Tarot Card Compatibility Calculator
For entertainment purposes only.
Compatibility by Position in the Major Arcana
The Major Arcana is the 22-card sequence at the heart of a tarot deck, running from The Fool (0) to The World (21) in a traditional order that many readers treat as a symbolic journey. This calculator takes that idea literally: it measures how close two chosen cards sit within the sequence and translates that numeric distance into a playful compatibility read, accounting for the fact that The Fool and The World sit at opposite ends but are often read as cyclically adjacent.
The Formula
Wrap Distance = 22 − Distance
Arcana Distance = min(Distance, Wrap Distance)
Compatibility = score by Arcana Distance tier
Scoring Tiers
| Arcana distance | Compatibility | Traditional read |
|---|---|---|
| 0 (same card) | 100% | A mirror match, reflecting shared energy and outlook |
| 1 (adjacent) | 90% | Numerically adjacent, suggesting a natural, flowing connection |
| 2–3 | 75% | Close in sequence, suggesting good compatibility with room to grow |
| 4–7 | 55% | A moderate distance, suggesting a balanced but evolving dynamic |
| 8–11 (max) | 35% | Far apart, suggesting a challenging but potentially complementary match |
Because the sequence wraps (The Fool and The World count as adjacent), the maximum possible Arcana Distance is 11, not 21 — half of the 22-card cycle.
The Major Arcana in Order
| Position | Card | Position | Card |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | The Fool | 11 | Justice |
| 1 | The Magician | 12 | The Hanged Man |
| 2 | The High Priestess | 13 | Death |
| 3 | The Empress | 14 | Temperance |
| 4 | The Emperor | 15 | The Devil |
| 5 | The Hierophant | 16 | The Tower |
| 6 | The Lovers | 17 | The Star |
| 7 | The Chariot | 18 | The Moon |
| 8 | Strength | 19 | The Sun |
| 9 | The Hermit | 20 | Judgement |
| 10 | Wheel of Fortune | 21 | The World |
Where This Gets Used
- Tarot-curious pairings — a lighthearted way to compare two significator or draw cards for a couple, friend pair, or collaboration.
- Journaling prompts — picking two cards intuitively and checking their sequence relationship is a common reflective exercise.
- Deck familiarity — browsing the full Major Arcana order is a quick way for newer readers to learn card sequence and names.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select the first Major Arcana card.
- Select the second Major Arcana card.
- Select Calculate to see the Arcana Distance and the resulting compatibility read.
Related Calculations
Try a birthdate-based compatibility read instead with the Zodiac Compatibility Calculator, or check the Angel Number Calculator for another symbolic lookup.