Major Arcana Yoga: 22 Poses for the Fool's Journey

BY NICOLE LAU

The Major Arcana of the Tarot is a map of the soul's journey from innocence to enlightenment, from The Fool stepping off the cliff into the unknown to The World dancing in cosmic completion. These 22 cards represent the archetypal experiences every human soul encounters on the path to wholeness: the teacher, the lover, the shadow, the death, the rebirth, the awakening.

Yoga, too, is a journey of the soul—a path from separation to union, from ignorance to enlightenment, from the limited self to the infinite Self. When we map the Major Arcana onto yoga practice, we create a powerful system for embodying these archetypal energies, for moving through the Fool's Journey not just intellectually or spiritually, but physically and energetically.

This article presents a complete 22-pose sequence that takes you through the entire Major Arcana, from 0 (The Fool) to 21 (The World). Each pose embodies the essence of its corresponding card, allowing you to experience the archetypal journey in your body. This is yoga as initiation, as spiritual storytelling, as a physical pilgrimage through the landscape of the soul.

Whether you're a tarot reader, a yoga practitioner, or simply a seeker on the path, this sequence will help you embody the wisdom of the Major Arcana and walk the Fool's Journey with your whole being.

Understanding the Fool's Journey

The Major Arcana tells a story in three acts:

Act I: The Conscious Realm (Cards 0-7)

The Fool encounters the external world and learns to navigate it through various archetypal figures and experiences.

Act II: The Subconscious Realm (Cards 8-14)

The Fool turns inward, facing shadow, death, and transformation. This is the dark night of the soul.

Act III: The Superconscious Realm (Cards 15-21)

The Fool transcends duality, awakens to cosmic truth, and achieves enlightenment and integration.

Our yoga sequence will move through all three acts, embodying each card's energy through a specific pose.

The Major Arcana Yoga Sequence

This 90-minute sequence can be practiced as a complete journey, or you can work with individual cards/poses as needed.

Act I: The Conscious Realm - Meeting the World

0. The Fool - Mountain Pose with Arms Open (Tadasana Variation)

• Stand at the edge of your mat
• Feet together, arms open wide
• Gaze forward with innocent wonder
• One foot slightly lifted, ready to step into the unknown
• Energy: Innocence, new beginnings, trust, leap of faith
• Affirmation: "I trust the journey."
• Hold for 5 breaths

1. The Magician - Warrior I (Virabhadrasana I)

• Step forward into warrior I
• Arms overhead, one hand pointing up, one down
• "As above, so below"
• Energy: Manifestation, willpower, skill, "I have all the tools I need"
• Affirmation: "I am the creator of my reality."
• Hold for 5 breaths

2. The High Priestess - Seated Meditation (Easy Pose)

• Sit in easy pose
• Hands in prayer at third eye
• Eyes closed, turning inward
• Energy: Intuition, inner knowing, mystery, the subconscious
• Affirmation: "I trust my inner wisdom."
• Hold for 10 breaths

3. The Empress - Reclined Bound Angle (Supta Baddha Konasana)

• Lie back, soles of feet together
• Hands on belly and heart
• Completely receptive and nurturing
• Energy: Abundance, fertility, nurturing, Mother Earth
• Affirmation: "I am abundant and creative."
• Hold for 10 breaths

4. The Emperor - Chair Pose (Utkatasana)

• Stand, sit back into chair pose
• Arms overhead or forward
• Strong, structured, commanding
• Energy: Authority, structure, leadership, the Father
• Affirmation: "I am the authority in my life."
• Hold for 8 breaths

5. The Hierophant - Seated Forward Fold (Paschimottanasana)

• Sit with legs extended
• Fold forward in reverence
• Bow to tradition and teaching
• Energy: Tradition, teaching, spiritual authority, conformity
• Affirmation: "I honor the wisdom of tradition."
• Hold for 10 breaths

6. The Lovers - Partner Pose or Heart Opener

• If with partner: back-to-back seated twist
• If alone: camel pose (heart wide open)
• Opening to love and connection
• Energy: Love, union, choice, relationship, harmony
• Affirmation: "I choose love."
• Hold for 8 breaths

