Tarot Card Meanings: Major Arcana Deep Dive

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Major Arcana Deep Dive: What does it mean?

The Major Arcana are the heart of any tarot deck, consisting of 22 cards that represent significant life events, lessons, and archetypal energies. Each card carries deep symbolism and provides insight into various aspects of our lives, both in its upright and reversed positions. In this article, we’ll break down the symbolism and meanings of each Major Arcana card, providing a detailed look at how they can guide us.



0 - The Fool

  • Symbolism: The Fool represents new beginnings, spontaneity, and a leap of faith. The image of the Fool shows a young man at the edge of a cliff, stepping into the unknown, with a small dog at his feet.
  • Upright Meaning: Optimism, adventure, innocence, a fresh start. This card encourages you to take risks and embrace the unknown.
  • Reversed Meaning: Recklessness, fear of change, impulsivity. Be careful not to make hasty decisions without considering the consequences.

1 - The Magician

  • Symbolism: The Magician stands with one hand pointing to the sky and the other toward the ground, symbolizing the connection between the spiritual and physical worlds. The tools of the four suits are laid before him, representing mastery over elements.
  • Upright Meaning: Manifestation, skill, resourcefulness. You have the power to create your reality and bring your goals to life.
  • Reversed Meaning: Manipulation, illusion, wasted talent. You may be misusing your abilities or lacking direction.

2 - The High Priestess

  • Symbolism: The High Priestess sits between two pillars, symbolizing duality and the balance between darkness and light. She holds a scroll, representing hidden knowledge.
  • Upright Meaning: Intuition, mystery, spiritual insight. Trust your inner voice and look beyond the surface.
  • Reversed Meaning: Secrets, disconnection from intuition, repression. You may be ignoring your inner guidance or withholding important information.

3 - The Empress

  • Symbolism: The Empress is surrounded by lush nature, representing fertility, abundance, and creation. She embodies nurturing and maternal energy.
  • Upright Meaning: Fertility, creativity, nurturing, abundance. This card signifies growth, whether in relationships, projects, or personal life.
  • Reversed Meaning: Blocked creativity, dependence, imbalance in nurturing. You may feel smothered or lacking in self-care.

4 - The Emperor

  • Symbolism: The Emperor sits on a throne adorned with rams, symbolizing power, authority, and structure. He represents order and control.
  • Upright Meaning: Leadership, authority, discipline, stability. This card encourages you to take control and establish order in your life.
  • Reversed Meaning: Tyranny, rigidity, loss of control. You may be struggling with issues of authority or feeling overwhelmed by responsibilities.

5 - The Hierophant

  • Symbolism: The Hierophant, often depicted as a religious figure, represents tradition, spiritual wisdom, and conformity. He bridges the gap between the divine and human understanding.
  • Upright Meaning: Tradition, structure, conformity, spiritual guidance. Look to established systems or mentors for support.
  • Reversed Meaning: Rebellion, challenge to tradition, restriction. You may feel confined by societal expectations or rigid beliefs.

6 - The Lovers

  • Symbolism: The Lovers card typically shows a man and woman, symbolizing harmony and union, with an angel blessing their bond. It represents relationships and choices.
  • Upright Meaning: Love, harmony, relationships, important choices. This card highlights the need for balance in partnerships and decisions.
  • Reversed Meaning: Imbalance, misalignment, difficult choices. You may be facing disharmony in relationships or struggling with a tough decision.

7 - The Chariot

  • Symbolism: The Chariot is depicted as a warrior in a chariot, drawn by two sphinxes, representing opposing forces. It symbolizes willpower and determination.
  • Upright Meaning: Victory, control, determination, overcoming obstacles. Success is within your reach if you maintain focus and discipline.
  • Reversed Meaning: Lack of direction, aggression, obstacles. You may be feeling out of control or struggling to stay on course.

8 - Strength

  • Symbolism: Strength shows a woman gently taming a lion, symbolizing inner strength, courage, and compassion. It represents the ability to face challenges with grace.
  • Upright Meaning: Courage, patience, compassion, inner strength. You have the resilience to overcome any obstacles through kindness and self-control.
  • Reversed Meaning: Weakness, self-doubt, lack of confidence. You may be feeling vulnerable or struggling with inner conflict.

9 - The Hermit

  • Symbolism: The Hermit holds a lantern, symbolizing inner wisdom and enlightenment. He stands alone on a mountain, representing solitude and reflection.
  • Upright Meaning: Introspection, solitude, soul-searching. This is a time for self-reflection and seeking inner truth.
  • Reversed Meaning: Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal. You may be distancing yourself too much from others or avoiding self-examination.

10 - The Wheel of Fortune

  • Symbolism: The Wheel of Fortune depicts a spinning wheel, symbolizing the cycles of life, fate, and change. It reminds us of the ever-changing nature of our experiences.
  • Upright Meaning: Change, cycles, destiny, luck. Life is shifting, and new opportunities are on the horizon.
  • Reversed Meaning: Resistance to change, bad luck, lack of control. You may feel stuck or out of sync with the natural flow of life.

