of The Tower, The Star brings a sense of peace, serenity, and renewed faith. It’s a sign of healing, optimism, and that you are on the right path, guided by higher forces.
• Modern Application: In challenging times, The Star offers a beacon of hope. It encourages us to trust in the future, find inspiration, and believe in our ability to heal and move forward with renewed optimism.

XVIII. The Moon

• Keywords: Illusion, intuition, subconscious, fear, anxiety, dreams, uncertainty, hidden things.
• Visuals: A moon in the night sky with rays of light, often with a dog and a wolf howling, and a crayfish emerging from water. It represents the subconscious, illusions, and the unknown.
• Meaning: The Moon deals with the subconscious, intuition, dreams, and hidden things. It signifies a time of uncertainty, illusion, or when things are not as they seem. Fears and anxieties may surface. It’s crucial to trust your intuition and look beyond the surface.
• Modern Application: This card is particularly relevant for understanding our emotional landscape, confronting our fears, and navigating situations where clarity is obscured. It’s a call to pay attention to your dreams and inner voice.

XIX. The Sun

• Keywords: Joy, success, vitality, warmth, clarity, optimism, happiness, enlightenment.
• Visuals: A radiant sun shining brightly, often with a child on a white horse. It symbolizes pure joy, vitality, and success.
• Meaning: The Sun is one of the most positive cards in the deck, representing joy, success, vitality, clarity, and enlightenment. It signifies happiness, optimism, and the successful realization of goals. Everything is illuminated, and life feels vibrant and full of energy.
• Modern Application: The Sun is a powerful affirmation of well-being, achievement, and radiant happiness. It encourages us to bask in our successes and share our light with the world.

XX. Judgment

• Keywords: Awakening, reckoning, rebirth, calling, evaluation, absolution, inner voice, decision.
• Visuals: An angel blowing a trumpet, with figures rising from their graves, signifying a reckoning, awakening, or calling to a higher purpose.
• Meaning: Judgment represents a time of reckoning, awakening, and rebirth. It signifies a calling to a higher purpose, an evaluation of past actions, and a moment of absolution or making a significant decision. It’s about listening to your inner voice and embracing your true calling.
• Modern Application: This card often appears when we are being called to a new phase of life, to take stock of our lives, or to make a profound inner decision that will shape our future.

XXI. The World

• Keywords: Completion, fulfillment, accomplishment, integration, wholeness, travel, culmination.
• Visuals: A figure dancing within a wreath, surrounded by the symbols of the four evangelists. It represents the completion of a cycle and ultimate fulfillment.
• Meaning: The World signifies completion, fulfillment, and accomplishment. It represents the successful culmination of a journey or cycle, leading to a sense of wholeness and integration. It’s a card of great achievement and often signifies the end of a major endeavor, bringing satisfaction and recognition.
• Modern Application: This card is a beautiful affirmation of reaching a significant milestone, achieving a long-term goal, or finding a sense of completion and peace in one's life journey.

Minor Arcana: The Fabric of Daily Life

The Minor Arcana cards, while seemingly less dramatic than the Major Arcana, provide the intricate details of our daily experiences, relationships, and challenges. Each suit tells a story, and the numbers within each suit represent stages of development.

The Suit of Wands: Passion, Creativity, and Action

• Ace of Wands: New creative spark, inspiration, passion, beginnings of a project or endeavor.
• Two of Wands: Planning, decision-making, potential, looking to the future, establishing your path.
• Three of Wands: Foresight, expansion, progress, looking ahead, waiting for results.
• Four of Wands: Celebration, harmony, stability, joy, home, community, a milestone reached.
• Five of Wands: Conflict, competition, disagreement, struggle, challenge, overcoming obstacles.
• Six of Wands: Victory, success, recognition, public acclaim, achievement through effort.
• Seven of Wands: Defense, resilience, standing your ground, protecting your position, challenges.
• Eight of Wands: Swift action, movement, communication, speed, progress, news arriving quickly.
• Nine of Wands: Resilience, perseverance, strength, defense, standing firm after trials.
• Ten of Wands: Burden, responsibility, hard work, carrying a heavy load, completion of a difficult task.
• Page of Wands: Creative inspiration, exploration, messages about passion, curiosity, new ideas.
• Knight of Wands: Bold action, passion, impulsiveness, adventure, energetic pursuit.
• Queen of Wands: Confident, passionate, courageous, vibrant, charismatic, independent.
• King of Wands: Visionary, leadership, ambition, action-oriented, natural leader.

The Suit of Cups: Emotions, Relationships, and Intuition

• Ace of Cups: New emotional beginnings, love, intuition, compassion, creative expression.
• Two of Cups: Partnership, union, mutual attraction, harmony in relationships, connection.
• Three of Cups: Celebration, friendship, joy, community, reunions, social gatherings.
• Four of Cups: Apathy, discontent, contemplation, introspection, feeling uninspired, missing opportunities.
• Five of Cups: Loss, regret, disappointment, sorrow, focusing on what’s gone, grief.
• Six of Cups: Nostalgia, childhood memories, past relationships, gifts, innocence, reunion.
• Seven of Cups: Choices, illusions, fantasy, desires, dreams, deception, lack of clarity.
• Eight of Cups: Moving on, abandonment, seeking something more, emotional detachment, leaving behind.
• Nine of Cups: Wishes fulfilled, contentment, satisfaction, emotional well-being, desires met.
• Ten of Cups: Emotional fulfillment, happiness, harmony, family, love, joy, blissful union.
• Page of Cups: Creative inspiration, emotional messages, intuition, imagination, romantic notions.
• Knight of Cups: Romantic pursuit, emotional expression, creativity, charm, intuition, artistic endeavors.
• Queen of Cups: Compassionate, intuitive, nurturing, emotionally mature, empathetic, sensitive.
• King of Cups: Emotional balance, control, compassion, diplomacy, artistic expression, calm leadership.

