Lesson 5 - Minor Arcana

[Amethyst Rose]

The Minor Arcana

The typical tarot deck is composed of 4 suits, each with 14 cards. The four suits - cups, coins, swords and wands each have elemental associations that can be attributed to them. It's easier to remember the meanings of card when you understand their elemental associations as well. For example, the element water is associated with emotion, and so are the cups. The only confusion here is if you switch elements between swords and wands, which we've briefly discussed earlier. (NOTE: What I teach is on basis of Wands=fire, Swords=Air, because that is what I know). Not only can you divide the minor arcana up into elements, but into male and female cards, and "good" and "bad" cards. I don't like using the terms good and bad...maybe positive and negative would be better.... it's the difference between one card talking of a loving relationship, and another card speaking of betrayal in a relationship.

As to the difference between male and female cards, this is also divided between suits. Cups and Coins (or Pentacles) are female and Swords and Wands are male. So, what am I talking about when I divide them like this? It's basically a difference in characteristics. The feminine brings for the spark of life and it's potential, while the male provides the action that moves that life forward. Yes, this means that the Minor Arcana also have a progression through the cards, as does the Major Arcana with the Fool's Journey. I'll talk about that in a minute.

As for "good and "bad" cards, here is a basic chart:


Card # | Pentacles | Wands | Cups | Swords

1.................G..............G............G...........G
2.................G..............G............G...........G
3.................G..............G............G...........B
4 ................B..............G.............B..........G
5.................B..............B.............B...........B
6.................G..............G.............G..........G
7.................B..............B..............B...........B
8.................G..............G.............B...........B
9.................G..............G.............G...........B
10...............G...............G............G............B

You'll notice that the suit of the Swords gets a bad rap, as do 5's and 7's, but without the bad, how would we recognize the good?

Okay, card progession.... Aces are always about new beginnings, and they announce the theme of the suit. In my deck, the ace of cups has a baby cupid holding a red rose (love and passion), and a dove (peace), sitting in a golden chalice. The middle cards explore the different themes of the suit, tens take the theme introduced by the Ace to it's logical conclusion. To use my Ace of Cups example....love taken to its ultimate conclusion is joy, piece and family, which is what the 10 of Cups represents. Finally, the Court Cards are people with personalities that represent different aspects of the suit and rank. They represent to us the different ways that we can or are being in the world. The standard tarot deck has king, queen knight and page, representing the mature masculine, mature feminine, teenager and child, respectively. However, these cards do change from deck to deck, as in mine they are King, Queen, Prince and Princess, the meanings slightly change as well.

A short word on the changing meanings within cards. As I said in the previous lesson, the minor arcana is a lot more open to interpretation than the major, but that doesn't mean you can just be making up meanings....3 of swords isn't going to mean love and happiness, no matter how much you want it to.

I could write massive pages about the roles and development of the different suits, but someone else has saved me from that task. I point you towards this page http://www.kenaz.com/notes/tarot_minor_swords.htm for further study on the suits.

And without further ado, here are the standard meanings of the minor arcana (you'll excuse my brevity, but it's a long list):


Cups: emotion, intuition, intimacy, love

Ace of Cups - the beginnings of a relationship or new love. Reversed: the need to meet new people, inability to commit to a new relationship

2 of Cups - union of two people, forming a relationship. Reversed: discord in a relationship, possible breakup between lovers

3 of Cups - relationship between friends or family. Reversed: tension between friends or family

4 of Cups - pleasure or success. Reversed: Injustice, weakness

5 of Cups - regret, misfortune, sadness, disappointment in a relationship. Reversed: learn from your disappointments

6 of Cups - happiness from the past, well-being, harmony, happiness. Reversed: Thanklessness, not enjoying good fortune

7 of Cups - unrealistic dreams, fantasy, delusion, intoxication. Reversed: need to get back to reality

8 of Cups - things thrown asside, abandoned success, depression, misery. Reversed: recovery from depression, continued effort to completion

9 of Cups - material abundance, joy, happiness, delight, pleasure. Reversed: vanity, self-praise, mistakes, imperfection

10 of Cups - joy and love, happy family, emotional contentment. Reversed: waste, stagnation

Page of Cups - emotional, intuitive, intimate, loving. Reversed: beware of selfishness in yourself or others

Knight of Cups - romantic, imaginative, sensative, refined, introspective Reversed: beware of being overemotional, fanciful, tempermential, over refined or introverted.

