The Major Arcana: All 22 Tarot Cards & Their Meanings

Every tarot deck of 78 cards is split into two groups: the 22 Major Arcana and the 56 Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana are the soul of the deck—each card is a distinct archetype, from The Magician’s willpower to The Tower’s sudden upheaval. Click any card below for its full upright, reversed, love, and career meanings.

All 22 Major Arcana Cards in Order (0–21) & Their Meanings

The Fool’s Journey

The 22 Major Arcana are often read as a single story called The Fool’s Journey. The Fool (0) sets out innocent and open, meets teachers and trials—The Magician, The High Priestess, The Lovers—faces crisis and transformation in Death and The Tower, and finally arrives at completion in The World (21). Each card marks a stage of psychological and spiritual growth, which is why these cards carry so much weight in a reading.

Major vs. Minor Arcana

The Major Arcana describe the big chapters of life—destiny, transformation, and lessons of the soul. The Minor Arcana describe the everyday scenes—work, money, relationships, and emotions—through four suits of 14 cards each. A balanced reading uses both: the Major Arcana set the theme, the Minor Arcana fill in the details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Major Arcana in tarot?

The Major Arcana are the 22 trump cards of a tarot deck, numbered 0 (The Fool) through 21 (The World). Unlike the suit-based Minor Arcana, they have no suits and represent major life themes, spiritual lessons, and turning points. When several appear in a reading, they signal significant, fated events rather than everyday matters.

How many Major Arcana cards are there?

There are 22 Major Arcana cards, from The Fool (0) to The World (21). Together they form a complete narrative known as “The Fool’s Journey,” a symbolic path of growth from innocence to fulfillment.

What is the difference between Major and Minor Arcana?

The Major Arcana (22 cards) represent big-picture life lessons and spiritual themes, while the Minor Arcana (56 cards, split into four suits) describe day-to-day situations—work, relationships, money, and emotions. A reading with many Major Arcana cards points to major life forces at work.

What does it mean when you draw a lot of Major Arcana cards?

Drawing several Major Arcana cards in one spread suggests the situation is significant and karmic—driven by forces larger than daily choices. It often marks a period of deep transformation, important decisions, or spiritual growth.

What is the first Major Arcana card?

The first Major Arcana card is The Fool, numbered 0. It represents new beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, and a leap of faith into the unknown—the starting point of The Fool’s Journey through all 22 cards.

🔢 New: learn the deck by its numbers → Tarot Numerology Guide (numbers 1-10).

🔄 See also: Reversed Tarot Card Meanings.

🃏 New to tarot? Start with The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck.