How Many Main Tarot Cards Are There? Major Arcana Count
Unlock the mysteries of the Tarot! Discover how many main tarot cards exist and delve into the Major Arcana count-your guide to insightful readings awaits!
Category: Tarot Deck Components
Tarot Deck Components defines the physical anatomy, standardized 78-card structural division, card dimensions, and elemental classifications that comprise an authentic tarot deck.
Foundational Pillars (Start Here)
DECK ANATOMY
What Cards Are in a Tarot Deck? Complete 78-Card List
Comprehensive itemized catalog of all 22 Major Arcana trump cards and 56 Minor Arcana elemental cards.
SPECIFICATIONS
What Size Are Tarot Cards? Standard Dimensions Explained
Physical card stock measurements, standard dimensions (2.75 x 4.75 in), pocket editions, and jumbo reading sizes.
DECK STRUCTURE
What Order Do Tarot Cards Go In: Master Deck Structure
How traditional decks are sequenced, from The Fool (0) through The World (XXI) and across the four elemental suits.
Architectural Blueprint: Trumps, Pips, and Court Hierarchy
Every traditional tarot deck possesses an exact mathematical and symbolic geometry consisting of 78 cards. The deck’s primary axis is the Major Arcana, a sequence of 22 trump cards numbered Roman numeral 0 through XXI. These trumps represent macrocosmic universal archetypes. The secondary axis is the Minor Arcana, composed of 56 cards subdivided equally into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (14 cards per suit).
Within each Minor Arcana suit, cards adhere to an unyielding structural hierarchy: ten pip cards (Ace through 10) representing the progressive descent of elemental energy from raw potential into concrete realization, followed by four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King) depicting personalities, maturity levels, and modes of action.
Topic Directory & Focused Studies
Deck Counts & Card Architecture
Physical Specs & Suit Elements
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are tarot cards larger than ordinary poker playing cards?
Tarot cards measure approximately 2.75 x 4.75 inches to showcase intricate, detailed allegorical artwork and allow practitioners to display multiple cards side-by-side in complex spreads.
Can a tarot deck have more or fewer than 78 cards?
Traditional decks always contain 78 cards. However, modern artistic editions occasionally include special artist bonus cards, while Oracle decks possess completely variable card counts.
What is the difference between Wands and Rods?
Wands and Rods are identical terms for the Fire suit in tarot. The name varies between deck traditions (e.g., Rods, Staves, Batons, or Wands), but all represent passion and will.