Major Arcana

The Fool

#0 Potential beginnings. Go on the adventure without fear and take the risk!(example Luke Skywalker)

The Fool is accompanied by a small dog nipping at his heels, symbolizing instinct, loyalty, and divine guidance. R2-D2 fills this exact companion role, faithfully following Luke into adventure.

The Fool Reversed

#0 Careless and naive (example Bellatrix Lastrange)

Unlike a calculated villain, Bellatrix acts on pure, chaotic impulse. Her fanaticism leads to reckless behavior, erratic cruelty, and a total disregard for her own safety or the rules of the world around her.

The Magician

#1 Manifesting and great willpower

(Example Tony Stark/Iron Man)

Stark is a classic modern Magician—he builds his own tools from raw elements, manifests high-tech reality out of pure intellect, and acts as a master inventor using his willpower and ego.

The Magician Reversed

#1 Trickery and deception

(Example Loki)

manipulative trickster, a charlatan, or someone with great talent who uses it for deception, poor planning, or selfish gain.

High priestess

#2 Intuition and unconscious power. Listen to your inner voice!

The High Priestess represents deep intuition, the subconscious, and trusting inner wisdom over purely logical proof. The card sits at the veil between the conscious and unconscious worlds, guarding hidden mysteries. The High Priestess remains calm, centered, and quietly observant amidst chaos.

(example Luna Lovegood)

Luna often "knows" things that others miss, perceiving the truth of situations and people's hearts with quiet clarity. Luna is entirely comfortable with the strange, the magical, and the unseen—from belief in elusive creatures like Nargles to accepting death with serene grace. Luna is famously unbothered by social ridicule, maintaining a tranquil, grounded presence no matter what is happening around her.

High Priestess Reversed

#2 Disconnection and depressed.

(Example Elsa from Frozen)

Represents blocking that inner wisdom and ignoring your gut. Elsa spends years hiding her magic, believing her true self is dangerous and must be locked away.

Often means relying too much on the opinions of others or trying to win external approvals rather than accepting yourself.

Hidden truths are forced into the light—often in a chaotic way. Elsa’s repressed emotions eventually burst out at her coronation, exposing her secret and plunging Arendelle into an accidental eternal winter.

Empress

#3 Abundance and creativity “Time to nurture the world around you”

(Example Molly Weasley)

The ultimate maternal protector, providing unconditional love, a safe home, and fierce defense for her family and surrogate children.

Empress Reversed

#3 smothering control, toxic codependency, vanity, a lack of growth, creative blocks, or tyrannical overprotection.

(Example Mother Gothel, Tangled)

Gothel keeps Rapunzel locked away in a tower under the guise of protecting her from the cruel world. In reality, she is hoarding Rapunzel's magic (nature/fertility) to preserve her own youth and beauty (vanity).

Emperor

#4 Authority, structure, stability, and leadership.

(Example- Monica Geller, Friends): comedic fit for the hyper-organized, rule-oriented, and commanding leadership style of the archetype.

Emperor reversed

#4 loss of control, an abuse of power, or a lack of discipline and structure. Domination/tyranny.

(Example- Homelander, The Boys):

On the surface, he is the ultimate symbol of power. In reality, he is deeply insecure, emotionally fragile, and entirely incapable of self-discipline. When he cannot control others, he throws violent tantrums.

Hierophant

#5 Tradition/education, institution/marriage, commitment.

represents tradition, spiritual wisdom, conventional structures, and acting as a bridge between the divine and humanity.

(Example Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter):

The ultimate institutional authority figure who guides the protagonist through an established magical system and bloodlines of destiny.

Hierophant Reversed

#5 breaking free from rigid traditions, challenging the status quo, and trusting your own inner guidance instead of following external rules.

(Example- Katniss Everdeen, The Hunger Games):

Rejects the highly structured, oppressive rules of the Capitol and inadvertently becomes the face of a total societal revolution.

Lovers

#6 deep connections, harmony, and significant personal choices.

(Example- Gomez and Morticia Addams, The Addams Family):

They represent the absolute harmony, mutual devotion, and flawless alignment of values typical of the card's highest romantic expression.

Lovers Reversed

#6 signifies disharmony, inner conflict, and a breakdown in communication within relationships.

(Example- Harley Quinn and The Joker, DC Comics):

The ultimate symbol of a toxic, asymmetrical bond. Harley loses her identity and values to please a partner who abuses and manipulates her.

The Chariot

#7 willpower, determination, control, and triumph over obstacles.

(Example- Aang, from Avatar: The Last Airbender)

fits The Chariot tarot card because he masters opposing forces and uses sheer willpower to achieve victory.