7. The Chariot - Warrior II (Virabhadrasana II)

• Strong warrior II stance
• Arms extended like reins
• Gaze fierce and focused
• Energy: Willpower, determination, victory, control
• Affirmation: "I am focused and victorious."
• Hold for 8 breaths each side

Act II: The Subconscious Realm - The Inner Journey

8. Strength - Lion's Pose (Simhasana)

• Kneel, hands on thighs
• Inhale deeply, exhale with lion's breath
• Tongue out, roar from the belly
• Energy: Inner strength, courage, taming the beast within
• Affirmation: "I am strong and courageous."
• Repeat 5 times

9. The Hermit - Child's Pose (Balasana)

• Fold into child's pose
• Arms alongside body or extended
• Turn completely inward
• Energy: Solitude, introspection, inner light, wisdom
• Affirmation: "I find wisdom in solitude."
• Hold for 15 breaths

10. Wheel of Fortune - Wheel Pose (Urdhva Dhanurasana)

• Full backbend, heart lifted high
• Or bridge pose if wheel not accessible
• Embrace the ups and downs
• Energy: Cycles, fate, change, what goes up must come down
• Affirmation: "I flow with life's cycles."
• Hold for 5 breaths, repeat 2-3 times

11. Justice - Tree Pose (Vrksasana)

• Balance on one leg
• Hands in prayer at heart
• Perfect equilibrium
• Energy: Balance, fairness, karma, cause and effect
• Affirmation: "I am balanced and fair."
• Hold for 8 breaths each side

12. The Hanged Man - Legs Up the Wall (Viparita Karani)

• Inversion, seeing from new perspective
• Surrender, let go of control
• Hang in suspension
• Energy: Surrender, new perspective, sacrifice, letting go
• Affirmation: "I surrender and see differently."
• Hold for 5-10 minutes

13. Death - Savasana (Corpse Pose)

• Lie completely still
• Practice conscious death
• Let the old self die
• Energy: Transformation, endings, rebirth, letting go
• Affirmation: "I release what no longer serves."
• Hold for 10 breaths, then slowly return

14. Temperance - Dancer's Pose (Natarajasana)

• Balance on one leg
• Hold opposite foot behind
• Perfect balance of opposites
• Energy: Balance, moderation, alchemy, integration
• Affirmation: "I find balance in all things."
• Hold for 5 breaths each side

Act III: The Superconscious Realm - Awakening and Integration

15. The Devil - Malasana (Garland Pose/Squat)

• Deep squat, hands in prayer
• Grounded in the shadow
• Face your attachments
• Energy: Shadow, addiction, bondage, materialism
• Affirmation: "I face my shadow with courage."
• Hold for 10 breaths

16. The Tower - Falling Triangle to Standing (Controlled Fall)

• From triangle pose, mindfully release to standing
• Or practice controlled fall from standing
• Embrace the breakdown
• Energy: Sudden change, destruction, revelation, breakthrough
• Affirmation: "I embrace necessary destruction."
• Flow through 3 times

17. The Star - Star Pose (Utthita Tadasana)

• Stand with legs wide, arms extended
• Body forms a five-pointed star
• Gaze up, receive cosmic light
• Energy: Hope, inspiration, healing, divine guidance
• Affirmation: "I am guided by the stars."
• Hold for 8 breaths

18. The Moon - Crescent Moon Pose (Anjaneyasana)

• Low lunge, arms overhead in crescent
• Honor the mystery and illusion
• Trust your intuition
• Energy: Illusion, intuition, the subconscious, dreams
• Affirmation: "I trust what I cannot see."
• Hold for 8 breaths each side

19. The Sun - Upward-Facing Dog (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana)

• Chest lifted, heart open to the sun
• Radiant, joyful, illuminated
• Shine your light
• Energy: Joy, success, vitality, enlightenment
• Affirmation: "I shine my light."
• Hold for 5 breaths, repeat 3 times