Queen of Cups - loving, tenderhearted, intuitive, psychic, spiritual. Reversed: close minded, cold, withdrawn

King of Cups - wise, calm, diplomatic, caring, tolerant. Reversed: agitated, overbearing, tyrant, uncaring


Coins: Material matters, work, physical health, money and practicality

Ace of Coins - beginning of wealth and prosperity, new trust and security. Reversed: prosperity without happiness, greed

2 of Coins - two situations at once, keeping balance, being flexible yet having fun. Reversed: simulated enjoyment, unreliable person

3 of Coins - skills in the arts, buisness, comerce, paid employment, competency, team work. Reversed: lack of skill, preoccupation

4 of Coins - material possessions, money and influence, law and order, stability, control, posessivness, blocking change. Reversed: setbacks in material holdings

5 of Coins - worry about finances, relationships, health, experiencing hard times, rejection. Reversed: reversal of a bad trend, overcoming disharmony

6 of Coins - charity, gifts, generosity, philanthropy, nobility, success and gain. Reversed: envy, jealousy, debt

7 of Coins - failure, hopes decieved, disappointment, little or no gain. Reversed: a delay, but growth, the wrong time for taking action.

8 of Coins - employment, apprenticeship, craftmanship, taking care, caution, precision. Reversed: Lack of ambition

9 of Coins - enjoyment of wealth, great increase in wealth, good luck, favor and popularity, safety. Reversed: theft, fraud, greed, threat to safety.

10 of Coins - family money, inheritance, prosperity and riches security in family, work and finances. Reversed: loss, robbery, gambling

Page of Coins - have an effect, practical, prosperous, trusting and trustworthy. Reversed: beware of trusting blindly

Knight of Coins - unwavering, cautious, thorough, realistic, hardworking. Reversed: Stubborn, unadventurous, obsessive, pessimistic, grinding

Queen of Coins - nurturing, bighearted, down to earth, resourceful, trustworthy. Reversed: foolish, moody, mistrust, suspicion

King of Coins - enterprising, adept, reliable, supporting, steady. Reverse: unreliable, unsupportive, irresponsible


Wands: Energy, creativity and activity

Ace of Wands - creative insperation, new energy and force, beginning of an undertaking or enterprise. Reversed: false start, cancelation of plans

2 of Wands - business success, influence over another, willpower, courage boldness. Reversed: trouble, turbulence, restlessness

3 of Wands - help offered, cooperation, success after struggle, realization of hope. Reversed: pride, arrogance, conceit

4 of Wands - rest after labour, completion, attainment of goals. Reversed: over-anxiousness, hurriedness of action.

5 of Wands - struggle, competition, strife, opposition, tension, quarreling, competition, cruelty, violence: Reversed: trickery, complexity, involvement

6 of Wands - good news, victory, triumph after stife, promotion, advancement, gain, a raise. Reversed: Pride and insolence

7 of Wands - courage in the face of difficulty, reckless courage, agressive, defiant. Reversed: uncertainty, doubt, hesitancy causing loss

8 of Wands - swift action, a message, sudden insight. Reversed: delay, stagnation, too rapid advancement

9 of Wands - overcoming obstacles, power, health, inner strength. Reversed: obstacles, ill health

10 of Wands - unwise use of power, opression, burden, struggle, cruelty, malice. Reversed: lying, trechery

Page of Wands - creative, enthusiastic, confident, courageous. Reversed: cowardess, unimaginative, unsure, lack of energy

Knight of Wands - charming, self-confident, daring, adventurous, passionate. Reversed: superficial, cocky, foolhardy, restless, hot-temper

Queen of Wands - attractive, wholehearted, energetic, cheerful, self-assured. Reversed: depression, lack of energy, self doubt

King of Wands - creative, inspiring, forceful, charismic, bold. Reversed: lack of creativity and inspiration


Swords: Thought, intellect, communication and conflict

Ace of Swords - victory, conquest, fortitude, justice, clarity of mind. Reversed: obstacles, self-destruction, hindrance

2 of Swords - indecision, stalemate, difference of opinion, pleasure after pain. Reversed: indecision, disloyalty, falsehood, lies.

