Majors vs Minors

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

cheekyminx	09 May 2004
I can't remember where I read it, but in a book it stated that if your reading had a lot of minors then fate is in your hands, but if you had a lot of majors then fate was already decided? It was something along those lines.

contrascarpe	09 May 2004
Minx - Wow, I thought I was the only one who thought of this in this way (not always, but sometimes). Glad to see there is a book out there which broaches this. While nothing is totally out of our hands, I often say that many majors indicates less control of the situation. The more common view is that when one gets many majors, you should pay closer attention because it will have a much more significant impact. The majors typically represent traits and life events which affect everybody while the minors the more mundane, daily events. Dan

Astraea	09 May 2004
This idea probably reflects the view that Majors refer to the archetypal realm (associated with the nature and path of the collective human race), and Minors to the daily lives of individuals. So when a reading is predominantly Majors, issues involving "group karma," the temper of the times, the needs of the many overriding or conditioning those of the few, etc. are indicated. In this situation, the desires or options of the individual (shown by the Minors) are limited or outweighed by group considerations, and we experience this as the strong hand of Fate.

Imagemaker	09 May 2004
I see majors as reflecting deeper issues, subconscious perhaps, physiological/psychological elements (thus the archetypical piece) that you could change if you knew about it, were strong/brave/determined enough. It's a lot harder to redirect your life than it is accept "Fate."

Alissa	09 May 2004
For my personal framework : Majors indicate issues one is dealing with "on the soul level". Minors indicate issues one is dealing with "on the ego level". Some issues affect our souls. Some are everday occurences that may draw our personal attention for a while, but do not permanently write themselves upon our insides.

MeeWah	09 May 2004
What everyone stated. Major Arcana representative of those major lessons in life, the areas that need attention that one stumbles over; continue to show unless tended. Like reminders or "the hand of Fate"--on a level as the "real life intrusions" or the wake up calls. Minor arcana tend to be those things we can address on a more immediate basis--though if left unattended, they can present as a Major stumbling blocks. Appear as a Major to get one's attention as if to say: Will ye do something about this already?!

TemperanceAngel	09 May 2004
Round 1: *In the left hand corner we have the Majors, if they win today then your fate is decided.... In the right hand corner we have the Minors, if they win today you are free to choose yourself.... Ding ding....(and the fight begins)* But seriously, no-ones fate is decided really, we all have the ability to change our own destiny...because we control our own destinies.... XTAX

ros	10 May 2004
I sometimes think- Many Major cards mean you do not have a lot of control of what is happening in your life at the time of the reading. With lots of minors, you have control of your life situation at the moment of the reading.

closrapexa	11 May 2004
To me it many Majors mean that the energy levels in the reading run high, something like a very urgent message is being put accross; while an abundance of Minors mean that the reading is more on the intellectual-academic level. On the other hand, some Minors are more "powerful" than others, so it really depends. Still, my readings usually focus on the fact that our destinies are alway in our hands.

cartarum	11 May 2004
the change of fate depends entirely on how well you understand what the cards are telling you. even if they are all majors, if you can get no real information out of the cards then it doesent matter. often, reading the cards and not understanding is the same as not reading at all unless you just get false or imaginary information. it all depends on how much you let the tarot effect your decision making. your fate goes as far as you can read. if you stop reading, then your fate is set for the rest of your life and since you no longer know what to expect, you are the fool once more. really, a great deal of majors indicate major life trials that are only major in the grand scheme of things. this is a good indication of an event that will occur over time. more so if the six pents the six wands or the wheel is present.

mercenary30	11 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Alissa Majors indicate issues one is dealing with "on the soul level". Minors indicate issues one is dealing with "on the ego level". Some issues affect our souls. Some are everday occurences that may draw our personal attention for a while, but do not permanently write themselves upon our insides. This is the way I see it too. So doing a reading using all Majors would be a BAD IDEA if they represented fate and you had no control......... ;) I think I would start doing Minor only readings.....

WalesWoman	11 May 2004
These are really great thoughts here, I've never tried to describe the difference between Majors and Minors. I've always thought when Majors come up, that it's like getting a big thunk on the head- This is Important! Pay Attention!!! That Minors are the details, or sign posts, what to be looking at, getting down to specifics. I don't think I'll use the 'this is Fate and this is Free Will' equation, I sort of like having the illusion it's all free will, even things I have absolutely no control over. It's just comforting that way.

jmd	11 May 2004
One way which at times tends to present itself to my eyes is that the pips may represent the situation and its context, and the Atouts/Majors as the forces or currents importantly at play in relation to the situation. This, of course, needs to be moderated by the unfolding of the reading as the narrative develops. ______ With regards to the terms 'Ego' and 'Soul', it may be worth pointing out that these are differently understood by various people. In circles I often associate with, the term 'Ego' (as opposed to (lower case 'e') 'egotistical') tends to refer the the highest spiritual 'I' of oneself - otherwise at times also referred to as 'Spirit', whereas 'Soul' tends to refer to one of the 'higher bodies' or forces which the Ego has at its disposal. Just thought I'd mention this, as there are so many ways these terms tend to be used these days!

The Majors vs Minors thread was originally posted on 09 May 2004 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.