Tarot Card Meanings For Beginners! Plus Free Tarot Reading

Tarot Card Meanings: Get to Know Your Tarot Deck For Beginners

Tarot card meanings for beginners: Are you new to tarot card reading and looking for a quick guide to better understanding your cards? Or maybe you’re looking for a free tarot reading! Well you’ve come to the right place!

This free tarot card guide explains the meaning of each tarot card in a classic 78 card deck. In a later post, I’ll uncover some common tarot card spreads for beginners, but for now let’s do a simple 3 card reading- past, present and future, and get to know what each cards means.

There is a free tarot reading at the end of this post!

What Are Tarot Cards?

Tarot is a way of divination that uses cards to access messages from your intuition. The images on the cards are called ‘Arcana’ which means “secrets.”  The most common Arcana is made up of 22 images, one for each letter in the Hebrew alphabet. Each card has layers of meaning and can be used to answer specific questions or guide you through different parts of your life cycle.

How To Use Tarot Cards For Beginners

Are you new to tarot cards? Let’s look at how to use tarot cards for beginners! Typically, a reader will shuffle the cards after they have been chosen from the deck by the client. Once this is done, they can be laid out on a table as a pattern or spread (or you can use a digital spread like the one at the end of this article). Each position has its own meanings that correspond with different parts of your life. There are different spreads to use, but for beginners I recommend a simple 3 card spread- past, present and future.

There are other tarot spreads to consider as well. For example: if you were asking about your career path you might use a six-card spread where positions 1-3 represent your past, positions 4-6 represent your present, and positions 7-9 represent your future.

Tarot Card Meaning For Beginners: Major Arcana & Minor Arcana

Tarot decks consist of two parts which are the ‘Major Arcana’ – these contain archetypal of western culture such as death or the devil – and the ‘Minor Arcana’ which is made up of suits like Cups or Swords.  The Minor Arcana is divided into four sets that are called ‘suits’. Each suit comprises 14 cards, meaning 28 in total.  These cards are numbered 1-10 plus 4 court cards.

Each tarot card has a specific meaning depending on its position within a spread. For example: the three of swords could mean that you are struggling to let go of something but find strength through your emotions, whereas the nine of cups could mean that you have found an opportunity to take time out for yourself and should launch it as soon as possible.

Tarot readings should be treated exactly how any other conversation would be treated; with an open mind and a willingness to listen! It is important to focus on the present as tarot cards work best when they are being used for guidance about things that have already happened or are happening at this moment.  They cannot be used effectively to examine the unknown future as the outcome is always changeable depending on your actions- so remember this! This is why it’s a good idea to do tarot card readings frequently.

Tarot can be a wonderfully rewarding experience that offers you clarity, helps you make important decisions, and gives you some insight on where your life is headed to next. But it can also be overwhelming, with a total of 78 cards in a classic tarot deck. 

But don’t worry – the more you use them, the easier it will be to read the cards. You first need to learn the basics of what each card represents, including the 22 Major Arcana cards and the 56 Minor Arcana cards.

Tarot Card Meanings: A Description Of Each Tarot Card

Here is a short description of what each of the 78 tarot cards means so you can begin getting more familiar with them.

There is a free online tarot card reading at the end of this post!

Tarot Card Meaning Part 1: Major Arcana

The classic tarot deck is split up into major arcana cards and minor arcana cards. The major arcana are often seen as the best ones to get and are extremely powerful. They include cards like The Fool, The Star, The Magician, and The Tower. There are 22 cards in all, with a variety of different interpretations.

Here is what each of the major arcana tarot cards means:

The Fool

The first card in the major arcana, which is actually number 0, is The Fool. The fool card is not a bad card, so don’t worry! This actually represents the start of something new. The fool has more of a childlike demeanor, where he or she takes risks and heads off on an adventure. The fool can also represent someone with more innocence. If you get the fool in reverse, it might be about being a little too reckless or not thinking through something properly.

The Magician

The official number 1 major arcana is next, which is The Magician. This is THE card for manifesting. If you pull this card, you or the person you are reading for is likely working on their manifestations or dream life. It can also be about desires or creating something. If the magician is in the reverse, it may represents illusions, as opposed to manifesting something that is desired.

The Popess

The High Priestess is a card of feminine energy, nature, spirituality, and intuition. Keep in mind this is about divine feminine energy, not the gender. Tarot does not have genders, it is simply about the energy. Everyone has both a feminine and masculine energy. If you get this in the reverse, it is the opposite of intuition, so maybe someone feels repressed or like they can’t speak up about something.

