In this post, I shared the method I used to learn the universal and basic meanings of the tarot. It uses numerology, which consistently flows throughout the cards, giving beginners and experts a better understanding of how the tarot is structured. For this article, I wanted to talk in further detail about the suits themselves, and what they actually represent within the tarot.
If you were to completely remove the knights from the minor arcana of the tarot, then structurally, it would be identical to a standard deck of playing cards, each having four suits, numbered 0 (Ace) to 10, and a corresponding set of court cards: King, Queen and Page (known as Jack in modern playing cards). Of course, you wouldn't be wrong for thinking that, the playing cards we all know today, actually derived from the tarot, which is absolutely what happened. Tarot, before it became widely used as a divination tool, was actually a card game titled, Trumps, how it came to be an oracle isn't exactly known.
It is possible to conduct a reading using playing cards. Of course you would be loosing the major arcana, which most scholars agree is the most important part of the oracle, but if one wanted to divine with a standard pack of playing cards, then all you need to do is to treat the suits as follows:
Diamonds - Pentacles
Hearts - Cups
Spaces - Swords
Clubs - Wands
Hearts - Cups
Spaces - Swords
Clubs - Wands
So, playing cards aside, let us focus on the tarot's minor arcana. As discussed previously, it is comprises of 4 suits: Wands, Swords, Cups and Pentacles, each having ten cards (with numerical vales of 0 - 10), and four court cards (King, Queen, Knight and Page). The term, Minor Arcana, simply means, little secrets, and as that suggests, the lesser concerning aspects of our spiritual being. The minor arcana focuses on our physical and daily life, the material world and the people we meet within it. The major arcana (meaning, big secrets) foretells the journey of our soul and spirituality and reaching spiritual attainment. This is why it is traditionally considered the most important and powerful unit in the tarot. However, in our modern society, were money, jobs, possessions and relationships etc. Are at the forefront of our minds, the minor arcana is an extremely important part of the deck, if not more powerful than the major house, because of our disconnection to true spirituality and lack of interest in reaching attainment there. We are so money driven, focused on lovers, friends, bills and parties that if, during a reading I directed the attention to the clients spirituality, they would very likely be rather bored and disappointed, coming away with nothing memorable from the session. Thankfully, the minor arcana covers such a vast range of daily life events, that it connects us modern day beings to the tarot far greatly, because it covers the areas we want to know about most of all.
Wands
The suit of wands is governed by the fire element, which ignites action into our ideas. It depicts the story of man, finding his place in the community, settling in, making new friends and colleagues and finally he is burdened by too much responsibility and too many ideas, ending the cycle as he starts all over again.
The suit of wands is governed by the fire element, which ignites action into our ideas. It depicts the story of man, finding his place in the community, settling in, making new friends and colleagues and finally he is burdened by too much responsibility and too many ideas, ending the cycle as he starts all over again.
The wands are powerful cards, which tell us that there are a lot of ideas forming and seeds planting within the clients mind. Many wands in a spread indicate that they are ambitious, perhaps too ambitious. It may also be trying to tell us that they have a strong place in the community.
Fire is strong, powerful and can be extremely destructive, especially if it is fueled and left unattended to become out of control. If we throw too much in, the flames grow larger and stronger and will inevitably overpower us. Sometimes, the flames need to be tamed, and we need not go too far. The ten of wands shows ourselves when we are burdened with responsibility that we ultimately brought upon ourselves.
Cups
The suit of cups is governed by the air element, and is concerned with our spirituality on the earth plane and matters of the heart. Our spirit is what makes us love and hate; it also governs our preferences in an ideal partner. The suit depicts the story of the soul, and it's search for love and happiness in abundance. Early scenes show us that love can be found in unexpected places. After the usual trials and tests, we finally reach the end of the cycle, and the cards illustrate a perfect family unit, content and united.
Of course when one cycle ends, another begins, and if we pretend that there are further numerical values in the cups -- from 11 to 20 -- we would most likely see how the temptation of fidelity comes into play, and a potential breakdown of that said family unit.
Many cups in a spread would indicate that the client has love on his or her mind, or that they may be an emotional or sensitive personality. It could signify that, at the present time, they feel incredibly happy, but we must remember that too much of one thing is not healthy. Focus needs to shared out across over areas of our lives, or we can become disillusioned and living in a fantasy world.
The suit of cups is governed by the air element, and is concerned with our spirituality on the earth plane and matters of the heart. Our spirit is what makes us love and hate; it also governs our preferences in an ideal partner. The suit depicts the story of the soul, and it's search for love and happiness in abundance. Early scenes show us that love can be found in unexpected places. After the usual trials and tests, we finally reach the end of the cycle, and the cards illustrate a perfect family unit, content and united.
