What Is Tarot? Major and Minor Arcana: A Beginner’s Guide
Tarot is a set of 78 cards used for divination. It is said to have begun in 15th-century Europe as a card game. Later, people became interested in the symbolism of the pictures, and it spread as a tool for divination and self-understanding.
Major and Minor Arcana
The 78 cards divide into 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana. The Major Arcana are the numbered picture cards from the Fool to the World, representing big life themes and turning points. The Minor Arcana are split into four suits, wands, cups, swords, and coins, and represent daily events, emotions, and concrete situations.
Tarot on this site
This site uses the 22 Major Arcana, whose symbolism is strong and readable for beginners. You draw cards, and a reading is assembled from each card and its upright or reversed position. No AI is used; the text is built from the card meanings.
A reading is a question, not an answer
Tarot works better as a mirror for organizing your feelings and situation than as a way to predict the future. Asking yourself why this card caught your attention can help you put feelings into words.
If you are new
Start with a single card to receive a message for today. Once you are comfortable, move to a three-card spread of past, present, and future to see the flow.
More guides
- How to Read Spreads: One-Card, Three-Card, and Five-Card Layouts
- Is a Reversed Card Bad? How to Read Reversals in Tarot
- How to Ask a Good Tarot Question
All 22 Major Arcana ・ All guides
Tarot readings are entertainment and reflection, not medical, legal, or financial advice.