These meanings are based on Waite-Smith imagery and will apply to any deck based on it, including Robin Wood, Hanson-Roberts, Classic Tarot, and many more. You may find that in such Waite-Smith–based decks, one or a few cards have images (and perhaps therefore meanings) very different from those created by Arthur Edward Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, and you’ll have to adapt your understanding to the deck being used.
Pentacles
Pentacles generally indicate money, career, or education. Pentacles correspond to the element of earth in the tarot.
Ace of Pentacles
Upright
All aces are beginnings. Here, the beginning is of a financial nature, perhaps a job, an investment, or a business.
Reversed
A financial venture fails to get off the ground; a nonstarter.
Two of Pentacles
Upright
Keeping things in balance. The juggler must keep his balls in the air. I think of this card as “good” stress; joyfully, playfully doing the hard work that keeps a busy life going.
Reversed
“Bad” stress. In reverse, the juggler is overwhelmed, out of balance, and stressed.
Three of Pentacles
Upright
This card depicts a craftsman, skilled at what he does. In the Waite-Smith deck, he is working on the ornamentation over a doorway. The card represents talent at work, as well as recognition. The doorway suggests that the craftsman is “going somewhere.”
Reversed
Hard work without (or without sufficient) recognition or reward.
Four of Pentacles
Upright
Miserliness, greed, grasping tightly to what you have and failing to see that you could have more.
Reversed
Letting money run through your fingers carelessly.
Five of Pentacles
Upright
Homelessness; loss of position or place. Being without a place in the world. Being without a spiritual home or any sense of well-being.
Reversed
Temporary shelter. Finding a home or job or place, but it won’t last; it’s just a way station.
Six of Pentacles
Upright
This is a card of generosity; it can mean the querent receives a gift or help of some kind—there is a benefactor. This card often means a person (the benefactor), although it can also be read as a situation.
Reversed
Gifts come with strings attached. The querent should beware of any loans or gifts because the real price might be too high. There may be shame associated with taking the gift.
Seven of Pentacles
Upright
Hard work; the will to create work, and satisfaction with the result. This is a card about the fruits of one’s labor.
Reversed
Reversed, the picture is the same: a person sees the results of his labor, but now he wonders if it was worth the trouble. The profit is just not commensurate with the effort required to earn it.
Eight of Pentacles
Upright
Educational or career progress. This card depicts a student excelling in his studies. Financial rewards will be small (the person is depicted as a student, not a master).
Reversed
Laziness when approaching one’s work or studies. Lack of attention to detail, or paying attention to the wrong details.
Nine of Pentacles
Upright
Satisfaction in being alone. When this card comes up in relation to questions of romance, the answer is generally that the querent will be alone but will learn to love being alone. Joy in the home and the garden. Connection to animals.
Reversed
Minor disasters in the home, such as theft, intrusion, physical issues with the house, or other disruptions, such as legal issues.
Ten of Pentacles
Upright
All good things; a happy home, wealth, a loving family. Can also mean an inheritance or a family reunion. The person who receives this card can experience life’s true fulfillment through family.
Reversed
Disputes in the family, especially over money; perhaps a dispute over an inheritance.
Page of Pentacles
Upright
Pages tend to be young people or students. Here the page is focused on the concerns of pentacles—finance and stability. The page is someone who thinks about finances abstractly, and is perhaps more interested in economics than banking.
Pages are sometimes messages, so this card can be a message about a financial matter.
Reversed
A lazy or disinterested young person. Someone who doesn’t apply himself or is impractical.
Knight of Pentacles
Upright
A solid, salt-of-the-earth, dull, and practical young man. Perhaps an earth sign (Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo). In the Waite-Smith deck, the Knight of Pentacles is the only knight whose horse stands still. This man is stable and slow to act.
Knights can be the coming or going of a matter regarding the suit, so rapid movement regarding money or career might be indicated.
Reversed
A stupid or stubborn person. Someone who obstructs. Someone bad with money.
Queen of Pentacles
Upright
This queen is sometimes seen as a kind of “mini-Empress”—loving, kind, fertile. Her downcast eyes in the Waite-Smith deck suggest moodiness or sorrow, but she is, by and large, a woman connected to fertility and nature. She has pets or children or, at least, a lush garden.
