The Complete 78 Tarot Cards Cheat Sheet: Learn One Card at a Time
The Complete 78 Tarot Cards Cheat Sheet — Learn One Card at a Time
1. What Is the 'Archetypal Structure' of the 78 Tarot Cards?
The 78 Tarot cards = 22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana (4 suits × 14 cards)
Every card shares common ground (same element / same number), yet carries its own uniqueness (specific meaning).
The core design of this cheat sheet: use the briefest description so you can grasp each card in seconds.
2. The 22 Major Arcana Cheat Sheet
| Number | Card Name | One-Line Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | The Fool | New beginnings, innocence, freedom |
| 1 | The Magician | Resources + action, a creative start |
| 2 | The High Priestess | Intuition, subconscious, inner wisdom |
| 3 | The Empress | Nurturing, abundance, motherly energy |
| 4 | The Emperor | Fatherhood, structure, authority |
| 5 | The Hierophant | Tradition, teaching, faith |
| 6 | The Lovers | Love, choice, relationships |
| 7 | The Chariot | Willpower, victory, control |
| 8 | Strength | Inner power, gentleness + courage |
| 9 | The Hermit | Solitude, inner light, seeking |
| 10 | Wheel of Fortune | Cycles, change, opportunity |
| 11 | Justice | Fairness, truth, cause and effect |
| 12 | The Hanged Man | Pause, shifted perspective, surrender |
| 13 | Death | Transformation, ending, rebirth |
| 14 | Temperance | Balance, moderation, patience |
| 15 | The Devil | Bondage, addiction, shadow |
| 16 | The Tower | Collapse, truth, liberation |
| 17 | The Star | Hope, healing, inspiration |
| 18 | The Moon | Subconscious, fear, illusion |
| 19 | The Sun | Joy, success, vitality |
| 20 | Judgement | Awakening, rebirth, reflection |
| 21 | The World | Completion, integration, end of cycle |
3. The 56 Minor Arcana (Suit Cheat Sheet)
Number Meanings (Shared by Every Suit)
| Number | One-Line Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ace | New beginning / potential |
| 2 | Balance / cooperation |
| 3 | Creation / collaboration |
| 4 | Stability / structure |
| 5 | Conflict / change |
| 6 | Harmony / generosity |
| 7 | Introspection / assessment |
| 8 | Action / mastery |
| 9 | Nearing completion |
| 10 | Completion / fulfillment |
Specific Meanings by Suit + Number
Wands (Fire, Action)
| Ace | Inspiration / new opportunity |
| Two | Choice / waiting |
| Three | Vision / expansion |
| Four | Celebration / belonging |
| Five | Conflict / argument |
| Six | Victory / community |
| Seven | Defense / holding ground |
| Eight | Swift action |
| Nine | Resilience / preparation |
| Ten | Burden / accomplishment |
| Page | Learning new action |
| Knight | A doer on the move |
| Queen | Charisma / fiery leadership |
| King | Creative leadership |
Cups (Water, Emotion)
| Ace | New feeling / inspiration |
| Two | True love / soul resonance |
| Three | Celebrating friendship |
| Four | Apathy / burnout |
| Five | Loss / grief |
| Six | Nostalgia / childlike wonder |
| Seven | Choice overload |
| Eight | Walking away / seeking |
| Nine | Contentment / wish fulfilled |
| Ten | Wholeness / home |
| Page | Romantic / sensitive soul |
| Knight | The romantic suitor |
| Queen | Compassion / intuition |
| King | Mercy / emotional maturity |
Swords (Air, Intellect)
| Ace | Truth / clarity |
| Two | Balance / waiting |
| Three | Heartbreak / separation |
| Four | Rest / stepping back |
| Five | Defeat / conflict |
| Six | Calm / transition |
| Seven | Concealment / strategy |
| Eight | Feeling trapped / self-limitation |
| Nine | Anxiety / sleeplessness |
| Ten | Finality / hitting rock bottom |
| Page | Curiosity / scholarship |
| Knight | Impulsive / a man of action |
| Queen | Independence / clarity |
| King | Reason / authority |
Pentacles (Earth, Material)
| Ace | Material opportunity / work |
| Two | Balance / juggling |
| Three | Apprentice / craft |
| Four | Safeguarding / resources |
| Five | Hardship / isolation |
| Six | Generosity / fairness |
| Seven | Patience / assessment |
| Eight | Diligence / craftsmanship |
| Nine | Independence / abundance |
| Ten | Family / lasting success |
| Page | Learning / beginning |
| Knight | Steady / unhurried |
| Queen | Nurturing / material comfort |
| King | Business / financial achievement |
4. The 5 Most-Used Cards + The 5 Most Feared Cards
5 'Most-Used' Cards
- The Fool (0): Every day holds the possibility of a 'new beginning'
- The Magician (I): Resources + skill
- The Empress (III): Nurturing / practical care
- Wheel of Fortune (X): Cycles / turning points
- The Star (XVII): Hope / healing
5 'Most Feared' Cards
- The Tower (XVI): Collapse / truth
- Death (XIII): Endings
- The Devil (XV): Bondage / shadow
- The Moon (XVIII): Confusion / anxiety
- Ten of Swords: Rock bottom / finality
Note: These 'most feared' cards are not necessarily bad — they represent transformation, and transformation hurts in the short term.
5. The 3 'Highest-Efficiency' Cards Cheat Sheet
If you only learn 3 cards a day, these are the most rewarding picks:
1. The Fool (0)
Core: New beginnings, trusting the journey
Application: Your daily 'self' state
2. The Empress (III)
Core: Nurturing, abundance
Application: Emotions / relationships / material life
3. Wheel of Fortune (X)
Core: Cycles, turning points
Application: Any 'I am changing' situation
6. Why a Cheat Sheet Helps
A cheat sheet ≠ rote memorization. It is your 'anchor' for learning Tarot.
When you forget the details of a card, one glance at the 'cheat sheet' brings you right back to the image. It's incredibly practical — every Tarot reader carries their own cheat sheet in mind.
7. How to Use This Cheat Sheet
- Look at 1 card's cheat sheet + full reading each day
- 5 cards a week
- 20 cards in 4 weeks
- All 78 cards in 12 weeks
Weekly review: note which ones you remembered and which ones slipped away.
In 3 months, you'll have your own cheat sheet — you'll have 1–5 keywords for each card, and that becomes your personal 'Tarot dictionary'.
8. Final Words: The Cheat Sheet Is the Tarot's 'Skeleton'
The 78 Tarot cards are not here to overwhelm you — they exist so there's always a new one waiting to learn. The cheat sheet lets you review quickly, so you never have to start from zero.
Our Lotus Tarot app comes with a built-in cheat sheet for all 78 cards: including a one-line version (ultra-minimal) + a full version.
Look at 1 card a day, and within 30 days you'll have toured all the suit main cards; after 30 days you'll already be familiar with a large chunk.
Wishing you a Tarot journey that begins with the cheat sheet.
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