Minor Arcana:
[Pentacles] [Cups] [Swords]
[Wands]
The Minor Arcana is divided in 4 suits: Pentacles, Cups, Swords and Wands. Each suit holds the numbers Ace to Ten.
Both suits and the numbers has their own specific basic meaning
When reading the numbers Ace till Ten, have the first 10 Majors in mind.
Ace Follows both the Fool and the Magician, a sign of a new beginning, raw potentials, energies, projects or feelings not yet taken to use.
Two Follows the High Priestess, in order to find out what she hides behind the curtain you have to dare make decisions and choose from the raw potentials, you might hit jackpot or you might face some obstacles you have not anticipated.
Three Follows the Empress which tells us to have patience and let the things develop and grow in its own pace. Now is not the time to push and rush, see what your potentials and choices brings before moving to next step.
Four Follows the Emperor, the situation is now somewhat stable, not much going on, though it seems that everything is in control for the time being. Is this indicating a solid foundation build or does it show stubborn-ness in refusing to bend and or compromise only time and development can tell.
Five Follows the Hierophant, it is now time to take down all the plans, all the efforts you have put into your project and take a good critical view on them. What can you do better and what should stay untouched. Bring mysteries down to earth so you can comprehend everything about and behind them.
Six Follows the Lovers, as you now have put the raw potentials in use, made a choice of which direction to follow, let it grow and take form, seen where and what could and have become of it, it is now time to review if you are still moving in the right direction. As Lovers is not about blind and everlasting love but more about making the right choice in heart, with the sixes you are guided in the direction that will most likely benefit your happiness in life the most.
Seven Follows the Chariot, like the Fives gives you a picture of what is there, the difference being that the sevens point out to you, that if you do not comprehend what potentials you have in front of you and take advantage of, then you might not see all the possibilities life hands out to you on the way.
Eight Follows Strength, showing that it does take a whole lot of courage and boldness to dare following your dreams and see what the possibilities are to reach them and make them reality. Divide the situation and put facts on a scale, what do you wish to accomplish and what can you accomplish.
Nine Follows the Hermit, almost having ended the circle of ten, this is the seeking with in and resting in what have been accomplished. You now have the results of all your efforts and are beginning to reload and get ready to a new circle of the tens.
Ten Follows the Wheel Of Fortune, did this bring you to the right place in life and on the wheels of life. Ten is the end of circle, whether this is good or bad, they give you the insight to that it is the end, you have gained top benefits or it wont get any worse. A new circle in life is ready to be born.
[Top]
The 4 suits has their own basic keywords as well:
Pentacles: earth, materials, money, health, ambitions, security, values, possessive, responsibility.
Ace of Pentacles:
This is the card stating be ware of health or money. The hand being somewhat divine, trying to hold on to the pentacle, tells the querent to proceed with care don't push your luck here, it might go wrong. Don't overdo it. Listening to this warning will give a blooming future, however if neglected, you could end up in Rocky Mountains where you have to watch every step you take.
Two of Pentacles:
I used to find that keeping balance was sometimes a struggle. I had to juggle every chore and every duty, and many times leave my own passions, desires behind me in order to cope with it all. Today I have found a way to keep balance without so much of a struggle and still find time to do what I want to do, indulge my self in hobbies from time to time with out the balance is suffering. I figured that what I needed was a good laugh, put on the hat of a clown and make the most out of it. My finances may suffer a bit for my extravagant use, but overall it shouldn't be thrown over the edge. The budget can handle it, as long as it doesn't go on for to long.
Three of Pentacles:
As all the 3΄s follows the Empress finding them reversed means that someone or something is not being given the right amount of love and attention as they should. Three of Pentacles is basically about finding out who does what and who is in charge. In the picture you see the one building the cathedral, another is the architect of the building and the third is the spectator, maybe the one who is going to use the building. In reversed the tasks and who is doing what is cluttering up, there are misunderstandings in your environment. Maybe you feel that that you are not being given the recognition you feel your efforts are worth and that gives you a negative flow in energies that will most likely make it even harder for you to succeed in the areas you put your energy into.
Four
of Pentacles:
The Four of Pentacles many readers call the cage card, the one where you are trapped in your possessive behaviors afraid of letting go of earthly goods in order to enjoy life. It is very difficult for the person in this card to let go and get moving, realizing that there is more to life than money and material gain. This is truly the Uncle Scrooge card in my opinion. In reversed the cards usually takes another twist to it, but this card just gets even worse in my eyes. When looking at my theory about the PPF in each card, try look at this one. There is absolutely nothing going on in the sky past, and just as little are you going to gain by sitting there all alone with your pentacles, cause in the bottom there is nothing either future. So this card in reverse is a warning or a reminder, that you should share with others what you have, be it money, goods, fortunes or just ideas and love. With no one to share your life with, your life will be nothing worth in the end. You will end up as alone as you have made your self all your life.
