Why is Strength VIII and Justice XI?

Arthur Edward Waite swapped the two for the 1909 deck; most modern decks follow that order. Marseille-style decks keep Justice at VIII.

In the Smith–Waite deck The Fool is 0 and comes first; some older traditions place it last or leave it unnumbered.

What's the difference between Major and Minor Arcana?

The 22 Major Arcana are named trump cards; the 56 Minor Arcana are four suits (wands, cups, swords, pentacles) of 14 cards each.

Guide · updated 14 October 2026

The 22 Major Arcana cards in order

The Major Arcana are the 22 trump cards of a tarot deck, numbered 0 to 21 from The Fool to The World. In the 1909 Smith–Waite order, VIII is Strength and XI is Justice (older decks swap them).

All 22 cards

Keywords are traditional themes, used in Kinarcana for reflection, not prediction. The scene is the 1909 composition as Kinarcana restages it, fully clothed.

No.	Card	Keywords	The 1909 scene
0	The Fool	beginnings, spontaneity, a leap of faith	A young traveller in a bright patterned tunic, leggings and boots steps lightly toward the edge of a cliff under a white sun, a white rose in one hand and a small bundle tied to a staff over the shoulder. A small white dog leaps at their heels; snowy mountains rise behind under a yellow sky.
I	The Magician	skill, focus, making things happen	A figure in a white tunic under a red robe stands behind a table, one hand raising a wand to the sky and the other pointing to the ground. On the table lie a cup, a sword, a gold coin with a star and a wooden wand. A sideways figure-eight floats above the head; red roses and white lilies frame the foreground; yellow sky.
II	The High Priestess	intuition, quiet knowing, mystery	A calm figure in long flowing blue robes sits between a dark pillar and a light pillar, wearing a crown with a full-moon disc between two horns, a half-hidden scroll in the lap and a crescent moon at the feet. A veil patterned with pomegranates hangs behind; water glimmers beyond it.
III	The Empress	abundance, care, creativity	A figure in a long flowing dress patterned with pomegranates, wearing a crown of twelve stars, rests on soft cushions in a field of golden wheat. A heart-shaped shield with the Venus symbol leans beside them; a green forest and a waterfall stand behind.
IV	The Emperor	structure, steadiness, responsibility	A ruler in red robes over armour sits on a square stone throne carved with ram heads, holding an ankh-shaped sceptre in one hand and a golden orb in the other. Bare orange mountains and a small stream lie behind under an orange sky.
V	The Hierophant	tradition, learning, shared values	A teacher in red and white robes and a tall triple crown sits between two grey stone pillars, one hand raised in blessing and the other holding a staff topped with a triple cross. Two crossed keys lie at the feet, and two kneeling students in robes listen.
VI	The Lovers	connection, choice, values	Two people in long flowing robes stand a little apart in a green garden, facing the viewer. Behind one stands a tree with flame-like leaves; behind the other a fruit tree with a small snake coiled in it. A mountain rises between them, and above, an angel with wide wings blesses them from a blazing sun.
VII	The Chariot	willpower, direction, momentum	A figure in armour stands in a stone chariot under a canopy of stars, wearing a star crown and holding a wand, with no reins. Two sphinxes, one black and one white, rest in front of the chariot; a walled city and a river lie behind.
VIII	Strength	gentle courage, patience, compassion	A figure in a long white dress with a garland of flowers calmly closes the jaws of a tame lion with both hands; a sideways figure-eight floats above their head. A blue mountain rises behind under a yellow sky.
IX	The Hermit	solitude, reflection, inner guidance	An old figure in a long grey hooded cloak stands on a snowy mountain peak at dusk, holding up a lantern with a six-pointed star glowing inside and leaning on a tall wooden staff.
X	The Wheel of Fortune	cycles, change, turning points	A great golden wheel marked with mysterious symbols (no readable letters) turns in a blue sky among clouds. A sphinx with a sword sits on top, a golden snake winds down one side and a jackal-headed figure rises on the other. In the four corners, a winged figure, an eagle, a lion and a bull sit on clouds, each reading a book.
