Tarot Cards List: All 78 Cards with Pictures and Meanings

A tarot deck holds 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana, split into four suits of 14. Regardless of the design or theme, a tarot deck will always contain 78 cards, which is exactly why learning them once serves you across every deck you’ll ever pick up.

This tarot cards list covers all 78, in order, with upright and reversed keywords and a plain-language meaning for each. Below the numbers, the cards carry centuries of symbols, stories, and quiet insight, and this page is your front door to all of them.

Key Takeaways

List of Cards in Major Arcana

The Major Arcana are the 22 cards that speak to the big themes of a life: love, change, endings, and awakenings. They’re numbered from 0 to 21. Place them in order and you’ll see the connections you can make, a journey from the Fool’s first step to the World’s completion. Below is a complete list, as well as their upright and reversed meanings:

The Fool

The Fool steps off the cliff with a light heart, trusting the road ahead. It’s a card of fresh starts and the courage to begin before you feel ready.

• Upright: innocence, new beginnings, free spirit, spontaneity 
• Reversed: recklessness, being taken advantage of, inconsideration

The Magician

The Magician reminds you that you already hold every tool you need. It’s a card of focus, intention, and turning ideas into something real.

• Upright: manifestation, willpower, skill, resourcefulness 
• Reversed: manipulation, untapped talent, poor planning

The High Priestess

The High Priestess sits at the threshold of the seen and unseen. She asks you to trust your inner knowing over the noise around you.

• Upright: intuition, mystery, inner voice, the subconscious 
• Reversed: secrets, disconnection from intuition, withheld truth

The Empress

The Empress is growth in full bloom. She points to nurturing, sensuality, and anything in your life that’s ready to be tended and grown.

• Upright: abundance, nurturing, fertility, creativity 
• Reversed: creative block, dependence, smothering

The Emperor

The Emperor builds solid ground beneath your feet. He speaks to structure, boundaries, and the steady confidence that comes from taking charge.

• Upright: authority, structure, stability, leadership 
• Reversed: control, rigidity, domination

The Hierophant

The Hierophant holds tradition, learning, and shared belief. He can point to a teacher, an institution, or a path already walked by others.

• Upright: tradition, guidance, belief, belonging 
• Reversed: rebellion, unconventionality, questioning norms

The Lovers

The Lovers is about connection and alignment, in relationships and in the choices that reveal what you truly value. It asks you to choose with your whole heart.

• Upright: love, union, values, meaningful choice 
• Reversed: disharmony, misalignment, indecision

The Chariot

The Chariot is momentum won through focus. It’s a card of pushing forward, holding your nerve, and steering opposing forces toward one goal.

• Upright: willpower, drive, victory, determination 
• Reversed: loss of direction, lack of control, obstacles

Strength

Strength is the quiet, gentle kind of power. It’s mastering a situation through patience and heart rather than force.

• Upright: courage, patience, inner strength, compassion 
• Reversed: self-doubt, insecurity, low energy

The Hermit

The Hermit steps back from the world to hear himself think. He’s a card of soul-searching and the wisdom found in stillness.

• Upright: reflection, solitude, inner guidance, searching 
• Reversed: isolation, withdrawal, loneliness

The Wheel of Fortune

The Wheel of Fortune turns for everyone, reminding you that life moves in cycles. It marks a turning point and asks you to meet change with grace.

• Upright: cycles, change, luck, destiny 
• Reversed: bad luck, resistance to change, delays

Justice

Justice weighs truth and consequence. It asks you to act with integrity and reminds you that every choice carries its own outcome.

• Upright: fairness, truth, accountability, cause and effect 
• Reversed: unfairness, dishonesty, avoiding accountability

The Hanged Man

The Hanged Man hangs willingly, seeing the world from a new angle. He’s a card of surrender, patience, and the insight that comes from letting go.

• Upright: surrender, new perspective, pause, letting go 
• Reversed: stalling, resistance, indecision

Death

Death is rarely literal. It’s the ending that clears space for something new, a profound transformation that asks you to release what’s complete.

• Upright: endings, transformation, transition, release 
• Reversed: resisting change, stagnation, holding on

Temperance

Temperance blends opposites into something whole. It’s a card of patience, healing, and finding the calm middle way between extremes.

• Upright: balance, moderation, patience, healing 
• Reversed: imbalance, excess, impatience

The Devil

The Devil shows the chains we sometimes choose: habits, fears, and attachments. Look closely, and you’ll see the chains are loose enough to slip.

