How Many Major Arcana? Structure & Meanings Explained

Anatomy of the Tarot: The 22 Pillars

In a standard 78-card deck, the Major Arcana consists of 22 cards that act as the structural bones of the tarot. Before we dive into the deep soul-work these cards invite, here is the complete roster of the 22 Major Arcana you will find in most traditional decks:

• 0 - The Fool
• 1 - The Magician
• 2 - The High Priestess
• 3 - The Empress
• 4 - The Emperor
• 5 - The Hierophant
• 6 - The Lovers
• 7 - The Chariot
• 8 - Strength
• 9 - The Hermit
• 10 - Wheel of Fortune
• 11 - Justice
• 12 - The Hanged Man
• 13 - Death
• 14 - Temperance
• 15 - The Devil
• 16 - The Tower
• 17 - The Star
• 18 - The Moon
• 19 - The Sun
• 20 - Judgement
• 21 - The World

Imagine you are sitting in a sun-drenched corner of your favorite room, the scent of vanilla tea lingering in the air. You hold a fresh deck of cards, the cardstock crisp and slightly cool to the touch. As you fan them out, you notice that some feel heavier, more resonant than others. Those are the trumps. While the rest of the deck whispers about your daily chores and office drama, these 22 cards speak in the deep, resonant tones of a cello, echoing the major milestones of your life's path. Identifying how many major arcana are in your deck is the first step toward reclaiming your spiritual autonomy. Each card represents an archetype—a universal pattern of behavior or experience that exists within all of us. When you understand this structure, you aren't just memorizing numbers; you are learning the map of your own evolution.

Major vs Minor Arcana: The Decision Matrix

To understand the hierarchy of a tarot deck, we must distinguish between the 'Big Picture' (Major) and the 'Daily Details' (Minor). This distinction helps lower the cognitive load when you are trying to interpret a spread during a moment of personal stress.

The Major Arcana serve as 'Trumps' or atouts, a term derived from the historical use of these cards in trick-taking games across Europe [Britannica]. Psychologically, these cards represent the 'Jungian Archetypes'—the universal, mythic characters that reside in the collective unconscious. When a Major Arcana card appears, it signifies a 'karmic' or unavoidable lesson, suggesting that the situation is less about what you do and more about who you are becoming. This shifts the focus from external problem-solving to internal reflection, providing a soothing sense of order amidst life's inherent chaos.

The Fool's Journey: A Roadmap for Life Stages

The sequence of the 22 cards is not random; it describes 'The Fool's Journey.' This is a narrative framework where the Fool (card 0) starts as a blank slate and travels through the lessons of the other 21 cards to reach enlightenment (The World). This journey is often divided into three distinct realms:

• The Realm of the Material (Cards 1-7): Focuses on society, education, and early ego development.
• The Realm of the Intuitive (Cards 8-14): Focuses on the internal self, moral trials, and looking inward.
• The Realm of the Celestial (Cards 15-21): Focuses on the universal forces, spiritual rebirth, and final integration.

Think of the Fool's Journey as a gentle hand on your shoulder, reminding you that every 'wrong turn' is actually just a necessary chapter. When you feel lost in the 'The Moon's' shadows of uncertainty, the narrative structure tells you that 'The Sun's' clarity is only a few steps away. This mechanism works because human brains are wired for story; by framing our struggles as a structured journey [Gaia], we reduce the anxiety of the unknown and replace it with a sense of purposeful progression.

Reframing the 'Scary' Cards

Many seekers experience a 'shadow pain'—a sharp pang of anxiety—when they draw cards like Death, The Devil, or The Tower. This fear stems from a misunderstanding of the Major Arcana's symbolic language. Here are three common re-frames to soothe that nervous system response:

• Death (XIII): Rarely signifies physical loss; it usually represents the 'shedding of skin' necessary for growth.
• The Devil (XV): Represents the realization of self-imposed chains or habits, offering the key to freedom.
• The Tower (XVI): Represents a breakthrough disguised as a breakdown—the clearing of old foundations to build something sturdier.

In a clinical sense, these cards act as prompts for 'shadow work.' They allow us to externalize our internal fears onto a piece of cardboard, making them feel manageable and less like monsters under the bed. By naming the pattern (e.g., 'I am in a Tower moment'), you move from a state of reactive panic to one of observational curiosity. This transition is the hallmark of high emotional intelligence, allowing you to hold space for difficult emotions without being consumed by them.

