Major Arcana Tarot Cheat Sheet - Here's How to Master It with Quick Meanings

Picture of Luna García

Luna García

The Journey of the Major Arcana

The Major Arcana cards symbolize significant life lessons and spiritual transformations. Whether you’re just beginning or are experienced, understanding how these cards reflect everyday life is key. In this Tarot cheat sheet, we’ll explore quick meanings of all 22 Major Arcana cards through relatable stories.

The Fool

Keywords: Beginnings, innocence, spontaneity, adventure.
Upright Meaning: The Fool is about new beginnings and taking leaps of faith. Picture a fresh graduate, diploma in hand, embarking on an unknown career path. The Fool encourages stepping into the unknown with curiosity and excitement.
Reversed Meaning: Recklessness, poor decisions. Imagine someone diving into a business venture without doing any research—it’s a reminder to think before acting impulsively.

The Magician

Keywords: Manifestation, willpower, resourcefulness.
Upright Meaning: The Magician is the ultimate creator, turning ideas into reality. Think of a chef with a handful of ingredients, whipping up an incredible meal. The card tells you that you have all the tools you need to succeed.
Reversed Meaning: Manipulation, wasted potential. Imagine a talented artist who never shares their work because they don’t believe it’s good enough. The reversed Magician warns against self-sabotage or manipulation of others.

The High Priestess

Keywords: Intuition, mystery, subconscious.
Upright Meaning: The High Priestess represents deep inner knowing. Picture a woman who senses something’s off in her relationship without any clear signs, yet her gut feeling proves right. Trust your instincts; they know more than logic.
Reversed Meaning: Ignoring intuition, hidden truths. Imagine ignoring all red flags in a situation, only to realize later that your gut was right all along.

The Empress

Keywords: Fertility, creativity, nurturing, abundance.
Upright Meaning: The Empress embodies nurturing and growth. Think of a mother tending to her garden, watching everything bloom with care. Whether it’s a project, relationship, or actual life, The Empress invites you to nurture it with love and creativity.
Reversed Meaning: Creative blocks, neglect. Imagine an artist experiencing writer’s block, feeling disconnected from their creativity. The Empress reversed suggests stepping back and finding ways to reconnect with that flow.

The Emperor

Keywords: Authority, structure, control.
Upright Meaning: The Emperor is a symbol of leadership and discipline. Think of a CEO who built their company from the ground up, making tough decisions along the way. This card asks you to take charge of your life with structure and authority.
Reversed Meaning: Tyranny, rigidity. Picture a boss who micromanages everything and refuses to listen to new ideas. The Emperor reversed warns against being too controlling or inflexible.

The Hierophant

Keywords: Tradition, spiritual guidance, education.
Upright Meaning: The Hierophant represents tradition and spiritual wisdom. Imagine a student seeking advice from a wise professor. This card calls you to seek guidance from mentors, teachers, or established spiritual practices.
Reversed Meaning: Rebellion, breaking away from tradition. Think of someone leaving a corporate job to start a creative career—The Hierophant reversed suggests going against the grain.

The Lovers

Keywords: Love, harmony, choices, relationships.
Upright Meaning: The Lovers card represents unity and deep connections. Think of a couple who have been through thick and thin but always choose each other in the end. This card signifies harmony in relationships and the importance of making choices from the heart.
Reversed Meaning: Disharmony, imbalance. Picture a couple stuck in an unhealthy relationship, where love has been replaced by resentment. The Lovers reversed asks you to confront these imbalances.

The Chariot

Keywords: Willpower, determination, control.
Upright Meaning: The Chariot is all about moving forward with strength. Think of an athlete pushing themselves to win a race—they’re laser-focused and determined to reach their goal. This card signifies overcoming obstacles and staying focused.
Reversed Meaning: Lack of direction, doubt. Imagine someone who’s lost passion for their career and is wandering without purpose. The Chariot reversed indicates a lack of control or uncertainty about your direction.

Strength

Keywords: Courage, inner strength, resilience.
Upright Meaning: Strength represents quiet resilience. Think of someone overcoming a personal challenge, not through brute force but by staying calm and centered. This card reminds you that your strength comes from within, not external power.
Reversed Meaning: Fear, self-doubt. Picture someone too scared to pursue their dreams because they fear failure. The reversed Strength card urges you to build your confidence and face your fears.

The Hermit

Keywords: Introspection, solitude, wisdom.
Upright Meaning: The Hermit asks for deep reflection. Picture a writer retreating to a quiet cabin to finish their novel. Alone, they find the clarity they were seeking. The Hermit reminds you that sometimes the answers you seek are within, not from external sources.
Reversed Meaning: Isolation, withdrawal. Imagine someone withdrawing from friends and family, isolating themselves to the point of loneliness. The Hermit reversed suggests you may be retreating too much and need to reconnect with others.

The Wheel of Fortune

Keywords: Fate, karma, cycles, change.
Upright Meaning: The Wheel of Fortune represents life’s constant ups and downs. Picture someone going through a rough breakup, only to meet the love of their life soon after. This card signals that life is full of unexpected twists, and the Wheel is always turning.
Reversed Meaning: Bad luck, resistance to change. Imagine someone holding on to a toxic situation, refusing to let go. The Wheel reversed suggests resistance to inevitable change or feeling stuck in a negative cycle.

Justice

Keywords: Fairness, truth, balance.
Upright Meaning: Justice is about fairness and accountability. Think of a court ruling where all facts are weighed and a fair decision is made. This card asks you to consider the truth of the matter and act with integrity.
Reversed Meaning: Injustice, dishonesty. Picture someone getting away with something unfair—Justice reversed suggests deceit or imbalance in a situation.

