The 78 Tarot Cards: Complete Reference List (2026)

How to use the 78-card list as a learning system

The list is most useful when it becomes a reference for observation, not a memorisation race. A complete deck includes 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards: four suits of fourteen cards plus the Trumps. Knowing the names and broad themes gives you a map, while repeated readings give you a way to notice which meanings you actually understand.

Learn in layers instead of memorising all 78 at once

Begin with the Major Arcana as a sequence of stages rather than isolated labels. The Fool, Magician, Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, and World form a broad narrative arc. That does not mean every reading must be told as a story. It is simply a way to remember the cards before you dive into court and pip cards.

Next, learn one suit at a time. Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles each have a dominant theme, but the four cards in a suit can appear in different contexts. The Ace is a beginning or offered resource; the Ten is a completed cycle, excess, or consequence. Court cards describe a role, relationship, or mode of action. You can use the Rider-Waite Tarot app to inspect a full deck offline, then return to your notes before looking at an interpretation.

A three-pass reading exercise

1. Name: identify each card, suit, number, and orientation before reading it.
2. Describe: write a literal image or action associated with the card without claiming a hidden meaning.
3. Connect: look for relationships between cards and the question you wrote before the spread.

Keep the original question specific. “What do I need to understand about this decision?” is easier to review than “What does the universe want?” For a three-card spread, record the left, centre, and right positions. For a longer spread, draw cards in a fixed order and photograph the layout only if you want a record. Do not reshuffle until you obtain a preferred answer.

Use reversals and extra cards deliberately

Some readers treat reversals as blocked energy, others as emphasis or inversion. Treat that as a house rule you declare in advance. The Tarot Chaos material can be a companion reference, but a book cannot decide your reading for you. If a card feels confusing, describe the image, check the position, and ask what relationship it has to the other cards. Avoid invented meanings such as “your future spouse” without context.

A weekly practice that produces useful notes

Choose one card per day, write its name and a one-sentence image, and then draw a small three-card spread at the end of the week. Compare the dictionary definition with your own association. Do not use the cards to diagnose illness, determine legal outcomes, or make a financial decision on someone else’s behalf. Tarot can support reflection, but it should not replace qualified advice or informed consent.

Frequently asked questions

Why are there 78 cards instead of 52?

A tarot deck adds 22 Major Arcana to the 56 Minor Arcana cards. The Major Arcana provide large themes, while suits and numbers provide more detailed situations.

Do I need to memorise all 78 before reading?

No. Learn enough to identify cards, keep a reference nearby, and improve through repeated practice.

Which deck are these meanings based on?

These general references describe common Rider-Waite themes. Different decks and traditions add imagery and interpretive context, so compare rather than treat one list as universal.