The Four Suits

Earth - Pentacles

Work, money, growth, luxury, the material

Physical plane - winter, midnight

Clock: years, north

Season: cold, dry

Astrology: taurus, virgo, capricorn

Air - Swords

Communication, logic, ideas, knowledge, conflict

Mental plane - spring, dawn

Clock: days, east

Season: warm, moist

Astrology: gemini, libra, aquarius

Fire - Wands

Passion, creativity, action, intuition, desire

Spiritual plane - summer, noon

Clock: weeks, south

Season: warm, dry

Astrology: aries, leo, sagittarius

Water - Cups

Relationships, psyche, feelings, dreams, heart

Emotional plane - autumn, dusk

Clock: months, west

Season: cold, moist

Astrology: cancer, scorpio, pisces

Major Arcana

0 - 21

There are 22 Major Arcana cards numbered from 0 to 21. They represent the archetypal themes or spiritual lessons that will play out during your journey through life. Starting with the Fool (the journeyer who will traverse the rest of the map/the “soul in search of experience”), the Major Arcana cards progress in sequence, and they describe the story of one whole life.

From the Magician through the Chariot, we find classic themes associated with traditional human development—for example, mother and father (Empress and Emperor). With the Hierophant, the seeker branches out into society through school, church, nation-states. And the Lovers points to adolescence, how we form our relationships with friends and lovers. The Chariot represents arriving at young adulthood and a relatively set sense of self-identity.

From Strength to Temperance, we see the seeker delving into deeper self-exploration and maturity. The Wheel of Fortune illustrates the inevitable forward march of time: destiny, luck, fate, free will, etc.. The Hanged Man offers an unconventional perspective, helping the seeker realize that their belief system is not the only valid belief system. Death teaches us about physical death, but also transformation and endings.

And from the Devil to the World, we encounter larger universal themes. We start to explore our place in the cosmos and a greater sense of purpose. Chaos (The Tower), hope (The Star), shadow, light, dreams, joy, moon, sun. Finally, with Judgement, we reach a deep understanding that our lives have meaning. With the World, we experience integration, where all life’s contradictions dance together as a perfectly imperfect whole.

Court Cards

King

Father, shaman, husband

Social responsibility, power

Of the 16 Court Cards, the four Kings are the “outwardly mature adults” of their respective suits. The King projects the energy of his suit outwards, imposing it on the world. He leads through action and by setting external guidelines.

Altogether, the 16 Court Cards can reflect either the seeker (you) or people that influence the seeker’s life (your bosses, relatives, friends, love interests, enemies).

Queen

Mother, goddess, wife

Internal embodiment of values, creativity

Of the 16 Court Cards, the four Queens are the “inwardly mature adults” of their respective suits. The queen embodies the traits of her suit and radiates that energy from the inside out. She leads by example, through her intentions and beliefs.

Knight

Son, brother, horse, stranger

Action, responsibility to others

The four Knights are the “teenagers” of their respective suits. Knights are prone to shift erratically within the suit’s energy—sometimes showcasing that energy in proactive ways, the next moment in unbalanced ways.

Page

Daughter, sister, sprite, jester

Study, exploration

The four Pages are the “youngest” of their respective suits. Pages have an explorative, playful relationship with the suit’s energies. She may still have a lot to learn about the suit, but on the other hand, she often interacts with the suit in fresh and unbiased ways.

Pip Cards

Ten

Leadership, determination, confidence, independence, integrating a new cycle or beginning

Nine

Completion, endings, accomplishment, transition, understanding, service, compromise

Eight

Power, authority, strength, organization, action, movement, control, energy, manifesting, constraint

Seven

Spirituality, desire, perception, inner awareness, trials, tests, insight, success, mastery, wisdom, perseverance

Six

Harmony, resolution, respite, appreciation, loyalty, responsibility, self-sacrifice, equilibrium, diplomacy

Five

Change, uncertainty, instability, loss, realignment, inconsistency, freedom, travel, conflict

Four

Structure, foundation, consolidation, realization, balance, stable situations, planning, rigidity

Three

Trinity, harmony, birth, expansion, creation, advancement, enthusiasm, release, union, collaboration, growth

Two

Union, balance, duality, partnership, unification, choices, opposition, reflection, diversity

One

Seed, essence, root, beginnings, initiation, leadership, self, courage, willpower