Intro

The major arcana cards make up 22 of the 78 cards in a rider-waite tarot deck. these cards often signify the larger overlying themes in life, as opposed to the smaller details revealed by the suite cards. The cards are numbered 0-22 and have many different significances. One important thing to take note of is reversals. Depending on how you shuffle your cards, some of the cards you draw will be upside down. You can choose to read these cards in their reverse meaning, or you can choose not to read reversals.

0. The fool

The fool is the first of the major arcana, and it’s meaning reflects that. The fool represents joyfulness, play, inexperience. The fool can also represent naivete or blind faith. It’s associated with new beginnings, with the start of a journey. When reversed, the fool can mean recklessness, or can be a warning to start taking things more seriously.

1. The magician

The magician card often represents potential. The magician has the skills and abilities that he requires for success, he just needs to tap into that potential. The magician card is also associated with manifestation. When reversed, it can signify manipulation and illusions.

2. The high priestess

The high priestess tarot card signifies secrecy, mystery, stillness, and science. the card tells you to trust your intuition and instincts, and that things may not be as they appear. when reversed, the high priestess can tell you to pull away from your inner life and open up to the world.

3. The empress

The empress represents femininity and the maternal. she signifies creativity, new life and beginnings, and love. The empress card is also associated with the moon. The empress, when reversed, can allude to a creative block, disconnection to your intuition, or a controlling relationship.

4. The emperor

The emperor represents masculinity. He signifies logic, structure, stability, discipline and self control. The emperor is also associated with the sun. When reversed, the emperor might mean immaturity, instability, lack of planning or structure, or insecurity.

5. The hierophant

The hierophant is associated with tradition and convention. It might suggest conformity and following established rules. It also alludes to a mentor or teacher who can provide spiritual wisdom. A reversed hierophant card represents rebellion, subversiveness, and freedom.

6. The lovers

The lovers represent balance and harmony. They signify cooperation, communication, and success in relationships or friendships. When reversed, the lovers allude to an imbalance or discord in your relationships, or a general lack of harmony and trust.

7. The chariot

The chariot represents overcoming and moving forward. It signifies determination, willpower, hard work and commitment. A reversed chariot card may suggest a lack of ambition and drive, or too much ambition to the point where it is causing problems.

8. Strength

Strength signifies internal will and strength. It alludes to overcoming struggle and moving forward with determination and strength of character. When reversed, strength suggests that you need to rest and withdraw for a while, or that you are experiencing a period of upset.

9. The hermit

The hermit is a card of solitude and introspection. It suggests that you need to be alone for a while to process things. A reversed hermit card alludes to too much isolation or loneliness, and represents getting out of your head and putting yourself out there.

10. Wheel of fortune

Wheel of fortune represents change. It signifies that life is circular, and you experience many ups and downs. An upright wheel of fortune card suggests that your life is taking a turn for the positive, while a reversed wheel of fortune might allude to the opposite.

11. Justice

Justice represents fairness, truth, law, and karma. It indicates that justice will be carried out and people will be held accountable for their actions. A reversed justice card can indicate lies, unfairness and a failure to take accountability

12. The hanged man

The hanged man represents sacrifice, waiting or stopping, and different perspectives. It is associated with intuition and divination. The hanged man, when reversed, can indicate a need to take action, or an excess of caution and hesitation.

13. Death

The death card represents an end. It can indicate the conclusion to a project, a relationship, or a phase in your life. It can also suggest transformation and letting go of the past. When reversed, death signals resistance to change and a fear of new beginnings.

14. Temperance

Temperance represents moderation. It indicates balance, moderation, patience and calm. Temperance reversed signals stress and tension in your life, imbalance and apathy.

15. The devil

The devil represents holding yourself back from success, giving in to temptation, and living in fear. The devil often indicates going down a dark path. The devil reversed may indicate overcoming fears and addictions, or overall improving your life

16. The tower

The tower represents destruction, crisis, change, and liberation. It suggests a massive upheaval and unexpected change. The tower reversed signals that you are having a hard time letting go of the past and that you need to move on from something

17. The star

The star represents hope, faith and inspiration. It can indicate that you are hopeful, content and grounded. The star reversed can indicate a loss of faith, lack of hope or disconnection from the world and yourself.

18. The moon

The moon card represents illusion. It is associated with danger, deception, darkness and error. It can also indicate a misunderstanding or illusion. When reversed, the moon might suggest that negative influences or situations are subsiding or lifting.

19. The sun

The sun is a very optimistic card. It represents joy, positivity, happiness and harmony. A reversed sun can indicate that you are optimistic or naive to the point where it becomes a flaw, or it can mean that you need to take a break and rest for a while.

20. Judgement

Judgement indicates a need for self reflection and personal growth. It might allude to a big decision, a change of ways or a new beginning. When reversed, judgement might mean that you judge yourself too harshly or that you are not learning an important lesson.

21. The world

The last card in the major arcana, the world represents the end of a cycle. It indicates fulfillment and completion. It also represents travel and movement. When reversed, the world can signify a long journey ahead, a feeling of incompletion or a lack of accomplishment.