The Empress

Another divine feminine tarot card is The Empress. There are a few different interpretations, but it often means fertility (in anything, not just pregnancy), sex, motherhood, nature, and often closely connected to the high priestess. In the reverse, consider feeling empty, alone, or being smothered as the meanings. 

The Emperor

Now for a divine masculine card, The Emperor. Think of this as a divine counterpart for the empress. This is someone who represents a lot of stability, hard work, leadership, and someone who follows the rules. In terms of a love reading, the emperor tells you to be practical and logical as you approach a new partner. In reverse, the emperor might be about being too rigid or cold.

The Pope

This major arcana represents a teacher, instructor or counselor. Education and knowledge, academic expertise. Organized religion, conventional medicine or psychology. Spiritual father. Consultation or treatment by a specialist. Marriage. Message: respect knowledge and education. Inverse: Excessive adhesion to conventions and outdated norms. Bureaucracy, an oppressive establishment. Hypocrisy, discrimination. Divorce.

The Lovers

The important thing to remember about the lovers card is that while it can mean a union, depending on other cards it appears with in the spread, it might also be a reminder to consider any challenges in a potential new relationship. It is about being honest and realistic, and making sure communication remains open between two people. 

In the reverse, the lovers card might mean there isn’t much harmony in a particular union.

The Chariot

If you get the chariot card, it could be a sign of needing more control or gaining willpower in a situation. It is a reminder that you can achieve anything you want as long as you work hard toward action. In the reverse, chariot can mean the opposite, where you have no plan or direction.

Strength

The strength card is about your inner passions and strength, and really focusing on your own inner balance. Many strength cards show someone with a lion or a similar image on the card, showing that you can achieve anything you put your mind to. In the reverse, the strength card might mean feeling weak or insecure.

The Hermit

If you get the hermit card, it could be a sign of needing to look inside for the answers. It is not just about spending time alone, though that can be part of it. But it is more about self-reflection and contemplation. In reverse, the hermit card might be the negative side of this, such as feeling lonely or isolated. 

Wheel of Fortune

The wheel of fortune card is tarot is one of the most positive cards. It often signifies a positive change coming up, good fortune, and fate that might be inevitable. It can also be a sign of a cycle coming to an end soon. If you get this in reverse, consider a loss of control you might have or a string of bad luck.

Justice

With the justice card, it is exactly how it sounds; seeking justice and karmic. You might get this card if you are looking for fairness in a situation or seeking to achieve karmic balance. It can also reveal something truthful that has been hidden from you. On the reverse, the justice card may be warning you of someone being dishonesty or another form of unfairness. 

The Hanged Man

With the hanged man, you are looking at a situation that just needs a little more patience. It is not a bad card, but it is one that reminds you sometimes you need to sit things out, take a look around, and wait until the time is right. In some situations, it also represents a release of some kind or a sacrifice. If you get the hanged man in reverse, it might mean really needing to sacrifice something you aren’t happy about losing.

Death

Don’t freak out if you get the death card – it’s actually a good thing! Death in tarot is simply the end of a cycle. It could be a season of life coming to an end and a new season beginning. In love readings, it might be the end of one relationship and the start of another, or the ending of being single and finding love. In the reverse, the death card could represent holding on to something when it needs to be let go.

Temperance

With the temperance card, you are being told to take it easy. It might come up during a stressful situation, or when you are moving too fast and not practicing enough patience. In the reverse, temperance could be about doing something in excess. 

The Devil

There are no bad tarot cards, not even the devil card. Instead, this card is about gentle warnings of being in a relationship that might not be the best for you, or possibly about your own shadow self. It could also be about someone with an addiction who needs to be careful. 

In the reverse, it is often about more freedom and gaining control.

The Tower

People are often afraid to get the tower card because it can represent some type of big change or danger, but in many cases, it is a good change. It could be a sudden ending you didn’t see coming, but one that brings about something much better for you. If you get the tower in reverse, you might see an end of suffering.

The Star

The star card is tarot is about getting inspiration, finding your purpose in life, and leaning on your faith or spiritual awakening. If you get the star in reverse, you might feel insecure and discouraged about something.

The Moon

The moon is a beautiful card full of wonder, but also one that contains mysteries and reveals hidden truths. There could be someone with an illusion who is hiding their true selves, or a situation that requires being a little more intuitive and looking for the signs. In reverse, the moon card is often interpreting some type of confusion or fear.

