Tarot Cards

Each card in the tarot deck has two different meanings-- an upright meaning where the card fell facing upright in a reading, and a reversed meaning where the card fell upside-down in a reading. Below are some brief descriptions of the meanings of the cards. Keep in mind that these are very brief and vague interpretations, since it is impossible to fully interpret and understand the deep symbolism found in each card. To get additional information on a card and see an image of it, turn to the pages indicated by the card titles.

The Major Arcana

0- The Fool - Upright: Major decisions, potential, and favorable circumstances. Reversed: Foolishness, wrong selections, not thinking before acting.

I- The Magician - Upright: Planning, establishment, or working out an idea, focusing and concentrating on a goal, ambition, and plan. Reversed: Manipulation, unrealized projects and ambitions.

II- The High Priestess - Upright: Changes often positive, unknown factors. Secretive, psychic, mystical, spiritual woman. Apply high ideals and morals in handling the question. Reversed: Unsuspected problems may bring negative changes. Bitter, unhappy woman.

III- The Empress - Upright:The ability to give and recieve love. Creativity, growth, happiness, and abundance. May symbolize a woman of these qualities along with independance, domestic, and financial prosperity. Successful manger and ruler. Revered: Inability to give or recieve love, emotional problems. No growth.

IV- The Emperor - Upright: Manifested results. Mature, independant, sensible, and intelligent. Reversed: Plans disintegrate. Inconstant, unreasonable, dependant man.

V- The Hierophant - Upright: Usual, customary, or traditional approach. A teacher. Intuition. Reversed: May represent an unusual person who is a "character." Ignoring intuition. Unique, different or unusual approach to a circumstance.

VI- The Lovers - Upright: Correct selection, successful communication. Healing. Balance.Reversed: Incorrect selection, poor healing, difficulties in communication, meddling.

VII- The Chariot - Upright: Balance through self-control. Successful speaking. Reversed: Loss of self-control, defeat.

VIII- Strength - Upright: Spiritual lovingness. Self-understanding and acceptance. Use psychological awareness for control. Reversed: Lack of self-acceptance and understanding leads to selfishness and being overcome with negative emotions, hatefulness, greed, and violence. Psychological illness.

IX- The Hermit - Upright: Advice, recommendations, guidance from within. Attainment. Instructer. Reversed: Inability to learn from past mistakes. Ignoring counsel. An unwise action.

X- Wheel of Fortune - Upright: Be prepared for opportunity. Rewards, good timing. Reversed: Poor timing, reoccuring problems, delays, and hindrances.

XI- Justice - Upright: Important decision made with conviction, strength, and correctness. Balance. Action. Education. Fair or just rewards. Reversed: Unfairness. Actions may be too rigid or uncompromising.

XII- The Hanged Man - Upright: Change in priorities, forfeiting something in order to attain something better. Reversed: Selfishness, pride and egotism prevents the Seeker from letting a situation unfold as it should. Inability to change or listen to another viewpoint.

XIII- Death - Upright: Fresh start, liberating change. Growth toward a new or different direction for the better. Reversed: Inactivity, no movement, impermanent standstill.

XIV- Temperance - Upright: Successful handling of a situation. Adjusting and balancing. Good timing. Tests passed. Reversed: Becoming "carried away". Overdoing or excessive in behavior. Disorganized, improper or poor managing of a situation. Wrong timing. Tests failed.

XV- The Devil - Upright: Enslavement, confining restrictive conditions. Overwhelming fear of real or imagined enemy or opposition. Power mongering. Reversed: Freedom from fears, enslavements, and internal or external enemies.

XVI- The Tower - Upright: Truth and reality, sometimes unexpectedly. A situation reaches a point of crisis or warfare. Prevailing structures are altered or changed. Reversed: A situation is seen in the light of reality. A manageable crisis, expected changes.

XVII- The Star - Upright: Focusing energy on the pursuit of wishes, talents, dreams, and goals. Meditation. Good health. Reversed: Disappointments. Inability to pursue dreams, talents, or goals. Depression and insecurity. Poor attitude.

XVIII- The Moon - Upright: Falseness, hidden factors, unexpected turn of events. Reversed: Honesty, positive growth and changes. New harmony.

XIX- The Sun - Upright: Victory, rebirth, protection. Reversed: Defeat and emptiness. Unsuccessful.

XX- Judgement - Upright: Release, transformation, awareness of own personal power. Positive, important change. Reversed: Loss of power to others. Inability to release. No change.

XXI- The World - Upright: Attainment. Accomplishment coupled with acceptance of responsibility. Reversed: Partial, imcomplete or unfinished project. Minor progress but no victory yet.

