Tarot 101 – What are The Tarot Cards? List of Card Meanings (Post 2)

In the first post of this series I mentioned how I became acquainted with the Tarot. Now, let’s dive into the real meat and potatoes.

Nicole Tate - A collection of Thoth tarot cards illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris for Aleister Crowley's Tarot deck, featuring vibrant artwork and colorful designs from 1942. — Collection of Thoth tarot cards illustrated by Lady Frieda Harris, created in 1942 for Aleister Crowley’s tarot deck.

The Tarot is a symbolic deck of 78 cards that is fundamentally used for divination, philosophical meditation, ceremonial magic, and gameplay.

The deck is divided into two main sections:

1. The Minor Arcana (The Suits)

The Minor Arcana - A wooden table in a ruined castle setting featuring a lit torch, a filled chalice, a sword, and a coin, with water flowing from the chalice amidst a lush moss backdrop. — The Mionor Arcana – An artistic representation of essential Tarot symbols including a cup, sword, and coin on a wooden altar, set in a mystical landscape.

This section consists of four suits of 14 cards each. In esoteric traditions, these suits correspond to the four Qabalistic Worlds and the four classical elements:

Wands (or Sceptres/Clubs): Associated with Fire and the archetypal world of Atziluth.
Cups (or Chalices/Goblets): Associated with Water and the creative world of Briah.
Swords (or Épées/Spades): Associated with Air and the formative world of Yetzirah.
Pentacles (or Coins/Deniers/Money): Associated with Earth and the material world of Assiah.

Each suit contains numbered cards from the Ace to the Ten, alongside four court cards: the King, Queen, Knight (or Cavalier), and Knave (or Page/Princess). The four Aces are considered the keys or “roots” of their respective elemental powers.

2. The Major Arcana (The Trumps)

The High Priestess Tarot Card - A woman in a blue gown sits on a throne, holding a scroll, with a crescent moon above her head and a patterned backdrop featuring pomegranates. — The High Priestess Tarot Card -A depiction of a figure representing wisdom and intuition, dressed in a blue robe, seated with a scroll in a richly decorated interior, symbolizing the spiritual insights of the Tarot’s Major Arcana.

This section consists of 22 symbolical picture-cards numbered from 1 to 21, plus a card marked zero (0) known as The Fool. These cards feature highly complex, singular imagery such as the Magician, the High Priestess, Death, the Devil, the Wheel of Fortune, and the [Last] Judgment.

Tree of Life - A pair of hands with rings placing a tarot card labeled 'The Fool' on a circular layout of tarot cards on a purple cloth, with smoke and other mystical items in the background. — The Tree of Life – A tarot reading in progress, showcasing the important card, The Fool, surrounded by various other tarot cards on a richly colored cloth.

Qabalistically, the 22 trumps are hieroglyphic symbols that correspond precisely to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the framework of the Tree of Life, they represent the subjective “Paths” that connect the ten Holy Sephiroth, mapping the stages of spiritual evolution and human consciousness.

Origins and Meaning

An ancient Book of Thoth stone tablet with carved hieroglyphics illuminated by a warm glow, set against a backdrop of stone walls and a flickering flame. — An ancient Book of Thoth stone tablet featuring hieroglyphic inscriptions, illuminated by flickering light, evoking a sense of mystery and historical depth.

While historically viewed by some as an invention for the amusement of French royalty, occult scholars heavily attribute a Qabalistico-Egyptian origin to the Tarot,. Many initiates believe the Tarot preserves the ancient Book of Thoth, a revered hieroglyphic alphabet and compendium of ancient Egyptian magic.

The word “Tarot” (or Taro) is theorized to derive from the ancient Egyptian word târu, meaning “to require an answer” or “to consult”. Others trace it to the Egyptian words Tar (Path) and Ro (Royal)—meaning the “Royal Path of Life”. It is also linked through anagrams to the Hebrew word TORA (Law) and the Latin word ROTA (Wheel).

Practical Applications

Divination: The Tarot maps out all phenomena and archetypes of reality into a complete system,. By shuffling and laying the cards out in specific patterns (such as the Tree of Life or the horseshoe), a practitioner can interpret their relative positions to reveal hidden spiritual influences, foresee the future, and answer specific questions.
Magic and Spells: In ceremonial magic, Tarot cards act as “energy filters”. Because each card embodies an archetypal symbol or universal idea, practitioners can physically arrange specific stacks of cards to channel life force energy toward a desired result, such as attracting love, finding a job, or overcoming fear.
Gameplay: The Tarot can also be used as a trick-taking card game for two or three players. In this game, the 22 trumps act as the highest-ranking cards, used to capture the lesser suit cards to score points,,. I find this to be an offensive use of the cards and do not recommend as they are living spiritual beings.

Personally, I only read the tarot cards upright as the reversed order connotate a negative reading and meaning, which to me, is scary for myself and whomever I’m reading the cards for.

For a full list of Tarot meanings (the complicated list) you can view then download a printable PDF via my personal account’s Google Sheets Tarot Card Descriptions; here.

