Tarot Cards: Cheat-sheet
MAJOR & MINOR ARCANA QUICK REFERENCE SHEET
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards, divided into 2 groups; 22 major arcana cards and 56 minor arcana cards. In the tarot, the major arcana denote important life events, lessons or milestones,
while the minor arcana cards reflect day-to-day events.
The minor arcana cards are arranged into 4 suits - swords, pentacles, wands, and cups. Each suit has a ruling element and correspond to a specific area of life: Swords represent air and have
to do with intellect and decisions. Pentacles represent earth, money and achievement. Wands represent fire and action. Cups represent water and emotions.
Court Cards represent a person - either yourself or someone else. They reflect personality traits and characteristics, and can give insight into motives.
The Major Arcana
The Card Upright Reverse
beginnings possibilities, indecision, hesitation, injustice,
The Fool pleasure, thoughtlessness, apathy, bad choice
adventure, opportunity
creativity, self-confidence, delay, unimaginative,
The Magician dexterity, sleight of hand,will- insecurity, lack of self-
power, skill confidence
development, accomplishment inaction, lack on concentration,
The Empress action, evolution vacillation, anxiety, infidelity
knowledge, wisdom, learning, selfishness, shallowness,
The High Priestess intuition, impatience, virtue,
purity misunderstanding, ignorance
mercy, conformity, forgiveness, vulnerability,
The Hierophant social approval, bonded, unconventionality, foolish
inspiration generosity, impotence, frailty,
unorthodoxy
harmony, trust,romance, separation, frustration,
The Lovers optimism, honor, love, harmony unreliability,fickleness,
untrustworthy
inner strength, prudence, hastiness, rashness,immaturity,
The Hermit withdrawal, caution, vigilance imprudence, foolishness
perseverance, rushed decision, vanquishment, defeat, failure,
The Chariot turmoil, vengeance, adversity unsuccessful
courage, conviction, strength,
Strength determination, action, heroism, pettiness, sickness,
unfaithfulness, weakness
virility
equality, righteousness, virtue, false accusation, unfairness,
Justice honor, harmony, balance abuse, biased
unexpected events, interruption, outside influences,
The Wheel of Fortune advancement, destiny, fortune, failure, bad luck
progress
Upright:double-dealing
The Moon Deception, disillusionment, trifling mistakes, deception
trickery, error, danger, disgrace discovered, negative advantage
accomplishment, success, love, loneliness, canceled plans,
The Sun joy, happy marriage, unhappiness, break ups
satisfaction
balance, pleasure, optimism, disappointment, bad luck,
The Star insight, spiritual love, hope, imbalance, broken dreams
faith
downfall, unexpected failure, release, enlightenment, divorce,
The Devil controversy, ravage, disaster, ill recovery
tempered
change, reversal, boredom, false prophecy, useless sacrifice,
The Hanged Man improvement, rebirth, unwillingness
suspension, change
Death unexpected change, loss, immobility, slow changes,
failure, transformation, death, cheating, death, stagnation
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bad luck
temperance, patience, good conflict, disunion, frustration,
Temperance influence, confidence, impatience, discord
moderation
disruption, abandonment, end entrapment, imprisonment, old
The Tower of friendship, bankruptcy, ways, rustic
downfall, unexpected events
awakening, renewal, disappointment, indecision,
Judgment rejuvenation, rebirth, death, failure, ill-health, theft,
improvement, promotion, worry
atonement, judgment
perfection, recognition, success, lack of vision, disappointment,
The World fulfillment, eternal life imperfection
Wands
profitable journey, new selfishness, lack of
Ace of Wands business, beginning, new determination, setback
career, birth, inheritance
generous person, courage,
Two of Wands patience, courage impatience, domination
cooperation, good partnership, carelessness, arrogance, pride,
Three of Wands success mistakes
dissatisfaction, kindness, new relationship, new
Four of Wands reevaluation ambitions, action
lawsuit or quarrel, courage, new opportunities, harmony,
