Exploring the Minor Arcana through Astrology, Part 2A
This is the second in what is probably a four-part series on incorporating astrology into tarot as a way of better understanding the minor arcana or at least adding more nuance to whatever you traditionally associate with those cards. If you missed the first part, you may want to review that first. As a reminder, this is my synthesis and take based on books and podcasts from which I’ve learned, not something unique to me. The decan system is hundreds and hundreds of years old, and the decanic minor system is at least a hundred years old since it predates the Rider/Smith-Waite Tarot.
We covered the basic mapping of the 36 decanic minor arcana to one decan of the 12 astrological signs in the first post of this series, but there’s more to the decans than just their astrological sign. You can start by looking at where the decan falls within the sign—first (ascendant), second (succedent), or third (cadent)—and that will add some nuance as well if you compare it to the modality of signs (cardinal, fixed, and mutable) or the nature of Houses (angular, succedent, and cadent). But you can get much more astrologically esoteric if you want by adding in the planets that rule each decan.
Mapping Planets to the Signs of the Minors
The astrological system of decans (10º segments of the zodiac) predates the tarot, so the planetary “rulerships” are not quite as neat or easy to remember as the three cards-per-sign method I discussed in the previous post of the series. I put rulership in quotation marks because each sign has a ruler that may or may not have anything to do with the planet influencing that decan. Those systems overlap, but I’ll get into that in the final third of this post. (And if you want to get into the modern decanate system, don’t worry. I plan to get there in the fourth part of this series.)
First things first. The ancients only knew of seven “planets”: the sun, the moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. So the Chaldean decan system only cycles through those seven celestial bodies (I’m going to just call them “planets” as well for simplicity’s sake). As we saw with the organization of the zodiac, there is pretty much always a pattern in astrology, and that’s no different here. The order of planets is based on distance from the Earth and/or Sun (in a scientifically inaccurate geocentric model of the solar system): Moon, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. But flip it around because the Chaldean system is a descending one. The seven planets cycle through the 36 decans, with each planet ruling five decans. But wait! 7x5 makes for only 35 decans! Crisis! As you’ll see below, Mars gets an extra one. That’s because Mars has the energy to kick off the new year (Aries I) and also to carry us through the end of the old year (Pisces III). I don’t know why it starts with Mars rather than the moon, which is closest, but it does. You sometimes just have to get over it, sort of like how the elements of opposing signs aren’t opposing elements. Oh well. You learn the system, you commit to its being meaningful, and then it works for you.
Enough about that. Let’s get to the list!
Remember that we cycle through the signs, starting with Aries (cardinal fire), and we use each sign’s modality (cardinal gets 2–4, fixed gets 5–7, and mutable gets 8–10) and element (fire as Wands, earth as Pentacles/Disks, air as Swords, and water as Cups) to figure out the cards that are part of that sign.
2 of Wands is Aries I. 3 of Wands is Aries II. 4 of Wands is Aries III. 5 of Disks is Taurus I. And so on.
Then we layer in the seven-planet cycle, starting with Mars and descending/getting closer. So we see the following:
2 of Wands: Mars in Aries
3 of Wands: Sun in Aries
4 of Wands: Venus in Aries
Then we continue directly into the next sign.
5 of Disks: Mercury in Taurus
6 of Disks: Moon in Taurus
Once we hit the moon, we cycle back through, starting with Saturn.
7 of Disks: Saturn in Taurus
8 of Swords: Jupiter in Gemini
9 of Swords: Mars in Gemini
10 of Swords: Sun in Gemini
Before we get too deep, I want to clarify that “Sun in Gemini” is just the shorthand for saying the Sun as an influence on the energy of Gemini. It doesn’t necessarily mean an actual chart placement, although it can (more on that in Part 2B).
