With rich visual imagery and insightful analysis, this page serves as an invaluable resource for anyone interested in tarot card reading or spiritual exploration.
The 22 cards of the Major Arcana provide the spiritual foundation for the deck. Traditionally, the symbolism and archetypal imagery of the trump cards draw their influence throughout the deck. The Major Arcana cards have strong symbolism, elemental aspects, relate to astrology, and the mystical teachings of the Kabbalah.
Many of the Major Arcana cards correspond to zodiac signs, planets, and celestial bodies. These associations can add deeper layers of meaning to each card, enriching the interpretation and understanding of the tarot.
In addition, the Major Arcana corresponds to the Kabbalah which seeks to understand the nature of the divine and the structure of the universe. One of its central symbols in Kabbalah is the Tree of Life, a diagram that represents the divine emanations or sephiroth through which the Creator interacts with the world. The Tree of Life consists of 10 sephiroth and 22 paths that connect them.
Each of the 22 paths corresponds to one of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet, and these paths can be linked to the 22 Major Arcana cards in the Tarot while the 10 sephiroth are associated with the Minor Arcana suit cards (Ace through Ten) representing various aspects of existence and the divine emanations of the Creator.
From Fool to World, the Major Arcana tells the story of the journey from childlike innocence, The Fool, to the higher perspective of enlightenment, which is The World. It is a journey of the full realization of the Self. Each card represents a new objective, challenge, lesson, and aspect of self-realization that mirrors our self-actualization to reflect on and guide our evolution.
For insight, consider giving yourself a reading called The Fool’s Journey. This reading is conducted by shuffling just the Major Arcana, laying all the cards down, and divining your current stage of personal development, based on where the Fool is placed. Remember, healing is not a linear journey, so return to the Fool’s Journey reading time and again and discover new aspects of your path to becoming who you are meant to be!
Upright
The Fool card represents a new beginning, unlimited potential, and the start of a journey or adventure...
Reversed
In the reversed position, The Fool card can indicate negligence, absence, distribution, carelessness, apathy, nullity, and vanity...
Upright
The Magician is a symbol of skill, diplomacy, address, and subtlety...
Reversed
When the Magician card is reversed, it can indicate negative traits such as mental disease, disgrace, and disquiet...
Upright
The High Priestess is a symbol of secrets, mystery, and the future as yet unrevealed...
Reversed
When the High Priestess card is in the reversed position, it can indicate negative traits such as passion, moral or physical ardor, and conceit...
Upright
The Empress is a symbol of fruitfulness, action, and initiative...
Reversed
When the Empress card is in the reversed position, it can indicate positive traits such as light and truth...
Upright
The Emperor is a symbol of stability, power, and protection...
Reversed
When the Emperor card is in the reversed position, it can indicate positive traits such as benevolence and compassion...
Upright
The Hierophant is a symbol of marriage, alliance, and captivity...
Reversed
When the Hierophant card is in the reversed position, it can indicate positive traits such as society, good understanding, and concord...
Upright
The Lovers card represents love, attraction, and beauty...
Reversed
When the Lovers card is in the reversed position, it can indicate failure and foolish designs...
Upright
The Chariot is a symbol of success and triumph, suggesting that the Querent is on a path to victory...
Reversed
When the Chariot card is in the reversed position, it can indicate riot, quarrel, dispute, litigation, and defeat...
Upright
The Strength card represents power, energy, action, and courage...
Reversed
When the Fortitude card is in the reversed position, it can indicate despotism and abuse of power...
Upright
The Hermit card represents prudence and circumspection...
Reversed
When the Hermit card is in the reversed position, it can indicate concealment, disguise, and policy...
Upright
The Wheel of Fortune card represents destiny, fortune, success, and elevation...
Reversed
When the Wheel of Fortune card is in the reversed position, it can indicate increase, abundance, and superfluity...
Upright
The Justice card represents equity, rightness, probity, and executive authority...
Reversed
When the Justice card is in the reversed position, it can indicate legal complications, bigotry, bias, or excessive severity...
Upright
The Hanged Man card represents wisdom, circumspection, discernment, and sacrifice...
Reversed
When the Hanged Man card is in the reversed position, it can indicate selfishness, the crowd, or the body politic...
Upright
The Death card represents the end of a cycle, mortality, destruction, and corruption...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Death card can indicate inertia, sleep, lethargy, petrifaction, or somnambulism...
Upright
The Temperance card represents the virtues of economy, moderation, frugality, management, and accommodation...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Temperance card can indicate things connected with churches, religions, sects, the priesthood, and sometimes even the priest who will marry the Querent...
