The 56 Minor Arcana of Tarot — Four Suits That Illuminate Daily Life
If the 22 Major Arcana among the 78 tarot cards deal with the great themes of life, the remaining 56 'Minor Arcana' illuminate the concrete events and emotions of everyday life in fine detail. Knowing the Minor Arcana makes a reading far denser, more practical, and more profound.
What Are the Minor Arcana?
The Minor Arcana are 56 cards made up of four suits, much like a deck of playing cards. Each suit consists of ten numbered cards from the Ace to the Ten, plus four court cards — the Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Where the Major Arcana speak of fate and grand currents, the Minor Arcana handle the details of what is happening right now — the events, feelings, and relationships — and offer down-to-earth advice.
The Four Suits and the Four Elements
Each of the four suits corresponds to one element and one area of life. Wands (the staff) are the element of fire and represent passion, work, and creation; Cups (the chalice) are the element of water and represent emotion, love, and relationships; Swords are the element of air and represent thought, conflict, and communication; and Pentacles (the coin) are the element of earth and represent wealth, the material world, and health. Seeing which suit appears most tells you at a glance which area holds the theme of that reading.
The Flow Held in the Numbers
There is a consistent flow in the numbers of each suit, from one through ten. The Ace represents that element's pure beginning and seed; the middle numbers represent the process of unfolding, trial, and achievement; and the Ten represents the completion and climax of that journey. For example, if the Ace of Cups is the start of a new love, the Ten of Cups signifies brimming happiness and fulfillment. Even the same number takes on a different meaning depending on the suit.
The Sixteen Court Cards
Each suit has four figure cards — the Page, Knight, Queen, and King — making sixteen court cards in all. These often symbolize a particular person, or that person's attitude and disposition. The Page represents learning and news; the Knight, action and drive; the Queen, mature acceptance; and the King, complete authority and command. Multiply the element of the suit by the stage of the figure and sixteen distinct personalities are drawn out.
Reading the Minor Arcana in Practice
In a reading, the Minor cards play the role of telling you the concrete situation. Where the Major Arcana speak of the 'why' and the 'big picture,' the Minor Arcana fill in the 'what' and the 'how.' When several cards are drawn together, seeing which suit stands out and whether the numbers are early or late lets you read even the phase of a situation. Master the Minor Arcana and tarot becomes a practical tool for advice rather than vague symbolism.
The Minor Arcana are the half of tarot that illuminates the fine grain of daily life. If you are curious about a card of the day drawn from the full 78, or a past-present-future spread, bring to mind the question in your heart and draw the cards for yourself.