The Chariot Reversed

#7 a loss of control, scattered direction, and stalled momentum where hard work feels like spinning your wheels.

(Example- Jinx, Arcane League of Legends)

Represents the chaotic, destructive momentum of a chariot that has lost its driver. She has incredible mechanical skill and destructive force, but zero emotional stability or overarching direction. Her actions are impulsive, erratic, and heavily dictated by past trauma, making her a literal and figurative loose cannon.

Strength

#8 inner power, patience, compassion, and the gentle control of raw emotions.

(Example- Samwise Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings):

Sam lacks Aragorn's sword skills or Gandalf's magic, but he possesses the ultimate spirit of the Strength card. His loyalty, unyielding optimism, and quiet endurance allow him to carry Frodo up Mount Doom when all physical strength fails.

Strength Reversed

#8 self-doubt, low confidence, a loss of emotional control, or internal burnout.

(Example- Kylo Ren, Star Wars)

is the ultimate picture of uncontrolled emotion and instability. While the upright Strength card shows a person calmly taming a lion, Kylo is completely consumed by his inner beast. He throws violent tantrums with his lightsaber, acts out of deep-seated insecurity, and masks his internal weakness with raw, aggressive force.

The Hermit

#9 introspection, soul-searching, and the pursuit of inner wisdom through solitude.

(Example-Yoda, Star Wars):

Lives in voluntary exile on Dagobah to reflect, master the Force, and later train Luke Skywalker.

The Hermit Reversed

#9 isolation, loneliness, withdrawal from society, rejection of guidance, or being trapped in one's own head.

(Example- Gollum, The Lord of the Rings):

The ultimate extreme of the card. His isolation in the dark caves under the Misty Mountains, driven by his obsession with the One Ring, completely rots his mind, leaving him paranoid, lonely, and detached from reality.

Wheel of fortune

#10 change, life cycles, destiny, and turning points.

( Example- Jon Snow, Game of Thrones):

Jon’s life constantly spins on the wheel of fortune. He goes from a despised bastard to Lord Commander of the Night's Watch, is assassinated, gets resurrected, becomes King in the North, and is ultimately exiled back to where he started.

Wheel of Fortune Reversed

#10 unexpected setbacks, resistance to inevitable change, and a feeling of losing control over your circumstances.

(Example- Prince Zuko (Avatar: The Last Airbender – Seasons 1 & 2)

Zuko is trapped on a relentless, agonizing karmic wheel. He chases the Avatar to regain his honor, but every time he comes close, the wheel spins out of control, stripping away his progress, safety, and family standing. He fiercely resists his true destiny (the upright path of grace and balance) and tries to force a broken destiny onto himself, resulting in endless bad luck, internal turmoil, and repeating cycles of betrayal and failure until he finally breaks the loop in Season 3.

Justice

#11 The Justice tarot card represents fairness, truth, cause and effect, and clear accountability.

Example- Hermione Granger, Harry Potter

• Intellectual Fairness: Guided by the Air-sign intellect of the Justice card, Hermione is deeply logical, rule-abiding, and fiercely driven by a sense of systemic fairness.

• Correcting Institutional Imbalance: When she witnesses systemic injustice—such as the mistreatment of house-elves—she doesn't just get emotional; she creates an organization (S.P.E.W.) and uses institutional, legalistic methods to try to balance the scales.

Justice Reversed

#11 Dishonesty, the avoidance of accountability, and feelings of unfairness or imbalance.

Example- Light Yagami, Death Note

• Why he fits: Corruption of power and a warped god complex.

• The breakdown: Light genuinely believes he is acting as the ultimate arbiter of justice by using the Death Note to execute criminals. In reality, he represents Justice reversed in its purest form: judge, jury, and executioner wrapped into one ego-driven entity. He manipulates the legal system, murders innocent people who try to investigate him, and bends his moral framework until he becomes far worse than the criminals he originally targeted.

Hanged man

#12 Voluntary surrender, pausing, letting go of control, and shifting your perspective.

Example- Donnie Darko

Donnie is the ultimate figure of apocalyptic surrender and voluntary self-sacrifice. After being granted a bizarre 28-day suspension of reality where he views his universe from an entirely different lens, he ultimately accepts his fate with serene calm for the greater good of his loved ones.

Hanged Man Reversed

#12 Breaking out of a long stall, getting back on your feet, or transitioning from a period of waiting into active movement.

Alternatively, it can mean you are prolonging a pause too long, refusing to surrender, or feeling a sense of pointless martyrdom and stubborn resistance.

