The Major Arcana
A deck of Tarot cards can be divided into two parts: the Minor Arcana,
which is subdivided into four suits: Cups, Wands,
Swords and Pentacles, and the Major Arcana, made up of
the twenty-two cards shown below. The cards in the Major Arcana are also known as archetypal
cards for they universally define and illustrate the most basic human experience.
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0 The Fool
The Fool is a free-spirit who has maintained his childhood innocence. He seeks
adventure and experience without self-consciousness, or fear. He travels light
with a small knapsack over his shoulder and carries a white flower demonstrating
his appreciation of small pleasures. Conventional wisdom tells us that The Fool
is about to step off a cliff. His head thrown back to the sun, he seems unaware
of the fall in front of him. The Fool card celebrates spontaneity and cautions us
to keep watch up ahead as we test our limits. |
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I The Magician
The Magician stands in a garden. On the table before him are symbols of the four
suits of Tarot: a cup representing our capacity to feel, dream and imagine; a
pentacle symbolizing our basic needs and innate connection with nature; a wand
standing for our desire to create and ability to take action; and a sword
signifying our ability to be thoughtful and analytical. The power The Magician
derives from each of these realms brings all inspirations into fruition. He
teaches us to be focused and deliberate in our pursuits, and to make sure that
our endeavors give us creative and emotional satisfaction while fulfilling our
practical needs. |
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II The High Priestess
The High Priestess reigns over the subconscious realm. She guards a body of
water, which holds the mysteries of the unknown, our dreams, and forgotten
memories. A crescent moon rests at her feet and there is a full moon, like a
pearl, set in her crown, offering illumination. The High Priestess reminds us
that self-knowledge comes from quiet reflection. |
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III The Empress
The Empress sits in the middle of a wheat field, a forest and waterfall nearby.
She is a vital archetypal mother figure—nurturing, and sensuous, relishing
abundance and unrestrained pleasure. She is the only Tarot figure with a
comfortable cushiony throne. |
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IIII The Emperor
The Emperor is the archetypal father who provides needed order, security,
and stability. He is assertive and confident, but the responsibility he has
inherited is not always easy. He sits in a mountainous desert donned in armor
and a heavy cloak, prepared to fight for his kingdom and authority. |
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V The Hierophant
The Hierophant is a leader or teacher who instills and upholds traditional
values and belief systems. The keys of knowledge are pointed towards him,
and he has the full attention and respect of his congregants. The Hierophant
encourages us to think about the influence our cultural and religious traditions
have had in shaping us. As a representation of an expert in his or her field,
he also invites us to consider the role a mentor has played in our lives. |
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VI The Lovers
The Lovers card, as one might guess, symbolizes a loving and intimate relationship.
But it can also represent a partnership or union of any kind, including the act
of reconciling conflicting parts of oneself. The imagery of The Lovers card
evokes Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The serpent wrapped around the tree
reminds us of Eve’s temptation and, more broadly, of the weighty choices
that confront us as a partnership evolves. The Lovers card can also represent
passion in its many forms. |
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VII The Chariot
The Charioteer, freshly returned from a victorious battle, is sheltered under
a canopy of stars. He wears a star in his crown and a crescent moon on his
shoulders. When we feel scattered, he encourages us to choose a direction and
confidently channel our energy towards our goals. |
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VIII Strength
The woman in the Strength card subdues the lion with a gentle touch. She is not
intimidated by the lion’s force and therefore can approach him assertively
and with compassion. She inspires us to rely on our inner strength and to face a
beast with integrity and tranquility. |
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IX The Hermit
The Hermit stands at the top of a mountain—a pinnacle of self-awareness.
His lantern, which illuminated his own lonely and introspective journey, also
serves to guide others on their independent paths to truth. |
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X Wheel of Fortune
The Wheel charts those momentous occasions that serve as turning points in our
lives. Some are predictable—such as leaving our parents’ home, or
turning forty, while others—a promotion or move— may be unanticipated.
Essentially, the Wheel symbolizes change and encourages us to examine the cycles
and patterns in our lives, and to consciously interrupt the revolution when we
find ourselves in a rut. |
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XI Justice
The judge in the Justice card sits on a throne with the scales of justice in one
hand, a sword symbolizing rational thought in the other. This card can represent
legal matters, but it also reflects the metaphors of the legal system. At
different times in our lives we may take on the role of an advocate, judge, or
mediator. We must sometimes justify our actions or make a case for what we want.
Generally, the Justice card encourages us to be well informed before making a
decision, and to consider the consequences of our actions. |
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XII The Hanged Man
The morbid title of The Hanged Man card is incongruent with its image: a man
gracefully hanging upside down—his ankle tied to a tree’s branch,
his back supported by the trunk. He wears a serene expression and his
head radiates light. The card can symbolize looking at things from a new
perspective, going against the norm, being unconventional, or needing to change
direction. It can also symbolize the feeling that one’s hands are tied,
one is hung up, or a plan is suspended. |
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XIII Death
The Death card does not symbolize mortal death, but rather the sense of loss
and/or relief that may come when a chapter of one’s life comes to a
permanent end. The Death card challenges us to accept that which cannot be
changed, and to let go and find release from bitterness, sadness and guilt
so that we may more fully enjoy our current relationships and experiences,
and so that we can recognize new opportunities. |
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XIV Temperance
The Temperance card symbolizes the state of inner balance necessary for healing
and a general sense of wellbeing. The Temperance angel, with one foot on land
and the other in water, pours water from one chalice to the other, symbolizing
the harmony of the conscious and subconscious. |
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XV The Devil
The Devil can symbolize playfulness and fun, the appreciation of material and
sensual pleasures. But The Devil card also warns that overindulgence in this
realm can distract us from the truth, with the resulting ignorance leading to
oppression. There is an additional lesson to be learned from the man and woman
in the card who seem to have accepted or become accustomed to their enslavement
and are unwilling or unaware of their ability to remove the loose chains from
around their necks. |
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XVI The Tower
The Tower represents an event or a situation that shakes us up and forces us
to take action or reexamine our beliefs. The circumstances that ignite The Tower
may be unforeseen and beyond our control, but the card also warns us that being
immobile or passive for too long will inevitably force a situation to a crisis
point. In either case, The Tower can be an epiphany, a bolt of inspiration, or
a catalyst for needed change. |
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XVII The Star
We make wishes on stars, look to them for direction, and find beauty in their
light. The Star card appropriately represents our hopes, enlightenment, and a
sense of peace. The woman on The Star card is at ease with herself,
unselfconsciously naked as she pours water into the pool and on the bank where
she kneels. This symbolizes the freedom that comes with being open. |
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XVIII The Moon
In The Moon card, the lobster coming out of the water represents something of
significance emerging from our subconscious, like messages from dreams. The
moon creates shadows and illusions, stimulating our imagination and intuition. |
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XIX The Sun
The rays of The Sun are far reaching and radiate warmth and light in all
directions. The Sun brings matters into the open, and makes them visible.
It symbolizes clarity and enlightenment, exuberance and vitality. |
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XX Judgement
In the Judgement card, the sound of the angel’s trumpet is a call to
take an honest look at oneself, to atone, make amends, and to seek and give
forgiveness in order to start anew. |
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XXI The World
The woman in The World card accepts the world as it is and has learned to
dance within its limitations. She has fully integrated the lessons of the
hardships she has endured, and she is aware she will face more challenges
in the future. She finds solace in knowing that she will continue to mature
in the process. |
Illustrations from the Rider-Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA. Copyright 1971 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited. The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck is a registered trademark of U.S. Games Systems, Inc.
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