The tarot cards listed below were once actually playing cards. They were used for a normal and formerly very common card game called “Tarot” or “Tarocchi”. This game was widespread in Europe from the 15th century on. However, today we might conceal in the word “Tarot” some secret meaning already. The word can be read from the back and front and also includes “rota” , the Latin word for circle .
There are numerous ways to work with the cards and the meanings and interpretations and how one can ask the future. Some prefer a daily card only and this is what we offer here at instarot.com: an instant free tarot reading for your day.
Here is list of all 78 tarot cards and key meanings of the Rider Waite Tarot deck. You will fond more detailed interpretations and meanings on the single tarot card pages.
Ace of Cups
Key meanings: Happiness. Feeling whole. Being connected to your heart and soul.
Ace of Pentacles
Tarot Card Ace of Pentacles Key Meanings: New job opportunity. A new offer on the table. Feeling secure. Making good financial decisions.
Ace of Swords
Key meanings: A wall of opinions. Standing out. Winning an argument.
Ace of Wands
Key meanings: Birth of an idea, a project or a child. Being inspired to begin something new.
Death
Key meanings: Endings and new beginnings. Completing a chapter in your life. Putting the past behind you.
Eight of Cups
Key meanings: Following your dream. Seeking deeper meaning. Focusing on the spiritual rather than the material. Abandoning the mainstream way of life.
Eight of Pentacles
Key meanings: Learning a new skill. Concentration. Attention to details. Deepen the understanding about a subject. Doing the ground work.
Eight of Swords
Key meanings: Confused about what to do. Fear of failure. Being stuck. Not trusting in yourself enough. Lacking direction.
Eight of Wands
Key meanings: Learning something important. Having visitors. Going travelling. Good fortune ahead. Making your move.
Five of Cups
Grief and sorrow. Being sad. Feeling unloved. Suffering pain and loss. Being emotionally unsatisfied. Focusing on the negative.
Five of Pentacles
Key meanings: Lack of confidence and low self-esteem. Spending more than you earn. Experiencing hard times. Lacking support. Suffering low energy.
Five of Swords
Conflict and defeat. Being in trouble without doing anything wrong. Tension and betrayal. Unhealthy competition.
Five of Wands
Key meanings: Being irritated. Wanting to stand out from the crowd. Clashing of personalities. Opposition. Difficulty in moving forward.
Four of Cups
Key meanings: What goes up must come down. Feeling flat and uninspired. Not enjoying other people’s company. Feeling left out.
Four of Pentacles
Key meanings: Status and wealth. Doing business. Being money oriented. Stubbornness. Holding on to what you know. Recognition. Financial security.
Four of Swords
A placid and calm nature. Peace and quiet. Meditation. The end of a conflict. A place where you can have rest.
Four of Wands
Key meanings: A life in the country. A wedding or a happy event. Open up to new possibilities. A strong community. A strong foundation.
Judgement
Key meanings: Recognising your true vocation. Being a good judge of character. Taking responsibility for your life. Change and transformation that we are ready for. Taking a stand. Being the person you were always meant to be.
Justice
Key meanings: Balance and fairness. Seeing all sides of a situation. The truth will set you free. Doing what is right. Being impartial.
King of Cups
Key meanings: A friend you can count on. Having highly developed social skills. A very well liked person. Living an alternative lifestyle.
King of Pentacles
Key meanings: Being an expert in your field. Career orientated. Middle management. Project management. A comfortable life.
King of Swords
Key meanings: Authority and responsibility. Being well prepared. Power and ambition. A professional. Well educated.
King of Wands
Key meanings: A natural leader. New and exciting projects. Ambitious and charismatic. Good with technology. Entrepreneurial skills.
Knight of Cups
Key meanings: Optimism. A business trip. A singer, poet, painter or writer. A creative phase. Entertaining others. Putting on a performance.
Knight of Pentacles
Key meanings: Being practical. Change of work. Ambition. A move due to work. Work hard and play hard. Putting in the effort. Never giving up-attitude.