The Hanged Man

Keywords: Letting go, new perspective, surrender.
Upright Meaning: The Hanged Man is all about releasing control and seeing things from a different perspective. Think of someone who’s stuck in their ways, but finally decides to step back and reevaluate the situation. The Hanged Man calls for patience and surrender.
Reversed Meaning: Resistance to change, stubbornness. Imagine someone refusing to compromise, even when it’s clear they’re wrong. The Hanged Man reversed suggests you may be clinging too tightly to your viewpoint.

Death

Keywords: Endings, transformation, rebirth.
Upright Meaning: Death represents the end of a cycle and the beginning of a new one. Think of a person leaving an old, toxic job to start something new and fulfilling. Death doesn’t mean literal death—it’s about transformation and new beginnings.
Reversed Meaning: Fear of change, resistance. Imagine someone refusing to leave a bad relationship out of fear of being alone. The reversed Death card suggests clinging to the past or resisting the changes that are necessary.

Temperance

Keywords: Balance, moderation, patience.
Upright Meaning: Temperance calls for balance in all aspects of life. Imagine a person juggling multiple responsibilities while still making time for self-care. This card encourages you to find harmony between extremes.
Reversed Meaning: Imbalance, excess. Picture someone overworking to the point of burnout—the reversed Temperance card asks you to restore balance and moderation.

The Devil

Keywords: Bondage, materialism, temptation.
Upright Meaning: The Devil signifies being trapped by unhealthy attachments. Think of someone stuck in a toxic relationship or addiction, feeling powerless to break free. This card highlights the chains we place on ourselves through obsession or fear.
Reversed Meaning: Breaking free, liberation. Imagine someone finally walking away from a bad situation, reclaiming their power. The Devil reversed signifies freedom from what has been holding you back.

The Tower

Keywords: Sudden upheaval, destruction, revelation.
Upright Meaning: The Tower brings sudden, often shocking change. Think of a business collapsing overnight, forcing everyone to start fresh. Though destructive, this card clears the way for new beginnings.
Reversed Meaning: Avoiding disaster, delayed change. Picture someone narrowly avoiding a car accident—The Tower reversed suggests you’ve dodged a bullet or delayed a necessary transformation.

The Star

Keywords: Hope, inspiration, renewal.
Upright Meaning: The Star offers hope and healing after difficult times. Imagine someone recovering from an illness and feeling renewed. The Star is a beacon of light, reminding you that better days are ahead.
Reversed Meaning: Despair, lack of faith. Picture someone who’s lost all hope after a setback—the reversed Star card asks you to rediscover your inner light.

The Moon

Keywords: Illusion, intuition, subconscious.
Upright Meaning: The Moon invites you to explore your subconscious mind. Think of someone who keeps having vivid dreams but doesn’t know why—The Moon suggests that there’s something hidden beneath the surface that needs to be brought to light.
Reversed Meaning: Confusion, fear, deception. Imagine being lost in a fog, unable to see the path ahead clearly. The Moon reversed warns of illusions or deception, either from others or from within.

The Sun

Keywords: Success, joy, vitality.
Upright Meaning: The Sun is pure positivity and success. Picture someone achieving a lifelong dream and feeling on top of the world—this card brings light, joy, and clarity to any situation.
Reversed Meaning: Temporary setbacks, pessimism. Imagine someone who’s had a small failure and now doubts their abilities—the reversed Sun suggests focusing on the positive even during hard times.

Judgement

Keywords: Reflection, reckoning, awakening.
Upright Meaning: Judgement calls for deep self-reflection and spiritual awakening. Think of someone reevaluating their life choices after a major turning point. This card asks you to look back and learn from your past.
Reversed Meaning: Avoiding responsibility, fear of judgment. Picture someone avoiding the consequences of their actions—the reversed Judgement card suggests the need to face the truth and accept responsibility.

The World

Keywords: Completion, fulfillment, success.
Upright Meaning: The World represents the end of a journey and the realization of dreams. Imagine someone celebrating their hard-earned graduation or completing a long-term project. This card signifies ultimate fulfillment and the start of a new cycle.
Reversed Meaning: Incomplete goals, delays. Picture someone almost finishing a marathon but not crossing the finish line—the reversed World card suggests unfinished business or a delay in achieving success.

Follow me

If this article resonated with you, I invite you to follow me on my Pinterest profile, where I share daily inspiration to nourish the soul and uplift the spirit. Don’t miss out on the magic of every new post! Follow me and join me on this journey of connection and transformation.

Major Arcana Tarot Cheat Sheet - Here's How to Master It with Quick Meanings

Share

Don't miss these!

The Best 3 Card Tarot Reading Guide - Master Tarot Spreads

The Best 3 Card Tarot Reading Guide – Master Tarot Spreads

The World Tarot Card Meaning Completion, Wholeness and Success

The World Tarot Card Meaning – Completion, Wholeness and Success

The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning - Surrender, Perspective and Transformation

The Hanged Man Tarot Card Meaning – Surrender, Perspective and Transformation

Top 10 Tarot Cards That Reveal Love and Romance

Tarot Reading – Do It Yourself!

The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning - Unlocking Inner Wisdom and Intuition

The High Priestess Tarot Card Meaning – Unlocking Inner Wisdom and Intuition

2025 Tarot Forecast What the Cards Say About Your Future (1)

2025 Tarot Forecast – What the Cards Say About Your Future

Want to receive my weekly Tarot predictions?

🔒 Exclusive content - shared only and exclusively with subscribers!

Privacy Policy

Cookie Policy

Copyright 2025 © Celestial Spirit Journey - All rights Reserved.