The Major Arcana
The cards of the Major Arcana represent karmic lessons that we need to learn.
Often these are things that are beyond our control, but knowing about them helps us understand and learn the lesson being presented.

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The Fool
(This card usually depicts a young person blithely about to step off a cliff, his eyes fastened on the heavens. Usually there is a small dog at his heels, representing the instincts that are driving him forward.)
The Fool is the Great Adventurer, setting forth into The Great Unknown in pursuit of a vision. He may step off the cliff, fall on his face, and look foolish, but he may also step off the cliff and discover that he can fly. To The Fool, following his vision, where ever it may lead, is worth the risk. The Fool represents beginnings, taking risks, trusting in a Higher Power.
Reversed, this card often indicates being afraid of looking foolish in the eyes of others, and putting your personal vision on hold.

The Magician
(This card usually depicts an adult male with representations of the 4 suits of the Tarot/the 4 elements on a table in front of him. Often, one hand is raised and one is pointed down, and it is not unusual to find an infinity symbol above his head.)
The Magician represents hidden talents and abilities and the challenge to make them manifest. It indicates new opportunities, ones in which you will have to use and develop those hidden skills. All the tools are at your disposal, you merely need to put them to work to make your vision a reality.
Reversed, this card often indicates holding yourself back, or being held back by others and needing to overcome their influence.

The Empress
(This card usually depicts a pregnant woman, often holding some symbol of authority.)
The Empress is the Great Mother. She represents fertility, bringing things to fruition, of giving birth on some level. She nurtures and supports us, giving us the grounding to go forth and create on our own. This is also a card of emotional bonding, of accepting others for who and what they are. The Empress takes great pleasure in nurturing others, in giving of herself, and this card often indicates the onset of a more earthy, home-oriented phase of life.
Reversed, this card often indicates things not unfolding as they should, perhaps because they have been pushed too fast.

The Emperor
(This card usually depicts a mature man, often on a throne, holding a scepter and a globe.)
The Emperor is the Great Father. He represents foundation, ethics, and a solid base from which to build, as well as worldly power and domination. He is non-judgemental, able to love unconditionally, and able to accept others without compromise. He gives us the foundations to build upon. He challenges us to create something that outlasts us, something that can be passed on. It can be something physical, or it can refer to less tangible things, as the Emperor also represents law and ethics.
Reversed, this card often indicates foundations that are shakey, signalling that perhaps you need to go back and work on the basics before going further. Reversed, it can also indicate an encounter with someone who is less than ethical.

The High Priestess
(This card usually depicts a woman, often wearing a crescent moon on her brow, seated on a throne.
The High Priestess is the The Virgin in the original sense of the word -- a woman who is true to herself, who listens to the voice within and who does what her heart tells her is right.)
This card speaks of an encounter with the subconscious, of becoming aware of how subconscious patterns direct our behavior, which, in turn, leads us to understand and appreciate the powers of intuition. It indicates a need to go within to find answers, and to bring them back into the outside of world. The overall meaning of this card is to trust yourself.
Reversed, this card often indicates that you may know the answers, but that you are not acting on them, perhaps giving up your power in the process -- letting others tell you what to do.

The Hierophant
(Also called "The Pope," this card usually depicts a man on a throne, hand raised in a symbol of blessing, often with 2 acolytes praying in front of him.)
The Hierophant is a spiritual teacher. Some books assign "orthodoxy" as a meaning for this card, but that's not entirely the case. Depending on the context of the question, the Hierophant can indicate a break with tradition, as the Querent is seeking answers of a philosophical nature. Much like the High Priestess, the Hierophant deals with going within to find answers, but while The High Priestess is emotional/intuitive, The Hierophant is more rational and studious -- where she is "knowing," he is "learning," and this often takes the form of breaking with established ways of doing things, sometimes leading to a search for a "guru" of some sort. This is a card of spiritual values, a search for the meaning of life, and the formulation of a personal philosophy.
Reversed, this card often indicates someone who is afraid to step outside established bounds.

 

The Lovers
(This card usually depicts a man and woman, often naked, with an angel or cherub hovering above them.)
This is a card of choice, often between something spiritual versus physical/material concerns. There is a need to consider the options carefully, and to look thoroughly at the the ramifications of your choice.
Reversed, this card indicates choices made in haste, without considering where they will lead.

The Chariot
(This card usually depicts a chariot being drawn by 2 horses (or other animals), one black and one white, heading in opposite directions.)
The Chariot represents internal conflict, being pulled in two different directions at once. With energies thus divided, forward progress has come to a halt and there is a need to find a balance between conflicting desires in order to regain control of your life and be able to move forward again.
Reversed, this card usually indicates energies that are wildly scattered, and not harnesssed at all.

Justice
(This card usually depicts a woman, often blindfolded, with a balance scale in one hand and a sword in the other.)
Justice indicates a need for balanced thought, logic, and impartial decision-making, using your head and not your heart. This can be destructive to personal relationships, so one must liearn not only how to apply this lesson, but also when not to apply it.
Reversed, this card can indicate the need to loosen up, to lay down the sword and let mercy sway your decisions.

Temperance
(This card usually depicts an angel standing with one foot on land and one it a stream, pouring water from one goblet into another.)
Temperance is another card of balance, but rather than the balanced thought of Justice, Temperance deals with a balanced heart. This is a card of peace, harmony, serenity, and a smooth flow of feeling.
Reversed, this card can indicate stagnation, a need to find and face another challenge or life-lesson.

