What Are the 22 Major Tarot Cards?

The Major Arcana is the heart of the tarot deck. These 22 cards represent major life themes, lessons, and transitions that shape personal growth.
For beginners, understanding the Major Arcana provides a strong foundation for learning tarot.

What Is the Major Arcana?

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, starting with The Fool and ending with The World. Together, these cards tell a symbolic story often referred to as “The Fool’s Journey,” which reflects human experience from beginnings to completion.

List of the 22 Major Tarot Cards

1. The Fool
2. The Magician
3. The High Priestess
   
4. The Empress
5. The Emperor
6. The Hierophant
7. The Lovers
8. The Chariot
9. Strenght
10. The Hermit
11. Wheel of Fortune
12. Justice
13. The Hanged Man
14. Death
15. Temperance
16. The Devil
17. The Tower
18. The Star
19. The Moon
20. The Sun
21. Judgement
22. The World

What the Major Arcana Represents

These cards represent:

• Life lessons
• Personal transformation
• Important choices
• Inner growth
  
  When a Major Arcana card appears in a reading, it often points to something significant rather than a small, everyday matter.

Major Arcana vs Minor Arcana

While the Major Arcana reflects major themes, the Minor Arcana focuses on daily life. Beginners often find Major Arcana cards easier to remember because their meanings are broader and more symbolic.

Final Thoughts

Learning the Major Arcana helps you understand tarot as a journey rather than a set of isolated meanings. It creates context and depth in every reading.