Reversed
Infertility, mistrust, disconnection from nature and from one’s inner nature.
King of Pentacles
Upright
A helpful person associated with money—a banker or loan officer, or a friend or relative able to provide concrete, tangible assistance, especially money. An older (over thirty) man or a worldly man is generally indicated.
Reversed
The same sort of person is unhelpful, withholds money, or prevents the querent from succeeding financially.
Swords
Swords are concerned with aggression, conflict, speech, argument, or intense movement. In most tarot decks, swords correspond to the element of air, although in some decks, swords are fire.
Ace of Swords
Upright
A beginning related to swords; an especially aggressive or sudden new event in one’s life.
Reversed
A new venture doesn’t get off the ground because you’re using too much force. Let it happen; don’t force it.
Two of Swords
Upright
Stasis; waiting for something to happen before taking any further steps. A stalemate.
Reversed
The end of a period of waiting, with a suggestion of unwise action—the danger that caused the original stalemate is still out there.
Three of Swords
Upright
Sorrow. Heartbreak.
Reversed
The end of sorrow. Sorrow is in the recent past; healing has begun, but wounds are still there.
Four of Swords
Upright
Withdrawal from the material world; a much-needed period of rest and/or contemplation.
Reversed
The period of rest and reclusion has ended. There is an eagerness to reengage with the world. Keep your eyes open to what you missed while you were gone.
Five of Swords
Upright
Theft; deception; a combat that leaves everyone (victor and vanquished) worse off than they were before.
Reversed
An empty or Pyrrhic victory.
Six of Swords
Upright
A journey away from sorrow. Escape into a new place or situation.
Reversed
A journey cannot be undertaken. There is no escape.
Seven of Swords
Upright
A theft or deception; a dissolute and dishonest will. A spy, trickery, a sneak-thief.
Reversed
The enemy is disarmed, so the battle is avoided. What was lost is returned.
Eight of Swords
Upright
A trap; no progress is possible; weakness; imprisonment. Hold still, because you don’t know what’s out there.
Reversed
The end of an illness or an abusive situation. Getting your sea legs back after an illness can be difficult. Release from fear or imprisonment.
Nine of Swords
Upright
Depression, grief, loss.
Reversed
The end of mourning. Rising up from one’s bed after a long illness.
Ten of Swords
Upright
Utter defeat.
Reversed
Recovery from defeat; life can begin again.
Page of Swords
Upright
An agile young person. A dancer. A student of ideas, language, or dance. Perhaps a spy.
Reversed
Glibness, deception, or dishonesty. A spy is exposed.
Knight of Swords
Upright
An aggressive, forceful young man. Rapid movement. Someone hot-tempered and impulsive.
Reversed
A dangerously angry person, possibly an abuser. Arguments, perhaps violence.
Queen of Swords
Upright
A smart, verbal woman; a leader. Someone sharp, perceptive, tough. Perhaps a widow.
Reversed
A woman with a cruel tongue. Someone nasty, cutting. Abortion or miscarriage.
King of Swords
Upright
A fair-minded, mature man. A judge or lawyer or someone making a decision that affects the querent.
Reversed
A severe, judgmental man. Someone more interested in being right than in achieving true justice.
Wands
Wands indicate building, creating, establishing, or labor. A career-oriented card in the suit of wands is generally about establishing oneself rather than about one’s earning potential. In most tarot decks, wands are connected to the element of fire, although in a few, wands are air.
Ace of Wands
Upright
The beginning of an endeavor related to wands—creating or building something. The Ace of Wands can also be phallic and represent a sexual beginning.
Reversed
A planned project fails to take off. A beginning falls through.
Two of Wands
Upright
Waiting for news about an opportunity. Pinning one’s hopes on something, particularly a business, creative, or scientific venture.
Reversed
The opportunity may not come through, but you’re fine anyway. In many decks, the Two of Wands shows someone wearing rich clothing; remind the querent that the opportunity was extra, and not a necessity.
Three of Wands
Upright
Waiting for an opportunity; a partnership in the offing. Good connections can turn things around.
Reversed
Waiting and waiting for something that will never arrive.
Four of Wands
Upright
A wedding; a celebration; joyous connections.
