One of the first things you notice about a standard deck of Tarot cards is that it consists of two different subsets. In the context of Tarot reading, they are called the Major and Minor Arcana. But what is the difference between the two Arcanas?  

The 22 Major Arcana cards describe the Fool’s journey through 21 spiritual lessons. In a tarot reading, they take the focal point, and their message carries more weight. The 56 Minor Arcana cards describe the everyday experiences and situations, which expose the details to the significant spiritual lessons of the Major Arcana. 

While that summarization captions the most essential differences between the two, there is a lot more detail to both of them. By knowing each of their unique characteristics, you can better understand and memorize both of the arcanas and become a more fluent tarot reader. So I welcome you on the journey through the Arcanas. Let’s first take a look at their differences and then observe them individually. 

What is the difference between Major Arcana and Minor Arcana?

If you look at the meaning of “Arcana” from the dictionary, it says “secrets or mysteries.” Making major arcana point to big secrets/mysteries and minor to smaller ones. That already gives some indication of their differences, but before we go deeper into that, let’s see how these two arcanas came to be. 

The tarot cards were initially introduced in the 15th century for gaming purposes to play a card game named “Tarocchi.” It is an Italian point trick-taking game similar to bridge. As Tarocchi got more popular, it spread to other countries in Europe, and the French started calling the came “tarot.” As the game developed over time, the deck eventually reached its current 22 Trump cards and 56 suit cards.

When the tarot cards were used solely for playing purposes, Major and Minor Arcana were not known concepts. Only in the 18th century, when people started using the tarot deck for divinatory purposes, the Arcanas came to be. Tarot reading practitioners, also known as occultists, gave the cards divinatory meanings and started calling the trump cards – the Major Arcana and the remaining suit cards – the minor Arcana. 

Suppose you pick up a standard tarot deck today and scan through each of the Arcanas separately. The most apparent difference between the two Arcanas is, of course, that they have a different number of cards. 

First, going through the 56 minor arcana cards, you will notice that it has a similar structure as a standard deck of playing cards. There are four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. Each of the suits goes from the Ace to 10 and includes four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. 

When getting deeper into the Minor Arcana card meanings, you will learn that all of the suites have different themes and an association with one of the classic elements: Air, Water, Fire, and Earth. You will also learn that each number within the suit represents a particular stage within that theme, and each court card a specific persona that influences the situation under investigation. 

In a tarot reading, the Minor Arcana describes everyday experiences and situations that are momentarily influencing our lives. They are our day-to-day encounters with people, emotions, experiences, and problems. They give details to what makes our life unique. They influence our lives momentarily, and we can change them at our own will if we feel like it. 

Then alternatively, going through the 22 Major Arcana cards, you will notice that the cards are not associated with any suit. The imagery depicts grander archetypal characters and scenes about power, love, loneliness, happiness, sadness, fulfillment, etc. 

At first, it seems like they are a random set of cards, but if you lay the Major Arcana cards in order from 0-22, they seem to tell a story of some sort. This is known as the Fool’s journey.  The journey represents the lessons and experiences that we all need to encounter to become spiritually full. Therefore in a Tarot reading, each Major Arcana card represents significant experiences or spiritual lessons that everyone has to pay attention to reach enlightenment. 

Because the Major Arcana represents our lives’ significant lessons, they are often considered the most essential Tarot cards. And due to this reason, they are also typically given more weight in a tarot reading. They give the seeker a signal that they need to pay attention to this lesson to find an answer to their issue. 

The last difference I would include is the understandability of the two. Although people tend to take on the Major Arcana first when they start to learn Tarot, I would say that getting a grasp of the Minor Arcana is easier. The minor arcana cards don’t compress significant life lessons into their meanings but everyday events that everyone can relate to. 

Major Arcana	Minor Arcana
22 Cards	56 Cards
Significant life lessons	Daily events
Common to us all	Makes us unique
All Trump Cards	4 Suites
Numbered 0-21	Ace to 10 and 4 court cards
More weight in reading	Less weight in readings
Complex meanings	Simple meanings

Now that we understand the differences between the two arcanas, let’s deepen our understanding by looking at them individually. 

