Complete Guide to the Meanings of the 22 Major Arcana Cards in the Waite Tarot
Published: 2026-01-15 | Tarot Knowledge Series | ⏱ About 5 min read | 🌿 Intermediate
Complete guide to all 22 Major Arcana tarot card meanings — upright and reversed. Understand every card's symbolism and message. Try a free AI reading now!
What is the Major Arcana?
There are 78 cards in a tarot deck, divided into two main categories: the 22 Major Arcana and the 56 Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana represents the major forces, stages, and archetypes in life, and is the most symbolic group of cards in the tarot deck.
"Arcana" comes from the Latin word Arcanum, meaning "secret" or "mystery." The Major Arcana depicts the complete journey of a person from "The Fool," through various life lessons, to finally reaching "The World." This is known as "The Fool's Journey."
The following is a complete analysis of the meanings of the 22 Major Arcana cards of the Rider-Waite Tarot, including upright meanings, reversed meanings, and the types of questions best answered by each card.
Meanings of the 22 Major Arcana Cards at a Glance
| # | Card Name | Upright Meaning | Reversed Meaning | Best Questions For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 愚者 The Fool | 新的開始、無畏冒險、天真、自由精神、踏出舒適圈 | 魯莽衝動、缺乏計劃、不切實際、逃避責任 | 是否該開始新事物？我準備好出發了嗎？ |
| I | 魔術師 The Magician | 意志力、創造力、掌握技能、行動力、主動展現潛力 | 操控他人、技能未發揮、缺乏方向感、欺騙 | 我有哪些資源可以運用？我是否在發揮自己的能力？ |
| II | 女祭司 The High Priestess | 直覺、潛意識、秘密、耐心等待、內在智慧 | 壓抑直覺、資訊不明、秘密外洩、缺乏自信 | 我的直覺告訴我什麼？事情是否有隱藏的面向？ |
| III | 女皇 The Empress | 豐盛、創造力、母性、自然、滋養、物質豐足 | 創造力受阻、依賴、失衡、缺乏自我照顧 | 我的生活是否豐盛？關於創作或滋養類的問題。 |
| IV | 皇帝 The Emperor | 權威、穩定、結構、保護、紀律、父性力量 | 控制慾過強、僵化、缺乏彈性、威權問題 | 我是否建立了穩固的基礎？關於權力結構的問題。 |
| V | 教皇 The Hierophant | 傳統、信仰體系、教育、規範、精神指引 | 打破傳統、不從眾、質疑規範、靈性困惑 | 我是否遵循了適合我的信仰？關於傳統或制度的問題。 |
| VI | 戀人 The Lovers | 愛情、選擇、價值觀對齊、靈魂連結、重要決定 | 關係失衡、價值觀衝突、選擇困難、不誠實 | 關於感情的深層問題、需要做重大選擇時。 |
| VII | 戰車 The Chariot | 意志力、勝利、前進、自我控制、克服障礙 | 失去方向、缺乏自律、衝突、強行推進 | 我能否達成目標？關於努力與進展的問題。 |
| VIII | 力量 Strength | 內在力量、勇氣、耐心、溫和的掌控、熱情 | 缺乏自信、恐懼、情緒失控、力量被壓抑 | 我有足夠的力量面對這件事嗎？關於勇氣與毅力的問題。 |
| IX | 隱者 The Hermit | 獨處、內省、智慧、尋求答案、向內探索 | 孤立、拒絕協助、過度獨處、逃避社交 | 我需要時間獨處反思嗎？關於人生方向與深層智慧的問題。 |
| X | 命運之輪 Wheel of Fortune | 命運轉折、好運、改變的到來、因果循環 | 運氣不佳、外力難以控制、循環重複的困境 | 事情即將有什麼變化？這個時機是否適合行動？ |
| XI | 正義 Justice | 公平、真相、責任、法律、因果報應、平衡 | 不公平、逃避責任、偏見、法律問題 | 關於公平性的問題、我是否為自己的選擇負責了？ |
| XII | 倒吊人 The Hanged Man | 暫停、換個視角、犧牲、接受、等待的智慧 | 拖延、無法放手、不願意改變視角、徒勞 | 我是否需要暫時放慢腳步？我是否有什麼需要放下的？ |
| XIII | 死神 Death | 結束與重生、轉型、放下舊事物、重大改變 | 抗拒改變、無法放下、停滯不前 | 什麼需要結束才能讓新事物開始？關於轉型與放手的問題。 |
| XIV | 節制 Temperance | 平衡、耐心、調和、療癒、中庸之道 | 失衡、過度或不足、缺乏耐心、內外不和諧 | 我的生活各方面是否平衡？關於療癒與調和的問題。 |