Knight of Swords
Key meanings: Advancing. Moving forward fast. Multitasking. Making hasty decisions. Being competitive. Communication and problem solving skills.
Knight of Wands
Key meanings: Determination and drive. Very charming and lovable. Passionate and hot-tempered. Impulsiveness. Self-confident. Living life in the fast lane. Love showing off.
Nine of Cups
Key meanings: Getting what you want. Having meaning and purpose. Feeling proud of yourself. A wish coming true. Enjoying your life. Living in luxury.
Nine of Pentacles
Key meanings: Luxury Being classy and sophisticated. Security and possessions. Taking a break to enjoy life. A lavish holiday. Being in beautiful surroundings.
Nine of Swords
Key meanings: Worrying about the future. Worry and anxiety. Being overly fearful. Unable to sleep at night. Overwhelmed by guilt and regrets. Being consumed by negativity. Feeling unworthy.
Nine of Wands
Key meanings: Standing your ground. Finding your courage. Never giving up. Protecting your family. Knowing what you believe in. Finding out you are stronger than you could ever imagine. Learning something new about yourself.
Page of Cups
Key meanings: Seeing something with new eyes. Sentimental and romantic. An audition. Showing your talents. A romantic message. Being creative and learning a creative skill.
Page of Pentacles
Key meanings: Working towards a goal. Reinventing yourself. Taking care of how you look and present yourself. Starting something new. Studying.
Page of Swords
Key meanings: Lies and deception. Unpredictable. Gossip and news. Plenty of knowledge, but little wisdom. Strong mental abilities. Being clever and quick-witted. Spying on others or being spied on.
Page of Wands
Key meanings: Chasing adventures and good times. Risk taker. Can be a drama queen. Passion and determination. Attention seeking individual. Receiving news.
Queen of Cups
Key meanings: People are falling in love with you. Using your Imagination to create. Making everyone at ease. Compassionate and caring. Being a magnet for romance. Self-improvement.
Queen of Pentacles
Key meanings: Being a parent. A practical person. The giving of love and support. Fertility and vitality. Love of gardening and the home. The best is yet to come.
Queen of Swords
Key meanings: Often hurt in love. Career oriented. Intelligent and clear in her dealings. Witty and smart. Professional.
Queen of Wands
Key meanings: Goal oriented and ambitious. Popular and easily liked. Independent. Keen interest in magic and the supernatural.
Seven of Cups
Key meanings: Daydreaming. Wishful thinking. Emotional emptiness. Learning a Healing modality. Having plenty of choices. Poor time management.
Seven of Pentacles
Key meanings: Wanting more job satisfaction. Efforts vs. rewards. Reaching a milestone. Taking stock. Feeling not good enough. Outdoor employment. Long term investment.
Seven of Swords
Key meanings: Being afraid to face the music. Avoiding responsibility. Breaking the rules. Stealing (especially ideas). Being caught out.
Seven of Wands
Key meanings: Being overwhelmed by too much attention. Being a chameleon. Putting up boundaries. Being defensive. Being a teacher or public speaker.
Six of Cups
Key meanings: Your home is where your heart is. Memories. Innocence. Pleasures. Your past returning to you.
Six of Pentacles
Key meanings: Sharing wealth. Being kind. High personal status. Showing off. Earning a wage.
Six of Swords
Key meanings: Being sentimental. Finding solutions. Problem solving. Changing location. Feeling a bit low emotionally.
Six of Wands
Key meanings: Coming out on top. Being very fortunate. Feeling good about yourself. Popularity. Being looked up to and admired.
Strength
Key meanings: Courage. A spiritual nature. Passion and love. Inner strength. Pride and determination. Self-Control.
Temperance
Key meanings: Enjoying well-being. Mixing different situations to create a better one. People and situations complementing each other. Finding the middle ground.
Ten of Cups
Key meanings: Spiritual connection in your relationships. Spiritual truth. Well-being. Experiencing good fortune. Counting your blessings and feeling grateful.
