The Anatomy of a Tarot Deck: A Simple Guide from Me to You
Hey there, fellow soul-seeker!
When I first picked up a tarot deck, I was a little overwhelmed. Seventy-eight cards felt like a lot to learn, and the whole system seemed like a big, beautiful mystery. If you've ever felt that way, I get it. But trust me, once you see the simple, elegant way the deck is put together, it all clicks into place.
Think of it like this: a tarot deck is a book. And I'm here to give you a quick tour of its two main parts.
The Major Arcana: Your Life's Main Chapters
The first part of the deck is the Major Arcana. These are the 22 cards with the big, powerful names you've probably heard of: The Fool, The Lovers, The Tower, and so on.
These cards are the major plot points of your life story. They're about big themes, spiritual lessons, and the most significant journeys we all go through. When a Major Arcana card shows up in a reading, it's not a small detail; it's a huge neon sign from the universe saying, "Pay attention! This is a major turning point."
They are the chapter titles in your book. They tell you what big theme you're currently exploring, like "The Chapter on Transformation" (Death) or "The Chapter on Building Your Foundation" (The Emperor). They're big, bold, and they set the scene.
The Minor Arcana: The Daily Details and Dialogue
The second part of the deck, and the bulk of it, is the Minor Arcana. These are the 56 cards that are split into four suits: Cups, Swords, Wands, and Pentacles.
If the Majors are your chapter titles, the Minors are all the sentences, scenes, and conversations that happen within those chapters. They represent the day-to-day stuff—the emotions, the challenges, the small wins, and the practical details of your life.
Each suit of the Minor Arcana focuses on a different aspect of being human:
Cups are all about your feelings, relationships, and intuition. (Think emotional moments.)
Swords are about your thoughts, communication, and how you make decisions. (Think mental energy.)
Wands are about your passion, creativity, and the actions you take. (Think motivation.)
Pentacles are about your physical world, career, and money. (Think all things practical.)
So, when you're looking at a reading, the Minor cards give you the context. The Three of Pentacles might show you're collaborating with others on a project. The Five of Cups might reveal you're feeling a sense of loss or disappointment. These cards add the crucial details to your story.
The Magic of the Whole Deck
The real magic happens when you see how they work together.
Imagine you're reading for someone, and you pull The Tower (a Major card) and the Five of Swords (a Minor card). The Tower tells you, "Something is falling apart!" But the Five of Swords adds the detail, "And it feels like it’s because of a conflict or a painful argument."
See? The Majors give you the big picture, and the Minors fill in the blanks. They're two parts of the same beautiful system, designed to give you a complete and nuanced picture of your life.
So the next time you pick up your deck, remember you're not just holding 78 cards. You're holding a complete, powerful story. I can't wait to see what you discover in yours!
💜 Simi