The Sun

The sun is by far one of the best cards in the tarot deck! This is all about luck, fortune, and happiness. If you get the sun card during a love reading, it is very likely that you are going to find the person who makes your soul fill with joy. It is one of only two tarot cards that has no reverse meaning. No matter what way it shows up, the sun card is a great card.

Judgment

The judgment card reminds you that there are some decisions that need to be made. You might be headed toward something new after a resurrection in your life, or perhaps being more self-reflective. The reverse can be feeling a lot of doubt or like you need clarity.

The World

And lastly, there is the world card. Most people also see this as a card with no reversal meanings, though some do read the reversal as something being incomplete. With the world card, a cycle has ended and something new is on the horizon. This is a very good and happy card full of balance and fulfillment. It could be a manifestation that is finally coming true.

Tarot Card Meaning Part 2: Minor Arcana

The next set of tarot cards to learn are the minor arcana. These are the remaining 56 cards and include different suits, similar to what you would find in playing cards. The suits include cups, wands, pentacles, and swords. Not only does each suit mean something different, but each card within these suits also has its own interpretation. Similar to the major arcana, they can also be read differently if they show up in reverse. 

Cups

Think of cups as you are filling up a cup with water. The cups suit is all about your emotions and feelings, as well as give a lot of insight into connections. If you know anything about astrology, you will know that the water signs of the zodiac (pisces, scorpio, cancer) are the most emotional of all the signs. This might be an easy way to interpret cup cards. 

Ace of Cups

With the ace of cups, you might have new feelings about something or have been using your intuition a lot more recently. In the reverse, this tarot card could be about some type of emotional blockage or feeling empty inside. 

Two of Cups

Think of the two of cups as two people coming together in union. It can be the start of a new relationship or a partnership. Remember this doesn’t have to be a romantic union. In the reverse, the two of cups might be about a broken relationship or partnership or some type of imbalance in your life.

Three of Cups

The three of cups is also about union, but more about community and friendship. It is often seen as three friends on the card, depicted in a happy and joyous scene. With the reverse, consider if gossip or isolation has been in your life recently.

Four of Cups

The four of cups is often associated with contemplating something, but often with a feeling of apathy. You might feel a little disconnected from a situation or person in your life. The reverse is about being more aware and having clarity. 

Five of Cups

The five of cups tarot card is another slightly negative card, perhaps reminding you not to feel sorry for yourself or to focus on your grief. The reverse could mean more peace is coming in your life.

Six of Cups

The six of cups is a positive, happy card. You might be heading to healing some wounds in your life, being more grateful for your family, and just staying in the same position with a new appreciation for it. The reverse is often about moving on or moving forward.

Seven of Cups

The seven of cups typically shows up when you have been trying to manifest or figure out what to do next. Maybe you are daydreaming or looking for your purpose in life. In the reverse, seven of cups might show some confusion about your next steps.

Eight of Cups

With the eight of cups, you are looking to walk away from a situation. It is not really avoiding someone, but just needing to leave someone behind. However if you get this in the reverse, it could be that you are avoiding making a move or fearing this change.

Nine of Cups

If you get the nine of cups, you might have a wish being granted soon, or are looking for the finer things in life. It could also mean interruption. Difficulties and oppositions too hard to overcome. Giving up one’s projects to avoid conflict. Starting anew after a challenging period. Inverse: similar.n the reverse, it could mean bragging or being a little smug about the things you have in your life.

Ten of Cups

Everyone wants the ten of cups! This is the ultimate wish fulfillment. Your dreams are coming true, and you are finding your manifestations happening in your life. But if you get it in the reverse, it might mean the opposite, where some of your dreams are shifting or are gone altogether.

Page of Cups

The page of cups is a card of emotional maturity, having a happy surprise occur in your life, and being a dreamer. If you get it in the reverse, you might be dealing with some type of disappointment. 

Knight of Cups

The knight of cups is a very romantic card. It is great news if this shows up in your reading and you are looking for romance. It can also mean following your heart or being creative in other areas of your life. If you get it reversed, you might be dealing with a poor mood.

Queen of Cups

With the queen of cups, you are in a calm and comfortable environment. You likely feel very stable in yourself, secure, and compassionate. But if you get this in the reverse, be aware of co-dependency in others or feeling low self-esteem.

King of Cups

The kind of cups is a divine masculine energy, where you feel very controlled and balanced. You give out good advice to those who come to you and are often stable in your life. In the reverse, it could mean an energy of being irritable, unhelpful to others, and unstable.

Wands

Next is the wands suit, which are nearly opposite of water. These represent fire, so they can be a lot about taking action to make decisions, and are frequently infused with feelings of high energy and passion. 