Tarot Card Descriptions and Occult Definitions – Nicole Tate Nicole L Tate Download

List of Basic Tarot Definitions (Upright/Positive Only)

Card Name	Traditional Interpretation
The Fool	New beginnings, spontaneity, innocence, and original leaps of faith. In material matters: folly, eccentricity, mania, or recklessness.
The Magician	Skill, willpower, resourcefulness, and mastery. Can also signify trickery, cunning, or the ability to command spiritual forces.
The High Priestess	Intuition, hidden wisdom, secrets, and silence. Suggests a time for incubation, significant dreams, and trusting inner knowledge.
The Empress	Abundance, creativity, motherhood, and nurturing. Can signify material success, pleasure, and the fulfillment of potential.
The Emperor	Leadership, stability, discipline, and order. Signifies conventional values, authority figures, and the mastery of life through logic.
The Hierophant	Tradition, conformity, spiritual guidance, and mentorship. Can signify marriage, social institutions, or the adherence to rules.
The Lovers	Love, harmony, relationships, and important choices. Signifies the alignment of personal values and the struggle between passion and conscience.
The Chariot	Success, willpower, determination, and control. Signifies victory through discipline and the mastery of conflicting internal forces.
Strength	Courage, patience, self-control, and soft power. Signifies the use of love and forbearance to overcome obstacles.
The Hermit	Solitude, soul-searching, inner guidance, and contemplation. Signifies the need for time alone to process thoughts or seek wisdom.
Wheel of Fortune	Luck, change, destiny, and turning points. Signifies rapid movement, unexpected encounters, and the inevitable ebb and flow of fortune.
Justice	Fairness, accountability, legal matters, and truth. Signifies a positive outcome through integrity and the impact of past actions.
The Hanged Man	Letting go, sacrifice, new perspectives, and patience. Signifies events not moving with speed and finding grace in helplessness.
Death	Endings, transformation, and regeneration. Signifies closing one door to open another and getting down to basics by cutting the unnecessary.
Temperance	Balance, moderation, healing, and purpose. Signifies finding harmony through patience and the tempering of thoughts.
The Devil	Addiction, materialism, obsession, and shadow self. Signifies being caught in unhealthy situations or under bad influence.
The Tower	Sudden change, revelation, catastrophe, and breakdown. Signifies a blow to the ego that leads to truth and awakening.
The Star	Hope, faith, renewal, and inspiration. Signifies a light at the end of the tunnel and the regaining of spiritual wellbeing.
The Moon	Illusion, fear, anxiety, and bewilderment. Signifies being lost, encountering hidden enemies, and navigating the unknown by instinct.
The Sun	Success, vitality, joy, and clarity. Signifies positive outcomes, recovery from sickness, and realizing the truth.
Judgement	Rebirth, reckoning, absolution, and renewal. Signifies a personal wake-up call and choosing values wisely for a new state of being.
The World	Success, fulfillment, travel, and wholeness. Signifies reaching a new level of happiness and the realization of one’s place in the universe.
Wands (Suit)	Daily events relating to passion, career, ambition, and creative ventures.
Cups (Suit)	Daily events relating to love, intimacy, intuition, and the flow of feelings.
Swords (Suit)	Daily events relating to conflict, decision-making, mental clarity, and communication.
Pentacles (Suit)	Daily events relating to money, work, property, and tangible results.
Ace of Wands	Inspiration, new opportunities, and potential energy.
Two of Wands	Future planning, progress, and discovery.
Three of Wands	Expansion, foresight, and successful launch of ideas.
Four of Wands	Celebration, stability, and domestic happiness.
Five of Wands	Conflict, competition, and disagreements.
Six of Wands	Success, public recognition, and promotion.
Seven of Wands	Challenge, competition, and protection.
Eight of Wands	Speed, action, and rapid communication.
Nine of Wands	Resilience, courage, and being on guard.
Ten of Wands	Burden, extra responsibility, and hard work.
Page of Wands	News, ideas, and discovery.
Knight of Wands	Energy, passion, and impulsive action.
Queen of Wands	Confidence, courage, and independence.
King of Wands	Natural leader, vision, and honor.
Ace of Cups	New love, fertility, and spiritual blessings.
Two of Cups	Attraction, partnership, and meaningful connections.
Three of Cups	Celebration, friendship, and collaboration.
Four of Cups	Boredom, apathy, and re-evaluation.
Five of Cups	Loss, regret, and grief.
Six of Cups	Nostalgia, childhood, and happy memories.
Seven of Cups	Choices, fantasies, and need for discernment.
Eight of Cups	Disillusionment, withdrawal, and seeking something deeper.
Nine of Cups	Contentment, wishes come true, and satiety.
Ten of Cups	Domestic happiness, family, and alignment.
Page of Cups	Creative opportunities and intuitive messages.
Knight of Cups	Creativity, romance, and charm.
Queen of Cups	Compassion, nurturing, and emotional stability.
King of Cups	Emotional balance and generosity.
Ace of Swords	Breakthroughs, clarity, and victory through logic.
Two of Swords	Stalemate, indecision, and a truce.
Three of Swords	Heartbreak, emotional pain, and betrayal.
Four of Swords	Rest, recovery, and spiritual retreat.
Five of Swords	Conflict, disagreement, and loss.
Six of Swords	Transition, moving on, and smooth sailing.
Seven of Swords	Deception, betrayal, and tactical thinking.
Eight of Swords	Feeling trapped, restriction, and negative thoughts.
Nine of Swords	Anxiety, worry, and nightmares.
Ten of Swords	Finality, betrayal, and hitting rock bottom.
Page of Swords	New ideas, curiosity, and communication.
Knight of Swords	Action, impulsivity, and courage.
Queen of Swords	Perceptive, independent, and direct.
King of Swords	Mental clarity, authority, and judgment.
Ace of Pentacles	Prosperity, new financial opportunities, and abundance.
Two of Pentacles	Balance, adaptability, and time management.
Three of Pentacles	Teamwork, collaboration, and learning.
Four of Pentacles	Security, conservation, and frugality.
Five of Pentacles	Poverty, financial loss, and feeling excluded.
Six of Pentacles	Generosity, sharing wealth, and philanthropy.
Seven of Pentacles	Patience, assessment, and hard work.
Eight of Pentacles	Education, skill development, and methodical work.
Nine of Pentacles	Abundance, luxury, and financial independence.
Ten of Pentacles	Prosperity, family, and long-term success.