Tarot Meditation Interlude: The Minor Arcana

I wish blogs didn't publish in reverse order sometimes, because this entry will get buried as we move along through the four suits of the Minor Arcana. I hope you'll remember to scroll down to it periodically to refresh your memory on this part of Tarot.

I've spent months now guiding us through the 22 keys of the Major Arcana, following The Fool's journey to enlightenment. Now it's time to work our way through the Minor Arcana.

The four suits - Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles, are the forerunners of our modern playing cards - respectively Clubs, Hearts, Spades and Diamonds. In Tarot, however, instead of a Jack, we have two keys - Page and Knight - and Aces are always considered the first card in each suit.

The four suits correspond to the four elements - respectively fire, water, air and earth. The four suits correspond to the four cardinal points - respectively south, west, east and north.

As in the Major Arcana, numerology, astrology, sacred geometry and many world beliefs come together to form the intricate symbology of the Minor Arcana. Additionally, each suit speaks its own language of symbols.

Wands, depicted with new growth, represent energy, enterprise and hard work. The animal associated most often with Wands is the salamander (a creature of fire and of the south), although lions (think Leo as a fire sign) are often represented. This is the suit of hard work, learning, growth and change.

Cups, depicted by a golden vessel, represent emotion, often love. This is the key of the unconscious, a key of fertility, beauty and dreams. The creature of Cups is the undine (a female water spirit), along with the Water Carrier (Aquarius). This is the suit of emotion, of connection between the conscious and unconscious minds.

Swords, depicted by shining blades, represent spirit, often in the form of our failure to connect with Spirit. This is the suit of the Warrior, regardless of the kind of battle being fought. The creature of Swords is the sylph (an elemental being of air), along with eagles. Think justice and Libra. This can be a suit of strife, but also of a reminder we need to connect to Spirit.

Pentacles, depicted by golden disc etched with a five-pointed star, represent man bringing magic to earth, particularly in material possessions. The creature of Pentacles is the gnome (an elemental being of earth), along with the bull (think Taurus as a earth sign). Think of the five points of the human body, as Di Vinci depicted in his Vitruvian Man, or Venus in her annual transit across the sky. This is the key of earthly possessions and connection to Mother Earth.

I hope you learn and enjoy our journey through the Major Arcana!

Be blessed,

Deb