Major arcana cards and meanings for Arcana
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The major arcana, followed from the first card to the last, tell a story of growth and fulfillment. The meanings can be strung together to form a coherent plot, as many have noticed. When writing a submission for a card, you are writing a self-contained story, of course - there is no shared universe or characters required - but you’re also writing a story focusing on a character or characters as they experience the part in a journey that the card signifies.
The cards
In many common Tarot readings, cards are shuffled to mix them up. In the process, some cards wind up being drawn upside down, or reversed. Thus, each card comes with two meanings: the meaning for when the card is drawn upright, and the meaning for when the card is drawn reversed. These two meanings are two sides of the same coin, the reversed meaning often implying an impeded, restricted, or subverted reading of the primary meaning. Both meanings are provided below - you may focus on the primary or the reversed meaning, or simply the underlying archetype, in your submission.
If you’re going to work on a story for one of the major arcana cards, please let us know and we’ll update the call for submissions with how many pledges are outstanding on a card to let other writers know. You can let us know on the Google Form available here The pledge period is now over. It’s now a race to the finish-line for submissions! For a list of pledges, see below for an embedded (if slightly ugly) google sheet.
The FoolBeginnings, innocence, spontaneity, a free spirt or naivety, foolishness, recklessness, ill-advised risk-taking.
Invitation only
The Magician
Power, skill, concentration, action, resourcefulness or manipulation, poor planning, unused talents.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The High PriestessBeginnings, innocence, spontaneity, a free spirt or naivety, foolishness, recklessness, ill-advised risk-taking.
Invitation only
The Empress
Fertility, femininity, beauty, nature, abundance or blocked creativity, over-dependence on others.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The Emperor
Authority, father-figure, structure, solid foundation or domination, excessive control, rigidity, inflexibility.
Submissions available:
0/3
Want to submit? You still can! Keep an eye out for other cards, though!The Heirophant
Religion, group identification, conformity, tradition, beliefs or too much restriction, a need to challenge the status quo.
Submissions available:
0/3
Want to submit? You still can! Keep an eye out for other cards, though!The Lovers
Love, union, relationships, values alignment, choices or disharmony, imbalance, misalignment of values.
Submissions available:
3⁄3The Chariot
Control, willpower, victory, assertion, determination or lack of control, lack of direction, heedless agression.
Submissions available:
0/3
Want to submit? You still can! Keep an eye out for other cards, though!Strength
Strength, courage, patience, control, compassion or weakness, self-doubt, lack of self-discipline.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The Hermit
Soul searching, introspection, being alone, inner guidance or isolation, loneliness, ill-advised withdrawal.
Submissions available:
1⁄3Wheel of FortuneGood luck, karma, cycles in life, destiny, a turning point or bad luck, negative external forces, out of control.
Invitation only
JusticeJustice, fairness, truth, cause and effect, law or unfairness, lack of accountability, dishonesty.
Invitation only
The Hanged ManBeing true to oneself, connection to life, resolution after difficulty or fighting with inner self, inability to escape from social pressure, ill-advised martyrdom.
Invitation only
Death
Endings, beginnings, change, transformation, transition or resistance to change, inability to move on.
Submissions available:
0/3
Want to submit? You still can! Keep an eye out for other cards, though!Temperance
Balance, moderation, patience, purpose, meaning or imbalance, excess, lack of long-term thinking.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The Devil
Bondage to one’s ideals, addiction, sexuality, materialism or detachment, breaking free, power reclaimed.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The Tower
Disaster, upheaval, sudden change, revelation or avoidance of disaster, fear of change.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The Star
Hope, spirituality, renewal, inspiration, serenity or lack of faith, despair discouragement.
Submissions available:
1⁄3The MoonIllusion fear, anxiety, insecurity, subconsciousness or release of fear, unhappiness, confusions.
Invitation only
The SunFun, warmth, success, positivity, vitality or temporary depression, lack of success.
Invitation only
Judgement
Judgement, rebirth, inner calling, absolution or self doubt, refusal of self-examination.
Submissions available:
2⁄3The WorldCompletion, integration, accomplishment, travel or lack of completion, lack of closure.
Invitation only {: start=“0” }
Pledges
Updated in real time. The pledge period is over.