Tarot Card Keywords Cheat Sheet
This tarot keywords cheat sheet lists the core upright and reversed meanings of all 78 cards on one page. It is meant for quick lookups during a reading, or for checking whether an interpretation you were given actually matches the card.
Keywords are a starting point, not the whole meaning. When a card comes up, read its keywords, then think about the position it fell in and the question you asked. Each card name links to its full page with love, career and yes-or-no meanings.
Major Arcana Tarot Card Meanings
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
 The Fool | New beginnings, spontaneity, adventure | Recklessness, naivety, bad decisions |
 The Magician | Manifestation, skill, self-confidence | Trickery, manipulation, insecurity |
 The High Priestess | Intuition, secrets, mystery | Hidden agendas, detachment, confusion |
 The Empress | Nurturing, abundance, creativity | Dependency, lack of growth, neglect |
 The Emperor | Authority, structure, stability | Domination, rigidity, abuse of power |
 The Hierophant | Tradition, conformity, mentorship | Dogmatism, rebellion, unconventional beliefs |
 The Lovers | Love, harmony, choices | Disharmony, separation, indecision |
 The Chariot | Control, determination, success | Lack of control, aggression, defeat |
 Strength | Inner strength, courage, compassion | Weakness, self-doubt, lack of self-discipline |
 The Hermit | Solitude, introspection, wisdom | Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal |
 Wheel of Fortune | Cycles, fate, changes | Bad luck, stagnation, lack of control |
 Justice | Balance, fairness, truth | Injustice, bias, dishonesty |
 The Hanged Man | Surrender, sacrifice, letting go | Stalling, indecision, resistance |
 Death | Transformation, change, rebirth | Resistance to change, stagnation, decay |
 Temperance | Balance, harmony, moderation | Imbalance, excess, self-medication |
 The Devil | Materialism, addiction, temptation | Freedom, release, overcoming negative patterns |
 The Tower | Sudden upheaval, chaos, revelation | Disaster, upheaval, avoidance of change |
 The Star | Hope, inspiration, clarity | Disillusionment, discouragement, lack of faith |
 The Moon | Intuition, mystery, illusion | Confusion, fear, deception |
 The Sun | Vitality, success, happiness | Arrogance, overconfidence, lack of achievement |
 Judgment | Rebirth, renewal, awakening | Lack of self-awareness, self-doubt, self-criticism |
 The World | Completion, fulfillment, wholeness | Incompletion, lack of closure, lack of direction |
Suit of Wands Tarot Card Meanings
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
 Ace of Wands | Inspiration, new beginnings, potential | Lack of direction, delays, missed opportunities |
 Two of Wands | Planning, partnerships, progress | Lack of planning, delays, unexpected obstacles |
 Three of Wands | Expansion, foresight, preparation | Lack of foresight, delays, missed opportunities |
 Four of Wands | Celebration, harmony, home | Disruption, conflict, instability |
 Five of Wands | Competition, challenges, diversity | Avoidance, unity, cooperation |
 Six of Wands | Victory, recognition, progress | Setbacks, lack of recognition, ego |
 Seven of Wands | Defensiveness, perseverance, challenge | Giving up, surrender, vulnerability |
 Eight of Wands | Movement, speed, change | Delays, frustration, miscommunication |
 Nine of Wands | Resilience, persistence, courage | Burnout, exhaustion, giving up |
 Ten of Wands | Burden, responsibility, hard work | Overwhelm, stress, burnout |
 Page of Wands | Exploration, enthusiasm, discovery | Lack of direction, procrastination, delays |
 Knight of Wands | Action, passion, adventure | Hasty decisions, recklessness, impatience |
 Queen of Wands | Courage, determination, charisma | Impulsiveness, moodiness, demanding |
 King of Wands | Leadership, vision, creativity | Arrogance, impulsiveness, tyranny |
Suit of Cups Tarot Card Meanings
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
 Ace of Cups | New beginnings, emotional fulfillment, joy | Blocked emotions, emptiness, unrequited love |
 Two of Cups | Partnership, connection, attraction | Imbalance, broken relationships, misunderstandings |
 Three of Cups | Celebration, friendship, community | Exclusion, overindulgence, toxic relationships |
 Four of Cups | Meditation, contemplation, apathy | Boredom, missed opportunities, discontentment |
 Five of Cups | Loss, grief, disappointment | Acceptance, forgiveness, moving on |
 Six of Cups | Nostalgia, innocence, generosity | Over-idealization, living in the past, unrealistic expectations |
 Seven of Cups | Fantasy, illusion, choice | Temptation, confusion, unrealistic expectations |
 Eight of Cups | Transition, abandonment, moving on | Fear of change, escapism, indecision |
 Nine of Cups | Contentment, satisfaction, gratitude | Arrogance, smugness, materialism |
 Ten of Cups | Harmony, bliss, love | Disharmony, disconnection, broken family ties |
 Page of Cups | Creativity, intuition, new beginnings | Emotional immaturity, unrealistic expectations, escapist tendencies |
