Mastering the Upright Tarot Keywords: Your Essential Guide to Interpretation
Ready to unlock the secrets of the deck? The Upright Tarot Keywords are the foundation of every powerful reading. These concise terms reveal the active, conscious, and positive potential of the Major and Minor Arcana, offering immediate insight into the current energies, strengths, and core themes at play. Start here to build your essential vocabulary and transform your ability to interpret the 78 Tarot cards with clarity and confidence.
| Arcana / Suit | Card Name | Upright Keywords |
|---|---|---|
| Major Arcana | 0. The Fool | Beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, free spirit, new opportunities |
| I. The Magician | Manifestation, resourcefulness, power, inspired action, skill | |
| II. The High Priestess | Intuition, mystery, subconscious, inner voice, sacred knowledge | |
| III. The Empress | Femininity, beauty, nature, nurturing, abundance, creativity | |
| IV. The Emperor | Authority, structure, control, father figure, foundation, leadership | |
| V. The Hierophant | Spiritual guidance, tradition, conformity, belief system, mentor | |
| VI. The Lovers | Love, union, relationships, choices, harmony, alignment of values | |
| VII. The Chariot | Victory, assertion, control, determination, focused will, travel | |
| VIII. Strength | Courage, inner strength, compassion, influence, gentle persuasion | |
| IX. The Hermit | Introspection, solitude, inner guidance, searching for truth, wisdom | |
| X. Wheel of Fortune | Good luck, karma, life cycles, destiny, turning points, major change | |
| XI. Justice | Fairness, truth, law, cause and effect, objectivity, legal matters | |
| XII. The Hanged Man | Pause, surrender, new perspective, sacrifice, letting go | |
| XIII. Death | Endings, transformation, transition, change, cleansing, necessary closure | |
| XIV. Temperance | Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, blending, harmony | |
| XV. The Devil | Addiction, bondage, materialism, shadow self, limiting beliefs | |
| XVI. The Tower | Sudden change, disruption, chaos, revelation, unexpected crisis | |
| XVII. The Star | Hope, inspiration, healing, spiritual connection, renewed faith, serenity | |
| XVIII. The Moon | Illusion, fear, anxiety, subconscious, dreams, uncertainty | |
| XIX. The Sun | Joy, success, vitality, celebration, warmth, confidence | |
| XX. Judgement | Reflection, reckoning, inner calling, awakening, forgiveness, rebirth | |
| XXI. The World | Completion, fulfillment, achievement, travel, wholesome end | |
| Wands | Ace of Wands | New beginnings, inspiration, energy, potential, creative spark |
| Two of Wands | Planning, big decisions, progress, future focus, discovery | |
| Three of Wands | Expansion, foresight, achievement, collaboration, long-term goals | |
| Four of Wands | Celebration, homecoming, harmony, community, stability | |
| Five of Wands | Competition, conflict, friction, minor disagreements, diversity | |
| Six of Wands | Victory, public recognition, triumph, success, progress | |
| Seven of Wands | Perseverance, defense, fighting for your beliefs, determination | |
| Eight of Wands | Rapid action, movement, quick decisions, travel, clarity | |
| Nine of Wands | Resilience, stamina, boundaries, final stand, caution | |
| Ten of Wands | Burden, responsibility, feeling overwhelmed, duty, obligation | |
| Page of Wands | Excitement, exploration, free spirit, new creative ideas | |
| Knight of Wands | Action, adventure, passion, impulsiveness, ambition | |
| Queen of Wands | Courage, determination, joy, confidence, social butterfly | |
| King of Wands | Vision, natural leader, big picture, creative power, honor | |
| Cups | Ace of Cups | New emotions, love, intuition, compassion, intimacy, creative flow |
| Two of Cups | Unity, partnership, mutual attraction, connection, harmony | |
| Three of Cups | Celebration, friendship, community, joyful reunion, abundance | |
| Four of Cups | Apathy, contemplation, disconnectedness, boredom, feeling withdrawn | |
| Five of Cups | Loss, grief, regret, mourning, sadness over what is spilled | |
| Six of Cups | Happy memories, nostalgia, childhood, kindness, reunion with the past | |
| Seven of Cups | Choices, wishful thinking, illusion, imagination, multiple options | |
| Eight of Cups | Walking away, disillusionment, seeking deeper purpose, abandonment | |
| Nine of Cups | Wishes fulfilled, satisfaction, emotional stability, contentment | |
| Ten of Cups | Complete emotional fulfillment, lasting happiness, family harmony | |
| Page of Cups | Dreamer, happy surprise, sensitive, new emotional messages | |
| Knight of Cups | Romance, charm, imagination, proposal, being swept away | |
