✦ Rider-Waite Tarot

The Major Arcana

The 22 cards at the heart of the tarot — the soul's journey from The Fool to The World. Tap any card to discover its full meaning, upright and reversed, with Wooly.

The 22 Major Arcana cards

0 ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Fool
New beginnings, innocence, a leap of faith.
I ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Magician
Manifestation, willpower, making it real.
II ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The High Priestess
Intuition, mystery, the inner voice.
III ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Empress
Abundance, nurturing, creativity.
IV ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Emperor
Structure, stability, authority.
V ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Hierophant
Tradition, guidance, shared belief.
VI ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Lovers
Love, union, a meaningful choice.
VII ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Chariot
Drive, focus, victory through will.
VIII ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
Strength
Courage, gentleness, inner power.
IX ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Hermit
Soul-searching, solitude, inner light.
X ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
Wheel of Fortune
Cycles, change, turning points.
XI ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
Justice
Fairness, truth, cause and effect.
XII ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Hanged Man
Surrender, pause, a new perspective.
XIII ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
Death
Endings, transformation, rebirth.
XIV ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
Temperance
Balance, patience, gentle blending.
XV ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Devil
Attachment, shadow, what binds you.
XVI ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Tower
Sudden change, awakening, release.
XVII ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Star
Hope, renewal, quiet faith.
XVIII ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Moon
Intuition, dreams, the unseen.
XIX ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The Sun
Joy, clarity, success, vitality.
XX ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
Judgement
Awakening, reckoning, a calling.
XXI ✦ MAJOR ARCANA
The World
Completion, wholeness, fulfilment.

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What are the Major Arcana?

The Major Arcana are the 22 trump cards at the spiritual core of the tarot, numbered from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World). Where the 56 Minor Arcana describe everyday life, the Major Arcana speak to life's great themes — turning points, lessons and transformations. When several appear in a reading, it often marks a meaningful chapter unfolding.

Read in order, they tell "The Fool's Journey" — the story of a soul moving from innocence (The Fool) through experience, challenge and integration, all the way to wholeness (The World). Each card is a chapter you'll recognise in your own life.

Major vs Minor Arcana

A full Rider-Waite deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana. The Minor Arcana are split into four suits — Wands (passion), Cups (emotion), Swords (mind) and Pentacles (material life). Magical Chart uses the complete 78-card deck, upright and reversed, for every reading.

Frequently asked questions

How many Major Arcana cards are there?

There are 22, from The Fool (0) to The World (21). With the 56 Minor Arcana they form the complete 78-card tarot deck.

What's the difference between Major and Minor Arcana?

Major Arcana point to big life themes and spiritual lessons; Minor Arcana describe everyday situations. Lots of Major Arcana in one spread usually signals a significant moment.

Do reversed Major Arcana mean something bad?

No. With Wooly, a reversed card is simply the card's energy turned inward — blocked, delayed or asking for reflection — never a punishment. Each card page explains both upright and reversed meanings.