Tarot can seem like a lot to remember, especially when you factor in reversed cards. Don’t sweat it! This is your super quick cheat sheet to understanding the basic difference between upright and reversed Tarot card meanings.
Let’s take the Sun card as an example. Upright, it’s all sunshine and good vibes! Think joy, success, vitality, and optimism. Basically, pure happiness.
Now, reversed? It’s not always bad! It often means those Sun like qualities are blocked, delayed, or maybe expressed in a less healthy way. Think temporary sadness, a lack of energy, or even inflated ego.
See the pattern? Generally, Upright is the card’s energy flowing freely and positively. Reversed can mean blockages, challenges, or the shadow side of that energy. A reversed Queen of Wands can mean insecurity instead of confidence, The Tower is a delayed disaster/change that needs to happen, The Lovers can mean discord and separation instead of unity.
Next time you’re reading, remember this simple trick! Think of upright as go and reversed as slow down, consider the opposite, or look for hidden issues.
0 The Fool
- Upright: New beginnings, adventure, innocence, spontaneity
- Reversed: Recklessness, hesitation, naivety, foolishness
1 The MagiciaN
- Upright: Manifestation, resourcefulness, power, skill
- Reversed: Trickery, manipulation, illusion, lack of focus
2 The High Priestess
- Upright: Intuition, mystery, subconscious, inner wisdom
- Reversed: Secrets, hidden agendas, blocked intuition, confusion
3 The Empress
- Upright: Nurturing, fertility, abundance, creativity
- Reversed: Imbalance, lack of growth, creative blocks, neglect
4 The Emperor
- Upright: Authority, structure, stability, leadership
- Reversed: Tyranny, rigidity, lack of control, irresponsibility
5 The Hierophant
- Upright: Tradition, spirituality, conformity, wisdom
- Reversed: Rebellion, nonconformity, disconnection from spirituality
6 The Lovers
- Upright: Love, partnership, alignment, choices
- Reversed: Disharmony, imbalance, bad choices, separation
7 The Chariot
- Upright: Willpower, determination, victory, control
- Reversed: Lack of control, aggression, defeat, obstacles
8 Strength
- Upright: Courage, inner strength, compassion, patience
- Reversed: Weakness, self-doubt, fear, lack of confidence
9 The hermit
- Upright: Solitude, introspection, wisdom, guidance
- Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, avoidance
10 wheel of fortune
- Upright: Destiny, luck, cycles, change
- Reversed: Bad luck, delays, misfortune, resistance to change
11 justice
- Upright: Fairness, truth, accountability, balance
- Reversed: Injustice, unfairness, dishonesty, imbalance
12 the hanged man
- Upright: Letting go, suspension, new perspectives, surrender
- Reversed: Stagnation, resistance to change, martyrdom, delays
13 death
- Upright: Transformation, endings, rebirth, letting go
- Reversed: Fear of change, stagnation, resistance to transformation
14 temperance
- Upright: Balance, moderation, harmony, patience
- Reversed: Imbalance, excess, lack of moderation, disharmony
15 the devil
- Upright: Temptation, addiction, materialism, bondage
- Reversed: Freedom, release, breaking free from addictions, liberation
16 the tower
- Upright: Sudden change, upheaval, revelation, chaos
- Reversed: Avoidance of change, fear of disaster, resistance to crisis
17 the star
- Upright: Hope, inspiration, healing, renewal
- Reversed: Hopelessness, lack of faith, despair, disillusionment
18 the moon
- Upright: Illusion, intuition, dreams, the subconscious
- Reversed: Deception, confusion, clarity, revelation of truth
19 the sun
- Upright: Joy, success, vitality, positivity
- Reversed: Lack of success, negativity, depression, unrealized potential
20 judgement
- Upright: Renewal, reckoning, self-reflection, transformation
- Reversed: Self-doubt, guilt, ignoring the call, denial
21 The World
- Upright: Completion, achievement, wholeness, fulfillment
- Reversed: Incompletion, lack of closure, unfinished business, delays
Cups
Ace of cups
• Upright: New emotional beginnings, love, compassion, creativity, spiritual renewal.
• Reversed: Emotional blockages, repressed emotions, creative block, unrequited love.
Two of cups
• Upright: Partnership, mutual attraction, connection, unity, harmonious relationship.
• Reversed: Disharmony, imbalance in relationships, lack of connection, separation.
Three of cups
• Upright: Celebration, friendship, community, joy, social gatherings.
• Reversed: Overindulgence, gossip, shallow relationships, lack of support.
