The 78 Tarot Cards: Meanings & Symbolism

The Major Arcana in Tarot consists of 22 cards, each representing significant life lessons, archetypes, and universal themes. Here are five critical meanings from the Major Arcana:

1. The Fool (0)

New beginnings: The Fool signifies the start of a new journey, a leap of faith into the unknown.
Innocence and openness: It represents a childlike wonder and a willingness to embrace new experiences without fear.
Potential and possibilities: The Fool symbolises untapped potential and the endless possibilities that lie ahead.
Spontaneity and risk-taking: It encourages us to take risks and embrace the unknown with a sense of adventure.
Trust in the universe: The Fool reminds us to trust the journey and believe that the universe will guide us.

2. The Magician (I):

Manifestation and willpower: The Magician represents the ability to manifest our desires through focused intention and willpower.
Skill and mastery signify our talents and abilities and the potential to develop them through practice and dedication.
Personal power and agency: The Magician empowers us to take control of our lives and create our reality.
Transformation and alchemy: It represents the ability to transform our thoughts and energy into tangible results.
Action and initiative: The Magician encourages us to take action and initiate the changes we want to see.

3. The High Priestess (II):

Intuition and inner wisdom: The High Priestess represents the power of intuition and the importance of listening to our inner voice.
Mystery and secrets: It signifies hidden knowledge and wisdom beyond the surface.
Spirituality and connection to the divine: The High Priestess invites us to connect with our spirituality and explore the mysteries of the universe.
Feminine energy and receptivity embody our nature’s receptive and nurturing aspects.
Patience and trust in the process: The High Priestess teaches us to trust in the unfolding of events and have patience as we navigate life’s challenges.

4. The Empress (III):

Fertility and abundance: The Empress represents fertility, creativity, and the abundance of nature.
Motherhood and nurturing symbolise our nature’s nurturing and caring aspects and the importance of self-care.
Sensuality and pleasure: The Empress encourages us to embrace our senses and enjoy the pleasures of life.
Beauty and creativity: It celebrates the beauty of nature and the power of creative expression.
Connection to the Earth: The Empress reminds us of our connection to the natural world and the importance of living in harmony with it.

5. The Emperor (IV):

Authority and leadership: The Emperor represents authority, leadership, and the ability to create order and structure.
Masculine energy and strength embody our nature’s solid and assertive aspects.
Stability and foundation: The Emperor provides a solid foundation for growth and development.
Discipline and control: It emphasises the importance of discipline, self-control, and responsibility.
Protection and security: The Emperor offers safety and security, helping us feel safe and grounded.

These are just a few of the many meanings associated with the Major Arcana in Tarot. Each card holds a wealth of wisdom and insight, offering guidance and support on our journey through life. By exploring the symbolism and archetypes of these cards, we can deepen our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

6. The Hierophant (V):

Tradition and institution: The Hierophant represents established beliefs, institutions, and spiritual traditions.
Conformity and group identity: It signifies the importance of community and belonging to a group with shared values.
Mentorship and guidance: The Hierophant can represent a teacher, mentor, or spiritual guide who offers wisdom and support.
Spiritual beliefs and rituals: It emphasises the importance of rituals, ceremonies, and spiritual practices in connecting with the divine.
Seeking answers and meaning: The Hierophant encourages us to seek answers to life’s big questions through established knowledge and belief systems.

7. The Lovers (VI):

Love and relationships: The Lovers represent love, romantic partnerships, and the deep connections we form with others.
Choices and decisions symbolise our choices in love and relationships and the importance of following our hearts.
Values and alignment: The Lovers encourage us to examine our values and ensure they align with our choices in love and partnerships.
Harmony and balance: It represents the balance between our head and heart and the importance of finding harmony in our relationships.
Duality and integration: The Lovers remind us of the duality within ourselves and the need to integrate our masculine and feminine energies.