Of course when one cycle ends, another begins, and if we pretend that there are further numerical values in the cups -- from 11 to 20 -- we would most likely see how the temptation of fidelity comes into play, and a potential breakdown of that said family unit.
Many cups in a spread would indicate that the client has love on his or her mind, or that they may be an emotional or sensitive personality. It could signify that, at the present time, they feel incredibly happy, but we must remember that too much of one thing is not healthy. Focus needs to shared out across over areas of our lives, or we can become disillusioned and living in a fantasy world.
Swords
The suit of swords -- governed by the water element -- is an intricately complex unit of the minor arcana. It corresponds to our health, both physically and mentally, and how problems and strife have an effect on it. It should be treat delicately, as, let's face it, our health is of incredible importance to us, but often overlooked. Just as the water flows gently, the swords remind us that it can equally come cascading down around us like a waterfall, and completely overpower us. Many swords in a spread can indicate that the client has a lot of mental baggage and worries, and could possibly be in denial about pressing matters in their life. They may have become blinded to the truth and find themselves trapped with no obvious ways forward.
The Swords are often seen as holding the most negative cards in the whole of the tarot, but we should look beyond any negativity and pay attention to the advice that is given for example, The Ten of Swords may look bleak, but the tarot wants to tell us that, here is the end of the road, but the only way from here is up, things can't get no worse than this, only better.
The suit of swords -- governed by the water element -- is an intricately complex unit of the minor arcana. It corresponds to our health, both physically and mentally, and how problems and strife have an effect on it. It should be treat delicately, as, let's face it, our health is of incredible importance to us, but often overlooked. Just as the water flows gently, the swords remind us that it can equally come cascading down around us like a waterfall, and completely overpower us. Many swords in a spread can indicate that the client has a lot of mental baggage and worries, and could possibly be in denial about pressing matters in their life. They may have become blinded to the truth and find themselves trapped with no obvious ways forward.
The Swords are often seen as holding the most negative cards in the whole of the tarot, but we should look beyond any negativity and pay attention to the advice that is given for example, The Ten of Swords may look bleak, but the tarot wants to tell us that, here is the end of the road, but the only way from here is up, things can't get no worse than this, only better.
Pentacles
The suit of Pentacles is governed by the Earth element, and represents the aspects in life that ground and bound us to it. The unit covers all things physical -- the materialistic and financial matters in our lives -- our possessions and real estate, and how we feel during the process of financial growth and material gain. The suit depicts man's journey on the Earth plane, within the physical realm, from his foundations; planting the seeds he needs and carefully nurturing the plants as they grow, so that they can bare beautifully ripe fruits; which can then be sold to garner profit. There are ups and down, loss and gain, but with perseverance and hard work, the pentacles tells us that we will be rewarded.
Many Pentacles in a spread could tell us that the client is too focused on material possessions and financially driven. It could also indicate that they are wealthy and living a life of grandeur.
If the Devil card (XV) is among many pentacles in a spread, it is highly likely that the client is tied to the material world, is possibly a gambler and is obsessed by financial security. They may also be a shopaholic, and in debt as a result. The pentacles are a positive suit, however. The cards show us how we can reap the rewards of our efforts. The suit can tell us how we feel about our physical appearance and make up, which can have, either a positive effect on our life, or a negative one. The Pentacles shows us our place on planet Earth, the status of our wealth and the kind of property we own and/or live in.
The suit of Pentacles is governed by the Earth element, and represents the aspects in life that ground and bound us to it. The unit covers all things physical -- the materialistic and financial matters in our lives -- our possessions and real estate, and how we feel during the process of financial growth and material gain. The suit depicts man's journey on the Earth plane, within the physical realm, from his foundations; planting the seeds he needs and carefully nurturing the plants as they grow, so that they can bare beautifully ripe fruits; which can then be sold to garner profit. There are ups and down, loss and gain, but with perseverance and hard work, the pentacles tells us that we will be rewarded.
Many Pentacles in a spread could tell us that the client is too focused on material possessions and financially driven. It could also indicate that they are wealthy and living a life of grandeur.
If the Devil card (XV) is among many pentacles in a spread, it is highly likely that the client is tied to the material world, is possibly a gambler and is obsessed by financial security. They may also be a shopaholic, and in debt as a result. The pentacles are a positive suit, however. The cards show us how we can reap the rewards of our efforts. The suit can tell us how we feel about our physical appearance and make up, which can have, either a positive effect on our life, or a negative one. The Pentacles shows us our place on planet Earth, the status of our wealth and the kind of property we own and/or live in.
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