Ace of Wands

When you get the ace of wands, it represents someone who is very passionate, successful bold, and creative. This is something they are born with, not that they learn. The reverse is someone with lack of creativity or passion.

Two of Wands

In tarot, the two of wands card is typically about making decisions and plans for what you want in the future. The reverse is often having a fear of the unknown and not taking action because of that fear.

Three of Wands

If you get the three of wands, the person you are reading for is likely planning for the future. It can mean growth or simply looking ahead at what comes next. The reversal might be having some kind of delays or challenges with these plans.

Four of Wands

Stalemate. A temporary stop in order to prepare for future advancement. Tensions at present, but good prospects in the long run. Making a move now is in nobody’s interest. Inverse: similar.

Five of Wands

Overcoming. Getting over a weak opposition. Breakdown of an equilibrium. Focusing on the main objective. An initiative to make a winning move. Inverse: With the covering part of the central wand below – walking into a complex situation, losing one’s edge.

Six of Wands

The six of wands is a card about pride, accomplishments, victory, and success. It can often be about getting acknowledgement for your accomplishments. In the reverse, six of wands might be about lack of recognition.

Seven of Wands

If you pull the seven of wands, you are standing your ground and are in control. You might be a little defensive, but are doing so in order to stay where you are and be more assertive. The reverse could represent someone giving up or not being confident.

Eight of Wands

With the eight of wands, it is about keeping up momentum and continuing to move forward, perhaps at a faster pace than what you are used to. You often make rapid decisions and get going quickly. If you get it in reverse, you are waiting for too long or slowing down.

Nine of Wands

The nine of wands talks about resilience and grit. It is for a person or situation where there are challenges, but the person stays firm with their actions and holds onto hope. In reverse, there is a lot of fatigue and overwhelm.

Ten of Wands

With the ten of wands, you are accomplishing great things, but you might also be burdened by doing too much. It reminds you to take a step back and analyze how things are going in your life. The reverse is being even more stressed about a situation.

Page of Wands

A creative potential which still needs processing. Keeping a safe distance from events and waiting for the right moment. Inverse: A task too heavy for the querent’s strength. Difficulty in controlling desires and urges. Immature approach to sexuality.

Knight of Wands

With the knight of wands, it is representing something very straightforward, but could also be someone who is fearless in their approach. In the reverse, the knight of wands is too impulsive.

The knight of cups is a very romantic card. It is great news if this shows up in your reading and you are looking for romance. It can also mean following your heart or being creative in other areas of your life. If you get it reversed, you might be dealing with a poor mood.

Queen of Swords

The queen of wands is very determined and courageous. This energy is that of someone who knows their life purpose and goes after it without hesitation. The reverse is an energy of pettiness and jealousy.

King of Wands

The king of wands in tarot is a leader and someone who uses creativity and passion to make smart choices in life. The reverse is often impulsive and sometimes overbearing.

Pentacles

The pentacle suit of cards is closely connected to the earth, so not only are they more practical, but also very closely associated with money, manifestations, and wealth. 

Ace of Pentacles

The ace of pentacles is a very prosperous card, particularly when it comes to new businesses or opportunities. For many people, this is their “entrepreneur” tarot card. In the reverse, it could be a bad investment or an opportunity you let slip through your fingers.

Two of Pentacles

The two of pentacles card is interpreted as adapting to change and putting things into perspective. You become more organized and start finding balance. If it lands in the reverse, it might mean a loss of that balance. 

Three of Pentacles

With a three of pentacles, the energy is that of collaborating with other people. It could be romantic, but mostly is about teamwork. The reverse of this card is a lack of organization and conflict between partners or in a group.

Four of Pentacles

If you get the four of pentacles, consider an energy of financial security through the means of saving, setting a budget, or being frugal. The reversal is either being greedy, or spending without thinking it through.

Five of Pentacles

With the five of pentacles, it goes even further into poverty and more of a need or being insecure in finances and in life. However, the reversal can be more positive, looking at an improvement in finances. 

Six of Pentacles

The six of pentacles tarot card offers up an energy of sharing and being more generous. You might be donating to a cause or the energy is that of sharing the wealth. The reverse is being stingy and possibly offering only with expectations of getting something back. 

Seven of Pentacles

As we move through the pentacles suit, we get to the seven of pentacles, where it is about hard work and persevering. This is someone who knows what they need to do and doesn’t give up. The reversal can be someone who is lazy or simply gets distracted. 

