Complete encyclopedia of 78 cards
A tarot deck is 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana covering life’s big themes and 56 Minor Arcana about everyday matters. The first decks appeared in 15th-century Italy as a card game, and only centuries later were they read as a language of symbols. The modern standard was set by the Rider–Waite deck of 1909 — its imagery is what people usually mean when they talk about card meanings. Below are the meanings of all 78 cards: use the search or open a card’s full page.
A standard tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana are divided into four suits of 14 cards each — Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles.
The Major Arcana are 22 cards (from the Fool to the World) representing key archetypes and life lessons. Their appearance in a reading signals important turning points and deep processes.
The Minor Arcana are 56 cards reflecting everyday life. Wands — creativity and energy, Cups — emotions and relationships, Swords — intellect and conflict, Pentacles — money and stability.
Wands (Fire) — energy and ambition. Cups (Water) — emotions and intuition. Swords (Air) — intellect and communication. Pentacles (Earth) — money, health, material world.
Start with your first impression of the image, then read the keywords. Connect the card's symbolism to your question — interpretation is always personal and contextual.
Yes, start with the Major Arcana, practice daily with the daily card and keep a reflection journal. Our Card Meanings section helps you study all 78 cards with descriptions and keywords.
A reversed position usually softens, delays or turns inward the very same meaning: the energy of the card does not disappear, it simply shows up differently — slower, weaker or through resistance. Every card page has a separate section for its reversed meaning.
The core is the same, but the emphasis differs: in love a card speaks about feelings and relationships, at work about tasks and the people around you, in money about decisions and resources. That is why every card page covers the spheres separately, plus advice and the reversed position.
No. Death is the thirteenth Major Arcana card and reads as the end of a stage: something in life is finishing and making room for what comes next. The card does not predict literal death. The same goes for the Devil, the Tower and the Ten of Swords: they speak of something hard but survivable, not of a verdict.
These are the card's three traditional correspondences. The element (Fire, Water, Air, Earth) sets its temperament and follows the suit: Wands are Fire, Cups are Water, Swords are Air, Pentacles are Earth. Astrology names the planet or zodiac sign, numerology the meaning of the card's number. Together they explain why a card has the character it has.
Then the card is read as a portrait: its keywords describe an impression rather than an event. The Four of Wands in such a question speaks of someone who feels safe and steady to be around; the King of Swords, of someone seen as strict and direct. Lean on the card's keywords and on the love and relationships section of its page.