There are a total of 78 tarot cards in a deck, but the entirety of the deck can be split up into two, main parts. These parts are known as the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. In this blog post, we’re going to focus on the Major Arcana.
While there are 78 cards total in a tarot deck, only 22 of those 78 are within the Major Arcana. The remaining 56 cards reside within the Minor Arcana. Obviously, this means that the Major Arcana is quite a small portion of the tarot deck in comparison to the Minor. Perhaps the reason for this is due to the major experiences they point to in our lives.
Archetypes in the Major Arcana
Each of the Major Arcana cards can be understood as archetypes. Archetypes are images that don’t need any explanation to be recognized by anyone. Likewise, they’re innately understood by everyone.
For example, a fool is someone who doesn’t look before they leap, has no plans for their journey, and is naive to the potential dangers the world threatens us with. The first card in the tarot deck and within the Major Arcana is The Fool.
The Fool’s Journey
In life, we are all The Fool. If we don’t think we are now, we have been, or we will be at some point. Truthfully, we’re probably foolish several times in a single day. This is the case for all cards within the Major Arcana.
Each of them are symbolic of the human experience. The first 22 cards that are found in the tarot deck explain our experience of life on earth as told by any and all human beings. No matter which card we draw upon, the Major Arcana describes us all.
No matter which Major Arcana cards are chosen, they’re all symbolic of the greater, more transformative experiences of life. Representing growth, these cards are likelier to show up during times of change. The more Major Arcana cards in a reading, the bigger the impact of the event(s).
Cards of Change
Whenever we sit down to do a reading, and we flip our cards over to reveal that many are Major Arcana cards, we may feel a sense of nervousness. After all, there are 78 cards and only 22 are Majors, which includes cards like Death, The Devil, and The Hanged Man. Clearly, this means we’re in for some unfortunate times, right?
Well, not exactly. More often than not, when the cards are drawn, we’re already in the eye of the storm. The cards drawn can give us insight into the lessons we’re currently learning. Not to mention, they’re not meant to be taken so literally.
Drawing the Death card, for example, doesn’t mean anyone you know, including you, is going to die anytime soon. What it likely means is that something in your life, perhaps even a part of your personality, is being put to rest. Followed by death is rebirth, which is a metamorphosis. Like a caterpillar turning into a butterfly or a snake shedding its skin, they experience a sort of death, and it’s the type the Death card truly means.
The Cards
As mentioned already, the Major Arcana is made up of 22 cards. These cards are numbered, but don’t get confused when you see that the final card is the number 21. There are still 22 cards, while the first card in the Major Arcana is number 0. Therefore, the 22 cards are numbered 0 through 21.
While the majority of the Major Arcana cards are centered around a character, you’ll notice that some of them are not. The Wheel of Fortune depicts the ever-present passing of time and this is symbolic of the wheel. The Tower card features a tall building. The Moon card is the final card to lack the presence of a main, human character.
The Empress and The Emperor are complete opposites, but are perfectly matched as they’re the highest ranking in order among all the cards. Similarly, The Lovers and The Devil cards feature a pair, with one male and one female.
Temperance and Judgement both have angels within their imagery. While many confuse the meanings of the Judgement and Justice, Justice is a representation of trouble due to poor decisions. Judgement is regarding something much deeper, including having to reflect upon one’s deeds or having no choice but to truly see oneself.
The Star, The Moon, The Sun, and The World are the only cards that depict planets with their symbolic meanings. The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emporer, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Hermit, and The Hanged Man are all characters. The rest are The Chariot, Strength, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, and Judgement.
The 22 Major Arcana Cards
0.) The Fool — Newness or freedom
1.) The Magician — Manifestation or resourcefulness
2.) The High Priestess — Intuitive divine feminine
3.) The Empress — Leader/Alpha Female
4.) The Emperor — Authority/Alpha Male
5.) The Hierophant — Tradition, Religion, belief systems
6.) The Lovers — Choices, values, relationships, or integration
7.) The Chariot — Willpower and determination
8.) Strength — Courage and influence
9.) The Hermit — Quiet, inner listening
10.) Wheel of Fortune — Life cycles
11.) Justice — law, fairness, or righteousness
12.) The Hanged Man — Surrendering
13.) Death — An end of something or loss
14.) Temperance — Patience and consideration
15.) The Devil — Addiction, Dependencies, or a need to release
16.) The Tower — A fall from glory
17.) The Star — Hope and trust
18.) The Moon — Fears, dreams, and illumination
19.) The Sun — Optimism or better days ahead
20.) Judgement — Absolution or a choice made
21.) The World — Wholeness and Abundance
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