The Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot

This quick-reference guide provides beginners and content creators with instant access to meanings for all 78 Rider-Waite-Smith tarot cards. Written and researched by Finbarre Snarey.

The Tower Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a tower struck by lightning as a crown and two people fall.

The Tower

Rupture

The Star Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a nude figure pouring water beneath one large and seven small stars.

The Star

Replenishment

The Moon Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing the moon above two towers, a dog, a wolf and a crayfish.

The Moon

Penumbra

The Sun Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a joyful child on a white horse beneath the sun and sunflowers.

The Sun

Radiance

Judgement Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing an angel sounding a trumpet as people rise from coffins.

Judgement

Recall

The World Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a dancing figure inside a wreath with four winged beings.

The World

Culmination

Ace of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a hand emerging from a cloud holding a sprouting wand above a landscape.

Ace of Wands

Kindling

Two of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a cloaked figure holding a globe and wand while looking across the sea.

Two of Wands

Prospect

Three of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a figure with three wands watching ships from a cliff.

Three of Wands

Outreach

Four of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing four garlanded wands, two celebrants and a castle.

Four of Wands

Festivity

Five of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing five young figures crossing wooden staves in energetic conflict.

Five of Wands

Contest

Six of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a laurel-crowned rider carrying a decorated wand before followers.

Six of Wands

Laurels

Seven of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a figure on high ground defending against six raised wands.

Seven of Wands

Rampart

Eight of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing eight wooden wands flying diagonally across an open landscape.

Eight of Wands

Velocity

Nine of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a bandaged figure holding a wand before a row of eight others.

Nine of Wands

Redoubt

Ten of Wands Rider-Waite-Smith tarot card showing a bent figure carrying ten heavy wands towards a town.

Ten of Wands

Freight