Negative Key words and meanings of Reversed Major Arcana Cards

These are the key words associated with each card of the Major Arcana, drawn reversed. Again, my references are Sylvia Abraham’s wonderful book  ‘Learn How to Read The Tarot’ and Liz Dean’s simple, easy to understand book The Art of Tarot. It is sufficient to remember one key word related to each card.

Continue to spend time studying each card and noting down the first words that come to mind. This helps to connect to your deck in a better way. What you learn like this will stay with you forever. For more insight it is a good practise to cross check your understanding of each card with knowledge given by experienced Tarot experts in their books.

Zero – The Fool – Everyone

Reversed card means - Foolish desires or aspirations, unwise impulsive actions, ignorance, irresponsible behavior, pleasure seeker, sexual focus

One – The Magician -  “I will”. For example, “I will not have new beginnings in my career yet”

Reversed card means - Stagnation, boredom, lack of excitement and self confidence, egotistical nature, rigid mindset, incompetence, imbalance

Two – The High Priestess – ‘I know’

Reversed card means  - Selfishness, overly emotional, fearful, under illusion, superficial, closed mind, unskilled

Three – The Empress – “I make” For example, “I do not make my work circumstances and social activities”

Reversed card means - Unhappiness. Infertile. Unloving, selfish, dull. Unforgiving. Lacking talent. Stagnant.

Four – The Emperor – “I realize”

Reversed card means - Lacking authority. Impulsive, immature and inexperienced. Dishonest, unstable. Lack of growth and energy.

Five – The Heirophant -  “I believe”

Reversed card means - Dogmatic. Intolerant and unforgiving. Bored. Self doubt. Materialistic, fearful.

Six – The Lovers – “I choose”

Reversed card means - Infidelity, indecision, sexual drive, dishonesty. Frustration. Irresponsibility

Seven – The Chariot – “The Path”

Reversed card means - Superstitious. Overconfident. Lacking direction. Ignorance. Imbalance.

Eight – Strength

Reversed card means - Egotism. Deceit. Cowardice. Ruthlessness. Fithlessness. Lethargic.

Nine – The Hermit – meaning Wisdom through experiences.

Reversed card means - Immature. Uninspired. Dogmatic. Health issues. Prejudiced, inexperienced.

Ten – The Wheel of Fortune – meaning Changes and Cycles.

Reversed card means - Stagnation. Gambling. Guilt. Focus on the physical. Fear of change, limited understanding. Stagnation.

Eleven  – Justice

Reversed card means  - Imbalance, paranoia, rebellion, hasty decisions, dishonesty

Twelve – The Hanged Man – meaning Sacrifice, Reversal.

Reversed card means - Fantasy, indecision, guilt, fear, indiscipline, escapism. Foolish decisions

Thirteen – Death – meaning Transformation

Reversed card means - Decay, sexuality, mortality, ignorance, resentment, inaction, materialism

Fourteen – Temperance – indicates Moderation, Tests and trials

Reversed card means  Disharmony, ignorance, wanderlust, imbalance, intolerance

Fifteen – The Devil – indicates Materialism and Deception

Reversed card means Greed, waste of energy, bondage, desires, irresponsible, temptation, manipulation

Sixteen – The Tower – indicating Catastrophe

Reversed card means  - Impulsive. Selfishness, anger, strife, inactivity.

Seventeen – The Star – indicates Discovery, Aspiration

Reversed card means - Doubts, unstable attitude, ambitionless, pessimistic. Loneliness.

Eighteen – The Moon – means Attainment

Reversed card means Deception, impatience, unwise decisions and desires, Treachery, intolerance

Nineteen – The Sun – Shows Renewal

Reversed card means - Wasted talents and efforts. Low self esteem. Low expectations. Lacking energy. Poor judgement.

Twenty – Judgement – Awareness

Reversed card means Lack of trust or faith. Fear, guilt, mortality, confusion

Twenty One – The World – Cosmic Consciousness

Reversed card means Anxiety. Stubborn, closed mind. Mistrust. Limitations

Note: I noticed that the card numbers of the Justice card and the Strength card are different and interchanged in Liz Dean's book and Sylvia Abraham's book. I wouldnt stress too much about this as I have decided to go by the Rider Waite Tarot Deck in which Strength is card number 8 and Justice is card number 11. Different decks will have many differences, which is why, to learn Tarot reading as a whole it is important to be able to accept knowledge and be flexible about learning new things.