Suit Patterns

The balance and concentration of the Minor Arcana suit cards drawn tell a great deal about the substance of the matter the questioner brings to the cards. Writing down information about the suit patterns will help you remember what you learned here. Four or more cards of any one suit in any line clearly define a specific sphere of activity in the following way:

Wands

A concentration of Wands shows issues involving growth and enterprise; in other words, those projects in our lives that promise growth but also demand effort and care.

A run in the past line indicates that the growth had happened. Look to the present and future lines to see the result of that growth.

If there are many Wands in the General Atmosphere or Present lines the growth is now taking place. Look in the surrounding cards to see what type of growth.

In the Outer Influences line, three or more Wands show the level of activity concerning a project critical to the questioner but may add insight as to who has influence over the project. Keep in mind that the questioner may not even know the person indicated.

In either future line, a concentration of wands shows that some effort will be required in resolving a matter, with the efforts shown in the Future Possibility line as only a maybe.

Cups

Cups indicate emotional matters and states: affections, hopes, dreams, fantasies, and feelings.

A run on Cups in the Past line describes an event of considerable emotional impact. Looking to the present or even future lines can indicate how this emotional state evolved.

If there are many Cups in the General Atmosphere or Present lines, feelings are running high among the persons concerned with the question, and looking to the future lines may indicate the results of the present emotional state.

Many Cups in the Outer Influence line show that someone, at a distance, has influence in an emotional matter or can even mean that the matter may belong to someone else. The questioner may be completely unaware of the other involved person, such as the questioner being unaware of an attraction to someone.

Look for a momentous experience in the affairs ruled by the heart that may happen in the Future Possibilities line and will be an influence in the Future line. Cups can tell of love and happiness, but they can also speak of loss of heart through disillusionment and discontent.

Clusters of Cup court cards indicate pleasant gatherings or private family occasions, and if there are Cups throughout the whole reading, you can be certain that the whole issue is emotional, even to the point where the person may be emotionally out of control.

Swords

Swords show intense experiences governed by considerable force. The conditions represented by swords are usually harsh, and if they do not involve sorrow, they most certainly revolve around issues of power, will, and driving determination.

Swords in the Past position indicate an event of vast importance involving energy. A glance into the present or even future lines may show the effects of that event.

In the General Atmosphere or Present lines, many Swords show that the questioner is dealing with grave matters, including conflict and power struggles.

In the Outer Influences line, many Swords indicate the questioner is up against harsh conditions and faces tough battles, sometimes not their own, or that someone standing at a distance holds influence. The questioner may not be aware of the situation. Always look forward to the future to see how the event affected the people involved.

A word of caution against belligerence and blind force of will is necessary when a concentration of Swords appear in either of the future lines.

Groups of Sword court cards speak of conflict, disputes, and fierce power struggles among a group. Pentacles describe all conditions related to material matters in the form of money, home, and livelihood.

Pentacles

Pentacles in the Past line indicate a material matter was a prominent part of the scenario. See what consequences there were in the present or future because of the actions of this past material situation.

Appearing in the General Atmosphere or Present lines, many Pentacles reveal that money and work matters are prominent in the constellation of concerns the questioner brings to the cards.

Pentacles in the Outer Influence line unmistakably define issues concerning work and material matters as distant issues. Perhaps someone else influences this matter or offers support in the form of money. It could even mean that the matter shown by the Pentacles is another person’s circumstance if the situation only shows in this line. After examining the present lines, look for ongoing events resulting from the material matter.

A concentration of Pentacles in either of the future lines shows issues of work and material well-being will be accentuated or, in the case of the future possibility line, might be accentuated.

Collections of pentacle court cards are suggestive of material motive groups, such as families, employers, governments, bankers, and investment and corporate interests.