There are twenty two cards in the Major Arcana of a tarot deck. These cards, numbered from 0 to 21, deal with the great matters of life that hold significance. They do not pertain to day to day existence. While other cards may offer advice, the Major Arcana lay down a way of being. Whenever they appear in a tarot reading, they are given the most importance.
The Fool is pictured on the tarot card as a young man standing at the edge of a cliff. A bag is tied to a stick over his shoulder and contains all his worldly possessions. A rose in his hand symbolizes his love of beauty. A dog at his heels is the distractions of the “real” world that his dreamer doesn’t like to heed. He isn’t a fool in that he behaves idiotically. He simply doesn’t know enough yet. He represents the first step on a path, that initial leap that can be exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. The Fool does what feels right to him and doesn’t listen to what others say. He believes in himself and carries a light because of it. This card isn’t positive or negative. It is a start. He could fail or succeed. The chances are all laid out in front of him.
The Magician can perform great transformation merely with the strength of his will. He has a great deal of power and confidence in his abilities. But this power is gained from his surroundings, not internally. His illustration depicts symbols of ultimate, unending power such as the infinity sign and a snake swallowing its own tail. The importance here is that the Magician realizes that while the power may be coming from outside, the control of it is within his hands. He symbolizes taking life in your hands and molding it into that which you desire.
The High Priestess can have many meanings in a tarot reading since she relates to the inner self and unconscious mind. She is the power source for the Magician, feminine and masculine and a symbol of balance. She is the guardian to those realms of life and the mind that we can never fully see. But she can act as a guide to the outer edges of that world, making you aware of what symbolism lies around you. Everything she is you already is- it is just a question of finding it. Her duality can express itself in the side of you that no one gets to see, the dark side of your personality moon.
The Empress is concerned with the body and material things. She is the keeper of pleasure and abundance. Her residence is perfect nature with wealth and fertility. She is the tarot’s version of Mother Earth. Accordingly, she has the ability to create various forms of existence. She also carries with her unconditional love which can lead to her weakness of overprotection. When this card presents itself in a reading, open yourself up to all of the love and pleasure the Empress is offering. She can provide a safe place for you to grow your own love and fertility, away from the chaos of the world.
