| > | | | | different in others! |
| | | | Each suit in the Minor Arcana represents distinctive |
| Tarot card reading delves into an individual’s | | | | characteristics, and these combined qualities create |
| psyche and thus depends largely upon the energy | | | | an image of our day-to-day lives. The suits and a |
| that person generates, whether consciously or | | | | very abbreviated listing of some of their |
| subconsciously. And because human beings are | | | | characteristics include: |
| complex creatures with all kinds of major and minor | | | | Wands — ingenuity, accomplishment, change |
| issues — not only negative, but positive as | | | | Cups — feelings, spirituality |
| well — the Tarot must duly address them all. | | | | Swords — intelligence, contemplation, logic |
| So, although the Major Arcana bring to light the larger | | | | Pentacles — pragmatism, safety, physical and |
| issues in life, there also exists the Minor Arcana | | | | material needs |
| — which serve the purpose of illuminating the | | | | Cards within suits correspond to the theme of the |
| secret and closed events, feelings, needs, and | | | | particular suit to which it belongs. An Ace declares |
| everyday details of our existence. | | | | the overall quality of whatever suit it is in. For |
| Fifty-six cards constitute the Minor Arcana within | | | | instance, the Ace of Cups represents affections, |
| these suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. | | | | feelings, intuitiveness, and personal familiarity — |
| And just as with the Major Arcana, the interpretation | | | | all the most positive aspects of the Cups’ |
| of these cards lies not only the face-value meanings | | | | characteristics. A Ten of Cups may signify the fruition |
| of the cards, but also in how they are laid (the | | | | of those qualities with, for example, the peace and |
| spread — whether they are upside | | | | joy one finds within the atmosphere of a happy |
| down, the positions they take in your chosen | | | | family. One by one, the meanings of each card must |
| pattern, etc.), the mindset and emotions of the | | | | be committed to memory. When the Tarot novice |
| interpreter and of the person being read, and | | | | becomes comfortably familiar with the 56 Minor |
| the very questions themselves. Reading Tarot cards | | | | Arcana representations, he or she should then be |
| successfully takes time, and with that comes | | | | ready for the next steps toward understanding the |
| experience — the key to giving a good | | | | subsequent — and deeper — aspects |
| reading. | | | | of the art of Tarot. |
| But one must start at the beginning, learning the | | | | Learning the art of Tarot can be a challenging |
| meanings of each of the individual 56 Minor Arcana. | | | | — and rewarding — endeavor. But the |
| As mentioned above, these are divided into the four | | | | student must realize Tarot is not easy, and Tarot is |
| suits of Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. And | | | | not quick. As with all things in the secret and hidden |
| each suit encompasses the Ace, then 2-10 numeral | | | | arts such as Tarot, one must be willing to persevere, |
| cards, and finally the court cards: the Page, Knight, | | | | to continue resolutely down the path toward |
| Queen, and King — very similar to an ordinary | | | | enlightenment — and rejoice as the mysteries |
| deck of playing cards in some ways, yet powerfully | | | | of the journey unfold. |