Major & Minor Arcana Tarot Cards

Complete Guide To Tarot Card Meanings: Major & Minor Arcana Explained

Key Takeaways:

  • Major Arcana As Life’s Spiritual Milestones: The Major Arcana cards stand for important events and spiritual lessons. Each card offers wisdom and shows key moments that shape your personal journey.
  • Minor Arcana And The Stories Of Everyday Life: The Minor Arcana cards focus on daily life’s highs and lows. They show your feelings, relationships, and growth in clear, relatable ways.
  • Tarot Suits: Each tarot suit has a special meaning. Understanding them helps you make sense of your readings and feel closer to the cards’ messages.

 

You might already feel pulled toward tarot. Maybe you’ve had a reading, picked a card when you felt low, or sensed there’s more to the cards than meets the eye. Now, you’re ready to know what the cards truly mean.

This guide will help you dive deeper. Whether you’re learning tarot on your own or finding the right reading for your next steps, Spiritual Society is here to support you. Understanding the Major and Minor Arcana will help you connect with the cards and hear the messages meant for you.

 

Major vs. Minor Arcana: What’s The Difference?

A tarot deck has 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. Together, they tell your life’s story, showing big changes and daily moments.

 

Two Parts Of A Bigger Picture

Major Arcana cards are about big life events and deep emotional or spiritual changes. They appear when something big happens, like starting a new relationship, making a tough choice, or seeing things differently. You might see these cards in a Horoscope Tarot Reading or when asking about your purpose.

Minor Arcana cards focus on everyday life. These 56 cards are divided into four suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles. They show your feelings, relationships, choices, and daily habits. Even though they’re about smaller things, they give important insights. In a Love Tarot Reading or questions about timing or talking, these cards explain what’s going on now.

 

Why Both Matter

Major Arcana cards are like the big moments that shape your life. Minor Arcana cards are the small steps – like conversations, lessons, and feelings – that lead to those moments. The Major shows the big picture, and the Minor adds the details.

Whether you want clarity about love, a new beginning, or a sign to trust, an Online Tarot Card Reading from Spiritual Society shows how both types of cards tell your story and guide your heart forward.

 

Receive Clarity On Your Soulmate Connection

 

The Symbolism Behind Each Major Arcana Card

The Major Arcana cards represent big life changes, spiritual growth, and powerful moments in love. These are the turning points, the times that shape who you are. When one of these cards appears in a Relationship Tarot Spread, it’s a chance to listen to what your heart already knows deep down.

Here’s what each of the Major Arcana cards means: 

  1. The Fool: A fresh start. This card is all about taking a chance, even if you don’t know what’s ahead. It reminds you that love begins with hope.
  2. The Magician: You have what you need. Your thoughts and actions shape your relationships.
  3. The High Priestess: Trust your gut. This card is about listening to your inner voice and paying attention to signs and dreams.
  4. The Empress: Love grows through care. This card is about kindness, comfort, and emotional warmth.
  5. The Emperor: Love needs stability. This card brings strong foundations, respect, and support.
  6. The Hierophant: What do you believe about love? This card is about values, tradition, and learning from the past.
  7. The Lovers: A deep choice. This isn’t just about romance; it’s about choosing love that’s true to you.
  8. The Chariot: Time to move forward. This card means taking action, letting go, or standing up for love.
  9. Strength: Kindness is power. Strength is about being gentle, patient, and brave.
  10. The Hermit: Time alone can help you see clearly. This card asks you to pause and reflect.
  11. Wheel Of Fortune: Life changes. What seems like an ending may really be a new beginning.
  12. Justice: Be fair and honest with others and yourself. This card is about truth and responsibility.
  13. The Hanged Man: Take a step back. Sometimes we need to pause and look at things in a new way.
  14. Death: Something old is ending so something new can begin. It’s about change, not loss.
  15. Temperance: Find balance. This card helps you stay calm and peaceful while still feeling deeply.
  16. The Devil: What’s holding you back? This card helps you face fears, temptations, or unhealthy patterns.
  17. The Tower: A sudden change. It may feel tough, but it clears space for something better.
  18. The Star: Hope and healing. This card shows that brighter days are ahead.
  19. The Moon: Trust your feelings. Things might be unclear, but your heart knows more than you think.
  20. The Sun: Joy and truth. This card brings happiness, warmth, and celebration.
  21. Judgment: A second chance. It’s time to let go of the past and see yourself with fresh eyes.
  22. The World: You’ve come full circle. This card shows you’ve grown, and now you’re ready for what’s next.

