The Art of Tarot
The art of divination has existed since time immemorial. Tarot consists of reading 78 cards divided into two groups:
- The 56 Minor Arcana cards which are grouped into four suits (cups, pentacles, wands and swords), each of which has 14 cards. These cards represent the mundane, day-to-day activities of the mortal world.
- The 22 Major Arcana cards which represent the "big picture" concepts.
We list the Major Arcana cards and their meanings below.
#
Name
Meaning
0
The Fool
Upright: Beginnings and Endings. Impulse and Innocence.
Reversed: Recklessness, inconsideration, being taken advantage of.
I
The Magician
Upright: Willpower, creation, manifestation, desire.
Reversed: Illusion, trickery, being out of touch.
II
The High Priestess
Upright: Intuition, the subconscious, inner voice.
Reversed: Lost inner voice, lack of center, repressed emotions.
III
The Empress
Upright: Fertility, nature, motherhood.
Reversed: Smothering, emptiness, dependences.
IV
The Emperor
Upright: Structure, control, fatherhood, authority.
Reversed: Rigid, cold, tyrannical.
V
The Hierophant (Pope)
Upright: Conformity, tradition, ethics, morality.
Reversed: Subversion, rebellion, different approaches.
VI
The Lovers
Upright: Union, romance, partnership.
Reversed: Subversion, rebellion, different approaches.
VII
The Chariot
Upright: Willpower, direction, control.
Reversed: Aggression, no control, no direction.
VIII
Strength
Upright: Courage, inner strength, focus.
Reversed: Insecurity, self-doubt, weakness.
IX
The Hermit
Upright: Contemplation, inner guidance, quest for truth.
Reversed: Isolation, loneliness, lost way.
X
Wheel of Fortune
Upright: Cycles, change, fate.
Reversed: Grasping for control, loss of control, bad luck.
XI
Justice
Upright: Clarity, truth, cause and effect.
Reversed: Unaccountability, dishonesty, unfairness.
XII
The Hanged Man
Upright: Martyr, sacrifice, release.
Reversed: Needless sacrifice, stalling, fear of sacrifice.
XIII
Death
Upright: Cycle end, new beginning, change, metamorphosis.
Reversed: Decay, stagnation, fear of change.
XIV
Temperance
Upright: Patience, middle ground, finding meaning.
Reversed: Excess, extremes, unbalanced.
XV
The Devil
Upright: Materialism, playfulness, addiction.
Reversed: Control, release, freedom.
XVI
The Tower
Upright: Disaster, upheaval, broken pride.
Reversed: Disaster avoidance, delayed disaster, fear of suffering.
XVII
The Star
Upright: Rejuvenated, hopeful, faith.
Reversed: Faithlessness, insecurity, discouraged.
XVIII
The Moon
Upright: Subconscious, intuition, illusion.
Reversed: Misunderstanding, confusion, fear.
XIX
The Sun
Upright: Celebration, success, positivity, joy.
Reversed: Sadness, depression, negativity.
XX
Judgement
Upright: Awakening, reckoning, reflection.
Reversed: Doubt, self-loathing, lack of self-awareness.
XXI
The World
Upright: Completion, harmony, fulfillment.
Reversed: Lack of closure, incompleteness.
