Guidebook for Sleepwalker's Tarot

0. THE FOOL

In dreams, one can be omnipotent. They can mount the cloud, ride the mist, fall off a cliff without hurting, and try anything too risky or unorthodox in real life without worrying about the consequences. Enjoy dreaming!

UPRIGHT: innocent love, creation, action, new beginning, opportunity, change, spontaneity, trust, adventurous spirit, drifter, out of the loop, advance, blind optimism, enjoying oneself, extraordinary courage, beautiful dream, unexpected reward

REVERSED: reckless spirit, yearning for freedom, avoidance of responsibility, dangerous journey, risk-taking action, illness resulted from unstable living

I. THE MAGICIAN

Upon encountering this card, one turns into a magician dressed in black, dancing in the sea of rose lilies symbolic of life and death. The ribbon flies in the shape of an infinity sign. One’s potential is fully unleashed. Employ the four elements to do magics!

UPRIGHT: creation, boundless power, miracle, abundance, potential, opportune time, confidence, all under control

REVERSED: unrealistic, lacking discipline, guile, deception, deferral, loss of confidence, failure

II. THE HIGH PRIESTESS

The master of all knowledge traps herself in the water because attracted by the illusory beauty around her, she is reluctant to leave.

UPRIGHT: women’s intuition, exploration, rumination, wisdom, subconsciousness, inspiration, right judgement, rational thinking, mastering knowledge, platonic relationship, reservedness

REVERSED: shortsightedness, indifference, anxiety, mental pressure, wrong direction, declination of romance

III. THE EMPRESS

The radiant-looking Empress approaches with success, accomplishment, and absolute love.

UPRIGHT: success, warmth, light, harvest, treatment, mercy, wisdom, pragmatic, prolific, maternal love, enjoying romance, good fortune, love with a happy ending

REVERSED: overindulgence, arrogance, dictatorship, unethical love, jealousy, possessiveness, gaining weight, love with no result

IV. THE EMPEROR

The Emperor is no longer obsessed with the throne. Standing in the mountain range, he is strong, majestic, and immortal. He will fight ‘till his last breath for his people.

UPRIGHT: authority, control, success, reason, masculinity, career success, material wealth, dictatorship, ambition

REVERSED: failure, wrong judgement, diminishing power, pompousness

V. THE HIEROPHANT

The Hierophant is a spiritual leader mightier than a castle because his power originates from the sky. His disciple must reach above the clouds to worship him and beg piously to speak to God.

UPRIGHT: religion, guidance, belief, spiritual need, spiritual authority, help from an elder, help from a noble person, truth

REVERSED: misguidance, dictatorship, useless help, destined separation, defamation, isolation

VI. THE LOVERS

Love brings them close even when they are wrapped by snakes and flames.

UPRIGHT: sweet romance, happiness, stability, attraction, craving, promise, commitment, cooperation

REVERSED: separation, discord, the third person in a relationship, having no blessing

VII. THE CHARIOT

The warrior rides two sphinxes and holds the scepter high. They are ready to set off and win the battle.

UPRIGHT: victory, government, accomplishment, quick solution, smooth journey, fixed orientation, rapidity, energy

REVERSED: epic failure, traffic accident, losing one’s way, setback, losing one’s mind

VIII. STRENGTH

One trembles with fear upon hearing of the ferocious beast, yet courage will finally bring it to its knees.

UPRIGHT: courage, confidence, success, inner strength, killing with kindness, charm, overcoming a difficult circumstance, willpower

REVERSED: loss of confidence, loss of vitality, frustration, unable to deal with a situation, weakening physical condition, flinching

IX. THE HERMIT

In one’s dream, they break free from the shackles of darkness and hold up the light of faith to pursue the ultimate truth.

UPRIGHT: pursuit of light and truth, wisdom, loneliness, aloofness, self-awareness, decorum

REVERSED: loneliness, lacking wisdom, pompousness, missing an opportunity

X. WHEEL OF FORTUNE

The Wheel drives the world’s progress. It opens its eyes to watch one’s every move. Nobody can resist the coming of fate.

