Breaking Down to Basics: 56 Minor Arcana

DISCLAIMER: My first set of cards were granted to me by my mother, the same woman who gave me my first astrology book: a great, weathered tome documenting each day of the year in remarkable detail, featuring sections on career, friendships, romance, personality, and general fortune, with each date having its own two-page spread. I studied astrology long before I learned about tarot, so my practice is heavily influenced by it and its psychosocial concepts of group identification and symbolism. I say this to acknowledge that not everyone needs to use the principles or traits of astrology in their readings, but my blog will refer to planets and symbols of the practice. I also want to acknowledge that tarot has a LOT of moving parts that I simply won’t be able to address in one blog. So, don’t worry if I leave you with questions; instead, use that confusion to inspire you to read on. I wanted to start with the Minor Arcana last week, but I also don’t want these posts to get too long. Hopefully, you can stick with me on this complex but very imaginative ride.

 

~~~

The Minor Arcana: 1 of 2 Parts

To begin, all tarot cards follow a common structure of 78 cards split into two primary groups: the Major Arcana (22 cards) and the Minor Arcana (56 cards). It’s likely you’re familiar with the latter which, simplified, make up the playing deck of cards most people are used to using: 4 suits, Ace to 10 and the 4 royal cards. We’ll be going over suits, numbers, and common themes for many of the cards, but not all.

 

The 4 suits are Wands, Pentacles, Swords, and Cups. They may go under some other names in modern decks or in other cultures, but in accordance with the Rider-Waite tradition of tarot, we will assume these. Though this style is relatively recent, it is most common and thus most accessible to Western practitioners.

 

Each of these suits has:

1)      1. an element (or season)

2)      2. an aspect and

3)      3. a speed 

associated with them as well as more specific details and connotations that vary by deck style or theme. In general, though, these 3 basic elements describe the suits and their meanings. Wands are associated with fire, spirituality, and are the second fastest of the suits. Pentacles (or coins) are associated with earth, physical resources, and are the slowest of the suits. Swords are associated with air, logic and thought, and are the fastest of the suits. Cups are associated with water, emotions, and are the second slowest. We’ll go into more detail about these suits in another blog. For now, knowing these basic associations is good enough.

Crunching Numbers - Just Kidding, There is No Math*

Within each suit, there are 14 cards. “Ace” is used as the “1” card, and the royal cards do not have numbers. Each of the numbered cards represents a specific relationship or experience, and the specific connotation or context of the experience lies within the suit. Don’t worry if that sounds confusing. I’ll explain using “3” as an example:

 

-          -3 is a smaller number, and so it suggests something that is either in its early stages of development or part of our youth.  

-          -3 generally represents balance and the cycle of life on a basic and fundamental level: [the maiden, mother, crone triad], the Holy Trinity, the harmony of a musical triad, and so on.

-          -3 is a divine and sacred number in many religions.

-          -3 is the result of the combination of 2 separate things into a new, third thing; it is the number of creation, conception, and growth.

-          -In many cultures, 3 is linked to children or childbirth.

 

These are the general aspects of the number “3”. Now, let’s combine them to the aspects of the suits.

 

-          -3 of Wands suggests the birth of a new idea, passion or faith. It may also represent a new partnership, aid, or guide coming into your life that will leave lasting impacts on your perspective. Strong elements of destiny, the extension of a helping hand.

-          -3 of Cups suggests the birth of a new friendship, flirtation, or social connection. You’ve recently met someone or experienced deepening of a relationship in its early stages. Can also suggest childhood friends, healthy social safety nets, or an abundance of loved ones/a healthy community. In summary, “emotional or social abundance”.

-          -3 of Pentacles suggests craftsmanship, artistic or artisanal ability, attention to detail, and creative effort. It is the birth of a physical project, be that construction, art, or some other endeavor involving technical skill. This usually implies working with one’s hands, but it could be anything involving a great deal of skill, creativity, and effort. In summary: artistic ability and effort birthing desirable creations.

-          -3 of Swords suggests the start of a separation; while it seems like the opposite of creation, without destructive forces, there would be little room for growth. You’re experiencing grief, heartbreak, sorrow after a loss, betrayal, or unfortunate outcome. In a single word, “separation”.

 

As you can see, while the theme of a beginning or creation of something was consistent, the overall themes and moods of each suit changed the interpretation significantly. Suits give context for how soon we can expect something, and if that topic will affect our minds, bodies, spirits, or hearts. You might wonder why the Swords interpretation is negative while the others are positive: Swords are sharp and cut to the truth, which is often painful but necessary. Not all Swords are negative, but all swords serve distinct and rigid purposes. Think of getting medical care: we have to cut away the infected tissue to properly heal. 

 

Don’t worry if you still don’t understand the meanings or how it works quite yet. We’ll dive deeper into this topic in other articles, and I will post a key with meanings for the cards (as I have come to discover them).

The Royal Court of the Minor Arcana

Within each suit there are also royal cards, each representing a particular archetype. While “queen” and “king” imply gender, they really represent feminine and masculine tendencies that can be present in any individual. Basically, just because you pull a Queen of Wands does not mean the reading is about a woman. I recommend instead considering the “vibes”. Let me explain.

 

   Think of a person near you who is fierce and unafraid, the person who will unapologetically correct people and enforce their sense of justice. This person is incredibly protective of their loved ones, almost to the point of being overbearing. They are a disciplined individual who gets projects done efficiently, and they seem emotionally impenetrable. This person has a mission in the world, and they are unafraid to achieve it. In fact, they are willing to drag people up with them to success. No matter how rough they seem, they are always working to make things better for everyone around them.

 

This energetic feeling falls under “Queen of Wands”. Who came to mind for you? For me, my mom always comes through in this card. You may find that certain individuals remind you of specific cards; note this and use it! It can help you to show the roles people play in your life and how their energies affect you.

Within the royal court, there is a Page, a Knight, a Queen, and a King. Sometimes, the Page and Knight are substituted for the Princess and Prince respectively. Kings are equated to authority and mastery, and Queens are very similar with some key differences relating to expression of said authority: Kings assert while Queens guide. Knights are interested in adventure and pursuit, and they model commitment to a purpose or goal. Pages are curious but highly intelligent newcomers seeking to create a name for themselves in a particular field of interest. All royals have a special quality to them; think of the people in your life who inspire you, who take on great responsibility, or who have incredible ambitions or dreams. Royal cards suggest that you are a powerhouse and are operating within your element, but they also indicate certain drawbacks related to personal tendencies or experiences that influence you. 

For example, a Knight of Pentacles indicates a person in their prime actively making moves and growing in a financial or career-related endeavor. These individuals are entrepreneurial, pragmatic, meticulous, fearless, and highly ambitious. At the same time, they are largely inflexible, inaccessible to loved ones, overly committed, and tend toward workaholism. 

Final Thoughts

This is already long enough, but there's so much more to say; I'll try to include more details in another post. If you're curious, I'll link plenty of further readings to explore more. And, I'm working on a key with each card meaning for you guys to reference, which I plan to post separate from a blog assignment. 

There is so much symbolism in these cards, and once you start noticing archetypal patterns, you will begin to see them everywhere. Ana Castillo's So Far From God is a wonderful book that plays with tarot in many ways with her characters using the practice directly and also being built by its archetypes. I recommend it 12/10. 

Thanks for reading if you got this far!!

*Numerology is NOT traditional math nor is it recognized by mathematicians. It uses ancient methods of numerical reduction under Pythagorean principles and related schools of thought. I probably won't talk too much about it, so if you're interested, check out other blogs related to the subject!

Photo taken by me, and Table created by me :)