2 of Cups: Venus in Cancer
3 of Cups: Mercury in Cancer
4 of Cups: Moon in Cancer
5 of Wands: Saturn in Leo
6 of Wands: Jupiter in Leo
7 of Wands: Mars in Leo
8 of Disks: Sun in Virgo
9 of Disks: Venus in Virgo
10 of Disks: Mercury in Virgo
Are you starting to see how some of these make sense with the meanings you know? And are you seeing potential for these to shed new light on the cards you think you know well?
2 of Swords: Moon in Libra
3 of Swords: Saturn in Libra
4 of Swords: Jupiter in Libra
5 of Cups: Mars in Scorpio
6 of Cups: Sun in Scorpio
7 of Cups: Venus in Scorpio
8 of Wands: Mercury in Sagittarius
9 of Wands: Moon in Sagittarius
10 of Wands: Saturn in Sagittarius
And finally we come to the last quadrant.
2 of Disks: Jupiter in Capricorn
3 of Disks: Mars in Capricorn
4 of Disks: Sun in Capricorn
5 of Swords: Venus in Aquarius
6 of Swords: Mercury in Aquarius
7 of Swords: Moon in Aquarius
8 of Cups: Saturn in Pisces
9 of Cups: Jupiter in Pisces
10 of Cups: Mars in Pisces
Now that you’ve seen this list, you might think, How would anyone learn this? The first question might actually be Why would anyone learn this? But I plan to show you why it’s helpful shortly. As for how, you learn the pattern and then you learn a couple cards that matter to you. Once you’ve done that, the rest fall into place, and from there it’s just practice. You can start with your birthday and other important places in your natal chart if you have memorized your planet placements. Or you can focus on the ones that make sense to you right now (or with my upcoming examples) and then slowly add on. I probably have about half of them memorized. But I know the pattern, so that’s plenty to let me figure out any of the rest in a matter of seconds. As you’re learning, it may take you a minute to deduce the combination, but you can do it. And if not, you can always buy a deck that has the system written onto the cards themselves, such as the Thoth Tarot, the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot, or the Tabula Mundi Tarot.
Combining the Planet and Sign for Meaning
Now that you have the signs and you have the planet, you can create meaning from the card in a few ways. I’ll talk about timing in the next post, Part 2B, because not everyone cares about or believes in using timing with the tarot. Here, I’ll show you how you can interpret the card combinations based on the nature of the planet and sign. You’ll get some examples of how we can reimagine the cards you know with that method, and then in the next post, Part 2B, we’ll get into a few more astrological specifics for those who want to dive even deeper.
Sign meaning + Planet meaning = Card meaning
The real genius of the decan system is here, where the combination of sign and planet can help you add nuance and new interpretations with your card meanings without straying from the system on which many modern tarot decks are based. You take the sign’s area of influence & qualities and the planet’s energy & qualities, and you combine them together. If you’re new to astrology, think in terms of keywords. Allow yourself to blend the concepts, and you’ll find such great new options for these cards, as well as ways of reinforcing certain aspects.
If you’ve seen my Tarot Tableau system or been following along with my Learning to Read the Major Arcana series, then you’ll know that I find keywords to be helpful under the right circumstances. The key with keywords is to remember that they should help you focus and communicate, not limit you. When I get an intuitive hit that has nothing to do with the keywords I know, I don’t block it out; I trust it as a special message because I know that it’s pushing at the boundaries of what I know and understand about the cards already.
As with all things astrological, start with one simple thing at a time. One sentence or even a phrase may be enough for opening up a card’s mysteries, so don’t dismiss the simplistic approach. (I know. This is coming from me, so you may question whether I ever do anything simply, but most of my systems are really just layers of simple stacked on top of each other.)
Let’s start with a few combinations that make sense with the Smith-Waite Tarot that most of us know.
2 of Cups: Venus in Cancer
This pairing shows the beauty of close interpersonal (and often romantic) ties in a safe emotional (and often domestic) state. Venus is the planet of intimate relationships and of true connection. Cancer is the sign most associated with the home, and it’s a sign of emotional safety. If we think of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration of the two intertwined lovers, we can see this playing out literally in a specifically romantic and presumably domestic way before too long.
