If you are new to the Tarot, or just trying to develop a deeper understanding of the deck we’re here to help. While the different spreads are important a true understanding of the meanings of the cards is paramount to interpretation for a proper reading. Today we are looking at the meanings of the Major Arcana Cards 1-10 as they are the core to our understanding of the cards.

0-The Fool

The Fool card deals with the youthful enthusiasm felt when setting off on a new adventure. However with that excitement also comes recklessness. Keywords for the fool card are: New beginnings, innocence, optimism, trust in life, and blind faith.

1-The Magician

The Magician card deals with the ability to utilize every resource available to us. The Magician has absolute power over all circumstances. Keywords for the magician card are Action, the power to manifest, awareness, and resourcefulness.

2-The High Priestess

The High Priestess card deals with understanding and knowledge. Her scroll holds esoteric knowledge. However only she decides the manner in which and how much knowledge will be provided. Keywords for the High Priestess card are: Knowing, Oracle, going within, the subconscious, and secretive

3-The Empress

The Empress card is the mother figure of the Tarot. Her card deals with love, abundance and nurturing. Keywords for the Empress card are Abundance, promise, nurturing, fertility, femininity, and life in bloom.

4-The Emperor

The counterpart to the Empress the Emperor card is the father figure of the deck. This card deals with advice, wisdom, and authority. The Emperor has gained his wisdom through experience, he is a wise and grounded ruler. Keywords for the Emperor card are Structure, strategy, stability, rules and power, masculinity, and practicality.

5-The Hierophant

One of the trickier cards to interpret due to all of its layers. Primarily the Hierophant card deals with religious knowledge. Keywords for the Hierophant card are Law, institutions, holy, tradition, society and its rules, ceremony, and conformity.

6-The Lovers

The Lovers is one of the most straight-forward cards in the deck. This card deals with the aspects of our lives that deal with passion, arousal, and all things that get our blood racing in all the best ways. Keywords for the Lovers card are Sexuality, love, passion, Union, choice, temptation, uniting, and communication.

7-The Chariot

The Chariot card deals with skill and determination, particularly in the heat of battle. It represents tremendous focus and drives while striving for a goal or victory. Keywords for the Chariot card are Movement, skill, control, progress, balance, integration, and action.

8-Strength

The Strength card is another straight forward card. Both its imagery and title convey strength. The question is what kind of strength. This card deals not only with physical strength but also internal strength. Keywords for the Strength card are Courage, patience, subtle power, integration of animal self, balance, and compassion.

9-The Hermit

The Hermit card is easily misinterpreted. It deals less with reclusiveness and more with a deliberate, conscious approach to life’s journey. Every action, step, even breath is a deliberate and thought out act. Keywords for the Hermit card are Wisdom, meditation, solitude, consciousness, deliberate, and observation.

10-Wheel of Fortune

The entire tarot system is focused on personal responsibility. The wheel of fortune card deals with those events in our lives that come out of nowhere through no fault or action of our own. Keywords for the Wheel of Fortune card are Luck, cycles, change, ups and downs, consequence, and destiny.