The Suit of Swords: Intellect, Truth, and Challenges

• Ace of Swords: Mental clarity, breakthrough, new idea, sharp truth, decisive action.
• Two of Swords: Stalemate, indecision, difficult choices, avoidance, truce, emotional block.
• Three of Swords: Heartbreak, sorrow, pain, grief, betrayal, difficult truths, loss.
• Four of Swords: Rest, recovery, recuperation, contemplation, respite, withdrawal.
• Five of Swords: Conflict, defeat, loss, humiliation, winning at a cost, aggression.
• Six of Swords: Transition, moving on, leaving trouble behind, journey, transition to calmer waters.
• Seven of Swords: Deception, cunning, strategy, theft, betrayal, getting away with something.
• Eight of Swords: Restriction, limitation, feeling trapped, victimhood, self-imposed limitations.
• Nine of Swords: Anxiety, worry, nightmares, despair, guilt, mental anguish, sleepless nights.
• Ten of Swords: Rock bottom, ruin, finality, ending of a cycle, painful conclusions, devastation.
• Page of Swords: Curiosity, new ideas, mental exploration, observation, communication, sharp wit.
• Knight of Swords: Ambitious, driven, focused, impulsive, forceful action, rapid progress, charge.
• Queen of Swords: Independent, sharp-witted, honest, direct, perceptive, experienced, sometimes cold.
• King of Swords: Intellectual power, clear thinking, authority, justice, truth, decisive leadership.

The Suit of Pentacles: Material World, Finances, and Health

• Ace of Pentacles: New opportunity, manifestation, prosperity, new beginnings in the material realm.
• Two of Pentacles: Balance, juggling, adaptability, managing resources, change, fluctuation.
• Three of Pentacles: Teamwork, collaboration, skill development, recognition for work, craftsmanship.
• Four of Pentacles: Security, stability, possessiveness, hoarding, holding on, conservatism.
• Five of Pentacles: Hardship, poverty, illness, loss, feeling abandoned, difficult times.
• Six of Pentacles: Generosity, charity, giving and receiving, balance of resources, fairness.
• Seven of Pentacles: Patience, assessment, long-term investment, waiting for results, evaluation.
• Eight of Pentacles: Diligence, craftsmanship, skill development, hard work, mastery, attention to detail.
• Nine of Pentacles: Abundance, self-sufficiency, luxury, refinement, financial independence, achievement.
• Ten of Pentacles: Wealth, inheritance, legacy, family, security, lasting prosperity, completion.
• Page of Pentacles: New opportunities, learning, manifestation, practical ideas, groundedness.
• Knight of Pentacles: Diligence, responsibility, thoroughness, steady progress, dependability.
• Queen of Pentacles: Nurturing, practical, grounded, resourceful, abundance, domesticity.
• King of Pentacles: Financial security, stability, prosperity, material success, practical leadership.

Reading Your Tarot: Beyond the List

While a list of tarot card meanings is a crucial starting point, the true art of Tarot lies in intuitive interpretation and context. Each card's meaning can shift based on its position in a spread, the surrounding cards, and the querent's (the person asking the question) specific situation.

1. Trust Your Gut: Your intuition is your most powerful tool. If a card's meaning feels different to you than what's listed, explore that feeling.
2. Consider the Spread: Different spreads (e.g., Celtic Cross, Three-Card Spread) highlight specific aspects of a situation. The position of a card influences its meaning.
3. Look for Patterns: Are there dominant suits or numbers? Do certain themes repeat? This can reveal underlying energies.
4. Combine Meanings: Cards rarely stand alone. How does The Lovers interact with The Tower? How does the Ace of Cups influence the Ten of Swords?
5. Embrace Reversals: While not all readers use reversals, they can indicate blocked energy, challenges, or an internalized aspect of the card's meaning.
6. Context is King: The question asked and the querent's life circumstances are paramount. A card means something different for someone seeking career advice versus relationship advice.

For instance, if The Devil appears in a reading about career, it might suggest being trapped in a job that feeds unhealthy attachments (like financial security over fulfillment) or being bound by limiting beliefs about your potential. However, if it appears in a reading about personal freedom, it might be a warning about succumbing to temptations that could hinder your progress.

My own journey with Tarot began with rote memorization, but it wasn't until I started connecting the imagery, the symbolism, and the emotional resonance of each card to real-life situations that the magic truly unfolded. I remember a reading for a friend who was deeply unhappy in her marriage. The cards showed a strong presence of Swords (conflict, difficult truths) and Cups (emotions, relationships), culminating in the Ten of Swords. It was a difficult reading, but the clear message was the painful ending of a cycle. A few months later, she shared that she had finally found the courage to leave, acknowledging the immense pain but also the relief that followed. The Swords and the Ten of Swords weren't predicting doom, but the necessary, albeit painful, truth of her situation.

As we navigate 2025, the Tarot continues to be a profound guide. Whether you're seeking clarity on your career path, insights into your relationships, or a deeper understanding of your spiritual journey, the 78 cards offer a rich tapestry of wisdom. By understanding these meanings and trusting your intuition, you can unlock the transformative power of the Tarot and illuminate your path forward.