This article continues my series examining the Tarot de Marseille, and begins to introduce the four suits or Lesser Arcana. Like the series on the trumps, it is adapted from my unpublished manuscript, Tarot de Marseille: The Picturebook of Fate. As throughout this series, the emphasis is placed upon the traditional eikōn of the card, its historical context, and the practical significations I have found useful through divinatory practice. The interpretations presented here reflect my own experience of working with the Tarot de Marseille and should be understood as a working method rather than a definitive authority.

The Pip Cards: The Four Suits

Having considered the nature and behaviour of the four elements, we turn our attention to the suits’ eikōns which reveal their individual essences and functions.

The Suit of Swords

The suit of Swords is often regarded as one of the most troubling within the Tarot.

Modern interpretations frequently associate it with intellect, communication, and the rational mind. Whilst such meanings may have their place elsewhere, they arise only indirectly from the sword itself. A sword is first and foremost a weapon. It exists to impose force upon the world.

Essence: Force.
Function: Attack and Defend.

As the elemental representative of Fire, the suit concerns activity, power, conflict, and the ability to impose one’s will. Fire is penetrating, transformative, and discriminating. Likewise, the sword cuts, separates, and divides.

Traditionally, Fire was associated with the Sun and Mars. The Sun contributes vitality, authority, leadership, and the power to command, whilst Mars provides courage, aggression, competition, and the willingness to act decisively.

The suit governs conflict, authority, law, criminality, danger, competition, officialdom, defence, illness, immunity, separation, and decisive action. Anatomically, it is associated with the elimination system.

Ultimately, the suit of Swords concerns force in all its forms. Whether that force protects or destroys depends upon the circumstances and the cards around it.

Swords at a Glance

Essence: Force.
Function: Attack and Defend.
Element: Fire.
Direction: East.
Season: Spring.
Planetary Associations: Sun and Mars.
Basic Significations: Authority, conflict, competition, danger, separation, bureaucracy, law, criminality, official matters, pressure, illness, immunity, decisive action, challenge, force.
Yes/No: No.

The Suit of Cups

The suit of Cups is often reduced to love, emotions, and romance. Whilst such matters undoubtedly belong to the suit, they represent only part of a much broader principle. Cups concern those people, places, and institutions that sustain us, provide us with fellowship, and give us a sense of being at home in the world.

Essence: Belonging.
Function: Contain.

As the elemental representative of Air, Cups embody the most life-affirming of the four elements. Air is formed through the union of heat and moisture. It is active, expansive, adaptive, and unifying.

Traditionally, Air was associated with Jupiter and Venus, the Greater and Lesser Benefics. Together they promote harmony, fellowship, generosity, mercy, and mutual support.

The corresponding temperament is the sanguine, characterised by curiosity, forgiveness, sociability, affection, and mercy.

The symbolism of the cup reinforces these meanings. We keep our cups within the home and do not ordinarily share them with strangers. A cup implies familiarity, trust, welcome, and participation.

The suit concerns family, friendship, marriage, hospitality, faith, religion, community, fellowship, belonging, and shared identity. It governs those things that make life meaningful rather than merely possible.

The suit is often associated with feelings, but not emotions. Emotions occur throughout all four suits. Cups concern the conscious experiences of attachment, affection, loyalty, mercy, and belonging.

In matters of health, the suit governs the cardiopulmonary, circulatory, and endocrine systems.

Ultimately, Cups pertain to all essence that touch on where we feel we belong and are safe.

Cups at a Glance

Essence: Belonging.
Function: Contain.
Element: Air.
Direction: North.
Season: Autumn.
Planetary Associations: Jupiter and Venus.
Basic Significations: Family, friendship, marriage, partners, faith, religion, fellowship, community, hospitality, emotional support, shared identity, belonging, home, pets.
Yes/No: Yes.

The Suit of Coins

The suit of Coins is often reduced to money, wealth, and possessions. Whilst such matters certainly belong to the suit, they represent only part of a much wider principle. Coins concern the resources that enable life to function and flourish.

Essence: Resources.
Function: Exchange.

As the elemental representative of water, Coins concern the aggregation, preservation, and circulation of resources.

Traditionally, Water was associated with the Moon and Venus. The Moon governs growth, nourishment, fertility, and resource management, whilst Venus governs prosperity, comfort, and exchange.

