Minor Arcana| What are? Which are they? How to interpret?

Tarot readers consider reading the Minor Arcana the hardest part of learning. Besides being 56 cards, they carry opposite meanings in the same cards. The interpretation will depend on the other Arcana that accompany it.

Some professionals do the reading using only the Major Arcana. However, this is an incomplete reading as the Major Arcana show the big picture, while the Minor Arcana show the details.

What are the Minor Arcana?

The complete Tarot deck has 78 cards, 22 of which are Major Arcana (which you can find out by clicking here) and 56 Minor Arcana. While the former represent our destiny, what we cannot change, the latter shows our free will, the role we have in our lives in the course of each situation according to the choices we make.

Before the creation of the Tarot deck, with 78 cards, gypsies used a common deck to do the divinations. Thus, the Minor Arcana are practically the same as the cards in a common deck, with only the knights being added. They are also divided into 4 suits: Clubs, Hearts, Swords and Diamonds.

Each suit consists of 14 cardswhich have numbers from Ace to 10 and the court figures: King, Jack, Queen and Knight.

The various spiritual and material planes are represented by each suit. The suit of Spades is related to the mental plane, Pentacles to the material plane, Cups to the sentimental plane and Wands to the extraterrestrial plane.

The main function of the Minor Arcana is to complete the Major Arcana and direct people. The Major Arcana is the person at their core. The Minor Arcana confirm or change the direction of a Major Arcana, depending on the set and combinations.

Minor Arcana and their meanings

Tarot suits

Tarot suits represent the division of classes and each suit is related to an area of ​​our life.

Cups (cups) – the Clergy

This suit is linked to mysticism, Divine love and human love. In reading, he will bring everything related to emotion: love, romance, relationships, culture, intuition and the unconscious.

These cards not only represent romantic love, but also friendships and other relationships between human beings.

It is a suit that contains a very positive message, capable of mitigating bad messages from other cards.

Wands – the people

This suit represents the peasants and is related to action, energy. Thus, he talks about the issues of work, health, personality formation and physical battles.

These letters come to teach us that we can have attitudes to achieve our success. Your message inspires us to take action.

Swords – the nobility and the army

This suit represents the emotional battles we fight within ourselves. Being represented by an inverted heart with a hilt, letters from him show us when we are using the heart to hurt and injure. They are our emotional prisons.

The cards in this suit also reveal the most logical and analytical part of our thoughts. Our mind can be our best friend, but also our worst enemy. When we don’t manage our thoughts, negative thoughts can arise that create confusion, anxiety, and conflict.

Typically, cards of this suit carry messages of conflict, struggle, and animosity. They tend to scare a little when they show up in a reading.

Pentacles – the bourgeoisie

This suit is linked to project completions and fulfillment of promises we make to ourselves. He tells us what we did right and wrong and how much we get paid for it. For example, if my work was not good, I receive little; if it was done well, I get a lot. It’s not just about money, but logically it has a connection with finances.

Usually, when this suit appears in our game, it indicates stability and room for growth in the financial and material field.

meaning of numbers

Regardless of suit, each Minor Arcana tarot number is associated with a principle. They indicate causes that will give rise to events.

• Ace – indicates victory or the beginning of a new cycle;
• 2 – indicates something that comes in double dose or an evolution;
• 3 – implies that you will have to make a choice to achieve balance and also refers to the completion of something;
• 4 – represents stability;
• 5 – alert for obstacles in your way;
• 6 – announces that you will be able to make a small advance towards what you are looking for;
• 7 – indicates intelligence;
• 8 – talks about something from our daily life;
• 9 – represents the experience;
• 10 – indicates a victory that will be won by the effort that has been made before.

Meaning of court figures

The court figures represent the people who will have some role in the foreseen events. They can also announce the arrival of new people in our lives, with certain characteristics.

• Jack – announces the arrival of something new. It represents a young, energetic, dynamic and committed;
• Knight – you will probably receive a proposal or someone will help you or interfere with something you plan;
• Lady – an influential woman in the matter can help or hinder you;
• King – a mature man, experienced and holder of power in this matter can help you or hinder you.

Interpretation of each Minor Arcana

tarot sticks

Ace of Wands – indicates that you will begin a process of personal evolution.

2 of Clubs – alerts you to the need to be attentive to everything that is happening around you so as not to miss opportunities.