Five of Wands competition generosity
postponement, bad news, pride
Six of Wands leadership, good news, success in riches
stiff competition, victory,
Seven of Wands courage, energy advantage, patience, indecision
Eight of Wands new ideas, love, journey violence, quarrels, courage
Nine of Wands victory, good health, obstinacy weakness, ill-health, adversity
Ten of Wands pain, ruined, failure cleverness, energy, strength
suspicion, jealousy, narrow-
Knight of Wands generous, journey, impetuous mindedness
Queen of Wands fondness, attraction, command jealous, revengeful, infidelity
King of Wands passionate, good leader, noble unyielding, prejudice, quarrels
Cups
Ace of Cups good health, love, joy, beauty egotism, selfishness, hesitancy
romance, friendship, violent passion,
Two of Cups cooperation misunderstanding
hidden, overindulgence, pain,
Three of Cups fortune, hospitality, discovery gossip
dissatisfaction, kindness,
Four of Cups reevaluation, redemption new goals, ambitions, beginning
broken marriage,vain regret,
Five of Cups sorrow, loss return, summon, hope
acquaintance, good memories, friendship, disappointment,
Six of Cups acquaintance, happiness past
imagination, illusion,
Seven of Cups directionless will-power, determination
disappointment, abandonment,
Eight of Cups misery pleasure, success, joy
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Nine of Cups physical well-being, hopes, illness, failure, overindulgence
security
waste, broken relationships,
Ten of Cups friendship, happiness, life quarrel
sweetness, interest in literature, poor imagination, selfishness,
Page of Cups gentleness no desires
emotional, romantic dreamer, idleness, untruthful, fraud,
Knight of Cups intelligence sensuality
loving mother, gentle, perverse, unhappy, gloom, over-
Queen of Cups happiness active imagination
kindness, willingness, double-dealer, scandal, crafty,
King of Cups enjoyment violent
Swords
Ace of Swords love, valiant, victory obstacles, tyranny, power
Two of Swords indecision, trouble, balanced unscrupulous, release
Three of Swords broken relationship, civil war sorrow, loss, confusion
social unrest, labor strikes,
Four of Swords temporary exile, strife, retreat renewed activity
defeat, cowardliness, empty
Five of Swords victory unfairness, defeat, loss
Six of Swords harmony, sorrow, journey obstacles, difficulties, defeat
betrayal, insolence, unwise
Seven of Swords attempt counsel, helpful, advice
freedom, new beginnings,
Eight of Swords weakness, indecision, censure relaxation
desolation, illness, suspicion, unselfishness, good news,
Nine of Swords cruelty healing
courage, positive energy, good
Ten of Swords defeat, failure, pain health
grace, diplomacy, dexterity, imposture, ill-health,
Page of Swords grace cunningness
strong man, braver, clever
Knight of Swords person troublemaker, a crafty, tyranny
Queen of Swords skillful, brave, clever, rush sly, keen, deceitful
obstinate, evil intentions,
King of Swords powerful, friendship, counselor judgments
Pentacles
Ace of Pentacles prosperity, happiness, pleasure misery, greedy, money
Two of Pentacles harmony, new projects, helpful difficulty, discouragement
abilities, approval,effort,
Three of Pentacles abilities preoccupation, ambitions
spendthrift, obstacles, earthy
Four of Pentacles ungenerous, greed, miserly possessions
destitution, poor health,
Five of Pentacles despair, loneliness employment, courage, revival
prosperity, philanthropy, jealousy, miserliness,
Six of Pentacles charity, gifts unfairness
development, re-evaluation, impatience, slow progress,
Seven of Pentacles effort, hard work investments
Eight of Pentacles employment, money, learning, void, no ambition, dislike
trade
solitude, well-being, green
Nine of Pentacles thumb caution, possible loss
Ten of Pentacles wealth, property, stability dull, slothfulness, misfortune
kindness,new ideas/opinions,
Page of Pentacles scholar luxury, rebellious, bad news
dull outlook, patience, animal carelessness, standstill,
Knight of Pentacles lover, trustworthy irresponsible
thoughtfulness, intelligence,
Queen of Pentacles talents, melancholy mistrust, suspicion, neglect
King of Pentacles reliable person, steadiness bribes, materialistic, calm