UPRIGHT: destined love, turning point, healthy improvement, good surprise, positive turn

REVERSED: short-lived love, trough, cancellation of a plan, misfortune, scam, negative turn

XI. JUSTICE

The goddess of justice uses the scale to tell right from wrong, regardless of who is asking. The sinner will be punished by lightnings.

UPRIGHT: reason, impartiality, justice, legal system, wisdom, balanced judgement, no mercy

REVERSED: wrong decision, unfairness, unjustifiability, prejudice, pettiness, indifference, unrequited love

XII. THE HANGED MAN

The Hanged Man is the extension of Justice. Defeated by evilness, Justice is hanged upside down in the mountains. She is surprisingly calm in such a misery and starts re-examining the world from a new perspective. She eventually goes through a spiritual sublimation.

UPRIGHT: practice, trial, willingness, unorthodoxy, unconventionality, firm belief, precipitation, intuition

REVERSED: mental torture, heavy loss, discontent, selfishness

XIII. DEATH

Death signals both the end and rebirth.

UPRIGHT: the end, rebirth, revision, new phase, letting go of the past

REVERSED: revision, death’s trial, completion, farewell to the past, loss, the end

XIV. TEMPERANCE

The Archangel Michael descends. Her consciousness flies over the mountain range. The water in her hands sheds light on her subconsciousness, guiding her through a spiritual practice.

UPRIGHT: practice, balance, self-control, health, avoiding making the same mistake, gradually entering an ideal state

REVERSED: not getting along, lacking rapport, fatigue, clumsiness, gradually falling into a difficult situation

XV. THE DEVIL

This card is inspired by the story of Pied Piper of Hamelin from Grimm’s Fairy Tales. On June 26, 1284, 103 children from Hamelin go missing. Whom does the Piper have his eyes on this time?

UPRIGHT: inappropriateness, unethical love, seduction, immorality, negativity, fear, disloyalty, secret romance, deception, bondage

REVERSED: relief, breaking free from shackles, escapism, curse, blindness, disadvantage, desire

XVI. THE TOWER

One floats on the ocean and sees a towering lighthouse. Run! It is toppling toward you.

UPRIGHT: alarm, complete annihilation, destruction, rapid deterioration, accident, collapse, bankruptcy, despair, irreparability

REVERSED: complete annihilation, postponed journey, apprehension, loss, violence, misfortune, disaster more threatening than hurtful, rebuilding

XVII. THE STAR

The Star’s hair is an intricate galaxy of thoughts. This card indicates hope and remedies for past wounds.

UPRIGHT: pleasantness, peace, warmth, boundless hope, achievement of goal, forthcoming luck, hopeful future, dream come true

REVERSED: illusion, broken hope, idealism, indefiniteness, mirage, backfire

XVIII. THE MOON

The goddess of moon listens to one’s dreams. A disturbing, scary feeling surfaces on this dark, mysterious night.

UPRIGHT: capriciousness, deception, abnormality, unsettled feeling, daydream, indulgence, darkness, overthinking, sign of illness

REVERSED: reason, waiting for change, crisis control, improvement

XIX. THE SUN

The Sun’s feelings turn into tears, dropping on sunflowers to initiate the growth of all things.

UPRIGHT: vitality, energy, blessing, vigor, nature, harvest, accomplishment, good luck, success

REVERSED: unhappiness, scarcity, vexation, dimming light, failure

XX. JUDGEMENT

The angel’s horn signals the coming of the Judgement Day. Near a sea of flames, dead souls rise from their graves one by one to receive their baptism before starting a new life.

UPRIGHT: reincarnation, rebirth, revolution, trial, reunion, revival, reversal, reacquisition

REVERSED: irreparability, hardship, bad news, unfair trial, making the same mistake

XXI. THE WORLD

One has arrived at the gate of success, where they are asked to reflect on the happy and sad moments of their life. Surrounded by flowers is the goddess of success.

UPRIGHT: accomplishment, freedom, success, ideal state, new cycle, completion

REVERSED: imperfection, conclusion, pessimism, unable to continue, fatigue

ACE OF WANDS

A powerful hand reaches out from the flaming clouds. The fire signals a new opportunity to be grabbed.

