Minor Arcana: Tarot Card Explanation

When you make a serious attempt to understand a tarot card explanation in the Minor Arcana, you enter a world full of intrigue, revelations, exciting possibilities and self realization. The ancient world of the tarot continues to unravel its many secrets even today. Tarot cards are one of the many techniques used by tarot readers and psychics, mainly to foretell one's future, as well as to explore psyches, reveal patterns in one's life and offer advice.

If you understand the significance and meanings of the 56 cards in the Minor Arcana and the 22 cards in the Major Arcana, you will have gained a better understanding of the tarot. Together, the 78 cards complete a standard tarot deck still in use today. A tarot card explanation in the Minor Arcana can be easily gleaned from the plethora of information published on the subject, or from any experienced tarot card reader.

Inquirers usually approach psychics or tarot card readers to seek advice and guidance for their day-to-day problems which is precisely what each of the 56 cards in the Minor Arcana relate to. As opposed to this, cards in the Major Arcana relate to bigger events in one's life. A question posed by many an inquirer is whether one needs to have psychic powers to conduct a reading. The answer to this is tarot reading can be learnt and practiced by anybody with varying degrees of success. Having said this, there are, of course, various types of tarot decks but three characteristics are common to all. These are the number of cards, the illustration on each card and suits, most of which are integral to a tarot card explanation.

The 56 cards in the Minor Arcana are divided into four suits, each relating to the natural elements of air, earth, fire and water. There are 14 cards in each suit. The first 10 cards of each suit possess numbers from 1 to 10 while the last 4 cards carry an illustration of a king, knight, page and queen. The four suits in the Minor Arcana (Swords, Pentacles, Wands and Cups) have their own symbols and associations. Swords are associated with air, Pentacles with earth, Wands with fire and Cups with water. A tarot card explanation in the Minor Arcana can be better understood if you learn about the significance of the suits and their symbols.

Swords - A symbol associated with aggression, ambition, force and misfortune. This suit is associated with air and a forerunner of the 'spade' suit in a regular deck of playing cards.

Pentacles - This suit represents money and material gain and is associated with earth. The 'diamond' suit in a regular deck of playing cards has its origins in this suit.

Wands - This suit symbolizes enterprise, energy, animation, growth and glory. Wands are associated with fire and are forerunners of the 'club' suit in a regular deck of playing cards.

Cups - This suit represents happiness, fertility, beauty and emotion. It is associated with water and the 'heart' suit in today's regular deck of playing cards originated from this suit.

Suits with their symbols and associations are essential for a tarot card explanation and reading of Minor Arcana cards. If you make a serious attempt to study the meanings of the illustrations and symbols printed on each card, you will be in a good position to interpret these elements and come up with a reading that may surprise you or your friends.


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Craig M. is a writer for SpiritNow.com. Visit SpiritNow.com, the online home of America's Top Psychic, Sylvia Browne. Get a psychic reading for free at SpiritNow.com.