Free UK deliveryHome / Guides / The Minor Arcana: The Four Tarot Suits Explained
Guide
The Minor Arcana: The Four Tarot Suits Explained
The minor arcana are tarot's 56 everyday cards: four suits (Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles), each with Ace to Ten and four court cards. Learn each suit's element and theme, then what each number means, and you can work out a meaning for any minor card. This guide sets out the suits, the numbers, the court cards and a quick key to all 56.
The four suits
Wands
Element: fire. Themes: energy, ambition, creativity, work you feel passionate about. The matching playing-card suit is clubs.
Cups
Element: water. Themes: feelings, relationships, intuition, dreams. The matching playing-card suit is hearts.
Swords
Element: air. Themes: thought, conflict, truth, decisions and communication. The matching playing-card suit is spades.
Pentacles
Element: earth. Themes: money, home, body, work and the material world. The matching playing-card suit is diamonds.
What the numbers mean
Ace
the seed or gift of the suit
Two
balance, choice or partnership
Three
growth and first results
Four
stability, sometimes standing still
Five
conflict, loss or challenge
Six
recovery, harmony and giving
Seven
tests, assessment and persistence
Eight
movement and skill, or feeling stuck
Nine
near completion and intensity
Ten
completion: the full weight of the suit
The court cards
Page
the student or messenger: curiosity and news
Knight
action and pursuit, sometimes to excess
Queen
inner mastery and emotional intelligence
King
outer mastery, authority and responsibility
Quick key: the suit of Wands
Ace of Wands
The seed or gift of the suit, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Two of Wands
Balance, choice or partnership, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Three of Wands
Growth and first results, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Four of Wands
Stability, sometimes standing still, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Five of Wands
Conflict, loss or challenge, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Six of Wands
Recovery, harmony and giving, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Seven of Wands
Tests, assessment and persistence, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Eight of Wands
Movement and skill, or feeling stuck, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Nine of Wands
Near completion and intensity, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Ten of Wands
Completion: the full weight of the suit, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Page of Wands
The student or messenger: curiosity and news, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Knight of Wands
Action and pursuit, sometimes to excess, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Queen of Wands
Inner mastery and emotional intelligence, in the realm of energy and ambition.
King of Wands
Outer mastery, authority and responsibility, in the realm of energy and ambition.
Quick key: the suit of Cups
Ace of Cups
The seed or gift of the suit, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Two of Cups
Balance, choice or partnership, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Three of Cups
Growth and first results, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Four of Cups
Stability, sometimes standing still, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Five of Cups
Conflict, loss or challenge, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Six of Cups
Recovery, harmony and giving, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Seven of Cups
Tests, assessment and persistence, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Eight of Cups
Movement and skill, or feeling stuck, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Nine of Cups
Near completion and intensity, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Ten of Cups
Completion: the full weight of the suit, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Page of Cups
The student or messenger: curiosity and news, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Knight of Cups
Action and pursuit, sometimes to excess, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Queen of Cups
Inner mastery and emotional intelligence, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
King of Cups
Outer mastery, authority and responsibility, in the realm of feelings and relationships.
Quick key: the suit of Swords
Ace of Swords
The seed or gift of the suit, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Two of Swords
Balance, choice or partnership, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Three of Swords
Growth and first results, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Four of Swords
Stability, sometimes standing still, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Five of Swords
Conflict, loss or challenge, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Six of Swords
Recovery, harmony and giving, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Seven of Swords
Tests, assessment and persistence, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Eight of Swords
Movement and skill, or feeling stuck, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Nine of Swords
Near completion and intensity, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Ten of Swords
Completion: the full weight of the suit, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Page of Swords
The student or messenger: curiosity and news, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Knight of Swords
Action and pursuit, sometimes to excess, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Queen of Swords
Inner mastery and emotional intelligence, in the realm of thought and conflict.
King of Swords
Outer mastery, authority and responsibility, in the realm of thought and conflict.
Quick key: the suit of Pentacles
Ace of Pentacles
The seed or gift of the suit, in the realm of money and home.
Two of Pentacles
Balance, choice or partnership, in the realm of money and home.
Three of Pentacles
Growth and first results, in the realm of money and home.
Four of Pentacles
Stability, sometimes standing still, in the realm of money and home.
Five of Pentacles
Conflict, loss or challenge, in the realm of money and home.
Six of Pentacles
Recovery, harmony and giving, in the realm of money and home.
Seven of Pentacles
Tests, assessment and persistence, in the realm of money and home.
Eight of Pentacles
Movement and skill, or feeling stuck, in the realm of money and home.
Nine of Pentacles
Near completion and intensity, in the realm of money and home.
Ten of Pentacles
Completion: the full weight of the suit, in the realm of money and home.
Page of Pentacles
The student or messenger: curiosity and news, in the realm of money and home.
Knight of Pentacles
Action and pursuit, sometimes to excess, in the realm of money and home.
Queen of Pentacles
Inner mastery and emotional intelligence, in the realm of money and home.
King of Pentacles
Outer mastery, authority and responsibility, in the realm of money and home.
Putting it together
Combine suit and number. The Five of Cups is loss in the realm of feeling: disappointment. The Eight of Pentacles is skill in the material world: steady work. The Queen of Swords is inner mastery of thought: clear judgement. Practise by drawing one minor card a day and building its meaning from its parts before you check a guidebook. UK delivery is £3.95, free on orders over £40, and usually takes 2–5 working days.
Words worth knowing
- Major arcana: the 22 trump cards, from the Fool to the World.
- Minor arcana: the 56 suit cards: Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles.
- Court cards: the Page, Knight, Queen and King of each suit.
- Spread: a layout of cards with a meaning for each position.
- Reversal: a card that comes out upside down, read by some with a different meaning.
- Significator: a card chosen to represent the person asking.
- Querent: the person asking the question.
Shop this guide
Questions answered
How many minor arcana cards are there?
56: four suits of 14.
Which suit is which element?
In the most common tradition, Wands are fire, Cups water, Swords air and Pentacles earth. Some decks swap Wands and Swords.
Are court cards always people?
Not always. They can stand for people, roles you take on or ways of acting.
Do I have to learn all 78 meanings by heart?
No. Learning the suits and numbers gives you a working meaning for every minor card.
Do I need to be psychic to read the four suits?
No. Most readers use tarot as a tool for reflection: the pictures prompt you to think about a situation from new angles.
How long does it take to learn the minor arcana?
You can read simple spreads within a week using a guidebook. Knowing all 78 cards by heart usually takes a few months of regular practice.
Should I cleanse my deck before working with the suits?
Many readers like to, by shuffling it thoroughly, leaving it in moonlight or passing it through incense smoke. It is a tradition, not a requirement.
Does the Minor Arcana guide make any health claims?
No. We describe spiritual and traditional uses as tradition and belief, never as health, medical or financial advice. For any health concern, speak to a qualified professional.
Ask Starseed
Try: