Major Arcana

What is the Major Arcana?

The Major Arcana consists of the 22 most important cards in the Tarot deck. “Arcana” is a Latin word meaning “secret,” and these cards represent significant life events and stages of spiritual growth.

The Fool’s Journey

The Major Arcana is understood as a complete narrative called “The Fool’s Journey.” This is a spiritual journey that expresses the process of soul growth and awakening.

Three Stages of the Journey

1. First Stage: Learning in the Material World (Cards 0-7)

   • From new beginnings to success in the physical world.
   • Basic experiences in the material realm.

2. Second Stage: Inner Exploration (Cards 8-14)

   • Inner growth and spiritual trials.
   • Facing oneself and transformation.

3. Third Stage: Spiritual Awakening (Cards 15-21)

   • Liberation from bondage and ultimate completion.
   • Reaching higher consciousness.

Major Arcana List

First Stage: Learning in the Material World (Cards 0-7)

0. The Fool

• Basic Meaning: New beginnings, infinite possibilities, purity.
• Upright: New start, adventurous spirit, freedom.
• Reversed: Recklessness, carelessness, unpreparedness.
• Symbolism: Cliff edge, white rose, small bundle.
• Details: The Fool’s detailed page

1. The Magician

• Basic Meaning: Willpower, creativity, manifestation.
• Upright: Focus, skill, clear goals.
• Reversed: Manipulation, deception, misuse of power.
• Symbolism: Four elements, infinity symbol, wand.
• Details: The Magician’s detailed page

2. The High Priestess

• Basic Meaning: Intuition, subconscious, inner wisdom.
• Upright: Intuition, insight, spiritual knowledge.
• Reversed: Secrets, hidden information, ignoring intuition.
• Symbolism: Moon, pillars, veil, scroll.
• Details: The High Priestess’s detailed page

3. The Empress

• Basic Meaning: Fertility, motherhood, creativity.
• Upright: Abundance, beauty, harmony with nature.
• Reversed: Dependence, lack of creativity, infertility.
• Symbolism: Pregnancy, lush nature, Venus symbol.
• Details: The Empress’s detailed page

4. The Emperor

• Basic Meaning: Authority, stability, fatherhood.
• Upright: Leadership, stability, discipline.
• Reversed: Tyranny, inflexibility, domination.
• Symbolism: Throne, mountain, ram’s head, red robe.
• Details: The Emperor’s detailed page

5. The Hierophant

• Basic Meaning: Tradition, teaching, spiritual guidance.
• Upright: Guidance, learning, traditional values.
• Reversed: Rebellion, unconventionality, forging one’s own path.
• Symbolism: Religious vestments, two pillars, cross.
• Details: The Hierophant’s detailed page

6. The Lovers

• Basic Meaning: Love, choice, relationship.
• Upright: Affection, harmony, important choice.
• Reversed: Disharmony, temptation, wrong choice.
• Symbolism: Man and woman, angel, Tree of Life.
• Details: The Lovers’ detailed page

7. The Chariot

• Basic Meaning: Will, progress, victory.
• Upright: Willpower, success, advancement.
• Reversed: Setback, loss of direction, defeat.
• Symbolism: Two sphinxes, crown, city background.
• Details: The Chariot’s detailed page

Second Stage: Inner Exploration (Cards 8-14)

8. Strength

• Basic Meaning: Inner strength, courage, patience.
• Upright: Mental fortitude, endurance, gentleness.
• Reversed: Weakness, fear, lack of self-control.
• Symbolism: Woman and lion, infinity symbol, flower wreath.
• Details: Strength’s detailed page

9. The Hermit

• Basic Meaning: Introspection, wisdom, solitude.
• Upright: Introspection, guidance, spiritual quest.
• Reversed: Isolation, stubbornness, rejection of guidance.
• Symbolism: Lantern, staff, mountain peak.
• Details: The Hermit’s detailed page

10. Wheel of Fortune

• Basic Meaning: Destiny, change, cycle.
• Upright: Turn for the better, good fortune, new cycle.
• Reversed: Misfortune, stagnation, vicious cycle.
• Symbolism: Wheel, mystical letters, four creatures.
• Details: The Wheel of Fortune’s detailed page