 Knight of Cups | Romance, charm, imagination | Moodiness, emotional manipulation, unrealistic expectations |
 Queen of Cups | Compassion, emotional stability, intuition | Codependency, emotional manipulation, overemotional |
 King of Cups | Emotional balance, generosity, diplomacy | Moodiness, emotional suppression, manipulation |
Suit of Swords Tarot Card Meanings
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
 Ace of Swords | Clarity, breakthrough, mental power | Confusion, chaos, mental blocks |
 Two of Swords | Difficult choices, indecision, stalemate | Avoiding choices, denial, deadlock |
 Three of Swords | Heartbreak, loss, grief | Recovery, forgiveness, moving on |
 Four of Swords | Rest, recovery, contemplation | Exhaustion, burnout, unrest |
 Five of Swords | Conflict, defeat, betrayal | Compromise, forgiveness, moving on |
 Six of Swords | Transition, moving on, progress | Stagnation, delay, resistance to change |
 Seven of Swords | Deception, betrayal, theft | Confession, honesty, returning what is owed |
 Eight of Swords | Limitations, restriction, anxiety | Self-limiting beliefs, victim mentality, self-sabotage |
 Nine of Swords | Anxiety, fear, nightmares | Release, facing fears, seeking support |
 Ten of Swords | Painful ending, betrayal, loss | Recovery, release, new beginnings |
 Page of Swords | Curiosity, new ideas, enthusiasm | Impulsiveness, haste, recklessness |
 Knight of Swords | Action, ambition, determination | Aggression, impulsiveness, haste |
 Queen of Swords | Clarity, independence, objectivity | Coldness, bitterness, cruelty |
 King of Swords | Authority, leadership, rationality | Cruelty, manipulation, abuse of power |
Suit of Pentacles Tarot Card Meanings
| Card | Upright | Reversed |
|---|---|---|
 Ace of Pentacles | New Beginnings, Prosperity, Potential | Missed Opportunities, Lack, Financial Setbacks |
 Two of Pentacles | Balance, Adaptability, Juggling | Imbalance, Overwhelm, Instability |
 Three of Pentacles | Teamwork, Collaboration, Skills | Lack of Collaboration, Mediocrity, Skill Deficiencies |
 Four of Pentacles | Stability, Security, Possessions | Financial Insecurity, Greed, Clinging |
 Five of Pentacles | Financial Hardship, Poverty, Isolation | Recovery, Hope, Support |
 Six of Pentacles | Generosity, Charity, Sharing | Selfishness, Greed, Inequity |
 Seven of Pentacles | Assessment, Patience, Investment | Impatience, Lack of Progress, Poor Investments |
 Eight of Pentacles | Dedication, Skill Development, Mastery | Lack of Focus, Mediocrity, Repetition |
 Nine of Pentacles | Abundance, Self-Sufficiency, Luxury | Financial Dependency, Self-Worth Issues, Excessive Materialism |
 Ten of Pentacles | Wealth, Family, Legacy | Financial Loss, Family Discord, Lack of Stability |
 Page of Pentacles | Ambition, Study, Manifestation | Lack of Ambition, Inaction, Lack of Focus |
 Knight of Pentacles | Responsibility, Hard Work, Reliability | Laziness, Procrastination, Lack of Progress |
 Queen of Pentacles | Nurturing, Abundance, Practicality | Self-Care Neglect, Financial Instability, Over-Dependency |
 King of Pentacles | Prosperity, Security, Leadership | Financial Instability, Greed, Abuse of Power |
How to use tarot keywords
Read the keywords as a family of related ideas rather than a list to pick from. The Three of Pentacles, for example, is about collaboration, skill and being recognised for good work: in a career question that might be a team project, and in a relationship question it might be two people building something practical together.
Reversed keywords usually describe the same energy blocked, delayed, turned inward or overdone. They are not always the opposite of the upright meaning. If you do not read reversals, you can ignore that column and read every card upright.
Learning the cards faster
Most readers learn quicker by suit than card by card. Wands deal with drive and projects, Cups with feelings and relationships, Swords with thoughts and conflict, and Pentacles with money, work and the body. The Major Arcana mark bigger themes and turning points.
A simple practice: draw one card a day, write down the keywords in your own words, and note later what the day was actually like. After a few weeks the keywords stop being something you look up and become associations you recognise.
Frequently asked questions
What are tarot card keywords?
Short phrases that sum up a card’s traditional meaning, such as “new beginnings” for The Fool. They help you remember the card and give a reading a starting point before you add the position and the question.
Should I memorise all 78 cards?
No. Many readers keep a cheat sheet nearby for years. Understanding the four suits and the numbers gets you most of the way, and the keywords fill in the rest.
Do reversed cards mean the opposite?
Rarely the exact opposite. A reversed card more often shows the upright energy weakened, delayed or pointed inward. Some readers do not use reversals at all, and both approaches are valid.