The Four Elements and the Tarot
You’re in the right place if you want to…
learn how to interpret the four suits of the tarot.
understand how the elements of magic influence the meaning of the suit.
have a better understanding of the structure of a tarot deck.
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Tarot Structure
We have been focusing on learning about the structure of a traditional tarot deck for a couple of week now. As a review, a tarot deck contains 78 cards; 22 of these are called the Major Arcana. In November, we'll talk about these in three parts.
The other 56 cards are called the minor arcana. In the previous two posts, we've discussed the numbers and the court cards of the Minor Arcana. In this post, we'll look at the four suits of the Minor Arcana.
Knowing the structure of the deck is helpful when learning the meaning. After reading this post, and the two before, you will have a strategy for finding the meaning of any card in the Minor Arcana simply by cross referencing the key words of the suit with the keywords of the number or court position.
Each suit is aligned with one of the four classical elements of magic: water, earth, air, or fire, so this episode will focus on these element as we talk about each suit. When we think about the Minor Arcana, these cards represent the day to day events that we experience. The suits represent a variety of areas of life based on the domain of the element.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to the Four Elements
We can see the physicality of the elements in the world around us: in the lakes, streams and oceans; rocks and soil; the wind and atmosphere; the sun and energy. These elements also have an intangible existence in our sensations, the way we think, our emotions, whether we feel secure and safe or not, and what motivates us to take action.
Below, you’ll find a description of each element as well as a few ways for connecting with the elements that I have found useful.
We'll start with the two receptive elements, water and earth, and then move on to the two active elements, air and fire.
The Receptive Elements
Water
The suit of cups represent the element of water. When you look at the cards in this suit you'll notice scenes of daring exploration, of feelings and emotions. In the same way that water can be powerful enough to carve into rock and gentle enough to cleanse and purify, matters of the heart can be intense and tender. The suit of cups is about intuition, relationships, and empathy.
GO SWIMMING
In order to understand the cup cards on a deeper level, you can get in touch with the water element. Try going to a beach or another body of water where you can get in and feel the water all around you. As you float and swim, notice how the water flows. Let yourself relax and feel it push and pull you.
FEEL YOUR HEARTBEAT
You can also connect with the liquid parts of your body like the blood flowing in your veins. With your eyes closed, relax your body and calm your mind. Touch a pulse point like the wrist or neck, and notice your heartbeat.
OBSERVE YOUR EMOTIONS
Become more observant and understanding of your emotions. Emotions are vibrations and sensations that alert us to our external and internal environment. They give us information about our safety and comfort. Only when we understand our emotions and recognize what we are feeling and where they emerge from can we learn how to manage them in a healthy way.
By the way, in Mumbles Academy you can find a course on Shadow Work. In this course, there are several lessons devoted to embracing and understanding some of the emotions we experience that vibrate at a lower frequency.
RITUALIZE BATHING
A final idea for connecting with the water element in order to better understand the cup cards is to create a ritual around bathing. This is an opportunity to renew your spirit. As the water runs over your body, acknowledge your thoughts, words, and actions. Visualize the ones that are not helping you move toward your future vision dislodging from your body and flowing with the water down the drain.
Earth
The suit of pentacles is associated with the element of earth and represents the material aspects of life: money, career, possessions, things manifesting, stuff you can hold on to. These cards show scenes of comfort, reward for work or skill, money, and the physical experience of being human. The pentacles represent a dream manifesting as reality, and they offer security and feelings of being grounded.
If you want to get more in touch with the earth element, I have a few ideas for you. Doing these exercises will also help you better understand the scenes depicted in the cards in the suit of pentacles.
FEEL SUPPORTED
The first thing to try is to lie do on the earth and notice the feeling of being supported by the ground below you. Be conscious of the places of pressure on your body. As you relax, observe the energy of the earth and your own energy and how they overlap and mix together.
BECOME MORE STABLE
Another exercise for connecting with the earth energy is to embrace stability and reliability. If you don't feel as if you are stable, think about someone who is and mimic their behaviors. Keep your word when you agree to something, support others who are in need, or set goals and take actions that take you closer to achieving them.
THINK LIKE A TREE
When I think of the earth element, I almost always think about a tree. Not just any tree. There is a specific tree that comes to mind. It is a very old, very large tree that I used to sit by during quiet time at church camp. This is where I learned how to ground my energy. I didn't know that's what I was doing at the time, but I realized it later when I learned what grounding was.