• Upright: attachment, temptation, materialism, bondage 
• Reversed: release, breaking free, reclaiming power 

The Tower

The Tower is a lightning-bolt moment when a shaky foundation falls. It’s disruptive, but it clears the way for something more honest to be built.

• Upright: sudden change, upheaval, revelation, awakening 
• Reversed: avoiding disaster, fear of change, delaying the inevitable

The Star

The Star rises after the storm, soft and reassuring. It’s a card of hope, healing, and quiet faith that better days are on their way.

• Upright: hope, faith, renewal, inspiration 
• Reversed: discouragement, self-doubt, disconnection

The Moon

The Moon lights a path through uncertainty. It asks you to trust your intuition when not everything is clear, and to notice what fear may be distorting.

• Upright: intuition, illusion, dreams, the subconscious 
• Reversed: releasing fear, clarity returning, confusion lifting

The Sun

The Sun is the warmest yes in the deck. It radiates joy, clarity, and success, a card of things coming beautifully into the light.

• Upright: joy, success, positivity, vitality 
• Reversed: temporary gloom, blocked joy, overconfidence

Judgement

Judgment (also spelled Judgement) is a wake-up call. It asks you to rise, forgive, and answer a deeper calling with a clear conscience.

• Upright: awakening, reckoning, renewal, calling 
• Reversed: self-doubt, avoiding the call, harsh self-judgment

The World

The World closes the Major Arcana with a sense of arrival. It’s completion, wholeness, and the satisfaction of a cycle fully lived.

• Upright: completion, fulfillment, wholeness, achievement 
• Reversed: incompletion, loose ends, delay

List of Cards in Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana are the 56 cards that speak to everyday life: the feelings, choices, and small turning points that fill your days. A standard deck holds 78 cards in two families, and these four suits make up the larger one. Each suit runs Ace through Ten, then four court cards, and each governs its own corner of experience. Below is a complete list, as well as their upright and reversed meanings:

Ace of Wands

The Ace of Wands represents a spark of inspiration and new creative beginnings. This card appears when you’re about to embark on an exciting new venture filled with potential and enthusiasm.

• Upright: inspiration, new opportunity, creative spark, potential 
• Reversed: delays, hesitation, a lost spark 

Two of Wands

The Two of Wands shows a figure holding a globe, representing planning and future possibilities. This card suggests you’re at a crossroads, contemplating your next move while holding the world in your hands.

• Upright: planning, future vision, choices, progress 
• Reversed: fear of change, playing it safe, poor planning

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Three of Wands

The Three of Wands depicts a figure watching ships sail away, symbolizing expansion and foresight. You’re seeing the first results of your efforts and planning for future growth.

• Upright: expansion, foresight, growth, opportunity 
• Reversed: delays, obstacles, limited vision

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Four of Wands

The Four of Wands shows a celebration under a floral archway, representing stability and celebration. This card appears when it’s time to celebrate achievements and enjoy moments of harmony.

• Upright: celebration, harmony, home, milestones 
• Reversed: instability, tension at home, canceled plans

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Five of Wands

The Five of Wands depicts figures in playful combat, representing competition and conflict. This card suggests facing challenges that require you to assert yourself and stand your ground.

• Upright: conflict, competition, tension, rivalry 
• Reversed: avoiding conflict, resolution, inner tension

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Six of Wands

The Six of Wands shows a victorious rider on horseback, representing triumph and recognition. Your hard work is about to pay off with public acknowledgment and success.

• Upright: victory, recognition, success, confidence 
• Reversed: setbacks, lack of recognition, self-doubt

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Seven of Wands

The Seven of Wands depicts a figure defending their position from below, representing defensiveness and conviction. You’re standing up for your beliefs and defending what you’ve achieved.

• Upright: perseverance, defense, standing your ground, challenge 
• Reversed: overwhelm, giving up, exhaustion

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Eight of Wands

The Eight of Wands shows eight staff flying through the air, representing swift action and movement. Things are about to speed up, with news and opportunities coming your way quickly.

• Upright: speed, movement, momentum, news 
• Reversed: delays, frustration, slowing down

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Nine of Wands

The Nine of Wands shows a wounded but steadfast figure, representing resilience and persistence. You’ve been through challenges but have the strength to persist.

• Upright: resilience, persistence, boundaries, courage 
• Reversed: burnout, defensiveness, depletion

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Ten of Wands

The Ten of Wands depicts a figure carrying a heavy burden, representing responsibility and overwhelm. You might need to take on more responsibility or feel weighed down by obligations.

• Upright: burden, responsibility, hard work, overload 
• Reversed: releasing burdens, delegation, letting go

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Page of Wands

The Page of Wands represents enthusiasm, exploration, and new ideas. This card brings messages of exciting opportunities and creative inspiration.