Five of Pentacles:
The Five of Pentacles is a lonely card, the people you see in the card are all frozen and hurt, injured. Though what should be remembered here as well that there are people out there, that makes the choice to stand alone, to get out of the warm and cozy environment they are used to, maybe because it did not give them all that happiness that they thought if would. In reverse I think this card is telling just that, the one being read for has either chosen to stand alone or has caused this by them self. It could also relate to a past of loneliness where they now find them selves in a group of loving and caring people, and that they did not know that this existed in real life.
[Top]
Six of Pentacles:
This card is obviously about being the happy provider to all that have a need for help. The other side to this could be that helping others with materials could be the reflection of one own needs for emotional aid or love. In reversed the man gives way to much. There are loads of funds to draw from in the beginning, though when you reach the middle of the card, he needs to put things on a scale. What he seems to forget is that he should also have for him self what he needs tomorrow, ignoring this fact could lead him to become one of the beggars him self. This is also the fact about energy and love, do not give more than you can spare, before you realize it, you could end up not having even the energy you need to draw your own breath.
Seven of Pentacles:
Seven of Pentacles is the harvest card, you have done what it takes to make things grow and it is now time to rest and let it develop and grow in its own paste. In reversed you might not have done all you could to get here, or it could be that you alone have to do all the work, so the time of relaxation does not come easily to you. There are many ways in reaching the goals you set for your self, though one thing is for sure what ever it is you want to do, and that is that you need to do what is required before laying back and think you have done such a great job. If you just stand there and dream about all the great things you could have accomplished, you are not very likely to get any harvest you can enjoy in the out come.
Eight of Pentacles:
Eight of Pentacles is the skill card. The man in the card knows what he is doing, and he does it good. There are numerous of tasks and projects lined up for him all ready to get done, though he knows, that if he is to manage them all with the same perfectionism in all, he has to do one thing at the time and stick to it until he is done and pleased with it. In reversed there are many projects lined up in the past, though when trying to finish them or even working on them something goes wrong. Some of the projects fall to ground only half done, while others just flows into the future as just great ideas you once had. Something is wrong and it could very likely be that the things you try to get done simply does not interest you all that much. To find the true commitment and eager to fulfill and finish your projects, you need to choose the ones that can keep your attention.
Nine of Pentacles:
The woman in Nine of Pentacles has withdrawn her self from all social events, she rest alone in her garden just enjoying what she has got. In the reverse the card is about getting out and socialize. Do not isolate your self thinking that if you only have your self and what ever earthly possessions you value is enough to gain full happiness.
Ten of Pentacles:
I have left home, left all home base security behind me. It is time to stand on my own feet, and the start doing this is not going to be easy. I am leaving something behind in order to start all over. Financial struggle has finally hit bottom, now the only way is up again.
[Top]
Cups: water, feelings, emotions, love, addictions, vulnerability, hopes, fears, involvement, heartfelt commitment.
Ace of Cups:
Peace
and harmony is being suppressed by emotions. It might be a depression or
just an hysteric overreaction.
You
are trying to base the future
on emotions and memories from the past. An
old loved one might be entering the picture, but it is not likely to
bring peace to the situation.
Two of Cups:
I was ready to
go all the way in this situation, whatever it took,
I would have done
it. I truly feels this is the
right thing, however something strong comes
in between me and the other. We will end up walking our
own paths - it is a sad day. I feel there is an
imbalance with in. I can't determine whether it's yin or yang there is too strong, but it is causing some serious
wholes in my person. Could it be I'm to
sensitive, outgoing, to blunt, am I being to cold ? Could it be I'm to
restrictive, to closed, to vague in my opinions ? Whether it is the one or
the other, this will not give me the satisfactory
I thought it would,
so maybe it is time to take a step back and look at it again with a new
set of eyes.
Three of Cups:
Oh we had a great friendship, not matter what happened we could get along and feel joy and happiness in each others company. We were so close like sisters and it was great. Now we have become older and less nice to each other, it's no longer just a life of rejoice and parties. We have to focus, realize that there are obligations in life as well.
Seems the good old friendship no longer is that good when you come to the root of it, 3 is a crowd. I will always cherish what we once had in my heart.
