Beyond the Major: Profound Influence of the Minor Arcana

Tarot is often associated with the enigmatic Major Arcana cards. However, nestled within the deck lies another realm of symbolism and significance—the Minor Arcana. While they may be labeled as “minor,” these cards carry immense power and profound meanings that deserve our attention.

The Minor Arcana represents the everyday aspects of life, providing insights into our existence’s practical and temporary aspects. The Minor Arcana highlights our day-to-day experiences, challenges, and opportunities.

This article delves into the fascinating world of the Minor Arcana in Tarot, exploring their representation of everyday experiences, emotions, and challenges. Discover why understanding Tarot’serpreting the Minor Arcana is essential for unlocking the depths of Tarot readings and how these seemingly modest cards can reveal profound insights into our lives.

If you are looking for the meaning of the Major Arcana cards, you will find in-depth information in the article below.

Related article: Soul’s Journey: Meaning of Major Arcana Cards

What the minor Arcana represents

Picture the Major Arcana as the grand milestones and life-altering events that shape our paths. The cards represent big-ticket moments like love, significant decisions, and spiritual awakening.

On the other hand, the Minor Arcana cards capture “everyday” moments, the mundane yet significant experiences that make up the fabric of our lives. It is always good to remember that substantial shifts in life often come from more minor decisions.

I often hear that the Major Arcana is more “important” than the Minor Arcana, but it is not true. In my experience, the biggest happenings in my life have sparked from a seemingly (at the time) small decision.

Sandra Törnroth

I often hear that the Major Arcana is more “important” than the Minor Arcana, but it is not true. In my experience, the most significant happenings in my life have sparked from a seemingly (at the time) small decision.

For example, I was not planning to go out with my friends but was talked into it – I later met my husband at the party. A small decision led to a significant impact on my life.

The Minor Arcana is where the nitty gritty of a tarot reading often is found. It is the details.

The Minor Arcana consists of the four suits

The Minor Arcana consists of four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (or Coins). Each suit has a unique energy and corresponds to different areas of our lives.

1. Wands: This fiery suit symbolizes passion, creativity, and inspiration. It represents our ambitions, projects, and personal growth. When Wands appear in a reading, they ignite our motivation and push us to take action toward our dreams.
2. Cups: The Cups suit is all about emotions, relationships, and matters of the heart. It reflects love, compassion, intuition, and our emotional well-being. When Cups cards show up, they provide insights into our romantic, familial, or friendship connections.
3. Swords: The Swords suit delves into intellect, thoughts, and communication. It represents life’s mental state, decision-making processes, and conflicts. Swords cards guide finding clarity, overcoming challenges, and achieving mental equilibrium.
4. Pentacles: Grounded in the element of earth, the Pentacles suit focuses on life’s material and practical aspects. It encompasses finances, career, home, and physical well-being. Pentacles cards bring insights into our material pursuits, offering guidance on abundance, stability, and our relationship with the physical world.

As you notice, the Minor Arcana stand for the details in our lives, while the Major Arcana for the major energetic shifts or movements in our lives to understand the messages we receive from a tarot reading.

If you want to learn more about Suits, I have written an in-depth article. You find it below.

Further reading: What Tarot Suits Are: A Total Beginner’s Guide

Why the Minor Arcana is important

Why are these seemingly “minor” cards important in Tarot readings? Well, they bring balance and depth to the messages we receive.

While the Major Arcana offers overarching themes and transformational energy, the Minor Arcana provides the finer details and practical advice we need to navigate our daily lives.

The Minor Arcana helps us comprehensively understand a situation when interpreting Tarot cards. They add layers of meaning and offer guidance specific to the challenges and opportunities we encounter regularly.

Whether it’s a career decision, matters of the heart, or personal growth, the Minor Arcana illuminates the subtleties and nuances that shape our journey.

Sandra Törnroth

Whether it’s a career decision, matters of the heart, or personal growth, the Minor Arcana illuminates the subtleties and nuances that shape our journey.

By paying attention to the Minor Arcana, we honor the importance of everyday experiences. Through these seemingly “minor” details, we can make profound life changes and decisions.

The Minor Arcana acts as a bridge, connecting the grand themes of the Major Arcana with our tangible reality.

