Published 22/01/2024 • Updated 24/11/2025 by Louise Emma

How Many Cards Are in a Tarot Deck?

There are 78 cards in a tarot deck. A traditional tarot deck is divided into 2 categories:

• Major Arcana cards (22 cards)
• Minor Arcana cards (56 cards)

The 22 major and 56 minor cards together form a complete symbolic system used by tarot readers worldwide. The full deck offers a broad and balanced perspective on life, encompassing both the major milestones and the everyday thoughts and decisions that influence your journey.

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Why the Number of Cards Matters in Tarot Readings

The 78-card tarot system isn’t random. Each one plays a specific role in telling the story of human experience. When all 78 cards are present, a tarot reading becomes much richer and more accurate.

Here’s why the full deck matters:

• Major Arcana helps us explore life-changing events, spiritual lessons, and big-picture themes.
• The Minor Arcana provides information about human emotions, timing, and everyday life experiences.
• The deck balances intuition and structure, allowing a reader to interpret clear, grounded messages.
• Every tarot deck has the same number system, symbols, and elements, providing reliability when interpreting its messages.

The Trusted Psychics readers normally choose to use the Rider-Waite tarot cards, as our live readers find that this deck gives the clearest and most empowering readings for our clients.

The 22 Major Arcana: Life’s Biggest Lessons

Major Arcana is all about archetypes, universal themes, lessons, and life’s big events that appear to be destiny or fate.

A Major Arcana card appearing in your reading is a symbol that something significant is happening.

The 22 Major Arcana cards laid out in order form one path called The Fool’s Journey. The Fool’s Journey is a symbolic story that uses the Major Arcana cards to explain spiritual awakening, self-discovery, and life paths.

What are the Symbolic Meanings of the Major Arcana?

The Major Arcana in general means:

• The most significant spiritual lessons you can learn.
• The most powerful internal breakthroughs.
• Transformations, both minor and major.
• Relationships with impactful people.
• Moments and turning points in your life.
• Life-changing or significant choices.

The Major Arcana makes up the most powerful story about life, personal growth, and spirituality.

Key Major Arcana Cards and What They Mean

Here are a few of the most influential cards defined simply:

• The Fool: New Beginnings and Spiritual Development

When it comes to the interpretation of The Fool, it refers to opportunities and making each day new with hope, optimism, and bravery.

• The Magician: Self-Empowerment

The Magician is all about utilising your intuition and skills, being more focused on determination to gain what you want.

• The High Priestess: Intuition

The High Priestess calls for you to trust your judgement & intuition, take note of your inner voice, and seek spiritual truth.

• The Empress: Nurturing and Creativity & Success

Indicates growth, self-love, nurturing, and abundance.

• The Emperor: Structure, Stability & Leadership

Focuses on leadership, discipline, authority, and building a firm foundation.

• The Lovers: Important Choices & Relationships

The Lovers focuses on important emotional choices in our relationships, bringing our hearts and minds into balance.

• The Devil: Transformation

Represents endings and fresh starts, making space for powerful new beginnings.

• The Star: Hope & Spiritual Guidance

Healing, inspiration, and restored faith in yourself on your spiritual journey.

• The Wheel of Fortune: Indicates Change and New Direction

The Wheel of Fortune represents abundance, good luck, success, and new opportunities.

• The World: Completion & Success

Represents completion, achievement, and the end of a successful cycle.

• The Hanged Man: Moving on From the Past and New Perspectives

Patience and having a new perspective on the world around us. The Hanged Man often calls for a new beginning.

• The Tower: Change

Abrupt changes, spiritual awakenings, and the start of a new cycle.

• Judgement: Awakening and Life Assessment

Judgement often calls us to discover personal awakenings, self-assessments, and take confident and decisive steps.

• The Moon: Illusion, Emotions, and the Subconscious

The Moon is used to help us explore our intuition and trust our instincts, as well as influences that are outside of our conscious minds.

• The Sun: Success, Joy, and Positive Energy

The Sun is the happiest card in the deck. It represents joy, clarity, love, achievement, and direction.

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The 56 Minor Arcana: Daily Life, Emotions, and Choices Explained

The Major Arcana explores the journey of your soul and your life’s most significant events. So, what about your day-to-day life? Your feelings? Your relationships? Career and money choices? Your habits? Your dreams?

Minor Arcana

Just as the Major Arcana are split into 22 wands, these are split into four suits:

• Cups
• Pentacles
• Swords
• Wands

The Minor Arcana: Everyday Life and Emotions

The Minor Arcana deck contains 56 cards. All the cards are about things and events we see and experience day to day. All the suits have 10 number cards and 4 court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).

1. Cups: Cups are related to the element of Water. Cups show matters of emotion, relationships, and intuition. They indicate how your feelings influence your choices and interactions with others. 2. Pentacles: Pentacles are related to the element of Earth. Pentacles represent the material side of our life: work, money, and security. They are all about mental and physical well-being. 3. Swords: Swords are related to the element of Air. Swords represent the power of thought, challenges, and honesty. Swords highlight our choices, conflicts, and mental wellness. 4. Wands: Wands are related to the element of Fire. Wands show passion, energy, love and creativity. Wands are about channelling your drive, ambition, and inspiration to succeed.