• Upright: enthusiasm, exploration, discovery, free spirit 
• Reversed: hesitation, scattered energy, delays

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Knight of Wands

The Knight of Wands shows an enthusiastic knight charging forward, representing action and adventure. This card suggests taking bold action and enthusiastically pursuing your passions.

• Upright: energy, passion, action, adventure 
• Reversed: impulsiveness, recklessness, restlessness

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Queen of Wands

The Queen of Wands represents confidence, determination, and social charm. She encourages you to embrace your charismatic nature and lead warmly and enthusiastically.

• Upright: confidence, warmth, courage, charisma 
• Reversed: self-doubt, insecurity, jealousy

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King of Wands

The King of Wands represents inspired leadership and bold vision. This card suggests taking charge of your situation with creativity and charisma.

• Upright: leadership, vision, boldness, drive 
• Reversed: impulsiveness, domineering, high expectations

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Ace of Cups

The Ace of Cups represents emotional beginnings and spiritual love. This card heralds new relationships, emotional breakthroughs, or spiritual connections.

• Upright: new love, emotional beginnings, compassion, openness 
• Reversed: blocked emotions, emptiness, self-love needed

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Two of Cups

The Two of Cups shows two figures exchanging cups, representing partnership and mutual attraction. This card suggests harmonious relationships and emotional connections.

• Upright: connection, partnership, mutual attraction, unity 
• Reversed: imbalance, tension, a broken connection

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Three of Cups

The Three of Cups shows three figures celebrating together, representing friendship and celebration. This card appears when it’s time to enjoy the company of others and celebrate life’s pleasures.

• Upright: friendship, celebration, community, joy 
• Reversed: overindulgence, gossip, isolation

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Four of Cups

The Four of Cups depicts a figure contemplating three cups while a fourth is offered, representing contemplation and discontent. You might be overlooking opportunities due to dissatisfaction.

• Upright: apathy, contemplation, discontent, withdrawal 
• Reversed: renewed interest, acceptance, new awareness

Five of Cups

The Five of Cups shows a figure mourning spilled cups while others remain standing, representing loss and regret. This card reminds you to acknowledge losses while recognizing what remains.

• Upright: loss, grief, disappointment, regret 
• Reversed: acceptance, moving on, finding peace

Six of Cups

The Six of Cups shows children exchanging flowers, representing nostalgia and innocence. This card suggests revisiting memories or reconnecting with old friends.

• Upright: nostalgia, memories, innocence, reunion 
• Reversed: living in the past, stuck memories, moving forward

Seven of Cups

The Seven of Cups shows various images floating in cups, representing choices and fantasy. You’re faced with many options but need to distinguish reality from illusion.

• Upright: choices, illusion, imagination, options 
• Reversed: clarity, decisiveness, a reality check

Eight of Cups

The Eight of Cups shows a figure walking away from cups, representing withdrawal and seeking more. It’s time to leave behind what no longer fulfills you and seek more profound meaning.

• Upright: walking away, seeking more, transition, letting go 
• Reversed: fear of change, aimlessness, staying stuck

Nine of Cups

The Nine of Cups shows a satisfied figure with cups arranged in an arc, representing wishes and contentment. This card suggests emotional satisfaction and fulfilled wishes.

• Upright: contentment, satisfaction, gratitude, wishes fulfilled 
• Reversed: dissatisfaction, seeking more, inner joy

Ten of Cups

The Ten of Cups shows a happy family under a rainbow, representing harmony and happiness. This card represents emotional fulfillment and domestic bliss.

• Upright: harmony, happiness, family, emotional fulfillment 
• Reversed: disconnection, broken harmony, misaligned values

Page of Cups

The Page of Cups represents creativity, intuition, and new emotional experiences. This card brings messages of love and creative inspiration.

• Upright: creativity, intuition, new feelings, sensitivity 
• Reversed: emotional immaturity, blocked creativity, moodiness

Knight of Cups

The Knight of Cups shows a romantic knight offering a cup, representing romance and charm. This card suggests pursuing emotional quests and following your heart.

• Upright: romance, charm, following the heart, idealism 
• Reversed: moodiness, unrealistic ideals, disappointment 

Queen of Cups

The Queen of Cups represents emotional intelligence and intuition. She encourages you to trust your feelings and nurture others with compassion.

• Upright: compassion, empathy, intuition, emotional security 
• Reversed: emotional overwhelm, self-care needed, dependence

King of Cups

The King of Cups represents emotional maturity and wisdom. This card suggests mastering your emotions while remaining kind and diplomatic.