Major Arcana in Tarot

As we discovered, the major arcana cards represent essential spiritual lessons, events, and overall energies relevant to the person who seeks answers from the Tarot. They can be lessons from the past, the present, or the future. As they represent more significant entities, they also often take more time to realize. 

The Fool’s Journey

There are 22 cards in the Major Arcana. Each of the Major Arcana tarot cards has its own individual symbolism and meaning. Still, together they form a path or a story-line through all of life’s great lessons on our way to enlightenment. This is known as the Fool’s journey.

The Fool is Major Arcana’s central character, and he is the card numbered “0.” He is a joyful character who represents new beginnings, innocence, improvisation, and fate in the future. The Fool represents every one of us, and his journey is a metaphor for our own journey through life. 

As he goes on with his travels through the Major Arcana, he encounters 21 archetypal characters, things, and events, such as “The Magician,” “The Hermit,” “The Tower” or “The Death”. Each of them carries a profound spiritual lesson that takes the Fool closer to fulfillment. Therefore, at the end of the journey is “The World,” the 21st card, representing achievement, fulfillment, and successful conclusions. 

List of the Major Arcana Cards

Below is a list of the 22 Major Arcana cards with their simplified upright and reversed meanings.

Tarot Card	Upright meaning	Reversed Meaning
0 – The Fool	Taking a risk, new start	Carelessness
1 – The Magician	Resources, confidence	Poor planning
2 – The High Priestess	Inner wisdom	Being superficial
3 – The Empress	Nurturing Leadership	Lack of empathy
4 – The Emperor	Firm decisions	Being a tyrant
5 – The Hierophant	Spirituality	Over-kindness
6 – The Lovers	Loving unions	Being easily tempted
7 – The Chariot	Being Triumphant	Having disputes
8 – Strength	Strength of the mind	Weakness
9 – The Hermit	Reflection in solitude	Isolation from others
10 – Wheel of Fortune	positive change	Uncertain change
11 – Justice	Believing in Karma	Biased judgement
12 – The Hanged Man	Changing perspective	Being Lazy
13 – Death	Transitioning to new	Unhappy
14 – Temperance	Being in balance	Imbalances
15 – The Devil	Understanding addiction	Blind to problems
16 – The Tower	Unexpected change	Things going wrong
17 – The Star	Optimism	Being arrogant
18 – The Moon	Having insecurities	Being close-minded
19 – The Sun	Abundance of positivity	Mild positivity
20 – Judgment	Forgiving others	Being judgemental
21 – The World	Fullfilment	Accomplishing

What does a Major Arcana Card mean in a tarot reading?

Major Arcana cards are seen as significant cards in a tarot reading. Therefore they carry more weight in a tarot reading, and they usually take center stage when they show up. Seeing one of these cards signifies that some lessons from the past influence this moment, some change is taking place, or something new is coming up. Therefore the seeker needs to pay special attention to that specific lesson in their life. 

Major Arcana cards tend to be the focal point of a tarot reading when they appear. The Minor Arcana cards that surround it will relate to the message of the Major Arcana card. 

What does it mean if a tarot reading is all major arcana cards?

Suppose a tarot reading is solely or, for the most part, major arcana cards. In that case, it means that the person looking for answers has many large spiritual lessons coming their way. They are experiencing significant life-changing events which effects will be felt for a long time. 

Sometimes, this kind of reading can be somewhat confusing or overwhelming for the tarot seeker. It might sound frightening that they are headed into a time of multiple life-changing experiences. Therefore, I would recommend that you pull some additional cards for each major arcana card on the spread. This will add details and concrete actions to the reading. And if the extra cards are still Major Arcana, then it is just meant to be. The seeker needs to pay attention to the lessons up ahead.  

If you are using reversed cards, they can be interpreted in many different ways. Still, a common one is that the seeker is neglecting those lessons. The seeker needs to pay attention and learn from the spiritual lessons presented to move forward. 

Minor Arcana in Tarot

The majority of the tarot deck are cards that belong to the Minor Arcana. There are 56 cards divided into four different suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. Each suite runs from the Ace to 10 and is followed by the Court-cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. 

As mentioned earlier, the minor arcana cards represent the daily events that are affecting our lives. They depict different people, emotions, experiences, interactions, and concerns that we encounter daily.