3 of Swords - separation, unhappiness, disruption, separation, absence, melancholy, tears. Reversed: loss, alienation, loss

4 of Swords - changes, improvement, compromise, truce, retreat, recovery from sickness, change for the better. Reversed: desire to recover what is lost, guarded advancement

5 of Swords - weakness, slander, failure, loss, dishonor, malice, degredation, empty success. Reversed: Change of loss or defeat

6 of Swords - difficulties resolve themselves, success after anxiety, trip or journey, logical rational thinking, clear communication. Reversed: no immediate solution, pride, unwanted proposal.

7 of Swords - overwhelming fources, attempt, a failed plan, running away, dishonor. Reversed: slander, intrigue, arguments, uncertain councel or advice.

8 of Swords - bad luck, restlessness, restriction. Reversed: accident, opposition

9 of Swords - sorrow, powerlessness, hopelessness, pain, suffering, misery, anxiety over a loved one. Reversed: reasonable fear, suspicion, doubt.

10 of Swords - ruin, despair, ending, disruption, pain, misfortune, mental anguish, desolation. Reversed: passing success, temporary gain, momentary advantage.

Page of Swords - truthful, just, fortitude, use your mind. Reversed: ignorance, dishonesty

Knight of Swords - direct, authoritative, incisive, knowledgeable, logical. Reversed: blunt, overbearing, cutting, opinionated, unfeeling.

Queen of Swords - honest, astute, forthright, witty, experienced. Reversed: dishonesty, inexperience, hidden

King of Swords - intellectual, analytical, articulate, just, ethical. Reversed: unjust, confused, miscommunication


Today's lesson is brought to you by:

http://www.learntarot.com
http://www.realmagick.com
http://www.kenaz.com/notes/tarot_minor_swords.htm

[Madjek]

ummm...I don't know if I'm the only one who is having this dilema but here it goes. I read the lesson and went on some the site that explains the suits, well some of the interpretations aren't even close to what the LWB that came with my cards says. Sometiemes it makes sense and sometimes it doesn't and I'm not sure how to interpret them correctly. For example the VII Swords. In my book it says : New plans, wishes, fortitude, perseverance, endeavor, hope, confidence, fantasy, partial success. Now to me that down't match the card at all. What the other interpretations I've read about make way more sense. How should I interpret it? Should I just do what it means to me? Or wouldn't the people that made the deck know better? I'm confused! There are a few other cards that have me stomped as well....

[Dashifen]

In general, it's always been my philosophy to fall back on the LWB when your intuition needs it. If you see something else in the card, then read it that way. The symbolism is usually more important than what the author of the LWB wrote down.

Unfortunately, sometimes -- espcially in decks with a theme -- the sysmbolism takes second stage to the theme. There are times when the illustrator just wants to draw a nice picture, it seems to me, and I think that's why a lot of the pictures and meanings don't add up. But, unless you want to memorize all 78 meanings (or 156 if you read w/ reversals) then you're best bet is to work with the symbols first and the LWB second.

Also, the meaning can change dramatically from one deck to the next. In my Vertigo Deck, the 7 of Pentacles (Coins) has the following meaning: Production, material success, though this may be flaws. Immersing yourself in your work. This meaning is different from our good professor's above. Since each deck has its own style -- its own personality, if you will -- part of finding the right deck for you is finding one where you can intuitively understand the symbolism and, if you're lucky, sometimes the symbolism might even match with more traditional meanings!!

[Madjek]

yes ... I see what you mean the only thing is I'm not using a fancy deck just the Universal Waite deck so wouldn't the meanings be the more traditional ones? See I got really confused when it was mentioned that all 5 and 7 's are "bad" . The description in the LWB doesn't sound bad at all (for the 7). There's some other one too....I'm going to go find them, I shoould have written them down....*goes to her deck and starts looking*

[Aidron]

yes ... I see what you mean the only thing is I'm not using a fancy deck just the Universal Waite deck so wouldn't the meanings be the more traditional ones? See I got really confused when it was mentioned that all 5 and 7 's are "bad" . The description in the LWB doesn't sound bad at all (for the 7). There's some other one too....I'm going to go find them, I shoould have written them down....*goes to her deck and starts looking*


Not necessarily. The Rider-Waite deck was not the first deck, so naturally some things were altered from previous decks upon its creation. In turn, different people interpret the cards differently, so even a companion book won't be 100% accurate for everyone. The author's perception might not be as close to the original intent as you may think, or it may be very close and the imagery simply does not resonate with you.