11. Justice

• Basic Meaning: Fairness, balance, truth.
• Upright: Fairness, balance, just outcome.
• Reversed: Injustice, prejudice, dishonesty.
• Symbolism: Scales, sword, throne.
• Details: Justice’s detailed page

12. The Hanged Man

• Basic Meaning: Sacrifice, suspension, new perspective.
• Upright: Patience, sacrifice, new perspective.
• Reversed: Useless sacrifice, stagnation, resistance.
• Symbolism: Upside-down man, T-shaped tree, halo.
• Details: The Hanged Man’s detailed page

13. Death

• Basic Meaning: Change, ending, rebirth.
• Upright: Change, transformation, new beginnings.
• Reversed: Stagnation, resistance to change, fear of ending.
• Symbolism: Skeleton, black flag, river.
• Details: Death’s detailed page

14. Temperance

• Basic Meaning: Harmony, balance, moderation.
• Upright: Balance, harmony, healing.
• Reversed: Disharmony, excess, immoderation.
• Symbolism: Angel, pouring water, rainbow.
• Details: Temperance’s detailed page

Third Stage: Spiritual Awakening (Cards 15-21)

15. The Devil

• Basic Meaning: Bondage, desire, materialism.
• Upright: Bondage, temptation, material desires.
• Reversed: Liberation, revelation, escape from bondage.
• Symbolism: Devil, chains, inverted pentagram.
• Details: The Devil’s detailed page

16. The Tower

• Basic Meaning: Destruction, sudden change, awakening.
• Upright: Destruction, shock, sudden revelation.
• Reversed: Inner change, avoiding destruction, gradual change.
• Symbolism: Tower, lightning, falling figures.
• Details: The Tower’s detailed page

17. The Star

• Basic Meaning: Hope, inspiration, healing.
• Upright: Hope, inspiration, healing.
• Reversed: Despair, loss of hope, distrust.
• Symbolism: Stars, pouring water, pond.
• Details: The Star’s detailed page

18. The Moon

• Basic Meaning: Illusion, anxiety, subconscious.
• Upright: Intuition, dreams, subconscious.
• Reversed: Confusion, deception, escapism.
• Symbolism: Moon, wolf, crab, pond.
• Details: The Moon’s detailed page

19. The Sun

• Basic Meaning: Joy, success, brightness.
• Upright: Success, joy, vitality.
• Reversed: Over-optimism, superficial success, delay.
• Symbolism: Sun, child, white horse, sunflower.
• Details: The Sun’s detailed page

20. Judgment

• Basic Meaning: Resurrection, rebirth, final judgment.
• Upright: Resurrection, awakening, final judgment.
• Reversed: Self-doubt, delayed judgment, clinging to the past.
• Symbolism: Angel, trumpet, rising figures.
• Details: Judgment’s detailed page

21. The World

• Basic Meaning: Completion, achievement, integration.
• Upright: Completion, achievement, integration.
• Reversed: Incompletion, unfulfilled goals, delay.
• Symbolism: Dancing woman, wreath, four creatures.
• Details: The World’s detailed page

How to Read the Major Arcana

Basic Approach

1. Consider the meaning of the number.
2. Understand its position in The Fool’s Journey.
3. Grasp the difference between upright and reversed positions.
4. Gain intuitive insights from symbolic elements.

Reading Combinations

• Multiple Major Arcana: A significant turning point in life.
• Consecutive Numbers: Gradual development or growth.
• Opposing Cards: Relationships of balance or conflict.

Learning Points

For Beginners

1. Learn the basic meanings first.
2. Grasp the image through visuals.
3. Understand the flow of The Fool’s Journey.

For Advanced Learners

1. Correspondence with astrology.
2. Connection with Kabbalah.
3. Links to myths and legends.

Summary

The Major Arcana are powerful cards that represent important life phases and spiritual growth. Each of the 22 cards has its own deep meaning and forms a complete story as “The Fool’s Journey.”

Understanding the meanings of these cards will significantly improve the accuracy and depth of your Tarot readings. Through continuous learning and practice, you will be able to naturally read the messages from the cards.

Next Steps

• Minor Arcana Meanings - 56 cards representing daily events.
• Basic Spreads - Card layout methods and how to read them.
• Practical Reading Guide - A practical guide to Tarot reading.