UPRIGHT: bravery, confidence, passion, impulse, opportunity, new beginning

REVERSED: unexpected development, possibility of failure, poor planning, indeterminism, uncontrollability

TWO OF WANDS

This card presents hopeful imagination. The character holds the planet and thinks about the next step.

UPRIGHT: choice, distant hope, purpose in life, waiting for the right time to act

REVERSED: hesitation, conservatism, prudence, lacking interest, poor planning, hinderance, rough development

THREE OF WANDS

Finishing their plan, one starts contemplating as they are about to plant the third wand in their territory. Their body is on fire; their vessel roams the universe; and their mind sides with reason this time.

UPRIGHT: leadership, dominance, long-distance relationship, adherence to the plan, teamwork, cooperation, shared objective

REVERSED: failure to cooperate, poor leadership, divergent goals, dissonance, uncontrollability, incongruity

FOUR OF WANDS

In a flaming dream, their home is securely embraced by flowers. Stop worrying and enter the gate of wands.

UPRIGHT: sense of ceremony, marriage, stability, harmony, gathering, harvest, attainable goal

REVERSED: instability, imbalance, rough development, discontent, indecisiveness, disagreement

FIVE OF WANDS

They hold the wands as their weapons, implying a fair contest. However, one raises an extra hand, preventing them from reaching a common ground.

UPRIGHT: conflict, dispute, competition, choice, challenge, “same bed, different dreams”

REVERSED: unfair competition, litigation, trouble, conflict, retrieval of calmness after chaos

SIX OF WANDS

The boy is encouraged by the soldier’s triumphant return. No longer afraid of death, he waves the wand with excitement.

UPRIGHT: confidence, leadership, joy, accomplishment, success, homecoming, success in examination

REVERSED: loss of faith, partial success, chaos, internal problem

SEVEN OF WANDS

Disasters plague the earth. An angel, easy and composed, fights from the highland against all evils alone.

UPRIGHT: taking initiative, confrontation, one against many, independence

REVERSED: frustration, anxiety, indecisiveness

EIGHT OF WANDS

The wand, the symbol of power, falls from the sky like a meteorite with the overwhelming energy of fire.

UPRIGHT: power, action, advancing without regret, courage

REVERSED: wrong direction, unclarity, resistance, stagnation, family discord

NINE OF WANDS

The wounded warrior sees dangers on the battlefield, all the more threatening as the fire gets bigger. They know they may die at any moment, but they will never lose their weapon and will fight to death.

UPRIGHT: loneliness, caution, defense, perseverance, prudence, full preparation, resolution

REVERSED: loss of faith, adversity, low morale, reluctance to put up a fight

TEN OF WANDS

Trees grow from one’s body. They are too tired to stand straight. Please take a break!

UPRIGHT: pressure, responsibility, commitment, overload

REVERSED: unbearable stress, mental breakdown, escapism, surrender

PAGE OF WANDS

The Page follows orders without qualms or questions. Holding the wand is his mission. He passes through the fire to declare the takeover of the territory.

UPRIGHT: young, impulsive, not thinking straight, simple-minded, reckless

REVERSED: immature, short-lived passion, inexperienced, bad news, poor judgement

KNIGHT OF WANDS

The fearless Knight survives the fire and is ready to advance. Back facing the road ahead, he does not think or care about the consequences.

UPRIGHT: reckless, impulse, passion, aggression, energy

REVERSED: vulnerability, resistance, controversy, barrier in a relationship, separation

QUEEN OF WANDS

The sunflower is a symbol of a cheerful spirit, while the black cat represents sexual attraction. Life unfolds in an intuitive, a hopeful, and truthful fashion.

UPRIGHT: one-man team, dictatorship, devotion to one’s job, unyielding, attraction

REVERSED: arrogance, capriciousness, lacking appeal, irritation, spitefulness

KING OF WANDS

Only the master of fire can tame the lion. A salamander resting on his shoulders, the virtuous King is ready for new challenges.

