Elemental Dignities in the Minor Arcana: How to Work with Them

Tarot cards are powerful tools for divination and self-discovery, and one of the most fundamental aspects of tarot is its elemental associations. The four elements of earth, air, fire, and water play a significant role in tarot, with each suit of the Minor Arcana representing one of these elements. Understanding the elemental dignities in the Minor Arcana can help you read and interpret tarot cards with greater depth and accuracy. In this article, we will discover how to read elements in a tarot reading and we will also describe each of the 16 possible combinations that may appear in a reading.

Understanding the Minor Arcana and Their Elemental Associations

The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits, each associated with one of the four elements:

• The suit of Swords is associated with the element of air. Swords represent intellect, communication, and rational thought, but also internal or external conflict.
• The suit of Pentacles is associated with the element of earth. Pentacles relate to material wealth, abundance, and practicality, and in general to the physical world, including one’s body.
• The suit of Wands is associated with the element of fire. Wands represent passion, creativity, and energy.
• The suit of Cups is associated with the element of water. Cups in tarot readings relate to emotions, intuition, and relationships.

As we can see, the four suits represent different themes and energies. So, the elemental energies of the four suits in tarot can give you an idea of the main energies that are appearing in your life at a given moment.

Polarities and Elemental Interaction

Each suit also has a polarity, with Cups and Pentacles being passive and Swords and Wands being active.

• Passive suits (Cups and Pentacles) are receptive, reflective, and internal.
• Active suits (Swords and Wands) are assertive, expressive, and external.

Understanding the elemental dignities means understanding how the elements of each suit interact and affect one another. For example, if a reading has a lot of Cups and Pentacles, it may suggest a focus on emotional and material matters, inner contemplation, and self-care. If Swords and Wands dominate the reading, there may be a need for assertiveness and action.

These concepts of the elements come from astrology, and we can apply the same knowledge to tarot readings. Our knowledge of the elemental energies and polarities can determine how we read the cards. The cards’ elements also affect one another and can modify the meaning and thus the interpretation of cards in the reading.

Elemental Dignities in Tarot Readings

Elemental dignities in tarot refer to the relationships between the elements of the cards in a reading. As we have said, the interactions between the elements in tarot can have a significant impact on the interpretation of a reading.

There can be four types of relationships between the elements: cards’ elements can strengthen, weaken, support, or be neutral to each other.

• Strengthen: When elements strengthen each other, they reinforce both their positive and negative qualities. This applies to cards that pertain to the same suit.
• Weaken: When they weaken, it means they challenge or block one another.
• Support: The elements are in harmony and balance.
• Neutral: When these elements are neutral, they suggest a lack of connection or significance.

As a result, there are altogether 16 combinations to consider when it comes to interpreting the cards.

Elemental Interaction Table

Here’s a table that shows all the possible combinations of the four elements in tarot, and how they interact with each other:

To continue, we’ll go through all these combinations and describe how elemental interactions can be interpreted, one by one.

Air and Air

This combination represents the power of communication and the exchange of ideas. It’s a meeting of two minds, where intellect and reason take center stage. At the same time, since cards of the same elements reinforce each other, this combination can be destructive, cold, and ruthless.

Air and Earth

The balance between the mental and the physical. It’s about finding practical applications for abstract ideas and creating tangible results. Unfortunately, while the earth may try to ground the air, air cannot be pinned down by this element; in this case, ideas may remain abstract, or far removed from reality.

Air and Fire

This supportive combination represents the power of inspiration, intellect, and creativity. When these two elements come together in a reading, it can represent a time of innovative, transformative, and bold ideas, and the ability to bring those ideas into action.

Air and Water

The power of emotion and intuition. It’s about finding a balance between logic and feeling and using both to gain insight and understanding.

Earth and Earth

Here we have the power of stability and structure. Cards of the same element always strengthen each other. It’s about building a solid foundation, laying down roots, and creating a firm basis for growth.

Earth and Fire

This is a neutral combination that brings forth the themes of manifestation and transformation. It’s about taking practical steps towards achieving your goals and using the energy of passion to fuel your progress. Earth provides stability, while the fire element here infuses intensity and gives momentum.

Earth and Water

Nurturing and growth are indicated by this supportive interaction. It’s about using the practicality of earth to tend to the emotional needs of water and creating a fertile environment for new beginnings.

Fire and Air

Here’s another supportive combination that suggests inspiration and communication. It’s about using the energy of passion to fuel your ideas and sharing those ideas with others.

Fire and Earth

This combination is usually neutral. Too much earth can extinguish the fire, but at the same time, the energy of the fire can be channeled by the practicality of the earth, leading to the manifestation of our ideas, aspirations, and visions.

Fire and Fire

This combination is extremely powerful, almost explosive. It represents the power of transformation and regeneration. It’s about embracing change, letting go of what no longer serves you, and using the power of passion to fuel your rebirth. At the same time, the elements’ weaknesses are also amplified, which can result in too much intensity and destructiveness.

Fire and Water

Like all the opposing elements, fire and water weaken each other.  Water is all about emotion and creativity, but sometimes too many emotions can be overwhelming and create blockages in the energy of passion. Alternatively, you may try to use your intuition to bring your creative visions to life.

Water and Air

Intuition combined with communication, the meeting of the heart and the mind. Too often though, these two are in conflict. This combination it’s also about using your emotional intelligence to read between the lines and communicate your insights clearly and effectively.

Water and Earth

These two can create a nurturing and supportive environment. When these two elements come together in a reading, it can represent a time of emotional and financial stability and a strong foundation for growth. Here the earth guides the water acting as a container for its irrational and intuitive nature.

Water and Fire

This combination represents the power of emotion and transformation. It’s about using the energy of passion to fuel your intuition and using your intuition to guide your emotional growth and transformation.

Summing Up

Taking the time to understand elemental dignities in the Minor Arcana is a game-changer for tarot readers. Not only does it provide a deeper understanding of the energies present, but it also allows for more nuanced interpretations that touch on the subtle nuances of the human experience. The four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—each have their unique properties and qualities that, when combined, create a powerful and dynamic energy that can be harnessed in a reading. By understanding the elemental interactions, tarot readers can also gain insight into the relationships between people, situations, and events. For example, the combination of earth and air can represent stability and structure with the potential for growth and change. Similarly, the combination of fire and water can represent passion and emotion with the potential for transformation and healing. Ultimately, by incorporating elemental dignities into your readings, you can enhance your intuition, provide deeper insights to your clients, and create a more meaningful connection with the cards.