| XV | 惡魔 The Devil | 束縛、物質執著、負面思維、陰影面、上癮 | 從束縛中解脫、覺醒、打破限制性信念 | 我被什麼束縛住了？我是否有不健康的依賴？ |
| XVI | 塔 The Tower | 突然崩塌、揭露真相、破壞後的重建、劇烈改變 | 內部崩潰、避免不了的破壞較緩慢、不願面對 | 有什麼虛假的基礎需要被打破？關於突發危機的問題。 |
| XVII | 星星 The Star | 希望、療癒、靈感、平靜、信念的恢復 | 失去希望、幻滅、精神低迷 | 未來是否有希望？關於療癒與恢復信心的問題。 |
| XVIII | 月亮 The Moon | 幻象、直覺、未知的恐懼、潛意識、不確定性 | 真相浮現、恐懼解除、迷惑散去 | 是否有我看不清楚的事情？我的直覺在說什麼？ |
| XIX | 太陽 The Sun | 喜悅、成功、活力、清明、正面能量、繁榮 | 短暫的挫折、樂觀過頭、缺乏深度 | 事情會順利嗎？關於快樂與成功的問題。 |
| XX | 審判 Judgement | 覺醒、召喚、反省後的重生、從過去釋放 | 自我懷疑、拒絕覺醒、無法原諒自己 | 我是否已經準備好進入下一個人生階段？關於重大轉變的問題。 |
| XXI | 世界 The World | 完成、成就、整合、圓滿、旅程的終點 | 未完成、停滯、缺乏閉合感 | 這件事是否已經到了一個完整的結局？我是否達成了這個循環的目標？ |
How to interpret the Major Arcana when it appears?
In a divination reading, the appearance of a Major Arcana card often signifies that the question or situation has significant life meaning. If you draw many Major Arcana cards in a reading, it usually means you are at an important turning point in your life.
When interpreting the Major Arcana, it is recommended not to just look at the literal meaning of the card, but to consider how the card reflects your current inner state. For example, drawing "The Hermit" doesn't necessarily mean you have to go into seclusion in a cave, but may suggest that you need to quiet down and listen to your inner voice.
The difference between upright and reversed positions lies in the direction of energy flow: the upright position usually represents the manifestation of the card's energy in life; the reversed position represents blocked, excessive, or inwardly-explored energy. However, different schools of tarot have different interpretations of reversed cards, and it is most important to find an interpretation method that suits you.
Conclusion: The Major Arcana is a map of life
The 22 Major Arcana cards are like a map of life's journey, covering all stages from departure to arrival, from chaos to integration. Learning the meanings of these 22 cards is the most important foundation for mastering tarot reading.
It is recommended to choose one Major Arcana card each day for in-depth study. Observe the images, colors, and symbols on the card, and think about how it resonates with your life experiences. Over time, you will develop your own unique style of interpretation.
Learning tarot is a journey without an end, but with these 22 Major Arcana cards as your foundation, you already hold the core key to tarot wisdom.
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Further Reading
The Fool's Journey: A Complete Analysis of the Life Journey of the 22 Major Arcana
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