11 - Justice

  • Symbolism: Justice holds a sword and scales, representing fairness, truth, and balance. This card signifies accountability and the consequences of actions.
  • Upright Meaning: Fairness, truth, legal matters, balance. This card calls for honesty and fairness in all areas of life.
  • Reversed Meaning: Injustice, dishonesty, imbalance. You may be facing unfair treatment or dealing with dishonesty.

12 - The Hanged Man

  • Symbolism: The Hanged Man shows a figure hanging upside down, symbolizing surrender, perspective, and spiritual insight. He represents the need to let go and see things from a different angle.
  • Upright Meaning: Surrender, letting go, new perspectives. You may need to release control and allow things to unfold naturally.
  • Reversed Meaning: Resistance, stagnation, indecision. You may be avoiding necessary change or refusing to see things from a different viewpoint.

13 - Death

  • Symbolism: The Death card shows a skeleton on horseback, symbolizing transformation, endings, and new beginnings. It represents the cycle of life and rebirth.
  • Upright Meaning: Transformation, endings, new beginnings. This card signals major change and the end of one phase, making way for new growth.
  • Reversed Meaning: Resistance to change, stagnation, fear of transformation. You may be holding on to the past and resisting necessary endings.

14 - Temperance

  • Symbolism: Temperance shows an angel mixing water between two cups, symbolizing balance, harmony, and moderation. It encourages patience and blending energies.
  • Upright Meaning: Balance, moderation, patience, harmony. This is a time to practice self-control and find equilibrium.
  • Reversed Meaning: Imbalance, excess, lack of harmony. You may be overindulging or feeling out of sync with your environment.

15 - The Devil

  • Symbolism: The Devil depicts a horned figure holding two individuals in chains, symbolizing temptation, materialism, and bondage. It represents unhealthy attachments.
  • Upright Meaning: Addiction, materialism, bondage, temptation. You may be feeling trapped by desires or unhealthy relationships.
  • Reversed Meaning: Freedom, release, overcoming addiction. This card suggests breaking free from limiting patterns or situations.

16 - The Tower

  • Symbolism: The Tower shows a lightning strike hitting a tower, causing destruction. It represents sudden upheaval and drastic change.
  • Upright Meaning: Sudden change, chaos, upheaval, revelation, destruction. Major disruptions may force you to rebuild and start anew.
  • Reversed Meaning: Avoiding disaster, fear of change, delaying the inevitable, stagnation and denial. You may be resisting necessary transformation or avoiding difficult truths.

17 - The Star

  • Symbolism: The Star features a woman pouring water onto the earth and into a pool, symbolizing hope, inspiration, and healing. It represents renewal and spiritual guidance.
  • Upright Meaning: Hope, inspiration, renewal, faith. This card brings a sense of optimism and trust in the universe.
  • Reversed Meaning: Loss of hope, despair, disappointment, disillusionment, lack of faith, disconnection. You may be struggling to find hope or feeling lost spiritually.

18 - The Moon

  • Symbolism: The Moon shows a moon illuminating a dark landscape, symbolizing illusion, fear, and the subconscious. It represents confusion and hidden truths.
  • Upright Meaning: Illusion, deception, intuition, fear, the subconscious. Trust your instincts and navigate through uncertainty with care.
  • Reversed Meaning: Hidden truths, denial, avoidance, emotional instability, clarity, fear released, understanding. You may be overcoming confusion or uncovering hidden truths.

19 - The Sun

  • Symbolism: The Sun card depicts a radiant sun shining over a child on a white horse, symbolizing joy, vitality, and success. It represents positivity and abundance.
  • Upright Meaning: Achievement, abundance, joy, success, positivity, vitality. This is a time of happiness, achievement, and growth.
  • Reversed Meaning: Delayed success, lack of joy, negativity, disappointment, hidden talents, feeling uninspired. You may be struggling to find your inner light or feeling blocked from achieving your goals.

20 - Judgment

  • Symbolism: Judgment shows figures rising from their graves, symbolizing awakening, rebirth, and final decisions. It represents self-reflection and life review.
  • Upright Meaning: Awakening, accountability, new beginnings, spiritual growth, reflection, decision-making, rebirth. This is a time to evaluate your past and embrace new opportunities for growth.
  • Reversed Meaning: Denial, fear of judgment, avoidance, lack of accountability, Self-doubt, failure to learn from mistakes, avoidance of decisions. You may be avoiding necessary judgment or struggling with self-acceptance.

21 - The World

  • Symbolism: The World depicts a figure surrounded by a laurel wreath, symbolizing completion, fulfillment, and harmony. It represents the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one.
  • Upright Meaning: Completion, fulfillment, success, new beginnings. You have reached a significant milestone and are ready to move forward into the next chapter. Achievement, wholeness, integration.
  • Reversed Meaning: Lack of completion, feeling stuck, resistance to change. Lack of closure, unfinished business, delayed success. You may be struggling to complete a project or move on from the past.

The Major Arcana cards in tarot offer profound insights into life’s journey, helping us navigate major events, transformations, and lessons. Understanding each card’s symbolism and meaning can guide you toward greater clarity and deeper self-awareness in your readings.

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