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Tarot card meanings: all 78 cards

A tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana that describe the big turning points of life, and 56 Minor Arcana in four suits — Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles — that describe everyday situations. Choose a card to see its upright and reversed meaning, its meaning in love and money, and whether it reads as yes or no.

Major Arcana

Life lessons and turning points — from The Fool to The World.

Cups

Feelings, relationships, intuition (element: water).

Wands

Energy, ambition, creativity and action (element: fire).

Swords

Thoughts, decisions, conflict and truth (element: air).

Pentacles

Money, work, body and material stability (element: earth).

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are in a tarot deck?

A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana are split into four suits of 14 cards each — ten numbered cards plus Page, Knight, Queen and King.

What is the difference between the Major and Minor Arcana?

The Major Arcana describe major life themes and turning points, so they carry more weight in a reading. The Minor Arcana describe day-to-day situations, people and moods within those themes.

Do reversed cards have a different meaning?

Yes. A reversed card usually points to the same theme as the upright card, but blocked, delayed, internalised or taken to an extreme. Each card page above explains both positions.

What are the numbers of the Major Arcana cards?

The 22 Major Arcana are numbered from 0 to 21: 0 — The Fool, 1 — The Magician, 2 — The High Priestess, 3 — The Empress, 4 — The Emperor, 5 — The Hierophant, 6 — The Lovers, 7 — The Chariot, 8 — Strength, 9 — The Hermit, 10 — Wheel of Fortune, 11 — Justice, 12 — The Hanged Man, 13 — Death, 14 — Temperance, 15 — The Devil, 16 — The Tower, 17 — The Star, 18 — The Moon, 19 — The Sun, 20 — Judgement, 21 — The World.

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