meaning difference between major and minor arcana

Some card meanings of the major and minor arcana are partly overlapping. The Magician may refer to theft, but so does the 8 of Wands. The Priestess may refer to change, but so does the 2 of Disks. The Empress may refer to beauty, but so does the Ace of Cups. The Emperor may refer to dominion, but so does the 2 of Wands.

According to the books the trumps refer to things that are outside our control, and the minors to things within our control. But is this also the way it works out in practise?

Every card has aspects of meanings, and there are many overlaps. No card means only one word: beauty or theft.

The Empress also "means" (better: points to the direction) of abundance, productivity, female control, friendliness, empathy, nature, pregnancy...

The Ace of Cups shows that there are emotions at play, new beginnings, a gift...

So you have to get to know every card very well to understand it better. Like when you enter a new work place and in the beginning, everybody looks the same...

Major arcana usually refer to strong principal powers of life, minor arcana to situations, challenges, feelings, people or aspects of ourselves.

Every card should be read against the background of the question, its position in the spread, and the other cards that surround it. Ideally, we have already a history with the card, wrote it down in our journal, and can now check: the last time the Empress appeared in my reading, my role as mother was concerned...

The more rounded and full your grasp of card is, the clearer can you see the nuances of its message.