Upright
The Devil card represents ravage, violence, vehemence, extraordinary efforts, force, and fatality...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Devil card can indicate evil fatality, weakness, pettiness, and blindness...
Upright
The Tower card represents misery, distress, indigence, adversity, calamity, disgrace, deception, and ruin...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Tower card may indicate the same meanings but in a lesser degree...
Upright
The Star card can represent loss, theft, privation, and abandonment...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Star card may indicate arrogance, haughtiness, and impotence...
Upright
The Moon card is associated with hidden enemies, danger, calumny, darkness, terror, deception, and occult forces...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Moon card may indicate instability, inconstancy, silence, and lesser degrees of deception and error...
Upright
The Sun card represents material happiness, fortunate marriage, and contentment...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Sun card carries the same general meaning in a lesser sense...
Upright
The Judgment card represents a change of position, renewal, and outcome...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Judgment card can indicate weakness, pusillanimity, and simplicity...
Upright
The World card represents the completion of a journey, attainment of goals, and fulfillment...
Reversed
In the reversed position, The World card can indicate inertia, fixity, stagnation, and permanence...
While the 22 Major Arcana represents significant spiritual and psychological archetypes, the 56 Minor Arcana cards still contain deep spiritual and psychological themes. The four suits—wands, cups, swords, and pentacles—are linked to astrological and elemental associations, enhancing the understanding of the cards.
The suit of Wands is associated with fire signs (Aries, Leo, Sagittarius) and represents action, passion, and creativity. Wands are linked to Mars, symbolizing energy and drive.
The suit of Cups corresponds to water signs (Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces) and signifies emotions, intuition, and relationships. Cups are associated with Venus, representing love and harmony.
The suit of Swords is connected to air signs (Gemini, Libra, Aquarius) and symbolizes intellect, communication, and decision-making. Swords are linked to Mercury, signifying intellect and travel.
The suit of Pentacles relates to earth signs (Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn) and represents wealth, resources, and stability. Pentacles are associated with Saturn, symbolizing discipline and responsibility.
Each suit has numbered cards (Ace to Ten) and court cards: the Page, Knight, Queen, and King. These represent different facets of human experience, as well as stages of growth and maturity.
Wands are governed by fire and embody the passion, creative will, personal power, chi, and life force energy the element symbolizes. With the rods or staves is where it all begins, the spark of energy meeting the light of ingenuity.
In the shadow, wands can represent egoism, discord, and reckless intention. In the light, wands represent individuality, power, potential, and empowerment. Learn more about the Suit of Wands and the Journey of the Fool.
Upright
The Ace of Wands is a powerful card that represents creation, invention, and enterprise...
Reversed
When reversed, the Ace of Wands can signify a fall from grace, decadence, and ruin...
Upright
Between the alternative readings there is no marriage possible; on the one hand, riches, fortune, magnificence; on the other, physical suffering, disease, chagrin, sadness, mortification...
Reversed
The reverse of the Two of Wands can indicate that you are feeling stuck or uncertain about which path to take...
Upright
The Three of Wands is a card that represents enterprise, effort, and trade...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Three of Wands indicates the end of troubles and the suspension or cessation of adversity, toil, and disappointment...
Upright
The Four of Wands in the upright position symbolizes a time of peace and prosperity, where one has achieved stability and harmony in their life...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Four of Wands maintains its positive meaning, but with a slightly different emphasis...
Upright
The Five of Wands is a card that often represents competition, struggle, and challenge...
Reversed
The reversed meaning of the Five of Wands can indicate the possibility of legal disputes, disagreements, and arguments...
Upright
The Six of Wands signifies triumph, victory, and achievement...
Reversed
The Six of Wands in reverse suggests a lack of recognition and achievement...
Upright
The Seven of Wands is a card that represents valor and courage...
Reversed
In reverse, the Seven of Wands suggests confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety...
Upright
The Eight of Wands is a card that represents action and movement in all kinds of undertakings...
Reversed
In reverse, the Eight of Wands signifies the arrows of jealousy and internal dispute...
Upright
The card signifies strength...
Reversed
The reverse of the Nine of Wands indicates a lack of confidence and self-doubt...
Upright
The Ten of Wands is a complex card with many possible meanings, some of which are contradictory...
Reversed
The reverse of the Ten of Wands can indicate contrarieties, difficulties, and intrigues, as well as their analogies...
Upright
Dark young man, faithful, a lover, an envoy, a postman...
Reversed
Anecdotes, announcements, evil news...
Upright
The Knight of Wands signifies departure, absence, and flight...
Reversed
The reversed Knight of Wands signifies rupture, division, interruption, and discord...
