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Major Arcana

The name, Major Arcana, was first coined by Paul Christian. They are also known as trumps, trumps major or major trumps. They were originally the permanent trump cards. Therefore, they are the principal or the key cards in the tarot deck.

Each Major Arcana card represents a person, a scene or a story theme, which is of representative or universal nature.

The picture on the card also contains other symbolic elements that are typical of human thought trends, ambitions, pursuits and actions. Each card bears a name and a picture that characterize the card.

For example, the first Major Arcana card is called Fool card. The picture on the card shows a Fool, a young man setting out on a journey of life. He carries a pack slung over shoulder. He is depicted walking over the edge of a cliff.

A small dog is following him. It is there probably to warn him to be careful of his step. Major Arcana, in short, depict concepts and generalizations about human life.

0 The Fool	I The Magician	II The High Priestess	III The Empress
IV The Emperor	V The Hierophant	VI The Lovers	VII The Chariot
VIII Strength	IX The Hermit	X The Wheel of Fortune	XI Justice
XII The Hanged Man	XII Death	XIV Temperance	XV The Devil
XVI The Tower	XVII The Star	XVIII The Moon	XIX The Sun
XX The Last Judgement	XXI The World

 

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