A Tarot deck consists of 78 cards, but its heart is the 22 Major Arcana. These are not just pictures — they are great archetypes, life stages, and lessons that every person goes through. They are called the "Fool's Journey" — from a naive beginning (0) to complete fulfillment and wisdom (XXI).

In this guide, we have collected brief and accurate meanings for each Major Arcana. Save this page to your bookmarks — it will become your best cheat sheet.

What is "The Fool's Journey"?

Imagine that the Fool (card 0) is a newborn soul. It goes through life and meets teachers: the Magician (will), the High Priestess (intuition), the Parents (the Emperor and the Empress). It learns to love (the Lovers), to overcome (the Chariot), to seek meaning (the Hermit), experiences crises (Death, the Tower), and eventually achieves harmony (the World).

Understanding this story will help you remember the cards without rote memorization.

Arcana 0–V: The Beginning of the Path and Teachers

0. The Fool

Archetype: Child, Beginning.

  • Upright: New stage, risk, trust in the Universe, freedom, "leap of faith".
  • Reversed: Rashness, foolishness, danger, fear of change.

I. The Magician

Archetype: Creator, Doer.

  • Upright: Willpower, skill, resources, "I can do anything", project initiation.
  • Reversed: Manipulation, deceit, insecurity, unused talent.