Upright
A dark woman, countrywoman, friendly, chaste, loving, honorable...
Reversed
Good, economical, obliging, serviceable...
Upright
The King of Wands represents a dark-haired, friendly, and honest man who is usually married and has a strong sense of responsibility...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the King of Wands represents a good and kind person who may be too severe or austere in their actions...
Cups are governed by water and embody the outpouring, transformation, gentleness, and power the water element symbolizes. The chalice or cups are where we connect with our inner being and the unconscious mind.
In the shadow, cups represent denial, illusion, over-emotionality, and emptiness. In the light, cups represent dreams, romance, emotional expression, and love.
Upright
The Ace of Cups represents the beginning of emotions, love, and spiritual experiences...
Reversed
On the reverse side, the Ace of Cups can indicate blocked emotions, emotional instability, or a lack of connection to one's feelings...
Upright
The Two of Cups is a card of harmony, union, and balanced partnership...
Reversed
In reverse, the Two of Cups can indicate a lack of harmony and balance in a relationship...
Upright
The Three of Cups is a card of rejoicing and celebration, often depicting three women dancing and raising their cups in a toast...
Reversed
In reverse, the Three of Cups can indicate a lack of harmony in relationships or a sense of disconnection from community...
Upright
The Four of Cups represents a period of introspection, withdrawal, and contemplation...
Reversed
When reversed, the Four of Cups can indicate a period of restlessness or discontent...
Upright
A dark, cloaked figure, looking sideways at three prone cups two others stand upright behind him; a bridge is in the background, leading to a small keep or holding...
Reversed
News, alliances, affinity, consanguinity, ancestry, return, false projects...
Upright
The Six of Cups represents innocence, childhood memories, and nostalgia...
Reversed
In reverse, the Six of Cups can indicate a refusal to let go of the past, leading to an inability to move forward...
Upright
The Seven of Cups is a card that is often associated with illusion and deception...
Reversed
In reverse, the Seven of Cups suggests a release from the illusions and delusions that have been holding the individual back...
Upright
The Eight of Cups represents a person who is walking away from their current life in search of something more meaningful...
Reversed
In reverse, the Eight of Cups may indicate fear of change or an unwillingness to let go of the past...
Upright
The Nine of Cups is also known as the 'wish card' or 'the card of wishes come true'...
Reversed
In reverse, the Nine of Cups can suggest that the querent is feeling unfulfilled or unsatisfied in their emotional or material life...
Upright
The Ten of Cups represents happiness, satisfaction, and emotional fulfillment in relationships...
Reversed
On the other hand, the reversed Ten of Cups indicates a lack of harmony and happiness in your home or relationships...
Upright
The Page of Cups in the upright position suggests a message of love and inspiration is on its way...
Reversed
In reverse, the Page of Cups can indicate emotional blockages and difficulty in expressing one's feelings...
Upright
The Knight of Cups is a card that represents a person who is romantic, idealistic, imaginative, and emotionally sensitive...
Reversed
In reverse, the Knight of Cups may represent a lack of emotional depth, excessive idealism, or a tendency towards emotional manipulation or deception...
Upright
The Queen of Cups is a card of intuition, emotional maturity, and feminine power...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Queen of Cups can suggest a lack of emotional maturity or an overemphasis on emotion that is causing problems...
Upright
The King of Cups is a figure of authority and emotional maturity...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the King of Cups can indicate emotional instability, moodiness, and a tendency towards self-indulgence...
Swords are governed by air and embody the swiftness, power, clarification, and changeability the element symbolizes. With the daggers or swords is where we find the balance between the will of the wands, and heart of the cups.
In shadow, swords represent coldness, detachment, harsh criticism, and negative ruminations. In the light, swords represent wisdom, clarity, inspiration, the power of knowledge, honesty, and integrity.
Upright
The Ace of Swords represents a new beginning, a sudden insight or understanding, and the ability to make clear decisions...
Reversed
In reverse, the Ace of Swords may suggest confusion, indecision, or a lack of clarity...
Upright
The Two of Swords is a card of decision-making and duality...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Two of Swords can indicate that the decision has been made hastily or without proper consideration of all the options...
Upright
The Three of Swords is a card of sorrow, pain, and heartbreak...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Three of Swords suggests the potential for healing and moving on from past hurts...
Upright
The Four of Swords is a card that suggests a period of rest and introspection...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Four of Swords can signify a resistance to taking a break or a refusal to rest...
Upright
The Five of Swords is a card of conflict, defeat, and dishonor...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Five of Swords may suggest a willingness to make amends and seek resolution...