Reading the Trumps: A Beginner's Protocol

When you are first learning the 22 cards, the volume of symbolism can feel like trying to drink from a firehose. The secret is to start small and focus on the feeling of the card before the technical definition. Here is a simple protocol for your first major-only readings:

• Separate your deck: Set the 56 Minor Arcana aside and work only with the 22 trumps to keep the focus on big-picture themes.
• The 'Daily Archetype' Draw: Pull one card each morning and ask, 'Which archetype am I walking with today?'
• Note the visual cues: Notice the colors and the characters' expressions. Does 'The Star' feel like a cool breeze or a distant hope?
• Avoid 'Good' vs 'Bad' labels: Every card, even the scary ones, has a 'light' and 'shadow' side.
• Trust your gut: Your first instinct is often more accurate than any guidebook.

This process builds 'spiritual literacy.' Just as you learned to read letters before sentences, you are learning to read the language of the soul. There is a deep, quiet dignity in knowing that you don't need an expert to tell you what your life means; the tools are already in your hands, 22 cards strong. These archetypes are the heart of the tarot [Keen], and mastering them is your ticket to self-reliance.

Your Growing Relationship with the Major 22

Learning how many major arcana are in your deck is just the beginning of a lifelong conversation with yourself. As you grow, the cards will seem to grow with you. 'The Empress' might mean your literal mother today, but in five years, she might represent your own creative project or your relationship with the Earth itself. It is a beautiful, evolving mirror. If you ever feel overwhelmed by the depth of these 22 archetypes, remember that you don't have to carry the load alone. Sometimes, just having a supportive voice to help you unpack a complex draw can make all the difference. Think of the tarot as a deck of 22 mirrors, and you are simply finding the one that reflects your current light the brightest.

FAQ

1. How many major arcana cards are in a standard deck?

A standard tarot deck contains exactly 22 Major Arcana cards. These cards are often referred to as 'trumps' and are numbered from 0 to 21, though some historical or specialized decks may vary slightly in their numbering or inclusion of specific cards.

2. What is card number 0 in the tarot?

Card number 0 in the tarot is 'The Fool.' This card is unique because it represents the protagonist of the deck's narrative, possessing infinite potential and a 'beginner's mind' as it prepares to embark on the journey through the remaining 21 cards.

3. Is the Major Arcana 21 or 22 cards?

While the numbers go up to 21, the Major Arcana consists of 22 cards because the list begins with the number 0 (The Fool). This zero-indexing is common in tarot and reflects the Fool's status as a 'non-number' or a point of pure potential.

4. What are the names of all 22 Major Arcana?

The names are: The Fool, Magician, High Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Wheel of Fortune, Justice, Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Judgement, and The World.

5. What is the difference between major and minor arcana?

The Major Arcana represent significant life lessons and spiritual archetypes, while the Minor Arcana (56 cards) represent the daily events, people, and struggles of everyday life. Think of Major cards as the 'chapters' of your life and Minor cards as the 'sentences' within those chapters.

6. Which major arcana card is the most powerful?

No single Major Arcana card is objectively 'the most powerful,' as their power depends on the context of the reading. However, 'The World' is often seen as the most positive for completion and success, while 'The Sun' represents peak happiness and clarity.

7. Why are there 22 major arcana cards?

The number 22 is significant in various mystical traditions, including its correspondence to the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet in Kabbalistic tarot traditions. Structurally, it allows for a complete narrative arc of human development from birth to enlightenment.

8. How many cards are in a tarot deck total?

A total tarot deck contains 78 cards. This is comprised of the 22 Major Arcana cards and the 56 Minor Arcana cards, which are further divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands.

9. What does the Fool's Journey mean in tarot?

The Fool's Journey is a metaphor for the path of spiritual and psychological growth. It treats the 22 Major Arcana as a sequential story where the individual (The Fool) matures by learning the lessons inherent in each subsequent card.

10. Are there always 22 major arcana in every deck?

While most modern decks (like the Rider-Waite-Smith) follow the 22-card standard, some Oracle decks or non-traditional 'Art' decks may have more or fewer. However, for a deck to be technically considered 'Tarot,' it almost always includes the standard 22 trumps.

References

britannica.com — Tarot | History, Meaning & Uses

gaia.com — The 22 Major Arcana of the Tarot

keen.com — Major & Minor Arcana Tarot Cards