Understanding the Major and Minor Arcana in Tarot Readings
Arcana
secrets, mysteries, keys
The word arcana can be traced back to the mid-16th century from the Latin arcanus meaning secret. In Tarot, the secret knowledge is split into two volumes, two books of ancient wisdom and symbolism that can be studied separately or together as a cohesive unit. These two volumes are called the Major Arcana and the Minor Arcana. In order to understand how to read Tarot, you need to be able to tell the difference.
The Major Arcana
The Major Arcana, often referred to as the "trump" cards, holds immense importance in tarot readings. These are the first 22 cards in a deck, and it actually starts at 0 - The Fool.
The Majors are frequently called the 'Trumps' because they hold greater significance in a reading. If you pull three cards, two of the cards are Minors and one card is a Major, you need to pay extra attention to that major, and center your interpretations around it.
Imagine you are driving your car down a street in your neighborhood. You drive by a school zone sign, which you subconsciously take note of, but no action is required when you see that sign. You keep driving, and then you pass by a small poster advertising a local farmer's market being held the next weekend. You take a mental note that you'd probably like to make a visit to the farmer's market, but still, you carry on driving because nothing needs to be done at that moment. And then, out of nowhere, a Police Officer jumps in front of your car holding a Red Stop Sign, so you slam your brakes and stop your car. The Major Arcana card would be the Police Officer with a Stop Sign. You have to take immediate action when you see it.
It does bear noting, that sometimes the message being conveyed by the Major Card isn't going to be as blatant as a cop with a stop sign. But the takeaway is that you really need to pay extra attention when they pop up.
If you visualize the Major Arcana as an actual book, you can picture it as being told through 22 chapters, starting with chapter 0. It seems strange to start a story with zero, but it makes sense when you consider that the zero card signifies the Fool. The Fool is all beginnings. It's the potential energy of all choices, it's the precipice, and the Fool is the start of everything but still nothing at all. You can't have anything without the fool, but the Fool can be found within everything.
As you work through the book of the Major Arcana, you can imagine that the Fool morphs into the main character in every subsequent chapter. The Fool becomes the Magician and learns how to master the secrets from that chapter before stepping into the shoes of the High Priestess and so on.
If you take that a step further, and imagine that you are the Fool, imagine that you are the one inserting yourself into the chapters of the different cards to master the lessons and with each chapter under your belt you are closer to becoming the best version of yourself that you can be.
The Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana, sometimes called the 'pip' cards, usually reveal 'subplots' within your life story. While still important, they do not have the same dramatic effect as the Majors.
The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. If the theoretical book of the Major Arcana is divided into 22 Chapters, you can imagine that the Book of the Minor Arcana is divided into Four Chapters by Suit.
Each suit comprises cards numbered from Ace to 10, along with four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. (There are lessons in Numerology to be found here, as well as significant meanings within the Court Cards, but we'll save those rabbit holes for other blog posts.)
Now, each of the 'chapters' that are the suits is distinguished by a theme. The Suit of Wands represents creativity, passion, and inspiration. The Suit of Cups reflects emotions, relationships, and intuition. The Suit of Swords embodies intellect, communication, and decision-making. The Suit of Pentacles signifies material possessions, finances, and practical matters.
So, if the Minor Arcana is being illustrated by a book, these four chapters can be seen as individual parables, similar to Aesop's Fables. The Story of the Suit of Wands is the story of an individual's Creative drive. The Ace of Wands is the first page of that story, and the plot develops throughout the suit.
Recalling that our friend the Fool is the card that moves through the entire deck, place the Fool in the shoes of the main character in every card. As the Fool travels through the suit, he experiences everyday trials and tribulations and also celebrates little victories as we all do during life.
While we usually organize the Suits in separate chapters, remember that these things do not occur in a vacuum. Think of a complex novel or television show that you enjoy- like Game of Thrones. While one scene follows the conflict in the North, events are happening simultaneously in King's Landing that will eventually affect everyone in the Kingdom. To understand the story you have to talk about these events separately, but they ultimately play off of each other.
While the Major Arcana offers broader themes and life lessons, the Minor Arcana provides specific insights and details about a person's life. Together, these card groups form a comprehensive framework for tarot readings, shedding light on various paths and guiding individuals to better understand themselves and their lives.
By exploring the Major and Minor Arcana, you can unlock the deeper meanings, symbolism, and wisdom within tarot cards. Major and Minor Arcana cards in the same reading often contextualize each other in profound ways.
Whether you seek guidance, clarity, or self-reflection, tarot readings can provide invaluable insights into your journey and help you navigate the twists and turns that life presents.