The Minor Arcana cards of a tarot deck include 56 cards that follow behind the Major Arcana cards. “Minor Arcana” when reading tarot cards is meant to describe “Lesser Secrets” or “Lesser Mysteries” than the cards in the Major Arcana. When reading tarot cards, these 56 cards serve to enhance and detail the 22 cards of the Major Arcana. There are four suits with 14 cards to each suit when reading tarot cards in the Minor Arcana. The four suits include swords, wands, cups, and pentacles. These suits of cards, when reading tarot cards, can go by different names but they all represent the same four essential elements in life: Air, Fire, Water, and Earth. The Minor Arcana is all about examining details specific to you in when reading tarot cards. The Minor Arcana cards, therefore, play a significant role in reading tarot cards.
In each of the four suits of the Minor Arcana, the 14 cards are represented by the Ace through the number Ten, plus the Page, Knight, Queen, and King when reading tarot cards. The first ten cards are also known as “pips.” These last four cards when reading tarot cards are also called “Court” cards. As you might surmise, when reading tarot cards, these 56 cards relate closely to a normal deck of playing cards.
Wands (also called Rods, Batons, or Staves) are equivalent to the suit of Clubs in a normal deck of playing cards. Wands are associated with the element of Fire when reading tarot cards, although some people will switch the elements and suits around. Swords are equivalent to Spades and are associated with Air when reading tarot cards. Cups (also called Chalices) are equivalent to Hearts and associate with the element Water. Pentacles (also called Coins) are the equivalent of Diamonds in a regular playing deck of cards, and are associated with the element of Earth when reading tarot cards.
The meanings that the cards take on when reading tarot cards can come from a variety of sources, not the least of which is the reader’s own personal take on importance of the card being drawn, at the particular time the card is drawn, in reference to other cards already drawn or yet to be displayed. The artwork and visual depiction on the set of cards used, when reading tarot cards, also plays a role in the meaning of the card. Reading tarot cards is a personal adventure and the same cards can hold slightly different connotations for each individual.
When reading tarot cards, the Page Court card signifies youth or innocence, while the Knight Court card symbolizes energy and drive. The Queen Court card stands for understanding and awareness, while the King Court card objectifies strength of will.
As the cards are laid before you when reading tarot cards, the gift of future knowledge could be foretold to you.