THE MINOR ARCANA TAROT CARDS

The remaining 56 cards together make up for the Minor Arcana. These cards reflect day-to-day events and can give more context and detail to the Major Arcana cards.

The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits (of 14 cards each): Wands, Pentacles, Cups, and Swords.

Starting with the Ace, the cards go up from the two towards the 10, then closing with four Court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and lastly, the King (making it 14 cards).

Each of the suits has a ruling element you can see here below, corresponding to specific areas in life:

Suit of Cups Element of Water Emotions & Relationship

Suit of Pentacles Element of Earth Property & Achievement

Suit of Swords Element of Air Wisdom & Communication

Suit of Wands Element of Fire Passion & Inspiration

It’s essential to consider these elements and areas when working with the minor arcana cards, making it much easier for an intuitive reading to happen!

The Minor Arcana

Suit of Pentacles

Work ~ Money ~ Career ~ Business ~ Ancestral ~ Physical Health

Pentacles are governed by the element of earth and deal with finances, career, and achievement. These cards are known as “money cards” since they are usually associated with money-related decisions and financial windfalls.

When Pentacles primarily come up in your reading, you probably seek answers to the worldly things in your life.

Now that we know these cards' general theme, let’s glance at the implications of each Pentacles card.

Ace of Pentacles – New beginnings, prosperity, abundance

Two of Pentacles – Finding balance, multi-tasking, perseverance

Three of Pentacles – Teamwork, focused effort, mastery

Four of Pentacles – Release of the past, giving up control, acceptance

Five of Pentacles – Financial hardship, struggle, lack of faith

Six of Pentacles – Generosity, shared wealth, prosperity

Seven of Pentacles – Planning, perseverance, long-term success

Eight of Pentacles – Ambition, diligence, crafts, and talents

Nine of Pentacles – Independence, prosperity, refinement

Ten of Pentacles – Inheritance, affluence, good family life

Page of Pentacles – Sticking to goals, practicality, loyalty

Knight of Pentacles – Consistency, strong will, improvement

Queen of Pentacles – Nurturing healer, down-to-earth, gratitude

King of Pentacles – Enterprising, abundance, stability

Suit of Swords

Relationships or self in Conflict

~ Mental Situations ~ Mental Health

Governed by air, the Swords in a tarot reading stand for communication and action. Their strengths give us wisdom and clarity. The cards of this suit prompt you to use your head when making determinations.

They can also caution you to pay closer attention to your surroundings – there could be a disagreement or an argument on the horizon.

Ace of Swords – Clarity, rational decision-making, a breakthrough

Two of Swords – Stalemate, coming to crossroads, time to ponder

Three of Swords – Heartbreak, sadness, grief

Four of Swords – Worry, chronic stress, disorder

Five of Swords – Conflicts, disputes, disagreement

Six of Swords – Letting go of hatred, healing, moving forward

Seven of Swords – Dishonesty, deceit, manipulation

Eight of Swords – Feeling stuck, unproductive, hopeless

Nine of Swords – Despair, hopelessness, anxiety

Ten of Swords – Mental breakdown, betrayal, failure

Page of Swords – Youthful, confident, fairness

Knight of Swords – Bravery, accomplishment, tenacity

Queen of Swords – Supportive, empathetic, independent

King of Swords – Authority, logical, fatherly

The Suit of Wands

Willpower ~Inspir

Like a magic rod, the Suit of Wands represents creativity, intuition, and new ideas. Associated with the element of fire, Wands aren’t passive cards. On the contrary, this suit represents determination and strength.

It’s about pushing the limits to reach your goals and dreams. Spirituality and consciousness are also allies of this suit. The cards address what is truly meaningful to you and tell you more about who you are, your core values, and your beliefs.

Ace of Wands – Creativity, enthusiasm, a fresh start

Two of Wands – Decisions, travel, personal power

Three of Wands – Exploration and travel, leadership, moving forward

Four of Wands – Celebration, excitement, homecoming

Five of Wands – Competition, disagreements, rivalry, challenges

Six of Wands – Victory, triumph, recognition

Seven of Wands – Conviction, strong-willed, determined

Eight of Wands – Quick action, receiving news, exciting times

Nine of Wands – Perseverance, stamina, courage

Ten of Wands – Struggling, overextending, feeling burdened

Page of Wands – Outgoing, child-like cheerfulness, creative confidence

Knight of Wands – Charming, self-confident, passionate

Queen of Wands – Fiery passion, self-assured, wholehearted

King of Wands – Protective, innovative, inspiring, magnetic

Suit of Cups

Love ~ Relationships ~ Fertility ~ Spirituality ~ Family

The Suit of Cups is related to the water element and deals with matters of the heart. The primary aspects surrounding this suit are love, emotions, and relationships.

Cards of this suit can bring attention to how you react to your environment. If predominantly Cups cards appear in a reading, it indicates emotional dealings such as happy family reunions and problems in a relationship.

Ace of Cups – Feeling free, fulfillment, and a new beginning

Two of Cups – Happiness, relationships, love

Three of Cups – Celebrations, good conversation, reunions

Four of Cups – Depression, missed opportunities, feeling stuck

Five of Cups – Sadness, loss, loneliness

Six of Cups – Playful, nostalgic, carefree

Seven of Cups – Abundance of options, choices, opportunities

Eight of Cups – Abandonment, travel, letting go

Nine of Cups – Wishes coming true, fulfilled dreams, prosperity

Ten of Cups – Happiness, family reunions, harmony

Page of Cups – Idealism, youthfulness, good news

Knight of Cups – Romantic proposals, invitations, following your heart