While the tarot deck consists of many individual and unique cards that can be overwhelming to parse at first glance, the cards work together in a set of interlocking systems that help you to understand the meanings and cycles hidden within the deck. These systems of meaning guide everyone from experienced tarot readers to beginners just learning to interpret the cards, and will help you understand the overall meaning of your tarot reading.
A typical tarot deck has 78 cards, which are broken into several groupings: the Major Arcana feature 22 cards, and the Minor Arcana the rest. The Minor Arcana have additional groupings called suits, just like a deck of playing cards, but the Major Arcana are special and stand alone. They feature archetypal images that are likely to be familiar and resonate with you even if you’ve never picked up a tarot deck before: the Fool, the Devil, the Sun, the World. These cards are numbered 0 through 21, and their place in the order holds meaning in addition to the image they represent.
These archetypal figures represent a process of learning and integration, starting with the Fool card, which you might sometimes even hear referred to as “the Fool’s journey.” By the end, the World card represents completion and understanding. In between, there are plenty of stops on the way, full of dramatic twists, longing, joy, and even romance. When a Major Arcana card shows up in a reading, it signifies a milestone in your life, a turning point or moment of connection, or even a message from the universe. Pay attention to when they pop up—especially if they reappear more than once.
The Major Arcana cards are indicators of how complex the stories of our lives can be, and how powerfully the moments of love and change can shape our lives. These are cards that might feel like they are happening around us, or to us, but we can also be active participants in the transformations that they create. No matter what card comes up in your reading, you can be sure that the adventure that awaits you is the right one for you.