UPRIGHT: action-oriented, clear attitude, mature, devotion, wisdom, visionary

REVERSED: arbitrary, radical, wrong decision, poor leadership, impulsive

ACE OF CUPS

The Cups are associated with the element of water, love, and emotions. The first card describes thoughts and feelings bursting like springs of water.

UPRIGHT: start of a new relationship, spiritual satisfaction, heartfelt joy

REVERSED: feeling of emptiness, breakup, distortion, jealousy, doomed love

TWO OF CUPS

This card indicates a new relationship. The interaction between the lovers causes various elements to react among themselves, forming a mini universe.

UPRIGHT: like-mindedness, stable connection, harmony, commitment to romance

REVERSED: breakup, distrust, suspicion, disagreement, misunderstanding

THREE OF CUPS

On that day, they finally realize their shared dream!

UPRIGHT: gathering, celebration, harvest, achievement, sharing

REVERSED: short-lived relationship, ephemerality, argument, jealousy, tense feeling

FOUR OF CUPS

For a long time, one looks downhearted, unhappy, and hostile to all. Despite so, they are advised to cherish what they have.

UPRIGHT: immediate opportunity, discontent, resistance, overthinking

REVERSED: actively seeking opportunity, action-taking

FIVE OF CUPS

Until turning around one will never find hope. By picking up the cups and passing the bridge, they arrive at a new beginning in life.

UPRIGHT: disappointment, sorrow, stuck in pain

REVERSED: letting go, forgiveness, forgetfulness, long-missed happiness

SIX OF CUPS

The angelic girl receives pink roses from the Page. Now that they both have grown up, while the girl has realized her dream, the Page is still holding onto the roses to reminisce about their old days.

UPRIGHT: childhood, innocent love, compassion, purity, goodness

REVERSED: drowning in the past, neglect, abandonment, vision for the future

SEVEN OF CUPS

Inside the cup are a castle (adventure), a dragon (fear), a man (hormone), a snake (wisdom), some jewelry (wealth), and a crown (victory).

UPRIGHT: daydream, fantasy, imagination, whim

REVERSED: wish, willpower, recent accomplishment, dream come true

EIGHT OF CUPS

On a tranquil night, one leaves without looking back.

UPRIGHT: searching, departure, loss of interest, breakthrough

REVERSED: satisfied with the status quo, rushing out, giving up, losing control

NINE OF CUPS

Surrounded by dancing cups, one puts on a beatific smile. Each of their nine hands can control the cups. The waves below their dress echo the element of water.

UPRIGHT: dream come true, satisfaction, happiness, joy

REVERSED: feeling of incompleteness, coercion, pride, complacency, trickery

TEN OF CUPS

This card describes a paradise above the blue clouds, where they live in a pink castle surrounded by rainbow and cups. Long live the good days!

UPRIGHT: effective communication, stable relationship, marriage, reconciliation

REVERSED: conflicted feelings, competition, tearing apart

PAGE OF CUPS

The Page is one’s first love, dream lover, and the pure happiness associated with them. He holds a pink rose, confessing his love and aspiration from across the water.

UPRIGHT: new relationship, first love, confession of love, meditation, good news

REVERSED: reluctance to grow up, immaturity, vulnerability, procrastination, flattery

KNIGHT OF CUPS

A dream lover holds a cupful of red roses and approaches from the gentle, meandering river.

UPRIGHT: compassion, dream lover, romance, following one’s heart, seduction, plan, opportunity

REVERSED: unrealistic, idealism, jealousy, capriciousness, deception, dishonorable act

QUEEN OF CUPS

The little mermaid is imprisoned by her own unrequited love yet still indulges herself in it to protect her lover. This card indicates romance, fantasy, and everything beautiful.

UPRIGHT: intuition, romance, creativity, love

REVERSED: overflowing emotions, irrationality, hysteria

KING OF CUPS

The intuitive King manipulates others’ feelings yet never indulges himself in his own. Without looking at the cup filled with love, he decides to betray the little mermaid. He only sees his power to dominate the country.