Ten of Pentacles
Key meanings: Retirement. The Establishment. Investments. Wealth. Financial security. Passive income.
Ten of Swords
Key meanings: Hitting rock bottom. Being the victim. The end of something. Feeling useless. The need for a new beginning.
Ten of Wands
Key meanings: Being a martyr. Performance punishment. Unable to say No. Worrying what other people think of you. Being task oriented.
The Chariot
Key meanings: Being a hero. Getting your way. Being assertive. Using your will power to accomplish your goals. Being in control.
The Devil
Key meanings: The need to be in control over others. Lack of freedom. Making others obey you. Being enslaved to addictions.
The Emperor
Key meanings: Leadership and authority. Energy, force and drive. Making your own rules and having others obeying them. Structure, logic and reason. Being your own boss.
The Empress
Key meaning: Being abundant and healthy. Pregnancy and giving birth, being a mother. Intelligence and leadership. Creativity and nurturing in the home. Being beautiful and sensual.
The Fool
Key meaning: Being in the right place at the right time. Making it up as you go. Letting go of worry and fear. Heading into the unknown. Feeling happy, joyful and carefree.
The Hanged Man
Key meanings: Appreciation. Seeing life from a new perspective. Pausing to reflect. Letting go of your position to get peace.
The Hermit
Key meanings: Seeking solitude. Contemplation. Having wisdom beyond your years. Lighting the way for others. Being able to communicate with animals.
The Hierophant
Key meanings: Following a leader. Spiritual guidance. A teacher. Support and structure in your community. Following the rules.
The High Priestess
Key meanings: Having a hidden talent. A woman in your life influencing you. Your inner life. Making the impossible become possible. Making plans that is right for you, rather than what suits other people.
The Lovers
Key meanings: Communication with like-minded people. Being with your soul mate. Physical attraction. Feeling passionate about something or someone.
The Magician
Key meanings: Using old skills in a new field. Believing in yourself. Being in charge of your own destiny. Using your talents. Being able to sell yourself, sell your ideas and sell a product.
The Moon
Key meanings: Uncertain reality. Intuition pushing forward. Strong and vivid dreams. Unknown territory. Fear and phobia.
The Star
Key meanings: Being unique. The future looks bright. Fame. Inspiration. Sudden change and awakening.
The Sun
Key meanings: Optimism. Joy and happiness. A holiday. A warm place. A child. Being accepted. Self-realisation.
The Tower
Key meanings: Sudden awakening. Survival instincts. Being uncomfortable. Being exposed. Destruction, aggression and conflict. Experiencing the shocking truth.
The World
Key meanings: Teaching the world something you are an expert in. Accomplishments. The boundaries that direct us while we grow. Travelling to another part of the world.
Three of Cups
Key meanings: Being popular. Being with your friend. Dancing. Appreciating life. Bursting with joy and energy. Having a good time. Your friends.
Three of Pentacles
Key meanings: Great skill and talents. Expertise and perfected work. Practical solutions. Taking pride in your work. Job satisfaction. Being competent.
Three of Swords
Key meanings: Emotional pain. Heart break. Separation. Sorrow.
Three of Wands
Key meanings: Expanding horizons. Planning ahead. Freelancers. An expanding enterprise. Creative writers.
Two of Cups
Key meanings: Healing. Intimacy. Spiritual love. Making a connection with someone. A unique and special friendship. Giving and receiving love and support.
Two of Pentacles
Key meanings: Having fun at work. The ups and downs of life. Playing with money. Working two jobs. Doing something you enjoy. Turning a hobby into a career.
Two of Swords
Key meanings: Being objective and impartial. Staying calm. Staying out of trouble. Avoiding to rock the boat. Avoiding getting emotionally involved.
Two of Wands
Key meanings: Knowing what you want. Being original. Finding your place in the world. Being strong minded and confident about your abilities. Creating something new and exciting.
Wheel of Fortune
Key meanings: Getting what you want. Freedom and adapting to change. Positive change. Moving up in the world.