8. The Chariot (VII):

Willpower and determination: The Chariot represents willpower, determination, and the drive to achieve our goals.
Control and mastery: It signifies the ability to control our emotions and impulses and to master our destiny.
Victory and success: The Chariot indicates the potential for victory and success in our endeavours, but only through focused effort and perseverance.
Journey and movement: It represents the journey we take through life and the importance of staying focused.
Balance and opposition: The Chariot reminds us of the opposing forces within ourselves and the need to find balance between them to move forward.

9. Strength (VIII):

Inner strength and courage: Strength represents inner strength, courage, and the ability to overcome challenges.
Compassion and empathy: It signifies the power of kindness, empathy, and understanding in resolving conflict.
Taming the wild: Strength reminds us of the wildness within ourselves and the importance of taming our animal instincts through self-discipline and compassion.
Patience and perseverance: It emphasises the importance of patience and persistence in overcoming obstacles and achieving our goals.
Self-belief and confidence: Strength encourages us to believe in ourselves and our abilities, even in adversity.

10. The Hermit (IX):

Introspection and solitude: The Hermit represents introspection, solitude, and the need for self-reflection.
Inner wisdom and guidance signify the importance of seeking answers within ourselves rather than relying on external sources.
Spiritual journey and enlightenment: The Hermit encourages us to embark on a spiritual journey of self-discovery and seek enlightenment.
Discernment and wisdom: It emphasises the importance of discerning truth from illusion and making wise choices based on our inner knowing.
Withdrawal and retreat: The Hermit reminds us that sometimes we must withdraw from the world to connect with our inner wisdom and recharge our batteries.

11. The Wheel of Fortune (X):

Change and cycles: The Wheel of Fortune represents the ever-turning wheel of life, the cyclical nature of change, and the inevitability of ups and downs.
Luck and fortune: It signifies luck, wealth, and the unpredictable nature of fate.
Karma and consequences: The Wheel of Fortune reminds us that our actions have consequences and that what we put into the world will eventually return to us.
Opportunity and turning points: It signifies opportunities for growth and change and the importance of seizing the moment when the wheel turns in our favour.
Destiny and higher power: The Wheel of Fortune suggests that a higher power is at work in the universe, guiding the cycles of change and influencing our fate.

12. Justice (XI):

Fairness and balance: Justice represents fairness and upholding truth and integrity.
Cause and effect signifies the law of cause and effect and the importance of taking responsibility for our actions.
Accountability and consequences: Justice reminds us that we will be held accountable for our choices and that our actions have consequences.
Objectivity and impartiality: It encourages us to be objective and impartial in our judgments and to avoid bias or prejudice.
Legal matters and contracts: Justice can also indicate legal issues, contracts, or agreements that require fair and equitable resolution.

13. The Hanged Man (XII):

Sacrifice and surrender: The Hanged Man represents sacrifice, surrender, and the willingness to let go of control.
New perspectives and insights: It signifies the importance of seeing things differently and gaining new insights through surrender.
Suspension and pause: The Hanged Man suggests a temporary pause or delay in our plans, allowing us to reflect and reassess our situation.
Spiritual growth and transformation: It represents a period of spiritual growth and transformation as we release old patterns and beliefs.
Martyrdom and victimhood: In some cases, the Hanged Man can also indicate a feeling of martyrdom or victimhood, where we feel stuck or powerless in a situation.

14. Death (XIII):

Endings and transformation: Death represents endings, transformation, and the inevitability of change.
Letting go and moving on: It signifies the importance of letting go of the past, releasing old patterns, and embracing new beginnings.
Rebirth and renewal: Death reminds us that endings are also beginnings and that every ending holds the potential for renewal and growth.
Fear of change and loss can also represent our fear of change, loss, and the unknown.
Transition and metamorphosis: Death signifies a period of transition and metamorphosis as we shed our old skin and emerge transformed.