Eight of Pentacles

This tarot card is about raising your standards when it comes to wealth and your passions in life. If it lands in the reverse, you might be feeling uninspired or lacking motivation to work on your goals.

Nine of Pentacles

With the nine of pentacles, you are being rewarded for all your hard work, but the reversal might mean spending your rewards too quickly or living beyond your means.

Ten of Pentacles

Finally, there is the ten of pentacles. This card helps set you up for the future. It is the most prosperous of all pentacles card where you get surprise money or find wealth and fame. With the reversal, you have a lack of stability. 

Page of Pentacles

With the page of pentacles, there are feelings of desire and ambition. This is someone similar to a Virgo or Capricorn who go after what they want in a very efficient way. But in the reverse, this is someone who doesn’t work hard and lacks commitment.

Knight of Pentacles

The knight of pentacles is a card to represent hard work and doing what needs to be done. You are not lazy or inefficient, unless this card shows up in the reverse.

Queen of Pentacles

The queen of pentacles is an energy of comfort, security in finances, and being vry stable. This is a practical energyand someone who thinks with their head. The reverse is someone who tends to get jealous easily and might smother those they love.

King of Pentacles

The king of pentacles is a wonderful card for abundance. It is excellent to get if you are trying to manifest something or looking for more stability and security. If it lands in the reverse, it could be about over-indulgence and greed.

Swords

Lastly, there are the suit of swords, which are the air cards. Think of swinging a sword in the air, and it can helpyou remember this association. With sword cards, they are typically more about intelligence, thoughts, and making important decisions. These can also be closely related to manifesting.

Ace of Swords

The ace of swords is a card of breaking through and finding clarity. This is someone who is seeing much more clearly. In reverse, there might be some chaotic energy and a lot of confusion.

Two of Swords

With the two of swords, the energy is about indecision and hitting a block. This energy has difficulty making a choice, either from lack of clarity or fear. The reversal of the two of swords is feeling like there is no good choice.

Three of Swords

In tarot, the three of swords card is one of grief, sadness, or heartbreak. For a love reading, it could mean a couple that is breaking up. In a life reading, there might be another situation causing emotional turmoil for this person. The reversal is one of acceptance and forgiveness. 

Four of Swords

The four of swords is about contemplating and getting rest. You might come from a period of working hard and trying to take action, but now you are being asked to step back and reassess. If it is in the reverse, you are facing burnout or under a lot of stress.

Five of Swords

The five of swords card is an energy of being sneaky and cheating, lying, or stealing to get a win. It represents conflict and disagreement. The reversal can either be forgiveness or trying to reconcile. 

Six of Swords

Six of swords is a card of transition and moving on. It is frequently associated with moving on from a person or relationship, but can be anything in life that feels like a new start. The reversal is about resisting this change or having emotional baggage.

Seven of Swords

With the seven of swords, there is a lot of deception and hidden agendas. The person you are dealing with is likely hiding something, especially if this comes up with the Moon card. The reversal is often someone who no longer wants to deceives and is going to be honest.

Eight of Swords

Eight of swords is a very self-imprisonment energy. You feel trapped, stuck, or suffocated. It is often self-inflicted however. The reverse of this card is being more accepting of your situation and finding a new way to look at things.

Nine of Swords

The nine of swords card has a lot of anxiety and feelings of abandonment or trauma. But if it shows up in the reverse, this person is looking for help.

Ten of Swords

Ten of swords in tarot is one of a feeling of failure and defeat. It might be in a relationship, work, or personal situation. The reversal is seeing it from a new perspective where the only way to go from here is up.

Page of Swords

In tarot, the page of swords card is one that reveals being a little restless, curious, and looking for more insight. In the reverse, it could mean someone who is being manipulative or not following up their words with actions.

Knight of Swords

With the knight of swords, you are looking at an energy of being impulsive and acting swiftly to defend what you believe in. The reverse is an energy of no direction and not taking responsibility. 

Queen of Swords

The queen of swords is a very complex person who is highly intuitive and has a clear mind, but in the reverse, she is bitter and sometimes resentful. 

King of Swords

The king of swords is a tarot card about truth and discipline. This is someone who makes decisions based on their mind, not their heart. In the reverse, the king of swords might be weak or even cruel.

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Wrapping Up Tarot Card Meanings For Beginners

Tarot card meanings for beginners: Tarot card readings are a way of divination that uses cards to access messages from your intuition and spirit guides. The images on the cards are called ‘Arcana’ which means “secrets.” Use these messages to better understand your past, gain insights into your present situations and possible guidance into your future.