Tarot Card Meanings

Your Guide to the Tarot’s Big Stories and Daily Life: The Major Arcana and the Four Suits

Have you ever looked at a tarot deck and wondered how all those pictures fit together? A tarot deck tells a big story, and also lots of smaller stories about everyday life. It has two main parts. The first part is called the Major Arcana. These cards show big life lessons and important changes. The second part is the Minor Arcana, which has four groups, or suits. These suits tell us about our daily feelings, thoughts, actions, and things we have. Let’s look at what these parts mean.

Part 1: The Major Arcana – Life’s Big Turning Points

The Major Arcana cards are like the main chapters in a book about life’s journey. “Arcana” means secrets or mysteries. So, these cards show the big secrets or important moments we all go through. There are 22 Major Arcana cards. They start with The Fool, who is like someone beginning a brand new adventure. They end with The World, which means finishing something important and feeling whole.

Each card in the Major Arcana shows a big theme or lesson. For instance, you might see cards about making big choices, like The Lovers. Or cards about finding inner strength, like the Strength card. Some cards talk about change, like Death or The Tower. These changes might seem big, but they help us grow. When I see a Major Arcana card in a reading, I often feel it’s pointing to something really significant in a person’s life, a theme that many spiritual teachings highlight as a key moment for growth. These cards don’t just tell us what might happen. They invite us to think deeply about our lives and the paths we are on. They are guides for understanding our biggest challenges and our brightest moments.

Part 2: The Suit of Wands – Spark, Action, and Spirit

Now, let’s look at one of the four suits in the Minor Arcana. This is the Suit of Wands. Imagine holding a magic wand. It might make you think of energy and making things happen. Wands in tarot are connected to the element of Fire. Fire is bright, warm, and full of energy. So, the Wands cards often talk about your spirit, your energy, and what you want to do in the world.

When you see Wands cards, they might be about new ideas that spark your interest, like a new project or a new adventure. They can show a time of being brave and taking action. These cards are about being creative and following your passions. They can also talk about growth, like a plant reaching for the sun. Sometimes, they might point to challenges that test your spirit, but they also show you have the power to get through them. The Wands encourage you to be bold, believe in yourself, and put your energy into what excites you.

Part 3: The Suit of Cups – Feelings, Love, and Connections

Next, we have the Suit of Cups. Think about a cup filled with water. Water can be calm, or it can flow like a river. It’s often linked to our feelings. The Cups cards in tarot are connected to the element of Water. This means they are all about emotions, relationships, and how we connect with others.

When Cups cards appear, they often talk about feelings like love, happiness, sadness, or a sense of peace. They can show new friendships or deep romantic connections. These cards might also point to how you feel about yourself, like learning to love and care for yourself. Sometimes, Cups cards can show a time of healing old hurts or opening your heart to new experiences. They also touch on intuition – that gut feeling – and your dreams. When I’m exploring a question about relationships or emotional well-being and Cups cards show up, it often feels like a reminder to listen to the heart, a message that resonates deeply in many spiritual traditions. The Suit of Cups asks us to pay attention to our feelings and the feelings of those around us.

Part 4: The Suit of Swords – Thoughts, Truth, and Challenges

Let’s move to the Suit of Swords. Imagine a sword. It can be sharp and clear. It can be used to cut through things that are confusing. Swords in tarot are linked to the element of Air. Air is about thoughts, ideas, and how we communicate. So, the Swords cards often deal with our minds, our beliefs, and how we face challenges.

When you see Swords cards, they might be about making clear decisions or finding the truth of a situation. They can show a time of using your mind to solve problems. These cards sometimes point to difficult situations or conflicts, because life has its tough moments. They can also show a need to be honest, even when it’s hard. Swords cards can highlight moments of sudden understanding or new ideas that change how you see things. While sometimes they show struggle, they also show the strength of the human mind to understand and overcome. They teach us about clear thinking and facing life’s challenges with courage.

Part 5: The Suit of Pentacles – The Material World, Work, and Home

Finally, there is the Suit of Pentacles, sometimes called Coins. Think of a coin you can hold in your hand. It’s something real and solid. Pentacles in tarot are connected to the element of Earth. Earth is about things that are practical and steady, like the ground beneath our feet. So, the Pentacles cards usually talk about the physical parts of our lives. This includes our work, our money, and our homes. They can also relate to our bodies and our health.

When Pentacles cards show up, they might be about your job or business. They can point to chances for new projects or learning new skills that help you in the world. These cards also deal with your sense of security. This means having enough of what you need to feel safe and comfortable. Pentacles can also connect us to nature and the simple joys of the physical world. Sometimes, a Pentacles card is a reminder to take care of your health or to appreciate the good things you have built. What I often find, and what many spiritual guides suggest, is that these cards remind us that our everyday world is also a place where we can find meaning and growth. The Suit of Pentacles teaches us about being grounded, working for what we want, and enjoying the real, touchable parts of life.

These four suits – Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles – paint a full picture of our daily lives. They show our energy, our feelings, our thoughts, and our physical world. Together with the Major Arcana’s big life lessons, they offer a rich way to understand ourselves and our journey.