The Meaning of Each Tarot Card in the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana in tarot consists of 22 cards that hold symbolic significance within tarot readings. Each card marks a distinct phase in a symbolic story that mirrors growth, choices, and major life changes. These cards go beyond surface-level interpretations and often provide deep insight into emotional, psychological, and spiritual states. Understanding the meaning of each Major Arcana card helps readers interpret spreads more accurately, whether for personal reflection or guiding others.
Tarot as a system can be traced back to the 15th century in Europe, originally used for card games. The deeper esoteric meanings began to emerge in the 18th century when French occultists like Jean-Baptiste Alliette (Etteilla) started assigning spiritual symbolism to the cards. The Rider-Waite-Smith deck, published in 1909, became one of the most influential versions and remains widely used today. Major Arcana cards hold multiple interpretations that change with their position in a spread and their orientation.
When reading tarot, it's important to consider both traditional meanings and personal intuition. The definitions here reflect commonly recognized interpretations from reputable sources including Britannica. Modern tarot readers often blend classic meanings with their own lived experiences and cultural backgrounds to develop more personalized understandings.
The Structure of the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana begins with The Fool (0) and ends with The World (21), symbolizing a full cycle of experience. These cards are separate from the Minor Arcana, which deals more with day-to-day situations. The Major Arcana focuses on significant life themes and turning points.
The 22 cards are listed numerically but do not necessarily represent chronological events. Instead, they mirror archetypal themes that show up at various stages in life. This structure allows tarot to remain flexible while still delivering consistent symbolic messages.
The table lists each card’s number, name, and primary meaning.
| Card Number | Card Name | General Meaning (Upright) |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | The Fool | New beginnings, potential, spontaneity |
| 1 | The Magician | Manifestation, resourcefulness, power |
| 2 | The High Priestess | Intuition, subconscious, mystery |
| 3 | The Empress | Nurturing, fertility, abundance |
| 4 | The Emperor | Authority, structure, control |
| 5 | The Hierophant | Tradition, conformity, spiritual guidance |
| 6 | The Lovers | Relationships, choices, alignment of values |
| 7 | The Chariot | Willpower, direction, determination |
| 8 | Strength | Courage, patience, inner strength |
| 9 | The Hermit | Introspection, solitude, wisdom seeking |
| 10 | Wheel of Fortune | Karma, cycles, destiny changes |
| 11 | Justice | Fairness, truth, law and accountability |
| 12 | The Hanged Man | Surrender, new perspective, letting go |
| 13 | Death | Transformation, endings leading to rebirth |
| 14 | Temperance | Balance, moderation, harmony in life or decisions |
Exploring the Specific Meanings of Cards 0 Through 7
The Fool (0): This card represents open-mindedness and fresh starts. It suggests readiness for an adventure but also warns against carelessness. If reversed in a spread, it might indicate recklessness or hesitation.
The Magician (1): A sign of taking action using available tools and skills. It points toward self-empowerment and aligning thoughts with actions for effective outcomes.
The High Priestess (2): This card deals with inner knowledge and intuitive strength. It encourages patience before acting and emphasizes hidden truths coming to light over time.
The Empress (3): A symbol of creativity and growth, not limited to childbirth but extending into projects or emotional development. This card is nurturing in both literal and symbolic contexts.
The Emperor (4): This figure represents stability through authority. Often linked with father figures or leadership roles requiring logic over emotion.
The Hierophant (5): This card connects to established institutions (such as religion or educational bodies) and speaks to mentorship or adhering to rules for spiritual development.
The Lovers (6): This card frequently signals major decisions related to relationships or personal values. It also reflects duality between desire and morality.
The Chariot (7): A call for focus amid competing forces. When this card appears upright it encourages forward movement; reversed it may suggest confusion or lack of direction.
Cards 8 to 14 Explore More Complex Insights and Reveal Deeper Layers of Meaning
Strength (8): This doesn’t relate to physical power but rather emotional resilience, having calm control rather than aggression during challenging times.
The Hermit (9): An introspective pause that invites contemplation before major decisions are made. Reversed could signal isolation that no longer serves a purpose.
Wheel of Fortune (10): This card implies change is imminent (usually beyond one’s control) highlighting fate’s role over planning.
Justice (11): A strong indicator of legal matters or moral consequences. It demands truthfulness and fairness be upheld in any given situation.
The Hanged Man (12): A voluntary pause for reevaluation (often misunderstood as stagnation) when it's actually transformative under the surface.
Death (13): This card typically represents personal change, urging you to release what’s holding you back rather than signaling literal death.
Temperance (14): This calls for balance between extremes (whether emotional responses or lifestyle habits) and promotes long-term sustainability over quick fixes.
Cards 15 Through 21 Offer More Detailed Insights
- The Devil (15): This card highlights bondage (to behaviors or mindsets) which may feel comfortable but inhibit growth. Reversal suggests liberation from those patterns.
- The Tower (16): A sudden disruption or collapse of what was once thought stable. Though jarring at first glance, it clears the way for necessary rebuilding.
- The Star (17): A renewal of hope following hardship. It encourages healing emotionally or spiritually while reminding us trust takes time to restore.
- The Moon (18): This indicates confusion or hidden motives, often appearing when illusions cloud clarity or fear distorts perception.
- The Sun (19): A bright omen signaling joy through authenticity. Whether related to work or relationships, it amplifies positive momentum.
- Judgement (20): This reflects reckoning, a chance to evaluate past actions honestly and begin anew with better understanding of one’s values.
- The World (21): A representation of completion, goals realized through persistence and integration of learned experiences into future decisions.
Selecting and Interpreting Major Arcana Cards in Readings
No single card works alone within a spread; context matters significantly. For example:
- If The Lovers appears next to The Devil, it might suggest toxic attachment rather than romantic alignment.
- If The Tower follows Temperance, it could imply that balance is disrupted unexpectedly despite efforts at moderation.
Tarot readers often choose three-card spreads (“past-present-future”) or larger layouts like Celtic Crosses depending on how much detail they seek. In any reading involving multiple Major Arcana cards, the message leans toward major life shifts rather than everyday concerns found within Minor Arcana interpretations.
Cultural Variations and Psychological Interpretations
Carl Jung saw tarot as a collection of archetypes reflecting aspects of human consciousness, a view still influential among modern readers using tarot for self-reflection rather than divination alone. Tarot decks reflecting regional traditions have emerged globally (from Santería-inspired Afro-Caribbean styles to Japanese-influenced designs) blending local symbolism with the foundational structure of systems like Rider-Waite-Smith.
Skeptics often treat tarot as pseudoscience; however, several academic studies frame its use within therapeutic environments, not as prediction tools but prompts for introspection (National Library of Medicine study on symbolic tools in therapy settings).
A nuanced approach acknowledges that while there's no empirical evidence supporting predictive accuracy, many users report improved clarity when using tarot as a guided journaling framework or cognitive cue system for exploring choices ahead.
An informed understanding of each Major Arcana card allows readers (not just professionals but casual practitioners) to engage with tarot in ways that are both introspective and structured without relying on mysticism alone. The Major Arcana remains a flexible framework used globally as both a symbolic narrative and a lens for psychological insight.