So, the next time you dive into a Tarot reading, embrace the Minor Arcana enthusiastically. They hold a wealth of wisdom, offering practical insights and guiding you through the intricacies of your unique journey.

Remember, no experience is too small or insignificant regarding Tarot. Whether major or minor, each card carries a special message just for you.

Incorporate the Minor Arcana, and watch your Tarot readings become more prosperous, nuanced, and genuinely transformative.

It is possible to leave the Minor Arcana cards out of a reading if you want to, but you will lose a lot of information and detail. But at times, it can be beneficial. If you want to learn more about this, read the article below.

Further reading: Tarot Readings With Major Arcana Cards: Pros And Cons

The MINOR Arcana cards in order

Learning the Minor Arcana cards when you are a beginner can be a little tricky. But don’t fret; you will get the hang of it with time.

My most important tip is to learn the meaning of the suit itself and then learn the basics of numerology. Look at the card and take notice of the symbols. When you combine the three, you get the meaning of the Minor tarot card.

The meaning of the suit + symbolism + numerology meaning = tarot card meaning

Number	Numerology Meaning
0 (Ace)	Unity, Potential, Wholeness, Divine
1	Individuality, Independence, Self-confidence
2	Balance, Harmony, Cooperation
3	Creativity, Expression, Joy
4	Stability, Hard Work, Practicality
5	Freedom, Adventure, Change
6	Love, Family, Responsibility
7	Spirituality, Intuition, Inner Wisdom
8	Success, Abundance, Achievement
9	Transformation, Compassion, Humanitarianism
10	Divine Order, Manifestation, Potential

Please note that numerology interpretations may vary among schools of thought and practitioners, but the above meanings are commonly associated with the respective numbers.

I understand it can sometimes feel daunting learning all of the cards. If you want to learn more about how long it might take to learn the system, you find information in the article below.

Further reading: How Long Does It Take To Learn And Master The Tarot?

THE COURT CARDS

The court cards are the Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings of the tarot deck. They belong to the Suits but have different characteristics than the Aces to Tens.

The court cards are a specific category representing different personalities or archetypes.

They typically depict individuals, often referred to as “courtiers” or “court figures,” and they play a significant role in the Tarot deck.

The court cards are divided into four suits: Wands (also known as Staves or Rods), Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (also known as Coins or Disks). Each suit has its own court cards consisting of the Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

The court cards in Tarot signify different qualities, characteristics, or roles that can be found in people and situations.

The court cards often depict certain archetypes or symbolic representations of individuals or personality types, providing insights into the dynamics or the energies influencing the situation.

Here’s a brief overview of the general significance and representation of the court cards:

1. Pages: The Pages symbolize youthful energy, curiosity, and growth potential. They are associated with learning, messages, and new beginnings. Pages can represent a person or situation needing exploration, enthusiasm, and receptivity to new ideas.
2. Knights: The Knights embody action, passion, and a sense of adventure. They represent a drive for progress, ambition, and pursuing goals with determination. The Knights often signify a person or situation characterized by assertiveness, movement, and taking bold strides forward.
3. Queens: The Queens represent nurturing, intuition, and emotional intelligence. They embody qualities such as compassion, wisdom, and the ability to provide support. The Queens often symbolize individuals or situations where nurturing, empathy, and understanding are prevalent.
4. Kings: The Kings embody authority, leadership, and mastery. They represent power, wisdom, and the ability to make decisions. The Kings often symbolize individuals or situations that require leadership, responsibility, and a firm hand to achieve desired outcomes.

It’s important to note that while the court cards can represent actual people in a reading, they can also signify energies, characteristics, or situations that need to be considered.

The specific interpretation of a court card can vary depending on its position in a spread, surrounding cards, and the reader’s intuitive insights.

Interpreting court cards in Tarot requires understanding the general meanings associated with each card, considering their suit elements, and applying intuition and context to derive a more nuanced understanding of their significance in a particular reading.

Sandra Törnroth

Interpreting court cards in Tarot requires understanding the general meanings associated with each card, considering their suit elements, and applying intuition and context to derive a more nuanced understanding of their significance in a particular reading.

The meaning of the court cards

Below you will find the general meanings of court cards and suit-specific meanings.