20. Judgement - Shoulder Stand (Sarvangasana)

• Inversion, rising up
• Answering the call
• Resurrection and renewal
• Energy: Awakening, calling, resurrection, rebirth
• Affirmation: "I answer my highest calling."
• Hold for 10 breaths

21. The World - Final Savasana with Visualization

• Lie in savasana
• Visualize yourself dancing in the cosmic mandala
• Complete, whole, integrated
• The journey is complete, and begins again
• Energy: Completion, integration, cosmic consciousness, wholeness
• Affirmation: "I am whole. I am complete. I am one with all."
• Hold for 15-20 minutes

How to Practice This Sequence

Complete Journey (90 minutes)

• Practice all 22 poses in order
• Move slowly, honoring each archetype
• Reflect on the card's meaning as you hold the pose
• This is a full spiritual journey—give it time and reverence

Three-Act Practice (30 minutes each)

• Practice one act at a time over three days
• Day 1: Cards 0-7 (Conscious realm)
• Day 2: Cards 8-14 (Subconscious realm)
• Day 3: Cards 15-21 (Superconscious realm)

Single Card Focus

• Pull a tarot card for guidance
• Practice that card's corresponding pose
• Hold for extended time (5-10 minutes)
• Meditate on the card's wisdom

Personal Journey Mapping

• Identify where you are in your life journey
• Practice the poses corresponding to that phase
• Work with the cards you're currently experiencing

Deepening the Practice

With Tarot Cards

• Place the corresponding tarot card in front of you
• Gaze at it before and during the pose
• Let the imagery inform your practice

With Journaling

• After each pose, journal about the archetype
• What does this card mean in your life right now?
• What wisdom does it offer?

With Meditation

• After the physical practice, meditate on the journey
• Visualize yourself as The Fool, walking the path
• Receive any insights or messages

The Wisdom of Each Card

The Fool teaches: Trust the journey, even when you can't see the path.

The Magician teaches: You have all the tools you need within you.

The High Priestess teaches: Your intuition knows the way.

The Empress teaches: Abundance flows when you nurture and create.

The Emperor teaches: Structure and discipline create freedom.

The Hierophant teaches: Honor tradition while finding your own truth.

The Lovers teach: Every choice is an act of love or fear.

The Chariot teaches: Willpower and focus lead to victory.

Strength teaches: True power is gentle and compassionate.

The Hermit teaches: Wisdom comes from turning inward.

Wheel of Fortune teaches: Everything changes; flow with the cycles.

Justice teaches: Balance and fairness restore harmony.

The Hanged Man teaches: Surrender brings new perspective.

Death teaches: Endings are necessary for new beginnings.

Temperance teaches: Balance and moderation create alchemy.

The Devil teaches: Face your shadow to reclaim your power.

The Tower teaches: Sometimes things must fall apart to be rebuilt better.

The Star teaches: Hope and healing are always available.

The Moon teaches: Trust your intuition through the darkness.

The Sun teaches: Joy and success are your birthright.

Judgement teaches: Answer your highest calling.

The World teaches: You are whole, complete, and one with all.

Completing the Circle

When you finish The World (card 21), you return to The Fool (card 0). The journey is complete, and it begins again. This is the eternal cycle of growth, death, and rebirth.

Each time you walk the Fool's Journey, you do so from a higher level of consciousness. The spiral continues upward, always returning to the beginning, but never to the same place.

Your yoga practice is this spiral. Each time you step on your mat, you are The Fool, stepping into the unknown. Each practice is a complete journey from innocence to enlightenment. And each time, you return transformed.

Moving Forward

In our next article, we'll dive deep into The Hanged Man Asana: Inversions and Perspective Shifts—exploring how inversions in yoga embody the wisdom of The Hanged Man card.

But for now, walk the Fool's Journey. Embody each archetype. Let the Major Arcana teach you through your body, not just your mind.

You are The Fool. You are The Magician. You are every card in the deck. The entire journey lives within you.

Step off the cliff. Trust the journey. Walk the path. You are the Fool, and the Fool is wise.