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Minor Arcana Tarot Card Meanings

The Minor Arcana is made up of 56 cards divided into four suits: Cups, Wands, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has fourteen cards — Ace through Ten, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Where the Major Arcana often point to larger themes and turning points, the Minor Arcana tend to reflect the everyday — the feelings, choices, efforts, and situations that shape ordinary days. If you are learning tarot, getting to know the four suits is a gentle and helpful place to begin.

The Four Suits of the Minor Arcana

  • Ace of Cups tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

    Cups

    Element of Water · 14 cards

    The Cups speak to emotions, relationships, intuition, feelings, and the inner world — how we love, connect, and listen to the heart.

    Explore Cups Card Meanings →
  • Ace of Wands tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

    Wands

    Element of Fire · 14 cards

    The Wands carry passion, creativity, motivation, inspiration, action, and ambition — the spark that moves an idea toward life.

    Explore Wands Card Meanings →
  • Ace of Swords tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

    Swords

    Element of Air · 14 cards

    The Swords reflect thoughts, communication, decisions, challenges, conflict, and the mind — how we think through and make sense of a situation.

    Explore Swords Card Meanings →
  • Ace of Pentacles tarot card from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck

    Pentacles

    Element of Earth · 14 cards

    The Pentacles relate to material matters, work, finances, stability, health, and the physical world — what we build and tend over time.

    Explore Pentacles Card Meanings →

Exploring the Minor Arcana

These suit associations are traditional guides rather than fixed rules. A card from any suit can appear in any kind of question, simply inviting you to notice a different side of your situation.

Curious about the bigger themes? Visit the Major Arcana card meanings, or browse All Tarot Card Meanings.