What Tarot Card Meanings Generally Describe
Tarot decks are commonly used as a tool for reflection, and the meanings attached to individual cards are generally understood as prompts for thinking through a situation rather than fixed predictions. Most modern tarot traditions trace back to the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith in 1909, and many of the card meanings discussed online (including on this site) draw on that deck’s imagery and the interpretive traditions that grew up around it. Tarot reading is one of several practices commonly associated with the classic fortune-teller figure, a connection explored from the dream-symbol side in the fortune teller dream meaning article.
It’s worth being cautious about treating any card meaning as a guarantee of a specific outcome. Different readers and sources sometimes emphasize slightly different angles for the same card, and tarot is generally treated as a reflective or entertainment tool rather than a substitute for professional advice in areas like health, finances, or legal matters.
The Major and Minor Arcana
A standard 78-card tarot deck is usually split into two sections:
- The Major Arcana — 22 cards (numbered 0 through 21) that are often read as representing significant life themes or turning points, such as The Devil, The Fool, or The Tower.
- The Minor Arcana — 56 cards split into four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles), each running Ace through Ten plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). These are commonly read as describing more day-to-day situations, such as the Six of Wands upright pointing to recognition after effort, or the Two of Swords pointing to a difficult decision.
Each suit is generally associated with a broad theme: Wands with ambition and creative energy, Cups with emotions and relationships, Swords with thought and communication, and Pentacles with material and practical matters. These associations are widely used but aren’t universally fixed across every tradition.
Upright vs. Reversed Meanings
When a card is drawn facing the reader normally, it’s read “upright,” and most published card meanings default to this orientation. Some readers also shuffle in a way that lets cards appear reversed (upside down relative to the reader), and many — though not all — tarot practitioners assign a separate meaning to that reversed position.
Reversed meanings are commonly, though not universally, approached in one of a few ways:
- As a blocked, delayed, or weaker version of the upright meaning (for example, the reversed Ace of Wands is often read as blocked creative energy rather than the upright card’s fresh burst of inspiration).
- As the shadow or internalized version of the theme, such as a quality turning inward rather than being expressed outwardly.
- As a sign that the energy of the card is present but not yet resolved.
Some readers choose not to use reversals at all, treating every card as upright and relying on its position in the spread and surrounding cards for nuance instead. Neither approach is more “correct” than the other — it’s generally a matter of personal or traditional preference.
How People Commonly Use Card Meanings in a Reading
Card meanings are typically combined with the question asked, the card’s position in a spread, and the cards drawn alongside it. A single card read in isolation — like the reversed Knight of Cups — is often treated as a starting point for reflection rather than a complete answer on its own, especially for emotionally weighted questions like relationship outcomes.
It’s also common for readers to distinguish between a card’s general meaning and its meaning in a specific context, such as love, career, or finances, since the same card can be read somewhat differently depending on the question being asked. For a broader overview, see this guide to what each tarot card may suggest in a love reading.
A Few Cards From This Guide
This cluster covers individual card meanings in more depth, including:
- The Devil card meaning — a Major Arcana card often associated with feeling trapped by habits or attachments, upright and reversed.
- Six of Wands upright meaning — commonly linked to recognition and confidence after effort.
- Ten of Wands upright meaning — often read as carrying a heavy load near the end of a difficult stretch.
- Ace of Wands reversed meaning — generally associated with delays or blocked inspiration.
- Reversed Knight of Cups meaning — often tied to emotional unpredictability or unfulfilled promises.
- Two of Swords meaning — commonly associated with a difficult choice or stalemate.
FAQ
Do tarot cards predict the future? Most tarot traditions treat card meanings as prompts for reflection rather than fixed predictions. It’s reasonable to treat a reading as one perspective rather than a certainty.
Is there a correct way to read reversed cards? Not universally. Some readers use reversals to show a blocked or internalized version of a card’s meaning, while others don’t use reversals at all.
What’s the difference between Major and Minor Arcana? The Major Arcana (22 cards) is often read as representing bigger life themes, while the Minor Arcana (56 cards across four suits) is generally associated with more everyday situations.