Reversed
Happiness in small things. Appreciate small joys in life; family, simplicity, and get-togethers.
Five of Wands
Upright
Combat, but playful. You know it’s all a game. Happy competition.
Reversed
You’ve forgotten it’s a game. Suddenly, competition seems deadly serious. Danger.
Six of Wands
Upright
Acknowledgment of success, rewards, and praise, as well as a potential journey. A journey that leads to success.
Reversed
The journey forestalled. A planned trip will not happen. No one notices the work you’ve done. Success goes unrewarded.
Seven of Wands
Upright
The will to succeed, fight back, and win. The querent is embattled and outnumbered, but can easily win because he has high ground.
Reversed
A failure to plan; the querent hasn’t taken high ground and is unprepared. Being overwhelmed by enemies.
Eight of Wands
Upright
Rapid forward movement. Messages received or sent about a rapidly changing matter. Arrows of love.
Reversed
The message has not been received. Arrows of jealousy.
Nine of Wands
Upright
Cautious, guarded: the person depicted in the Waite-Smith deck is wounded and on guard. This indicates that the caution is warranted—he’s already been wounded once and is protecting himself from further attack. Maybe over-
cautious; perhaps he’s blocking out love or kindness in his efforts at self-protection.
Reversed
Unaware, unguarded. Letting one’s guard down. Gullible; naive; the querent may be opening himself up to injury or attack.
Ten of Wands
Upright
Carrying a tremendous burden without help. Overwhelmed; exhausted; at the edge of failure.
Reversed
Forcing one’s burden unfairly or cruelly upon others.
Page of Wands
Upright
A young person interested in wand concerns. A message, or a messenger. A “fair-haired boy” in the sense of being favored or lucky (regardless of whether this person is fair-haired or male) having charisma, charm, and a charmed life.
Reversed
An unpleasant message. A theatrical, dramatic, or unstable person. A “red-headed stepchild” who doesn’t fit in.
Knight of Wands
Upright
A passionate man who brings fire into one’s life. Playful and spontaneous. The rapid coming or going of a matter related to wand concerns.
Reversed
Heedless, self-centered, concerned only with his own needs, the Knight of Wands reversed can also be jealous and vain.
Queen of Wands
Upright
A woman who is warm and easygoing but perhaps shy; a homebody. A good cook.
Reversed
A woman who rules her domain with an iron fist. Strict, even severe. Perhaps unfaithful.
King of Wands
Upright
An older (over thirty) man, usually a family man. He is fair, focused, and intense, with the passions of fire. He might have a profession related to wands (construction, entrepreneurship).
Reversed
Rigid in his opinions, the King of Wands reversed likes the rules better than their purpose. Can be bigoted.
Cups
Cups are about love, emotions, memory, dreams, or the subconscious. They correspond to the element of water.
Ace of Cups
Upright
The beginning of love.
Reversed
The romance will not happen.
Two of Cups
Upright
A meeting of minds. A couple connected emotionally, mentally, and in every way. A wonderful romance or close friendship.
Reversed
A breakup or disruption in a romance. A misunderstanding in an important relationship.
Three of Cups
Upright
Joyful social connection. Friends and relationships are especially important now. Parties, socializing.
Reversed
Parties turned sour. Drunkenness, gossip, the wrong kind of socializing.
Four of Cups
Upright
Someone who hates what he has, without realizing there is something even better available. Questioning the material world, wondering if there is more, but not really looking for more, just looking at one’s own discontent.
Reversed
Someone who embraces the possible. The person sees the spiritual as well as the material, sees what may be hoped for as well as what is already present, and embraces the blessings life offers.
Five of Cups
Upright
Grieving over a loss even though you still have plenty. The person feels bereft but has not lost everything. This card typically depicts a person looking at three spilled cups, while two full cups are behind him, out of view. He hasn’t lost everything; he just thinks he has, and can change his attitude if he chooses.
Reversed
Here the person focuses on the two full cups. Aware of what he has lost, he still has hope.
Six of Cups
Upright
Nostalgia, a reminder of the past. A reunion—usually sweet—with someone from long ago; something from childhood returns.
Reversed
Here, the past is a trap; someone from the past brings bad news or a betrayal; nostalgia can be poisonous.
