What is the Major Arcana in tarot? The Major Arcana is the set of 22 trump cards in a 78-card tarot deck, numbered 0 to 21, from The Fool to The World. Each card marks a major life theme or spiritual lesson. Together they trace the Fool's Journey, the soul's path from innocence to wholeness.
In the Rider-Waite-Smith deck (A. E. Waite and Pamela Colman Smith, 1909), the Major Arcana holds 22 of the deck's 78 cards. Waite reversed the traditional order of two cards, placing Strength at VIII and Justice at XI, the numbering most readers still use today.
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The 22 Major Arcana cards in order
Here are all 22 Major Arcana cards with their numbers and core upright meanings. Tap any card for its full upright, reversed, love and yes-or-no guide.
| No. | Card | Upright meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | The Fool | New beginnings, spontaneity, a leap of faith |
| I | The Magician | Manifestation, willpower, resourcefulness |
| II | The High Priestess | Intuition, mystery, the inner voice |
| III | The Empress | Abundance, nurturing, creative fertility |
| IV | The Emperor | Authority, structure, stability |
| V | The Hierophant | Tradition, guidance, shared belief |
| VI | The Lovers | Love, harmony, a meaningful choice |
| VII | The Chariot | Determination, drive, victory |
| VIII | Strength | Courage, patience, inner strength |
| IX | The Hermit | Soul-searching, solitude, wisdom |
| X | Wheel of Fortune | Cycles, fate, a turning point |
| XI | Justice | Fairness, truth, cause and effect |
| XII | The Hanged Man | Surrender, a new perspective, pause |
| XIII | Death | Endings, transformation, release |
| XIV | Temperance | Balance, moderation, patience |
| XV | The Devil | Attachment, temptation, limitation |
| XVI | The Tower | Sudden change, upheaval, revelation |
| XVII | The Star | Hope, renewal, inspiration |
| XVIII | The Moon | Illusion, intuition, the subconscious |
| XIX | The Sun | Joy, success, vitality |
| XX | Judgement | Reckoning, awakening, renewal |
| XXI | The World | Completion, fulfillment, wholeness |
Major Arcana vs Minor Arcana: what is the difference?
The Major Arcana covers big, defining themes, while the Minor Arcana covers everyday life. The 22 Major cards point to soul lessons and turning points. The 56 Minor cards, split across Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands, describe the daily details around them.
In a reading, a Major Arcana card signals that the theme is important and often beyond your immediate control. A run of Major cards in one spread suggests a pivotal chapter rather than a passing mood.
The Fool's Journey: how the 22 cards connect
The Major Arcana tells one story, called the Fool's Journey. The Fool (0) sets out innocent and open. Through the early cards he meets guides and authorities, learns love and willpower, then faces deeper tests in Death, The Tower and The Devil. He emerges through The Star, The Moon and The Sun, and arrives whole at The World (XXI).
Reading the cards in order is the fastest way to learn them. Each card is one scene, and the number tells you where you stand in the larger arc.
Upright and reversed Major Arcana
Upright, a Major Arcana card shows its theme working in your favor or arriving with full force. Reversed, the same energy is blocked, delayed or turned inward. The Sun reversed still speaks of joy, for example, but joy that is dimmed or postponed rather than absent.
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Major Arcana in love and career
In love, Major Arcana cards mark turning points: The Lovers for commitment, The Tower for a breakup or breakthrough, The Empress for deepening care. In career, they signal direction: The Chariot for a focused push, Wheel of Fortune for a lucky shift, The Emperor for structure and leadership.
Because these cards carry weight, treat them as the headline of a reading and let the Minor Arcana fill in the practical steps.
How to learn the Major Arcana
Start with the order. Read the 22 cards as the Fool's Journey, one scene at a time. Then study them in pairs that share a theme, such as The Moon and The Star, or Death and The Tower. Pull one Major card each morning and note where its theme shows up in your day. Within a few weeks the meanings become second nature.
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Major Arcana FAQ
How many cards are in the Major Arcana?
The Major Arcana has 22 cards, numbered 0 to 21, from The Fool to The World. They form part of the full 78-card tarot deck alongside the 56 Minor Arcana cards.
What are the Major Arcana cards in order?
The order is: The Fool, The Magician, The High Priestess, The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant, The Lovers, The Chariot, Strength, The Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgement and The World.
What does it mean to draw many Major Arcana cards?
Several Major Arcana cards in one spread suggest a significant, defining period rather than everyday events. The reading points to soul-level themes and turning points that deserve your attention.
Is the Major Arcana more important than the Minor Arcana?
Neither is more important; they work together. The Major Arcana names the big theme, and the Minor Arcana describes the daily details and practical steps around it.
What is the strongest Major Arcana card?
No single card is strongest, but The World is often seen as the goal of the Fool's Journey, signaling completion and wholeness. The Sun is widely regarded as the most positive card in the deck.
How do I start learning the Major Arcana?
Learn the 22 cards in order as the Fool's Journey, then pull one Major card each morning and watch for its theme in your day. A physical deck with a guidebook makes this much faster.
Keep exploring: read the full tarot card meanings guide, or start with three pivotal trumps, Death, The Tower and The Sun.
Written by Jennifer, Dark Forest Tarot. Interpretations follow the Rider-Waite-Smith tradition, illustrated by Pamela Colman Smith (1909).