Consequently, Coins tell us what is available to us and how effectively those resources are being employed. The suit concerns money, property, food, health, transport, commerce, expertise, access, opportunities, and material wellbeing.

Money behaves much like water itself. It flows. When resources circulate correctly they nourish individuals and communities. When they stagnate, difficulties soon arise.

The suit also possesses strong associations with merchants, trade, travel, shipping, transportation, and professional expertise. Wherever value is exchanged, Coins are present.

In matters of health, the suit governs the brain and lymphatic system, both of which distribute and regulate resources throughout the body.

Ultimately, the suit of Coins concerns the means by which life is sustained and improved. It asks: What resources are available, and how are they being used?

Coins at a Glance

Essence: Resources.
Function: Exchange.
Element: Water.
Direction: West.
Season: Summer.
Planetary Associations: Moon and Venus.
Basic Significations: Money, income, property, trade, commerce, travel, opportunities, wellbeing, expertise, professionals, services, material support, access, prosperity, resources.
Yes/No: Maybe.

The Suit of Batons

The suit of Batons is often associated with work, activity, and practical affairs. Whilst these themes certainly belong to the suit, they arise from a deeper principle. Unlike the other suits, the baton is not fashioned from metal or coinage, nor is it a vessel. It is a piece of the natural world itself.

Essence: Support.
Function: Sustain.

As the elemental representative of Earth, Batons embody stability, endurance, and persistence.

Traditionally, Earth was associated with Saturn and Mercury. Saturn contributes responsibility, perseverance, and endurance, whilst Mercury supplies practical skill, adaptability, and everyday competence.

The baton itself is a support. A staff assists the traveller, bears weight, and aids movement. For this reason, the suit is associated with practical assistance, service, maintenance, labour, and support.

Unlike Coins, which represent specialised knowledge and resources, Batons concern practical effort and hands-on assistance. Carers, cleaners, labourers, maintenance workers, agricultural workers, and similar professions naturally belong here.

The suit also governs nature, husbandry, agriculture, forestry, conservation, neighbours, colleagues, and local communities. These are the everyday support networks upon which society depends.

The darker side of the suit includes drudgery, stagnation, exhaustion, overwork, and excessive responsibility.

In matters of health, Batons govern the skeletal system, connective tissues, joints, and the body’s supporting structures.

Ultimately, Batons concern the systems of support that allow life to continue.

Batons at a Glance:

Essence: Support.
Function: Sustain.
Element: Earth.
Direction: South.
Season: Winter.
Planetary Associations: Saturn and Mercury.
Basic Significations: Work, labour, duty, practical assistance, neighbours, colleagues, maintenance, husbandry, agriculture, nature, perseverance, responsibility, support networks, endurance.
Yes/No: Unlikely.

A Note on Positive, Negative and Neutral

It is now quite fashionable to dismiss the idea of positive, neutral and negative cards. However, such a stance simply reflects a misunderstanding of the terms and their usage.

The terms positive, negative, and neutral should not be understood as moral judgements. Nor do they correspond exactly to benefic and malefic influences.

Rather, they describe a card’s capacity to facilitate or impede developments.

Positive cards help things move forward. Negative cards obstruct, delay, terminate, or diminish. Neutral cards possess the capacity to do either depending upon context.

Thus, Death is not evil, yet it ends. The Hanged Man is not wicked, yet he suspends progress. Likewise, Swords sever and divide.

By contrast, Cups facilitate. As the hot and moist element, Air creates the conditions in which life and relationships may flourish. Similarly, the Sun illuminates and the Pope offers wisdom and guidance.

Neutral cards occupy a middle position. The Emperor’s control may be exercised wisely or badly. The Wheel of Fortune changes circumstances but remains indifferent to whether those changes are good or bad.

The same principle applies to the suits. Coins possess resources and thus make things possible, whilst Batons require effort and labour and therefore indicate that something is achievable only through sustained work.

Positive, negative, and neutral therefore describe facilitation rather than morality.

