A classic Tarot deck consists of 78 cards divided into two large groups: 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor. Understanding this structure is the foundation of confident reading. All cards with interpretations are gathered in the Tarot card meanings section.
The 22 Major Arcana
The Major Arcana are the deck's 'trumps', from the Fool (0) to the World (21). They describe major life themes, turning points and spiritual lessons. Their sequence is often called 'the Fool's Journey': the hero travels from a naive beginning through trials to wholeness. If a spread has many Major Arcana, it concerns fateful, important processes rather than everyday trifles.
The 56 Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana speak of daily life: feelings, affairs, thoughts and material matters. They are divided into four suits of 14 cards, and each suit is linked to its own element and area of life.
The four suits
Wands (fire) — energy, passion, creativity, work and ambition. Cups (water) — feelings, love, relationships and intuition. Swords (air) — thoughts, truth, conflict and decisions. Pentacles (earth) — money, work, the body and stability. Knowing a suit's element, you immediately understand which area a card concerns.
Numbered and court cards
Each suit has numbered cards from Ace to Ten and four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen and King. Numbered cards describe situations and stages, while court cards represent people, character types or the roles we play. The Ace sets the pure impulse of the suit, the Ten its completion and outcome.
How this helps in reading
First look at the balance: which is there more of in the spread — Major or Minor Arcana, which suit. This sets the tone at once. Then move on to individual cards and their positions. For how to combine everything into a single interpretation, read the article 'How to Read Tarot'.
Study all 78 cards with interpretations and view the classic Tarot decks in our gallery.
