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.
TAROT CARD MEANING SHEET |
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
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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Useful Links
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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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