Major Arcana Meanings
Tarot Card Meanings For All 78 Cards.
Tarot Card Meanings Rider Waite Deck
Tarot cards have been used for centuries as a powerful tool for divination, providing insights into the past, present, and future. Whether you’re a seasoned tarot reader or a beginner, understanding how to read Tarot cards and the meanings of each card is essential for accurate readings.
This guide comprehensively interprets every tarot card, including upright and reversed meanings.
Major Arcana Cards
The Journey Of The Fool
The Major Arcana is a 22-card set in the tarot that forms the core of the deck. While all tarot cards have deep meaning, this is especially true for the Major Arcana. These cards represent a spiritual journey, starting with the innocent Fool and ending with the enlightened World. They symbolize humanity’s path to spiritual growth and self-discovery.
As we follow the Fool’s journey, we can relate the cards to stages in our own lives, with each card offering a lesson to reflect on. Because of their importance, some readings use only the Major Arcana.

The Fool
Upright: New Beginnings, Spontaneity Reversed: Uncertain, or Fearful.

The Magician
Upright: Creativity, Resourcefulness Reversed: Lack of Focus.

High Priestess
Upright: Inner Truth. Reversed: Trust own Intuition.

The Empress
Upright: Nurturing, Prosperity Reversed: Blocked or Hindered.

The Emperor
Upright: Authority, Stability
Reversed: Coldness, Argumentative.

The Hierophant
Upright: Ethics, Conformity Reversed: Being Reckless, Rebellion.

The Lovers
Upright: Unity, Sincerity. Reversed: No focus, Biased.

The Chariot
Upright: Direction, Control Reversed: No Direction, No Control

Strength Card
Upright: Bravery, Inner Strength Reversed: Weakness, Doubt.

The Hermit
Upright: Solitude, Wisdom Reversed: Being Disconnected, .Rebellion.

Wheel Fortune
Upright: New Venture, Excitement. Reversed: Bad Luck, Failure.

Justice Card
Upright: Fairness and Balance Reversed: Lack of Fairness.

The Hanged Man
Upright: Sacrifice, Surrender Reversed: Resistant, No Purpose.

Death Card
Upright: Transformation, Change Reversed: Resistant to change or Uncertain.

Temperance Card
Upright: Balance and Harmony. Reversed: Lack of Self-Control.

Devil Card
Upright: Being Tempted, Possessions. Reversed: Liberation or Freedom.

The Tower Card
Upright: Confronted with Unexpected Reversed: Lack of Inner Peace.

The Star Card
Upright: Hope and Inspiration Reversed: Out of Balance or Out of Harmony.

The Moon Card
Upright: Subconscious Fears. Reversed: Finding a Sense of Balance and Harmony.

The Sun Card
Upright: Joy and Success, accomplishments. Reversed: Vulnerability, Struggling Times.
Suit of Cups
Emotion, Intuition, and Relationships
The Suit of Cups in a tarot deck is closely linked to the element of Water, representing the flow and depth of emotions. This suit reflects aspects of our emotional lives, such as feelings, intuition, and connections with others. It is often associated with love, not just romantic love, but also self-love, compassion, and care for others.
Creativity and imagination are also key themes within the Suit of Cups, highlighting the way our emotions inspire artistic expression and new ideas. Additionally, this suit touches on spirituality, guiding us to explore our inner world and our connection to something greater than ourselves.
Suit of Swords
Conflict, Challenges, and Decision-Making
The Suit of Swords in tarot is connected to the element of Air, symbolizing the mind, intellect, and the power of thought. This suit represents intelligence, logic, truth, ambition, and communication. It highlights how our mental processes shape our experiences and interactions. In readings, the Suit of Swords emphasizes the dual nature of intellect—much like a sword, it can cut both ways. Our thoughts and words can be used to uplift and solve problems, but they can also cause conflict, harm, and misunderstanding. When misused, the Suit of Swords can reflect harshness, cruelty, and a lack of empathy, warning us of the dangers of being overly critical or detached.
Suit of Pentacles
Practicality, Stability, and Material Wealth.
The Suit of Pentacles in tarot is connected to the element of Earth and represents all things worldly and material. While it’s often associated with financial matters, it also encompasses themes of security, stability, nature, health, and overall prosperity. Pentacles reflect our concerns with the tangible aspects of life, including our long-term future, career, home, and investments. They also touch on our relationship with the physical world and our senses, emphasizing the importance of balance and fulfilment. However, the Suit of Pentacles can also reveal negative traits such as greed, jealousy, stinginess, and unchecked ambition that can lead to the loss of more meaningful pursuits.
Suit of Wands
Creativity, Passion, and Ambition
The Suit of Wands in tarot is linked to the element of Fire, symbolizing passion, inspiration, and willpower. This suit embodies raw, primal energy, fuelling the drive to create and initiate new beginnings. Wands represent action, ambition, and the power to turn ideas into reality. They inspire movement and the courage to pursue goals. However, this intense energy can also lead to recklessness and a lack of direction when not properly channelled. As you explore the journey within the Suit of Wands, you’ll repeatedly encounter these themes of fiery determination and the challenges of harnessing such potent energy.
Beginners Guide To Major Arcana.
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Major Arcana Q and A
Q: What is the Major Arcana in Tarot?
A: The Major Arcana is a set of 22 Tarot cards representing major life events, influences, and patterns in a person’s journey.
Q: What kind of themes do the Major Arcana cards represent?
A: The Major Arcana cards represent a range of themes, including personal growth, spirituality, relationships, career, and life events.
Q: How important are the Major Arcana cards in a Tarot reading?
A: The Major Arcana cards are considered the most important and carry the most weight in a Tarot reading.
Q: How does the Major Arcana differ from the Minor Arcana in Tarot?
A: The Major Arcana represents the larger, more significant events and experiences in a person’s life, while the Minor Arcana represents life’s more day-to-day and practical aspects.
Q: Can the Major Arcana cards provide insight into a person’s future?
A: While the Tarot cards do not predict the future with certainty, they can provide insight into potential outcomes based on current patterns and influences. The Major Arcana cards can guide the significant themes and events a person may encounter in their life journey.
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