Tarot Readings – Understanding the Major Arcana Cards

For someone who has never had tarot readings done, or have never really heard much about them, the meaning behind the cards can be confusing. The Major Arcana cards signify the key issues in your life, and consist of 22 cards starting from the number 0 to the number 21.

Tarot readings, whether done by a professional or yourself, can reveal cards that are in the upright or reverse position. Upright cards have a positive meaning, while cards in reverse have a negative implication.

Below, you will find the meanings of the first 11 Major Arcana cards used in basic tarot readings. Once you understand these ones, you can move on to learning the final 11 cards.

Card # 0: Fool
- Upright: new beginnings, excitement, pleasure, optimism, joy.
- Reverse: thoughtlessness, bad decision, hesitation, lack of responsibility.

Card # 1: The Magician
- Upright: power, creativity, skill, potential, new beginnings.
- Reverse: insecurity, weakness, deception, abuse of power, delay.

Card # 2: The High Priestess
- Upright: wisdom, understanding, a teacher, psychic ability, virtue.
- Reverse: selfishness, secretiveness, hidden obstacles, lack of understanding.

Card # 3: The Empress
- Upright: motherhood, fertility, action, artistic ability, love, nature.
- Reverse: infidelity, unwanted pregnancy, indecision, poverty, over-protectiveness.

Card # 4: The Emperor
- Upright: wealth, leadership, provider, achievement, authority.
- Reverse: lack of strength, indecision, untrustworthy, failed ambition.

Card # 5: The Hierophant
- Upright: faith, knowledge, kindness, inspiration, wise counsel.
- Reverse: lack of faith, bad advice, vulnerability, confusion, repeated errors.

Card # 6: The Lovers
- Upright: love, sex, desire, trust, honor, meaningful relationship.
- Reverse: lust, temptation, separation, untrustworthy, emotional loss.

Card # 7: The Chariot
- Upright: change, triumph, a journey, turmoil, good news.
- Reverse: defeat, failure, rage, frustrations, delays.

Card # 8: Justice
- Upright: harmony, balance, truth, integrity, fairness.
- Reverse: unfairness, abuse, bad advice, injustice, prejudice.

Card # 9: The Hermit
- Upright: inner strength, caution, patience, solitude, guidance, a loner.
- Reverse: suspiciousness, impatience, fear, hastiness, immaturity.

Card # 10: Wheel of Fortune
- Upright: destiny, good luck, end of a problem, fortune, progress, advancement.
- Reverse: unpleasant surprises, bad luck, failure, unexpected events.

Card # 11: Strength
- Upright: compassion, courage, determination, strength, heroism.
- Reverse: weakness, sickness, fear, coward, defeat, abuse of power.

Understanding the meaning behind the tarot cards can be especially helpful when you seek out someone that gives tarot readings. If you want to do tarot readings for yourself or for friends and family, knowing what the cards mean is essential.