The Court Cards

Each suit also has 4 Court Cards:

• Pages: Represent new opportunities.
• Knights: Movement, action, prosperity.
• Queens: Emotional maturity, inner strength.
• Kings: Authority, leadership, mastery.

A Brief History of Tarot

Tarot didn’t start out as a spiritual system. In fact, tarot history started off as playing cards.

• 15th Century: Italy

Tarot cards were first documented around the 1440s in Italy. They were introduced as a new game of the era known as carte da trionfi. Some wealthy families even had hand-made painted decks, such as the Visconti-Sforza tarot deck.

• 16th Century: Europe

Tarot decks and the game spread throughout Europe. As they became more popular, they continued to evolve, and they developed intricate symbolic artwork.

• 18th Century: Tarot for Divination

The occultist Court de Gébelin began using tarot cards for divination purposes in France, and they were associated with astrology and mysticism.

• 19th Century: Tarot and the Occult

Mystics connected tarot to numerology, Kabbalah, and ancient traditions.

• 20th Century to Today

In 1909, the well-known Rider-Waite-Smith deck was created. This deck has become the basis of most tarot decks today, used by most professional readers.

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How Tarot Readings Help You Understand Your Life

In a reading, they can help you understand different areas of your life.

• Feelings
• Choices
• Connections
• Patterns
• Opportunities
• The energy surrounding your life

People turn to tarot for many different reasons, including:

• Self-improvement
• Spiritual insights
• Decision-making
• Shadow work
• Healing
• Unblocking
• Creativity and inspiration

The 78-card deck offers a full picture for moving forward with confidence.

📞 Call Trusted Psychics today and take the first step towards receiving the clarity that you deserve.

Why an Expert Tarot Reader Matters

This spiritual pastime is for everyone, but an experienced reader sees beyond the basic meaning to provide an intuitive, detailed reading.

• Symbols
• Layers of meaning
• Patterns
• Interpretation
• Reversal Meanings
• Energy Flow
• Numerology
• Timings

How Do Online Tarot Readings Work? (Step-by-Step)

Online tarot readings function in the same way as in-person readings, the only difference is in the connection. Instead of sitting face-to-face with your reader, you talk on the phone, text chat, or video. The energy, intuition, and meanings are 100% the same.

• 1. Choose Your Reader

Select an expert reader based on their profile, experience, and customer reviews. Trusted Psychics makes it easy to find the right reader for love, career, or general guidance.

• 2. Connect by Phone, Chat, or Psychic Messenger

Choose the method that feels best for you. Many people prefer online readings because they’re discreet, relaxed, and available 24/7.

• 3. Ask Your Question

Your reader tunes into your energy through your words and intention. Distance does not impact a reading.

• 4. The Spread Is Laid

The reader shuffles the deck while focusing on your question, then lays cards using a spread like a three-card reading or Celtic Cross.

• 5. Your Reader Interprets the Meanings of the Tarot Cards

Explore the connection between the cards and your life situation. You’ll receive clear, personalised insight using the full 78-card tarot system.

• 6. Ask Follow-Up Questions

Explore anything more deeply, get clarification, or look at other areas of your life.

✔️ Why Trusted Psychics Offers the Best Tarot Readings

• Carefully selected readers
• Affordable tarot card readings
• Thousands of verified 5-star reviews
• Fair Pricing Policy, no hidden fees
• Decades of client trust
• Guaranteed confidentiality
• 24/7 availability
• UK’s top-rated tarot readers
• Clear spiritual guidance
• Accurate tarot readings

Trusted Psychics has thousands of verified customer reviews and continues to be the most trusted and respected platform in the industry.

FAQs on How Many Tarot Cards Are in a Tarot Deck?

Why Are There 78 Cards in a Tarot Deck?

78 is believed to be a perfect combination of spiritual and mundane wisdom. The popularity of Major Arcana and Minor Arcana as one deck goes back hundreds of years.

Do All Decks Have 78 Cards?

Traditional decks, such as the Rider Waite, usually have 78, although there are many modern decks available in different sizes.

Can I Use a 78-Card Deck If I Am Just Beginning to Learn?

Absolutely! The Rider-Waite deck is the most widely used classic deck. Its illustrations are very clear, making it easy for new readers to learn with.

How Do You Read a Reversed Tarot Card?

Reversed cards mean that energy is delayed or blocked in some way. It can also indicate a new perspective or an alternative angle to the upright meaning.

How Often Should I Get a Tarot Card Reading?

Weekly and monthly readings are common for regulars. Some people will only have a reading when they are faced with difficult situations in their lives.

Is Tarot Card Reading Fortune-Telling or Self-Reflection?

Either way, it’s a powerful method for self-reflection and gaining a deeper understanding of yourself. It helps you to use your intuition to make confident decisions.

📞 Trusted Psychics is happy to help. Start your online tarot reading today.

Author Bio: Joanne Jones

Joanne Jones is a tarot expert and Senior Psychic Reader at Trusted Psychics. She has a special affinity for the Major and Minor Arcana, and she uses her intuition and experience to deliver clear, honest advice to all her clients.

Joanne has more than 30 years of professional experience and thousands of successful readings to her name. She is known for helping clients gain clarity and insight around major life choices.

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