56 cards · 4 suits
Minor Arcana Tarot Cards
The Minor Arcana describe everyday life: feelings and conversations, money and work, arguments and decisions, the people around you. If the Major Arcana answer the question “what is happening in my life’s path,” the Minor Arcana answer “what exactly is happening, and what should I do about it.”
- Wands: Fire
- Cups: Water
- Swords: Air
- Pentacles: Earth
The four suits and their elements
Wands belong to the element of Fire. Energy, the drive to act, ambition, creativity, new projects. Wands answer the question “what do I want, and do I have the strength for it?”
Cups belong to the element of Water. Feelings, love, friendship, intuition, dreams. The key suit in questions about relationships.
Swords belong to the element of Air. Thoughts, decisions, truth, conflicts, anxiety. Swords show what is going on in a person’s head and how they cope with difficulties.
Pentacles belong to the element of Earth. Money, work, property, the body and health, the results of your efforts. The most practical suit in the deck.
All Minor Arcana by suit
Wands
Fire · energy, will, beginnings-
Ace of Wands
The Ace of Wands is a spark: a new idea, a desire, a surge of energy
Yes/No: Yes
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Two of Wands
The Two of Wands is the moment of choosing a direction
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
Three of Wands
The Three of Wands is waiting for results once the first steps have been taken
Yes/No: Yes
-
Four of Wands
The Four of Wands stands for celebration, home and the first lasting victory
Yes/No: Yes
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Five of Wands
The Five of Wands stands for rivalry, arguments and confusion
Yes/No: Likely no
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Six of Wands
The Six of Wands is victory and recognition
Yes/No: Yes
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Seven of Wands
The Seven of Wands is about defense
Yes/No: Likely yes
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Eight of Wands
The Eight of Wands stands for speed and movement
Yes/No: Yes
-
Nine of Wands
The Nine of Wands is the last line of defense
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
Ten of Wands
The Ten of Wands is overload
Yes/No: Likely no
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Page of Wands
The Page of Wands is curiosity and a thirst for the new
Yes/No: Yes
-
Knight of Wands
The Knight of Wands is impulse and action
Yes/No: Yes
-
Queen of Wands
The Queen of Wands is confidence, charm and warm strength
Yes/No: Yes
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King of Wands
The King of Wands is a leader with vision
Yes/No: Yes
Cups
Water · feelings, relationships, intuition-
Ace of Cups
The Ace of Cups is the beginning of a feeling
Yes/No: Yes
-
Two of Cups
The Two of Cups is the union of two people
Yes/No: Yes
-
Three of Cups
The Three of Cups is friendship and celebration
Yes/No: Yes
-
Four of Cups
The Four of Cups is apathy and discontent
Yes/No: Likely no
-
Five of Cups
The Five of Cups is the bitterness of loss
Yes/No: No
-
Six of Cups
The Six of Cups is childhood, memory and simple kindness
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
Seven of Cups
The Seven of Cups is a choice among illusions
Yes/No: No
-
Eight of Cups
The Eight of Cups is about walking away
Yes/No: No
-
Nine of Cups
The Nine of Cups is the wish card
Yes/No: Yes
-
Ten of Cups
The Ten of Cups is family happiness
Yes/No: Yes
-
Page of Cups
The Page of Cups is tenderness, intuition and creative news
Yes/No: Yes
-
Knight of Cups
The Knight of Cups is a romantic on the road
Yes/No: Yes
-
Queen of Cups
The Queen of Cups is empathy and depth of feeling
Yes/No: Yes
-
King of Cups
The King of Cups is calm amid the waves
Yes/No: Yes
Swords
Air · thoughts, decisions, conflicts-
Ace of Swords
The Ace of Swords stands for clarity and breakthrough
Yes/No: Yes
-
Two of Swords
The Two of Swords is a hard choice that keeps getting put off
Yes/No: Unclear
-
Three of Swords
The Three of Swords is heartache
Yes/No: No
-
Four of Swords
The Four of Swords stands for rest and recovery