§

Tarot Cards: Arnoult Tarot, Lequart (Paris), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Featured Image: Ancient Tarot Major Arcana © BP Grimaud/John Waddington Ltd, Leeds & London, Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Noblet, 1650 © Editions «letarot.com» (2001 [hand stencilled trumps]). Les Tarot de Marseille Jean Dodal, 1701 et 1715 © Editions «letarot.com» (2002 [hand stencilled trumps])

References:

Whilst this article reflects my own interpretations and experience of working with the cards, the principle sources and references that informed its development and the text are provided below for the interested reader.

Augustine and Pine-Coffin, R.S. (2003) Confessions. London, England: Penguin Books.
Saint Augustine of Hippo and Bettenson, H. (2004) City of God. Penguin Books.
Carvalho, H.A. de and Ribeiro, L. (2010) On the heavenly spheres: A treatise on traditional astrology. Tempe, AZ: American Federation of Astrologers.
Benedict et al. (1981) RB 1980: The Rule of St. Benedict. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press.
Catholic Truth Society, Catechism of the Catholic Church (2016). London: Catholic Truth Society.
Decker, R., Depaulis, T. and Dummett, M. (2002) A Wicked Pack of Cards: The Origins of the Occult Tarot. London: Duckworth.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume I: Daily Prayer for Advent and Christmastide & Weeks 1-9. HarperCollins UK.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume II: Daily Prayer for Lent and Eastertide. HarperCollins UK.
Collins UK (2006) The Divine Office, volume III: Daily Prayer for Weeks 6-34 of the Church Year. HarperCollins UK.
Farley, H. (2009) A cultural history of Tarot: From entertainment to esotericism. London: I.B. Tauris.
Ficino, M., Kaske, C.V. and Clark, J.R. (2019) Three Books on Life. Tempe, AZ: Arizona Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.
Ficinus, M. and Voss, A. (2009) Marsilio Ficino Edited and Introduced by Angela Voss. Berkeley, Calif: North Atlantic Books.
Frawley, J. (2001) The Real Astrology. London: Apprentice.
Frawley, J. (2002) The Real Astrology Applied: Teachings from the ‘Astrologer’s Apprentice’. London: Apprentice.
Frawley, J. (2011) The Horary textbook. London: Apprentice Books.
Giorgi, R., Zuffi, S. and Giammanco Frongia, R.M. (2005) Angels and Demons in Art. Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum.
Jodorowsky, A., Costa, M. and Graham, J.E. (2009) The Way of Tarot: The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards. Rochester, Vt: Destiny Books.
Jones, A. (1974) The Jerusalem Bible. London: Darton, Longman and Todd.
Jones, M.D.W. (2008) The Counter Reformation: Religion and Society in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge England: Cambridge University Press.
McHugh, J.A., Callan, C.J. and Pius (2017) Catechism of the Council of Trent for Parish Priests: Issued by order of Pope Pius V. Charlotte, NC: TAN Books.
Nees, L. (2002) Early Medieval Art. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Nouwen, H.J.M. (2007) Behold the beauty of the lord: Praying with icons. Notre Dame, Ind: Ave Maria Press.
Ptolemaeus, C. and Robbins, F.E. (2001) Tetrabiblos. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Univ. Press.
Silvestre, C.H. (1987) ABC des Tarots. Paris: Marabout.
Silvestre, C. (2004) Le Tarot Qui Guérit. Paris: Éd. Trajectoire.
Silvestre, C. (2013) La Roue Astrologique et le Tarot. Escalquens: Éd. Trajectoire.
Silvestre, C. (2016) Rencontre des Arcanes Majeurs et Mineurs du Tarot de Marseille: 1232 Associations Interprétées. Escalquens: Grancher éditions.
Silvestre, C. (2016a) Les 21 Portes des Arcanes du Tarot de Marseille et d’Oswald Wirth. Paris: Éditions Exergue.
Thomas (2018) Summa Theologica: Complete in a Single Volume. Claremont, CA: Coyote Canyon Press.
Unger, T. (1994) Le tarot, Jeu du Gouvernement du Monde: Éclairer votre regard, Choisir Votre partenaire, réussir l’entreprise. Paris: Montorgueil.
Valens, V. and Riley, M.T. (2022) The Anthology. Denver, CO: Amor Fati Publications.
Williams, B. (2003) A Renaissance Tarot: A Guide to the Renaissance Tarot. U.S. Games Systems.