When I say think of a tree, you might have a specific tree that comes to mind as well. Bring the tree into your awareness and visualize the roots of the tree and how deep they must extend into the earth. These roots hold the tree in place so that it can grow to incredible heights. These roots help the tree remain and endure through storms and fires. When you want to connect with the earth, imagine you are that tree, with strong roots and resilience.
Get the Tarot Court Quick Guide
I created a cheat sheet for you to print out that includes keywords for each of the suits.
You can hang it in your tarot reading space or include it in a grimoire, so if your mind goes blank during a reading, you can glance at the page, and the keywords might jog something in your intuition.
Just click the button below.
The Active Elements
Air
Okay, let's move on to those active elements, starting with air.
The suit of Swords is associated with the element of air, which can come in the form of a powerful gust or a gentle breeze. The element of air represents intellect, thought, mental processes, communication, and truth. Air is often unnoticed but is omnipresent, just like your thoughts. The cards in the suit of swords show scenes of cold logic, mental clarity, and rational thought. This suit represents truth and facts and how these can become distorted in your mind.
Now, I'll share some exercises to help you understand the element of air and the cards in the suit of swords.
BREATHE
It's simple but breathing can illustrate a lot about your mental state. If you are breathing rapidly, you probably will have a hard time thinking clearly. Control your breath, breathe deeply and slowly. As you do, you will start to calm down, and your thoughts will become more clear.
PRACTICE AUTOMATIC WRITING
To do this, set a timer for between 15 and 30 minutes and start writing. Do not stop for anything. If you can't think of what to write, write, "I can't think of what to write." Eventually, your conscious mind will become bored and your subconscious will come out and reveal your inner thoughts that aren't on the surface.
SCULPT A BALL OF AIR
Another thing to try is to create an imaginary ball of air. Simply begin creating the shape of a sphere in front of you as if you were holding a physical ball. It might feel kind of weird or awkward at first, but just keep going and you'll start to get into a rhythm of smoothing and shaping the imaginary ball. This practice will also give your mind space and time to push some unknown thoughts forward. Be observant of your thoughts as you make the ball.
EXPERIENCE THE WIND
The last exercise requires wind, so be aware of the weather forecast and be ready to get out on a walk when it's going to be blustery. I used to be annoyed by wind. Itt tangles my hair. It's loud and cold. But one day I decided to let the wind flow through me instead of against me. I let it carry away my worries instead of adding to them. When you are out in the wind, watch how it influences the world, blowing leaves, whistling through windows, and moving branches.
Fire
The final element is fire, which is associated with the suit of wands. Fire, and the cards in this suit, represent the will, passion, enthusiasm, energy, drive, ambition, and motivation. The cards in this suit show scenes of both the destructive power of fire and the potential for growth that fire brings. They are about energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration. They give rise to new ideas and creativity, taking action toward those ideas, and the drive and motivation to keep passion alive.
To connect with the element of fire and help you better understand the cards in the suit of wands, here are some ideas.
LIVE BY CANDLELIGHT
As the sun sets, instead of turning on the lights, try lighting candles. As the light fades outside, add more candles to the space inside. Carry a candle with you if you have to go to another room. Notice the flickering and the glow and how it changes your impression of your home. Alternatively, if you have a fireplace, light a fire in there.
SPARK INSPIRATION
Is there a project you've been neglecting? Visualize a spark of inspiration inside of you and allow it to grow into a blazing fire. Channel this energy into finishing the project. If you don't have anything unfinished, use this fire to inspire a new idea.
BECOME A SPICY DRAGON
A final idea is to eat something spicy. As you breathe, visualize a fire ball coming from your mouth like you are a dragon. Later, if you feel heartburn, embrace that too. Let the heartburn fuel you.
Summary
In this episode we talked about each of the four elements of magic and how they relate to the four suits of the tarot. With this knowledge and what you learned from the previous two episodes, you can cross multiply the keywords of the suit with the keywords of the number or position in the court to access the meaning of any card in the minor arcana. I also gave you some ideas for connecting with the elements. Feel free to get creative and add your own unique spin to them.
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Now it’s your turn!
Do you have other keywords you associate with these suits? How do you learn the meaning of the tarot cards? Share your tips below.