6 of Pentacles: Moon in Taurus
This pairing shows the fluid nature of our material comforts. The Moon cycles predictably, and it controls the ebb and flow of the tides. Taurus is the sign of material comfort, among other things. If we think of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration for the 6 of Pentacles with its generous philanthropist and two mendicants, we can see this ebb and flow of prosperity fairly clearly. One day you could be the generous merchant and the next you could be the beggar.
8 of Wands: Mercury in Sagittarius
This pairing shows travel and the onrush of brilliant ideas. Mercury is a fast-moving planet that rules communication and, as the planet named after the messenger of the gods, traveling. Sagittarius is the explorer and teacher, reaching to find new places in the physical and mental realms. If we think of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration of the 8 of Wands, we see the Wands just charging in, flying quickly past, ready to move, with or without you. They’re fast, and you might miss out if you don’t take the chance while you have it.
Let’s now shift to see how we can add nuance to some Smith-Waite cards without adding in wholly new meanings.
7 of Cups: Venus in Scorpio
This pairing shows the seductive power of secret desires. Venus helps us attract the things we want while also encouraging our attraction to many things. Scorpio is the sign of secrets, sexuality, and intensity. If we think of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration for the 7 of Cups and all of its confounding choices, we can see the potential for mistaking temporary fancies for our heart’s desire or for mistaking our heart’s desire for our best interests. There are many compelling choices, and some of them will serve us better in the long run than others.
7 of Wands: Mars in Leo
This pairing shows the challenge of fighting for what one believes in even if it means fighting alone. Mars is all about action, and it quickly demonstrates a willingness to fight. With Leo’s association with ego and confidence, this could seem like a selfish and self-centered battle. But Leos are also natural rulers, not just pompous asses, and they typically have the best interests of others at heart. If we think of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration of the 7 of Wands, we see someone fighting on a hill, potentially as a victim or as a rebel without a cause. But knowing more about Leo can help reframe that figure as a revolutionary and a real inspiration ready to die on that hill, not just a victim or some unreasonable holdout.
8 of Swords: Jupiter in Gemini
This pairing shows the self-inflicted paralysis that comes from overthinking and letting options get the better of you, “analysis paralysis.” Jupiter is a benefic planet because it allows for the expansion of good things. But with Gemini as the sign of the twins, notorious for indecision, and a sign known to keep many ideas in their heads at one time, expansion may not always be a great thing. If we think of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration of the 8 of Swords, we can see the woman bound in by swords and other means, but it appears that she may be able to see her way out if she just stops to take in her surroundings. And to some people, the lack of any other figure (and the way that the bindings have been secured), it’s likely that she is a prisoner but also her own captor.
Let’s now take it further and re-examine some troublesome cards in a new light. I will just cover a couple of cards briefly here (I’ll post about each of these cards more in spotlight posts thanks to a suggestion from one of my newsletter subscribers). With these as a guide, you can start to work out the rest on your own.
3 of Swords: Saturn in Libra
One of the most dreaded cards in the deck can be reinterpreted or more fully understood when we step away from the heartbreak of Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration and think about it in astrological terms: Saturn’s responsibility and Libra’s realm for interconnectedness. As Saturn in Libra, the 3 of Swords is a karmically driven combination focused on justice, responsibility, and commitment to others. We can still use this astrological pairing to understand the heartbreak: it hurts when something fails or a relationship falls apart only when we’re truly committed to its success. In that way, it’s a reminder of what we care about. But we can also recognize that there are times when this card or the question has nothing to do with heartache or healing after loss. By its astrological nature, the card can just as easily refer to contracts, promises, and karmic lessons.
5 of Pentacles: Mercury in Taurus
Almost nobody loves getting the 5 of Pentacles, which in Pamela Colman Smith’s illustration depicts two poor people walking through the dark and cold outside of a well-lighted and presumably warm church. For some people, this can be an indication of financial ruin or physical disease, and for others it may represent a need to either help others or to be open to receiving help. But when we look at it through its decan, Mercury in Taurus, we can see that a lot of this may really result from the way that we think about our financial or bodily comfort. This may be based in fear or a “lack mentality,” which can exacerbate any of the very real problems we’re facing. By shifting from the assumption that it’s all just terrible to recognizing that some of it may be made worse by our thought patterns, we can better understand that message about needing to be open to the solutions around us.