General Meaning

Title	Meaning	Keywords
Page	Youth, curiosity, new beginnings, messages	Learning, exploration, opportunities
Knight	Action, adventure, passion, impulsiveness	Energy, drive, enthusiasm
Queen	Nurturing, empathy, intuition, maturity	Wisdom, grace, compassion
King	Authority, leadership, mastery, stability	Power, control, responsibility

Wands

Title	Meaning	Keyword
Page	Creative inspiration, exploration, enthusiasm	Ideas, potential, curiosity
Knight	Action, adventure, passion, impulsiveness	Courage, drive, ambition
Queen	Confidence, leadership, independence, determination	Charisma, vitality, influence
King	Vision, power, success, entrepreneurship	Strength, authority, innovation

Cups

Title	Meaning	Keyword
Page	Emotional growth, intuitive messages, new relationships	Sensitivity, imagination, creativity
Knight	Romance, charm, artistic pursuits, emotional expression	Idealism, passion, gentleness
Queen	Emotional balance, compassion, nurturing, psychic abilities	Intuition, empathy, serenity
King	Emotional maturity, diplomacy, leadership, creativity	Wisdom, calmness, emotional intelligence

Swords

Title	Meaning	Keywords
Page	Intellect, curiosity, new ideas, communication	Mental agility, alertness, curiosity
Knight	Ambition, determination, decisive action, justice	Courage, assertiveness, truth-seeking
Queen	Clarity, logic, objectivity, independence	Intelligence, analysis, perceptiveness
King	Intellectual power, authority, truth, fairness	Wisdom, discernment, leadership

Pentacles

Title	Meaning	Keywords
Page	New opportunities, practicality, learning, diligence	Ambition, curiosity, growth
Knight	Hard work, reliability, responsibility, stability	Efficiency, perseverance, dependability
Queen	Abundance, practicality, nurturing, financial security	Fertility, sensibility, generosity
King	Wealth, success, stability, mastery of the material world	Security, competence, discipline

Please note that interpretations of Tarot cards can vary, and these meanings and keywords are general guidelines.

The specific interpretations may differ depending on the reader or the context of the reading. As the court cards involve personality traits, they can sometimes be complex. If they feel confused, give it time. The meaning will usually come to you when you least expect it.

The Minor Arcana meanings

In the tables below, you find keywords that can help when learning the Minor Arcana cards. If you want to learn more about other tarot cards in the deck, I recommend you check out my tarot cheat sheet page. Bookmark it for easy access when doing tarot readings.

Cups

Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Ace of Cups	Love, new emotional beginnings	Connection, harmony, mutual love, and understanding
Two of Cups	Union, partnership, harmony	Connection, harmony, mutual love and understanding
Three of Cups	Celebration, friendship, creativity	Joyous gatherings, friendships, creative collaborations
Four of Cups	Contemplation, introspection, apathy	Self-reflection, contemplation, reevaluation of emotional fulfillment
Five of Cups	Loss, disappointment, grief	Emotional loss, regret, focusing on what went wrong
Six of Cups	Nostalgia, childhood, memories	Innocence, memories, reconnecting with the past
Seven of Cups	Choices, fantasies, illusion	Daydreaming, choices, being overwhelmed by possibilities
Eight of Cups	Soul-searching, walking away	Leaving behind what no longer serves, soul-searching, personal growth
Nine of Cups	Contentment, wishes fulfilled	Emotional satisfaction, fulfillment of desires
Ten of Cups	Harmony, joy, family	Emotional harmony, happy family life, domestic bliss
Page of Cups	Creativity, new opportunities, messages	Creative inspiration, new opportunities, receiving emotional messages
Knight of Cups	Romance, charm, emotional exploration	Romantic pursuit, emotional exploration, following the heart’s desires
Queen of Cups	Intuition, compassion, emotional support	Emotional sensitivity, nurturing, compassion
King of Cups	Emotional maturity, wisdom, diplomacy	Emotional stability, wisdom, diplomatic approach

Pentacles (Coins)

Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Ace of Pentacles	New beginnings, prosperity, opportunities	Material abundance, new ventures, financial opportunities
Two of Pentacles	Balance, adaptability, juggling priorities	Balancing multiple aspects of life, adaptability, managing priorities
Three of Pentacles	Collaboration, teamwork, craftsmanship	Collaboration, skilled work, teamwork
Four of Pentacles	Stability, possessiveness, financial security	Financial stability, possessiveness, guarding resources
Five of Pentacles	Hardship, poverty, isolation	Financial struggle, isolation, feeling left out
Six of Pentacles	Generosity, giving and receiving, charity	Giving and receiving, acts of kindness, sharing resources
Seven of Pentacles	Patience, perseverance, long-term vision	Patience, investment, waiting for results
Eight of Pentacles	Diligence, skill development, craftsmanship	Hard work, skill development, attention to detail
Nine of Pentacles	Abundance, luxury, self-sufficiency	Material abundance, self-reliance, enjoying the fruits of labor
Ten of Pentacles	Legacy, family, wealth	Family prosperity, financial security, passing down traditions
Page of Pentacles	Ambition, practicality, opportunities	New opportunities, practicality, ambition
Knight of Pentacles	Responsibility, reliability, hard work	Dependability, hard work, methodical approach
Queen of Pentacles	Nurturing, abundance, practicality	Nurturing, practicality, financial stability, abundance
King of Pentacles	Wealth, success, stability	Material success, financial stability, responsible and practical approach

Swords

Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Ace of Swords	Mental clarity, new ideas, breakthrough	Mental clarity, new ideas, intellectual breakthrough
Two of Swords	Difficult decisions, stalemate, compromise	Indecision, difficult choices, need for compromise
Three of Swords	Heartbreak, sorrow, grief	Emotional pain, heartbreak, sorrow
Four of Swords	Rest, recuperation, contemplation	Rest, recovery, taking a break to reflect and rejuvenate
Five of Swords	Conflict, deceit, winning at all costs	Conflict, deception, victory at the expense of others
Six of Swords	Transition, moving on, finding peace	Transition, moving on, finding solace
Seven of Swords	Betrayal, deception, sneakiness	Deception, betrayal, cunning actions
Eight of Swords	Restriction, self-imposed limitations	Feeling trapped, self-imposed limitations, limited perspective
Nine of Swords	Anxiety, nightmares, inner turmoil	Anxiety, nightmares, inner torment
Ten of Swords	Defeat, failure, hitting rock bottom	Overwhelming defeat, failure, reaching the lowest point
Page of Swords	Curiosity, mental agility, new perspectives	Intellectual curiosity, mental agility, seeking new perspectives
Knight of Swords	Ambition, determination, assertiveness	Ambition, assertiveness, strong determination
Queen of Swords	Clarity, independence, discernment	Mental clarity, independence, sharp discernment
King of Swords	Authority, logic, intellectual power	Intellectual power, authority, strong analytical and logical thinking

Wands

Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Ace of Wands	Inspiration, new opportunities, creative potential	New beginnings, creative inspiration, potential for growth
Two of Wands	Planning, partnership, future vision	Making plans, partnership, envisioning the future
Three of Wands	Expansion, progress, exploration	Progress, expansion, exploring new horizons
Four of Wands	Celebration, harmony, homecoming	Celebration, harmony, joyous occasions
Five of Wands	Conflict, competition, disagreement	Conflict, competition, disagreements
Six of Wands	Victory, recognition, public acclaim	Victory, recognition, receiving public acclaim
Seven of Wands	Courage, perseverance, standing your ground	Courage, resilience, defending your position
Eight of Wands	Swiftness, rapid action, progress	Rapid action, progress, quick changes
Nine of Wands	Resilience, persistence, inner strength	Resilience, persistence, inner strength
Ten of Wands	Burdens, responsibilities, overwhelm	Feeling overwhelmed, burdens, responsibilities
Page of Wands	Exploration, enthusiasm, new beginnings	Curiosity, enthusiasm, embracing new opportunities
Knight of Wands	Energy, passion, adventure	Energy, passion, adventurous spirit
Queen of Wands	Confidence, leadership, independence	Confidence, leadership, independence
King of Wands	Authority, vision, charisma	Authority, vision, charisma, taking charge

The reversed meanings of the MINOR Arcana cards

A reversal is when the tarot card is positioned upside down. It is not necessary to read reversals; some never do this. But reversals are the way to go if you want a more nuanced reading with shadow and light meanings.

