Lesson 6 Minor Arcana
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Understanding the cards of the Minor Arcana
The remaining fifty-six cards of the deck are divided into four suites - pentacles, wands, swords, and cups. These cards generally represent what is happening in your daily life and comprise the minor themes in your readings.
Wands symbolize fire, creativity, and passion. Often these cards speak to life purpose, spirituality, and the creation of new ideas. In a deck of playing cards, Wands corresponds with the Clubs cards. Fire is symbolic of passion, sexuality, destruction and masculine energy.
Swords symbolize air and intellect. Thoughts, words, and assertive action are all indicated with various Swords cards. In a deck of playing cards, Swords corresponds with the Spades cards. The symbol of air is invisible yet powerful. It relates to knowledge, action, and power.
Pentacles symbolize Earth, work, and money. Finances, work life, and material processions are common themes in which Pentacles cards appear. In a deck of playing cards, Pentacles corresponds with the Diamonds cards. The element of earth is receptive and nurturing, full of feminine energy and life.
Cups symbolize water and emotion. Feelings, intuition and creativity are also symbolized by Cups cards in a tarot reading. In a deck of playing cards, Cups corresponds with the Hearts cards. The symbol of water found commonly throughout the Cups suit is associated with emotions, fluidity, intuition, and our relationships.
Each suit contains ten numbered cards and four court cards - King, Queen, Knight, and Page. Here are some of the generalized meanings for each of the number cards found within the suits.
Ace - New beginnings, new ideas
Two - Balance, pairings, partnerships, equality
Three - Friendship, cooperation, creativity, learning
Four - Complacency, rest, boredom
Five - Conflict, disagreements, confusion, transactions
Six - Love, joy, happiness, success
Seven - Intuition, skill-knowledge, deeper understanding
Eight - Action, progress, moving forward, breakthroughs
Nine - Achievement, satisfaction
Ten - Awakening, new beginnings
When a tarot spread contains mostly Minor Arcana cards, look at your day to day life as you interpret the cards and draw out their meaning.
My favorite tarot deck
I love these waterproof, golden tarot cards. This is the set I use daily for their beauty and durability. They are very easy to shuffle, and contain classic imagery.
