| Tarot and the four elements are closely associated in | | | | stream, beyond is a bridge that leads to adistant |
| the Minor | | | | castle. His sub-conscious is trying to get his attention. |
| Arcana. Understanding the elements and their | | | | What dimension would the knowledge of the water |
| functions in thisworld add dimension to the meaning | | | | element addto the interpretation of this card? The |
| of the Minor Arcana cards. | | | | two cups behind him mayoffer him the solace that |
| In complex spreads, the interaction of the elements | | | | he needs. Is he willing to drink out ofthose two cups? |
| with oneanother offer insights that could otherwise | | | | Swords -Air |
| be misunderstoodor worst, missed. | | | | The suit of Swords evokes that "ugh, oh, no! " |
| The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits: Cups, | | | | feeling. Should it? |
| Swords, Pentacles,and Wands These four suits | | | | In most tarot decks, the figures in this suit show |
| correspond to the four elements: | | | | dejection,defeat, despondency, and their heads are |
| Cups for Water | | | | bowed. |
| Swords for Air | | | | We need air to breathe. How we welcome air when |
| Pentacles for Earth | | | | the atmospheregets suffused with tension! Air |
| Wands for Fire | | | | represents intellectual capabilities,mental, spiritual and |
| Rider Waite deck is one of the most popular decks in | | | | cultural aspects of Life. How can the element |
| Tarotand ideal for most beginners. | | | | Air help to alleviate the pain and sorrow, the |
| When a Sword card turns up, other cards will help to | | | | suffering, the betrayal,the deceit, all the negative |
| identify thecause of the unfriendly Sword. Knowledge | | | | energies that come with this card? |
| of the elements willgive an indication of the source of | | | | When the Nine of Swords is drawn, what is the first |
| the problem. The elements asinterpreted in Tarot | | | | impression? |
| readings could be harmonious, encouragingand | | | | The ultimate in suffering, a dead-end? The weight of |
| supportive; or in opposition, thus has and inhibiting | | | | the pain is toomuch to bear, hiding in the darkness of |
| effect. | | | | night, in solitude, andburied deep in sorrow. Is the |
| In one-card readings, knowledge of the elements can | | | | figure at the literal "end of the rope?" |
| prove reallyhelpful. It adds to the perception of the | | | | What could be done about the situation? |
| situation, deepens theinsight of the reader. | | | | To every problem, there is a solution, for better or |
| The Suits and the Elements | | | | for worse,there has to be en ending, a closure. |
| Wands -Fire | | | | Overwhelmed by the situation,it is difficult to analyze |
| Fire stands for the "fire" within, the energy, force | | | | and shed some light. This suit offers the |
| and vitality,and the will. We need fire to keep us | | | | Insights that yes, the problem is bigger than life, |
| warm, to cook, to brightenour world when the Sun | | | | wallowing indespair does not solve it. Get up, open |
| goes down. This is the friendly aspect. | | | | your eyes, face the issue,analyze the priorities and |
| Fire could also be dangerous- forest fire, house fires- | | | | take it from there. You've got theintellectual and |
| these aredisastrous. When it roars, better watch out. | | | | analytical tools, use it! |
| Fire could nurture,it could also destroy. Fire is | | | | Pentacles -Earth |
| considered to be an expandingelement, it changes | | | | We live in a material and success- oriented world. |
| whatever it touches. | | | | Technology iswonderful, but to get wired and keep |
| Looking at the suit of Wands- how does this relate | | | | up-to-date with technologymeans added expense our |
| to an interpretation? | | | | elders did not even dream of. Theytook great pride |
| Think of the energy, the will, the focus and passion. | | | | in owning a television, today, most householdshave |
| In the Rider-Waitedeck, the Ten of Wands shows a | | | | more than one. |
| man trying to forge ahead underthe heavy load of 10 | | | | Earth is our material world, it stands for something |
| wands. It shows strength of the will, focusand | | | | tangible,real, and something we can hold on to. Earth |
| determination to get wherever he has to go. Is the | | | | nurtures us, surroundsus with its bounty and beauty. |
| fireelement in this card supportive or disruptive? Will | | | | If we could only stop for a minuteand appreciate all |
| he fall underthe pressure of his burden? Does he | | | | she has to offer. In its negative aspect, Earth |
| have the will to arrive at hisdestination and unload the | | | | isstubborn and rigid. |
| heavy load? | | | | In sync or in opposition: |
| Cups -Water | | | | Fire and Water do not mix, neither does Air and |
| Water is love, emotion, pleasure, celebration, | | | | Earth. |
| devotion and ecstasy. | | | | These combinations are in "opposition", in a reading, |
| It is about relationships. The suit of Cups represent all | | | | opposing forcesdiminishes the effect of each other. |
| these, theforces of emotion, sensual perceptions. | | | | Fire puts out water, air blowsaway earth. This shows |
| Water is refreshing in itscoolness, invigorating in its | | | | a negative influence on the significance ofthe |
| warmth, mysterious in its depth. | | | | individual cards. |
| It does have its destructive aspect. when emotions | | | | Just as the elements work in opposition, they do |
| run deep,when emotions are highly wired, the water | | | | work to strengtheneach other. Fire is supported by |
| aspect rises likeflood waters that engulf and destroy | | | | Air, but Fire also consumes Air. |
| everything in its path. | | | | Air is strengthened by Water, but Air consumes |
| When water is still, is that good, or is that bad? | | | | Water in its evaporation |
| Look at the 5 of Cups. In the Rider-Waite deck, a | | | | There is a fifth element- the Spirit. This is the |
| man looksdespondently at three empty cups, | | | | element that pulls it alltogether; it is the Spirit that |
| oblivious to the two full cupsbehind him. His emotion is | | | | inspires the insight, the intuition thatmakes Tarot a |
| deep, his loss must be great. Infront of him is a | | | | most fascinating tool for divination. |