Therefore, compared with the Major Arcana cards, they tend to be easier to understand. They give the Tarot reading the unique and useful details that surround the bigger picture. 

While Major Arcana cards can show us the overall energy of a particular situation, the Minor Arcana cards have a temporary influence on our lives. They represent an energy that is passing us right now, and they give us detail and guidance on what actions to take at this moment to reach our goals. Their impact can easily be changed if we prefer so. It just depends on the steps we decide to take to get to where we want to be. 

The Minor Arcana Suits and their Meanings

The Minor Arcana is a combination of four suits that each carries 14 cards. Each suit represents different themes or approaches to life, each with distinct qualities. The experiences that we go through in our everyday life are a blend of the four themes. 

The Suit of Cups

Represent emotions, relationships, and spiritual experiences. They describe connections with ourselves and others. Cups are often cards that you will want to see in a reading related to relationships. 

• Ace of Cups – The beginning of something beautiful
• 2 of Cups – The union of soul mates
• 3 of Cups – Celebrate the people in your life
• 4 of Cups – Becoming dissatisfied and bored, not seeing opportunities
• 5 of Cups – Grief and disappointment of unmet expectations
• 6 of Cups – Optimism and willingness to learn
• 7 of Cups – Outcomes are not set in stone
• 8 of Cups – Emotional setback, walking away
• 9 of Cups – Great happiness and fulfillment, have a party
• 10 of Cups – Family unions and fulfillment in relationships
• Page of Cups – Embrace the innocence of your inner child.
• Knight of Cups – Emotional fulfillment is entering your life
• Queen of Cups – Trust in inner feelings and treat others with compassion
• King of Cups – Observe and try to understand your inner feelings

The Suit of Pentacles

Represents materialism, security, work, and practicality. They describe our relationship with earthly things and things related to our finances. Pentacles are cards that you often want to see in a reading related to money and work. 

• Ace of Pentacles – Go for your goals! The price is there for the taking!
• 2 of Pentacles – Manage your resources, don’t juggle too many balls
• 3 of Pentacles – Plan and find solutions with others
• 4 of Pentacles – Don’t cling to materialistic things
• 5 of Pentacles – Financial troubles ahead, don’t let money be everything
• 6 of Pentacles – Receiving support. Pass on the good deed when possible
• 7 of Pentacles – Have patience and finish what you started
• 8 of Pentacles – Make something you can be proud off
• 9 of Pentacles – Enjoy the fruits of your labor but stay grounded
• 10 of Pentacles – Long term financial success
• Page of Pentacles – Educate yourself before making financial decisions
• Knight of Pentacles – Be practical and persevering toward your goals
• Queen of Pentacles – Remember kindness and compassion in your work
• King of Pentacles – Completion of long term goals

The Suit of Swords

Represent intellect, ideas, and rationality. It often describes things related to communication, decision making, and ethical principles. These cards you want to see in times when you need to reflect on your ideas and decisions. 

• Ace of Swords – Use your vision to guide your way
• 2 of Swords – Investigate and use facts to make a decision
• 3 of Swords – Painful experiences ahead, but try to learn from them
• 4 of Swords – Remember the importance of rest to avoid burnout
• 5 of Swords – Think before you act
• 6 of Swords – Leaving something behind and heading for something new
• 7 of Swords – Work smart, not hard.
• 8 of Swords – Open your mind to a new perspective
• 9 of Swords – Don’t let stress get the best of you. Worry less.
• 10 of Swords – Burnout or there is not much you can do for now
• Page of Swords – Make a clear plan to move forward
• Knight of Swords – Fearlessly moving forward
• Queen of Swords – Know what you want and move forward
• King of Swords – Share your knowledge with others and offer guidance

The Suit of Wands

Represent energy, creativity, passion, and action. They often describe the human willpower and the situations and things that you feel the drive for. You will want to see these cards when you are looking for change or inspiration. 

