Major Arcana: 22 Cards Quick Reference & Life Journey

By Astrology Tarot AI Editorial · Updated 2026-08-04 · 12 min read

Summary The Major Arcana has 22 cards numbered 0–21, describing a journey of consciousness from innocent departure to integrated completion. Each card represents a life archetype with traditional planetary or zodiac correspondences — the foundation for cross-reading tarot with astrology.

Role of the Major Arcana in the Deck

78 tarot cards = 22 Major Arcana + 56 Minor Arcana. Major Arcana appearances often signal life lessons, turning points or soul themes; Minor Arcana cards portray everyday detail. Beginners can start with high-frequency cards: 0 The Fool, 1 The Magician, 6 The Lovers, 10 Wheel of Fortune, 13 Death, 17 The Star, 18 The Moon, 19 The Sun, 21 The World.

22-Card Quick Reference

0 The Fool — New beginnings, trust, adventure · Uranus

1 The Magician — Will, skill, manifestation · Mercury

2 The High Priestess — Intuition, subconscious, silence · Moon

3 The Empress — Nurturing, abundance, sensuality · Venus

4 The Emperor — Structure, authority, boundaries · Aries / Mars

5 The Hierophant — Tradition, belief, mentorship · Taurus

6 The Lovers — Choice, values, connection · Gemini

7 The Chariot — Will, forward motion, control · Cancer

8 Strength — Gentle power, courage · Leo

9 The Hermit — Introspection, wisdom, solitude · Virgo

10 Wheel of Fortune — Cycles, turning points, opportunity · Jupiter

11 Justice — Fairness, cause and effect, clarity · Libra

12 The Hanged Man — Perspective shift, pause, sacrifice · Neptune

13 Death — Endings and rebirth, transformation · Scorpio

14 Temperance — Integration, patience, balance · Sagittarius

15 The Devil — Attachment, bondage, shadow · Capricorn

16 The Tower — Sudden change, truth, old structures falling · Mars

17 The Star — Hope, healing, inspiration · Aquarius

18 The Moon — Illusion, fear, subconscious · Pisces

19 The Sun — Joy, clarity, vitality · Sun

20 Judgement — Awakening, calling, review · Pluto

21 The World — Completion, integration, new cycle · Saturn

How to Calculate Your "Birth Card"

A popular method: add all digits of your birth date until you reach 22 or below — that Major Arcana is your "personality card"; add once more for your "soul card." Example: 1990-05-15 → 1+9+9+0+0+5+1+5=30 → 3+0=3 The Empress. Cross-read with astrology correspondences and your natal Sun and Moon.

Next Steps

After the Major Arcana, continue with the three-card spread, Celtic Cross, or create your chart for cross-reading.

Reference note · Card meanings vary slightly by tradition (Rider-Waite, Marseille, etc.); this article uses common Rider-Waite correspondences for learning and entertainment.