The Minor Arcana

The Wands

Ace of Wands - Upright: Beginning of desire, ambition, idea, or venture. Reversed: A new start encounters difficulties, pressures.

2 of Wands - Upright: Waiting for results concerning an important desire or goal. Reversed: Little or nothing transpires concerning the goal. Frustration.

3 of Wands - Upright: Growth. Working together brings positive results. Reversed: No growth, poor results.

4 of Wands - Upright: Happiness, harmony and established, secure victory. Reversed: Blessings, protection, and victory.

5 of Wands - Upright: Inner or outer fighting. Self-defense. Strength in facing adverse or testing conditions. Reversed: Eliminating or changing of outworn ways of handling things result in new harmony and tranquility.

6 of Wands - Upright: Winning through sincerity, ambition and perseverance. Reversed: Losing to another. "Second fiddle" relations. Delayed success.

7 of Wands - Upright: Uses courage and sincerity of purpose to confront circumstances. Confrontation. Reversed: No confrontation.

8 of Wands - Upright: The "green light" or "go ahead" card. Reversed: Stop, don't force a situation.

9 of Wands - Upright: Get ready, remain in the defensive for problems will reoccur. Reversed: Caught off guard, be on the alert.

10 of Wands - Upright: Hardship weighed down. Some failures due to overextending oneself. Reversed: Failures caused deliberately.

Page of Wands - Upright: Characteristics of leadership and attention loving. Message: Sudden good news. Reversed: Characteristics of theatrics adn troublesome behavior. Message: Unfortunate news may be over-dramatized.

Knight of Wands - Upright: Characteristics are warm, friendly, and ambitious. Event: Has an important nature pertaining to one's desires or goals. Reversed: Characteristics are self-centered, demanding, and arrogant. Event: Employment disruptions.

Queen of Wands - Upright: Attractive personality, warm and powerful. Reversed: Selfish, demanding, envious.

King of Wands - Upright: Personable, ambitious, and leadership characteristics. Reversed: Selfish, dominating, and argumentative.

The Cups

Ace of Cups - Upright: The onstart of a situation of loving, understanding, self-understanding, inspirational, or spiritual feelings. Reversed: Blocked communication of feelings with others or even within one's self.

2 of Cups - Upright: Balanced sharing in a relationship. Any balance. Reversed: Unbalanced relationship. Inner imbalance or disharmony.

3 of Cups - Upright: Happy endings. Growth and promises in romance. Reversed: Spoiled growth, unhappy endings.

4 of Cups - Upright: Questioning the old and consideration of the new. Emotional withdrawal. Contemplation. Reversed: Flowing with and acting upon feelings. Relationships begin, change, or evolve.

5 of Cups - Upright: Emotional losses. Accentuate assets rather than dwell on what has already been spilt. Reversed: New hopes for reunions, reconciliations and reappearances in the Seeker's emotional life.

6 of Cups - Upright: Cherished harmony in relationships and domestic life. Reversed: Unproductively dwelling on unhappy past memories. Leave then behind.

7 of Cups - Upright: Indecision, fantasizing, delusions. Reversed: A new goal is chosen. Decisiveness.

8 of Cups - Upright: Withdrawal, disappointment, searching. Reversed: Enjoyment of the emotional, domestic, and social aspects of life.

9 of Cups - Upright: Happiness, wishes, and hopes come true. Reversed: Excessive spending, self-indulgence, disappointments.

10 of Cups - Upright: Satisfaction, protection, and completion. Reversed: Dissatisfaction, disagreements, and incompleteness.

Page of Cups - Upright: Characteristics being sensitive and imaginative. Message: Inspirational, uplifting, may come from own subconcious, such as a dream. Reversed: Characteristics being emotional and immature, daydreamer. Message: Ignoring internal psychic messages.

Knight of Cups - Upright: Characteristics are imaginative, sincere, and romantic. Event: Has a significant emotional or romantic theme. Reversed: Characteristics are deceptive within self and others. Not facing facts. Event: Concerning unrealistic deceptiveness.

Queen of Cups - Upright: Loving, sympathetic, and intuative. Reversed: Overly sensitive, unrealistic. Worries, fears and unfulfilled dreams dominate her thoughts.

King of Cups - Upright: Sensitive, intelligent, deep feeling nature. Reversed: Deceptive, inconsistant, emotionally weak or disturbed.

The Swords

Ace of Swords - Upright: Winning through fair actions and mental willpower. Reversed: Unconquerable difficulties for the time being. Don't push.

2 of Swords - Upright: Postponement of decisions, unresolved question, inaction. Reversed: Action and decision making.

3 of Swords - Upright: Endings, severances, separations (sometimes for the good). Reversed: Less intense pain concerning separations or severances.

