If you’ve ever picked up a tarot deck — or watched someone do a reading — chances are you walked away with more questions than answers. That’s what tarot does. There are 78 cards in a standard deck, but the real heart of it lies in the 22 Major Arcana.
These are the cards that tell the big story: the soul’s journey from naive beginning to full realisation. Each one carries an archetype, an energy, a lesson. And no, you don’t need to be “mystical” to understand them — just curious.
What Are the Major Arcana?
The word “arcana” comes from the Latin arcanum, meaning secret or mystery. The Major Arcana are the 22 cards numbered 0 to 21 that represent the grand themes of human experience: birth, death, love, power, transformation, wisdom.
While the Minor Arcana (the remaining 56 cards) deal with everyday situations, the Majors speak to deeper forces — the kind that shape who we are and where we’re headed.
The sequence of the 22 Arcana is often called “The Fool’s Journey”, because it starts with The Fool (card 0) and ends with The World (card 21). It’s a metaphor for each person’s path through life.
All 22 Cards and Their Meanings
0 — The Fool
The Fool is where it all begins. It represents the leap of faith, innocence, and unlimited potential. Standing at the edge of a cliff, ready to step into the unknown — fearless, unburdened, with an almost naive trust in the universe.
In a reading: New beginnings, spontaneity, calculated risk. An invitation to let go of control and trust the process. Reversed: Recklessness, hasty decisions, fear of taking risks.
I — The Magician
The Magician has all the elements at his disposal — fire, water, earth, and air — and knows how to use them. This card represents the ability to manifest, to turn intention into action. It’s the “I can do this” card.
In a reading: Manifestation, skill, personal power, available resources. Reversed: Manipulation, wasted talent, illusion.
II — The High Priestess
The High Priestess sits between two pillars — the known and the unknown. She guards intuition, mystery, and hidden knowledge. Where the Magician acts, the High Priestess observes and feels.
In a reading: Intuition, inner wisdom, patience, mystery. Reversed: Hidden secrets, disconnection from intuition, withheld information.
III — The Empress
Abundance, fertility, and creation. The Empress is nature’s maternal energy — everything she touches flourishes. She represents pleasure, sensuality, and the ability to nurture.
In a reading: Creativity flowing, abundance, pregnancy (literal or symbolic), connection with nature. Reversed: Creative block, dependency, self-neglect.
IV — The Emperor
Structure, authority, and stability. The Emperor builds empires — not through brute force, but with discipline and strategic vision. He’s the complement to the Empress: where she creates, he organises.
In a reading: Order, leadership, protection, structured ambition. Reversed: Rigidity, tyranny, excessive control.
V — The Hierophant
The Hierophant represents tradition, teaching, and established belief systems. It could be a mentor, an institution, or a conventional spiritual path. It’s not always about religion — it’s about following a system.
In a reading: Tradition, spiritual guidance, conformity, formal learning. Reversed: Rebellion, questioning authority, dogma.
VI — The Lovers
Despite the name, this card isn’t always about romance. The Lovers speaks to choices — particularly the ones that define who we are. It’s the card of union, harmony, and alignment between values and actions.
In a reading: Love, harmony, important choices, alignment of values. Reversed: Disharmony, difficult choices, conflicting values.
VII — The Chariot
Victory through willpower. The Chariot pushes forward despite obstacles, steering opposing forces in the same direction. It’s the card of determination and personal triumph.
In a reading: Determination, progress, control, victory. Reversed: Lack of direction, aggression, defeat.
VIII — Strength
Not physical strength — inner strength. The card typically shows a woman gently opening a lion’s mouth, not with violence but with compassion. It represents quiet courage, patience, and mastery over emotions.
In a reading: Inner courage, compassion, patience, self-control. Reversed: Insecurity, weakness, self-doubt.
IX — The Hermit
The Hermit steps away from the noise to find his truth. Lantern in hand, he lights the path — but only his own. It’s the card of introspection, chosen solitude, and wisdom that comes from within.
In a reading: Introspection, inner search, necessary solitude, internal guidance. Reversed: Excessive isolation, refusal to seek help.
X — Wheel of Fortune
Everything changes. The Wheel keeps turning — what’s on top comes down, what’s at the bottom rises. It’s the card of cycles, destiny, and luck. A reminder that nothing is permanent, neither the good nor the bad.
In a reading: Change, cycles, luck, turning point. Reversed: Bad luck, resistance to change, negative cycle.
XI — Justice
Cause and consequence. Justice weighs every action on her scales and returns exactly what is deserved. It’s not revenge — it’s balance. Can indicate legal matters or simply the need to be honest with yourself.
In a reading: Balance, truth, consequences, fair decision. Reversed: Injustice, dishonesty, lack of accountability.
XII — The Hanged Man
Paradoxically, the Hanged Man isn’t trapped — he’s seeing the world from a different angle. It’s the card of voluntary pause, the sacrifice that brings enlightenment, and the surrender that sets you free.
