Card Keywords at a Glance

Upright and reversed keywords for all 78 cards on one page. Tap a card name for its full page. This table is compiled from the Keywords section of each card page, so it changes when they do.

Major Arcana

Card Upright Reversed
The Fool new beginnings, adventure, innocence, freedom, trusting intuition recklessness, indecision, losing touch with reality, avoiding responsibility
The Magician action, creation, communication, pulling resources together, willpower manipulation, big ideas with little follow-through, self-doubt, blocked expression
The High Priestess intuition, the subconscious, mystery, quiet wisdom, inner knowing suppressed intuition, deliberate mystification, unclear information, being swamped by emotion
The Empress abundance, nurture, creativity, sensual pleasure, motherhood over-giving, blocked creativity, filling a void through dependence, controlling care
The Emperor authority, structure, stability, discipline, leadership tyranny, rigidity, need for control, lack of discipline
The Hierophant tradition, institutions, faith, teaching, belonging rigid dogma, lack of guidance, unconventional beliefs, blind obedience
The Lovers choice, harmony, shared values, attraction, awakening indecision, being ruled by desire, unspoken differences, imbalance in the relationship
The Chariot willpower, control, breakthrough, determination, victory loss of control, competitiveness gone too far, resolve worn down from within, outside obstacles
Strength gentle strength, patience, courage, taming instinct, self-mastery impulsive loss of control, heavy-handed suppression, bottled-up feelings, self-doubt, burnout
The Hermit introspection, solitude, wisdom that has settled in, guidance, slowing down isolation without support, shutting yourself off, avoiding connection, relying on others for guidance, loneliness
Wheel of Fortune turning point, impermanence, cycles, timing, change beyond personal control stagnation, fatalistic giving up, change brewing within, anxiety about losing control
Justice cause and effect, fairness, rational judgment, responsibility, a ruling delayed resolution, rigid dogmatism, unfairness and favoritism, unresolved feelings, matters left hanging
The Hanged Man deliberate suspension, a reversed perspective, meaningful sacrifice, patient waiting, seeing from a new angle pointless stagnation, passive procrastination, inner change not yet shown outside, martyr-like self-sacrifice, resisting a necessary pause
Death complete ending, irreversible transformation, equality before change, making room for new life, letting go endings dragged out, excessive destruction, inner change not yet shown outside, fear of impermanence, avoiding loss
Temperance reconciling, patient blending, balancing opposites, gradual rebuilding, holding both sides unbalanced deadlock, too much compromise, inner balance not yet shown outside, impatience and imbalance, blurred boundaries
The Devil bondage, addiction, materialism, the shadow self, unhealthy attachment breaking free, hidden dependence, indulgence out of control, facing desire
The Tower sudden change, collapse, shattered illusions, forced awakening, liberation delayed collapse, inner shakiness, resisting change, rebuilding after the ruins
The Star hope, healing, generosity, a sense of direction, openness lack of confidence, ideals cut off from reality, closing oneself off, impatience
The Moon the unknown, intuition, the subconscious, illusion, instinct the fog lifting, excessive anxiety, self-deception, truth coming to light
The Sun clarity, joy, success, truth, vitality joy temporarily blocked, blind optimism, hiding oneself, a passing low
Judgement awakening, a calling, summing up, rebirth, forgiveness delayed response, excessive self-blame, inner reflection not yet acted on, avoiding responsibility
The World completion, integration, fulfillment, ease, travel unfinished business, demanding too much perfection, a private sense of achievement, forced interruption

Wands (Fire)

Overview: The Suit of Wands.

Card Upright Reversed
Ace of Wands inspiration, beginnings, creative impulse, potential delays, lack of direction, creative block
Two of Wands planning, foresight, decision, early control indecision, holding back, blocked expansion
Three of Wands expansion, foresight, waiting for results, several ventures at once delays and setbacks, lack of foresight, loss of control
Four of Wands celebration, belonging, milestone, harmony delayed recognition, hidden friction, restlessness with stability
Five of Wands competition, disagreement, chaotic contest, wanting to be seen hidden power struggles, avoiding conflict, escalating tension
Six of Wands public victory, recognition, honors, promotion late recognition, arrogance, a reputation not lived up to
Seven of Wands holding your ground, defense, confident resistance, resilience retreat, stubbornness, overwhelmed by pressure
Eight of Wands rapid progress, news, travel, smooth going delays, haste, stalled communication
Nine of Wands perseverance, vigilance, pressing on while wounded, last reserves of will exhaustion and giving up, excessive guardedness, hidden fatigue
Ten of Wands carrying a heavy load, peak responsibility, head-down hard work, nearly at the finish collapse and dropping everything, unfinished and dragging on, fatigue endured in silence
Page of Wands curious experimenting, new messages, a learner's mindset, budding enthusiasm short-lived enthusiasm, indecision, rash impulsiveness
Knight of Wands drive, decisive action, a fierce start, directness recklessness that spoils things, fickleness, stalled action
Queen of Wands confident and charismatic, independent, steady passion, leadership domineering and suspicious, insecure, suppressed passion
King of Wands leadership, vision, decisiveness, building an enterprise high-handedness, rashness, lack of authority

Cups (Water)

Overview: The Suit of Cups.