15. Temperance (XIV):

Balance and moderation: Temperance represents balance and the importance of finding harmony in all aspects of life.
Integration and harmony: It signifies the integration of opposing forces, such as the conscious and unconscious, the masculine and feminine, and the spiritual and material.
Patience and self-control: Temperance encourages us to practice patience, self-control, and moderation in our actions and emotions.
Healing and reconciliation: It represents the healing of wounds, the reconciliation of differences, and the restoration of harmony.
Divine intervention and guidance: Temperance suggests that we can find advice and support from a higher power in our quest for balance and harmony.

16. The Devil (XV):

Addiction and temptation: The Devil represents addiction, temptation, and the darker aspects of human nature.
Materialism and attachment: It signifies our attachment to material possessions, power, and pleasure, as well as the negative consequences that can arise from these desires.
Shadow self and repressed emotions: The Devil encourages us to confront our shadow self, the parts of ourselves that we repress or deny.
Breaking free from limitations signifies the need to break free from self-imposed limitations and embrace our true potential.
Facing our fears: The Devil challenges us to confront and overcome the obstacles holding us back.

17. The Tower (XVI):

Sudden upheaval and chaos: The Tower represents sudden upheaval, chaos, and the destruction of old structures and beliefs.
Breakdown and breakthrough: It signifies a breakdown of the old order, followed by a breakthrough to a new level of understanding.
Release of pent-up energy: The Tower indicates a release of pent-up energy, emotions, or frustrations that have been building up over time.
Unexpected change and disruption: It warns of unexpected change and disruption but also offers opportunities for growth and transformation.
Rebuilding and starting anew: The Tower reminds us that even amid chaos and destruction, there is always the possibility of rebuilding and starting anew.

18. The Star (XVII):

Hope and renewal: The Star represents hope, renewal, and the promise of a brighter future.
Healing and rejuvenation: It signifies healing and restoring faith and optimism.
Inspiration and creativity: The Star inspires creativity, imagination, and the pursuit of our dreams.
Spiritual guidance and connection: It indicates a connection to our higher selves, the universe, and the divine.
Wish fulfilment and blessings: The Star suggests that our wishes and dreams can come true and that we are blessed with abundance and good fortune.

19. The Moon (XVIII):

Illusion and deception: The Moon represents illusion, deception, and the hidden aspects of our subconscious minds.
Intuition and dreams: It signifies the power of intuition, dreams, and the mysteries of the night.
Fear and anxiety: The Moon can indicate fear, anxiety, and the unknown.
Creativity and imagination: It also represents the creative power of the imagination and the potential to tap into our subconscious minds for inspiration.
Navigating through darkness: The Moon reminds us that sometimes we must navigate through darkness to reach the light.

20. The Sun (XIX):

Joy and happiness: The Sun represents joy, happiness, and the radiant energy of life.
Success and celebration: It signifies success, achievement, and the celebration of life’s blessings.
Vitality and energy: The Sun radiates vitality, energy, and enthusiasm.
Clarity and optimism: It brings clarity, optimism, and a positive outlook on life.
Innocence and childlike wonder: The Sun reminds us to embrace our inner child and find joy in the simple things in life.

21. Judgement (XX):

Awakening and rebirth: Judgement represents awakening and the call to a higher purpose.
Renewal and transformation: It signifies a time of renewal and transformation as we shed old patterns and embrace our true selves.
Forgiveness and absolution: Judgement encourages us to forgive ourselves and others and to release any guilt or shame we may carry.
Spiritual awakening and enlightenment indicate a spiritual awakening as we connect with our higher selves and divine purpose.
Accountability and responsibility: Judgement reminds us that we are responsible for our choices and actions and that our conscience will ultimately judge us.

22. The World (XXI):

Completion and fulfilment: The World represents completion, fulfilment, and the culmination of a journey or cycle.
Success and achievement: It signifies success and realising our goals and dreams.
Wholeness and integration: The World represents wholeness, integration, and the union of all aspects of ourselves.
Travel and exploration: It can indicate travel, exploration, and the expansion of our horizons.
Global consciousness and interconnectedness: The World reminds us of our interconnectedness with all beings and the importance of working together for the greater good.

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