TarotCraft 201.00: Introduction to the Minor Arcana

The 40 cards of the Minor Arcana of the Rider Waite Tarot deck.

Getting to know the Minor Arcana cards

There are seventy-eight cards in a Tarot deck, divided into three sections:

• Forty cards in the Minor Arcana series, divided into four suites
• Sixteen cards in the Court Card series, divided into four suites
• Twenty-two cards in the Major Arcana series.

 
 The suites of the Minor Arcana relate to the four classical Greek Elements – Earth, Air, Fire and Water - and their symbolism. In Tarot, the Elements show different states of awareness and different ways of relating to the world. 

• The element of Fire shows activity, energy, and things happening in the present. It corresponds to the suite of Wands.  
• The element of Water shows love and emotions.  It corresponds to the suite of Cups.
• The element of Air shows thought and mental activity.  It corresponds to the suite of Swords.
• The element of Earth shows money and resources.  It corresponds to the suite of Pentacles.

 
Tarot Journal Exercise
 
Each suite of cards shows a journey from start to finish. Lay each suite out from Ace to 10 and familiarise yourself with the images and the journey they depict.
 
Now, make three piles of cards. Don’t overthink it, just go with your first impression. 

• The first pile is for any card you immediately feel drawn to.
• The second pile is for any card you immediately dislike.
• The third pile are for the rest of the cards. If you can’t decide if you like or dislike a card, place it in the third pile.

 
In your Tarot journal make a note of the cards in the first and second piles. Again, don’t overthink it. Just go with your first impression.

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