Card Upright Reversed
Ace of Cups new feelings, the beginning of love, intuitive awakening, creative flow, an open heart suppressed feelings, giving that comes to nothing, numbness, love left unsaid
Two of Cups mutual attraction, partnership, reconciliation, equal giving unrequited love, imbalance in a relationship, broken communication, feelings left unsaid
Three of Cups gatherings of friends, celebrating together, group support, shared joy partying too hard, gossip and quarrels, plans that fall through, pretending to fit in
Four of Cups weariness, failing to appreciate what one has, introspection, missing the opportunity in front of you deeper apathy, finally opening up again (direction depends on context)
Five of Cups grief, regret, focusing on loss, missed chances acceptance and moving on, sinking into self-pity (two opposite directions disputed)
Six of Cups nostalgia, innocent giving, reunion with old friends, simple joys stuck in the past, refusing to grow up, a reunion with mixed motives
Seven of Cups too many choices, daydreams, idealization, possibilities not yet grounded making a clear-headed choice, retreating deeper into fantasy (two opposite directions disputed)
Eight of Cups leaving by choice, seeking deeper meaning, walking away from surface achievements wanting to leave but unable to, procrastination, repeated escapist departures
Nine of Cups wishes come true, satisfaction, enjoying the rewards, feeling good about oneself smugness and showing off, endless greed, surface satisfaction covering emptiness
Ten of Cups a happy family, belonging, lasting emotional fulfillment, the ideal home cracks beneath surface harmony, clashing values, a blocked reunion
Page of Cups budding intuition, creative inspiration, emotional news, innocent curiosity afraid to express feelings, emotional immaturity, news that never comes
Knight of Cups active pursuit, a romantic proposal, idealism, expressing feelings through action empty promises, fickle affections, wanting to pursue but not daring to act
Queen of Cups empathy, intuitive wisdom, emotional nurturing, deep inner perception emotions out of control, excessive self-sacrifice, using emotions to manipulate others
King of Cups emotional maturity, calm outside and rich inside, good at listening and mediating, restraint emotional distance and coldness, manipulating others through emotion (two opposite directions disputed)

Swords (Air)

Overview: The Suit of Swords.

Card Upright Reversed
Ace of Swords clarity, breakthrough, truth, new ideas, getting straight to the point confusion, harshness, blocked decisions, obsessive overthinking
Two of Swords stalemate, avoidance, defensiveness, indecision truth coming out, decision paralysis, emotions out of control
Three of Swords heartbreak, the shock of truth, betrayal, grief suppressed grief, inability to move on, beginning to heal
Four of Swords rest, pause, healing, stepping back forced return, excessive avoidance, a mind that will not settle
Five of Swords dishonorable victory, humiliation, bullying reconciliation, lingering resentment, letting go of the fight
Six of Swords transition, moving on while still hurting, leaving for good reasons, things gradually calming down unable to leave, unfinished business, plans blocked
Seven of Swords deception, going it alone, holding something back, cutting corners being found out, coming clean, deeper self-deception
Eight of Swords self-imposed limits, learned helplessness, feeling stuck breaking free, seeing a way out, regaining control
Nine of Swords anxiety, insomnia, catastrophic thinking, mental torment coming out of anxiety, seeking help, worries easing
Ten of Swords total ending, hitting bottom, being forced to let go a drawn-out ending, refusing to accept it, starting to recover
Page of Swords curiosity, alertness, passing on news, beginner's critical thinking careless talk, all talk and no action, prying into privacy
Knight of Swords decisiveness, eloquence, quick decisions, sharp edges on show reckless aggression, action stalling, losing direction
Queen of Swords clear-headedness, independence, speaking plainly, insight from experience cutting remarks, closed off and isolated, overthinking that turns on itself
King of Swords fair judgment, rational authority, clear structure, not swayed by emotion using logic to bully, cold and unfeeling, manipulative sophistry

Pentacles (Earth)

Overview: The Suit of Pentacles.

Card Upright Reversed
Ace of Pentacles new opportunity, material beginnings, a fresh start in health, solid resources delayed opportunity, a missed start, excessive anxiety about material security
Two of Pentacles juggling several things, flexible scheduling, dynamic balance, adaptability dropping one ball to catch another, financial disorder, imbalance and overload
Three of Pentacles professional recognition, teamwork, craftsmanship that gets noticed, building to plan teamwork breaking down, skill not yet up to standard, effort that goes unrecognized
Four of Pentacles holding on to money, control, security placed in material things, resistance to change a loosening grip, money slipping out of control, starting to let things flow
Five of Pentacles material hardship, being shut out, help not taken up, physical strain circumstances improving, finally asking for help, a lingering sense of lack
Six of Pentacles generous giving, resources in motion, help arriving, power within giving unequal giving, financial dependence, help with strings attached
Seven of Pentacles patient assessment, taking stock midway, results not yet ready to collect, deciding whether to continue or cut losses giving up from impatience, endless weighing without deciding, harvesting too early
Eight of Pentacles refining through repetition, focused practice, building skill, striving for excellence excessive perfectionism, doing the bare minimum, practice that has stalled
Nine of Pentacles material independence, abundance earned through self-discipline, contented solitude, quality of life independence turning into isolation, using material things to cover an emptiness, polished on the outside but unsteady within
Ten of Pentacles family legacy, structural abundance, inheritance, long-term stability inheritance disputes, a shaken foundation, valuing material things over feelings
Page of Pentacles steady learning, a grounded beginner, concrete news about material matters, careful preparation short-lived enthusiasm, lack of preparation, intentions without action
Knight of Pentacles slow and steady progress, methodical work, cautious advance, diligence stuck in one's ways, resisting change, fussing over small details
Queen of Pentacles practical nurture, skill at running a life, managing resources well, a steady caregiver giving too much and neglecting oneself, hidden needs, exhaustion and burnout
King of Pentacles authority in business, steady control, the strength of the self-made, long-term building power greed and stubbornness, rigid decisions, missing chances through excess caution

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