What is the Major Arcana?
The word ‘arcana’ comes from the Latin arcanum, meaning secret or mystery. In tarot the term stands for the hidden wisdom behind the cards: a treasure chest full of symbols that help us understand ourselves and the world a little better.
A tarot deck has 78 cards. The 22 cards of the Major Arcana describe the great themes of life, and the 56 cards of the Minor Arcana are about everyday life. That Minor Arcana is divided into four suits: Swords, Wands, Cups and Pentacles. Below you will find the meaning of every card, short and clear, so that during a reading you can quickly look up what a card wants to tell you.
The meaning of the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana has 22 cards that describe the most important themes in a person’s life. Where the other cards are often about everyday situations, these cards touch the core of your personal growth and development. In a reading they act as trump cards: they carry strong influence and point to major changes or important life lessons.
The cards have a fixed order, from 0 to 21, where each card represents a new phase. If you not only want to know the meaning but also learn how to lay the cards, read learning tarot and spreads as well.
- The Fool: A fresh start and following your heart.
- The Magician: Willpower and using your talents.
- The High Priestess: Intuition and inner wisdom.
- The Empress: Growth, creativity and care.
- The Emperor: Structure, order and leadership.
- The Hierophant: Tradition and spiritual lessons.
- The Lovers: Love and making choices from the heart.
- The Chariot: Success and moving forward with purpose.
- Strength: Inner courage and patience.
- The Hermit: Reflection and seeking answers within yourself.
- The Wheel of Fortune: Change and the turning of fate.
- Justice: Fairness and balance.
- The Hanged Man: Surrender and a new perspective.
- Death: Letting go to make room for renewal.
- Temperance: Finding balance and harmony.
- The Devil: Becoming aware of limiting patterns.
- The Tower: A sudden breakthrough or change.
- The Star: Hope and trust in the future.
- The Moon: Dreams and the subconscious.
- The Sun: Happiness, energy and success.
- Judgement: Self-reflection and liberation.
- The World: Completion and contentment.
The meaning of the Minor Arcana
The 56 cards of the Minor Arcana are about everyday life: your thoughts, your work, your feelings and your possessions. Each suit belongs to an element and highlights a different part of your life. Swords stand for air and thinking, Wands for fire and drive, Cups for water and feeling, and Pentacles for earth and the material world. Each suit runs from Ace to Ten, followed by the four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King.
Swords: thinking and air
The Swords are about your thoughts, your decisions and the way you understand the world. They can be sharp and clear, but also show where you worry or get stuck.
- Ace of Swords: Clear insight and the power to discern and decide.
- Two of Swords: A decision you don’t dare make, shielding yourself.
- Three of Swords: Sorrow and facing a painful truth.
- Four of Swords: Taking rest, recovering and withdrawing for a while.
- Five of Swords: Conflict and the sense that winning does not always satisfy.
- Six of Swords: Leaving a difficult time behind and moving on.
- Seven of Swords: Choosing your own path, sometimes with a detour or a trick.
- Eight of Swords: Feeling trapped by your own thoughts.
- Nine of Swords: Worry and brooding, often bigger in your head than in reality.
- Ten of Swords: An ending that makes room for a new beginning.
- Page of Swords: Curiosity and a sharp, watchful eye.
- Knight of Swords: Pushing ahead with determination, sometimes too fast.
- Queen of Swords: Clear judgement and honesty.
- King of Swords: Reason, overview and fair leadership.
Wands: drive and fire
The Wands are about energy, growth and enterprise. They show where you are full of fire, where you begin something new and where you turn your will into action.
- Ace of Wands: New life force, growth and the energy to begin.
- Two of Wands: Success that does not yet satisfy, an eye on a wider world.
- Three of Wands: Looking out for the new and letting the past go.
- Four of Wands: Celebrating, coming home and a moment of joy.
- Five of Wands: Friction, rivalry and clashing energy.
- Six of Wands: Recognition and a well-earned victory.
- Seven of Wands: Standing your ground and defending your cause.
- Eight of Wands: Movement, speed and things gaining momentum.
- Nine of Wands: Persevering, even when you are tired.
- Ten of Wands: Carrying a heavy load, time to share or let go.
- Page of Wands: Enthusiasm and eagerness to explore.
- Knight of Wands: Adventure, passion and picking up speed.
- Queen of Wands: Warmth, confidence and contagious energy.
- King of Wands: Vision, leadership and drive.
Cups: feeling and water
The Cups are about your heart: love, friendship, emotions and connection. They show what is happening in your inner world and how you connect with others.
- Ace of Cups: An open heart and a new feeling that starts to flow.
- Two of Cups: Connection, mutual love and a meeting.
- Three of Cups: Friendship, celebrating together and gratitude.
- Four of Cups: Discontent or boredom, something good you almost let pass.
- Five of Cups: Loss and sorrow, with something that still remains.
- Six of Cups: Memories, warmth from the past and innocence.
- Seven of Cups: Many choices and dreams, time to discern what is real.
- Eight of Cups: Leaving something familiar behind in search of more depth.
- Nine of Cups: Contentment and a wish coming true.
- Ten of Cups: Happiness, harmony and connection with those you love.
- Page of Cups: Sensitivity, imagination and a tender message.
- Knight of Cups: Romance and acting from the heart.
- Queen of Cups: Warmth, empathy and care.
- King of Cups: Emotional wisdom and inner calm.
Pentacles: the material and earth
The Pentacles are about concrete life: your work, your money, your health and your home. They show how you build security and where you create something tangible.
- Ace of Pentacles: A new opportunity in a material or practical area.
- Two of Pentacles: Seeking balance between different tasks and choices.
- Three of Pentacles: Working together and craftsmanship taking shape.
- Four of Pentacles: Holding on to security, sometimes too tightly.
- Five of Pentacles: Setback or loss, but help is closer than you think.
- Six of Pentacles: Giving and receiving in balance.
- Seven of Pentacles: Patience while your work slowly bears fruit.
- Eight of Pentacles: Dedication, practice and refining your craft.
- Nine of Pentacles: Independence and enjoying what you have built.
- Ten of Pentacles: Stability, family and lasting security.
- Page of Pentacles: Eagerness to learn and a practical new start.
- Knight of Pentacles: Reliable, patient and step by step.
- Queen of Pentacles: Care, level-headedness and a warm home.
- King of Pentacles: Stability, prosperity and dependable leadership.
Learning to read a card yourself
These meanings are a starting point, not a fixed rule. A card only truly gains meaning in combination with your question, the other cards in the spread and your own feeling about the image. The more often you work with the cards, the more the meanings come alive. Want to experience it yourself? Draw a free daily card and see which meaning fits your day.
If you are new to tarot, tarot symbols for beginners will help you on your way, and if you want to go deeper into interpretation, read the meaning and secrets of tarot cards. If you would like to practise the cards in a real spread, the love tarot spread is a lovely one to begin with. Looking for your own deck to start with? Have a look at our tarot cards for beginners.