• Upright: emotional balance, compassion, diplomacy, calm 
• Reversed: emotional manipulation, moodiness, coldness

Ace of Pentacles

The Ace of Pentacles represents new material beginnings and opportunities. This card heralds new financial opportunities or practical ventures.

• Upright: opportunity, prosperity, a new venture, abundance 
• Reversed: a missed chance, delay, poor planning

Two of Pentacles

The Two of Pentacles shows a figure juggling two coins, representing balance and adaptability. You’re managing multiple responsibilities and need to maintain flexibility.

• Upright: balance, adaptability, juggling, priorities 
• Reversed: overwhelm, disorganization, imbalance

Three of Pentacles

The Three of Pentacles shows artisans collaborating, representing teamwork and skill. This card suggests working together to create something of lasting value.

• Upright: teamwork, collaboration, skill, learning 
• Reversed: lack of teamwork, disharmony, poor quality

Four of Pentacles

The Four of Pentacles shows a figure holding coins tightly, representing security and possession. You might need to have more tightly to material security or resources.

• Upright: security, saving, control, holding on 
• Reversed: letting go, generosity, releasing control

Five of Pentacles

The Five of Pentacles shows figures in hardship passing a church window, representing material challenges. This card suggests temporary hardship but reminds you that help is available.

• Upright: hardship, insecurity, loss, isolation 
• Reversed: recovery, support found, turning a corner

Six of Pentacles

The Six of Pentacles shows a figure giving to others, representing generosity and sharing. This card suggests giving or receiving help with grace.

• Upright: generosity, giving and receiving, support, balance 
• Reversed: strings attached, inequality, debt

Seven of Pentacles

The Seven of Pentacles shows a figure contemplating their harvest, representing assessment and patience. It’s time to evaluate your progress and plan your next steps.

• Upright: patience, a long-term view, investment, growth 
• Reversed: impatience, poor returns, frustration

Eight of Pentacles

The Eight of Pentacles shows a craftsman, representing skill development and dedication. This card suggests focusing on developing your skills and mastering your craft.

• Upright: diligence, mastery, skill, dedication 
• Reversed: perfectionism, lack of focus, uninspired work

Nine of Pentacles

The Nine of Pentacles shows a well-dressed figure in a garden, representing self-sufficiency and abundance. Through your efforts, you’ve achieved material comfort.

• Upright: abundance, independence, self-sufficiency, luxury 
• Reversed: over-reliance, a financial setback, restlessness

Ten of Pentacles

The Ten of Pentacles shows a wealthy family scene, representing legacy and wealth. This card represents lasting abundance and financial security.

• Upright: legacy, wealth, family, lasting security 
• Reversed: instability, financial loss, family tension

Page of Pentacles

The Page of Pentacles represents study, curiosity, and manifestation. This card brings messages about practical opportunities and learning.

• Upright: ambition, a new venture, study, opportunity 
• Reversed: procrastination, lack of progress, a missed chance

Knight of Pentacles

The Knight of Pentacles shows a cautious knight, representing reliability and hard work. This card suggests steady progress and careful planning.

• Upright: reliability, hard work, routine, responsibility
• Reversed: stagnation, boredom, perfectionism

Queen of Pentacles

The Queen of Pentacles represents nurturing abundance and practical wisdom. She encourages you to create material security while caring for others.

• Upright: nurturing, practical, security, abundance 
• Reversed: overcommitted, self-neglect, imbalance

King of Pentacles

The King of Pentacles represents material success and business acumen. This card suggests mastering the material world with reliability and wisdom.

• Upright: success, abundance, security, leadership 
• Reversed: greed, materialism, poor financial control

Ace of Swords

The Ace of Swords represents mental clarity and breakthrough ideas. This card heralds new insights and cognitive breakthroughs.

• Upright: clarity, breakthrough, truth, new ideas 
• Reversed: confusion, clouded judgment, miscommunication

Two of Swords

The Two of Swords shows a blindfolded figure with crossed swords, representing difficult decisions. You’re facing a choice that requires careful thought and balance.

• Upright: indecision, stalemate, a difficult choice, avoidance 
• Reversed: clarity, a decision made, releasing tension

Three of Swords

The Three of Swords shows a heart pierced by three swords, representing heartbreak and sorrow. This card suggests facing emotional pain with courage.

• Upright: heartbreak, sorrow, grief, painful truth 
• Reversed: healing, forgiveness, releasing pain

Four of Swords

The Four of Swords shows a resting knight, representing rest and recovery. It’s time to take a break and restore your mental energy.

