Suit of Major Arcana

What Is the Major Arcana in Tarot?

The Major Arcana is the heart of every tarot deck. These 22 tarot cards trace the soul’s greater journey, from the innocent beginnings of The Fool to the wholeness of The World. When people ask what is Major Arcana in tarot, they are really asking about the deepest spiritual lessons and turning points that shape a lifetime. In any tarot reading, these archetypal images represent major shifts, spiritual awakenings, and defining crossroads.

Unlike the Minor Arcana suits, which focus on everyday situations, the Major Arcana reveals the big themes: identity, love, power, change, and purpose. Cards like The Magician, The High Priestess, and The Empress speak of potential, intuition, and creation. Others, such as Death, The Tower, and Judgement, confront transformation, crisis, and rebirth. Taken together, the Major Arcana offers a complete map for spiritual growth.

In a typical tarot card reading, Major Arcana cards act like spotlights. They show where life is inviting you to grow beyond comfort and into deeper awareness. Many readers see the 22 cards as chapters of "the Fool’s journey" - the journey of the soul itself. From The Lovers and The Chariot to The Star and The Sun, this journey moves through challenge and blessing, shadow and illumination.

If you are new to tarot cards or exploring a new tarot deck, learning the Major Arcana first is a powerful starting point. These cards form the skeleton of tarot meaning and tarot interpretation. As you study them - one by one and as a group - you begin to see your own life mirrored in their symbols and stories. For a broader view of the full system of tarot, you can also explore Simanim's Main Tarot Page to see how the Major and Minor Arcana weave together.

The Spirit Element and the Major Arcana

The Major Arcana is aligned with the element of Spirit. Where the other suits of a tarot deck correspond to Earth, Air, Fire, and Water - our body, mind, will, and emotions - the Major Arcana speaks to the invisible thread connecting them all. Spirit is the essence that animates your life path, the part of you that asks why things happen, not just what happens.

Because of this Spirit element, the major arcana suit meaning goes far beyond daily events. Cards like The Hermit, The Hanged Man, and Temperance ask you to pause, realign, and listen to your inner guidance. Spirit invites you to see every experience - joyful or painful - as part of a larger spiritual curriculum. In tarot interpretation, the presence of many Major Arcana cards suggests that your soul is actively directing events, calling you to wake up.

Working with the Spirit element through tarot reading is also a way to reconnect with your inner wisdom and higher self. Cards such as The Hierophant, Justice, The Moon, and The Sun illuminate questions of faith, truth, intuition, and clarity. When these tarot cards show up, they often indicate that Spirit is asking you to align your life with your deepest values, not just your immediate desires.

General Meanings of Major Arcana Cards

When Major Arcana cards appear in a tarot reading, they signal turning points and core life lessons. These are not minor mood shifts; they represent chapters in your life story. For example, The Fool typically speaks of new beginnings, risk, and trust in the unknown, while The Magician highlights personal power, manifestation, and skilled action. Together, they show the early stages of stepping onto a new path with both innocence and intention.

As we move deeper into the sequence, each card brings its own layer of meaning. The High Priestess and The Empress often signify intuition, fertility, and creativity, while The Emperor and The Hierophant relate to structure, authority, and tradition. The Lovers points to choice, alignment, and relationships, and The Chariot symbolizes determination, victory, and focused will. In tarot card reading, these cards frequently show up at times when you must define who you are and what you stand for.

Midway through the Major Arcana, we encounter powerful forces of reflection and change. Strength invites inner courage and compassion; The Hermit suggests solitude, wisdom, and spiritual seeking. Wheel of Fortune brings cycles, destiny, and unexpected turns, while Justice calls for balance, fairness, and accountability. The Hanged Man speaks to surrender and a new perspective, and Death represents endings, release, and profound transformation. In tarot meaning, these cards often mark the middle of a journey, when deep internal shifts are underway.

