The Elements of Tarot
Insight into the deeper elements of tarot…
The Major Arcana
I see the Major Arcana as the overriding theme, chapter or phase within our journey.
The first card of the Major Arcana is the Fool and the deck essentially represents
the ‘Fool’s Journey’, our human emotional experience.
These cards represent a journey of growth, learning and new found understanding.
A developing of our awareness, identity and grounding within the world.
When focusing on these cards from a reflection and well-being perspective we can relate to
them as the areas in which we are being most strongly called to evolve or grow within.
The areas, in which, govern everything else.
The Minor Arcana
I see the Minor Arcana as the happenings and milestones immersed within the overriding chapter.
The individual elements that contribute toward and make up the whole.
They represent emotions, actions, choices and the energy’s that enter our lives,
one’s in which we can choose how to channel, respond to and utilise.
From a well-being and reflection perspective we can relate to these cards as the cards of possibility,
the many ways in which we can choose to move through our path in this present moment
to steer our direction forward.
The Suits
There are four unique Suits/Elements within the Minor Arcana, each with their own theme.
They highlight part of the guiding essence and quality of each card.
Wands / Fire
Spirit, passion, energy, desire, creativity, action, inspiration, willpower
When it comes to reflection and well-being the wands call upon igniting our inner fire,
embracing passion, determination, leadership, vitality, expansion.
We are encouraged to take action upon our ideas and to channel our fire
in healthy, progressive and beneficial ways.
Cups / Water
Emotions, intuition, connections, romantic, feelings, heart-led living, healing
In note of reflection and well-being the cups call on us to connect within,
tune into our emotions and take time to understand them without clinging too tightly.
We are encouraged to listen to our intuition,
to respect the natural flow of life and channel into a process of healing.
Swords / Air
Thoughts, logic, intellectual, beliefs, planning, communications, perception
The swords, from a perspective of reflection and well-being ask us to move through life with true clarity.
We are being called to clear away the mist, think logically,
plan smartly and to speak with clearness and truth,
without loosing touch of our ease and inner spirit.
Pentacles / Earth
Physical, grounded, nature, resources, results, foundations, nourishment
With reflection and well-being as a guide,
the pentacles call for true nourishment and care of ourselves,
our surroundings, our relationships, our life foundations, projects and ideas.
We are encouraged to remain grounded in our approach, steady and balanced.
Court Cards
Though these cards are related to gender they are gender fluid, tarot is a tool that
encourages balance, these cards represent the energies of each archetype depicted upon the card.
Energies we are encouraged to find a balance of within ourselves ~ mind, body and spirit.
Kings ~ Sometimes referred to as Fathers
A card of leadership.
These are cards of strong leadership, encouraging us to take the lead.
Lead of ourselves, our own lives and to stand by others with grace.
Leading by example, teaching and sharing knowledge as we build healthy, flourishing gardens.
Queens ~ Sometimes referred to as Mothers
A card of nurture.
The Queen cards hold qualities of nurture, creation and development.
This is a card of care and wisdom, encouraging us to care for ourselves, the community and our foundations.
Tending to our garden and the seeds we planted, nourishing with care, attentiveness and love.
Knights ~ Sometimes referred to as Sons
A card of action.
The Knights are cards of action, bravery and passionate movement ahead.
They indicate taking decisive paths within our lives and to be a pioneer of progress.
Planting our seeds, building experience and learning through taking action.
Pages ~ Sometimes referred to as Daughters
A card of learning.
The pages are learning, unfolding and building experience.
We are encouraged to develop, evolve and remain curious as these cards represent newness, promise and hope.
Learning how to tend to seeds, what matters to us and what we want to plant within the world.
Numbers within Tarot
Tarot contains multiple layers which contribute to the whole message found within each card.
The numerological aspect of the Minor Arcana offers a second dimension to the qualities held.
They can be referred to and may be more easily related to as stages within a process.
A full and continuous cycle from beginning to completion.
Ace ~ Beginnings, potential, inspiration, opportunity, fresh perspective
The ace represents the beginning of the journey, an opportunity, one of potential.
What direction we take and how we channel this energy will be governed by us.
Two ~ Balance, cooperation, choices, partnership
The next stepping stone is the process of planning, choices, finding balance within our approach.
Becoming one with our ideas and cooperating with our vision.
Three ~ Community, development, creativity, growth
Within this next milestone action is being taken for our vision to evolve and develop.
Growth is a journey with celebration and setbacks, we are called to learn through it all.
Four ~ Stability, structure, foundations, endurance
With the action and progress we have been working on, foundations are now laid.
We are being called to persevere and use these foundations to further build upon.
Five ~ Fluctuation, change, challenges, conflict
This can indicate a moment of disruption within our plans, yet it brings with it
evidential new found learnings and evolution to support our future growth and wisdom.
Six ~ Harmony, alignment, integrity, pleasure
Companionship and support is important and this indicates the coming together of forces
towards a greater goal, we do not have to process this journey alone, we can welcome support.
Seven ~ Introspection, knowledge, reflection, spirituality
This stage asks us to be patient, to take a pause and examine our forward conduct.
It is a time to look within, connect to our faith and discern what is truly integral to us.
Eight ~ Mastery, accomplishment, re-birth, action
With renewed understanding of our values,
wisdom gained from past experience and clarity within our spirit,
stagnation transforms into consistent action and progress is revived.
Nine ~ Attainment, nearing completion, fruition, fulfilment
This represents attainment and fulfilment of the journey we set out on.
We see the fruits of our labour, our choices, our actions.
We can acknowledge the milestones.
Ten ~ Completion, success, renewal, ending of a cycle, wholeness
The ten relates the ending of a cycle, from the Ace of beginnings
we have harnessed many learnings, wisdoms and experiences along the way.
We have processed our learning of this cycle and now are open to a new phase.
Genders
Though depicted by gender within some decks, tarot is gender fluid.
The cards are simply a show of energies, qualities, characteristics.
We are simply encouraged to explore how to balance each quality within ourselves.
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Explore the rest of the tarot card meanings ~ Tarot Meanings
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