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Exploring Major Arcana Symbolism: Cards 11-21
The Major Arcana is a key part of tarot, as it captures important themes and experiences that many of us go through. Each card highlights a different message about growth, change, and the lessons life brings.
Let’s continue exploring the Major Arcana, taking a closer look at the insights each card offers and how they can guide us through life’s challenges and discoveries.
Click here for Part 1: https://www.sunnysink.com/post/exploring-major-arcana-symbolism-cards-0-10
Justice embodies fairness, integrity, and balance. This card highlights the importance of accountability and making decisions that honor truth and integrity. Justice reminds us that our choices have consequences and encourages us to pursue honesty in all areas of our lives.
Card Symbolism
Scales: balance, impartiality, fairness
Sword: logic, power of intellect, protection
Columns: stability, integrity, support of the law
Throne: establishment of order, righteousness
Color Symbolism:
Grey: wisdom, impartiality, neutrality
Yellow: insight, analysis, confidence
Red: action, power, life force
Brown: grounding, practicality, stability
The Hanged Man represents surrender, letting go, and seeing things from a new perspective. It suggests a time of pause and reflection, inviting us to release control and trust in the flow of life. This card often appears when we need to consider a different viewpoint or embrace patience.
Card Symbolism:
Upside down figure: surrender, sacrifice, letting go
Head facing down: introspection, inner wisdom
Crossed Legs: stability, balance, adaptability
Branches: growth, connection to nature, cycle of life
Color Symbolism:
Grey: ambiguity, balance, suspension
Blue: tranquility, acceptance, detachment
Yellow: illumination, surrender, transformation
Red: sacrifice, rebirth, spiritual awakening
Death represents transformation, endings, and rebirth. Though often misunderstood, this card symbolizes the closure of one chapter to make room for new growth. It reminds us that change is a natural part of life and encourages us to let go of what no longer serves us.
Card Symbolism:
Grim reaper: the inevitability of death
White rose: purity, transformation, new beginnings
Body of water: passage to the afterlife, subconscious
Armor: dissolution of ego, shedding of external identity
Color Symbolism:
Grey: transition, transformation, new beginnings
Black: the subconscious, darkness that precedes the dawn
Yellow: rebirth, spiritual evolution, insights
White: shedding old beliefs, fresh start, awakening
Temperance is a card of balance, patience, and moderation. It encourages us to find harmony between opposing forces and approach life with a sense of calm and composure. Temperance teaches us the value of inner balance and adaptability.
Card Symbolism:
Sun: clarity, journey towards higher understanding
Water and land: balance between emotions (water) and practicality (land)
Triangle: the harmony of the body, spirit, and mind
Wings: spiritual elevation, transcendence
Color Symbolism:
White: clarity, balance, enlightenment
Green: inner balance, spiritual fulfillment, embracing change
Yellow: optimism, integration of mind, body and spirit
Red: courage, determination, action
The Devil represents temptation, bondage, and toxicity. This card urges us to examine areas of our lives where we may feel trapped, addicted, or restricted. It’s a call to free ourselves from destructive patterns and regain control.
Card Symbolism:
Chains: enslavement to material possessions, addiction, harmful habits
Inverted pentagram: the dominance of materialism over spirituality
Torch: the deceptive allure of material wealth or power
Flames: destruction, intensity, transformation
Color Symbolism:
Black: darkness, fear, restriction
Grey: ambiguity, confusion, deception
Red: urgency, primal instincts, bondage
Yellow: deceit, manipulation, illusion
The Tower signifies sudden change, upheaval, and revelations. It often appears during times of disruption or unexpected events, challenging us to let go of false structures and rebuild on a more authentic foundation. Though it may seem intense, The Tower ultimately brings clarity and liberation.
