The Major Arcana form the group of 22 Tarot cards considered by readers as referring to matters of greatest effect or deepest meaning. Each Major Arcana is a set of symbols that represent, basically, people and situations. These symbols are intended to facilitate self-knowledge, to provide prognoses for the near future, and to promote advice on the best way to deal with these issues.attitude to adopt at a given moment.

To better understand what a Major Arcana is, it is necessary to go over the meaning of the Tarot cards and how they act.

The Meanings of the Major Arcana

• The Madman (learn more about this arcane by clicking here) - The zero arcane of the Tarot indicates chaotic and unexpected situations: a liberation or a complete destabilization. The Madman, at the top, takes the first steps
• The Magician - The Arcane I of the Tarot represents skill and dexterity, mastery of the situation
• The Priestess (or The Papaless) - The female figure in this Tarot Arcane II is wrapped in a veil, symbolizing mystery, silence, and reflection
• The Empress - The Arcane III of the Tarot suggests an intense development and fructification of what has been sown
• The Emperor - The Arcane IV of the Tarot shows a figure of majesty, meaning strength, authority, and power
• The Priest (or The Pope) - The V arcane of the Tarot carries the meaning of morality, trust and commitment
• The Lovers - The Arcane VI of the Tarot stages the encounter with doubt, falling in love, and the awareness of strong - sometimes contradictory - desires
• The Car - This arcane VII of the Tarot reveals the chariot driver, dressed in armor, and symbolizes victory, obstinacy, and a straight line to the goal
• The Justice - The Tarot Arcane VIII embodies a period of inner balance, concentration, detachment, and self-control
• The Hermit - This 9th arcane of the Tarot has a predominant meaning of inner recollection, of keeping one's concentration on what is essential and of maturity acquired through experience
• The Wheel of Fortune - The arcane X of the Tarot represents the ups and downs we all go through in life. It is the change machine
• The Force - In this Tarot Arcane XI we are confronted with obstinacy, sensuality, the notion of the body, and the search for both self-control and the mastery of passions
• The Hanged Man - The 12th arcane of the Tarot reflects the consequences of intransigence, the difficulties and sometimes the dedication to a greater cause
• Death - In this arcane XIII of the Tarot, we have the image of abrupt cuts, of terminations and dissolutions necessary for renewal
• Temperance - The uninterrupted movement of the jars of the Tarot Arcane XIV suggests moderation and patience in the face of sluggishness. It points to boredom and demands perseverance
• The Devil - The 15th card of the Tarot refers to the deepest passions and impulses, to the animal side that cries out for expression. It is the card of instinct and dependencies
• The Tower - The 16th arcane of the Tarot conveys the idea of the dismantling of false structures, the liberation from illusions
• The Star - In this 17th arcane of the Tarot, purification, predestination and simplicity prevail. It symbolizes enlightenment amidst darkness
• The Moon - The Arcane XVIII of the Tarot invokes fears, illusions, fantasies, and dangers
• The Sun - In this 19th arcane of the Tarot, enthusiasm is the key word. It represents light, lucidity, and harmony between consciousness and existence
• The Judgment - The figure of this Arcane XX of the Tarot opens the revelations of a new time and of new things. It is the card of healing and of effective transformation of situations
• The World - The figure of this 21st Tarot Arcane represents the culmination of an idea or the completion of a project, the card of fame, projection and blessings. The Madman reaches the top

The four elements in the Major Arcana

As in the Minor Arcana (see in this article what they mean), the four elements of nature are also present in the Major Arcana of traditional decks (Tarot of Marseille, for example): on the table of The Magician and around the maiden of The World. They represent, in these cards, the way a person handles or manipulates the available elements (The Magician) and what he achieves withthem and through them (The World).

The Madman sets out in search of full wisdom

The classic numbering of the Major Arcana begins with The Fool and represents this arcane's journey toward wisdom. Just like the human condition, in which a person is born and develops according to choices and circumstances toward fulfillment, the 22 major cards of the Tarot make up this process. It is a structure that presents life's allies, hardships, and rewards.

From The Fool to The Hermit, all the social figures are well defined, transmitting authority, power, and free will through their clothing. From The Wheel of Fortune to The Tower, the clothing is simpler, with no sign of nobility. Among the few human figures, there are some animals and fantastic beings that refer to the beginning of the transition to the immaterial plane, as well as to more subjective symbolism:In A Estrela ao Mundo, there is the presence of nudity and nature environments, signifying self-knowledge, freedom, and harmony. In addition, there are many celestial figures, indicating the arrival of spiritual elevation.

What is Tarot for?

Keeping in mind the idea that Tarot is a framework of symbols, it is easy to see that it basically works as a representation of situations or people. In the predictive approach, it serves to predict the future, analyze past events and evaluate what is at stake in the present, but always depending on the context in which it is used.as the stages we are in at a certain moment and how we can solve problems, take the right actions, and enjoy what is important.

Reading the Tarot is to project what we want to know about a moment, situation or person, representing the object and defining its course or the most prudent attitude towards it. Click here to know the Tarot games available at Personare.

Learn more about the suits of Diamonds and Hearts in the Tarot