Tarot > Major Arcana
The 22 cards that comprise the Major Arcana are the foundation of the Tarot deck. Each major arcana Tarot card is explained below.
The universal human experience is portrayed in each of the major arcana tarot cards. Each card has a number, name and image associated with it.
Each image on a card represents an archetype popularized by Carl Jung. As a result each card taps into our collective unconscious and has a profound hidden meaning.
The major arcana cards are given more credence in a reading as they relate to the important motivations, issues and feelings in your life. Whereas the minor arcana cards often pertain to temporary and less important issues.
In each souls journey toward self-actualization the major arcana can provide insight. By correctly understanding the meaning of the cards a person can make decisions that will progress them along their spiritual path.
Fool
Upright: Faith, beginning, innocence, spontaneity, apparent folly, free spirit.
Reversed: Foolishness, naivety, recklessness, unnecessary risk-taking.
Magician
Upright: Concentration, power, skill, action, self awareness, resourcefulness.
Reversed: Poor planning, manipulation, undeveloped talents.
High Priestess
Upright: Higher powers, intuition, potential, mystery, unconscious awareness.
Reversed: Not heading intuition, hidden agenda.
Empress
Upright: Mothering, feminine, fertility, beauty, nature, abundance, senses.
Reversed: Dependence, lack of creativity.
Emperor
Upright: Structure, authority, fathering, regulation, solid foundation.
Reversed: Rigidity, intolerance, domination, inflexibility, excessive control.
Hierophant
Upright: Beliefs, education, conformity, tradition, religion, group identification.
Reversed: Opposing the status quo, restriction.
Lovers
Upright: Choices, personal beliefs, aligned values, sexuality, love, relationships.
Reversed: Imbalance, disharmony, misaligned values.
Chariot
Upright: Will, self-assertion, control, victory, determination.
Reversed: Aggression, lack of control, no direction.
Strength
Upright: Self-control, patience, strength, courage, compassion.
Reversed: Self-doubt, weakness, lack of self-discipline, indecision.
Hermit
Upright: Self reflection, soul searching, inner guidance, solitude.
Reversed: Withdrawal, isolation, loneliness.
Wheel of Fortune
Upright: Destiny, good luck, turning point, personal vision, karma, life cycles.
Reversed: Bad luck, lack of control, lack of insight negative external forces.
Justice
Upright: Decision, justice, responsibility, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law.
Reversed: Lack of accountability, unfairness, dishonesty, unlawful.
Hanged Man
Upright: Suspension, reversal, letting go, accepting God’s will, sacrifice.
Reversed: Resisting fate, indecision, martyrdom, delay.
Death
Upright: Ending, beginning, inexorable forces, change, transformation, transition.
Reversed: Resistance to change, stuck, unable to move on.
Temperance
Upright: Health, balance, moderation, combination, patience, purpose, meaning.
Reversed: Imbalance, unhealthy, lack of vision, excess.
Devil
Upright: Hopelessness, bondage, ignorance, addiction, materialism.
Reversed: Detachment, understanding, breaking free, reclaiming personal power.
Tower
Upright: Release, disaster, downfall, upheaval, revelation, sudden change.
Reversed: Avoiding disaster, status quo, fear of change.
Star
Upright: Generosity, hope, spirituality, inspiration, renewal, serenity.
Reversed: Imbalance, lack of faith, discouragement, despair.
Moon
Upright: Fantasy, illusion, fear, anxiety, insecurity, bewilderment.
Reversed: Confusion, releasing fear, unhappiness.
Sun
Upright: Enlightenment, vitality, greatness, success, fun, assurance, warmth.
Reversed: Lack of happiness, temporary depression, lack of success.
Judgement
Upright: Rebirth, inner calling, judgement, release, absolution.
Reversed: Self-doubt, lack of inner guidance, no self-examination.
World
Upright: Involvement, completion, fulfillment, integration, accomplishment, travel.
Reversed: Incomplete, failure, lack of closure.
