Tarot Card Meanings
The Major Arcana
The 22 Major Arcana are the heart of the deck, each symbolizing a universal aspect of human experience - an archetype. Their subtle but effective symbolism draws out deep and complex reactions, as one would expect from the grand nature of the cards. Some people interpret the Major Arcana as the steps on a journey through life, holding the experiences and trials of an entire lifetime.
The Wands
Wands are the suit of Fire, representing energy, creativity, growth, glory, enterprise, inspiration and spirit. Wands build constructive energy for both practical and spiritual purposes. Their fiery energy adds passion to a given situation, resulting in new creations, ideas, and acceleration of events. They also results in competition, despite being a suit unrelated to the emotional extremes of hatred and love. Wands also represent transformation, a function of birth and death.
The Cups
Cups are the suit of Water, representing emotion, relationships, intuition, pleasure and love. Cups build energy through both emotional and spiritual fulfillment, as opposed to material gain. The element of Water adds peace and balance, flowing from the higher planes to the lower. It can be rough or calm, a shallow puddle or a bottomless ocean, depending on its environment. The variety of human emotions mimics this mutability, changing their state in reaction to circumstances. Hence the Cups suits is tied to the emotions.
The Swords
Swords are the suit of Air, representing the mind, the applications of logic and thought, authority and aggression. The energy of the Swords builds to increased wisdom and knowledge. The Swords are the most removed from the practicality of the Earth, since one can have thoughts with no basis in reality. Air is the most difficult element to quantify and describe, even though we are immersed in it and use it every day. It is still somewhat of a mystery, and while it bears the great challenges, it offers greater lessons.
The Pentacles
Pentacles are the suit of Earth, representing money, trade, material matters, security, fortune, physical well-being and caution. Pentacles build towards physical security, focusing on the material. Pentacles express themselves through the five senses; sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell. They are a suit of tangible results, actions and reactions. Their functioning is rather uncomplicated; slow, steady, and not greatly influenced by emotions.