The final portion of the Major Arcana explores integration and awakening. Temperance encourages harmony and healing; The Devil reveals attachment, fear, or illusion; The Tower shakes foundations that no longer serve. From there, The Star offers hope and spiritual renewal, The Moon highlights uncertainty and the subconscious, and The Sun celebrates joy, clarity, and success. Finally, Judgement speaks to awakening and life review, and The World signifies completion, fulfillment, and the start of a new cycle. When many of these cards appear together, the tarot deck is emphasizing that you are in a period of major spiritual evolution.

Common Themes and Symbols in the Major Arcana

Across the 22 Major Arcana cards, certain themes and symbols repeat, creating a unified story. You will see recurring images like roads, mountains, crowns, animals, celestial bodies, and spiritual tools. For example, The Fool walks near a cliff with a small bag and faithful companion, symbolizing potential and trust. The Magician stands before a table with the four suit symbols - wand, cup, sword, and pentacle - representing mastery over all aspects of life. The presence of suns, moons, and stars in cards like The Sun, The Moon, and The Star connects your journey to cosmic cycles and spiritual guidance.

Another key theme is the dance between structure and freedom. Archetypes such as The Emperor, The Hierophant, and Justice emphasize law, order, and responsibility, while cards like The Hanged Man, The Fool, and The Star highlight surrender, openness, and faith. This tension reflects the spiritual truth that growth requires both discipline and trust. When you study the Major Arcana as a group, you see how each tarot card balances another, showing that no single lesson stands alone.

Shadow and light also weave strongly through the Major Arcana. The apparent "difficult" cards - such as Death, The Devil, and The Tower - are paired with cards of hope and renewal like Temperance, The Star, and The Sun. This pattern teaches that endings lead to beginnings, that confronting fear opens the door to freedom, and that crisis can clear space for authentic life. Understanding these recurring themes deepens your tarot interpretation and makes each tarot reading more nuanced and compassionate.

How to Read Major Arcana Cards in Tarot Spreads

Knowing how to read Major Arcana cards is essential for any meaningful tarot card reading. When a spread contains many Major Arcana cards, it usually indicates that the situation has long-term consequences or deep spiritual significance. For example, in a love reading, cards like The Lovers, The Devil, and Judgement together may show karmic patterns, intense attraction, and a call to make a conscious choice about the relationship. In a career spread, The Chariot, Justice, and The World might point to professional success tied to integrity and completion of a long-term goal.

In multi-card tarot spreads, pay attention to where the Major Arcana cards land. A Major Arcana in the "past" position can show a formative event or previous awakening that still shapes you. In the "present," it often marks a key decision or inner shift unfolding right now. In the "future" or "outcome" position, a Major Arcana suggests an upcoming turning point, spiritual initiation, or a new phase in your journey. Minor Arcana cards then fill in the details - how you feel, what actions to take, and what practical steps matter. Reading tarot this way lets you see both the spiritual landscape and the everyday path you walk.

If you want guided, personalized insight into your own Major Arcana patterns, you might consider booking a professional Tarot Reading. An experienced reader can help you see how these 22 archetypes have been cycling through your life and what current lessons Spirit is highlighting. Whether you read for yourself or with a guide, always remember that Major Arcana cards are invitations to conscious growth, not fixed sentences about your fate.

Major Arcana: Key Takeaways

The Major Arcana represents the soul’s greater journey through 22 powerful tarot cards, from The Fool to The World. As the suit of the Spirit element, it reveals spiritual lessons, life-changing choices, and deep inner transformations. In any tarot reading, these cards highlight the moments when your life story turns a corner and you are invited to grow in wisdom, courage, and authenticity.

To work with the Major Arcana is to see your life as a meaningful path rather than a random series of events. Studying these archetypes, practicing tarot card reading, and reflecting on their symbolism teaches you how to align daily choices with your higher purpose. When you are ready to explore your own journey more deeply, a focused Tarot Reading or dedicated study of the Major Arcana can offer clarity, guidance, and a renewed sense of connection to Spirit.