The minor arcana are the 56 tarot cards that describe everyday life. They are divided into four suits: Cups for feelings, Pentacles for the material world, Swords for thoughts and Wands for energy and ambition.
The four suits
| Suit | Element | Area of life | Keywords | Also called |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cups | Water | Feelings, relationships | Love, intuition, connection | Chalices |
| Pentacles | Earth | Work, money, body, home | Stability, effort, resources | Coins, Disks |
| Swords | Air | Thoughts, communication | Clarity, truth, conflict | Blades |
| Wands | Fire | Energy, ambition | Drive, creativity, action | Rods, Staves |
The numbers Ace to Ten
| Number | Theme |
|---|---|
| Ace | A beginning, a seed |
| Two | Choice, balance, partnership |
| Three | Growth, first results |
| Four | Stability, rest |
| Five | Conflict, loss, change |
| Six | Harmony, help, recovery |
| Seven | Reflection, a test |
| Eight | Movement, skill |
| Nine | Near completion |
| Ten | Completion, the end of a cycle |
The court cards
| Card | Stands for |
|---|---|
| Page | A student, a message, curiosity |
| Knight | Action, movement, pursuit |
| Queen | Mastery turned inward, care |
| King | Mastery turned outward, leadership |
Court cards can describe a person, a part of yourself or a way of acting.
The shortcut: number plus suit
Combine the theme of the number with the theme of the suit, and you have a working meaning for any minor card.
- Ace of Cups: a beginning (Ace) in feelings (Cups): a new friendship or a fresh emotion.
- Five of Pentacles: conflict or loss (Five) in the material world (Pentacles): a tight period.
- Eight of Wands: movement (Eight) in energy (Wands): things speed up.
- Queen of Swords: inward mastery (Queen) of thought (Swords): clear, honest judgment.
Then look at the picture on your card and adjust.
What suits tell you in a spread
Many cards of one suit show where the question lives. Mostly Cups means it is about feelings, mostly Pentacles about practical matters. See 5 easy 3-card tarot spreads.
Keep the tables at hand with the printable tarot cheat sheet, and learn the other 22 cards in Major arcana meanings.
Cards are a tool for reflection. They do not predict the future, and the decision is always your own.