Dirty Little Cheat: A Guide to the Minor Arcana
- Rain
- May 25, 2015
- 3 min read
One of the first articles we ever wrote for The Good Spell Book was an introduction to tarot.
In this article, we learned that a tarot deck is made up of 78 cards- 21 of which make up the major arcana. Every spread we've created for the site (or interpreted for it) has used the major arcana as a base. We did this so that reader's could experiment and learn about tarot in a way that was easy to understand and was accessible to people of all experience levels.
If you are just starting to learn tarot, it can be a little overwhelming not only memorizing each individual card's meaning, but understanding how to interpret these cards in goal oriented spreads (ie. love readings, careers readings, etc.). That's why we created a cheat sheet. This list is great for tarot readers unfamiliar with the minor arcana, or as a quick reference guide for advanced students. Our cheat sheet includes keywords for all upright cards in the minor arcana, in all four suits.
In a typical reading, the subject (or the reader) will only draw minor arcana cards (or a large majority of minor cards).
The cards are divvied into four suits- the sword, the wand, the pentacle, and the cup. Each suit is representative of it's own theme and element, which is helpful when memorizing the remaining 57 cards of the deck. Though their name would imply it, minor arcana cards are not less important to any reading- they simply signify that they will not impact your life long term, like major arcana cards do. The major arcana tells the story of The Fool and his spiritual journey. Because there are only 21 cards in the primary suit, their appearance in your spreads are highly significant. Pay attention to any cards you draw from this portion of the deck, as they relate to major life changes.
It may help you interpret minor cards by understanding their significance. The first ten cards in a suit typically represent situations or feelings experienced by the reader. The court cards represent actual people (or people with complimentary personality types). To read the cards, it is useful to know what themes they represent. The ace in a suit is typically a card of foresight; they communicate potential achievements on your current path. Two's are cards of duality, meaning that they always show two sides... a partnership, a difficult choice to make, a new skill aquired, and so on. You might notice that every card in a suit has a certain theme. The more you use your minor arcana cards, the more familiar you will become with their unique meanings.
Ace; Power, achievement, understanding
Two; Choice, dilemma, paradox
Three; Despondency, remorse, heartbreak, detachment
Four; Rejuvenation, rest, indifference
Five; Conflict, loss, defeat, tension
Six; Evolution, metamorphosis
Seven; Betrayal, deceit
Eight; Solitude, confinement, isolation, bondage
Nine; Depression, anxiety, torment
Ten; Loss, defeat
Page; Curiosity
Knight; Dogmatic, opinionated, impulsive
Queen; Insightful, observant, clever
King; Logic, intelligence, wisdom
Ace; Intimacy, empathy
Two; Partnership, charm, attraction
Three; Friendship, alliance
Four; Indifference, aloofness
Five; Loss, grief, regret, remorse
Six; Innocent, sentimental, pure
Seven; Fantasy, illusion
Eight; Evading
Nine; Contentment, satisfaction
Ten; Happiness, euphoria
Page; Creativity
Knight; Romance
Queen; Impassioned, instinctive
King; Stability, impassivity
Ace; Manifestation, wealth
Two; Malleable, adaptable
Three; Partnership, union
Four; Stability, reliance, safety
Five; Insecurity, financial debt, concern
Six; Charitable
Seven; Entrepreneurial, investment
Eight; Enlightenment, to teach or to learn
Nine; Appreciation, affluence
Ten; Prosperity, hierarchy
Page; Manifestation, entrepreneurial
Knight; Productive, efficient
Queen; Pragmatic, mother-figure
King; Dominating, controlling
Ace; Inspiration, creativity
Two; Revelation, discovery, growth
Three; Prudence, preparation
Four; Marriage, unity
Five; Conflict, dispute, agitation
Six; Confidence, growth
Seven; Determined, tenacious, competitive
Eight; Change, travel, evolution
Nine; Persistence
Ten; Duty, responsibility
Page; Discovery
Knight; Lust, eroticism, adventure
Queen; Excitement, vitality
King; Ambitious, driven, inspired
Image: www.living-vintage.com Digital Type: Rain
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