Card Symbolism:
Crown: collapse of authority and established structures
Crumbling walls: breakdown of existing beliefs
Clouds: sudden and unforeseen upheaval, disruption, turmoil
Fire: destruction, purification, evolution
Color Symbolism:
Black: destruction, disruption, chaos
Blue: truth and insight amidst chaos
Grey: uncertainty, transitional phase between darkness and light
Red: urgency, upheaval, crisis
The Star symbolizes hope, inspiration, and spiritual guidance. After the upheaval of The Tower, The Star brings healing energy and renewal, encouraging us to trust in the universe and remain open to blessings. It’s a reminder to have faith in the journey and stay aligned with our inner truth.
Card Symbolism:
Goddess pouring water: nourishment, the flow of spiritual energy
Water: emotions, intuition, purification
Stars: hope, inspiration, divine intervention
Bird: freedom, higher perspective, soul journey
Color Symbolism:
Blue: hope, inspiration, spirit
White: divinity, purity, illumination
Yellow: awakening, positivity, renewal
Green: healing, growth, new beginnings
The Moon represents intuition, mystery, and the subconscious mind. It invites us to explore our dreams, fears, and hidden desires, urging us to trust our instincts. The Moon reminds us that not everything is as it seems, encouraging deeper self-awareness.
Card Symbolism:
Two towers: duality, illusion, hidden depths
Crayfish: deep subconscious, instinctual aspects of the psyche
Pool of water: illusions, dreams, depths of the unconscious mind
Pathway: unknown, journey of self-discovery
Color Symbolism:
Blue: intuition, mystery, emotional tides
Green: the fertile ground of the subconscious, regeneration
Yellow: inner light of consciousness and awareness, inner wisdom
Grey: uncertainty, the blending of light and shadow
The Sun represents joy, clarity, and success. This card radiates positivity, reminding us of the power of optimism and the abundance available to us. The Sun encourages us to embrace our authentic selves and celebrate life’s victories.
Card Symbolism:
Child: innocence, purity, new beginnings
Horse: strength, freedom, confidence
Sunflowers: vitality, growth, enlightenment
Red banner: victory, success, celebration
Color Symbolism:
Yellow: joy, vitality, enlightenment
Red: passion, energy, courage
Blue: truth, tranquility, understanding
Olive green: creative expression, harmony, nature
Judgment calls for self-reflection, forgiveness, and higher awareness. This card signifies a time of reckoning and rebirth, where we are encouraged to evaluate our actions and embrace a new direction aligned with our higher self.
Card Symbolism:
Angel: divine guidance, spirituality, enlightenment
Trumpet: calling, announcement, awakening
Flag: victory, celebration, triumph
Figures rising: rebirth, liberation, authenticity
Color Symbolism:
Blue: intellect, insight, infinite possibilities
Yellow: awareness, decision-making, inner awakening
Red: courage, determination, urgency
Mahogany: endurance, reflection, resilience
The World represents completion, fulfillment, and unity. As the final card of the Major Arcana, it marks the successful end of a journey, symbolizing wholeness and accomplishment. The World encourages us to celebrate our achievements and prepare for new beginnings.
Card Symbolism:
Dancing figure: completion, fulfillment, harmony
Four corners/elements: balance, wholeness
Wreath: victory, achievement, success
Batons: balance, power, mastery over the material world
Color Symbolism:
Blue: wisdom, intuition, spirituality
Grey: neutrality, balance, completion
Green: growth, abundance, harmony
Auburn: warmth, vibrance, creativity
Each card in the Major Arcana brings a unique perspective on the ups and downs of life. These cards offer more than just guidance—they provide a mirror to our own experiences, challenges, and triumphs. By understanding their messages, we can tap into deeper insights about ourselves.
If you’re ready to connect with the rich symbolism of the entire tarot deck, check out the Tarot Symbolism Journal! This guide contains each card’s numerology, card & color symbolism, and provides thoughtful journaling prompts to help you reflect and uncover personal insights. You’ll also find a glossary of common spiritual symbols, making it easier to interpret and connect with each card’s energy in a grounded, meaningful way.
Whether you prefer a digital download or a paperback version from Amazon, this guide offers practical, ethical tools to support your tarot journey.
Available in both digital download on Etsy and paperback through Amazon, this journal and guide provides practical, ethical tools to support your tarot practice with clarity.
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