I personally do not see fives or sevens are unwelcoming. I see fives as cards that shake things up. When they come into the picture the status quo might get smacked in the face and your quiet predictable life might go down the tube. It could spell adventure and excitement, or tremendous misfortune. Change can be good or bad, of course. Sevens are individualistic cards from my point of view, most often speaking of individual experiences, perceptions or a need to do things on your own. Sevens require effort and work to be put in with their advice, and usually that effort and work must come from you alone or at the very least, mostly you.

Don't let yourself be tricked into good or bad cards if you want my advice. Each card has its own positive and negative traits. The Three of Cups is often seen as a joyous card for example, ringing in a time of joy, celebration and merriment. However, I interpret it as also warning of overindulgence. Your best bet is to list some positive traits and some negative traits (depending on your perception of negative and positive) for each card, that way you're not knocked into a hole of "This card is of course good/bad! Oh my!" when they appear. This gives each card a deeper richness overall.

[Bookgirl83]

I was looking at my cards as I was reading, and the only one that didn't match the description was the Four of Cups. The image on mine is not at all indicative of
pleasure or success. In my card, a young man sits in front of three cups while another is being handed to him through the air. He is well dressed, but clearly upset and contemplative. Because my image was so different from the lesson's meaning I checked my LWB; it says this card represents weariness, disgust, aversion, disappointment.. I was wondering if anyone else had this experience, with this card or any other? I know meanings can vary from deck to deck, but I wasn't expecting them to be quite this different.

[Aidron]

I was looking at my cards as I was reading, and the only one that didn't match the description was the Four of Cups. The image on mine is not at all indicative of . In my card, a young man sits in front of three cups while another is being handed to him through the air. He is well dressed, but clearly upset and contemplative. Because my image was so different from the lesson's meaning I checked my LWB; it says this card represents weariness, disgust, aversion, disappointment.. I was wondering if anyone else had this experience, with this card or any other? I know meanings can vary from deck to deck, but I wasn't expecting them to be quite this different.


From a numerological point of view, fours usually relate to the home, family, and your microcosmic world. In my own deck I do not associate the Four of Cups with pleasure or success either, but rather disillusionment, restlnessness, boredom, disatisfaction, apathy, ignorance and ignoring cups related issues (emotional, spiritual, etc.).

[faerieridingdragons]

Am I correct in assuming that page=princess and knight=prince?

[Dashifen]

Yup. I know a few decks that do that.

[Amethyst Rose]

Should I just do what it means to me? Or wouldn't the people that made the deck know better? I'm confused! There are a few other cards that have me stomped as well....

Your intuition is always more important than what the lwb says. If I had it my way, I'd tell all of you to just through the lwb away, so you're not even tempted to look at it for a meaning. The cards are subject to the author's/artist's interpretation, so what you read in your lwb is what they had in mind for the card when they drew it. That doesn't mean that the card will mean that all the time.... it also explains why your lwb description may be different from what I listed.

When all else fails, go with your instinct. :

[Amethyst Rose]

Okay, one general post to address the whole conversation....

Please, don't get hung up on the idea of "good" and "bad" cards. I hesitated to put that part of the lesson in, and it's why I said I prefered "positive" and "negative" a negative card does not mean it's "bad" it jus has opposite energies from a positive one.

I said earlier that interpretations of the minor arcana are much much more open than the major, and you really have to take that to heart. Read the cards how you want to read them, but just be aware of what the other options are, just incase.

As to the 4 of cups... in my deck, a woman balances a cup on her knee, and 3 other cups are placed around her. The look on her face is one of concentration. The whole card means sucess and achievement, but with caution, as her hands are beside the cup, ready to catch it if it falls.

So yes, cards meanings are different from deck to deck. Again, go with what you think is most right. :)

[Raven Reed]

Am I correct in assuming that page=princess and knight=prince?


It's the opposite in the Goddess Tarot, oddly enough.