4 of Swords - Upright: Withdrawal. Battle fatigue. Truce, resting, meditation, vacation. Reversed: Returning to the rigors of life. Renewal of shelved interest or pursuit.

5 of Swords - Upright: Cruel words, hurtful actions used in defeating others or one's self. Revengeful goals are meaningless and demeaning. Reversed: The same meaning as upright.

6 of Swords - Upright: Circumstances and attitudes change for the better. Conditions improve. Reversed: Problems remain. Attitude change may help.

7 of Swords - Upright: Unfairly stealing or cheating oneself or others. Reversed: Recieving or making an apology. Being your own best friend.

8 of Swords - Upright: Restriction and interference from self or others. Reversed: Action, freedom.

9 of Swords - Upright: Torment in both the life and the mind. Reversed: Improved, balanced conditions.

10 of Swords - Upright: Plans fail. Reversed: Restoration of hope, spiritual help.

Page of Swords - Upright: Characteristics are communicative, intelligent, and clever. Message: Unexpected upset. Reversed: Characteristics are cruel, manipulating, and calculating. Message: Disruptive, upsetting news.

Knight of Swords - Upright: Characteristics are intelligent, persuasive, and an intellectual. Event: A sudden arrival or occurance. Reversed: Characteristics are dictatorial, unfairly accusatory, verbal and mental gameplaying. Interfering. Event: A situation or person suddenly or unexpectedly departs.

Queen of Swords - Upright: Intelligent, independant, decisive and analytical. Reversed: Bitter, sarcastic, and severely judgemental.

King of Swords - Upright: Intellectual, decisive, fair-minded. Can be a decision fairly rendered. Reversed: Unfair, cruel adn prejudiced. Can indicate an unfair decision.

The Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles - Upright: A plan becomes real. New money and security. Reversed: Plans do not work out. Money is tight or there is tightness with money.

2 of Pentacles - Upright: Adapting to change. Alterations. Balancing money and financial obligations. Employment changes. Reversed: Inability to handle responsibilities, loss of financial balance. Changes bring difficulties.

3 of Pentacles - Upright: Excellence brings merits and tangible rewards. Reversed: Half-hearted attempts lead to ordinary results.

4 of Pentacles - Upright: Successful and secure job and economic position. Can also be an inability to trust, give, and share when cards of selfishness are present. Reversed: Loss of power, position, control, or money.

5 of Pentacles - Upright: Depression, deprivation, and poverty. Loss. Reversed: Better times, hopefulness, new income.

6 of Pentacles - Upright: Sharing. Recieving well deserved profits. Successful balance of money matters. Reversed: Unbalanced, unjust moneys. Loss or unscrupulous dealings.

7 of Pentacles - Upright: Reassessment after much effort. Incompleteness. Reversed: Worries concerning practical matters.

8 of Pentacles - Upright: "Working on it," learning, training. Reversed: Misuse of abilities and cleverness.

9 of Pentacles - Upright: Independence, wisdom, self-confidence, financial gains. Reversed: Financial and personal losses, as well as "insecurities".

10 of Pentacles - Upright: Financial abundance. Transition resulting from life's natural progression. Reversed: Financial and/or family complications and instability.

Page of Pentacles - Upright: Characteristics are studious, responsible, and careful. Message: Informative, advisory. Reversed: Characteristics show disliking authority, being careless, and uncompromising. Message: Disreguarding or disrespecting information or advice.

Knight of Pentacles - Upright: Characteristics are stable, hardworking, and money minded. Event: Concerning finance, possessions, property, or employment. Reversed: Characteristics are careless and impractical concerning money, property, or employment. Event: Unstable position, money, or job.

Queen of Pentacles - Upright: Sensible, caring, and productive. Reversed: Unrealistic, insecure, and very dependant.

King of Pentacles - Upright: Realistic, materialistic, security conscious. Reversed: Stubborn, excessively money concious, possessive.

Spreads

Not only are the meanings of the cards significant during a tarot reading, but also the placement of these cards. When a reading is given, the cards are placed in different patterns, or spreads, where each position has its own meaning. It is when the meaning of the card is applied to the meaning of the position it has fallen in the spread that we can find answers to questions and get insight into the unknown. Though there are many different spreads used by spiritualists to read the tarot, I'm only listing a few of the significant ones that I use in my own readings below. To learn more about other tarot spreads, please visit The Tarot Spread FAQ.

Simple Spreads

Three Card Spread

		
			I

		1	2	3

I- The Indicator

1- Past experiances; Something that has led up to the current situation

2- Current situations, problems, or opportunities

3- The future of the situation

This spread works best when dealing with a simple question or one distinct situation. An alternate to this spread has the cards on both sides of the situation representing the two choices available to the person.