Four of Cups:
Should I stay or should I go? How long is long enough when dealing with and dwelling on the past? I know I have been given some great offers in life while sitting here licking my wounds setting past straight. I am now ready to move on in life. I know that some of the things I have had to turn down before might be gone forever - but I was not ready for it. There might be some of the offers still there - I will take a look at them instead of feeling cheated from the things gone by.
Five of Cups:
Today is the day I stop crying over spilled milk. No longer will I dwell on the past there is nothing I can do about it anyway. Today is the day of rejoice when I finally run around and see what else life has in hold for me. When living the present only by focusing on the past - it will leave the future blank. I have to throw away the dark cloak I have hanging on my shoulders - take responsibility for my actions and start live my life again.
[Top]
Six of Cups:
My memories of the past seems vague and incomprehensive. I need to go back and find out why it is I have closed this door in my mind. My childhood did not give me very much joy to look back on, so today I will use my memories to remember how I should take care of my own children - so they will get joyful memories of childhood. I am no longer the child and therefore I can not anymore just dream my way through life, event my own fairytales. This is now, builds have to be paid, the dog needs walking, dishes needs to get done and so on.
Seven of Cups:
I had it all right there in front of me. The red line in my life was clear, I had everything planned to the very last little detail. Something turned the plans up side down. It's no longer all that clear what I am supposed to do or what it is I want to do. I feel like a mere shadow of my self - somehow I lost connection to my emotions and heart on the way. I have looked in every direction now, tried everything there was to try, explored all the possibilities and opportunities I met on my way. Finally I know what it is I want, finally I see the picture clear. The fog is lifting and my meaning of life is beginning to show it self to me.
Eight of Cups:
As the 8 of cups up right is about knowing when it is time to take your leave and realize that some things are just not meant to be, it has also to do with you turning your back on potential fortunes because you wont take the advise coming your way. In reverse you truly wish you could just take your belongings and hit the road, with out having to care about what you leave behind. Though you are not doing it, because you know there is something valuable in those cups that are meant for you. You may not realize at the moment what it is that keeps you here, what lies in the shade of the moon light, though very soon comes the sun and will shred some light over what it is you are missing right now.
Nine of Cups:
Nine of cups is usually telling you that what it is you want you are very close at getting, the cups are all lined up for you, though still they stand behind you. So is it you sitting there in glow over what you got or is it another person standing in your way of getting to them? In reverse I choose to read the card you being to hovering over your own fortune. That you are so busy telling everybody what you got and counting your fortunes and money, that you turn your back at them, forgetting that even if you got them now, they still needs your attention and care, otherwise you might end up loosing it all before even noticing it.
Ten of Cups:
Ten of Cups ends the circle of this suit. Obviously the card up right is about fulfilled happiness and joy, total unity among friends and family. In reverse the card gets a Tower ability, showing you that if this was real it would have been great. Though since the cups are all lined up in past, the skyline of the card, to me this indicates, that the fortunes and potentials you were chasing were all just one big happy dream. It is very important that when you choose a project or person to spend time and life with that you choose with your heart, if not you are in danger of finding out that the outcome you have dreamt will never be, because your commitment and achievements do not match.
[Top]
Swords: air, thoughts, intuition, communication, dreams/nightmares, blockages, conflicts, working with in.
Ace of Swords:
The
Sword is being pierced down on/through honor.
Two of Swords:
The card shows that the choice you have to make seems to be so far apart from each other, so un a like, that you might have a hard time seeing that they have anything to do with one another. Seems what you need to do in this situation is to sit still, do not put plans to action just yet, before you fully understand what it is you want out of this situation and which of the alternative directions that will benefit you the most. As for now it seems that you are having quite an argue going on in your thoughts and emotions interfering which is preventing you from getting the clear picture of the situation. Once you gathered your thoughts and alternatives, you will get the picture and then you will be able to make the decision needed to move on in life.
Three of Swords:
The dark clouds that have been covering your mind and heart in the past is now beginning to lift. The heavy swords that have been allowed to pierce your heart so devastatingly is now slowly drifting and in the future they should be gone. However, they will leave a scar meaning that this is not something you will be able to just forget and forgive, you have to find a place for it in your heart, because it will always be there and be a part of your life.
Four of Swords:
It seems that no matter how you turn or do not, the swords are all over you, maybe you are being to hard on your self trying to fit in. Pleasing everybody is a very difficult task in life if not impossible, so maybe it is time for you to just do your best, and let your thoughts rest. Believe that when you do your best, it is good enough.