If you want to learn more about if it is necessary to read reversals, I invite you to read the article below.

Further reading: Do You Have To Read Reversed Tarot Cards?

I always read upright and reversals as it brings more in-depth information and insights – but it is not for everyone. You have to do you – there is nothing like a right and wrong way to do things regarding the Tarot.

If you want to want to try reversals, you find helpful tables below.

Reversed Meanings of the Cups Suit

Reversed Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Reversed Ace of Cups	Blocked emotions, lack of love	Emotional blockages, difficulty expressing or receiving love
Reversed Two of Cups	Disharmony, imbalance in relationships	Lack of harmony, disagreements, imbalances in partnerships
Reversed Three of Cups	Social isolation, disconnection	Feeling left out, social disconnection, lack of celebration or joy
Reversed Four of Cups	Stagnation, missed opportunities	Complacency, missed chances for emotional fulfillment
Reversed Five of Cups	Acceptance, moving on from loss	Finding acceptance, moving on from grief, seeking new emotional possibilities
Reversed Six of Cups	Dwelling on the past, nostalgia	Excessive focus on the past, clinging to outdated memories
Reversed Seven of Cups	Lack of focus, confusion	Lack of clarity, being overwhelmed by options or fantasies
Reversed Eight of Cups	Avoidance, fear of change	Fear of leaving behind what is no longer serving, avoiding necessary emotional growth
Reversed Nine of Cups	Discontentment, unfulfilled desires	Lack of emotional satisfaction, unfulfilled wishes or desires
Reversed Ten of Cups	Disharmony in family, disconnection	Strained family relationships, lack of emotional harmony within the family
Reversed Page of Cups	Blocked creativity, emotional immaturity	Difficulty accessing creativity, emotional immaturity or volatility
Reversed Knight of Cups	Emotional manipulation, moodiness	Manipulative behavior, emotional instability, mood swings
Reversed Queen of Cups	Emotional insecurity, emotional dependence	Self-doubt, emotional neediness, difficulty maintaining emotional boundaries
Reversed King of Cups	Emotional control, moodiness	Suppressed emotions, moodiness, difficulty expressing or managing emotions

Reversed Meanings of the Pentacles (Coins) Suit

Reversed Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Reversed Ace of Pentacles	Missed opportunities, lack of abundance	Missed chances for material abundance, scarcity mindset
Reversed Two of Pentacles	Imbalance, financial instability	Financial imbalance, difficulty managing resources or juggling priorities
Reversed Three of Pentacles	Lack of teamwork, skill development	Lack of collaboration, lack of progress in skill development or work
Reversed Four of Pentacles	Financial insecurity, greed	Hoarding resources, fear of loss, financial insecurity
Reversed Five of Pentacles	Recovery, hopelessness	Finding hope amidst hardship, seeking help or support
Reversed Six of Pentacles	Selfishness, imbalance in giving and receiving	Imbalance in giving and receiving, selfishness in sharing resources
Reversed Seven of Pentacles	Impatience, lack of long-term vision	Impatience with progress, short-sightedness in planning
Reversed Eight of Pentacles	Lack of diligence, skill stagnation	Lack of dedication, lack of progress in skill development
Reversed Nine of Pentacles	Financial dependency, overspending	Overreliance on others, financial extravagance, lack of self-sufficiency
Reversed Ten of Pentacles	Family discord, financial instability	Strained family relationships, financial instability within the family
Reversed Page of Pentacles	Lack of ambition, missed opportunities	Lack of motivation or ambition, missing out on potential opportunities
Reversed Knight of Pentacles	Irresponsibility, laziness	Lack of responsibility, laziness, resistance to hard work
Reversed Queen of Pentacles	Financial instability, lack of nurturing	Financial instability, lack of practicality or nurturing qualities
Reversed King of Pentacles	Financial setbacks, misuse of power	Financial setbacks, mismanagement of resources, abuse of power

