The Minor Arcana Tarot (Number) Cards Meanings

The minor arcana is the most practical section of the tarot deck. Though the minor arcana contains mystical knowledge, these cards pertain to mundane situations.

The minor arcana guides you through topics related to love, career, and health. Understanding the minor arcana’s meaning helps give nuance to your readings.

The minor arcana in order follow ace through ten, followed by court cards. The court cards traditionally include a Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Wands

The suit of wands in the tarot corresponds to the fire element. The Ace of Wands brings initiation and an exciting start to a new journey. Though the wands relate to passion and motivation, they are considered optimistic and inspiring.

Most minor arcana wand cards encourage you to take advantage of opportunities. The Five of Wands and Seven of Wands portray disruption.

Yet even the challenging wand cards hold valuable lessons. The Five of Wands reminds you to avoid distractions and conserve your energy. You are getting lost in petty power struggles when this card appears.

The Seven of Wands encourages you to hold your ground when facing opposition. The suit of wands association with fire indicates this suit portends action and adventure.

The wands’ suits as personalities relate best to the fire signs in the zodiac. Aries corresponds to the young Page of Wands, and the Ace of Wands.

Though other cards also indicate action and adventure, the Page of Wands is one of the best examples of spontaneous, creative, and confident personalities corresponding to Aries.

The sign of Leo and Sagittarius also correspond to the Wands cards. Leo is associated with the Queen of Wands, while Sagittarius relates to the Knight of Wands and King of Wands.

Wands cards can have an immature or mature personality, which brings different traits to the surface. The expression of their energy in an immature archetype like the Page or Knight indicates impulsivity and raw ambition.

The Ten of Wands, Queen or Wands, and King of Wands represent mature manifestations of the fire element. When these cards appear, you have the power to dominate others but the discretion to prefer diplomacy.

An abundance of wands cards in a reading indicates hectic and chaotic energy. You are busy but may be spinning your wheels rather than being strategic.

The action takes precedence over planning and emotion. You are in the process of growing, advancing, or solving problems. Assert your needs and overcome obstacles when wands are present.

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Swords

The minor arcana swords correspond to the air element and mental faculties such as intelligence and creativity. The Ace of Swords brings an epiphany and a new idea.

The suit of swords contains the most conflicting cards of the minor arcana. Mental strife accompanies trying to persuade others or adapt to new ideas. The swords portend creativity and restlessness.

The Three of Swords, Five of Swords, and Seven of Swords relate to disappointment, disruption, and deception. Each has a different nuance on letting go and accepting a situation you can’t change.

The Six of Swords, Eight of Swords, and Ten of Swords similarly indicate tension that is only relieved when you find a new way to look at your circumstances. Changing your perspective is a source of empowerment.

You must focus and maintain clarity and flexibility when the swords cards appear in a reading. An abundance of sword cards portends the need for strategy and wit.

Cleverness and determination help you succeed. The suit of wands corresponds to the zodiac signs of Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius. Your social life can be a source of tension or support.

The Page of Swords can be a bright and witty child or a new idea taking hold. When this card appears, you learn a new skill. You may be around a spontaneous, creative person.

The Knight of Swords brings abrupt changes and can indicate passion and direction. You are focused and determined to succeed when this card appears.

The Queen of Swords breaks illusions and brings honesty and authenticity. She is associated with challenging truths and hard-won awareness.

The King of Swords is a wise judge who helps your discernment. You find confidence and direction with the help of this protective figure.

The swords suit brings out the best of your creativity and intellect. You must put your mental strengths to work if you want to overcome conflicts.

Your perception and intelligence can be your greatest weapon and like a sword, you can use your intellectual gifts to cut through illusions. Though the truth can be painful, it is also liberating.

Thus, the sword is the ultimate symbol of the power of your mind. You can accomplish significant goals if you get control of your thoughts and perceptions.

Cups

The Cups appear in the tarot to denote emotions, empathy, and relationships. Matters of home and family are in the spotlight when cup cards appear in a tarot reading.

The suit of cups corresponds to the element of water. Water is nurturing cleansing and healing. Like the water element, you show compassion. Love and romance abound.

The cups suit relates to the water signs in the zodiac. Various cup cards connote the Cancer, Scorpio, and Pisces personalities. Though they have many nuances, each embodies intuition, sensitivity, and dreaminess.

You pour your heart out or protect your vulnerable side when cup cards appear. Most of the cards in the cups suit pertain to a celebration and joyful occasions.

Usually, the cups denote the happiness and support of friends or family. Yet sometimes, the suit of cups shows sorrow and grief. All emotions are fair game.

The Five of Cups and Eight of Cups portend sadness and disappointment. The Four of Cups can imply complacency and ingratitude. The Three, Nine, and Ten of Cups all portend happiness.

When the Page of Cups appears, you receive an invitation to a celebration or reunion. The Knight of Cups brings love and advancement of a relationship.

The Queen of Cups represents your mother, a maternal figure, or a nurturing and supportive romantic interest. A healing, emotional, caring woman in your life can be the Queen of Cups.

The King of Cups is a creative, empathetic man. Your father or a paternal figure can also be the King of Cups. The King of Cups can also be a mature male love interest.

A reading filled with cups cards indicates an emotional time and potential for a range of emotions. Cups also portend love, emotion, and friendship.

Of the whole minor arcana, cups are the suit most likely to depict love. Relationship readings can feature other cards. Swords indicate a mental connection while wands denote passion and pentacles show commitment.

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Pentacles

The suit of pentacles corresponds to the earth element. Pentacles portend career, work, and money issues. Pentacles can indicate health matters and correspond to the body and security.

The Ace of Pentacles brings new opportunities for financial gain and professional growth. When the Two of Pentacles, Three of Pentacles, or Four of Pentacles appear, you are establishing a career reputation.

The Five of Pentacles portends a financial challenge or health crisis. Your stability is disrupted when this card appears in a tarot card reading.

Yet the Pentacles also portend abundance and generosity. The Three, Nine of Pentacles, and Ten of Pentacles indicate financial growth with the latter two signifying abundance and generosity.

The pentacles suit corresponds to the earth signs of the zodiac. Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn personalities are found throughout the suit of pentacles.

Many pentacles cards in a reading portend hardship, growth, abundance, and the struggle for security. You seek stability and set down roots when the pentacles cards appear.

Career and financial matters are highlighted by the suit of pentacles. If a love reading yields many pentacles cards you may be attracted to someone for security reasons but not emotionally attracted.

The Page of Pentacles indicates a young person or child who is serious and hard-working. Although this card indicates youth, the pentacles give a somber personality.

A child helps with chores or takes on responsibilities. Someone influences your work although they are young or childlike. The Knight of Pentacles indicates slow growth or gradual change.

The Queen of Pentacles is a nurturing maternal figure who supports your career. The Queen of Pentacles can be a healing, sensual person who cares about your stability.

The King of Pentacles is a successful businessman who shares generosity with others. The King of Pentacles can be a stable, traditional, practical guide.

On a minor arcana card cheat sheet, you can follow the progression of ideas (swords) to action (wands). You need love and support (cups) to manifest your goals in totality (pentacles).

In this way, the minor arcana story foretells the process of alchemy. Pentacles include a combination of spiritual, emotional, and practical matters.

The pentacles represent the final stage in your growth. Your visions and ideas are crystalized in tangible form. Pentacles cards in a reading suggest solid plans and your plans coming to fruition.