Your Everyday Tarot: The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana
Welcome back, my friend!
In our last chat, we talked about the Major Arcana—the big, bold storytellers of life. Now, it's time to dive into the rest of the deck: the Minor Arcana.
These 56 cards are just as important as the Majors, but in a very different way. While the Majors tell you the grand plot of your life, the Minors give you all the juicy details. They’re the daily dialogue, the small moments, and the everyday experiences that make up your story.
The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, and each one represents a different part of being human. Think of them as four distinct "languages" that the tarot uses to communicate with you.
Wands: The Language of Action and Passion
Element: Fire
Keywords: Passion, creativity, energy, inspiration, action, ambition.
The Wands suit is all about that spark! They represent your ideas, your drive, and the projects you're passionate about. When Wands show up, it's a call to action. They tell you to get up and do something. They can represent a new project, a surge of creative energy, or the ambition to pursue a goal. They are the energy of your inner fire.
Cups: The Language of Emotion and Intuition
Element: Water
Keywords: Emotions, relationships, feelings, intuition, creativity, love.
The Cups suit is the heart of the deck. They speak to your inner world, your connections with others, and your emotional well-being. When Cups appear, they're asking you to pay attention to your feelings. They can represent falling in love, a family celebration, an emotional challenge, or a powerful intuitive hit. They are the ebb and flow of your emotions.
Swords: The Language of the Mind and Truth
Element: Air
Keywords: Thoughts, communication, logic, truth, conflict, decisions.
The Swords suit is all about the mental realm. These cards represent your thoughts, ideas, and the way you communicate with the world. While they sometimes get a bad rap for being about conflict or pain, they are simply a call for clarity and truth. When Swords show up, they can represent an important decision, a moment of brilliant insight, or the need to speak your mind. They are the sword of truth that cuts through confusion.
Pentacles: The Language of the Physical World
Element: Earth
Keywords: Work, money, career, home, stability, material possessions.
The Pentacles suit grounds the deck. They're all about the tangible things in your life—your home, your job, your finances, and your health. When Pentacles appear, they're focusing on your practical reality. They can represent starting a new job, receiving a gift, building something stable, or focusing on your physical well-being. They are the tangible results of your actions.
Putting It All Together
Understanding these four suits is like learning to read a map. When you do a reading, you'll see a mix of suits, and each one adds a layer to the story.
If you get a bunch of Wands and Pentacles, you know the reading is about taking action on a creative project and building something real. If you see a lot of Cups and Swords, the reading might be about navigating a difficult conversation with a lot of emotion.
The beauty of the Minor Arcana is in its honesty. It shows us the everyday realities of our lives, from the mundane to the magical. So, the next time you shuffle your deck, pay attention to which suits show up—they'll tell you exactly what language your soul is speaking today!
💜 Simi