Myths of the Minor Arcana

Course Description

Tarot and the Language of Myth

The Minor Arcana—Ace to Ten of Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles—once carried only simple markings. But in 1910, Pamela Colman-Smith and Arthur Waite brought these cards to life through imagery. This shift allowed people to engage with the cards more imaginatively, as stories and symbols rather than just numbers and suits.

In 1985, Liz Greene and Juliet Sharman-Burke deepened this development in The Mythic Tarot Deck by pairing each card with a Greek myth. These myths reflect the traditional divinatory meaning of each card and can be used across any Tarot deck. The suits—Fire, Water, Air, and Earth—also speak to the four functions Jung described: Intuition, Feeling, Thinking, and Sensation.

In this course, we explore the Minor Arcana of The Mythic Tarot Deck and the Sharman-Caselli Deck, which follows the more traditional Waite-Smith imagery. Each card is a window into the human experience. Through a psychological lens, and guided by myth, we will explore how the cards can support not just divination—but also reflection, self-understanding, and a connection to the elemental world.

 

Tarot as a Bridge

G. Jung believed that the health of the conscious mind depends on its connection to the unconscious. Symbols and myths, such as those found in Tarot, create that vital link. They invite movement between the known and the unknown, between the surface of life and the depths of soul.

You are invited to join us in this rich exploration, guided by the enduring wisdom of myth and the living language of the cards.

This course is ideal if

• Are curious to understand the Minor Arcana not just as cards, but as mythic stories that mirror your inner life.
• Want a more intuitive and meaningful way to read the suits of wands, cups, swords, and pentacles.
• Appreciate learning from a wise and seasoned teacher who brings clarity, warmth, and mythic depth.

Course Overview

Class One: Suit of Wands
Explore the journey from Ace to Ten of the wands through the myth of Jason and the Argonauts. These themes are aligned with the fiery energy of inspiration, courage, and purpose. This class reveals how the fire of our inner calling carries us through trials, growth, and transformation.

Class Two: Suit of Cups
Delve into the emotional and relational landscape of the Suit of Cups, guided by the myth of Eros and Psyche and the element of Water. These cards speak to love, longing, and the soul’s path of trust and vulnerability

Class Three: Suit of Swords
Trace the mental and ethical journey of the Suit of Swords through the myth of Orestes, with its connection to the element of Air. This class illuminates the tension between thought and action, truth and justice, and how clarity is forged through inner conflict.

Class Four: Suit of Pentacles
Ground yourself in the world of form, work, and creation through the myth of Daedalus, master craftsman of the ancient world. Rooted in the Earth element, this class brings insight into how effort, skill, and dedication shape a meaningful life.

Each session allows for time for Q&A.