INTRODUCTION TO THE MAJOR ARCANA
The major arcana represents the life lessons and the significant themes that influence our life and our soul journey. These cards are intricate and deep.
The major arcana features 21 cards, and the Fool is the key character as he journeys through each of the cards, meeting new teachers and learning life lessons on the way until he finishes at the World card – a card of completion.
So, it's beneficial to think of the major arcana as just that; —a journey—a storyline. One we must all go on in this journey of life, where we must face challenges and adversity, where we feel times of contentment and bliss, and where we can challenge our belief systems and the status quo.
When the major arcana cards come up it is asking you to reflect on these themes and lessons that you may be experiencing. The major arcana cards set the scene for the reading and the minor cards help with more details and guidance.
If you have predominantly major arcana cards in a reading, you may be experiencing life-changing events that will have long-term effects.
If the major arcana cards come in the reversal, you may take it as a sign that you are not paying enough attention or ignoring these life lessons and you may need to master this before being able to move ahead.
If you are new to tarot, the best way to get acquainted with the cards is to take the 21 major arcana cards out of the pack and focus on them first. Only introduce the minor cards when you feel more acquainted with the Major.
The Major Arcana
- The Fool: Represents new beginnings and adventures.
- The Magician: Embodies manifestation and resourcefulness.
- The High Priestess: Signifies intuition and hidden knowledge.
- The Empress: Associated with fertility, abundance, and nurturance.
- The Emperor: Symbolizes authority, structure, and control.
- The Lovers: Reflects relationships and choices.
- The Wheel of Fortune: Suggests cycles and fate.
- Death: Indicates transformation and endings.
- The Sun: Represents positivity and success.
- The World: Signifies completion and fulfilment.
So, let’s delve deeper into the major arcana cards.
0 – The Fool
The fool journey is where we start the voyage – it is all about stepping out in the unknown – not having a plan in place but having the courage to step out anyway. This card is all about letting go of the need to control and trust in the universe. This card is about being carefree and adventurous.
1 – The Magician
This card is all about manifestation – and dreaming big, to know that you have all the resources necessary to move forward and realise your true potential. This card is all about new beginnings and action. And a reminder about how powerful you are!
2 – The High Priestess – this card is about divine feminine energy; it is our intuitive understanding and potential. It's about delving deep and asking yourself the big questions – the hard questions. Also, a magical time for love.
The guiding message with the High Priestess is telling you that you are on the right path, and it is time to listen to your intuition.
3: The Empress
This card is about fertility, nature and divine feminine energy, its passionate and creative– growth and expansion. This is the next step towards your goal. Trust in the power of love! And don’t forget to give yourself some love and self-care.
4: The Emperor
The emperor is the most realistic of all the major arcana cards, and he speaks of structure, loyalty, and leadership. He stands firm in his convictions. He is powerful and strength. He is focused on family and can be a father figure, boss or mentor. This often relates to institutions, -schools, government, and workplaces.
5: The Hierophant
This is a big sign for spiritual studies in the traditional sense. Following the path of tried and tested. You may find a new alternative way of thinking or a new spiritual direction. It also indicates further studies and learning.
6: The Lovers
The Lovers card represents love in its most pure form. This card tells me you have a beautiful soul connection with a loved one. This card is all about being open and honest and allowing yourself to be vulnerable with the people you love. To learn to open your heart and share yourself with another person. To give and receive love.
7: The Chariot
Fast-paced action…this card is bold and daring and invites you to try to take action on a goal or plan, it is not a time to sit and wait, it is a time of fast-paced movement. To forge ahead even if there are challenges on your path. Don’t let anything stop you.
8. Strength
The Strength card represents our inner strength and our ability to overcome any obstacles on our path. Strength is about knowing you can overcome anything and that you are strong and resilient. The strength card gives you the conviction and confidence to overcome fears, doubts or obstacles.
9.The Hermit
Just take a step back to reflect - is the message of the Hermit. It's in silence and reflection that we can truly hear what we need to hear. It's time to take a break, to disconnect from the outside world and spend some time within. Retreat.
10 The Wheel of Fortune
The wheel of life is always turning, and life is in a state of change. This card is all about Karma and to know what goes around comes around. It’s a reminder to be gentle and loving. The message of the Wheel of Fortune is to be positive and have faith in the universe, that everything is unfolding in the way it is meant to. The Wheel of Fortune represents a critical turning point in your life. You have a chance to make a huge change in your life.
11. Justice
This card is all about truth and fairness. As you explore your truth you will discover that things are not as simple as you once thought that you have been taught a belief system that perhaps isn’t in alignment with where you are today. It is all about challenging your core values and questioning your beliefs, what is important to you?
12. The Hanged Man
It’s time to hit pause on your journey. This card reminds us to stop and put everything on hold before we can take the next step. Or the universe will step in and do it for you. Which will be even more uncomfortable. Embrace these pauses in our life and learn to surrender to the what-ifs. it is a time to reevaluate.
13. Death
The Death card is a pivotal part of your journey, it is renewal and transformation. It is necessary and a part of life. This card represents a major end or phase in your life that you realise is no longer serving you. It is out with the old to invite in the new. Change should be seen as a welcoming time in your life, it is a cleansing and transformational time on your journey.
14. Temperance
Reprieve after a long journey. The Temperance is all about finding balance and bringing harmony to our lives. This card also represents higher learning, and you are discovering who you are and what your core values are, your inner voice is guiding you and you are listening.
15. The Devil
This card represents our shadow self and the things that hold us back. This is the part of the journey that can be tricky and uncomfortable – see this as an opportunity to shine a light on any negative patterns that have been standing in your way.
16. The Tower
A time to expect the unexpected – massive change upheaval and chaos. Yes, this is a tough time. But it is also something that needs to happen. There’s no escaping it. Change is here to shake things up, create chaos and destroy everything in its path (but trust me, it’s for your Highest Good).
Through the ‘Tower’ experience, you will grow stronger and more resilient as you develop a fresh perspective on life you did not even know existed. These moments are crucial for your spiritual growth and truth and honesty will bring about a positive change.
17. The Star
The Star card is a welcome reprieve after a period of upheaval. Yes, you have been through so much and you have stripped yourself bare of anything that was holding you back. You know yourself better and you are realising your core essence who you are under all the layers and conditioning.
18. The Moon represents any fears and programming that may prevent you from enjoying the bliss of the Star card. Light might cast a shadow, and in this case, it is old fears and anxiety which may arise.
19. The Sun
Once you work through this old energy you will feel renewed and in touch with your original soul’s purpose. You have nothing to hide from the world.
20. Judgement
There’s no room for illusions or false identities. At last, you are rising up and answering your soul’s calling. This card is all about spiritual awakening and you are realising you are destined for so much more. This is your cosmic up-levelling!
21. The World
This is the end of the journey. So many lessons have been learned, and this chapter is closing once and for all. This is an amazing chance to celebrate all of your victories and everything you have accomplished but like any cycle that closes fully – a whole new one begins, and a new journey starts!
☆
Love Jen
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