Each Major Arcana card helps you tune into your own truth, grow stronger, and find the love and clarity you deserve. See how others have found their next chapter through the cards.

 

From Big Moments To Everyday Life: The Minor Arcana

While Major Arcana cards show big life changes, Minor Arcana cards focus on daily life: your feelings, choices, and habits. These cards don’t shout; they quietly guide you through everyday situations, showing how your journey unfolds each day. Major Arcana asks “why” things happen, but Minor Arcana explains “how.”

Each of the four suits means something different. Cups are about emotions and relationships. Wands are about passion and action. Pentacles cover money, work, and things you can touch. Swords deal with thoughts, communication, and challenges.

Take your time with the Minor Arcana. These cards help you understand what’s going on in your heart and life, one step at a time.

 

Compatibility Reading

 

The Suit Of Wands: Passion And Action

The Suit of Wands is full of excitement. These cards are about moving forward, chasing dreams, and following what lights you up. They encourage you to act, go after what you want, and trust the energy in your heart, even if you’re not sure where it’s taking you.

 

A Spark That Won’t Go Out

Wands often appear when something new starts. It could be a relationship, a project, or a big idea. The Ace of Wands says, “Jump in!” It’s a sign to follow what makes you happy, even if you don’t know everything yet.

 

Love And Excitement

In love readings, Wands are about passion and attraction. They show up when you feel excited about someone or when you need to bring back that spark. They can also point to mixed signals or fading feelings.

If you’re confused about someone from your past, a Horoscope Tarot Reading can help you understand your feelings and find answers.

 

Turning Dreams Into Actions

Wands push you to act on your feelings, creativity, or beliefs. They ask, “What do you want to make happen?” Whether it’s starting something new or opening your heart again, these cards tell you to act with courage.

If you’re not sure where to put your energy, a 3 Questions Reading can give you clear ideas and help you take the next step.

 

Let Your Fire Lead You

Wands show that passion is for anything that makes you feel alive. These cards say: Trust your excitement. Let it lead you to a life that feels right for you. Check out how others have followed their energy through tarot readings.

 

The Suit Of Cups: Feelings And Relationships

Cups are all about emotions. These cards reflect your heart: your joy, sadness, love, and everything in between. Cups help you understand your feelings and how you connect with others.

 

Love, Hope, And New Beginnings

Some Cups cards show up when your heart is opening again:

  • Ace Of Cups: A fresh emotional start. A new beginning in love or healing after hurt.
  • Two Of Cups: A special connection or relationship built on mutual respect and care.
  • Three Of Cups: A time of celebration, friendship, and shared joy.

If you’re dealing with old feelings or wondering if someone from your past still matters, an Ex-Lover Reading can help you understand what to hold onto and what to let go.

 

Loss, Healing, And Emotional Growth

Other Cups cards deal with deeper feelings:

  • Five Of Cups: Grief or sadness over something that didn’t work out, but also a reminder that healing is happening.
  • Ten Of Cups: Emotional peace and lasting love. A vision of joy and feeling truly at home.

Cups teach you to care for your relationships and for yourself. If you want to understand your emotional patterns more deeply, an Astrology Birth Chart Reading can give helpful insight.

 

Trusting The Rhythm Of Your Heart

The Suit of Cups doesn’t rush. These cards invite you to slow down, feel your emotions, and respond with care. Wherever you are in your emotional journey, Cups remind you that every feeling matters.

 

3 Questions Reading

 

The Suit Of Pentacles: Stability And Security

The Suit of Pentacles is about real things in life, like money, work, health, and feeling safe. These cards help you see what keeps you steady and if your life feels secure.

 

Starting Fresh And Planning Ahead

Cards like the Ace of Pentacles mean a fresh start, like a new job, money, or something solid to grow. The Ten of Pentacles asks you to think long-term. What lasting support are you building? If you’re wondering about money, jobs, or how you use your time, a Finance Tarot Reading can help you focus on what’s important.

