Minor Arcana
A complete overview of the Minor Arcana in Tarot: discover all 56 cards across the four suits and what they reveal.
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards divided into four suits, each containing 14 cards from Ace to King. These cards relate to everyday matters and the specific situations we encounter in daily life — reflecting the activities, emotions, challenges, and opportunities that shape our experience.
Cups
The Cups suit is associated with the element of Water and represents emotions, feelings, relationships, creativity, and intuition.
Swords
The Swords suit is associated with the element of Air and represents intellect, thought, communication, conflict, and challenge.
Wands
The Wands suit is associated with the element of Fire and represents energy, passion, action, inspiration, and creative drive.
Pentacles
The Pentacles suit is associated with the element of Earth and represents material concerns such as money, career, resources, and physical wellbeing.
Structure of the Minor Arcana
Each suit in the Minor Arcana contains 14 cards, organized into:
Number Cards (Ace through 10)
- Ace: Represents the pure origin and potential of that suit
- 2 through 10: Describe specific situations, experiences, and progressions associated with the suit's element
Court Cards
- Page: Learning, curiosity, and exploration — the beginner's energy of each suit
- Knight: Action, movement, and forward momentum — the active expression of each suit
- Queen: The inward, nurturing, and receptive expression of each suit's energy
- King: The outward, authoritative, and mastery expression of each suit's energy
Elemental Correspondences
Each suit corresponds to one of the four classical elements:
| Suit | Element | Core Themes |
|---|---|---|
| Wands | 🔥 Fire | Energy, passion, action |
| Cups | 💧 Water | Emotion, relationships, intuition |
| Swords | 💨 Air | Thought, communication, challenge |
| Pentacles | 🌍 Earth | Material, practical, stability |
Meaning in Tarot Spreads
When Minor Arcana cards appear in a spread, they typically indicate:
- Specific situations or events in everyday life
- Emotions, thoughts, or actions within a current situation
- Practical and shorter-term aspects of a concern
- How you're responding to specific challenges or opportunities
Explore each suit to understand the full spectrum of what the Minor Arcana can reveal.