Question and Answer Spread

	
			1
		      2a 2b
		    3a 3b 3c  4

1- The Indicator

2- Shed light on the root of the problem

3- Answers to the problem

4- Final outcome

This spread works best when asking a direct and simple question, but gives more insight than a three card spread.

Five Card Horseshoe

	   3	
	2     4
     1           5

1- Present position

2- Present expectations

3- What is not expected

4- Immediate future

5- Long-term future

This spread works well with topic-based questions, such as where you should be focusing your priorities. It is a good simply spread to use when the Seeker is having a lot of confusion or choices in their life that they need insight on.

Six Card Spread

   
        1    2    3
	4    5    6

1- The Seeker's present position

2- Loved ones

3- Money

4- Job

5- Health

6- Travel

This spread gives insight to different areas of the Seeker's life. Any areas the Seeker is interested in may be substituted for those listed above.

Advanced Spreads

The Star Spread

		7
	6		5
		4
	3		2
		1

1- Present position--root of the matter

2- Feelings, emotions/Relationships

3- Mind, thought/Career

4- Heart of the matter

5- Near future

6- Desires/Fears

7- Final outcome--top of the matter

A good spread for general insight to the Seeker's present conditions. Works well when no specific questions need asking, but can shed light on these questions.

The Consequences Spread

		3
	4		5
		 2
		1
	6		7
		8

1- Indicator

2- The Seeker, or clues surrounding them

3- Background or cause of the problem

4- The past

5- The future

6- Suggestions as to future actions

7- Environment or people close to the Seeker

8- Outcome or consequences of actions

This spread is used when the Seeker needs to focus on one specific problem in their life.

The Celtic Cross

	

	3      10

   6    1   5   9
	2*      
	        8
	4	  
		7

* Sideways across 1

1- Present position

2- What crosses you

3- What is above you- recent future

4- What is beneath you- recent past

5- What is behind you- past

6- What is before you- future

7- Where you will find yourself

8- Your surroundings and how other's view you

9- Your hopes or fears

10- The outcome

One of the most common spreads used in tarot. This spread can shed the most insight to the life around you. A question could be asked, or it could just be used for insight.

The Tree of Life

		1
	3		2
	5		4
		6
	8		7
		9
		10

1- Spiritual

2- Responsibility

3- Difficulity

4- Helpful matters

5- Opposing matters

6- Achievement

7- Emotional relationships

8- Communication/Career

9- Unconscious foundation

10- Home/Family

A spread based on the spiritual Tree of Life that is often used in past life regressions. This spread shows the in-depth aspects of your life, and sometimes things from your past lives.

Calendar Spreads

The Seven-Pointed Star

             4
        3        5

	2    I	  6
	
	   1 	7

I- Indicator

1-7- The days of the week

A spread used for a weekly forcast. The first position is the day you give the reading--the rest follow the circle in order.

The Year Circle

         11 10
     12         9
     		  8	
    1      13      7
     2	          6
	3       5
	    4

1-12- The months of the year

13- Year summary or a powerful clue to a main event in the year

A spread that forcast the year. The first position is the month you give the reading--the rest follow in order. Sometimes two cards are used for each month, and a few more middle cards are added to the center for more insight.

Astrological Spread

	1  2    3  4
	5  6    7  8
	9  10  11 12

1- Self: How you act, how you look, your goals

2- Money/Possessions: Possessions, income, financial aspects

3- Communication: Self-expression, family ties, travel, how you think

4- Home: Home, relationship with parents, security

5- Creativity/Sex: Everything you do for pleasure and to express yourself

6- Service/Health: Need to help others and be useful, state of health

7- Partnership/Marriage: Spouse, partners in work

8- Death/Regeneration: Spiritual transformation

9- Mental Exploration: Widening of card 3

10- Career/Public Standing: Profession, community status, reputation

11- Friends/Hopes/Wishes: Long term goals, involvement in groups

12- Secrets/Sorrows/Self-Undoing: Spiritual debt, unseen forces, dissapointments

An astrological spread using the twelve Houses of astrology. A health forcast can also be used with this spread, by substituting the Houses for the ruling body parts of the natural ruling sign of each House.

Sources:

Fenton, Sasha. Fortune-Telling by Tarot Cards. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England: The Aquarian Press, 1985.

Marcia, Masino. Easy Tarot Guide. San Diego, CA: ACS Publications, Inc., 1983.

Pollack, Rachel. Teach Yourself Fortune Telling. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, Inc., 1986.

Sharman-Burke, Juliet. The Complete Book of Tarot. New York, NY: St. Martin's Press, 1985.

Other Sites:

Tarot.com

Learning the Tarot - An On-Line Course

Lydia Venieri's Tarot