What's the Difference Between Major and Minor Arcana?
The Major Arcana are the 22 numbered trump cards (The Fool 0 through The World XXI) that point to big life themes, inner states and turning points. The Minor Arcana are the other 56 cards in four suits — Wands (Fire), Cups (Water), Swords (Air), Pentacles (Earth) — which describe everyday events, choices and actions. In a reading for self-reflection, Majors ask "what is this chapter about?" while Minors ask "what is actually happening this week?"
Reviewed by: The Little Slime ScribeLast updated:
What's debated here
Almost everyone agrees on the structure: 78 cards, 22 Majors, 56 Minors. What is debated is how much weight to give the split.
- Many modern readers say "lots of Majors = fate, big destiny, things out of your hands." That is an interpretive habit, not a rule of the deck.
- Historically, tarot began as a 15th-century Italian card game (tarocchi), where the Majors were simply trumps that beat the other suits. The idea that they carry deeper spiritual weight grew with divinatory use in the 18th–20th centuries.
- Thoth and Marseille traditions number and name some cards differently; NPC Code follows Rider-Waite-Smith, where Strength is VIII and Justice is XI.
NPC Code's position: the Major/Minor split is a useful lens for scale, not a verdict about destiny.
What they look like in the RWS deck
Major Arcana (22 cards): each has a Roman numeral and a title — The Fool (0), The Magician (I), The High Priestess (II), up to The World (XXI). The art is symbolic and standalone: The Fool steps toward a cliff edge with a white rose and a small dog; The World shows a dancing figure inside a laurel wreath with four creatures in the corners.
Minor Arcana (56 cards): Ace through Ten plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) in each of four suits. The Pamela Colman Smith illustrations show scenes: the Three of Pentacles shows a stonemason discussing work with two others in a cathedral; the Eight of Cups shows a figure walking away from stacked cups under a moon.
| Major Arcana | Minor Arcana | |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 22 | 56 |
| Labels | Roman numerals + title | Ace–10, Page/Knight/Queen/King |
| Scale | Chapter, theme, inner weather | Scene, task, daily weather |
| Timing feel | Slower, longer arc | Faster, nearer term |
| Good question | "What is this period teaching me?" | "What's my next concrete step?" |
The four suits in one line each
- Wands (Fire): energy, motivation, projects, enthusiasm, conflict of wills.
- Cups (Water): feelings, relationships, imagination, what you value emotionally.
- Swords (Air): thoughts, words, decisions, worry, clarity and its cost.
- Pentacles (Earth): work, money matters, body, home, slow practical building.
Numbers add rhythm: Aces are beginnings, Fives are friction, Tens are completion or over-fullness. Court cards often read as an attitude you're wearing, rather than a specific person.
Upright vs reversed (and why it's optional)
Whether to read reversals is genuinely debated. Many RWS readers use them; many Marseille readers don't, because the historic pip cards weren't scenic. Both approaches are legitimate — just decide before you shuffle.
A gentle way to use reversals: a reversed Major often means the theme is still present but turned inward, delayed, or being resisted. A reversed Minor often means the action is stalled, overdone, or happening in private. No card is "bad" either way; reversals are a volume knob, not a punishment.
What many Majors (or many Minors) might mean
Many Majors in a spread is usually a sign that your question touches identity, values or a transition — not just logistics. It can also mean you're emotionally invested enough that everything feels significant. A useful response is not "fate has spoken" but: am I asking a small question about a large situation?
Mostly Minors suggests the matter is practical and movable. That's good news for agency: the cards are describing steps, not a verdict.
A mix is the most common and often the most readable: the Major names the theme, the Minors show how it's showing up this month.
In love, a run of Majors may point to what the relationship is teaching you about yourself; in work, to a role or direction question rather than a task list; in personal growth, to a chapter you're already halfway through.
A short worked example
Question: "I keep thinking about leaving my job. What should I pay attention to over the next month?"
Three cards drawn (made-up example): The Hermit (IX) — Eight of Pentacles — Two of Swords.
- The Hermit (a robed figure on a height holding a lantern): the Major here names the theme — this is a season of stepping back and listening to your own counsel rather than crowdsourcing the answer.
- Eight of Pentacles (a worker carving one pentacle after another): the daily layer. Skill-building is ongoing; something is genuinely being learned where you are.
- Two of Swords (a blindfolded figure holding two crossed swords): a decision is being held in suspension, possibly with the eyes deliberately closed.
One Major and two Minors: the theme is large (vocation, solitude, self-trust), but the next moves are small. Better questions to carry: What specifically am I still learning here? What information am I avoiding that would make the choice clearer? The spread does not say leave or stay — that stays yours.
Common myths
- "Majors are more powerful, Minors are filler." No. The Minors carry most of the practical texture of a reading. A Ten of Swords can land harder than The Star.
- "All Majors means something fated or unavoidable." Tarot is a reflection tool, not a forecast. It can show pattern and emphasis; it cannot guarantee outcomes.
- "The Majors come from ancient Egypt." They don't. The trumps come from 15th-century Italian card games; the esoteric readings were layered on centuries later.
- "Court cards are always real people." Often they're a stance or style of behaviour you're being invited to notice in yourself.
Key takeaways
- 22 Majors = life themes and inner chapters; 56 Minors = daily events, tasks and choices.
- Suits map to elements: Wands/Fire, Cups/Water, Swords/Air, Pentacles/Earth.
- In RWS, Strength is VIII and Justice is XI — other traditions differ.
- Many Majors suggests scale and personal investment, not fixed fate.
- Reading reversals is a choice, not a requirement — decide before you shuffle.
Questions & answers
Should beginners learn the Majors first?
It's a common and reasonable path, since 22 cards is manageable and the images are memorable. But learning the four suits and the number rhythm (Ace = beginning, Five = friction, Ten = completion) early makes the Minors far less intimidating.
Is a spread with no Major Arcana a weak reading?
Not at all. It usually means the situation is practical and within reach. Many of the most actionable readings are entirely Minor Arcana.
Why is Strength VIII in some decks and XI in others?
The Golden Dawn swapped Strength and Justice to fit their zodiac correspondences, and Waite kept the swap. Marseille decks keep Justice at VIII. Both are valid within their own tradition — just stay consistent with your deck.
Can I read only the Majors?
Yes, some readers use a 22-card Major-only draw for broad reflection. Expect themes rather than specifics; if you want next steps, bring the Minors back in.