Seven of Cups
Upright
Sevens relate to will, and here we see a dissipated and confused will; the inability to apply will is suggested. The querent has a wide array of choices and cannot decide which is correct.
Reversed
Inability to make a decision. The best choice is to make any choice; even a wrong one will break this paralysis.
Eight of Cups
Upright
The Waite-Smith deck depicts a person stacking up all his possessions (cups) and walking away, seeking wisdom. The image suggests leaving something behind, even though it’s still good, for a higher level of some kind. The querent knows that one’s material possessions are not what’s important in life. There may also be a real dissatisfaction with what one already has. A life change.
Reversed
Leaping back into one’s life; embracing what one has. Rejecting the lofty or ascetic in favor of pleasure.
Nine of Cups
Upright
The Nine of Cups is known as the “wish card.” Upright, you get your wish.
Reversed
In reverse, your wish is not granted.
Ten of Cups
Upright
This is a card of all good things. Loving family; deep, emotionally satisfying connections; enough of everything.
Reversed
Discord, misunderstanding, the breakup of a once-happy home.
Page of Cups
Upright
A thoughtful young person; someone seeking wisdom. A lover of poetry, stories, and storytelling. A dreamer. A message regarding these things.
Reversed
A wasteful, spoiled, or bratty young person. Problems with one’s studies.
Knight of Cups
Upright
A man bringing love or a loving message into one’s life. A Prince Charming.
Reversed
The Prince is not what he seems; an unfaithful lover, a false friend.
Queen of Cups
Upright
An enticing, beautiful, and moody woman. In the Waite-Smith deck, hers is the only covered cup, indicating hidden feelings, closely guarded. She is secretive and vulnerable.
Reversed
Depression or mental illness. Emotions are arbitrary and treacherous. A woman who may mean well but has no self-control.
King of Cups
Upright
A wise counselor; often a psychiatrist or psychologist or other person in the helping professions. His own emotions aren’t shared; he is concerned with the emotions of others.
Reversed
An emotionally manipulative person, possibly an abuser. He is guarded and secretive, to the detriment of the querent.
The Major Arcana
Major arcana indicate that large forces are at play. These are cards of fate, of God or Spirit working in our lives, and of life-changing events. Often, major arcana speak of the querent’s spiritual state or of deep lessons to be learned.
0. The Fool
Upright
The Fool makes a heedless choice that transforms him utterly. Usually depicted as on the verge of stepping off a cliff, he represents the cliff one could step off that would change one’s life. It’s doing the thing that everyone says is crazy, “damn the torpedoes,” going for broke; being insanely, wonderfully daring and foolish. This card advises the querent to take the risk, to allow himself to be considered a fool.
Reversed
In reverse, true foolishness is indicated; someone (perhaps the querent) is acting like an idiot and endangering himself and/or those around him.
1. The Magician
Upright
A person (often a man) of considerable personal ability. He’s the “whole package.” The altar before him has the four tools of the tarot, indicating he has equal power over all aspects of life. Creative power; the potential to begin anything.
Reversed
Misuse of power; power used for unsavory ends. Waste of power.
2. The High Priestess
Upright
Mystery, the unknown, secrets, wisdom. Perhaps initiation of some kind, if the querent is on, or considering, a path that includes that. A mysterious and wise woman.
Reversed
The opposite of wisdom. Staying on the surface and avoiding the deeper truth. Gossip and spite.
3. The Empress
Upright
Fertility in all endeavors (creative, financial, physical). A strong possibility of pregnancy. Generosity. Marriage.
Reversed
Infertility. Nothing can grow. Stagnation. Poverty.
4. The Emperor
Upright
Mastery over the material world; authority, power. A wise ruler.
Reversed
A weak ruler, one who “lets the inmates rule the asylum.” Lack of self-control.
5. The Hierophant
Upright
Authority, cultural norms, conformity. Unwillingness to change. Conservatism.
Reversed
Rebellion against authority. Rejection of conventional wisdom. Seeking one’s own path.
6. The Lovers
Upright
Love, romance, a good match. A choice between what you want impulsively and what you know is right.
Reversed
A bad choice. A romance turned sour. Arguments in a relationship.
