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Divination: The Tarot - The Major Arcana
Tarot Major Arcana Defined
The Tarot archetypes are simply pictures representing life and the stages and experiences we all go through from birth until death. They
are symbols of all life cycles The first 22 cards, called the Major Arcana, are also called the "Fool's Journey" It is the story of
one's journey through life starting as The Fool: The Beginning, youthful, pure energy in spirit form. The journey continues in the
symbols, depicting events and cycles in one's life. Completion is in 'The World' archetype, the End, and the Fool has traveled to
wholeness and completion of the cycle of life. The other 56 cards, the Minor Arcana, describe the people, events, feelings, and
circumstances we encounter on our personal 'Fool's Journey'.
Major Arcana = One's Life Journey
Minor Arcana = People and Events along the way (Wands, Pentacles, Swords, Cups in the card decks)
Wands - Fire - Intuition
Swords - Air - Thinking
Cups - Water - Feeling
Pentacles - Earth - Sensing
The cards are laid in a spread to answer a question (a reading) usually on the topics of love, relationships, family, wealth and money,
stress, problems, life decisions, health, careers and work, meditation, daily guidance, prayer, and personal growth.
The 22 cards of the Major Arcana ("Greater Secrets") are also known as the Trumps or Triumphs, and are sometimes referred to by the
French atouts or the Italian atutti or trionfi. These are the cards containing strong prototypal symbols and meanings. In earlier
decks, these were often the only cards specifically illustrated according to meaning. The figures, forces and qualities depicted in
the Major Arcana are highly archetypal. The viewer with no previous knowledge of Tarot tradition will immediately get a sense of
what each card conveys, though the full richness of meaning will only be gained through study and application.
The Trumps are not merely a collection of 22 individual images: they follow an ordered sequence from I to XXI, with the Fool unnumbered or
assigned 0. The Fool is sometimes placed in order before the rest of the Trumps, after them, between XX and XXI, or sometimes no place at
all. The sequence is important and can be viewed in many ways; for example, as an allegory of the evolution of the soul.
Certain decks do change the order of the Major Arcana and their names: Arthur Edward Waite transposed Strength and Justice in the Rider-Waite
deck, for example. In keeping with his Thelemic system on which his Thoth deck is based, Aleister Crowley changed the names of some of the
cards: Justice becoming Adjustment, Strength becoming Lust, Temperance becoming Art, Judgement becoming the Aeon, and the World becoming
the Universe.
The most usual ordering and attribution of the Major Arcana is as follows:
Major Cards represent events that are out of the control of the individual.
(Click on a Card for a more detailed interpretation.)
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| 0 Fool |
I Magus |
II High Priestess |
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| III Empress |
IV Emperor |
V Hierophant |
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| VI Lovers |
VII Chariot |
VIII Strength |
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| IX Hermit |
X Fortune |
XI Justice |
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| XII Hanged Man |
XIII Death |
XIV Temperance |
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| XV The Devil |
XVI Tower |
XVII Star |
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| XVIII Moon |
XIX Sun |
XX Judgement |
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XXI World |
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Interpretation of the Major Acarna
The tarot deck used is the Robin Hood deck. The interpretations will not always match those of other decks, or your own personal cards. This
is meant as a guide only, practice and working with your own cards, will bring meaning and insight to your readings.
0- The Fool
Upright: A leap into the unknown, optimism, innocent.
Reversed: Folly, carelessness, naiveté, lack of focus
1- The Magician
Upright: Sign for infinity, spirits working behind the scenes, renewed creativity and vigour.
Reversed: A need to control, secrecy
2- High Priestess
Upright: Listen to the intuitive side of your nature, an interest in spiritual knowledge, wisdom gained
Reversed: Fear of looking for answers, does not trust intuition
3- The Empress
Upright: Female card, mothering side of female nature, pregnancy, growth as a woman
Reversed: Look to where your life needs growth, sterile, deprivation
4- The Emperor
Upright: Male card, good with head and hands, usually self employed, ability to lead and inspire, knows how to work the system
Reversed: Insecurity, loss of power, oppressed by authority
5- The Hierophant
Upright: Seeking spiritual help and guidance, in a female spread women’s problems
Reversed: Non conformity, rigid, questioning of traditions
6- The Lovers
Upright: Awakening of passionate love, sexuality, the balance of male/female side, matters of the heart
Reversed: Inability to find a partner, manipulation of others using sexuality
7- The Chariot
Upright: Movement into the next phase of life, career advancement, going on a journey
Reversed: Impatience, disregarding of others, insensitivity
8- Strength
Upright: Strength to overcome obstacles, to create peace between opposing forces, to overcome personal problems
Reversed: Imbalance, discord, weak on decision making
9- The Hermit
Upright: Time on your own will be well spent, self-reflection, to gain knowledge
Reversed: Refusing to listen to intuition or advice from others, distracted, no time for reflection
10- The Wheel Of Fortune
Upright: That person is moving towards their destiny, awareness of things around them, life continues on an ever ongoing cycle
Reversed: They are going back to face a situation, disappointment, pessimism
11- Justice
Upright: Ability to defend oneself so that justice is done, look at a situation from an outsiders point of view, so that fair play is achieved, legal matters
Reversed: Frustration with people or situations, no time for legalities that holds things up
12- The Hanged Man
Upright: Making sacrifices for the good of others, time in suspension, taking care of others
Reversed: Lack of understanding, materialistic, no values
13- Death
Upright: Re-birth, off with the old on with the new, painful change that is necessary, transformation
Reversed: Fear of change, resisting change
14- Temperance
Upright: Patience, balance between the physical and spiritual self, sense of peace
Reversed: Imbalance, lack of moderation, can indicate a person who drinks too much, or takes drugs
15- The Devil
Upright: Negative card, negativity in a persons life, bondage enslavement in a situation (usually self created) card of depression
Reversed: Free from temptation, light at the end of the tunnel, victory over a problem from the past
16- The Tower
Upright: Rapid change, things happen that seem drastic at the time, these changes need to happen, for changes to take place
Reversed: Hidden forces at work to transform things for the better, have patience
17- The Star
Upright: Major wish card, whatever you wish for you will get to the letter, follow your dreams, good fortune
Reversed: Insecurity, not feeling worthy, afraid to follow your heart
18- THE Moon
Upright: Support of those who really care for you (usually a woman) intense dreams
Reversed: Deception, what you see is not what you have, fickle
19- The Sun
Upright: Hope and understanding, in a bad spread cancels out negative cards, fertility, life energy, love
Reversed: Problems with projects, or moving on in life, backs away from love and affection
20- Judgement
Upright: Not to judge yourself harshly, fair play is indicated, major life changes required, confidence to carry them out
Reversed: Not able to decide on a plan of action
21- The World
Upright: Everything you are hoping for can be achieved, understanding of the balance between nature, connection with the cosmos, travel and communication
Reversed: Not sure how to make changes for the better, things at a standstill
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