UPRIGHT: managing feelings, emotional intelligence, responsibility, clear thinking

REVERSED: abuse of others’ feelings, overstepping boundary, secret agenda

ACE OF SWORDS

This card indicates substantial power and major breakthroughs. Hurt yet fearless, one is honest about their feelings and willing to face any dilemmas on their way up to above the clouds.

UPRIGHT: mental clarity, new adventure, new beginning, double-edged sword

REVERSED: mental confusion, unrealistic, infeasibility

TWO OF SWORDS

One will be stuck in a loop forever if they refuse to put down their sword.

UPRIGHT: peace, reconciliation, decision-making, proficiency

REVERSED: chaotic feelings, anxiety, hesitation, imbalance under pressure, need of getting back in touch with oneself

THREE OF SWORDS

A grieving heart tries to rescue itself, like a butterfly in the rainstorm.

UPRIGHT: sorrow, mourning the past, calm pain

REVERSED: repression and rejection of pain, avoidance, attempt at distracting oneself

FOUR OF SWORDS

Let the swallow take every inch of their skin; let them be reborn in this fleeting moment of loss.

UPRIGHT: rest, stillness, remedy, pain relief, mental retreat, lack of energy, grave

REVERSED: well-rested, end of isolation, broadening horizon, recovery

FIVE OF SWORDS

Instead of rewards, the victory in front lead to bigger dilemmas.

UPRIGHT: disagreement, conflict, poor communication, conflict of interest, selfishness

REVERSED: avoiding failure by changing plan, possibility of communication, away from humiliation

SIX OF SWORDS

Following the lead of the wind, the ferryman picks up the soul along with their dead heart, singing while passing the river of life.

UPRIGHT: getting out of a dilemma, relief from the past, travel, companionship, recovery from depression

REVERSED: facing hardship head-on, quicker solution, confession

SEVEN OF SWORDS

One will steal again and expect to get away with it by wearing a veil.

UPRIGHT: unpredictable move, trickery, wit, strategy, dishonesty

REVERSED: self-deceit, change of attitude, prudence

EIGHT OF SWORDS

Those who are afraid of moving forward will never see the truths afar. Blindfolded and trapped by self-imposed dilemmas, they live in constant fear despite that the dangers have passed. Their hands are tied behind their back, yet they are unwilling to put up a fight.

UPRIGHT: constraint, self-imposed limitation, obsession, stubbornness, refusal to communicate

REVERSED: freedom from constraint, perception of truth, well-thought-out action

NINE OF SWORDS

All swords point toward one. Surrounded by bone-chilling coldness, they are scared, desperate, and unwilling to put up a fight.

UPRIGHT: worry, trouble, disturbing feeling, nightmare, subconsciousness

REVERSED: confronting fear, relief from pain, changing the status quo instead of running away, situation better than expected

TEN OF SWORDS

One is impaled by all the swords in the war, but there is still hope for them to live.

UPRIGHT: defeat, the end, destruction, last hope

REVERSED: acting in a dilemma, seizing an opportunity

PAGE OF SWORDS

The Page runs toward the wind. The birds bring him messages. The wind protects him from left and right.

UPRIGHT: news, creativity, brilliance, wisdom

REVERSED: big talk, anxiety, paranoia, belated news

KNIGHT OF SWORDS

The ambitious Knight holds the sword way over his head, reaching for an unattainable goal. Fully prepared and driven to succeed, he always makes the first move, although often blindly pursuing whatever he sees.

UPRIGHT: action-oriented, assertive, brave, fast-thinking, impatient, extreme

REVERSED: acting blindly, reckless, impulsive, useless effort

QUEEN OF SWORDS

The indifferent-looking Queen, the consigliere of the country, is rational, courageous, and shrewd.

UPRIGHT: rationality, mental clarity, intellectual power, honesty, perfectionism, bravery

REVERSED: indifference, deception, unkindness, manipulation

KING OF SWORDS

The angel whispers to the King as if telling him the truth about him dream.

UPRIGHT: ruthless, disciplined, goal-oriented, principled, outstandingly brilliant

REVERSED: immature, hypocritical, obedient, cunning

ACE OF PENTACLES

What is desired is within reach. Money and material fulfillment – the most practical gains one dreams of.

