How to read the Minor Arcana by using the meanings of the Major Arcana
I found this post on Aecletic Tarot, it explains how to read the Minor Arcana by using the meanings of the Major Arcana. By using this method, you can read each and every tarot.
It was taken from the Marseille de Tarot section, so I thought you might find this helpful for your studies.
Find the original post here:
interpreting minor arcana
"In my never-ending quest to find a way to read non-illustrated-pip decks that works for me, I was really having difficulties, because I want to read with them but I also want to read with illustrated decks, and I don’t want to have to use completely different meanings for each type. Also, I don’t want to depend on the pictorial details of Marseilles pips because I also want to read with other non-illustrated-pip decks such as the Ancient Italian, Ancient Lombardy, and Prediction. That means I need some type of suit+number scheme. But I find that I need to have each card presenting a particular personality, rather than just a generic suit+number.
So, each pip meaning is derived from the suit meaning plus the number meaning, and also relates to the RWS picture. The one-word keywords after the Major titles aren’t meant to suggest that one should interpret the Majors using only those keywords, but merely to point out which aspect of the Major card is being used to correlate with the pip cards.
I Bateleur – Creative energy
Ace Batons: Energy in creative endeavors
Ace Cups: Emotional energy
Ace Swords: Mental energy
Ace Coins: Material energy
II Popess – Intuitive knowledge
2 Batons: Intuitive knowledge of what one wants to do
2 Cups: Intuitive knowledge of what one feels
2 Swords: Intuitive knowledge of troubles which one doesn’t allow oneself to see
2 Coins: Intuitive knowledge of how to deal with material matters
III Empress – Creation
3 Batons: Creating results in creative endeavors
3 Cups: Creating emotional results/contributing to emotional events
3 Swords: Creating one’s own troubles
3 Coins: Creating material success
IV Emperor – Concretization
4 Batons: Concretization of results in creative endeavors
4 Cups: Concretization of emotional situation
4 Swords: Concretization of troubles (while one engages in a situation, there is always the possibility of improvement. But when one withdraws from the situation, the possibility of improvement is taken away, thus concretizing the negativity of the situation)
4 Coins: Concretization of material success
V Pope – Belief systems/mental maps
5 Batons: Being fully invested in one’s belief systems concerning creative goals, despite conflicts with others
5 Cups: Being fully invested in one’s belief systems concerning emotions, despite relationships which don’t work out
5 Swords: Being fully invested in mental machinations/competitions, despite the pain caused to self and others
5 Coins: Being fully invested in belief systems concerning the value of material success, despite the evidence of reality
VI Lovers – Choice (specifically, the tendency of the mind to make distinctions, narrow possibilities and express preferences)
6 Batons: Choosing a cause/quest to follow
6 Cups: The emotional satisfactions one tends to choose (i.e., idealistic or nostalgic)
6 Swords: Choosing to apply mental solutions to troubles
6 Coins: Choosing to share material resources
VII Chariot – Mystery/complexity hidden beneath apparent success (illustrated on the Chariot by the different-colored, contrary horses who for the present are under the control of the driver)
7 Batons: Taking outwardly courageous positions, perhaps motivated by inner fears of losing individuality
7 Cups: Having a wealth of choices, perhaps unaware of how one’s inner self subconsciously attracts or repels opportunities
7 Swords: Congratulating oneself on one’s cleverness in pulling off a coup, while unaware that mental paradigms are clashing, and the self-satisfaction will be short-lived
7 Coins: Enjoying the fruits of one’s labor, while beneath the surface the mysteries of growth unfold
VIII Strength – Strength
8 Batons: Strong movement in creative endeavors.
8 Cups: Strength to leave emotional situations which aren’t working out
8 Swords: Strength needed to free oneself of the ways one’s mind restricts oneself
8 Coins: Quiet strength exercised to learn skills step by step
OR:
VIII Justice – Balance
8 Batons: Balanced approach to creative endeavors – willingness to align oneself with energy in the environment
8 Cups: Balancing emotional and spiritual needs by making adjustments if necessary
8 Swords: Correcting imbalances caused by restrictive thinking
8 Coins: Balanced, step-by-step approach to learning skills
IX Hermit – Isolation
9 Batons: “Me against the world” attitude
9 Cups: Emotionally satisfying oneself (perhaps selfishly)
9 Swords: Loneliness
9 Coins: Pride in one’s material successes
X Wheel of Fortune – Logical conclusion/end of cycle
10 Batons: Logical conclusion of creative endeavors – becomes tiresome and burdensome
10 Cups: Logical conclusion of deep expression of feelings – establishment of family (i.e. any group of people who are family to each other)
10 Swords: Logical conclusion of mental machinations as they conflict with reality
10 Coins: Logical conclusion of thorough material preparation
-- Lee
It's inevitable that any effort of this type will fall short of perfection, since the RWS pictures don't fit neatly into a suit+number pattern. But it may be possible to construct something along these lines that will serve."
