Ruling Arcana
The Arcana form the foundation of the Tarot deck and consists of twenty-one numbered cards and one unnumbered card (the Fool, which is either 0 or 22 in some decks). They represent a path to spiritual self-awareness and depict the various stages we encounter as we search for greater meaning and understanding. In this way, they hold deeply meaningful lessons. In the world of Persona, the Major Arcana cards represent Carl Jung’s archetypes – consistent, directing patterns of influence that are an inherent part of human nature. They are themes which mark, portray and symbolise stages in our psyche whereby we aim to become a balanced and integrated person. Along this journey, we encounter challenges, face adversity, perform labours, make hard decisions and fight opposing forces. Each step of the way brings us closer to enlightenment. This is often referred to as the journey of the Fool. A person's life may be influenced by many different arcana but they are usually attuned to one Arcana more than others. This ruling arcana dominates their life. All currently known Shadows are born from one of the Arcana.
1 The Magician
The Magician has, in the right hand, a golden ball, in the left a stick [wand]. The hat makes an eight [infinity sign]. The bearing of the hand shows right activity, left passivity. Sign of force, stability, self. He has all the symbols before him. An ongoing theme that is related to all Magician Arcana Social Links is the tragedy that befalls the social link character related to their romantic interest.
Virtues: Fortitude, Prudence
Vices: Envy, Lust
Favored Aspects: Agi, Genso
2 The High Priestess
Sitting Priestess. She wears a veil. On her knees is a book. This book is open. She stands in connection with the moon. Occult wisdom. Passive, eternal woman. Individuals associated with the Priestess Arcana are usually quiet, reserved, and very intelligent. They are often modest and shy, and won't open up to the protagonist until much later in their Social Links as compared with other characters.
Virtues: Hope, Temperance
Vices: Greed, Envy
Favored Aspects: Agi, Hama
3 The Empress
Empress with wings. In the right hand she has an eagle, in the left a scepter. She has a crown with 12 stones. Eagle as a symbol of soul and life. Feminine activity. Fruitfulness, goddess. Within the Persona universe, the Empress Arcana often belongs to women of authority or wise and motherly figures
Virtues: Fortitude, Hope
Vices: Sloth, Gluttony
Favored Aspects: Bufu, Hama
4 The Emperor
Emperor sitting in profile. In the right hand he is holding the scepter. He wears a helmet with 12 stones. The legs are crossed. Will, force, reality, duty, brightness. Within the Persona universe, characters of the Emperor Arcana are often male leaders or father figures (or both). Typically, the King of a mythological pantheon is of the Emperor Arcana.
Virtues: Hope, Justice
Vices: Greed, Pride
Favored Aspects: He, Zio
5 The Hierophant
The Hierophant leans on a three fax[sic - triple?] cross. The two columns are standing on the right as law, on the left liberty. Two men are kneeling before him: one is red, the other black. Will, religion, fate [faith?], Self, center. Characters of the Hierophant Arcana are often older, and are typically quite wise and logical. The most common connection between Hierophant characters, however, is their association (and obsession) with the past.
Virtues: Prudence, Temperance
Vices: Wrath, Lust
Favored Aspects: Don, Genso
6 The Lovers
The young man stands in a corner where two streets come together. The woman on the right has a golden garland on her head. The woman on the left is wreathed with a vine. Beauty, cross-road, way inward or outward. A commonality among individuals of the Lovers Arcana is their popularity and their emphasis on social interaction. Lovers characters are almost always the "popular" ones. Lover's are often at a crossroads in life.
Virtues: Charity, Faith
Vices: Lust, Envy
Favored Aspects: Hama , Ki
7 The Chariot
Conqueror with coronet. He has three angle [right angles on his cuirass]. In his hand is a scepter. Arrow and weapon arm [right hand?]. Actively going toward his fate. He has a goal, achieving victory. Activity, extraversion. Inflation. Characters who are of the Chariot Arcana are typically very driven individuals, who have a personal goal that they aim to achieve at any cost. It is not uncommon for Chariot characters to be short-tempered or aggressive.
Virtues: Fortitude, Justice
Vices: Wrath, Greed
Favored Aspects: Agi, He
8 Justice
Sitting woman with a coronet. In the right hand she has a sword, in the left, a balance [scales]. Compensation between nature and the force of a man. Justice, compensation. Conflict with the law. Commonly, characters of the Justice Arcana are concerned with matters of fairness, and otherwise are very stoic individuals.
Virtues: Temperance, Justice
Vices: Pride, Wrath
Favored Aspects: Garu, Hama
9 The Hermit
An old man walks with a stick [staff]. Wisdom as symbolized by the lamp. Protection with the overcoat. Cleverness, love, introversion. Wisdom. Hermit Arcana characters share the commonality of placing themselves in situations that hide them from the public eye. Hermit individuals hide away from others or act in more supportive roles rather than putting themselves in the spotlight.
