Tarot Anatomy

22 trump cardsMajor Arcana tarot card meanings

See all 22 cards

22 trump cards, in Waite's numberingFrom 0 to XXI

The major arcana are the 22 trump cards of the tarot. They carry the big themes of a life, from first steps to completion. This site follows Waite's numbering, from 0, The Fool, to 21, The World, with Strength at 8 and Justice at 11.

  1. The Fool card0The FoolBeginnings · Freedom · A leap
  2. The Magician cardIThe MagicianSkill · Will · Action
  3. The High Priestess cardIIThe High PriestessSecrets · Intuition · Silence
  4. The Empress cardIIIThe EmpressAbundance · Nurture · Fertility
  5. The Emperor cardIVThe EmperorStructure · Authority · Stability
  6. The Hierophant cardVThe HierophantTradition · Teaching · Belief
  7. The Lovers cardVIThe LoversLove · Union · Choice
  8. The Chariot cardVIIThe ChariotDrive · Victory · Control
  9. Strength cardVIIIStrengthCourage · Patience · Compassion
  10. The Hermit cardIXThe HermitSolitude · Reflection · Inner light
  11. Wheel of Fortune cardXWheel of FortuneChange · Fate · Turning point
  12. Justice cardXIJusticeFairness · Truth · Consequences
  13. The Hanged Man cardXIIThe Hanged ManPause · Surrender · New view
  14. Death cardXIIIDeathEndings · Change · Letting go
  15. Temperance cardXIVTemperanceBalance · Moderation · Patience
  16. The Devil cardXVThe DevilBondage · Temptation · Excess
  17. The Tower cardXVIThe TowerUpheaval · Sudden change · Revelation
  18. The Star cardXVIIThe StarHope · Healing · Renewal
  19. The Moon cardXVIIIThe MoonIllusion · Fear · Intuition
  20. The Sun cardXIXThe SunJoy · Success · Warmth
  21. Judgement cardXXJudgementAwakening · Reckoning · Renewal
  22. The World cardXXIThe WorldCompletion · Wholeness · Travel
The Fool card
[ The Fool ]

Major Arcana at a glance

Cards
22
First
0
Last
XXI
Waite's key
1911

Wherever it ought to be put, the Zero is an unnumbered card.

Waite on The Fool, 1911

The other groupsThe rest of the deck

All 78 cards