6 of Cups: Sun in Scorpio
Some people love this card in the Smith-Waite Tarot, and some people really dislike it. I find that kids on tarot cards can have a polarizing effect (I really dislike this card and the Sun card in this deck for that reason). But actually, the strangest part of this card is the disconnect between the Smith-Waite Tarot and the Thoth Tarot interpretations (nostalgia and innocence versus pleasure), but I think that we can see both when we look at the astrological pairing of the decan. As Sun in Scorpio, the 6 of Cups is shining a light on our deep-seated secrets. In some cases, this can bring about the nostalgia of memories brought to the surface. In others, this will emphasize our desire to delight in things that make us feel good, whether we’re supposed to be enjoying them or not. And in others, you’re shining a light on occult memories, as we see in the Spirit Keeper’s Tarot, where the 6 of Cups is home to the Memory Keeper. Yes, there’s a nostalgia element, but it makes for a great guide while looking at past and/or forgotten lives, giving the nostalgia an appropriately Scorpionic feel.
Sign’s Major meaning + Planet’s Major meaning = Card Meaning
When first reading about the decanic minor system in T. Susan Chang’s Tarot Correspondences, I thought about how it might work to pair the planetary and zodiac sign major arcana together to get new insights into the minor. As I learned about a page later in the same book, M. M. Meleen had already brilliantly done that with her Tabula Mundi Tarot. Combining the major arcanum associated with the sign and the decan’s influencing planet can help reinforce ideas about the card or give you new perspectives.
Thinking about some of the cards that I’ve already discussed, it can really change up the interpretation and add fun new ways of thinking. It’s also helpful if you don’t really care about the astrological correspondences for their astrology insights, but you just want to expand how you think about the minor arcana.
The 6 of Pentacles, Moon in Taurus, combines the High Priestess (Moon) and the Hierophant (Taurus). Those two sources of divine wisdom offer balance with divine feminine and divine masculine energy, but they also provide the complements of internal, idiosyncratic wisdom and official doctrine. They hardly seem to involve the material side of Taurus, but they’re a good reminder that the body is a vessel for the spirit and the connection between body and spirit found in the Pentacles and other earth elements. The two really open up all kinds of beautiful ideas.
The 7 of Wands, Mars in Leo, pairs the Tower and Strength (or Lust) together into a volatile cocktail of personal resilience and a willingness to tear everything down. The two really emphasize the revolutionary quality of the 7’s independence. This can enflame the already heated meaning of this card, but it is a good reminder that only that which has a weak foundation is coming down anyway. Will you be the one to help tear down what is rotted using the surprising power of Strength, or will you be flung from the Tower to the lions below?
The 8 of Swords, Jupiter in Gemini, combines the Wheel of Fortune and the Lovers to emphasize the spinning of one’s wheels when it comes to making important decisions. While the Lovers depicts two (or more) lovers, it’s also a card of decision-making. Will Adam and Eve choose the right tree? Will the Lover choose the right partner? Sometimes we feel as though we have to make a decision, but both options seem equally good, and we may lose the opportunity to choose a different option as the Wheel keeps on turning without us. The positive side of the Wheel suggests that we may have no wrong choice so it doesn’t really matter while the negative side of the Wheel can indicate the inevitability of needing to make a choice and the karmic consequences of doing so. Failing to act will just keep you stuck, twisting, on the rack.
As you can see, you can explore new meanings that reinforce how you already think about these cards, or you can take your interpretations down a whole new turn in the road. You’ll find some real oddities that make you think, such as the 5 and 7 of Swords.
If you want to get a little deeper by looking at planetary dignities or timing, check out the next post, Part 2B. Otherwise, you can skip to Part 3.