The Major Arcana are the 22 numbered cards that trace the larger turns of a life. The Fool begins at zero and The World closes the sequence at twenty-one. Between them are pictures of choice, attachment, loss, repair and arrival. These cards can describe an event, but they are often most useful when you read them as a theme running underneath an ordinary situation.
A Major card in a spread does not mean that something dramatic is about to happen. It asks you to give a question more room. The Lovers may point to a choice about values rather than a romance. Death may name the end of a habit rather than a literal ending. The image, the position in the spread and the cards around it tell you which part of the meaning belongs to your question.
Start with the card you drew. Look at its figures and objects before you consult the traditional meaning. Notice what catches your eye and what you would call the scene if you had never seen it before. Then read the upright and reversed interpretations together: a reversal can show a theme delayed, held inside or expressed in an unhelpful way. It does not automatically turn a hopeful card into bad news.
The list below follows the deck’s sequence. You can move from card to card to learn the story, or go straight to the one in your reading. If you are new to the deck, the beginner’s guide explains how to place a card in a simple spread; a private reading can help connect the larger theme to your own question.