Example- Anakin Skywalker, Star Wars

• Refusing Surrender: The upright Hanged Man represents letting go and surrendering to the flow of life. Reversed, it means fighting that surrender, forcing outcomes, and refusing a necessary pause. Anakin refuses to accept loss or the natural cycle of life and death, desperately clinging to Padmé's survival.

• Stuck in Limbo and Stagnation: A reversed Hanged Man indicates that waiting or suspension has turned into a toxic avoidance of reality. Anakin feels trapped by his visions and fears, letting his anxiety paralyze his better judgment instead of reflecting on his inner turmoil.

• Selfishness and Blame: The card reversed highlights selfishness and projecting blame onto external forces or partners rather than doing inner work. Anakin blames the Jedi Council and the galaxy for his suffering, tumbling straight into the dark side because he refuses to look inward at his own flaws.

Death

#13 A major transition, a definitive ending, and a profound personal transformation rather than physical death.

Example- Gandalf the Grey

His battle with the Balrog marks the absolute end of his identity as Gandalf the Grey; he passes through a literal and spiritual transition to return as Gandalf the White, stripped of his previous limitations to guide Middle-earth to a new era.

Death Reversed

#13 Resisting a necessary transition, holding onto the past, and experiencing stagnation or fear of change.

Example- Darth Vader

• Resisting Change: The upright Death card represents profound personal transformation and rebirth. Reversed, it means you are fighting necessary change, clinging to old identities, and refusing to move forward.

• Trapped by the Past: Anakin is unable to let go of his past grief, losses, and anger (such as his mother's death and fear of losing Padmé), which traps him in a cycle of suffering.

• Stagnation and Decay: Rather than allowing his old self to end cleanly so he can grow, he allows toxic ideologies and old pain to fester, transforming him into Darth Vader—a literal shell trapped by his past choices until his very late redemption.

Temperance

#14 Balance, moderation, patience, and the harmonious blending of opposing forces.

Example- Obi-Wan Kenobi

• The Balanced Force: Unlike the passionate, impulsive Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan represents the calm, patient, and disciplined aspect of the Jedi Code. He values diplomacy, caution, and inner peace above all else.

• Weathering the Storm: Even after losing his master, his love interest, and his apprentice to the Dark Side, he does not succumb to rage or despair. He maintains his emotional equilibrium, retreating into patient, decades-long exile to watch over Luke.

Temperance Reversed

#14 imbalance, excess, and a loss of inner calm or moderation. (Life has tipped too far in one direction, leading to all-or-nothing thinking or an over-focus on a single area.)

Example- Bojack Horseman

• Reversed Temperance signifies excess, substance abuse, and unchecked vices. BoJack constantly struggles with heavy drinking, drug addiction, and self-destructive behavior.

• Internal Imbalance: The card implies an inability to harmonize one's inner and outer life. BoJack hates who he is, yet repeatedly sabotages his own attempts at redemption and peace.

• Extreme Swings: Reversed Temperance points to emotional extremes—moving wildly between self-loathing and narcissism without finding a middle ground.

The Devil

#15 Addiction, self-imposed limitation, materialism, and feeling trapped in unhealthy cycles or toxic dynamics.

Example- Walter White

• The Illusion of Control: The Devil card often represents the illusion that we have no choice but to stay trapped in bad habits. Walter starts cooking meth for his family's survival, but it quickly shifts into an unhealthy obsession with power, status, and his "Heisenberg" persona.

• Materialism and Ego: He is driven by the card’s shadow aspects—greed, pride, and an insatiable desire to dominate his criminal empire, long after he has made enough money to secure his family's future.

The Devil Reversed

#15 liberation, breaking free from unhealthy attachments, and overcoming limiting beliefs or addictions.

Example- Severus Snape

Severus Snape (Harry Potter): He breaks free from his absolute bondage to Voldemort and the Death Eaters (the ultimate Devil upright figures), redirecting his life toward a secret, redeeming purpose driven by love rather than control and malice.

The Tower

#16 sudden, radical change, the collapse of false structures, and a powerful awakening through chaos.

Example- Agatha Harkness (Agatha All Along)

Reflecting her thematic alignment with ruin and hidden structures collapse, artists frequently portray Agatha Harkness on Etsy as The Tower. She orchestrates chaos from the shadows, only for her own grand illusion and grasp on dark magic to explode spectacularly when forced to face a more powerful reality.

The Tower Reversed

#16 Avoiding a major crisis, delaying an inevitable collapse, or processing the aftermath of a massive life change.

Example- Jaime Lannister

Jaime's entire narrative arc relies on a slow, agonizing dismantling of who he thought he was, triggered by a sudden trauma.