Reversed Meanings of the Swords Suit

Reversed Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Reversed Ace of Swords	Confusion, lack of clarity	Mental confusion, lack of clarity in thoughts or communication
Reversed Two of Swords	Indecision, stalemate	Inability to make decisions, feeling stuck in a situation without progress
Reversed Three of Swords	Healing, release from pain	Emotional healing, release from pain or heartbreak
Reversed Four of Swords	Restlessness, burnout	Inability to find rest or relaxation, mental or physical burnout
Reversed Five of Swords	Reconciliation, amends	Seeking reconciliation, making amends, letting go of conflicts
Reversed Six of Swords	Delayed progress, unresolved issues	Obstacles in transition or moving on, unresolved issues hindering progress
Reversed Seven of Swords	Honesty, self-reflection	Facing the truth, self-reflection, letting go of deceitful behavior
Reversed Eight of Swords	Self-empowerment, breaking free	Breaking free from limitations, finding self-empowerment, overcoming mental barriers
Reversed Nine of Swords	Inner peace, release from anxiety	Finding inner peace, release from anxiety or worry
Reversed Ten of Swords	Recovery, healing from pain	Healing and recovery from a painful experience or situation
Reversed Page of Swords	Lack of curiosity, limited thinking	Lack of curiosity, narrow-mindedness, limited thinking
Reversed Knight of Swords	Impulsiveness, aggression	Impulsive behavior, aggression, acting without considering consequences
Reversed Queen of Swords	Emotional vulnerability, compassion	Opening up emotionally, showing compassion, embracing vulnerability
Reversed King of Swords	Abuse of power, manipulation	Misuse of authority, manipulation, abuse of intellectual or analytical skills

Reversed Meanings of the Wands Suit

Reversed Card	Keywords	Interpretation
Reversed Ace of Wands	Lack of inspiration, missed opportunities	Lack of inspiration, missed chances for new beginnings or creative endeavors
Reversed Two of Wands	Lack of planning, delays	Lack of planning or foresight, delays in progress or decision-making
Reversed Three of Wands	Lack of progress, setbacks	Lack of progress, encountering setbacks or obstacles in ventures or plans
Reversed Four of Wands	Disconnection, lack of celebration	Lack of harmony, disconnection from joyous occasions or community celebrations
Reversed Five of Wands	Conflict resolution, collaboration	Finding resolutions to conflicts, promoting collaboration rather than competition
Reversed Six of Wands	Ego, arrogance	Excessive pride, arrogance, seeking validation or recognition
Reversed Seven of Wands	Surrender, giving up	Giving up, surrendering to opposition or challenges, feeling overwhelmed
Reversed Eight of Wands	Delays, lack of momentum	Delays in progress, lack of momentum or forward movement
Reversed Nine of Wands	Exhaustion, burnout	Mental or physical exhaustion, burnout, feeling overwhelmed or depleted
Reversed Ten of Wands	Release, burdens lifted	Release from burdens or responsibilities, lightening the load, letting go of excessive stress
Reversed Page of Wands	Lack of enthusiasm, missed opportunities for exploration or embracing new experiences	Lack of enthusiasm, missed opportunities for exploration or embracing new experiences
Reversed Knight of Wands	Lack of direction, impatience	Lack of direction or focus, impatience, rushing into actions without considering consequences
Reversed Queen of Wands	Self-doubt, lack of confidence	Self-doubt, lack of confidence, difficulty asserting oneself or embracing personal power
Reversed King of Wands	Impulsiveness, dictatorial behavior	Impulsiveness, dictatorial behavior, misuse of power, imposing opinions or beliefs on others

Please note that interpretations of reversed Tarot cards may vary among readers and traditions. The keywords provided offer a general understanding of the reversed meanings, but the actual interpretation may depend on the context of the reading and the reader’s intuition.

You will find helpful information in the article below if you want to learn more about deciphering reversed tarot cards.

Further reading: Reversed Tarot Cards: What They Are And How To Read Them

Final thoughts

The Minor Arcana cards are the magic glue of the Tarot. They can be tricky to learn when first starting to understand the Tarot. But don’t give up; they are worth all your hard work.

The Minor Arcana ignites significant events, which are essential to pick up on. At times, they are just what they are – everyday events that pass – but sometimes, they give clues about important happenings to come.

I love the Aces; they almost always indicate that changes are coming. Tens are other favorites of mine; they show that manifestation is close or has already happened. When I think of it, I love all the Minor Arcana cards. They are truly magical.