Decoding the Minor Arcana – A Simple Numeric Plus Suit Method

Are you intimidated by the need to memorize the meanings of Tarot’s 40 Ace -10 Suit cards that make up the Minor Arcana? If so you are not alone. Fortunately, there’s a less intimidating shortcut for decoding the Minor Arcana known as the “Numeric Plus Suit Method.” Rather than memorize 40 card meanings, with this method one need only memorize 10 numeric meanings and 4 suit meanings and simply combined them.

Tarot’s Minor Arcana is made up of 4 Suits (Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles) each consisting of 10 cards numbered Ace(One ) -10, and 4 Court cards for a total of 56 Suit cards. However, we will only discuss the 40 Ace -10 cards in this post. But stay tuned for a future post on tips for reading Tarot’s Court cards.

NUMERICAL INFLUENCES ON THE MINOR ARCANA

Let’s begin with learning the 1-10 numerical influences on Tarot’s 40 Minor Arcana cards. For these 10 number meanings give the first clue toward deciphering the meaning of a Minor Arcana card.

1. Aces (Ones) – new beginning, seed of opportunity, potential
2. Twos – choices, decisions, partnership
3. Threes – expansion, collaboration, teamwork
4. Fours – stability, structure, foundations
5. Fives – conflict, struggle, change
6. Sixes – harmony, balance, cooperation
7. Sevens – reflection, assessment, re-evaluation
8. Eights – mastery, accomplishment, action
9. Nines – attainment, fruition, achievement
10. Tens – completion, culmination, end of a cycle

MEANINGS OF THE MINOR ARCANA’S 4 SUITS

Next, learning the general correspondences of each of Tarot’s 4 Suits adds even more meaning specificity to the number assigned to each Minor Arcana card.

1. Cups (Water Element) – emotions, relationships, creativity, intuition
2. Wands ( Fire Element) – projects, work, inspiration, passion
3. Swords (Air Element) – communication, thought, struggle, action
4. Pentacles (Earth Element) – business, career, finances, health

USING A CARD’S NUMBER AND SUIT MEANINGS TOGETHER

Now lets put a card’s numeric meaning and its suit meaning together. For an example of this method, take a look at the Minor Arcana’s 4 Ace cards below. Remember that Aces represent Ones, and are an indication of a new beginning, seed of opportunity, or potential.

Aces – Number Plus Suit Method Example:

• Ace of Cups – an opportunity for a new relationship
• Ace of Wands – a new project inspiration
• Ace of Swords – a new breakthrough idea
• Ace of Pentacles – a potential new business venture

The above example reading of the 4 Aces, demonstrates the specificity that can be gained by combining both, a card’s number meaning, in this case the number 1, and its suit meaning. Simple right?

Final Words on the Numeric Plus Suit Method

Learning the 10 number meanings plus the 4 suit meanings, is a super shortcut that will serve both the novice, and the experienced Tarot Reader. For this method will allow a novice to read with some accuracy before they’ve learned all 40 card meanings. And will aid an experienced Reader when they’re stuck and can’t remember a card’s meaning. Even those who read Tarot 100% intuitively can benefit from this method should they go blank on a card.

Regardless, of where you are on the Tarot reading spectrum, from novice to experienced professional, I hope you will give our Numeric Plus Suit Method shortcut a try. I know it will serve to enhance both your Tarot reading skills, and your Tarot reading confidence. Happy Taroting!

Note: To book a professional Tarot reading with Jeannette, see our Book a Reading page.