Strength
(This card usually depicts a woman stroking the head of a lion.)
Strength indicates learning to tame the lion within, to control the rage and senseless pride that lives within each of us. Taming the lion takes courage and self-discipline, but the rewards are an increased self-confidence, the ability to speak up when you need to, and a greater control of temper.
Reversed, this card can indicate pride out of control -- boasting, inflating the self. It can also idicate the opposite -- someone who has no concept of thier own self-worth, who is not willing to speak up for themselves. In either case, the lesson is the same -- to come to terms with the reality of your strength and power.

The Hermit
(This card usually depicts a robed and hooded figure in a desolate landscape. He carries a lantern, and is often accompanied by a crow or raven.)
The Hermit goes his own way, finding his own path into the unknown, following the light of his own vision as he journeys into understandiny and self-knowledge, discovering the wisdom of patience. Often, he finds himself being followed by others who have seen his light, and who want to follow him in hopes of being given answers rather than finding them for themselves.
Reversed, this card indicates a need to take some time to seek the silence, to find the light of your own inner vision.

 

The Wheel of Fortune
(This card usually depicts a spinning wheel with figures attached, some on the way up and some on the way down.)
"Life is change: growth is optional." The Wheel of Fortune tells us that we must make the most of what is given to us in order that we may grow and learn new lessons. It is a reminder that life is never static -- just as we are never on top for forever, so are we not always on the bottom. Every change of fortune brings with it the opportunity for new growth in a new phase of life.
Reversed, this card can indicate that things are taking a turn for the worse, temporary as that may be. It can also indicate that you are fighting against the lessons, rather than working through them.

The Hanged Man
(This card usually depicts a man suspended upside down, hands tied behind his back.)
The Hanged Man looks at things from a different perspective. This is a card of voluntary sacrifice, of giving something up in order to get something greater (like Odin on the World Tree, gaining knowledge of the Runes). This process of letting go requires placing a great deal of trust in the unseen, and this card indicates life in suspension, waiting to see the results of one's faith in the unknown
Reversed, this card can indicate an involuntary sacrifice, being forced to put your life on hold. It can also indicate the need to look at a problem from a different perspective.

Death
(There are so many variations of this card that it's hard to give even a general description. Most common, I suppose, is the hooded and robed figure with a scythe, or a skeleton with a scythe.)
This card does not mean you're going to die tomorrow; rather, Death indeicates an abrupt ending to a phase of life, and, since there is never an ending without a new beginning, Death also opens the door to new opportunities for growth. Death is a sudden change, unlike the more gradual change found in The Wheel of Fortune.
Reversed, this card often indicates something that has ended, but is still influencing your life. It needs to be buried, have the door closed so that you can move on.

Devil
(This card usually depicts a horned figure, much like the Christian devil, sitting on a throne, holding chains attached to a man and a woman who are dancing to the music he plays. There is usually a chest of gold and jewels present as well.) The Devil is a card of bondage -- to the material world, to the opinions of others, or to fear. It's not so much that these things hold you in bondage; rather, you hold yourself in bondage to them by giving them energy. The more energy you pour into these things -- either trying to get them or trying to hide them, the less energy you have for more creative pursuits. In essence, this card asks you to take a look at the ways you have sold yourself into slavery.
Reversed, this card can indicate being so caught up in material things that we are not even aware that we are being held back, much less by what. It is time for a spiritual house-cleaning...time to let go of some things that you are afraid of.

The Tower
(This card usually depicts a round tower in the process of falling apart. There is usually a figure being thrown from it, and often the tower is being struck by lightning.)
The Tower is about the total collapse of the current way of life. This card feels like your life has come crashing down around you, and it may make you feel like there is nowhere left to go. Once the dust settles, however, there is a whole world of new opportunities, as the total break-down of existing forms has left you with room to rebuild in bigger and better ways: more truthful ways, for the collapse of all the false fronts has forced you to face the truth, to look at how you have been deluding yourself by clinging to false images. Once all the walls are gone, you are free to go where ever you want.
Reversed, this card can indicate not seeing the big picture. (Granted, it's hard to see the big picture while hiding under your bed while wearing a hard-hat.) Don't fall into the trap of letting yourself wallow in self-pity...as seemingly destructive as this card is, it doesn't last forever.

 

The Star
(This card usually depicts a path leading into the distance, with a star hovering above it)
The Star is the star of hope and faith in the midst of difficulties, a promise of better things to come. It can be seen after the collapse of the Tower, and carries us through the rough spots.
Reversed, this card is a warning against blind faith and hope, without the necessary action to build on it.

The Moon
(This card usually depicts a full moon, reflected in a lake, being howled at by a wolf and a domestic dog, while a crab crawls out of the water. I sometimes refer to this card as "the PMS card.") <BRTHE
Reversed,it can indicate moodiness, acting from impulse, and doing things without knowing why.

 

The Sun
(This card usually depicts a laughing baby on a pony, with the sun shining brightly overhead.)
The Sun is clarity of vision and purpose, a renewal of optimism and resolve, as it is once again possible to see where you want to go, to understand the pattern, plan for the future, and move forward.
Reversed, this card indicates being unable to clearly see where you need to be, perhaps due to being blinded by the possibilities.

Judgement
(This card usually depicts an angel with a trumpet, summoning the dead from their graves.)
Judgement is a summation of past actions, and the reaping of rewards for those actions, either positive of negative. ("What goes around, comes around.") It is being called to accound for what you have done before. I think of it as a sort of balancing of your cosmic checkbook.
Reversed, this card can be an indication that you need to pay more attention to the way your actions affect others.

The World
(The World is the successful completion of a phase of life, the achievement and integration of the lessons you have been presented with. It is also the beginning of a new phase of life, to be built upon the lessons just learned. (Much like going on to the next grade of school.) Reversed, this card can indicate that the previous cycle has not yet fully completed, that there are still lessons that you need to integrate into your psyche.