Amethyst Rose
May 20th, 2005, 04:38 PM
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 forward 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
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 forward 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