Tarot Cards – List of Short Meanings

Each of the 78 Tarot Cards can sometimes have dozens of possible meanings based on whether the questions is about romance, career, health, money or family. There are also some minor differences in what different tarot experts believe are the meanings. After several years of research and practice with tarot, I have come up with this list of short (easy to remember) general meanings that I use as the base  for each card.

Regardless of the general list of meanings you use, during a reading, additional information will come from source specifically for the client.

Card	Upright	Reversed
0 Fool	Take the risk but watch your step	There are things you need to address
1 Magician	You have what you need	Out of touch with reality
2 High Priestess	Listen to your intuition not emotion or logic	Something is blocking your higher self
3 Empress	Compassion, peacekeeper	Domestic disharmony
4 Emperor	Discipline and obeying the rules	Being irresponsible
5 Hierophant	Pursuit of traditional knowledge	Think outside the box
6 Lovers	Someone loves you, but you may want to make a different choice	Temporary romantic breakup
7 Chariot	Get in the Drivers seat	Delayed journey
8 Strength	Use honey not vinegar	Arguments
9 Hermit	Take time alone to think	Need more social interaction
10 Wheel of Fortune	Things are changing fast around you	A setback requires you to rethink our original plan
11 Justice	Treat people fairly and you will be treated fairly	A feeling of being cheated out of something
12 Hanged Man	A sacrifice	Don't be stubborn
13 Death	Accept the end of a situation	Baggage keeps you from moving forward
14 Temperance	Caution	Waste
15 Devil	Sexual desire and passion	Victory over your emotions
16 Tower of Destruction	A setback causes need to rebuild	You need to strengthen your foundation
17 Star	Healing and rebirth is directly ahead	Lack of faith, illness
18 Moon	Don't be deceived	Mental health issues
19 Sun	A wonderful experience is ahead of you	Low energy
20 Judgement	You need to listen more	Don't run away from your feelings
21 World	Freedom to choose a new path	Low self esteem
Ace Pentacles	Financial opportunity, job or increased pay	Feeling of loss or actual loss
2 Pentacles	Find balance	Need to concentrate on just one thing
3 Pentacles	Recognition	Need to bring people together to resolve something
4 Pentacles	Clinging too much (let go)	Feeling of jealousy
5 Pentacles	Left to struggle in the cold but not alone	Loneliness is resolved through inner work
6 Pentacles	Be generous	Feeling of arrogance, not needing anyone
7 Pentacles	Don't rest on what you accomplished, still work ahead	Carelessness, scattered thoughts
8 Pentacles	Quality is important and may be reached with learning new skills	Don't micromanage or be too nearsighted.
9 Pentacles	Self Sufficiency resulting in achievement	Need more self discipline
10 Pentacles	Mature Relationship	Without Enthusiasm, need more joy
Page Pentacles	Focus on work and finances	Unrealistic expectations
Knight of Pentacles	Good news about finances	Don't procrastinate
Queen Pentacles	Faithful relationship	Someone is a martyr
King Pentacles	Material needs are met	Some you know may not be trustworthy
Ace Swords	New idea or career	Confusion, infatuation
2 swords	Set strong boundaries with others	Relationship can be revived
3 swords	Prepare for disappointment or broken heart ahead if you don't make changes	Petty quarrels
4 Swords	Rest, do not take action at this time	Need for action
5 Swords	Its not all about you, care for others	Backstabbing or an argument with no winner
6 Swords	Travel	Delays in progress
7 Swords	Secretive, afraid of being trapped, may take wrong action	Someone needs encouragement
8 Swords	You feel trapped, you can seek help	Freedom will come
9 swords	Anxiety you imagine is worse than the reality	No need for change, accept your situation
10 swords	Betrayal or end to relationship or job but pick yourself up	You will get a second chance
Page Swords	Stand your ground	Critical questions need to be answered
Knight Swords	Overcome fear and take action even if out of your comfort zone	A troublemaker
Queen Swords	Get more involved	Need soft understanding approach (feminine)
King Swords	Trying to analyze too much	Strict controlling behavior
Ace Cups	New love	Relationship is not meeting your needs
2 Cups	Perfect understanding between two people	Not enough chemistry in the relationship
3 Cups	Friendship	Someone is unfaithful
4 cups	You don't like your choices	Reason to hope
5 Cups	Don't overlook opportunities	Need to recover from emotional wounds
6 Cups	Happiness from someone in your past or at a distance	Bitter memories
7 Cups	Need to prioritize	Indecision
8 Cups	Look for greener pastures	Inability to leave a bad situation
9 cups	Satisfaction	Discontent, unfulfilled
10 Cups	Domestic harmony	Be satisfied and stop seeking a better situation
Page cups	Social invitation	Childish behavior
Knight Cups	Romantic invitation or emotional move	Deception, lack of motivation and even emotional problems
Queen Cups	Do not deny your emotions	Shallow behavior
King Cups	Control your emotions	Being seen as untrustworthy
Ace Wands	Accept what is offered	Idea won't take hold, back to drawing board
2 Wands	Completion of contracts and partnership commitments	Loss of faith
3 Wands	Explore a new path	Don't whine or blame others
4 Wands	Marriage or acceptance by friends and family	Upcoming event will need more help than anticipated
5 Wands	Competition	Conflict can be beneficial
6 Wands	Victory	Be patient, success may be delayed
7 Wands	You feel defensive but you are in a strong position to confront fears and obstacles	Others may be intimidated by you, tone it down
8 Wands	Making Progress on the right track	Things are moving forward without you, do you feel left out?
9 Wands	Look around, protect yourself and possessions	Paranoia
10 Wands	Don't burn out on responsibilities	Show appreciation in order to get more help
Page Wands	Restless	Don't be pessimistic or a victim
Knight of Wands	Moving house or job	Feel insecure and stuck in a situation
Queen of Wands	Needing attention	Acts undependable , not wanting anyone to become dependent.
King Wands	Need to understand people first	In awkward situation, may be wise to retreat

Other Useful Websites with Additional Information about Tarot Card Meanings

http://www.tarotwikipedia.com/tarot-card-meanings/

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/

 

http://www.psychic-revelation.com/reference/q_t/tarot/tarot_cards/

http://www.ata-tarot.com/resource/cards/

https://www.tarot.com/tarot/cards