Major Arcana

The twenty-two principal cards of the tarot, commonly interpreted as representing major archetypal themes, stages, and symbolic patterns of human experience.

The Major Arcana consists of twenty-two tarot cards that are commonly interpreted as expressing broad archetypal themes, transitions, challenges, and patterns of human experience. Although meanings vary among tarot traditions and interpretive approaches, these cards are generally distinguished from the Minor Arcana by their emphasis on larger symbolic themes rather than more specific situations or everyday circumstances.