There are a number of Tarot card decks out there in the market. However, most of these cards have a distinct structure. Typically, a Tarot card deck has 78 cards. However, there are some decks which have more cards than that, and then there are some decks which have less cards than that. But, more or less, they follow the same basic structure. Let us look at the structure of a standard Tarot card deck.

Divided into 2 Basic Groups

A standard Tarot Card Deck contains 78 cards. And these are divided into 2 Basic Groups:

1. The Major Arcana
2. The Minor Arcana

The word ‘Arcana’ is similar to the word ‘Arcane’ and is derived from the Latin word ‘Arcanum’. ‘Arcanum’ means ‘Secret’, and ‘Arcane’ means ‘Understood by few, mysterious, secret’.

The Major Arcana

The first 22 cards of the Deck are called the Major Arcana. Naturally, this means that these cards contain Major or Big mysteries or secrets.

These are also often referred to as the ‘Trumps’.

These cards start with a card called ‘The Fool’ which has the number 0 (Zero) on it, and continue on till they reach the card called ‘The World’ which has the number 21 (or XXI or Twenty One) on it.

These Major Arcana cards show the journey of the soul or an individual through different stages of understanding, awareness and even possibly enlightenment. They talk about the main archetypes present in the world around us, and often signify important stages of psychological and / or spiritual development and evolution.

This is why, in a reading, they have a larger value, as compared to the other set of cards – the Minor Arcana.

The Minor Arcana

The remaining 56 cards of the Tarot card deck are called the Minor Arcana. Naturally, they contain Minor or Small mysteries or secrets.

These are also often referred to as the ‘Pips’.

These cards are further sub-divided into 4 Suits based on the main central symbol present within their images.

The Minor Arcana cards talk about the day-to-day aspects of the different frames of references in our regular life. For example, they may talk about our work, or our feelings, or our thoughts, or our finances. In the scheme of things, these are considered to be not as important as the Spiritual aspect contained within the Majors. Perhaps this is why they are called the Minors.

In a reading, these cards do not carry as much weight as the Majors, but they do have a lot of important information to convey.

Personally, I digress a bit from the traditional perspective with regard to the Majors and the Minors – especially where their so-called ‘importance’ is concerned. From where I stand, both these card groups are equally important. I subscribe to the school of thought which says that one cannot think about Spiritual matters on an empty stomach and with a confused mindset. Which is why I consider both the Majors and the Minors to have an equal say in matters related to Spiritual growth and development.

The Four Suits

Now, let us look at the Four Suits of cards present within the Minor Arcana.

The 56 cards of the Major Arcana are divided up into 4 Suits of 14 cards each. These 4 Suits are typically called the Suit of Wands, the Suit of Swords, the Suit of Cups and the Suit of Pentacles.

These 14 cards are further divided into the ‘Pip’ Cards and the ‘Court’ Cards. The first 10 cards of a suit follow a straightforward pattern – beginning with an Ace or 1 (One) and then moving on till a 10 (Ten). Then, we see 4 cards which are (typically) a Page, a Knight, a Queen and a King. These 4 cards are called ‘Court’ cards because they represent people which were seen in a King’s court.

In any given Suit, the ‘Pip’ cards talk about people in different situations, while the ‘Court’ cards talk about people themselves.

Here is an interesting coincidence: the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator tests have 16 distinct Personality Types – and in a standard Tarot Deck, there are a total of 16 different Court cards.

Now, lets look at each of these Suits.

The Suit of Wands

Wands are also referred to as Sticks or Rods.

Wands are also connected with the element of Fire. They are also considered to be a ‘Masculine’ suit.

The Suit of Wands talks about things connected to passion, desire, energy and so can be linked to work or career, relationships and overall well-being.

The Wands cards talk about the journey of a person who is passionate and desires many things and has many ideas. Such a person can typically fall into situations that are described by the Suit of Wands – and naturally, they describe both the ups and the downs.

Wands people on the other hand (or the Wands Court) are described as passionate, energetic people, who may even have a bit of a fiery temper (especially when reversed).

The Suit of Swords

Swords are connected with the element Air. They are also said to be a ‘Masculine’ suit.

The Suit of Swords talks about things related to thoughts, logic, reasoning and mind-stuff. So it can be linked to scenes in life where the mind takes over and rules.

The journey of this suit talks of situations where the mind can often cause more pain than happiness. Personally, I am a fan of logic, and I do agree that logic has its place in our life. But this suit’s pictures are not often very happy pictures. Still, there is a lot to be learnt from what comes with the painful clarity of truth and logical thinking.

Naturally, the Swords people (or the Swords Court) follows the lead of this suit and they are very straightforward, logical thinkers, who may often appear to be cold, distant and un-feeling. In my experience, however, there can be shades of feeling or confusion present within these personalities.

The Suit of Cups

Cups or Chalices are connected with the element Water. This suit is considered to be a ‘Feminine’ suit.

The Suit of Cups talks about things related to the flow of feelings and emotions and so can be linked with situations talking about relationships, feelings, and even creativity and Intuition.

This suit depicts the journey of a person within the labyrinth of feelings and emotions – good and bad – both. Feelings, creativity, intuition – all these things flow like water and can take the shape of the container that holds them. Which is why, situations described by these cup cards can often change and flow into something else.

Cups people (or the Cups Court) are also such feelings-oriented people. They can be creative, mysterious and intuitive. But on the other extreme can be emotionally destructive – especially to themselves.

The Suit of Pentacles

Pentacles, or Stones, or Discs are connected with the element of Earth. This too is said to be a ‘Feminine’ suit.

The Suit of Pentacles talks about earthy, materialistic and practical things and so can be linked to situations dealing with money, stability, finances, and even careers.

The journey of the suit of Pentacles takes us through the ups and downs of materialistic situations in life. Sometimes things are good – and when they are good they are so good. But at other times when things are bad, we start looking at the basis of the situation – examine the ground beneath our feet.

Pentacles people (or the Pentacles Court) are very practical and material-plane people. That is not to say that they don’t have other aspects to their personality – but practicality and rooted-to-the-ground-ness is more-or-less their personality trait.

Your Turn

What do you think of the different suits in your favorite deck? Does such a structure mean anything or make any sense in Tarot – which, more-or-less, is very flexible with its approach? What are your thoughts?

Please do let me know in the comments below.