Structure of the Tarot

The three groups in a Tarot deck are…

THE MAJOR ARCANA (22 cards)

These all have Roman numerals (0 through XXI)and each has a name, as follows:

0 Fool, I Magician, II High Priestess, III Empress, IV Emperor, V The Hierophant, VI Lovers, VII Chariot, VIII Strength, IX Hermit, X Wheel of Fortune, XI Justice, XII The Hanged Man, XIII Death, XIV Temperance, XV Devil, XVI Tower, XVII The Star, XVIII The Moon, XIX The Sun, XX Judgment, XXI The World

The Major Arcana cards are indicators of Universal forces at work in your life. They can be viewed as archetypal aspects of your own nature as you journey through your own evolutionary process. The Cosmic and mystical forces as symbolized in these 22 cards can offer you greater insights into your own process once you tune into them.

THE MINOR ARCANA (40 cards)

There are four suits with an Ace through ten of each. Each suit rules a different aspect of life.

THE FOUR SUITS ARE:

Pentacles symbolize the earth element. It reveals information about the more practical including the mundane affairs of your life, your resources, finances, physical environment, work, career, home and other basic elements of your life. Pentacles correlate to the diamonds in a regular deck of cards.

Cups symbolizes the water element. They reveal information about how your emotional life, you feel about things, what you care about, your relationships, what fulfills you and conversely what you feel sad or incomplete about in your life. Cups correlate to the hearts in a regular deck of cards.

Swords correlates to the air element. It reveals information about your mentality, how you think, communicate, the decisions you’ve made that still influence you, your attitudes and fears and how you relate to them. Swords correlate to the spades in a regular deck of cards.

Rods symbolizes the fire element. It reveals information about your spiritual life, morals, ethics and what you have a strong draw to or interest in. The rods rule what fuels you and represents your passion and enthusiasm for life. Rods correlate to the clubs in a regular deck of cards.

THE COURT (4 TYPES)

Kings – a man of distinction and maturity. Often the Kings are someone who has information for you or can guide you through and advise you in a particular situation you are dealing with.

Queens – a woman who knows who she is, what she wants and needs and how to get it. She epitomizes the feminine aspect of her suit.

Knights – a person who is dynamic and in pursuit of the things in whatever suit he appears. It is the part of each of you that is generally fiery, motivated and enthusiastic.

Pages – a young person involved with the issue. They are likely to be open and innocent. It also represents you at the beginning of a phase of activity.