 

Love That’s Real And Reliable

In relationships, Pentacles ask, “Can I depend on this person?” or “Are we both trying?” They show that love isn’t just feelings. It’s about actions, support, and trust.

Tough cards, like the Five of Pentacles, might show loss or feeling left out. They ask, “What do I need right now?” or “How can I care for myself or ask for help?”

 

Building Something That Lasts

Pentacles are about growing slowly and steadily. They show how your feelings and needs connect to the real world. These cards say: Be patient. Build something that lasts. Trust in steady change.

 

The Suit Of Swords: Thoughts And Truth

The Suit of Swords is about your thoughts, words, and facing tough truths. These cards clear up confusion and help you deal with what you’ve been avoiding. They don’t show up to hurt you. They help you grow, speak honestly, and move forward.

Swords show that staying quiet doesn’t fix things. Healing happens when you share your thoughts and face your feelings.

 

Moments Of Truth And Speaking Up

The Ace of Swords brings a clear moment, like a light turning on. It might mean it’s time to talk, share your true feelings, or understand something confusing. These moments build trust.

In love readings, Swords often mean it’s time to stop guessing and start talking. Even if it’s hard, being honest can bring answers and peace. 

 

Heartache And Moving Forward

The Three of Swords looks sad, often showing a heart with swords in it. But it’s not just about hurt. It’s about letting go and knowing you cared a lot. Healing starts with that honesty.

The Six of Swords is about quiet change. It doesn’t make you forget the past but helps you move toward calm. It says, “You’re not stuck. You’re healing, one step at a time.”

If you feel stuck or unsure, a 3 Questions Reading or Ex-Lover Reading can bring clarity and help you move forward. Asking the right question can open the door to healing.

 

The Power Of Honest Conversations

The Suit of Swords is about telling the truth, even when it’s hard. It asks: “What have you been avoiding? What do you need to say? What could love look like if you were fully honest?”

Swords remind us that real love isn’t perfect, but it should be honest. When you stop pretending and start sharing your true self, deeper connection becomes possible.

 

Final Thoughts

Tarot is a way to understand yourself. It helps you figure out your feelings, face what’s true, and trust yourself more. Whether you’re learning from the big lessons of the Major Arcana or getting help from the everyday messages of the Minor Arcana, each card gives you a chance to stop and focus on what’s important.

At Spiritual Society, we think tarot isn’t about predicting the future. It’s about helping you face today with more clarity, kindness, and bravery.

 

Read also:

 

Frequently Asked Questions About Tarot Card Meanings

How often should someone consult tarot?

There’s no set rule. Some people pull a card every day to check in with themselves. Others use tarot during hard times or when they need guidance in love, life, or big decisions. At Spiritual Society, we always say: Trust your heart. If something’s bothering you or you feel unsure, that’s a good time to turn to the cards.

 

Are there different types of tarot decks?

Yes! The Rider-Waite-Smith deck is one of the most popular, especially for beginners. But there are many other decks with different styles, artwork, and cultural backgrounds. We recommend choosing one that feels right to you. Something that speaks to your heart and helps your intuition feel safe and clear.

 

What is a tarot journal, and how is it used?

A tarot journal is where you write down your readings. You can record the cards you pulled, how you felt, and what you think the messages mean. Over time, you’ll start to notice patterns. Many people in our Spiritual Inner Circle say their journal helps them make sense of their feelings and see their personal growth more clearly.

 

Is it necessary to be psychic to read tarot cards?

Nope! You don’t need to be psychic, just open to listening to your inner voice. Anyone can use tarot for reflection or daily guidance. But when your questions go deeper, it can help to talk with an experienced reader. At Spiritual Society, readers like Mia and Dahlia use empathy and intuition to help you see what’s really going on.

 

How does intuition play a role in reading tarot cards?

Intuition is that feeling you get before you even think. It’s what helps you pick the right card, or suddenly understand something without needing proof. When you trust your gut, your memories, and your feelings, the messages in the cards become much clearer.

 

How should one formulate a question for a tarot reading?

Good questions aren’t about control; they’re about insight. Instead of asking, “Will this happen?” try something like, “What can I learn from this?” or “What’s the best way forward?” At Spiritual Society, we suggest asking questions that show you're open to learning and growing. When your question comes from the heart, the answer will feel true to you.

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