In a reading: New perspective, necessary pause, sacrifice, surrender. Reversed: Stagnation, resistance, pointless sacrifice.
XIII — Death
Easy now — this card almost never means literal death. It represents the end of something and the beginning of something else. Radical transformation, closing a chapter, rebirth. One of the most misunderstood cards and, in truth, one of the most liberating.
In a reading: Transformation, end of a cycle, rebirth, inevitable change. Reversed: Resistance to change, fear of the unknown, stagnation.
XIV — Temperance
Balance, moderation, and patience. Temperance blends opposing elements with care — it’s the art of finding middle ground. After the intensity of Death, this card brings calm and healing.
In a reading: Balance, patience, harmony, healing. Reversed: Excess, impatience, imbalance.
XV — The Devil
Another misunderstood card. The Devil isn’t about “evil” — it’s about the chains we choose to wear. Addictions, destructive patterns, toxic relationships, materialism. The good news? The chains are loose. You can leave whenever you want.
In a reading: Addictions, negative patterns, materialism, shadow. Reversed: Liberation, breaking patterns, awareness.
XVI — The Tower
Sudden destruction. The Tower falls, illusions crumble, and whatever wasn’t solid disappears. Uncomfortable, yes — but necessary. Only when false structures collapse can you build something real.
In a reading: Crisis, revelation, abrupt change, destruction of the false. Reversed: Fear of change, averted disaster, resistance.
XVII — The Star
After the storm, hope. The Star is the most serene card in the deck — offering inspiration, healing, and renewed faith in the future. A reminder that no matter how dark it gets, the light always returns.
In a reading: Hope, inspiration, serenity, healing. Reversed: Hopelessness, lack of faith, disconnection.
XVIII — The Moon
The Moon illuminates, but it also deceives. This card speaks of illusions, unconscious fears, and the grey zone where nothing is what it seems. It may indicate anxiety, confusion, or the need to face inner shadows.
In a reading: Illusion, intuition, fears, the unconscious. Reversed: Clarity arriving, release from fears, truth revealed.
XIX — The Sun
Pure joy, success, and vitality. The Sun is one of the most positive cards in the deck — it brings clarity, confidence, and an energy that warms everything around it. If you’re in doubt, the Sun says: it’s going to be fine.
In a reading: Joy, success, clarity, vitality, optimism. Reversed: Temporary joy, over-optimism, ego.
XX — Judgement
A calling. Judgement asks you to look back, evaluate the path you’ve walked, and make a definitive decision. It’s the card of awakening, redemption, and answering your highest purpose.
In a reading: Awakening, calling, evaluation, spiritual rebirth. Reversed: Self-criticism, refusing the call, regret.
XXI — The World
The end of the journey — at least this one. The World represents completeness, integration, and fulfilment. You made it. You learned. And now, with all that wisdom, you can start a new cycle.
In a reading: Completeness, integration, success, fulfilment. Reversed: Feeling of incompleteness, delays, lack of closure.
How to Use the Major Arcana in Readings
When a Major Arcana appears in a reading, pay attention. These are heavyweight cards — they signal important forces at play in your life.
- Many Major Arcana in a reading — you’re going through a period of significant transformation. The forces at work are bigger than day-to-day situations.
- Few or none — the situation is more practical and mundane. Answers lie in small, everyday actions.
- Position matters — the same arcana changes meaning depending on its position in the spread (past, present, future, advice, etc.).
If you’re just starting out, try simple spreads: one card per day, in the morning, asking “what energy is with me today?”. It’s the best way to build intimacy with the deck.
The Fool’s Journey: The Common Thread
Read the 22 Major Arcana as a sequential story and you’ll find a universal narrative:
The Fool (0) sets off on the adventure. He meets the Magician and the High Priestess (learning to act and to feel), the Empress and the Emperor (creating and structuring), the Hierophant (following traditions) and the Lovers (making choices). With the Chariot he advances, with Strength he learns self-mastery. The Hermit invites reflection before the Wheel changes everything.
In the second half, Justice demands accountability, the Hanged Man asks for surrender, Death brings transformation. After the Tower’s upheaval, the Star heals, the Moon confronts fears, and the Sun brings clarity. Judgement awakens, and finally, The World completes the cycle.
It’s the story of each one of us — repeated over and over, at different scales and moments in life.
Tarot and Numerology: Hidden Connections
Each Major Arcana has a number, and that number carries the same meaning as in numerology. The Magician (1) shares the leadership energy of number 1. The High Priestess (2) vibrates with the duality and intuition of 2. The Empress (3) embodies the creativity of 3.
If you already know your expression number or life path, try looking up the corresponding Major Arcana. It may reveal an extra layer of meaning about yourself.
Sofia Pereira is the author and editor of Caminho Numerico, where she publishes guides on numerology, tarot, astrology, esotericism and self-knowledge. Her work presents symbolic interpretations and spiritual practices in clear articles for readers seeking reflection, meaning and personal guidance.
