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The World

Major arcana, number 21

Upright

Completion and a full circle — a good place to close one chapter and open the next.

Reversed

The finish is not quite done — you are nearly there and deferring the last step.

ArcanaMajor
Number21

How to read this

  • The 22 major arcana speak of the large movements; the 56 minor arcana speak of the specific events inside them. Noticing which one you drew tells you the scale.
  • A minor card is read by combining suit and number: the suit says which area of life, the number says which stage within it.
  • Reversed is less an opposite than the same force blocked or overdone. Before flipping the meaning, look at where that force is actually going.
  • A card is a picture of the present situation, not a fixed future. The same card reads differently depending on what you asked.

Frequently asked questions

Q. What does the tarot card The World mean?

Upright: Completion and a full circle — a good place to close one chapter and open the next.

Q. What does The World mean reversed?

The finish is not quite done — you are nearly there and deferring the last step.

Q. Where does The World sit in the deck?

Major arcana, number 21

The 22 major arcana