SGT Blog

Learn to Read Tarot Cards _ The Major Arcana

An Overview/Brief intro

The Major Arcana consists of the 22 cards listed below. We will look at each individual one in detail down the line but for now a brief overview of the entire set.

When an abundance of Major Arcana cards appear in a spread it indicates that the situation being read about is of great importance to the querrent. MA cards all represent a different phase of the life path on the souls journey. Each one is symbolic of different lessons, experiences, and life cycles we experience as part of our growing/learning experience while here in this Earth school.

Sometimes when doing readings, particularly when reading yourself, it’s good to choose one of these cards as a significator. It gives insight into the querrent and where they feel they are regarding the situation at hand. Someone who is just getting ready to go to college for example and is new to their field of study may choose the fool as their significator. The fool represents youth, newness, an open mind and a start to your journey. Someone who is at a later stage of their life who is say a grandparent and seeking wisdom about their golden years may choose the Hermit as a significator. This is the card that symbolizes the old man who has gained much knowledge/wisdom on his path and he is in the process now of sharing his wisdom and living as an example to others. He has a strong sense of self and is at a place now where others are looking to him for advice. These are just brief examples – and I will go more into the significators when I delve into each card individually.

Below is a chart with brief descriptions of each of the Major Arcana cards. As stated earlier I will do a different post that highlights each of them in more detail.

• Number: 0
• Card: The Fool
• Simple Interpretation: The fool represents fresh starts, new beginnings, the start of a venture. Approaching something with an open mind/heart. Can indicate a period of being naive or a bit irresponsible.

• Number: 1
• Card: Magician
• Simple Interpretation:

• Number: 2
• Card: The High Priestess
• Simple Interpretation: This card represents wisdom, finding ones center and maintaining objectivity, connection with one’s source, intuition/psychic senses, inner knowing and trusting one’s instincts/higher power to lead.

• Number: 3
• Card: Empress
• Simple Interpretation: This card speaks of the spirit/earth connection, mother nature, getting back to basics. She is also the card of pregnancy/motherhood and maternal protective instinct. She speaks of simple abundance and appreciation for ones blessings.

• Number:4
• Card: Emperor
• Simple Interpretation: The Patriarch, family figure. He is a disciplinarian, authoritative. He takes charge and provides for the family as he pushes them to be independent. He speaks of ambition, strength and pushing oneself to achieve.

• Number: 5
• Card: Hierophant
• Simple Interpretation: Tradition, leadership, sometimes dogma or rigid rituals. This card is the traditional card of a priest like figure who is the head of his congregation. It speaks of responsibility and the need for both tradition but also flexibility and finding ones own path to truth.

• Number: 6
• Card: The Lovers
• Simple Interpretation: Romance/love in the more literal sense but symbolically it speaks of unity, bringing together opposites (such as a good blend of creativity and logic) It also speaks of resolving conflicts and enjoying the use of the physical senses – simple pleasures.

• Number: 7
• Card: Chariot
• Simple Interpretation: The card of drive and determination, the ability to overcome obstacles through taking decisive action. This is a card of becoming goal oriented and ambitious. Motivation and also resourcefulness.

• Number: 8
• Card: Strength
• Simple Interpretation: This card speaks of learning to be in control of the mind/behaviors of the self as opposed to a slave to circumstance. The woman recognizes she can’t control the lion at her feet and it brings her a certain peace as she learns to direct her energy towards self-control/restraint.

• Number: 9
• Card: The Hermit
• Simple Interpretation: Wisdom gleaned through experience, listening to your inner wisdom – finding yourself. This is a card of coming of age or attaining a peak level of experience and reflecting on the knowledge gained. Is also a card of solitude and learning to be alone but not lonely – finding ones true passion.

• Number: 10
• Card: Wheel of Fortune
• Simple Interpretation: The cycle of destiny is represented by this card. It reminds us that the only constant in life is change. Depending on how it appears it can indicate a positive cycle of rewards or a period of challenge.

• Number: 11
• Card: Justice
• Simple Interpretation: Fairness, doing what is best for all concerned, objectivity and seeing the whole of a situation from a balanced perspective. Taking all sides of a story into consideration and weighing your decision carefully.

• Number: 12
• Card: Hanged Man
• Simple Interpretation: stasis, not moving, status quo. It tends to indicate situations that have come to a standstill, but can also indicate the need to stand still and think about things awhile before moving forward. Sometimes ‘down time’ gives us the necessary time to consider all our options.

• Number: 13
• Card: Death
• Simple Interpretation: Transcendence, metamorphosis, growth. Typically this represents a cycle of growth that comes through a period of sacrifice or initial loss. It is not a card of fatality – but a card of cyclical rebirth and being reborn into a new way of living.

• Number: 14
• Card: Temperance:
• Simple Interpretation: Balance, moderation learning the art of balance and harmony. Not going to one extreme or the other but taking the middle road. It speaks of all things in moderation and learning where ones limits are in order to find the “middle road”

• Number: 15
• Card: The Devil
• Simple Interpretation: Imprisonment, defeat, self-harm. This card speaks of all the things that hold us back, addiction, fear, the inner critic, abuses, anything that keeps us from reaching our fullest potential. It can also indicate others in the querrents circle who are abusive or deceitful.

• Number: 16
• Card: The Tower
• Simple Interpretation: upheaval, surprise, crumbling foundations, changes that come from out of left field, unpredictability. This card can indicate challenges but also happy surprises depending on the cards that surround it, but regardless it means a major and sudden change to one’s course.

• Number: 17
• Card: The Star
• Simple Interpretation: Hope, Joy, Inner peace. Feeling a connection to ones source that provides a strong faith in oneself and one’s higher power. This card speaks of spiritual sustenance and overwhelming potential. It’s considered one of the most positive cards in the Tarot.

• Number: 18
• Card: The Moon
• Simple Interpretation: Intuition, dreams, the subconscious are all represented by the moon. It also speaks of deep emotions and usually some degree of depression or sadness - “the blues”. When this card is properly balanced it can depict one with strong psychic senses/empathy particularly when paired with the priestess or queen of cups. Usually though it indicates a period of high emotion or anxiety.

• Number: 19
• Card: The Sun
• Simple Interpretation: Pure raw energy the sun represents the power/energy that encompasses everything. It speaks of directing our energy in positive ways and reminds us that our thoughts are energy and wherever they go our energy flows. This card speaks of abundant creative energy and the need to direct it properly into healthy areas.

• Number: 20
• Card: Judgment
• Simple Interpretation: Enlightenment, evaluation of life’s lessons. Looking for the truth behind ones experiences. Seeking wisdom and knowledge. Discernment and seeking divine inspiration or signs on ones path. Also this is a card of being honest without being harsh – discipline rather than punishment… a little honesty cures many things but criticism tends to make us defensive or want to quit.

• Number: 21
• Card: The World
• Simple Interpretation: Seasons and cycles, the whole. This card reminds us that all parts make the complete circle. There must be both day and night, summer and winter, all these opposites are both equally vital and compose the whole. This card speaks of the whole realm of experience, things that come full circle.