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Tarot Card Meanings

One of the best ways to learn how to read tarot is to familiarize yourself with tarot card meanings based on the Rider Waite Smith (RWS) Tarot. While you don’t HAVE TO start with RWS, it is the basis of many modern tarot decks and can provide a solid foundation for your practice. Get started on your journey to learn tarot by browsing the tarot card meanings below!

Browse by Arcana and Suit

The RWS tarot is divided into two groups: the Major Arcana (22 cards covering universal themes and life’s bigger forces) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards across four suits — Swords, Cups, Wands, Pentacles — covering everyday situations, people, and experiences).

The Fool card from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Major Arcana

The Ace of Cups from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Cups

The Ace of Swords from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Swords

The Ace of Wands from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Wands

The Ace of Pentacles from the Rider Waite Smith Tarot

Pentacles

Browse Court Cards / Numbered Cards

queen of swords from the rider waite smith tarot

Court Cards

ace of wands from the rider waite smith tarot

Aces

two of pentacles from the rider waite smith tarot

Twos

three of cups from the rider waite smith tarot

Threes

four of swords from the rider waite smith tarot

Fours

five of wands from the rider waite smith tarot

Fives

the six of pentacles from the rider waite smith tarot

Sixes

the seven of cups from the rider waite smith tarot

Sevens

eight of swords from the rider waite smith tarot

Eights

the nine of wands from the rider waite smith tarot

Nines

ten of pentacles from the rider waite smith tarot

Tens