Tarot and astrology (II). Minor arcana, zodiac, elements and planets
In the previous article we saw the Major Arcana and their relationships with the planets and elements. The Minor Arcana generally receive less attention, but the truth is that their number and their astrological distribution are very well structured. Therefore, for many fortune tellers, the Minor Arcana are the true informants of astrology in the readings.
The division of the sky and the number of cards
- Signs of the zodiac, elements and suits of the deck
The main association is due to the number of cards. Analyzing the sky, the different cards begin to be associated, by their importance, rank or characteristic, to different elements present in the astrological study. We know that the twelve zodiacal constellations are found in the ecliptic, and that these in turn are associated with certain elements of nature (air, water, fire and earth), which fulfills that 3x4 = 12. As are the four suits of the deck (see articles: Western astrology and the four elements in the tarot), this is one of the easiest relationships to establish.
Thus, the signs of the air element, Gemini, Libra and Aquarius, will be associated with the Swords; the signs of the water element, Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces will be associated with the Cups; the signs of the earth element, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, will be associated with the Coins or Pentacles; and finally, the signs of the fire element, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, will be associated with the Wands.
What is the purpose of this association? Following the tradition of astrology and tarot, it will serve to identify the element or sign of a specific person and their personality. On the other hand, it will also offer a psychological profile of the participant themselves or the way they are dealing with the situation shown by the cards as a whole.
-Decans and planets
After this, the following association is made: each zodiacal house, that is, each division of the ecliptic that contains the constellations (although this is not exact), is divided in turn into three decans, which define the entry, establishment and exit of the sign of observation and therefore the greater or lesser impact of the same on the sublunary world. 12x3 = 36, is the total number of cards from 2 to 10, without aces or court. The cards will be distributed among the zodiacal signs in a non-uniform manner, but based on the works of the Golden Dawn and its contemporaries. However, its logic with the relationship of the elements is evident, and it is in the planetary part where the relationships are more complex.
The cards between these decans will be divided first by the signs, and then following their own order (2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10) distributed throughout the annual cycle. The fact that it is annual is important, as it breaks the whole natural order of the seasons (spring begins in March, with Aries), starting the astrological course with Capricorn instead, in January, and yet it is the perfect way to close the circle while also respecting the order of the ecliptic. This means that in Capricorn we begin with the number cards 2, 3, and 4, and in Aquarius we would continue with 5, 6, and 7, Pisces, 8, 9, and 10, and in Aries we would restart again at 2, 3, and 4, etc. We will close in Sagittarius with 8, 9, and 10, before restarting with Capricorn.
Also, the four suits take turns without breaking the rhythm. This is best seen with a simplified illustration:
The planets in ancient astrology were Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn, along with the Sun and the Moon, considered planets because they were also "celestial bodies that influenced the Earth." The order in which they were placed was Mars, Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn and Jupiter, repeating this rhythm 5 times until reaching 35. Since there are 36 decans, Mars is next and controls both the beginning and the end of the astrology-suit cycle of the deck.
The remaining planets of the Solar System were later added: Uranus, Neptune and the controversial Pluto. These add up to a total of 10 celestial bodies to take into account. The consequence? There are two zodiac signs that are left without a planet, or that must repeat. For this reason, there are many variations regarding the planets associated with the different zodiac signs and the Tarot cards.
As for the elements, in the fire signs, Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, the cards of the fire suit, the wands, will be divided into threes (one card for each decan). Aries will have the 2 of wands in its first decan, the 3 of wands in its second decan, and the 4 of wands in its third decan. Continuing along these lines, in Leo we will have the 5 of wands in its first decan, the 6 of wands in its second decan, and the 7 of wands in its third decan; finally, in Sagittarius we will have the 8 of wands in its first decan, the 9 of wands in its second decan, and the 10 of wands in its third decan.
The corresponding planets will be Mars, Sun and Venus in the three decans of Aries; Saturn, Jupiter and Mars in the three decans of Leo; and Mercury, the Moon and Saturn in the three decans of Sagittarius.
In the earth signs, Capricorn, Taurus and Virgo, the suit that will be divided into the different decans will be the suit of coins (or discs or pentacles). Starting with Capricorn, in its first decan there will be the 2 of coins, in its second decan the 3 of coins and in its third decan the 4 of coins. In Taurus, in the first decan we will have the 5 of coins, in its second decan the 6 of coins, and in the third decan, the 7 of coins. Finally, in Virgo, in the first decan we would have the 8 of coins, in the second decan the 9 of coins and in the third decan the 10 of coins.
The corresponding planets will be Jupiter, Mars and the Sun in the three decans of Capricorn; Mercury, Moon and Saturn in the three decans of Taurus, and finally, Sun, Venus and Mercury in the three decans of Virgo.
In the air signs, Libra, Aquarius and Gemini, the card suits of their decans will be swords. Starting with Libra, in its first decan there will be the 2 of swords, in its second decan the 3 of swords, and in the third decan, the 4 of swords. In Aquarius, in its first decan there will be the 5 of swords, in its second decan the 6 of swords, and in its third decan, the 7 of swords. In Gemini, in its first decan there will be the 8 of swords, in the second decan the 9 of swords, and in the third decan, the 10 of swords.
The planets in the three decans of Libra will be Moon, Saturn and Jupiter; In the three decans of Aquarius, they will be Venus, Mercury and the Moon; and in the three decans of Gemini, Jupiter, Mars and the Sun.
Finally, in the water signs, Pisces, Cancer and Scorpio, the suit of the deck will be cups. Starting with Pisces, its cards will be (following the annual order) in the first decan the 8 of cups, in its second decan the 9 of cups and in its third decan the 10 of cups; in Cancer we will have in its first decan the 2 of cups, in its second decan the 3 of cups and in its third decan, the 4 of cups; finally, Scorpio will have in its first decan the five of cups, in its second decan the 6 of cups, and in its third decan, the 7 of cups.
The planets in the three decans of Pisces will be Saturn, Jupiter and Mars; In the three decans of Cancer, they will be Venus, Mercury and the Moon; in the three decans of Scorpio, they will be Mars, the Sun and Venus.
In the tarot, knowing the decan to which a card belongs is important, because it can define the state of a project or action: first decan, something that begins; second decan, something established; third decan, something that is about to end. This, together with the interpretation of the suit (for example, cups, something emotional) and the number of the card, helps in the interpretation in consultations that seek something concrete or explore something with precision.
Pietro V. Carracedo Ahumada - pietrocarracedo@gmail.com
Bibliography:
-Chang, T.S., Meeleen, M.M. Tarot Deciphered. Decoding Esoteric Symbolism in Modern Tarot. Llewellyn Worldwide, 2021
-Fiebig, J. / Kroll, M. Tarot. La Biblioteca del Esoterismo. Ed. Taschen. 2020.
-Kenner, C. Tarot and Astrology. Enhance Your Readings With the Wisdom of the Zodiac. Llewellyn Publications, Minnesotta, 2011.
-Pollack, R. Haindl Tarot, Major Arcana Rev. Red Wheel Weiser, 2002.
Related articles:
>The Four Elements in the Tarot.
> Tarot and astrology (I). Major arcana, zodiac, planets and elements.
>Western astrology. Astrological notions (I)
