Basic Tarot Card Meanings

 

The Major Arcana
The Fool	Upright: New beginnings, new adventures, new opportunities, unlimited possibilities, pleasure, passion, thoughtlessness, rashness Reverse: A bad decision, indecision, apathy, hesitation, a faulty choice
The Magician	Upright: Originality, creativity, skill, will-power, self confidence, dexterity, sleight of hand Reverse: Weakness in will, insecurity, delay, no imagination
The High Priestess	Upright: Wisdom, knowledge, learning, intuition, purity, virtue, a lack of patience, a teacher Reverse: Ignorance, lack of understanding, selfishness, shallowness
The Empress	Upright: Action, development, accomplishment, mother/sister/wife, evolution Reverse: Vacillation, inaction, lack on concentration, indecision, anxiety, infidelity
The Emperor	Upright: Accomplishment, confidence, wealth, stability, leadership, father/brother/husband, achievement, a capable person Reverse: Immaturity, indecision, feebleness, petty emotions, lack of strength
The Hierophant	Upright: A need to conform, social approval, bonded to the conventions of society Reverse: Unconventionality, unorthodoxy, an inventor or Upright: Mercy, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, conformity, a sense of historical importance, inspiration Reverse: Foolish generosity, errors are repeated, impotence, vulnerability, frailty, unorthodoxy
The Lovers	Upright: Love, harmony, trust, honor, the beginning of a romance, optimism, a meaningful relationship/affair Reverse: Unreliability, separation, frustration in love, fickleness, untrustworthy
The Chariot	Upright: Perseverance, a journey, a rushed decision, adversity, turmoil, vengeance Reverse: Unsuccessful, defeat, failure, last minute loss, vanquishment
Strength	Upright: Strength, courage, conviction, energy, determination, action, heroism, virility Reverse: Weakness, pettiness, sickness, tyranny, lack of faith, abuse of power
The Hermit	Upright: Counsel, inner strength, prudence, caution, vigilance, patience, withdrawal, annulment, a loner Reverse: Imprudence, hastiness, rashness, foolish acts, immaturity
The Wheel of Fortune	Upright: Destiny, fortune, a special gain, an unusual loss, end of a problem, unexpected events, advancement, progress Reverse: Failure, bad luck, interruption, outside influences, bad fate, unexpected events
Justice	Upright: Harmony, balance, equality, righteousness, virtue, honor, advice, a considerate person Reverse: Bias, false accusations, intolerance, unfairness, abuse
The Hanged Man	Upright: Suspension, change, reversal, boredom, abandonment, sacrifice, readjustment, improvement, rebirth Reverse: Unwillingness to make an effort, false prophecy, useless sacrifice
Death	Upright: Transformation, making way for the new, unexpected change, loss, failure, illness or death, bad luck Reverse: Stagnation, immobility, slow changes, a narrow escape, cheating death
Temperance	Upright: Moderation, temperance, patience, harmony, fusion, good influence, confidence Reverse: Discord, conflict, disunion, hostility, frustration, impatience
The Devil	Upright: Ravage, weird or strange experience, downfall, unexpected failure, controversy, violence, disaster, an ill-tempered person Reverse: Divorce, release, handicaps are overcome, enlightenment
The Tower	Upright: A sudden change, abandonment of past, ending a friendship, unexpected events, disruption, bankruptcy, downfall, loss of money or security Reverse: Following old ways, a rut, entrapment, caught in a bad situation, imprisonment
The Star	Upright: Hope, faith, inspiration, optimism, insight, spiritual love, pleasure, balance Reverse: Unfulfilled hopes, disappointment, dreams are crushed, bad luck, imbalance
The Moon	Upright: Deception, trickery, disillusionment, error, danger, disgrace, double-dealing Reverse: Deception is discovered before damage can be done, trifling mistakes, taking advantage of someone
The Sun	Upright: Satisfaction, accomplishment, success, love, joy, engagement or a happy marriage Reverse: Unhappiness, loneliness, canceled plans, broken engagement or marriage, a clouded future, a lack of friends
Judgment or Rejuvenation	Upright: Awakening, renewal, a well lived life, better health, a quickened mind Reverse: Fear of death, failure, possible loss, ill health or Upright: Atonement, judgment, the need to forgive, rejuvenation, rebirth, improvement, development, promotion, efforts are rewarded Reverse: Delay, disappointment, indecision, procrastination, theft, worry
The World	Upright: Completion, perfection, recognition, honors, the end result, success, fulfillment, triumph, eternal life Reverse: Imperfection, lack of vision, disappointment

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