Reference
Yes or No Tarot Card Meanings
Every one of the 78 tarot cards, grouped by how it leans in a yes or no reading, including the cards that honestly answer “not yet” rather than either.
The short version
54
Leans yes
5
Leans no
10
Not yet
9
It depends
How to use this list
A card’s leaning is a starting point, not the reading. Almost every entry below is conditional. “yes, if you commit to deliberate action” is a different answer from “yes”, and the clause is the part you can actually do something with. Decide your convention before you draw (whether reversals flip the answer, or read the card’s own tendency), ask a question where both answers are survivable, and draw once. Drawing again for a better answer is the fastest way to turn a reading into a search for permission.
Leans yes (54 cards)
Cards with open, forward-moving energy. Note how many of these are conditional: the clause after the 'yes' is the part you can act on.
| Card | Yes or no leaning |
|---|---|
| The Fool | yes, if you're willing to accept some uncertainty |
| The Magician | yes, if you commit to deliberate action |
| The Empress | yes, especially if it involves growth or care |
| The Emperor | yes, if you bring discipline and follow-through |
| The Hierophant | yes, if it aligns with established values or guidance |
| The Lovers | yes, if the choice reflects your real values |
| The Chariot | yes, if you stay focused and disciplined |
| Strength | yes, if approached with patience rather than force |
| Wheel of Fortune | yes, though timing is outside your full control |
| Justice | yes, if you're honest about the full situation |
| Temperance | yes, with patience and moderation |
| The Star | yes, especially if you've been through something difficult recently |
| The Sun | yes, clearly and without much complication |
| Judgement | yes, if you're honest about what you've learned |
| The World | yes, this marks a genuine completion |
| Ace of Wands | yes, if you move while the inspiration is fresh |
| Two of Wands | leans yes, once you've mapped the next step |
| Three of Wands | yes, results are on the way |
| Four of Wands | yes, this is a moment worth marking |
| Six of Wands | yes, success is likely |
| Seven of Wands | yes, if you're willing to keep defending your position |
| Eight of Wands | yes, and likely soon |
| Nine of Wands | yes, but it will take continued effort |
| Ten of Wands | yes, but expect it to feel heavier than anticipated |
| Knight of Wands | yes, if you can commit to following through |
| Queen of Wands | yes, with self-assured follow-through |
| King of Wands | yes, if you lead rather than dictate |
| Ace of Cups | yes, especially where the heart is involved |
| Two of Cups | yes, if both sides are equally invested |
| Three of Cups | yes, especially if others are involved |
| Six of Cups | yes, especially tied to something familiar |
| Nine of Cups | yes, this tends to be a favorable outcome |
| Ten of Cups | yes, this points toward lasting happiness |
| Knight of Cups | yes, if the sincerity is matched by follow-through |
| Queen of Cups | yes, if approached with emotional honesty |
| King of Cups | yes, with steady, considered judgment |
| Ace of Swords | yes, the answer is clearer than you've been giving it credit for |
| Five of Swords | technically yes, but check the cost |
| Six of Swords | yes, though the transition takes time |
| Knight of Swords | yes, but expect it to happen fast and possibly abruptly |
| Queen of Swords | yes, if you're willing to be direct about it |
| King of Swords | yes, if approached with clear, rational judgment |
| Ace of Pentacles | yes, especially if grounded in practical planning |
| Two of Pentacles | yes, if you can maintain the balance |
| Three of Pentacles | yes, especially with the right collaborators |
| Six of Pentacles | yes, if the exchange stays balanced |
| Seven of Pentacles | yes, though it requires patience |
| Eight of Pentacles | yes, with continued diligence |
| Nine of Pentacles | yes, and largely on your own terms |
| Ten of Pentacles | yes, with long-term staying power |
| Page of Pentacles | yes, if approached with real diligence |
| Knight of Pentacles | yes, though progress will be gradual |
| Queen of Pentacles | yes, especially where practical care is involved |
| King of Pentacles | yes, with solid, grounded follow-through |
Leans no (5 cards)
Cards describing loss, blockage, or a door that is genuinely closed right now. A 'no' here usually names a constraint rather than a verdict.
| Card | Yes or no leaning |
|---|---|
| The Tower | no, not without significant disruption first |
| Eight of Cups | no: something needs to be left behind first |
| Three of Swords | no, this involves real disappointment first |
| Ten of Swords | no, not in this form, but recovery follows |
| Four of Pentacles | leans no, too much holding back right now |
Not yet (10 cards)
The most useful group in practice. These cards decline the binary because the information needed to answer has not surfaced, which is itself an answer, and an actionable one.
| Card | Yes or no leaning |
|---|---|
| The High Priestess | not yet, the answer isn't fully revealed |
| The Hermit | not yet: more reflection is needed first |
| The Hanged Man | not now, wait for a clearer moment |
| Four of Cups | not yet, you're not fully present to see it clearly |
| Five of Cups | not right now: grief needs its moment first |
| Four of Swords | not yet, rest first |
| Eight of Swords | not yet: the limitation is more perceived than actual |
| Nine of Swords | not now: anxiety is clouding the real picture |
| Page of Swords | not yet. You don't have the full picture |
| Five of Pentacles | not right now. This is a harder season |
It depends (9 cards)
Cards whose leaning turns on something specific: your motive, the cost, or a detail you have not examined. Read the condition, not the direction.
| Card | Yes or no leaning |
|---|---|
| Death | not in its current form, something must change first |
| The Devil | proceed carefully, check what's really driving the pull |
| The Moon | unclear: more information is needed before a real answer forms |
| Five of Wands | mixed, expect some friction along the way |
| Page of Wands | possibly, it's early, but promising |
| Seven of Cups | unclear, too many illusions clouding the real answer |
| Page of Cups | possibly, though it's still emotionally immature |
| Two of Swords | unclear: a decision is being avoided |
| Seven of Swords | proceed with caution: not everything here is fully visible |
Yes or no tarot: frequently asked questions
Which tarot cards mean yes?
Cards with open, forward-moving energy generally lean yes: The Sun, The Star, the Aces, the Three of Cups, and the Eight of Wands among them. Most yes cards are conditional: the clause attached to the yes describes what the answer depends on.
Which tarot cards mean no?
Cards describing loss, blockage, or withdrawal lean no: the Five of Pentacles, the Eight of Swords, the Three of Swords, and the Ten of Swords are common examples. A no usually names a real constraint rather than an impossibility.
What if a tarot card is neither yes nor no?
That is a legitimate and common result. Cards such as The High Priestess, The Hanged Man, and the Two of Swords answer 'not yet'. They describe a situation where the information needed to decide has not arrived, which tells you what to go and find out.
Are yes or no tarot readings accurate?
They are best read as a leaning with a condition attached, not a prediction. Tarot reflects how a situation is currently shaped; treating one card as a verdict on an outcome you do not control is where the reading stops being useful.
Do reversed cards flip the yes or no answer?
Not automatically. Some readers treat reversals as a straight flip; others read them as a blocked or delayed version of the upright meaning. Either convention works: what matters is choosing one before you draw and applying it consistently.
Draw a card and read it in full
A leaning is one line. The full card meaning (upright, reversed, love, career, and money) sits in the card library.