Major vs. Minor Arcana – What's the Difference and Why It Matters

If you’ve ever picked up a tarot deck, you’ve likely heard the terms Major Arcana and Minor Arcana—but what do they actually mean? And more importantly, why does it matter when you’re reading the cards?

Let’s break it down.

The Major Arcana – Life’s Big Lessons

The Major Arcana consists of 22 cards, numbered 0 through 21, starting with The Fool and ending with The World. These cards represent major themes, turning points, and spiritual lessons. When a Major Arcana card shows up in a reading, it’s like the universe is underlining something in bold. These are the moments that shape your path—soul growth, fate, transformation, and deep internal shifts.

Pulling The Tower? It’s probably not just a bad day at work—it’s a full-on personal upheaval. The Lovers? This isn’t just about a crush; it’s about choices that define your values.

Major Arcana = cosmic spotlight.

The Minor Arcana – The Everyday Stuff

The Minor Arcana makes up the other 56 cards in the deck. These are divided into four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles—each with 14 cards (Ace through 10, plus Page, Knight, Queen, and King). These cards deal with the day-to-day situations, emotions, decisions, and relationships that fill our lives.

Think of them like scenes in a movie. The big, sweeping story arcs come from the Major Arcana, but the Minor Arcana are the dialogue, the subplots, the small decisions that lead to bigger consequences.

Each suit has its own domain:

• Wands = creativity, passion, action
• Cups = emotion, relationships, intuition
• Swords = thoughts, communication, conflict
• Pentacles = money, work, material matters

Why the Distinction Matters

When you’re doing a reading, paying attention to whether you’re pulling mostly Major or Minor Arcana can offer powerful insight.

A spread heavy in Major Arcana signals that you’re dealing with deep-rooted issues or karmic lessons—things that might be out of your immediate control. It’s time to pay attention and possibly shift your perspective.

A reading with mostly Minor Arcana? You’re probably working through practical decisions, current emotions, or temporary circumstances. Still important, but more flexible.

In Short…

Understanding the difference between Major and Minor Arcana can deepen your readings, helping you interpret not just what is happening—but the scale and scope of why it’s happening.

The Majors show you the big picture.
The Minors show you the next step.

And together, they tell your story.

The Most Misunderstood Tarot Cards – What the Tower, Death, and Devil Really Mean

When someone unfamiliar with tarot sees The Tower, Death, or The Devil in a reading, panic often follows. These cards have been used in movies, TV shows, and pop culture to suggest doom, evil, or tragedy. But in actual tarot practice, these cards are not warnings of unavoidable disaster—they’re invitations to look deeper.

Tarot isn’t about telling scary stories—it’s about uncovering truth, understanding energy, and finding clarity in your path. Let’s take a look at the three most misunderstood tarot cards and what they really mean when they show up in your readings.

---

🌩️ The Tower – Sudden Change, Not Catastrophe

Pop Culture Interpretation:
Disaster. Chaos. The end of everything.

True Tarot Meaning:
The Tower represents sudden and necessary change. It's the shock that tears down illusions and reveals something essential—often something you've been avoiding.

When The Tower appears, it’s not saying “everything is doomed.” It’s saying, "Something built on shaky ground is about to fall so you can build something better." Yes, it can feel disruptive—but it’s ultimately about truth, clarity, and rebuilding.

Real-Life Examples of a Tower Moment:

• Leaving a toxic relationship suddenly—but finding freedom on the other side
• Getting fired from a job you hated—then discovering your real calling
• A surprise event that jolts you awake and shifts your entire mindset

The Tower isn’t the villain. It’s the lightning bolt of truth that clears the way for something better.

---

💀 Death – Transformation, Not Doom

Pop Culture Interpretation:
Literal death. Loss. Grief.

True Tarot Meaning:
In tarot, Death rarely means physical death. Instead, it symbolizes transformation, release, and rebirth. It’s about letting go of what no longer serves you so something new can grow.

Death clears the old to make way for the new. It’s the compost of the soul—unpleasant in the moment, but incredibly fertile in the long term.

Real-Life Examples of a Death Card Moment:

• Ending a long friendship that’s become one-sided
• Graduating from school and leaving your student identity behind
• Letting go of outdated beliefs and stepping into a new spiritual practice

When Death shows up, it’s a sign that something is ending—and that’s a good thing. It marks the transition point from one chapter of life to the next.

---

😈 The Devil – Awareness of Your Chains

Pop Culture Interpretation:
Evil. Demonic possession. Danger.

True Tarot Meaning:
The Devil isn’t about external evil—it’s about the illusions that keep us stuck. This card highlights addiction, unhealthy attachments, materialism, and fear-based thinking. But here’s the secret: the chains shown on the card are loose—you can take them off anytime.

The Devil is about recognizing where you're giving your power away and learning how to reclaim it.

Real-Life Examples of a Devil Card Moment:

• Realizing you’re stuck in a job you hate because you’re afraid of change
• Noticing patterns of self-sabotage or avoidance
• Feeling trapped by what others think of you

When The Devil appears, it’s not saying you’re doomed—it’s inviting you to wake up, face your shadow, and break free.

---

🕊️ Bonus Mentions – Cards That Spook But Shouldn’t

Here are a few more cards that tend to get misunderstood:

• Ten of Swords: Yes, it looks painful—but it’s also a card of finality and healing. The worst is over, and now you can rebuild.
• Three of Swords: Often seen as heartbreak—but it’s also about emotional honesty, and the courage to feel and heal.
• The Hanged Man: Not punishment, but a sacred pause. It's asking you to surrender control and see things from a new perspective.

---

🌱 Final Thoughts – Tarot Isn’t Scary, It’s Honest

The cards aren’t trying to frighten you—they’re here to offer truth, insight, and guidance. The Tower, Death, and The Devil don’t mean something bad is coming. They mean something real is happening, and it’s time to lean in, not run away.

Understanding these misunderstood cards is a powerful step on your tarot journey. They’re not the end—they’re the beginning of transformation, awakening, and freedom.

So the next time one of these shows up in a reading… breathe. Then ask yourself:

“What truth is this card inviting me to see?"