All 22 Major Arcana Meanings Explained [Complete Guide]
The 22 Major Arcana are the most powerful cards in tarot. They represent life’s big themes — birth, death, love, power, transformation.
When a Major Arcana appears in a reading, pay attention: something important is at stake.
What are the Major Arcana?
The word “Arcana” comes from Latin arcanus = “secret.” These 22 cards tell the Fool’s Journey — a metaphor for the soul’s path from innocence to wisdom.
Each card is an archetype: a universal symbol that exists in the unconscious of all humanity. You already know these images — they appear in dreams, myths, and stories from all cultures.
Complete Guide: All 22 Cards
0 - The Fool
Keywords: New beginnings, freedom, courage, spontaneity
The Fool is the zero point — pure potential. He's about to leap into the unknown, without fear. Represents that moment when you decide to take a risk, even without guarantees.
When it appears: Time to start something new. Trust the process.
Shadow aspect: Recklessness, thoughtless decisions, refusal to mature.
I - The Magician
Keywords: Manifestation, skill, personal power, focus
The Magician has all the tools on the table — he represents your ability to turn ideas into reality. "As above, so below."
When it appears: You have the resources you need. Use them.
Shadow aspect: Manipulation, scattered energy, wasted talents.
II - The High Priestess
Keywords: Intuition, mystery, inner wisdom, subconscious
The High Priestess guards the secrets of the invisible world. She doesn't speak — she whispers through dreams and intuitions. Trust what you feel, even without logical explanation.
When it appears: The answer is within you. Meditate, listen.
Shadow aspect: Ignoring intuition, toxic secrets, passivity.
III - The Empress
Keywords: Abundance, fertility, creativity, nature
The Empress is the Great Mother — everything she touches flourishes. She represents creativity, sensuality, and the power to nurture.
When it appears: Fertile moment to create, cultivate, care for.
Shadow aspect: Smothering, dependency, neglect.
IV - The Emperor
Keywords: Structure, authority, discipline, protection
The Emperor brings order to chaos. He builds, protects, establishes limits. Represents the ability to create something lasting.
When it appears: Time to organize, plan, take responsibility.
Shadow aspect: Rigidity, tyranny, excessive control.
V - The Hierophant
Keywords: Tradition, teachings, spirituality, mentor
The Hierophant is the guardian of traditional wisdom. May indicate a teacher, institution, or search for spiritual meaning.
When it appears: Seek guidance. Learn from those who've walked the path.
Shadow aspect: Dogmatism, blind conformity, hypocrisy.
VI - The Lovers
Keywords: Choice, values, relationship, alignment
The Lovers don't always speak of romance — they often indicate an important choice based on your deepest values.
When it appears: Decision ahead. Choose with heart aligned to mind.
Shadow aspect: Choice by illusion, internal conflict, disharmony.
VII - The Chariot
Keywords: Victory, determination, control, progress
The Chariot represents victory through willpower. Two opposing forces pull, but the driver masters them through pure determination.
When it appears: You're going to make it — if you stay focused.
Shadow aspect: Aggression, rushing, victory at any cost.
VIII - Strength
Keywords: Courage, patience, self-control, compassion
True Strength is gentle. A woman opens a lion's mouth — not by brute force, but by love. Represents mastering your instincts with compassion.
When it appears: Use gentleness, not aggression. You're stronger than you think.
Shadow aspect: Repression, being dominated by emotions, weakness.
IX - The Hermit
Keywords: Introspection, solitude, wisdom, inner search
The Hermit withdraws from noise to find inner light. His lantern illuminates only the next step — wisdom comes gradually.
When it appears: Time to pause and reflect. Answers are within.
Shadow aspect: Excessive isolation, refusing help, depression.
X - Wheel of Fortune
Keywords: Cycles, change, fate, opportunity
The Wheel turns eternally — what's up will come down; what's down will rise. Nothing is permanent.
When it appears: Change is coming. Accept natural cycles.
Shadow aspect: Resisting change, feeling like a victim of fate.
XI - Justice
Keywords: Balance, truth, consequences, responsibility
Justice weighs every action. You reap what you sow — for better or worse. It's not punishment, it's natural consequence.
When it appears: Take responsibility. Be honest with yourself.
Shadow aspect: Injustice, dishonesty, avoiding consequences.
XII - The Hanged Man
Keywords: Pause, new perspective, sacrifice, surrender
The Hanged Man sees the world upside down. Sometimes you need to stop, let go of something, to gain new vision.
When it appears: Stop forcing. Change your perspective.
Shadow aspect: Stagnation, unnecessary martyrdom, resistance.
XIII - Death
Keywords: Transformation, end of cycle, rebirth, release
Death rarely indicates literal death. It announces the end of something — relationship, job, phase — so that the new can be born.
When it appears: Something needs to end. Let go to be reborn.
Shadow aspect: Clinging to what must die, fear of change.
XIV - Temperance
Keywords: Balance, patience, harmony, integration
Temperance mixes opposites into harmony. It's the art of moderation and patience — finding the middle way.
When it appears: Seek balance. Don't force, let it flow.
Shadow aspect: Extremism, impatience, lack of moderation.
XV - The Devil
Keywords: Shadow, addictions, illusion, self-imposed prisons
Notice: the chains on the humans bound to The Devil are loose. They could leave. This card exposes the addictions and fears **you yourself** created.
When it appears: What prison are you maintaining? You have the key.
Shadow aspect: Addiction, blind materialism, denying your shadow.
XVI - The Tower
Keywords: Rupture, revelation, destruction, liberation
Lightning strikes the tower, structures crumble. It looks like disaster, but it's liberation — everything built on false foundations falls so something true can emerge.
When it appears: Abrupt change. Don't fight — rebuild on solid ground.
Shadow aspect: Resisting the inevitable, destruction without reconstruction.
XVII - The Star
Keywords: Hope, healing, inspiration, renewal
After the Tower's storm, The Star brings peace. It's the light at the end of the tunnel — healing, hope, reconnection with something greater.
When it appears: There is hope. Trust the healing process.
Shadow aspect: Hopelessness, disconnection, illusions of easy salvation.
XVIII - The Moon
Keywords: Illusion, fear, subconscious, intuition
The Moon illuminates but distorts. It represents the world of dreams, hidden fears, and illusions. Not everything is what it seems.
When it appears: Beware of illusions. Trust intuition, not appearances.
Shadow aspect: Confusion, irrational fears, deception.
XIX - The Sun
Keywords: Joy, success, clarity, vitality
The Sun is one of the most positive cards. It represents genuine joy, deserved success, and total clarity.
When it appears: Celebrate! A moment of light and achievement.
Shadow aspect: Blind optimism, inflated ego, denying nuances.
XX - Judgement
Keywords: Awakening, calling, renewal, evaluation
The angel sounds the trumpet and the dead rise. It's the call to your true vocation — time to evaluate the past and be reborn.
When it appears: You're being called to something greater. Answer.
Shadow aspect: Refusing the call, cruel self-judgment, not forgiving.
XXI - The World
Keywords: Completion, achievement, integration, end of cycle
The World is the final card — representing the complete journey. All elements have been integrated, the soul has reached wholeness.
When it appears: Cycle complete. Celebrate and prepare for the next.
Shadow aspect: Lack of closure, fear of new beginnings.
How to Use This Guide
This guide is a reference, not a rule. Each card can have different nuances depending on:
- Position in the spread
- Surrounding cards
- Your intuition in the moment
The best way to learn is by practicing. Draw one card a day and observe how it manifests in your life.
Next Step
Want to put it into practice?