| Queen of Cups | Compassion, caring, emotional stability, intuitive, healing | |
| King of Cups | Emotional balance, diplomacy, generosity, calm, spiritual guidance | |
| Swords | Ace of Swords | Clarity, breakthrough, mental power, new ideas, decisive action |
| Two of Swords | Blocked emotions, avoidance, difficult choices, stalemate | |
| Three of Swords | Heartbreak, emotional pain, sorrow, betrayal, necessary suffering | |
| Four of Swords | Rest, recuperation, solitude, contemplation, recovery | |
| Five of Swords | Conflict, loss, self-interest, defeat, winning at all costs | |
| Six of Swords | Transition, moving on, passage, leaving troubled waters behind | |
| Seven of Swords | Deception, trickery, getting away with something, covert action | |
| Eight of Swords | Restriction, feeling trapped, self-imposed limitation, isolation | |
| Nine of Swords | Anxiety, worry, nightmares, fear, mental anguish, deep despair | |
| Ten of Swords | Ruin, sudden ending, rock bottom, unavoidable closure, martyrdom | |
| Page of Swords | Curiosity, alertness, mental agility, new intellectual ideas | |
| Knight of Swords | Ambition, focused drive, haste, directness, acting quickly | |
| Queen of Swords | Sharp wit, clear boundaries, honest, independent, unbiased judgement | |
| King of Swords | Intellectual authority, truth, ethics, analysis, clear thinking | |
| Pentacles (Coins) | Ace of Pentacles | New financial opportunity, prosperity, manifestation, security |
| Two of Pentacles | Balance, juggling resources, prioritizing, adaptation to change | |
| Three of Pentacles | Teamwork, collaboration, mastery, building, initial success | |
| Four of Pentacles | Security, control, possession, saving, materialism, stability | |
| Five of Pentacles | Financial loss, hardship, worry, exclusion, poverty | |
| Six of Pentacles | Generosity, charity, giving and receiving, financial fairness | |
| Seven of Pentacles | Patience, reflection, assessment, waiting for the harvest, investment | |
| Eight of Pentacles | Diligence, skill development, mastery, apprenticeship, hard work | |
| Nine of Pentacles | Abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency, independence, material comfort | |
| Ten of Pentacles | Permanent foundation, wealth, family legacy, established security | |
| Page of Pentacles | New financial beginning, ambition, practical skills, focus on studies | |
| Knight of Pentacles | Hard work, dedication, responsibility, reliability, slow and steady progress | |
| Queen of Pentacles | Nurturing, practical, financial security, domestic harmony, resourcefulness | |
| King of Pentacles | Abundance, power, success, security, business acumen, reliable provider |
Understanding the primary meaning of each card, encapsulated in its Upright Tarot Keywords, is the crucial first step for any student of the Tarot. This vocabulary acts as a bridge between the symbolic imagery and the real-world advice needed by the querent. Without a solid grounding in the Upright Tarot Keywords, readings can become confusing, lacking the clear, actionable guidance the cards are designed to provide. This article will break down the essential Upright Tarot Keywords for all 78 cards, categorized by the Major Arcana and the four suits of the Minor Arcana.
The Power of Upright Tarot Keywords
When a card appears in its upright position, its energy is flowing freely and constructively. The associated Upright Tarot Keywords describe the most positive, accessible, and conscious expression of that card’s theme.
For example, when the Ten of Pentacles appears upright, its primary keywords are “completion,” “legacy,” and “security.” This immediately tells the reader that the theme is about tangible success and long-term stability. If you are learning the Tarot, memorizing these Upright Tarot Keywords will enable you to construct a full narrative quickly and accurately, allowing you to move beyond simply describing the picture on the card.
External Sources for Upright Tarot Keywords: Project Gutenberg – A.E. Waite’s The Pictorial Key to the Tarot https://www.gutenberg.org/files/6690/6690-h/6690-h.htm, Yale Library – Cary Collection of Playing Cards (Tarot History) https://library.yale.edu/news/cards-library-partners-work-together-solve-mysteries-rare-tarot-deck, The Library of Congress – Tarot Card Designs Collection https://www.loc.gov/collections/tarot-card-designs-from-the-carlisle-family-collection/, Learning the Tarot – An On-Line Course (Joan Bunning) https://www.learntarot.com/, Smithsonian Magazine – The Colorful History of Tarot https://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/colorful-history-tarot-mesmerizing-decks-themseles-180986811/