Virtues: Prudence, Fortitude
Vices: Gluttony, Envy
Favored Aspects: Genso, Ki
10 Wheel of Fortune
Sphinx holding a sword. Wheel symbolizing endlessness. Finger as a sign of command. Human being as ball [circumference?] of the wheel of fortune. Luck/misfortune. Bearers of the Fortune Arcana are usually individuals who are aware of their fates, and attempt to seize their own destiny in spite of their seemingly-locked fates. Thus, they are typically involved with making important choices and decisions.
Virtues: Faith, Fortitude
Vices: Sloth, Envy
Favored Aspects: Garu, Zio
11 Strength
A young girl opens the mouth of a lion. The girl has the sign of vitality on her hat. Liberty, strength. A commonality between characters of the Strength Arcana is their strength of heart. Strength characters are not upset easily and typically portray the fortitude that the Strength card represents in readings.
Virtues: Charity, Temperance
Vices: Wrath, Pride
Favored Aspects: Garu,He
12 The Hanged Man
The hands of this man on in back. The eyes are open. The right leg is crossed. On the right and left a trunk of a tree. Turning back [enantiodromia?], powerless, sacrifice, test, proof. Face against the sky. Hanged Man characters are sometimes self-sacrificial, but are more often notable for being caught between two different extremes, parties, or stages in life.
Virtues: Charity, Fortitude
Vices: Sloth, Pride
Favored Aspects: Don, He
13 Death
A skeleton in a field with heads and fingers. Death and regeneration. The Psyche should not take [the] place, the Self has to take [the] place. New standpoint, liberation, end. Characters of the Death Arcana are often associated directly with death, but a commonality that connects all Death Arcana characters is the cycles of change they experience.
Virtues: Faith, Fortitude
Vices: Sloth, Gluttony
Favored Aspects: Don, Mudo
14 Temperance
Young girl pours water from one jug in the other. The sun gives the liquid of life from a golden in[to] a silver jug. Movement, consciousness, natural growth. Characters of the Temperance Arcana are often struggling to find a balance in their lives and in their hobbies.
Virtues: Hope, Temperance
Vices: Wrath, Greed
Favored Aspects: Bufu, Don
15 The Devil
The right hand of the Devil is raised to the sky, the left points to the earth. Two persons are under him. He holds the torch as a sign of black magic. Fate, Shadow, emotion. Human characters associated with the Devil Arcana are often "devilish" individuals; they can be greedy, proud, lusty, or otherwise of poor character. It is not uncommon for Devil Arcana characters to have somewhat antisocial tendencies, often not caring much for the needs or well-being of others.
Virtues: Prudence, Justice
Vices: Lust, Greed
Favored Aspects: Agi, Ki
16 The Tower
Burning tower. Hospital, prison, struck by lightning. Sacrifice. Bearers of the Tower Arcana can be arrogant, and typically find themselves in bad situations where they themselves have fallen from grace.
Virtues: Temperance, Faith
Vices: Pride, Sloth
Favored Aspects: Mudo, Zio
17 The Star
A naked woman spills water from two jugs. Around the girl are seven stars. The Self shines, stars of fate, night, dreams. Hope. The Self is born in the stars. Union with the eternal. Characters of the Star Arcana embody their arcana's traits of hopefulness and joy.
Virtues: Faith, Hope
Vices: Gluttony, Sloth
Favored Aspects: Bufu, Garu
18 The Moon
In the middle of a field is a dog and a wolf. A crayfish comes out of the water. It is night. The door to the unconscious is open. The crayfish likes to go the shore. The light is indirect. Characters who are of the Moon Arcana are often similarly psychically-attuned, but a more common trend is their projection of their own fears and faults onto others (namely, the protagonist).
Virtues: Prudence, Faith
Vices: Envy, Greed
Favored Aspects: Genso, Ki
19 The Sun
Two naked girls. The sun shines on the children. Drops of gold fall on the earth. The Self is ruling the situation. Consciousness. Enlightenment. Characters of the Sun Arcana almost always (ironically) find themselves in terrible situations, the situation betrays the underlying optimism present in nearly all of them.
Virtues: Temperance, Hope
Vices: Lust, Envy
Favored Aspects: Agi, Hama
20 Judgement/Aeon
An angel with fiery wings, an open grave in the earth. Birth of the Self. Inspiration, liberation. A common theme for characters representing this Arcana is their attempts to fully understand themselves, as well as the world around them.
Virtues: Justice, Charity
Vices: Pride, Sloth
Favored Aspects: Hama , Mudo
21 The World/The Universe
Naked woman, her legs are crossed. In the four corners we have the angel, the lion, the bull and the eagle. Completion, finishing. In the world but not from the world. Not available to players at character creation. When a character achieves Identity 10 they embody the World Arcana and are capable of incredible feats
0 The Fool
A man who doesn’t take care on his way. Beginning and end. The fool has no home in this world; the home is in heaven. Dreamer, mystic side. Not available to players