3 of Wands – indicates that if you put in the effort, you will be able to achieve your goals.

4 of Wands – shows that you have not yet arrived at your destination, but that you are on a good path.

5 of Clubs – asks you to change your attitude so that you can achieve success; if you go on as you are, you will likely fail.

6 of Wands – indicates that you will be able to master the situations that worry you, even if it takes a little while.

7 of Clubs – asks you to stand firm in your ideas, even if you face a confrontational phase.

8 of Wands – reminds us that everything is in constant motion; the only thing that never changes is change itself.

9 of Wands – indicates that you need to seek balance between the mental plane and the physical plane so that you can overcome the obstacles that will arise.

10 of Clubs – warns that although the situation is going well, you need to be careful not to set your expectations too high.

Jack of Clubs – a friend will bring news regarding the situation you asked; you may also be in for an unexpected surprise.

Knight of Wands – indicates that you will take a step forward, but that at the same time, you must grasp the present moment.

Queen of Wands – if it is a woman asking the question, this card indicates that she will reach a place of power or have financial stability. It is a card that usually relates to the material sphere.

king of clubs – indicates that a man may appear in your life who will help you professionally or who has an important position and you will come into conflict with him.

Tarot Cups

Ace of Cups – this is one of the most positive cards in the entire deck; it is a sign that you will have God’s protection in relation to the question you have asked.

2 of Cups – if you already have a romantic relationship, it is a sign that you will live a period of stability, strong communication and harmony with your partner.

3 of Cups – indicates that a phase of your life has come to an end and you will start a new cycle; represents the completion of a project.

4 of Cups – points out that you lived a heartbreak that you still carry with you, that causes you sadness, indecision and isolation. This card advises you to turn to yourself so that you can better understand your feelings and needs and can move forward.

5 of Cups – this card advises you to change your attitude; if you always do the same thing, you will always get the same results.

6 of Cups – suggests that you need to let go of the past and focus on the present, for only then can you be happy.

7 of Cups – recommends that you be more attentive to your surroundings.

8 of Cups – means fulfillment and happiness; it is a letter of renewal that points to the beginning of a new phase in your sentimental life.

9 of Cups – symbolizes the realization of your dreams! It is usually associated with the fulfillment of your greatest desire in terms of your love life.

10 of Cups – represents the achievement of affective happiness; indicates a happy achievement.

Jack of Hearts – it’s a sign that news is coming! It will probably be something positive for your love life; it could be the arrival of a new love. This letter, however, calls for attention because it will be someone sincere in their feelings, but immature.

Knight of Cups – portends a big surprise! A friend may declare his love for you or someone may come along who will make your heart beat faster.

Queen of Hearts – is a sign that you are loved and that your affection is reciprocated by the one you love. This card can also indicate a woman close to you, who can be a sister, friend, girlfriend. This is a person you can count on.

King of Hearts – reveals great harmony and stability in affective life.

Tarot Swords

Ace of spades – shows that you will achieve success by your hard effort; it is the reward for your work.

2 of Swords – indicates that there will be a duel in your life, which can be of opinion, when each one defends a different idea.

3 of Swords – asks you to face situations without running away or lying to yourself.

4 of Swords – indicates that you are going through or will go through a moment of restlessness and agitation, caused by a fear that you may have brought from the past, from a situation that you did not know how to resolve.

5 of Swords – indicates that you feel defeated and defeated by negative thoughts, greed and an unbalanced view of situations.

6 of Swords – you will probably take a trip, which can be literally or figuratively; you will experience positive change and enter a new phase after a difficult period.

7 of Swords – points out that someone may be hiding the truth from you or you are not admitting to yourself what you really feel and want.

8 of Swords – reveals that you are linked to situations of suffering for lack of courage to overcome or because you think you deserve it. This letter comes to tell you: stop suffering!

9 of Swords – indicates that you are going through a moment of anguish and despair and feel guilty for your own suffering; the message of this letter is for you to move forward even in fear of defeat.

10 of Swords – this letter comes to show you that if something came to an end it was because it wasn’t good for you. So stop regretting what you lost and gather strength to look for a new direction.

Jack of spades – quick and unavoidable events are coming, so you have to be flexible to seize opportunities that come your way.

Knight of Swords – an unforeseen event will happen soon and will change the course of…