Five of Swords:
In the resent past there has been some heavy clouds hanging over you. There has been some serious fighting going on, and you now stand as the master of victory not knowing how to handle it. It did not give you the satisfaction you thought it would. Maybe even feeling that you should go back and plea for compromise, since this only made things worse than they was. If you do not do anything about your current situation you may find your self standing alone with all your gatherings, plans, good attentions and a hollow victory only to see your friends turning their backs on you.
[Top]
Six of Swords:
As this card is about gathering your self, the woman, the child and you and seek what you can change out side but also with in, the card reversed could be about you feeling that you have stagnated in life. Even if you do have ideas about what life should contain and what the next step could be it seems there is no imagination no fantasies about what it should be. You may have the tendency to just let things happen and call them destiny with out considering that you do have the possibility to take fate in your own hands and create what you want the future to hold.
Seven of Swords:
The Thief card is about deception and stealing from others or your self. In reversed I see this card as deceiving your self to believe that you do everything you can do. You act almost surprised when you are told that what you do is not good enough because in your mind, you have done everything perfect and then some, maybe you forget to put your actions where your mind was in this situation? The card could also be about being given some ideas and opportunities, as the man who only takes 5 of the 7 swords, this could indicate that you have decided what you can use, and what is not worth your time. Remember this also goes for all the great advises we are given from others all the time.
Eight of Swords:
Another cage card, the poor woman standing there blindfolded and seemingly all tied up surrounded by swords stacked in the ground. Though look closely to what binds her, that rope or cloth is so close to falling of all it takes is a small shake from her. Let go of your fear and give life a little shake, you will find that there is no need to stand paralyzed and afraid. The blindfold is your thoughts torturing you and the cage you have put up around you is easily turned to a gate way into life. Maybe it is time to change direction so you once again can see the path clearly leading to your castle of dreams.
Nine of Swords:
Thoughts, tasks and projects have been lined up for a long time now, there has been million things to do and consider for you in the past and still is there in the present. There is only one way of getting the things done and that is the right way in one straight line, one by one. It could be that it all give you headaches in the present, though it should not get worse than it is now, so the future might give you some rest and peace in mind.
Ten of Swords:
This card is dreaded by many readers and that goes for lot of the sword cards. Though they should not get all that much credit for being horror cards really :o) The ten is ending a circle, so if you have felt pinned to ground feeling no matter what and how you tend to do things, it feels like they turn on you and stab you in the back, it should now have reached climax and will not get any worse. Though in reversed the possibility that you are the one creating the swords and subconsciously lie your self on top to get stabbed is quite potential. Maybe you are being to hard on your self, or giving others to much credit for being nasty to you, try stand up and open your eyes, view life from another angle.
[Top]
Wands: fire, passions, projects, relations, hard felt commitment, determination, achiever, goal minded, velocity, drive.
Ace of Wands:
That spark of energy is starting to fate, it seems it's in the need of some nourishment in order to grow once again. Maybe the querent's betting on the wrong horse here, putting efforts and passion to a task they really don't believe in or never will be quite happy in. The new spark is fading. Could tell about depression or otherwise low on energy.
Two of Wands:
I made my decision however now I do not know if I sold my self short here. I feel it to be very hard to choose between feels right in my heart and what my logic tells me I should choose. I have chosen, my heart feels light and my mind feels complete, I stand with the world before me, all I have to do is taking the final step and start exploring. However something is stopping me in doing this, did I make the right decision ? Or is my lack in movement due to the fact, that deep inside I really do not want to do this. I feel I have turned my back to something important but I can not seem to place what it is.
Three of Wands:
I
now stand with a job half done - and I am really not sure if I ever
will get it finished.
Four of Wands:
Well
I did not exactly put my heart to the job.
Five of Wands:
I
have used the world as my private playground.
[Top]
Six of Wands:
How could
this happen to me ??
Seven of Wands:
The
song "stand up and fight for your right...." could very will
have been written about my life.
Eight of Wands:
I
feel empty and deserted.
Nine of Wands:
I stand bruised by old fights, past experiences, broken dreams. I have found it necessary to make a fence around my self, not so much as for keeping the world outside more for keeping my self inside. I always make a fool of my self when I am out there so really it is for the best if I stay to my self. I can not get the overall outlook from all this so I will keep still and wait - maybe the light bulb will magically pub. I tend to be so careful not stepping out of line, not drawing attention to my self that I sometimes think that I am missing out on something big - like life.
Ten of Wands:
I
have suffered a long way to reach my goal.
[Top]