• Forced Humility: When Jaime loses his right hand, his "upright Tower" moment occurs. The reversed Tower governs his agonizing recovery. Without his sword hand, the arrogant "Kingslayer" persona is completely ruined.

• Dismantling the False Structure: He is forced to look inward and realize that his reputation, his family's prestige, and his external armor were a hollow foundation. He begins a painful process of trying to redefine his honor on his own terms, choosing a quieter, more internal rebuilding process.

The Star

#17 Hope, inspiration, renewal, and alignment with your true soul's purpose.

Example- Katara (avatar the last air bender)

While Aang is the spiritual avatar of renewal, Katara acts as the emotional anchor of hope for the entire group. In the classic Rider-Waite artwork, a woman pours water to replenish the earth—Katara literally uses water-bending to heal wounds and constantly pours her emotional strength into keeping her friends' spirits alive when they want to give up.

The Star Reversed

#17 A loss of hope, spiritual disconnection, and a crisis of faith.

Example- Frodo (The Return of the King):

By the time Frodo reaches the slopes of Mount Doom, the Ring has entirely drained his inner light. He tells Sam that he cannot remember the taste of food, the sound of water, or the green of the Shire. He is completely empty, numb, and devoid of the hope that started his journey.

The Moon

#18 Symbolizing illusion, intuition, the subconscious, and uncertainty.

Example- Alice in wonderland

Why she fits: Alice journeys through a dreamlike, shifting world where logic breaks down, rules change constantly, and nothing is what it seems. Her story mirrors the Moon card's theme of wandering through the unknown and wrestling with confusion versus deep imagination.

The Moon Reversed

#18 Confusion is lifting, fear is subsiding, and hidden truths are coming to light.

Example- Truman Burbank (The Truman Show)•

The Illusion: Truman lives in a literal manufactured reality where everyone around him is an actor, completely embodying the upright Moon's deception.

• The Reversal: His entire character arc is the transition into the Moon reversed. As he notices the glitches in his world, his paranoia turns into absolute clarity. He conquers his deepest phobia (the ocean) to sail to the edge of his false sky, piercing the illusion to step into the real world.

The Sun

#19 Represents the dawn following the darkest of nights, bringing absolute clarity, joy, and success.

Example- Superman

Featured as The Sun in official DC Comics tarot decks, he literally draws his powers from a yellow sun and embodies truth, hope, warmth, and the triumph of light over darkness.

The Sun Reversed

#19 Joy and optimism are temporarily blocked, hidden behind passing clouds, or internalizing rather than shining outward.

Example- Thor (Avengers: Endgame)

• The Connection: Thor is traditionally a boisterous, radiant, larger-than-life hero—the ultimate upright Sun. In Endgame, he becomes the textbook definition of the Sun reversed.

• Why he fits: Following the devastating loss to Thanos, Thor falls into a deep depression, completely losing his drive, enthusiasm, and sense of purpose. He hides away, letting his physical health slip and masking his profound sadness with humor and drinking. His natural radiance is entirely clouded by a sense of failure and lost identity.

Judgment

#20 Represents spiritual awakening, rebirth, inner calling, and self-evaluation.

Example- Gandalf the White (The Lord of the Rings):

Represents the literal resurrection and renewal aspect. He dies as Gandalf the Grey and returns with expanded wisdom, power, and a clarified cosmic purpose.

Judgment Reversed

#20 Signals self-doubt, ignoring an inner calling, avoiding accountability, and resisting necessary transformation.

Example- Cersei Lannister (Game of Thrones):

Cersei completely lacks self-awareness and refuses to learn from her past mistakes. Every tragedy that befalls her is a result of her own shortsighted cruelty, yet she blames external enemies and cosmic unfairness, entirely blocked from spiritual evolution.

The World

#21 Completion, achievement, wholeness, and fulfillment.

Example- Neo (The Matrix):

Having evolved from a naive seeker (The Fool) through trials of sacrifice, Neo reaches total synthesis and unity (The One), balancing the physical and digital/spiritual realms to conclude a universal cycle.

The World Reversed

#21 Represents a lack of closure, unfinished cycles, stagnation, and the feeling of falling just short of a major goal.

Example- Peter Pan

• The Fit: Peter represents unfulfilled completion and arrested development.

• Why He Matches: While often seen as a whimsical figure, Peter refuses to complete the natural human cycle of growing up. By staying in Neverland, he rejects the final stages of emotional maturity. He is perpetually stuck in a loop of youth, choosing an illusion of endless beginnings over the fulfillment of a life fully lived.