• Upright: rest, recovery, contemplation, a pause 
• Reversed: restlessness, burnout, slow recovery

Five of Swords

The Five of Swords shows a figure collecting abandoned swords, representing conflict and defeat. This card suggests picking your battles wisely.

• Upright: conflict, defeat, tension, hollow victory 
• Reversed: reconciliation, releasing conflict, moving on

Six of Swords

The Six of Swords shows figures crossing water in a boat, representing transition and moving forward. You’re leaving difficulties behind for calmer waters.

• Upright: transition, moving on, recovery, calmer waters 
• Reversed: resistance, feeling stuck, unfinished business

Seven of Swords

The Seven of Swords shows a figure sneaking away with swords, representing strategy and deception. This card suggests being strategic but ethical in your actions.

• Upright: deception, strategy, secrecy, getting away 
• Reversed: coming clean, confession, guilt

Eight of Swords

The Eight of Swords shows a bound figure surrounded by swords, representing restriction and imprisonment. Although you might feel trapped, freedom is possible through mental clarity.

• Upright: feeling trapped, restriction, self-limiting beliefs 
• Reversed: freedom, a new perspective, releasing fear

Nine of Swords

The Nine of Swords shows a figure sitting in bed, representing anxiety and worry. This card suggests facing your fears and finding ways to calm your mind.

• Upright: anxiety, worry, fear, sleepless nights 
• Reversed: hope returning, releasing worry, recovery

Ten of Swords

The Ten of Swords shows a figure pierced by ten swords, representing painful endings and rock bottom. This card suggests that renewal is coming, while an ending might be painful.

• Upright: painful ending, betrayal, rock bottom, closure
• Reversed: recovery, healing, the worst is over

Page of Swords

The Page of Swords represents curiosity, communication, and new ideas. This card brings messages about intellectual pursuits and truth-seeking.

• Upright: curiosity, new ideas, mental energy, vigilance 
• Reversed: scattered thoughts, gossip, haste

Knight of Swords

The Knight of Swords shows a charging knight, representing swift action and intellect. This card suggests pursuing goals with determination and mental clarity.

• Upright: ambition, action, drive, directness 
• Reversed: recklessness, impatience, aggression

Queen of Swords

The Queen of Swords represents clear thinking and direct communication. She encourages you to speak your truth with wisdom and clarity.

• Upright: clarity, honesty, independence, a sharp mind 
• Reversed: coldness, harshness, bitterness

King of Swords

The King of Swords represents intellectual power and authority. This card suggests making decisions with logic and ethical leadership.

• Upright: authority, logic, truth, clear thinking 
• Reversed: manipulation, coldness, misuse of power

Most Popular Tarot Decks

While every tarot deck holds the same 78 cards, the artwork changes the feel of a reading. A few decks have shaped how the cards are read today.

The Rider-Waite-Smith is the most widely used deck in the world, and its imagery is the standard most others follow, which is why this list leans on its symbolism. The Marseille is older and more geometric, favored by traditional readers. The Thoth deck, rich with esoteric detail, rewards deeper study. And modern decks like the Wild Unknown and the Light Seer’s reimagine the cards with fresh, intuitive art.

If you’re choosing your very first deck, the imagery matters more than the name, so pick one you feel drawn to. This roundup of the best tarot decks for beginners is a gentle place to start.

How to Use Minor Arcana and Major Arcana Cards

The Major Arcana and Minor Arcana work together to create a complete story in Tarot readings. The Major Arcana highlights significant life events, spiritual lessons, and turning points, while the Minor Arcana focuses on the practical, everyday aspects of your experiences.

When a Major Arcana card appears, it signals a major theme or transformation that requires attention, pointing to the why behind your current situation. The Minor Arcana, on the other hand, provides details about the how—your actions, emotions, and challenges. Together, they offer both big-picture insights and practical steps forward.

To use them effectively:

By combining the two, Tarot readings provide deeper insight into both your overall journey and the small, actionable choices that shape it.

Conclusion

This tarot cards list is your map to all 78 cards, but a map is only the beginning. The real magic happens when the cards meet your own life, your questions, and the moment you’re standing in. Bookmark this page, return to it often, and let the meanings deepen as your practice grows.

And when a card stirs something you’d like to explore more personally, you don’t have to interpret it alone. Purple Garden’s vetted advisors can bring any card to life around your own love, career, and life questions, whenever you’re ready for a reading.

Embark on your Tarot journey now. Use our intuitive matching tool to find the psychic advisor best suited to guide you