XI	Justice	fairness, truth, cause and effect	A figure in a red robe and a square crown sits between two grey pillars, holding an upright sword in one hand and balanced golden scales in the other. A purple veil hangs behind; the background is yellow.
XII	The Hanged Man	pause, a new perspective, letting go	A serene figure in a blue tunic and red leggings hangs upside down by one ankle from a living T-shaped tree, the other leg bent behind the straight one, hands behind the back, a golden halo around a calm, smiling face. Nothing frightening: it reads as a peaceful pause.
XIII	Death	endings, transition, renewal	A symbolic, not frightening scene: a skeleton knight in black armour rides a white horse, carrying a black banner with a white five-petalled rose. A robed figure and a child stand before the horse. In the distance the sun rises between two towers over a river. No blood or injury.
XIV	Temperance	balance, moderation, blending	An angel with red wings in a long white robe with a small triangle on the chest stands with one foot in a pool and one on the bank, pouring water between two golden cups. A path leads through the hills to a glowing crown; yellow irises grow by the water.
XV	The Devil	habits, attachments, temptation	A horned, bat-winged figure with goat legs sits on a dark square pedestal against a black background, one hand raised and the other holding a downturned torch. Two people in plain knee-length tunics stand below with small horns and tails, loose chains around their necks that they could lift off. Not scary or gory; theatrical.
XVI	The Tower	sudden change, revelation, a clean slate	A tall grey stone tower on a rocky peak is struck by lightning against a black sky; its golden crown topples, flames burst from the windows, and golden sparks fall. Two fully clothed figures tumble through the air. No injury shown.
XVII	The Star	hope, calm, renewal	Under a deep blue night sky with one large eight-pointed star and seven smaller ones, a figure in a simple sleeveless linen dress kneels at the edge of a pool, pouring water from two jugs, one into the pool and one onto the grass. A small bird sits in a tree on a distant hill.
XVIII	The Moon	dreams, uncertainty, imagination	A full moon holding a crescent with a calm sleeping face shines between two stone towers, dropping golden dew. A winding path runs from a pool, where a crayfish climbs out, between a dog and a wolf howling at the moon, toward far mountains.
XIX	The Sun	joy, warmth, success	A smiling child in a white tunic with a red feather in their hair rides a white horse, holding a long red banner, under a huge smiling sun with straight and wavy rays. Tall sunflowers lean over a grey brick wall behind them.
XX	Judgement	awakening, a fresh call, reflection	An angel in the clouds blows a golden trumpet hung with a white banner with a red cross. Below, people in long white robes rise with open arms from open stone chests floating on calm water, with snowy mountains behind.
XXI	The World	completion, wholeness, celebration	A dancer wrapped in a long flowing violet gown floats inside a tall oval laurel wreath tied with red ribbons, holding a slim wand in each hand. In the four corners, a winged figure, an eagle, a lion and a bull look on from the clouds.

Use it in ChatGPT

Kinarcana is a ChatGPT plugin. Try saying:

“Make me a tarot deck with me as every card. Start with The Fool.”
“Put my partner and me on The Lovers card, in the style of an old woodcut.”
“Draw my Kinarcana card for today.”

Coming soon to ChatGPT

Questions

Why is Strength VIII and Justice XI?: Arthur Edward Waite swapped the two for the 1909 deck; most modern decks follow that order. Marseille-style decks keep Justice at VIII.
Is The Fool 0 or 22?: In the Smith–Waite deck The Fool is 0 and comes first; some older traditions place it last or leave it unnumbered.
What's the difference between Major and Minor Arcana?: The 22 Major Arcana are named trump cards; the 56 Minor Arcana are four suits (wands, cups, swords, pentacles) of 14 cards each.

More guides: How to make your own tarot deck with ChatGPT · Is the Rider–Waite tarot deck in the public domain? · How to print your own tarot deck · Tarot card size and print specs · A daily tarot card for reflection