A hooded figure turns a heavy wooden cartwheel with both hands over a round stone well brimming with blood; a skull and a fallen crown rest on the rim, and two candles burn against the wall behind.

The Evolution of Major Arcana: From Classic to Psychological

Published 31 July 2026 · about 2 minutes

Three Groups of Seven Cards

Continuing the "Fool's Journey" concept discussed earlier, modern tarot practitioners often divide the 21 Major Arcana cards (excluding "The Fool") into three large groups consisting of seven cards each. This division, known as the Three Septenaries, illustrates three main phases in human psychological and spiritual development. The first group (cards 1 to 7) symbolizes the phase of physical awareness, ego, and socialization in the material world. The second group (cards 8 to 14) represents the journey inward to understand morality, intuition, and natural laws. Meanwhile, the third group (cards 15 to 21) symbolizes the transcendental phase, where humans confront their deepest fears before finally achieving spiritual wholeness.

Pamela Colman Smith's Contribution

The visual development of the Major Arcana also holds a historical record highlighting the significant contribution of an artist who was once overlooked. The Tarot deck most popularly used worldwide today is the Rider-Waite-Smith (RWS) deck published in 1909. The iconic illustrations on those Major Arcana cards were painted by a female artist named Pamela Colman Smith. Although her visually symbolic artwork became the standard for modern tarot interpretation, her name was overlooked for decades because the deck was originally named only "Rider-Waite" (referring to the publisher Rider and its creator, Arthur Edward Waite). Only in recent decades has the name "Smith" been officially included to honor her immense contribution.

Misunderstood Cards

Beyond the "Death" card discussed earlier, there are several other Major Arcana cards whose meanings often shift in interpretation. "The Lovers" card, for example, in medieval classic decks actually emphasized themes of difficult choices or moral crossroads, rather than just romantic love as is the popular belief today. Similarly, "The Devil" card often triggers worry when it appears in a reading session. In a psychological approach, this card does not symbolize an evil mystical force, but rather represents unhealthy attachments, material dependence, or self-imposed mental limitations.