Four of cups
• Upright: Contemplation, apathy, emotional withdrawal, dissatisfaction, reevaluation.
• Reversed: Awakening, new possibilities, moving on from stagnation, renewed interest.
Five of cups
• Upright: Grief, regret, loss, focusing on the negative, emotional sadness.
• Reversed: Acceptance, moving on, healing, forgiveness, seeing new opportunities.
Six of cups
• Upright: Nostalgia, childhood memories, innocence, reunions, sentimental feelings.
• Reversed: Living in the past, stuck in old patterns, refusal to let go of nostalgia.
Seven of cups
• Upright: Choices, illusion, fantasy, daydreaming, overwhelming options.
• Reversed: Clarity, decision-making, seeing through illusions, focusing on reality.
eight of cups
• Upright: Leaving behind the past, emotional withdrawal, searching for deeper meaning, personal growth.
• Reversed: Fear of change, avoidance of emotional issues, stuck in an unsatisfying situation.
Nine of cups
• Upright: Contentment, emotional fulfillment, satisfaction, wishes coming true.
• Reversed: Dissatisfaction, unfulfilled desires, feeling empty despite achievements.
Ten of cups
• Upright: Happiness, family harmony, emotional fulfillment, lasting joy, love.
• Reversed: Family disharmony, emotional discontent, broken relationships, unrealistic expectations.
Page of cups
• Upright: New emotional or creative beginnings, intuition, curiosity, open-heartedness.
• Reversed: Emotional immaturity, immaturity in relationships, emotional instability.
Knight of cups
• Upright: Romance, charm, idealism, emotional pursuit, following dreams.
• Reversed: Imbalance, fickleness, unrealistic expectations, emotional manipulation.
Queen of cups
• Upright: Compassion, nurturing, intuition, emotional balance, caring nature.
• Reversed: Emotional insecurity, codependency, over-sensitivity, neglecting self-care.
King of cups
• Upright: Emotional maturity, wisdom, balance, empathy, emotional control.
• Reversed: Emotional manipulation, moodiness, emotional coldness, unbalanced emotions.
Wands
Ace of wands
- Upright: New beginnings, inspiration, creative potential, ambition, energy.
- Reversed: Delays, lack of motivation, missed opportunities, false starts.
Two of wands
- Upright: Planning, decisions, future vision, exploration, potential.
- Reversed: Fear of change, lack of direction, delays in plans, indecisiveness.
Three of wands
- Upright: Expansion, progress, waiting for results, foresight, long-term vision.
- Reversed: Lack of foresight, frustration, obstacles in progress, setbacks.
Four of wands
- Upright: Celebration, harmony, homecoming, stability, achievements.
- Reversed: Disruption, lack of celebration, instability, conflicts at home.
Five of wands
- Upright: Conflict, competition, struggles, challenge, rivalry.
- Reversed: Avoiding conflict, cooperation, resolution, internal struggle.
Six of wands
- Upright: Victory, success, recognition, self-confidence, achievement.
- Reversed: Lack of recognition, failure, delayed success, pride before a fall.
Seven of wands
- Upright: Defending your position, standing your ground, perseverance, resilience.
- Reversed: Giving up, feeling overwhelmed, losing ground, lack of defense.
Eight of wands
- Upright: Speed, action, progress, swift movement, momentum.
- Reversed: Delays, frustration, lack of movement, slowed progress.
Nine of wands
- Upright: Perseverance, resilience, defense, standing strong, being on guard.
- Reversed: Burnout, defensiveness, exhaustion, giving up after a long battle.
Ten of wands
- Upright: Burden, responsibility, stress, overworking, duty.
- Reversed: Release of burdens, feeling overwhelmed, delegating responsibilities, relief.
Page of wands
- Upright: Enthusiasm, exploration, new opportunities, creative ideas, curiosity.
- Reversed: Lack of direction, delays in plans, immaturity, procrastination.
Knight of wands
- Upright: Adventure, passion, action, impulsiveness, boldness.
- Reversed: Impulsiveness, recklessness, delays, lack of follow-through.
Queen of wands
- Upright: Confidence, warmth, charisma, creativity, independence, leadership.
- Reversed: Insecurity, jealousy, coldness, lack of self-confidence, disorganization.
King of wands
- Upright: Leadership, vision, courage, determination, inspiration.
- Reversed: Dictatorship, arrogance, impulsiveness, lack of control, scattered energy.
Swords
Ace of swords
- Upright: New ideas, clarity, breakthroughs, truth.