Yes/No: Wait
-
Five of Swords
The Five of Swords is a victory that brings no joy
Yes/No: No
-
Six of Swords
The Six of Swords is a passage to calmer waters
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
Seven of Swords
The Seven of Swords stands for cunning and secrecy
Yes/No: No
-
Eight of Swords
The Eight of Swords is a trap of your own thoughts
Yes/No: No
-
Nine of Swords
The Nine of Swords is the card of night-time worries
Yes/No: No
-
Ten of Swords
The Ten of Swords is rock bottom and the end
Yes/No: No
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Page of Swords
The Page of Swords stands for a sharp mind and curiosity
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
Knight of Swords
The Knight of Swords is a swift attack
Yes/No: Yes
-
Queen of Swords
The Queen of Swords is a clear mind and honesty
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
King of Swords
The King of Swords is the power of reason
Yes/No: Yes
Pentacles
Earth · money, work, the body-
Ace of Pentacles
The Ace of Pentacles is a material opportunity
Yes/No: Yes
-
Two of Pentacles
The Two of Pentacles is balance in motion
Yes/No: Likely yes
-
Three of Pentacles
The Three of Pentacles is craftsmanship and a plan
Yes/No: Yes
-
Four of Pentacles
The Four of Pentacles is holding on
Yes/No: Likely no
-
Five of Pentacles
The Five of Pentacles is hard times
Yes/No: No
-
Six of Pentacles
The Six of Pentacles is giving and receiving
Yes/No: Yes
-
Seven of Pentacles
The Seven of Pentacles is assessing the harvest
Yes/No: Wait
-
Eight of Pentacles
The Eight of Pentacles is craft and diligence
Yes/No: Yes
-
Nine of Pentacles
The Nine of Pentacles is independence and prosperity
Yes/No: Yes
-
Ten of Pentacles
The Ten of Pentacles is family line and legacy
Yes/No: Yes
-
Page of Pentacles
The Page of Pentacles is the diligent student
Yes/No: Yes
-
Knight of Pentacles
The Knight of Pentacles is reliability and persistence
Yes/No: Yes
-
Queen of Pentacles
The Queen of Pentacles is care and prosperity
Yes/No: Yes
-
King of Pentacles
The King of Pentacles is wealth and support
Yes/No: Yes
Number and court cards
Each suit has 14 cards. The ten number cards, from Ace to Ten, trace how the suit’s theme develops: the Ace is the seed and a new chance, the Two a choice or a union, the Three the first result, the Four stability or stagnation, the Five a crisis, the Six recovery, the Seven a test, the Eight movement, the Nine the outcome almost reached, the Ten the end of a cycle.
The four court cards most often describe people or character traits. The Page is a student and news, the Knight action and movement, the Queen maturity turned inward, the King maturity turned outward, power and responsibility.
For the number cards, we list the astrological correspondence in the Golden Dawn system: a planet in a zodiac sign. This helps those who combine tarot with astrology.
Test the meanings in practice
Draw your card of the day and see how its theme plays out over the day.
Frequently asked questions
How many Minor Arcana cards are in a tarot deck?
56 cards: four suits of 14 cards each. Each suit has ten number cards (Ace to Ten) and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King).
Which tarot suit is about love?
Above all, Cups, the suit of feelings and relationships. But the other suits matter in love questions too: Swords show quarrels and things left unsaid, Pentacles everyday life and stability, Wands passion and attraction.
Which tarot suit is about money and career?
Pentacles. They describe income, work, investments, property and practical results. In work questions, Wands speak of energy, initiative and new projects.
What is the difference between court cards and number cards?
Number cards describe situations and events, while court cards more often describe people, roles or character traits. The Queen of Cups can point to a sensitive woman around you, or to the fact that you yourself need to show empathy.
Can you do a reading with only the Minor Arcana?
Yes, especially for everyday questions. But without the Major Arcana a spread loses depth: you won’t see the bigger lesson behind the situation.