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The Elements of Tarot

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To make Tarot interpretations as easy as possible, the trick is to mentally note the suit of the card, recall its element and the associated attributes, and then make your interpretation based upon this information.

Here are the correspondences for the elements of each suit.

Cups = water = the psyche, fertility, imagination, intuition, dreams, friendships, and partnerships.

Pentacles = earth = physical or material qualities, matters relating to business, finances, the natural world, assets, security, and the home.

Swords = air = intellect, worries, thoughts, mental conflict, ideas, communication, and study.

Wands = fire = energetic qualities such as creativity, enthusiasm and inspiration.

If you are struggling to understand the meaning of a card during a reading, you can use the energy of its suit to help you approach its interpretation.

If the card is from the suit of Cups, then consider how that card makes you feel. What emotion does the image bring to your heart? Do these feelings remind you of situations from past relationships? Do the characters in the card look like a family member or friend, and if so, how do you feel about that person?

If the card is from the suit of Pentacles, look at it from a practical perspective. Do you get the sense of stability and resourcefulness from this card? What is it about the card that makes you settled or unsettled?

the elementsIf the card is from the suit of Swords, then recall your first thoughts when you saw the image. Consider a logical interpretation based upon the energies of the surrounding cards. Or ask yourself: if the characters in the picture could talk to you about their meaning in this spread, what would they say?

If the card is from the suit of Wands, then ask yourself how that card inspires you. Look at the characters in the image and consider their actions. What do they make you want to do or be?

When you approach a difficult card in this manner, you can gain further insight into its nature, and your interpretation for the reading will flow with ease and confidence.

 

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