Major Arcana

Major Arcana - Tarot Descriptions

The Fool

Upright Meaning:

Beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, adventure, potential.

Reversed Meaning:

Recklessness, naivety, hesitation, poor judgment, fear of the unknown.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Young traveler with knapsack: Untapped potential and journey ahead.
  • Cliff edge: Risk and the leap of faith.
  • White dog: Loyalty and instinctive guidance.
  • Sun shining brightly: Optimism and divine blessing.

The Magician

Upright Meaning:

Manifestation, power, inspired action, resourcefulness, willpower.

Reversed Meaning:

Manipulation, deception, illusion, wasted talent, untapped potential.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Raised wand and hand to earth: "As above, so below." Bridging spiritual and material realms.
  • Table with four suits: Mastery of all elements (earth, air, fire, water).
  • Infinity symbol: Infinite possibilities and control.
  • Red and white robes: Passion and purity working in unison.

The High Priestess

Upright Meaning:

Intuition, mystery, subconscious, divine feminine, inner knowledge.

Reversed Meaning:

Secrets, hidden motives, blocked intuition, disconnected inner voice.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Scroll labeled "TORA": Hidden wisdom and sacred knowledge.
  • Black and white pillars (Boaz and Jachin): Duality and balance.
  • Moon crown and crescent at feet: Lunar intuition and feminine power.
  • Veil with pomegranates: Secrets of the subconscious and the divine mystery.

The Empress

Upright Meaning:

Fertility, nurturing, abundance, beauty, nature, creation.

Reversed Meaning:

Dependence, creative blocks, smothering, lack of growth.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Crown of twelve stars: Connection to cosmic cycles and divine femininity.
  • Heart-shaped shield with Venus symbol: Love and harmony.
  • Wheat and lush landscape: Fertility and earth's bounty.
  • Flowing robe and throne: Comfort and grounded sensuality.

The Emperor

Upright Meaning:

Authority, structure, stability, leadership, father figure.

Reversed Meaning:

Domination, rigidity, tyranny, power struggles, lack of discipline.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Stone throne with rams: Strength, Aries energy, and protective power.
  • Red robe and scepter: Worldly authority and active rule.
  • Mountain backdrop: Unyielding strength and determination.
  • Armor beneath robe: Readiness to protect and defend.

The Hierophant

Upright Meaning:

Tradition, spiritual wisdom, conformity, institutions, guidance.

Reversed Meaning:

Rebellion, unconventionality, blind faith, spiritual confusion.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Triple crown and staff: Spiritual authority and sacred knowledge.
  • Two acolytes at feet: Transmission of teachings and community structure.
  • Crossed keys: Access to hidden wisdom and the mysteries of spirit.
  • Throne between pillars: Balance of divine knowledge and doctrine.

The Lovers

Upright Meaning:

Love, union, alignment, harmony, relationships, choices.

Reversed Meaning:

Disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values, indecision.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Adam and Eve with angel above: Sacred union and divine guidance.
  • Tree of life and tree of knowledge: Balance of spiritual and earthly desires.
  • Angel Raphael: Healing and conscious connection.
  • Sun shining overhead: Blessing and illumination of love.

The Chariot

Upright Meaning:

Determination, willpower, success, control, victory through effort.

Reversed Meaning:

Lack of direction, scattered energy, self-doubt, loss of control.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Charioteer with armor: Strength and spiritual discipline.
  • Black and white sphinxes: Balance of opposing forces.
  • Stars on canopy: Celestial guidance and divine purpose.
  • City behind: Leaving safety for greater goals.

Strength

Upright Meaning:

Courage, patience, inner strength, compassion, resilience.

Reversed Meaning:

Insecurity, weakness, self-doubt, lack of discipline.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Woman gently taming lion: Power through love and compassion.
  • Infinity symbol above head: Unlimited inner potential.
  • Floral garland and white robe: Purity and harmony with nature.
  • Mountain landscape: Strength built over time and challenge.

The Hermit

Upright Meaning:

Solitude, introspection, inner guidance, soul-searching, wisdom.

Reversed Meaning:

Isolation, loneliness, withdrawal, refusal to look within.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Old man with lantern: Spiritual illumination and inner truth.
  • Staff in hand: Support and steady guidance.
  • Snowy mountain: Detachment from worldly concerns.
  • Gray cloak: Humility and wisdom gained from experience.

Wheel of Fortune

Upright Meaning:

Destiny, cycles, luck, karma, turning points, fate.

Reversed Meaning:

Bad luck, resistance to change, external forces, disruption.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Rotating wheel with letters and symbols: Mystical forces and fate's influence.
  • Figures of Anubis, Sphinx, and snake: Movement, riddles, and descent into change.
  • Four winged creatures: Elements of the fixed signs and spiritual evolution.
  • Cloud background: Spiritual atmosphere beyond human control.