UPRIGHT: wealth, pleasure, safety, material

REVERSED: excessive desire, argument, mistake, missed opportunity, obstacle

TWO OF PENTACLES

A funny-looking clown maintains strange balance in the face of adversity. One must deal with a wide array of situations in one life. May one take them in stride and overcome any hardships.

UPRIGHT: fluctuation, resilience, balance, entertainment, competence

REVERSED: inability, rigidness, indecisiveness

THREE OF PENTACLES

The craftsman, the monk, and the architect are building a church together. Sharing one goal, they are all inseparable parts of the team carrying out its elaborate plan to realize their glamorous dream.

UPRIGHT: cooperation, coordination, planning, honor, expertise

REVERSED: immaturity, unyieldingness, inexperience, ineptness

FOUR OF PENTACLES

With a coin on their head, one in their arms, and one below each foot, one keeps their property under close watch.

UPRIGHT: persistence, stubbornness, stinginess, profitability, control, acquisition, inheritance

REVERSED: misfortune, extravagance, poor financial management, promiscuousness, overspending

FIVE OF PENTACLES

On Christmas Eve, a man with an injured leg and a shabby homeless guy stroll on the snow. What they wear can hardly keep them warm. The celebration inside has nothing to do with them. What seems like companionship is only an illusion: their relationship is on the verge of shattering.

UPRIGHT: impoverishment, illness, misery, couple, financial plight, in weal and woe

REVERSED: inauthenticity, money shortage, disengagement

SIX OF PENTACLES

One with deep pockets is giving out money with a scale, so that they do not give any more than necessary.

UPRIGHT: charity, generosity, financial management, donation, giving, satisfaction

REVERSED: desire, greediness, envy, jealousy

SEVEN OF PENTACLES

Stop those hard-working hands and enjoy the gain. Take a moment to think about the future!

UPRIGHT: harvest, pause, contemplation, waiting for the right time, diligence, future-planning

REVERSED: concern, loss of money and opportunity, indiscretion

EIGHT OF PENTACLES

This card describes someone optimistic, hard-working, and concentrated. It also indicates the state of being forced to act in a way for some reasons.

UPRIGHT: professionalism, skillfulness, diligence, work, self-motivation

REVERSED: setback, incompetence, usury, amateur

NINE OF PENTACLES

In the manor covered in coins, the owner pets a bird with magically vibrant feathers. They live a self-sufficient life.

UPRIGHT: charm, wealth, success, confidence, joy, self-discipline

REVERSED: theft, loss, lack of self-discipline, abortion of plan

TEN OF PENTACLES

This card describes a loving, financially stable family of kind elders and healthy, happy children.

UPRIGHT: family’s possession, inheriting family business, prosperity, stability, happy family

REVERSED: loss, damage, stolen property, attempt at changing the status quo

PAGE OF PENTACLES

The coin represents the ability to concentrate on studying; the green cedar symbolizes natural sciences and exuberance; and the grassland alludes to rich knowledge and a bright future.

UPRIGHT: implementation, self-motivation, attraction, meticulousness, good news

REVERSED: waste of money and energy, resistance, self-doubt, poor planning

KNIGHT OF PENTACLES

The Knight’s triumphant return is rewarded with countless coins, while the vine serves as a constant reminder of moderation.

UPRIGHT: accumulation, diligence, realistic, workaholism, money-worshiping

REVERSED: exhaustion, stagnation, conservativism, indifference

QUEEN OF PENTACLES

The loving, tender Queen pets the bunnies. She may not be rich, but her stable, pleasant life is surrounded by a beatific feeling.

UPRIGHT: abundance, tenderness, empathy, maternal love, peace

REVERSED: vanity, calculation, wastefulness, money-worshiping

KING OF PENTACLES

The King is pragmatic and persevering. His scepter represents power, prestige, and attentiveness to all affairs, while the coin marks his yearning for material wealth.

UPRIGHT: down-to-earth, career success, financial basis, investment

REVERSED: dangerous relationship, lack of financial sense, extravagance, loss of financial support