- Reversed: Confusion, dishonesty, miscommunication, lack of clarity.
Two of swords
- Upright: Decisions, balance, crossroads, stalemate.
- Reversed: Indecision, confusion, being stuck, difficult choices.
Three of swords
- Upright: Heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow, betrayal.
- Reversed: Healing, forgiveness, recovery, moving on.
Four of swords
- Upright: Rest, recovery, contemplation, solitude.
- Reversed: Burnout, lack of rest, exhaustion, need for healing.
Five of swords
- Upright: Conflict, betrayal, dishonor, empty victories.
- Reversed: Resolution, making amends, reconciliation, letting go of grudges.
Six of swords
- Upright: Transition, moving on, leaving behind difficulties.
- Reversed: Stagnation, resistance to change, unresolved issues.
Seven of swords
- Upright: Deception, secrecy, stealth, strategy.
- Reversed: Truth revealed, confession, coming clean, dishonesty exposed.
Eight of swords
- Upright: Feeling trapped, limitation, mental prison, self-imposed restrictions.
- Reversed: Liberation, release from limitations, freedom of mind.
Nine of swords
- Upright: Anxiety, worry, sleepless nights, guilt.
- Reversed: Overcoming fear, finding peace, end of nightmares.
Ten of swords
- Upright: Betrayal, painful endings, rock bottom, finality.
- Reversed: Recovery, regeneration, hope after suffering.
Page of swords
- Upright: Curiosity, new ideas, vigilance, communication.
- Reversed: Gossip, immaturity, deception, scattered energy.
Knight of swords
- Upright: Action, fast-paced movement, ambition, assertiveness.
- Reversed: Impulsiveness, recklessness, aggression, arguments.
Queen of swords
- Upright: Clarity, independence, sharp intellect, communication.
- Reversed: Coldness, bitterness, sharp tongue, emotionally distant.
King of swords
- Upright: Authority, logic, truth, strategic thinking.
- Reversed: Abuse of power, manipulation, dishonesty, rigid thinking.
Pentacles
Ace of pentacles
- Upright: New beginnings in material or financial matters; opportunities for growth and prosperity; manifestation.
- Reversed: Missed opportunities; financial setbacks; lack of focus on material goals.
Two of pentacles
- Upright: Balance and adaptability; juggling priorities; managing resources effectively.
- Reversed: Imbalance; overwhelmed by responsibilities; financial instability.
Three of pentacles
- Upright: Teamwork and collaboration; skill development; recognition for hard work.
- Reversed: Lack of teamwork; poor quality work; feeling unappreciated.
Four of pentacles
- Upright: Security, stability, and control; holding onto resources tightly; fear of loss.
- Reversed: Letting go of control; release of financial fear; being overly materialistic.
Five of pentacles
- Upright: Financial loss or hardship; feeling left out in the cold; struggle with insecurity.
- Reversed: Recovery from financial difficulties; finding support or a way out of hardship.
Six of pentacles
- Upright: Generosity, charity, and sharing; balancing giving and receiving; financial harmony.
- Reversed: Imbalance in giving or receiving; selfishness; financial exploitation.
Seven of pentacles
- Upright: Patience and long-term planning; evaluating progress; hard work paying off.
- Reversed: Impatience; lack of progress; reconsidering investments.
Eight of pentacles
- Upright: Hard work, dedication, and focus; mastering a craft; attention to detail.
- Reversed: Lack of effort or focus; underachievement; dissatisfaction with work.
nine of pentacles
- Upright: Abundance, luxury, and self-sufficiency; enjoying the fruits of one’s labor; independence.
- Reversed: Insecurity despite success; relying too much on others; lack of self-worth.
Ten of pentacles
- Upright: Wealth, family, and legacy; long-term security; material success and stability.
- Reversed: Financial loss in the family; breakdown of family traditions or inheritance issues.
Page of pentacles
- Upright: New opportunities in education or career; practical beginnings; curiosity about material matters.
- Reversed: Lack of focus; missed opportunities; feeling stagnant or immature in financial matters.
Knight of pentacles
- Upright: Responsibility, reliability, and hard work; slow and steady progress; methodical approach.
- Reversed: Stagnation; laziness; lack of ambition or movement forward.
Queen of pentacles
- Upright: Nurturing, practical, and grounded; financial security; care and support for others.
- Reversed: Overprotectiveness; neglecting self-care; financial insecurity.
King of pentacles
- Upright: Wealth, success, and authority; financial mastery; stability and generosity.
- Reversed: Greed; excessive control; misuse of wealth or power.