What Are the Minor Arcana in Tarot?

If the Major Arcana represents the big, overarching themes of your life (like major spiritual lessons or karma), the Minor Arcana represents the day-to-day details.

Comprising 56 cards out of the 78-card deck, the Minor Arcana deals with the trials, tribulations, emotions, and practical matters of daily life. It is divided into four suits, much like a regular deck of playing cards.

The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana

Each suit in the Minor Arcana corresponds to one of the four astrological elements. Understanding the element of a suit is the easiest way to understand its meaning.

1. The Suit of Wands (Fire Element)

Keywords: Passion, Action, Creativity, Inspiration Wands are all about energy. They represent what drives you, what makes you passionate, and your spiritual core. If you pull a lot of Wands in a reading, you are likely dealing with matters of purpose, new creative projects, or rapid action.

2. The Suit of Cups (Water Element)

Keywords: Emotions, Relationships, Intuition, Healing Cups rule the realm of the heart. They deal with love, family, friendships, and your emotional state. A reading dominated by Cups suggests that you are navigating deep feelings, navigating a new romance, or dealing with matters of the heart.

3. The Suit of Swords (Air Element)

Keywords: Intellect, Conflict, Truth, Communication Swords are often the most feared suit because they depict conflict and sorrow, but they actually represent the mind. They deal with thoughts, logic, anxiety, and truth. Swords cut through illusions, which can be painful, but ultimately necessary for growth.

4. The Suit of Pentacles (Earth Element)

Keywords: Money, Career, Physical Realm, Materiality Pentacles (also known as Coins) ground us in the physical world. They represent your job, your finances, your health, and your home. If Pentacles dominate a reading, your focus is likely on building long-term security or dealing with practical, material concerns.

Understanding the Numbers

Within each suit, there are cards numbered Ace through 10, plus four Court Cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).

• Aces represent new beginnings in that suit's element.
• Tens represent the culmination or end of a cycle.
• Court Cards often represent specific people in your life or aspects of your own personality.

By understanding the four suits, you instantly unlock the meanings of 56 Tarot cards!