When reading tarot cards, twenty-two cards of the deck are called “trump” cards or “triumph” cards, and they refer to what is known as the Major Arcana of the deck. The name “Major Arcana” means “Greater Secrets” or “Greater Mysteries.” Each of these 22 cards refers to a specific personality type. Each card in the Major Arcana has a picture that relates to its name and character traits .
The names of the 22 cards in the Major Arcana are as follows: The Fool (has a value of zero), The Magician (or The Juggler), The High Priestess (or The Popess), The Empress, The Emperor, The Hierophant (or The Pope), The Lovers, The Chariot, Justice, The Hermit, The Wheel of Fortune, Strength, The Hanged Man, Death, Temperance, The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon, The Sun, Judgment, and The World. When reading tarot cards, each of the cards is also assigned a numerical value.
The pictures depicted on the Major Arcana cards during reading tarot cards are representative of the qualities or attributes belonging to those entities the cards are designed to reflect. different decks will have slightly different interpretations of the qualities and will show those differences visually; however, the basic character traits remain the same.
For example, when reading tarot cards, the High Priestess card has an elegantly attired lady sitting in a royal chair in one depiction. If the High Priestess is drawn and placed right side up, it might mean you are the one everyone goes to for advice. At the same time, the card can connote that you are draining yourself of energy by expending it on everyone else’s problems. The High Priestess card can also suggest inaction (listening) and potential (to give the correct advice). Words can imply different things to different people when reading tarot cards.
Approximately half the cards are positioned upside down, or reversed. This pattern of the card layout changes its significance when reading tarot cards to the opposite of what it would be when positioned right side up.
Different tarot card readers may draw slightly different conclusions from the arrangements of the cards. Reading tarot cards can be as different as the readers or interpreters themselves. Basically the meanings remain the same but each reader brings his or her own experiences and belief system into the mix.
Reading tarot cards is very popular in the West to help with spiritual introspection. Some people just use it as a tool or an aid to try to decipher what the future holds for them. People have a fascination with learning what tomorrow may bring and, therefore, reading tarot cards is quite enticing.