Four Crucial Things To Remember When Understanding The Tarot.
So, you just acquired your first tarot deck but realise that remembering 72 cards and their meanings is a daunting task.
The most crucial thing I learnt when memorizing the tarot was that the tarot cards, at a basic level, are broken down into four categories. Once you remember only these four categories, you will ultimately figure out the meaning of the cards.
Specifically, the suit cards (named the minor arcana) are within the four elements, the twelve stars signs and the two dualities. The categories are all related to one another and create an archetypal profile. So even if you forget the specific meaning of the card, the message will be seen through the elements of earth, wind, fire and water.
Although an immensely spiritual tool for psychic intuition, Tarot is very systematic and has a universal structure in most decks. It is similar to your regular playing cards, as there are four numbered suits, court cards and then 22 extra cards called the major arcana. We will be focusing more on the suit cards in this article. For now, all I will say is that the major arcana has a profound or spiritual meaning compared to the minor arcana which are more relevant to your everyday and standard life.
There are 56 minor arcana cards to remember when learning the tarot. That can be overwhelming if you do not have categories to place them in. If you have your tarot deck on hand, I advise you to get all the suit cards (the ones with numbers or court cards) and place them into 1 of the four suits. The four suits in a tarot deck are; cups, wands, pentacles and swords. When learning the tarot, I also highly recommend using a deck with strong symbolism and imagery to help you learn. The Rider Waite deck or cards with similar imagery would be ideal.
CUPS
Now first look at all the cups. The cups are related to the element of water because you use water to fill a cup. If you know the zodiac, you will understand that there are three water signs; Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio and that they are feminine in dualistic principles. All the minor arcana with cups will fall under one of these star signs and be feminine.
The cups, therefore, are related to symbolism around femininity, emotions, and instinctual responses. Rather than logic and mental response, cups deal with matters of the heart.
Some positive aspects are — loving relationships, happiness, imagination and intuition.
Some negative aspects are — over-sensitivity, disappointment and delusion.
When looking at each cup card, see the image and how it could relate to emotions. Does it look romantic? Do the people or environment look positive or negative? If the card appears unfavourable and contains chalices, you will have your first clue as to the meaning. That is related to negative emotions.
PENTACLES
The pentacles are related to the element Earth, and the star signs Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn are feminine. The pentacles represent coins which are made from minerals of the Earth hence the association with the element.
It is no shock that mother earth and nature are often integral to the symbology of the pentacles. That is not the only thing the pentacles represent, as there is another side to the (figurative) coin, like possessions, money, home and resources. Therefore, the pentacle cards equate to manifestations of embodied life like money, business, apprenticeship, investments, and resources.
Some positive aspects of pentacles are abundance, financial security, practicality and dedication.
Some negative aspects of pentacles are poverty, close-mindedness, unadventurous, and stinginess.
When looking at all the pentacle cards, notice how they are often related to people doing or focusing on work or their financial/resource position; they either range from negative to positive or a mixture of the two.
WANDS
The wands represent the element of fire because wood and sticks assist fire burning. Each wand card will have Aries, Leo or Sagittarius as its astrological representation and will be masculine in dualistic terms.
The wands embody imagery and concepts related to the fire signs and masculine factors. Not only do sticks create fire, but they create staffs to make magic. Therefore, the wands are about creation and relate to the enterprise and the ideas fabricated to move forward, change or expand situations.
Some positive aspects of wands are excitability, ambition, originality, influence and success.
Some negative aspects of wands are: competition, battle of egos, burdens or naivety.
When looking at each card, see how it can relate to creation and expansion. If a person is in the cards, how are they using the stick or how is the wand displayed? Search for the potential negative or positive imagery. For example, if someone is holding the wand like a walking staff and is looking adventurous, its message could indicate creativity, passion and travel.
SWORDS
The swords are related to the element air, the star signs Aquarius, Gemini and Libra and are masculine.
The sword can equate to all factors regarding the mind, intellect and beliefs because a sword is a powerful instrument like the mind and ideas. The adage, “double edge sword,” is relevant here as they are useful and sharp but can lead to conflict. You will notice there are a lot more negative meanings in the sword suits compared to the others.
Some positives of the swords are clarity, intelligence, strategy and communication.
Some negatives of the swords are arguments, betrayal, anxiety and pain.
The swords in most cards will either be used as a weapon or represent a mental strategy or process. Depending on the scene and the people, the sword determines what the circumstance may be.
Some final advice
So now that you understand that all numbered suit cards are related to the elements and the elemental association for each minor arcana, you are well on your way to remembering them all! When you read the imagery, look at how the suits are used and what perspective is cast. Are people using the pentacles positively or clinging to them in an unhealthy attachment? Are the wands being used as a weapon to play/fight, or is someone looking at the wand as inspiration? Are the cups upright or turned over? These are all clues to get a clearer grasp on what type of perspective each suit is being cast as and will help you jog your memory into the deeper meaning of the card.
