The journey of the soul
The Major Arcana are the heart of the tarot. They are 22 cards loaded with a deep symbolism that represent the great stages, learnings and revelations of life. Unlike the minor arcana -which focus on the everyday, on emotions, thoughts and concrete actions- the major arcana speak to us of transforming experiences: those that mark us, awaken us or change us forever.
They can be understood as a spiritual or evolutionary journey of the soul, from the innocence of the Fool (0) to the totality of the World (21). In this journey we pass through universal archetypes: the Mother (the Empress), the Master (the Hierophant), Love (the Lovers), Death, Judgment, the Star…. Each card represents a phase of the path, an archetypal energy that all people, at some point, go through.
✨ What do the Major Arcana teach?
These arcana are not limited to “external events”, but reflect internal processes, lessons of the soul and key moments of awakening or crisis. Each one has its own vibration and a message that can resonate in different ways depending on the person and the vital moment in which he/she finds him/herself. They are mirrors of the collective unconscious and also of our personal history.
When they appear in a reading, the Major Arcana indicate that something important is at stake: a cycle that begins or ends, a truth that is revealed, a door that opens, a decision that redefines the path. They are not always easy to navigate, but they are powerful.
🌱 The Fool as a beginning and possibility
The Fool (card number 0) is both the beginning and the end. He is the one who throws himself into the void without knowing exactly what awaits him. It represents pure trust, openness to the path and the freedom of the soul before it is shaped by experience. All the other arcana can be seen as stages of the journey that the Fool goes through in his evolution.
This journey is not linear. Each person may encounter the Chariot before the Magician, or pass through the Tower several times in his or her life. The tarot does not impose a rigid order, but shows possibilities, invites you to reflect and observe where you are in your life.
💡 Practical use in learning
For those who are beginning to study tarot, the Major Arcana are an excellent gateway. Their symbolism is clear and powerful. It is useful to begin by identifying:
- Which card represents my current energy?
- Which archetype is most difficult for me to integrate?
- Which one inspires me?
- Which arcane do I believe I am transiting today?
They can also be used for meditation, journaling or simple spreads such as “past, present and future”, focused only on major arcana, to train intuition and symbolic reading.
🌕 Light and shadow in each arcane
Each card has its light side as well as its shadow. For example, the Sun can speak of clarity, success and joy, but also of excessive ego or exposure. Death can be a liberation or a grieving process. There are no “bad” or “good” cards in the tarot, but energies that present themselves to be understood and transformed.
Understanding this helps to read from a deeper and more compassionate place, without falling into fatalistic interpretations.
Meaning of each Arcanum
