A tarot deck is split into two parts: the major arcana cards and the minor arcana cards. The major arcana is a term for the first 22 cards of the deck (numbered 1-21, and one single unnumbered card), while the minor arcana represent the remaining 56 cards, which are split into four suits: Swords, Pentacles, Cups, Wands and Cups, per Mind Body Green Mindfulness. 

The major arcana cards are as follows: The Fool (which is often unnumbered, but sometimes numbered as 0); 1, or the Magician; 2, or the High Priestess; 3, or the Empress; 4, or the Emperor; 5, or the Hierophant; 6, or the Lovers; 7, or the chariot; 8, or Strength; 9, or the Hermit; 10, or the Wheel of Fortune; 11, or Justice; 12, or The Hanged Man; 13, or Death; 14, or Temperance; 15, or The Devil; 16, or The Tower; 17, or The Star; 18, or The Moon; 19, or The Sun; 20, or Judgement; and 21, or The World (via Tarot).

These 22 cards are thought to be the most recognizable in a tarot deck. They are also the most impactful cards you can see during a tarot reading as they represent the monumental situations we all face throughout our lifetimes, according to Tarot. A major arcana card also acts as the big picture during a reading, with all the other cards centering around that specific card(s) meaning, according to Biddy Tarot.