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The Major Arcana are the named cards in a cartomantic tarot pack. There are usually 22 such cards in a standard 78-card pack typically numbered from 0 to 21 (or 1 to 21, with the Fool being left unnumbered). The Major Arcana are complemented by the Minor Arcana—the 56 unnamed cards of the tarot deck, which more directly correspond to the contemporary standard 52 playing-card deck.

MAJOR ARCANA

  • the fool card
    Upright Meaning: Freedom, naivety
    Reversed Meaning: Head over heels, foolishness
  • the magician card
    Upright Meaning: Creativity, transutation
    Reversed Meaning: Trickery, backfiring
  • the high priestess card
    Upright Meaning: Silence, spirituality
    Reversed Meaning: Secrets, fooling yourself
  • the empress card
    Upright Meaning: Fertility, abundance
    Reversed Meaning: Lack of emotoions
  • the emperor card
    Upright Meaning: Power, authority
    Reversed Meaning: Overwhelmed, lack of power
  • the hierophant card
    Upright Meaning: Tradition, obedience
    Reversed Meaning: Rebel, changing traditions
  • the lovers card
    Upright Meaning: Love, important decision
    Reversed Meaning: Bad choice
  • the chariot card
    Upright Meaning: Willpower, direction
    Reversed Meaning: Stagnation, lack of direction
  • strength card
    Upright Meaning: Truth, fairness
    Reversed Meaning: Unfairness, dishonesty
  • the hermit card
    Upright Meaning: Solitude, wisdom
    Reversed Meaning: Lost, lonely
  • wheel of fortune card
    Upright Meaning: Advancing, good luck
    Reversed Meaning: Delays, resisting changes
  • justice card
    Upright Meaning: Strength, confidence
    Reversed Meaning: Doubt, weakness
  • the hanged man card
    Upright Meaning: Rite of passage, mediation or reflection
    Reversed Meaning: Stuck, attached
  • death card
    Upright Meaning: End of something, time to let go
    Reversed Meaning: Lack of acceptance, loss
  • temperance card
    Upright Meaning: Balance, calm and confidence
    Reversed Meaning: Unbalanced, emotional turmoil
  • the devil card
    Upright Meaning: Stop, wrong-way
    Reversed Meaning: Out of contril, illusions
  • the tower card
    Upright Meaning: Destruction, shock
    Reversed Meaning: Calamity, deep destruction
  • the star card
    Upright Meaning: Hope, guiding star
    Reversed Meaning: Lack of hope, rejecting guidance
  • the moon card
    Upright Meaning: Powerful dreams and visions
    Reversed Meaning: Confusion
  • the sun card
    Upright Meaning: Happiness, innocence
    Reversed Meaning: Lack of happiness, lack of spontaneity
  • judgement card
    Upright Meaning: Positive karma, getting what you deserve
    Reversed Meaning: Negative karma, not getting what is wanted
  • the world card
    Upright Meaning: Success, achievement
    Reversed Meaning: Success but with sacrifice

MINOR ARCANA

Cups
Represents one’s feelings, emotions, intuition, and creativity. Usually interprets relationships and one’s emotional connection with oneself and others.
  • ace of cups card
  • 2 cups card
  • 3 cups card
  • 4 cups card
  • 5 cups card
  • 6 cups card
  • 7 cups card
  • 8 cups card
  • 9 cups card
  • 10 cups card
  • page of cups card
  • knight of cups card
  • queen of cups card
  • king of cups card
Wands
Represents one’s energy, motivation, passion, and creativity. Usually interprets life purpose, spirituality, and new ideas.
    ace of wands card 2 wands card 3 wands card 4 wands card 5 wands card 6 wands card 7 wands card 8 wands card 9 wands card 10 wands card page of wands card knight of wands card queen of wands card king of wands card
Swords
Represents one’s thoughts, words, and action. Usually interprets communication, decision making, and the assertion of power.
    ace of swords card 2 swords card 3 swords card 4 swords card 5 swords card 6 swords card 7 swords card 8 swords card 9 swords card 10 swords card page of swords card knight of swords card queen of swords card king of swords card
Pentacles
Represents one’s finances, work, and material possession. Usually interprets career and financial wealth.
    ace of pentacles card 2 pentacles card 3 pentacles card 4 pentacles card 5 pentacles card 6 pentacles card 7 pentacles card queen of pentacles card king of pentacles card