The Tarot consist of 78 cards - 22 of the Major Arcana and 56 of the Minor Arcana. The word "arcana" is derived from the Latin word "akanum" meaning secret. Therefore, the cards of the Major Arcana are those that deal with the "Big Secrets" and those of the Minor Arcana are those that deal with the "Smaller Secrets."

The Major Arcana cards are recognizable as individual models or archetypes, such as The Fool, The Magician, or The Devil. These cards seem to represent the different stages in life we all experience in our own unique ways. The Minor Arcana cards are divided into four suits much like modern playing cards. However, the suits have different names - the Cups, the Wands, the Swords, and the Pentacles. One other difference is that each suit has an extra court card - the Page.

Each of the four elements of the Earth is commonly assigned to the four suits of the Minor Arcana:

Wands represent the element of fire. They stand for action, creativity, and growth. Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are the astrological signs assigned to the suit of Wands and the element of fire.

Cups represent the element of water. They stand for feelings, spiritual experiences, and the unconscious. Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces are the astrological signs assigned to the Cups and water.

Swords represent the element of air. They stand for the mind, knowledge, and the intellect. Libra, Aquarius, and Gemini are the astrological signs assigned to the Swords and the element of air.

Pentacles represent the element of earth. They stand for the body, physical experiences, and practical skills. Capricorn, Taurus, and Virgo are the astrological signs assigned to the Pentacles and the element of earth.

The Minor Arcana cards are in no way inferior to the Major Arcana cards, but rather add detail to the Major Arcana. The Major Arcana give information and guidance to an individual’s psychological state of mind and inner life. The Minor Arcana gives details of relationships, creative ventures, and adversities and successes. The Major cards are thought to be more spiritual, and the Minor cards are seen as more earthly, with the Court cards acting as a bridge between them.

DECKS

Tarot decks consist of 78 cards. 22 of the cards are major arcana (trumps), such as The Lovers, The Fool, The Pope, and The World. The remaining 56 cards are minor arcana divided into 4 suites of 14 cards each. The suites are Swords, Cups, Wands (sometimes called Rods or Staves), and Pentacles (sometimes called Coins or Discs). Although the traditional meanings of the cards are the same regardless of the specific deck used, the imagery and language associated with each deck tends to make it particularly useful for some types of readings. For example, many of our visitors find the Renaissance Tarot particularly good at questions of passion, mastery, and reason.

Cups

Cups are associated with the emotions, the subconscious, relationships and intuitive or psychic abilities. Most decks try to convey emotions in this suit; happiness, love, boredom, disappointment and dejection are usually represented and easily identified. This suit is associated with the element of water and like water can be calm and serene, or turbulent and rough. Astrologically, the nurturing Cancer personality, the depth of the Scorpio and the intuitive, dreamy Pisces could be applied.

Additional attributes:
Direction - East
Season - Summer (Summer Solstice)
Masculine/Feminine - Feminine

Reversals

About half of the cards in a reading are drawn reversed (upside down), which either negates or inverts their meaning. For example, Death upright means "change", but Death reversed means "stagnation".

Tarot can be used in several ways; as a means of divination, as a tool for self discovery, as an aid to spiritual or esoteric study or even as a game. Tarot is such a diverse medium that an entire lifetime can be devoted to it's study.

The Suits

There are 4 suits commonly found in Tarot decks: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. While they sometimes have different names, the idea behind them is usually the same. If you understand the meanings of the suits and have some knowledge of numbers, you can read the Minor Arcana of any deck of Tarot cards, or even playing cards for that matter.

I have included some basic astrological descriptions as the two systems, Astrology and Tarot seem to complement each other. I have also noticed that many Tarot readers incorporate their knowledge of astrology into their interpretations and readings and that many people who are interested in one are also interested in the other.

Since a great many people have some knowledge of Astrology, I thought the descriptions might be helpful in understanding the ideas behind the suits.

Wands

Wands can be described as the suit having to do with energy, creativity, communication, action, passion, self improvement/self development, spirituality and enterprise. If you look at the suit of Wands in most decks you notice that most of the cards show some type of action in progress, or someone who appears to be reviewing or enjoying the results obtained from a recently completed action. Action and energy are two key words to this suit. Wands are usually associated with the element of fire. If you know a little of astrology, think of the personality attributes of the fire signs, the forceful Aries, the flamboyant Leo and the honest and enthusiastic Sagittarius.

Additional attributes include:
Direction – South
Season - Spring (Vernal Equinox)
Masculine/Feminine - Masculine

Swords

Swords are the suit of mental activity, rational thinking, decisions, and intellectual pursuit. Because much of the turmoil in our lives can be attributed to our thoughts, this suit often depicts conflict and struggle as well. Looking at this suit in most decks, one finds some of the more negative cards depicting nightmares, craftiness, pain and restriction. Swords are usually associated with the element of air. Astrologically one can think of the Libran desire for balance, the contradictions inherent in the Aquarian personality, and the Gemini's thirst for intellectual stimulation.

Additional attributes:
Direction - West
Season - Autumn (Autumnal Equinox)
Masculine/Feminine - Masculine

Pentacles

Swords are the suit of mental activity, rational thinking, decisions, and intellectual pursuit. Because much of the turmoil in our lives can be attributed to our thoughts, this suit often depicts conflict and struggle as well. Looking at this suit in most decks, one finds some of the more negative cards depicting nightmares, craftiness, pain and restriction. Swords are usually associated with the element of air. Astrologically one can think of the Libran desire for balance, the contradictions inherent in the Aquarian personality, and the Gemini's thirst for intellectual stimulation.
Additional attributes:
Direction - West
Season - Autumn (Autumnal Equinox)
Masculine/Feminine - Masculine

Aces

Aces represent the energy of each suit in its purest and most concentrated form. They also represent beginnings, ideas, commencement, opportunity, a fresh start, inspiration, a gift.

Applying the above to what we have covered in the suits gives you the meaning of each ace.

 Ace of Wands – New energy, a burst of creativity, beginning a self improvement program, the start of a spiritual quest.
Ace of Cups - A new relationship ( romantic or otherwise), awakening intuition or psychic powers, the start of happier times.
Ace of Swords - New ideas, a new intellectual interest or hobby, strength, power.
Ace of Pentacles - Beginnings on the physical plane, a new job, a new home, the start of a period of prosperity.

Timing

Many readers use Aces as timing cards. If a question of timing comes up during a reading, write it down and put it aside. After the main reading is done, have the querent re-shuffle and cut the deck, then deal cards face up until you get an Ace. The suit of the Ace will indicate the time that the event is most likely to occur.
Using the seasons from the message on suits we have:
Wands - Spring
Cups - Summer
Swords - Fall
Pentacles - Winter