7. The Chariot
Upright
Control, mastery, the need to maintain strict control to prevent chaos. The charioteer holds powerful horses in check who would otherwise run wild. A strong will holds things together.
Reversed
An out-of-control person or situation. The horses, rather than the charioteer, drive the chariot. Holding on for dear life.
8. Strength
Upright
The power of compassion. Most decks depict a woman petting a lion, showing that strength comes from kindness rather than brute force. (If you’re using a deck that shows a wrestler or Hercules, then you would interpret this card as a more conventional meaning of “strength.”) Spiritual strength through love rather than force.
Reversed
Brute force. Trying to bully or force your will onto a situation. Domination.
9. The Hermit
Upright
Seeking wisdom from a wise teacher. Alternately, seeking wisdom in isolation; removing oneself from society in order to look inward.
Reversed
A reversal of the two upright meanings: either leaving a “hermitage” (ending a period of isolation) and reentering the world, or rejecting the advice of a guru or teacher; refusing to learn.
10. Wheel of Fortune
Upright
The Wheel turns in a fortunate way. Good luck. Your fate is not in your control, but you’re lucky for now. Count your blessings and don’t count on things staying stable. What goes around comes around.
Reversed
Bad luck; nothing good will come of the current plans. Things won’t go your way no matter what you do.
11. Justice
Upright
A legal matter; the involvement of judges, lawyers, or courts. Fairness, justice. A decision in the querent’s favor.
Reversed
Injustice. Unfairness. A decision against the querent.
12. The Hanged Man
Upright
Wisdom gained through suffering or an ordeal. Most decks depict a man in meditation while hanging upside down, indicating that enlightenment and the next level will only be achieved by undergoing a difficult experience.
Reversed
Unwillingness to face the hard work needed in order to achieve a goal; laziness; taking the easy way out. The querent isn’t going anywhere because he isn’t doing the work needed to get there.
13. Death
Upright
Transformation, change. A new state of being. Rebirth.
Reversed
Everything will stay the same. Stagnation.
14. Temperance
Upright
Inner balance. Spiritual and material, work and play, inner life and outer life—all are in balance.
Reversed
Imbalance. Alcoholism. Self-indulgence. A life out of control.
15. The Devil
Upright
A prison of one’s own making. The Waite-Smith deck depicts a couple chained, but loosely; they could free themselves but do not. Their own desires keep them trapped. Greed, alcoholism or addiction, infidelity—any “temptation” might be the chain that keeps one bound to the Devil.
Reversed
Freeing oneself from the prisons that have bound one. The beginnings of freedom from evil.
16. The Tower
Upright
Utter disaster; a loss of great magnitude, especially a material loss. Losing one’s home. A crime is uncovered.
Reversed
Disaster on a small scale. Minor chaos in the home. A break-in or theft; petty crime.
17. The Star
Upright
Physical, psychological, and spiritual well-being. Health. Balance.
Reversed
General ill health, in body, mind, or spirit. A health crisis. Disconnection from the self or one’s spiritual nature. Pessimism and darkness.
18. The Moon
Upright
Mystery, deception, intuition, dreams. The unknown intrudes into the querent’s life. The querent is lost, confused.
Reversed
A mystery is revealed. Answers the querent sought are now apparent. A secret is uncovered. Tread lightly; there is still risk.
19. The Sun
Upright
A successful journey; an adventure into the unknown. The child/Sun leaves the flower garden and ventures into the wide world; the bright sunlight follows him, indicating hope and blessings. The present situation is safe and comfortable but childlike; the card indicates a willingness to move beyond the safe walls of childhood and venture into adulthood. Joy is within.
Reversed
Playing it safe. Staying protected and avoiding venturing beyond one’s known limits. Fearfulness. Refusing to grow up.
20. Judgement
Upright
Rebirth; a spiritual uplifting. Often, this card depicts the Resurrection, and indicates a deepened spiritual awareness. Good things coming. Good health.
Reversed
No interest in the spiritual side of things. Refusal to change. Fear of change, fear of death, fear of the unknown. Poor health.
21. The World
Upright
All good things; a well-rounded success that is both material/financial and emotionally rich. Fulfillment of desires; good luck; rewards.
Reversed
Loss of possessions, both material and spiritual. Loss of position or rank. Can also be the refusal to learn lessons from life.