The Major Arcana of the Tarot cards are deeply symbolic and represent our journey through life. Most people use the symbolism as depicted in the Rider Waite deck when interpreting the cards and that is what I use here. The Major Arcana meanings can shed light on our own life paths and choices when we interpret them using our intuition and mindful consciousness.

The Major Arcana are the big themes in life, the mysteries, our path to awakening and understanding. In readings, they are archetypal cards that represent the broad thrusts of where we are in life. The Minor Arcana can give more insight into our queries.

Related both to the Kabbalistic Tree of Life and numerology, the Major Arcana (‘arcana’ – secrets or mysteries) draw on numerous mystical traditions in their symbolism and art. What we ‘see’ when we interpret them differs from reading to reading, precisely how you might view an art piece today versus tomorrow. A symbol on a card will hold more meaning today for a query than tomorrow and so the interpretation differs.

Below is a list of all the cards of the Major Arcana with their meanings and reversed meanings. You can can also view meanings for Cups, Wands, Swords and Pentacles. A full list of Tarot Card Meanings can be found here.

The Fool Meaning
The Magician Meaning
The High Priestess Meaning
The Empress Meaning
The Emperor Meaning
The Hierophant Meaning
The Lovers Meaning
The Chariot Meaning
Strength Meaning
The Hermit Meaning
Wheel of Fortune Meaning
Justice Meaning
The Hanged Man Meaning
Death Meaning
Temperance Meaning
The Devil Meaning
The Tower Meaning
The Star Meaning
The Moon Meaning
The Sun Meaning
Judgement Meaning
The World Meaning

The Fool