Justice

Upright Meaning:

Fairness, truth, law, accountability, balance, integrity.

Reversed Meaning:

Injustice, dishonesty, lack of accountability, unfair treatment.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Figure holding scales and sword: Truth and balanced judgment.
  • Red robe: Passion for fairness and right action.
  • Square crown: Rational authority and clarity of purpose.
  • Pillars and throne: Firm foundation of law and ethics.

The Hanged Man

Upright Meaning:

Surrender, letting go, new perspective, pause, suspension.

Reversed Meaning:

Stalling, indecision, resistance, martyrdom, wasted effort.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Figure hanging upside-down: Shifting viewpoint and voluntary surrender.
  • Halo around head: Enlightenment and inner awakening.
  • Crossed leg: Hidden balance and calm in discomfort.
  • Tree of life: Spiritual growth through sacrifice.

Death

Upright Meaning:

Transformation, endings, transition, rebirth, release.

Reversed Meaning:

Resistance to change, fear of endings, stagnation, delayed transformation.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Skeleton in black armor: Unstoppable force of change and renewal.
  • Rising sun in background: Hope and new beginnings after loss.
  • Fallen and pleading figures: Universal impact of transformation.
  • White rose on flag: Purity and spiritual evolution through cycles.

Temperance

Upright Meaning:

Balance, harmony, moderation, purpose, patience, healing.

Reversed Meaning:

Imbalance, excess, conflict, lack of long-term vision.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Angel pouring water between cups: Flow and blending of opposites.
  • One foot in water, one on land: Balance of emotions and practicality.
  • Path leading to sun: Enlightenment through moderation.
  • Irises and triangle symbol: Clarity and spiritual alchemy.

The Devil

Upright Meaning:

Bondage, addiction, materialism, temptation, shadow self.

Reversed Meaning:

Release, freedom, awareness, detachment, breaking chains.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Chained figures: Illusion of entrapment in earthly desires.
  • Devil figure: Shadow self and unconscious temptation.
  • Inverted pentagram: Misused power and base instincts.
  • Dark cave: Lack of awareness or spiritual blindness.

The Tower

Upright Meaning:

Sudden upheaval, chaos, revelation, destruction, liberation.

Reversed Meaning:

Avoidance of disaster, fear of change, delayed transformation.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Lightning bolt striking tower: Divine intervention and truth.
  • Falling figures: Loss of false foundations and ego collapse.
  • Crown flying off: Dismantling of power and pride.
  • Dark stormy sky: Cataclysmic awareness and emotional turmoil.

The Star

Upright Meaning:

Hope, inspiration, renewal, serenity, spiritual guidance.

Reversed Meaning:

Lack of faith, despair, disconnection, discouragement.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Naked woman pouring water: Authenticity and replenishment of the spirit.
  • Seven small stars and one large: Chakras and divine harmony.
  • Water and earth: Balance of emotions and grounding energy.
  • Iris flowers: Renewal and spiritual insight.

The Moon

Upright Meaning:

Illusion, intuition, dreams, the subconscious, confusion.

Reversed Meaning:

Clarity, releasing fear, truth revealed, heightened intuition.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Moon above with rays and drops: Mystery, imagination, and spiritual messages.
  • Dog and wolf: Tamed and wild aspects of the mind.
  • Crawling crayfish: Rising subconscious material and transformation.
  • Winding path between towers: Journey through uncertainty to illumination.

The Sun

Upright Meaning:

Joy, success, vitality, optimism, celebration.

Reversed Meaning:

Temporary sadness, pessimism, clouded clarity, need for gratitude.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Child on white horse: Innocence, freedom, and triumph.
  • Radiant sun: Clarity, truth, and life-giving energy.
  • Sunflowers: Growth, positivity, and abundance.
  • Red banner: Victory and enthusiastic expression.

Judgment

Upright Meaning:

Awakening, rebirth, reflection, absolution, higher calling.

Reversed Meaning:

Self-doubt, poor judgment, fear of change, failure to learn from the past.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Angel with trumpet: Call to awaken and rise.
  • Resurrected figures: Spiritual rebirth and acceptance of truth.
  • Mountains in background: Stability and final transition.
  • Open arms: Readiness for renewal and destiny.

The World

Upright Meaning:

Completion, wholeness, accomplishment, travel, celebration of life.

Reversed Meaning:

Unfinished business, lack of closure, delays, feeling stuck.

Waite-Smith Symbolism:
  • Wreath surrounding a dancer: Fulfillment and unity through movement.
  • Wands in hands: Balanced energy and personal power.
  • Four figures in corners: The four evangelists or fixed zodiac signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius).
  • Purple veil: Transition between realms and completion of a spiritual journey.

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