• Ace of Wands – Inspiration, taking on a new challenge or a project
• 2 of Wands – Time to plan your actions, dealing with concerns
• 3 of Wands – Be open and confident in your ideas, seek opportunities
• 4 of Wands – Working together towards common goals
• 5 of Wands – Struggles with the competition or struggles with teamwork
• 6 of Wands – Believing in yourself, and recognizing the effort
• 7 of Wands – Enjoying success, but the work is not done yet
• 8 of Wands – Things are unfolding quickly, act now
• 9 of Wands – Recognize the need to rest, it’s ok to ask for help
• 10 of Wands – Carrying too much on your shoulder, or push yourself
• Page of Wands –  Explore the possibilities and what makes you tick
• Knight of Wands – Evaluate the intensity of your attitudes and actions
• Queen of Wands – Act with confidence, trust yourself
• King of Wands – Be proud of yourself and encourage others

The Four classic elements: Water, Earth, Air and Fire

To understand the four suits of the Minor Arcana, it helps study about the four classic elements. Each suit corresponds to one of the elements: Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. At first, you might be thinking that, oh no, this is another thing to learn that will make things more complicated. But don’t worry, it will actually make things easier when you understand the connection. 

Everyone has their own experience with each of the classic elements. We all have an idea of how they feel, how they behave, and what they can do. By connecting the element with the suit, they add subtle details to the suit’s general theme and how it behaves. By understanding each element’s association, you will give more insightful readings because you can draw the elements’ details. 

• Cups correspond to the element of water, which is agile, flowing, purifying, and adaptable. Water is a feminine element. It can be gentle, like a stream crossing a flowery meadow, or fierce as an apocalyptic tsunami. Water is also a symbol of dreams and the unconscious.

• Pentacles correspond to the element of Earth. It’s solid, fertile, stable, and supportive. Earth is a feminine element that allows growth and production, promoting prosperity. You can get huge crops from the earth if you cultivate it correctly.

• Swords correspond to the element of Air, which is continuously in motion. It is a masculine element, and it is refreshing and cleansing and a symbol of clarity. Air can be gentle like a summer breeze but it can also turn into a tornado. Therefore it can also be associated with states that lead to disharmony and unhappiness.

• Wands correspond to the element of Fire, and associate with passion, adventure, and confidence. Fire is a masculine element full of action, ambition, unpredictability, and sexuality. It is an active element, causing permanent change if not controlled. When in control, it can bring safety and comfort.

Now we know all the classic elements and the correspondence with each suit. We have a pretty good understanding of what each suit stands for and how it behaves.

What does it mean if a tarot reading is all minor arcana cards?

Suppose a tarot reading is solely minor arcana cards. In that case, it means that the person seeking doesn’t have any major spiritual lessons that they need to pay attention to at that moment. They are seeking solutions to everyday situations about relationships, work, conflicts, problems, hopes, and dreams.

Predominantly Cups cards

Suppose a Tarot reading is mostly the suit of cups. In that case, it can signify that the issues in your life surround emotional conflicts, interactions with others, feelings about love, and creativity.

Predominantly Pentacles cards

A reading that is mainly Pentacles cards can signify that the person is focusing, or his mind is occupied by materialistic aspects of life, work, and career. 

Predominantly Swords cards

Suppose a Tarot reading is primarily filled with Swords cards. In that case, it means you are seeking answers to problems that must be solved with analytical mind and wisdom. Swords encourage you to use your head when making decisions. Still, they also warn you to be more cautious of what is occurring around you.

Predominantly Wands cards

Suppose a reading is dominated by the Wands. In that case, the person is likely seeking solutions to issues that are about passion, goals, and ambitions. The person wants to understand more about what motivates them and makes them tick.

Can you mix Major and Minor Arcana?

Major and Minor Arcana are both part of the Tarot deck. Although their meanings differ, they have a connection between them. The Major Arcana is describing the overall energies. At the same time, Minor Arcana adds the in-depth details that influence that energy at that very moment.  

Most of the experienced Tarot readers use the whole deck of cards in their readings. However, you can still choose to read using Major or Minor Arcana individually. For beginners, it’s actually easier to get familiar with Tarot if it is digested in parts. I would recommend starting off with Minor Arcana and studying each suit one at a time. Minor Arcana cards are about daily situations, so it’s easier to apply those to readings than trying to unravel significant life lessons from the beginning. 

Still to get depth to the reading, I would recommend trying them together as soon as you have familiarized yourself with each suit and the major arcana cards. But, as I always say, one of the coolest things about the Tarot is that you can express yourself and use your own intuition the way you want.