Upright
The Six of Swords is a card that signifies a journey or a transition...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Six of Swords can indicate that you are stuck in a difficult situation and are struggling to move on...
Upright
The Seven of Swords is a card of deception, trickery, and betrayal...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Seven of Swords may indicate that the deceit and betrayal have been discovered, or that the querent is becoming more aware of what is happening behind the scenes...
Upright
The Eight of Swords is a card that represents feeling trapped and powerless, as if one is surrounded-sm by obstacles and cannot move forward...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Eight of Swords suggests that the querent is beginning to break free from their limitations and regain their power...
Upright
The Nine of Swords is often associated with anxiety, worry, and fear...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Nine of Swords can indicate a release from anxiety and worry...
Upright
The Ten of Swords is one of the most negative cards in the Tarot deck, signifying an end to a difficult situation in a painful way...
Reversed
When the Ten of Swords is reversed, it indicates a release from the negative energy of the upright card...
Upright
The Page of Swords is a card that represents a person who is intelligent, curious, and always seeking knowledge...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Page of Swords can indicate a lack of focus, a tendency to be scattered or indecisive, and a lack of follow-through...
Upright
The Knight of Swords is a card that represents a swift and sudden action...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Knight of Swords can represent recklessness, impulsiveness, and haste...
Upright
The Queen of Swords in the upright position symbolizes a strong-willed, intelligent woman who is quick to action and decision-making...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Queen of Swords can signify bitterness, coldness, and cruelty...
Upright
The King of Swords is a symbol of authority, power, and intellect...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the King of Swords can represent a lack of empathy or compassion...
Pentacles are governed by earth and embody the strength, endurance, fertility, and creativity the element represents. With the coins or disks, we manifest the cumulative result of our will, wands, heart's desire, cups, and ingenuity.
In the shadow, pentacles represent materialism, greed, hedonism, and avarice. In the light, coins represent generational wealth, comfort, generosity, enduring prosperity, and manifestation.
Upright
The Ace of Pentacles is a card that represents new beginnings, opportunities, and potential for material or financial success...
Reversed
In a reverse position, the Ace of Pentacles can suggest missed opportunities, blocked potential, or lack of resources...
Upright
The Two of Pentacles is a card of change, balance, and adaptability...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Two of Pentacles can indicate a lack of balance or difficulty managing multiple priorities...
Upright
The Three of Pentacles is a card of work and skill...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Three of Pentacles can indicate a lack of collaboration and teamwork, where communication breakdowns and disagreements hinder progress...
Upright
In the upright position, the Four of Pentacles suggests that you are holding onto your resources, perhaps out of fear of losing them or a desire for control...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Four of Pentacles suggests that you may be clinging too tightly to your material possessions, whether it be money, possessions, or even relationships...
Upright
The Five of Pentacles typically represents a period of financial loss or material hardship...
Reversed
When the Five of Pentacles is reversed, it may indicate a turning point, where the worst is over and a new beginning is on the horizon...
Upright
The Six of Pentacles in the upright position signifies generosity, charity, and compassion towards others...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Six of Pentacles can suggest an imbalance in giving and receiving...
Upright
The Seven of Pentacles in the upright position indicates a time of assessment and contemplation...
Reversed
When the Seven of Pentacles appears in reverse, it suggests impatience and frustration with the progress you are making towards your goals...
Upright
The Eight of Pentacles is a card of dedication, diligence, and craftsmanship...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Eight of Pentacles suggests a lack of focus or dedication...
Upright
The Nine of Pentacles represents a sense of financial independence, comfort, and luxury...
Reversed
In reverse, the Nine of Pentacles indicates a loss of financial independence or comfort...
Upright
The Ten of Pentacles is a card of prosperity, stability, and fulfillment in the material world...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Ten of Pentacles can indicate the breakdown of family harmony, the loss of wealth or financial security, or the failure to pass down traditions or values to the next generation...
Upright
The Page of Pentacles is a young person who is practical, hardworking, and diligent...
Reversed
In a reading, the Page of Pentacles can indicate a new opportunity that requires dedication and hard work...
Upright
The Knight of Pentacles represents a grounded-sm and practical approach to achieving one's goals...
Reversed
In the reversed position, the Knight of Pentacles can indicate a tendency towards stubbornness and inflexibility...
Upright
The Queen of Pentacles is a card that often represents a practical, down-to-earth woman who is nurturing and abundant...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the Queen of Pentacles can represent a lack of nurturing or abundance in one's life...
Upright
The King of Pentacles is a card in the suit of Pentacles in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot...
Reversed
In the reverse position, the King of Pentacles can indicate a person who is overly materialistic, greedy, or obsessed with money and possessions...