The Major Arcana

Tarot Cards - The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana : is at the heart of the Tarot. A whole range of human life and experience is represented by the Major Arcana. It is symbolic of physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual aspects of humankind. The cards are thought to illustrate the strengths, hopes and fears, weaknesses, the most godly and darkest parts of an individual.

Many of the Major Arcana cards show an archetypal figure, or in other words, a figure who is representative of the whole essence of a type of person. Archetypes might include: a warm nurturing mother figure, a strong figure of authority, a formal traditional religious leader, or even a magical, mystical, mysterious person. Archetypes can be representative of real people, whether it be in part or as an abstract symbol in one's life.

Each card that is represented below belongs to the Major Arcana and depending upon which way round the cards falls, its imagery is symbolic and represents both positive and negative forces.
Although the cards are listed below with their meanings these are intended only as a guide, for information and reference purposes. This is because the true meaning of the cards is dependent upon a variety of factors including: surrounding cards, the spread used, the nature of the question, the reader and the querent. All meanings attributed to the cards are subject to a great deal of interpretation.

The tarot cards consist of 78 cards that are split into two main sections called the Major Arcana (containing 22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (containing four suits, namely: The Suit of Wands, The Suit of Cups, The Suit of Swords and The Suit of Pentacles. Each suit in turn consists of 14 cards each). Below is a listing of the major arcana and below that links to the individual minor arcana suits.

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The Fool The Spirit of the Aether Divinatory Meanings	The Major Arcana Cards (22 cards) These cards symbolise very powerful archetypes of spiritual states, people, virtues and circumstances		The Magician The Magnus of Power Divinatory Meanings
The Papess The Priestess of the Silver Star Divinatory Meanings	The Empress The Daughter of the Mighty Ones Divinatory Meanings	The Emperor Son of Morning: Chief Among the Mighty Divinatory Meanings	The Pope The Magnus of the Eternal Divinatory Meanings
The Lovers The Children of the Voice; The Oracle of the Mighty Gods Divinatory Meanings	The Chariot The Child of the Powers of the Waters; The Lord of the Triumph of Light Divinatory Meanings	Strength (fortitude) The Daughter of the Flaming Sword Divinatory Meanings	The Hermit The Prophet of the Eternal; the Magnus of the voice of Power Divinatory Meanings
Wheel of Fortune The Lord of the Forces of Life Divinatory Meanings	Justice The Daughter of the Lords of Truth; The Ruler of the Balance Divinatory Meanings	The Hanged Man The Spirit of the Mighty Waters Divinatory Meanings	Death The Child of the Great Transformers; The Lord of the Gate of Death Divinatory Meanings
Temperance The Daughter of the Reconcilers; The Bringer Forth of Life Divinatory Meanings	The Devil The Lord of the Gates of Matter; The Child of the Forces of Time Divinatory Meanings	The Tower The Lord of the Hosts of the Mighty Divinatory Meanings	The Star The Daughter of the Firmament; The Dweller Between the Waters Divinatory Meanings
The Moon The ruler of the Flux & Reflux; The Child of the Sons of the Mighty Divinatory Meanings	The Sun The Lord of the fire of the World Divinatory Meanings	Judgement The Spirit of the Primal Fire Divinatory Meanings	The World The Great One of the Night of Time Divinatory Meanings

The Minor Arcana suits and cards (56 cards):

The Suit of Wands
The Suit of Cups
The Suit of Swords
The Suit of Pentacles

In order to fully understand and to read Tarot cards, it is important, before starting, to consult a good 'Teach Yourself Tarot Guide' and gather as much information on the subject as possible. The volume of information required is beyond the scope of this document and the Tarot topic covered on Paranormality. Please see below for recommended reading.

NB: Illustrations from Universal-Waite Tarot Deck reproduced by permission of U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Stamford, CT 06902 USA, Copyright 1990 by U.S. Games Systems, Inc. Universal Waite is a registered trademark of U. S. Games Systems, Inc. Further reproduction prohibited.
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Recommended Reading
Emily Peach - Discover Tarot (Understanding & Using Tarot Symbolism) - The Aquarian Press - An Imprint of Harper Collins Publishers: 77-85 Fulham Palace Road, Hammersmith, London W6 8JB - ISBN: 1 85538 048 X

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