Tarot Reading: Tarot Card Meanings of the Major Arcana

In a tarot reading, it is essential to know the meanings of the Major Arcana tarot cards, which are the first twenty-two cards of the tarot deck. The Major Arcana are significant to Tarot reading because they concern critical challenges either on the spiritual or personal level.

 

The Fool Tarot Card:

• Taking a risk
• New opportunities
• Following your heart
• New Beginnings

Reversed Fool Tarot Card

• Risky Behavior
• Lack of Commitment
• Fear preventing you from moving forward
• Poor decisions

The Magician Tarot Card

• Adaptability
• Manifesting your desires
• Utilizing your skills
• Focusing yourself

Reversed Magician Tarot Card

• Not using your skills appropriately
• Manipulation
• Scattered energy
• Selfish behavior

The High Priestess Tarot Card

• Listen to your intuition
• Psychic ability
• Subconscious influences
• Trusting your gut

Reversed High Priestess Tarot Card

• More needs to be revealed
• Not listening to your inner voice
• Internal Conflict
• Anxiety

The Empress Tarot Card

• Abundance, wealth, and prosperity
• Creativity and productivity
• Completion of projects
• Fertility, childbirth, pregnancy

Reversed Empress Tarot Card

• Creative blocks
• Not expressing yourself
• Enmeshment
• Financial issues

The Emperor Tarot Card

• Male authority figure
• Logic and rational thinking
• Organization
• Status and society

Reversed Emperor Tarot Card

• Excessive Force
• Inflexible behavior
• Impatient
• Disorganization

The Hierophant Tarot Card

• Traditional Values
• Wise Teacher
• Conventional thinking and morals
• Religious institutions, influences, or spirituality

Reversed Hierophant Tarot Card

• Rigidity
• Need to think outside the box
• Fanaticism
• Feeling constricted by traditional thinking or values

The Lovers Tarot Card

• Need to make an important choice
• New path
• New relationship
• New partnerships

Reversed Lovers Tarot Card

• reluctance to make an important decision
• Issues with a relationship
• Separation, divorce, infidelity
• Obstacles, division, poor communication

The Chariot Tarot Card

• Focus and willpower
• Triumph and victory
• The power of your thoughts and intentions
• Stamina

Reversed Chariot Tarot Card

• Lack of focus
• Being ruled by emotions
• Lack of balance and inner harmony
• Conflicting feelings

The Strength Tarot Card

• Diplomacy and neutrality
• Courage in the face of adversity
• Confronting your fears
• Inner strength

Reversed Strength Tarot Card

• Feeling out of control or ruled by fear
• Self-indulgence
• Domineering behavior
• Dependency

The Hermit Tarot Card

• Being guided by one’s intuition
• Self-knowledge
• Search for meaning and purpose within one’s life
• The guidance offered by someone more experienced

Reversed Hermit Tarot Card

• Reluctance to listen to one’s own voice
• Isolation or feelings of being alone
• Unwilling to see the truth, denial
• Not listening to good advice

The Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

• Good luck
• Rapid cycles
• Karma and fate
• Need for adaptation

Reversed Wheel of Fortune Tarot Card

• What goes up, must come down
• Outcomes not in your favor
• Stagnation
• Need for patience

The Justice Tarot Card

• Integrity, fairness, and diplomacy
• Getting what one deserves
• Compromises
• Fair and just outcomes

Reversed Justice Tarot Card

• Not getting what you deserve
• Need to examine your behaviors
• Poor decision making
• Inequality or unfairness

The Hanged Man Tarot Card

• Trust and Faith
• Enlightenment
• Selflessness, self-sacrifice
• Letting go of control

Reversed Hanged Man Tarot Card

• Unwillingness to let go
• Lack of trust
• Slowed progress
• Arrogance, lack of humility, materialism

The Death Tarot Card

• New Beginnings
• Transformation
• Change
• Need to move forward from one’s past

Reversed Death Tarot Card

• Reluctance to make necessary changes
• Over attachment to one’s past
• Stagnation or holding on to old ideas
• Fear and uncertainty of what’s to come

The Temperance Tarot Card

• Balance and inner harmony
• Patience
• Moderation and compromise
• Self-control

Reversed Temperance Tarot Card

• Lack of patience, moderation, and self-control
• Unwillingness to compromise
• Intolerant and insensitive
• Anxious, worried or fearful

The Devil Tarot Card

• Temptation
• Co-dependent relationship or behavior
• Materialism and selfishness
• Overindulgence

Reversed Devil Tarot Card

• Letting go of fear or temptations
• Need to look at your behaviors
• Freedom from bondage
• Being rigid or too controlling

The Tower Tarot Card

• Sudden change or upheaval
• Breakdown of current structures or ideas
• Exposure of truth
• New outlook and perceptions

Reversed Tower Tarot Card

• Unwillingness to let go of old ideas
• Illusion or refusal to accept the truth
• False lifestyle
• Feeling stuck or unable to move forward

The Star Tarot Card

• Healing and rejuvenation
• Inspiration
• Faith
• Guidance

Reversed Star Tarot Card

• Lack of confidence
• Loss of hope
• Confusion or uncertainty
• Narrow-mindedness

The Moon Tarot Card

• Illusion
• Unconscious influences
• Intuition
• Reflection

Reversed Moon Tarot Card

• Deception
• The need to get honest with one’s self
• Reluctance to take valuable advice
• Not listening to your intuition or inner voice

The Sun Tarot Card

• Abundance in all things
• Completion of projects
• Success and prosperity
• Joy and happiness

Reversed Sun Tarot Card

• Delayed Progress
• Pessimism or lack of gratitude
• Depression or loneliness
• Issues in relationships

The Judgment Tarot Card

• Spiritual Awakening
• Enlightenment
• Setting things right
• New clarity or perspectives

Reversed Judgment Tarot Card

• Lack of responsibility
• Being overly critical of self and others
• Procrastination, stagnation, delays
• Focusing too much on the past

The World Tarot Card

• Fulfillment and self-growth
• Completion
• Attainment
• Freedom and prosperity

Reversed World Tarot Card

• • Plans have yet to be fully realized
  • Refusal to learn from past mistakes or experiences
  • Unfinished business
  • Delays or minor setbacks