A tarot deck contains 78 cards, divided into two groups: the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana.
Although both are essential to a reading, they tend to describe different aspects of an experience.
The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, from the Fool to the World. These cards are often associated with major life themes, significant turning points, and deeper personal development.
Take the Tower, for example. It can represent the collapse of an existing structure, a sudden revelation, or a situation that can no longer continue as it has. The card often points to something more significant than an ordinary inconvenience.
The Minor Arcana contains the remaining 56 cards, divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. These cards often speak to the more specific circumstances of everyday life, including relationships, decisions, work, emotions, and practical concerns.
For example, the Eight of Pentacles is associated with practice, skill, and consistent effort. In a career reading, it might reflect the work someone is putting into developing their abilities or building something over time.
So, does drawing a Major Arcana card mean your situation is more important? Not necessarily.
A reading filled with Minor Arcana cards can still reveal something significant. Sometimes, the details of everyday life tell you more about a situation than a dramatic symbol ever could.
The distinction is less about which group matters more and more about the kind of information each group tends to offer. Major Arcana cards often highlight the broader themes at play, while Minor Arcana cards can bring attention to the particular circumstances, choices, and actions involved.
Neither group tells the whole story on its own. Their meanings become more useful when considered together, as part of the same reading.