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Tarot Suits Explained

The Minor Arcana is made up of four suits: Pentacles, Cups, Swords, and Wands. Each suit has its own themes, linked to an element, and offers detail and depth in readings. Learning the suits is key to understanding the everyday stories tarot can tell and how they connect.

What Are the Suits in Tarot?

The suits divide the Minor Arcana into four themed groups. Each one has numbered cards from Ace to Ten and four court cards. Together, they cover emotional life, creativity, thinking, and the material world. Recognising their patterns makes readings more intuitive, revealing the balance of themes in a spread.

Pentacles

Pentacles are linked to the element of Earth. They speak to work, money, resources, health, and the physical world. They often show where you’re building stability, tending to commitments, or focusing on practical matters that require consistency, planning, and patience.

In readings, Pentacles can signal progress through steady effort or highlight the need to address imbalance in material life. They can also point to grounding yourself when other areas feel uncertain.

Pentacles remind us that growth is rarely instant. They represent building a solid foundation that can support long-term goals, as well as the patience to see projects through to completion.

Cups

Cups are connected to the element of Water. They explore emotions, relationships, creativity, and intuition. They can reflect joy, love, connection, and inspiration, as well as emotional challenges such as grief or conflict.

In readings, Cups often point to the heart of a situation, showing how feelings shape decisions and actions. They can encourage emotional honesty or invite compassion.

Cups remind us to tune in to the emotional currents beneath events. They speak to the value of empathy, vulnerability, and trust in building deeper connections and understanding.

Swords

Swords align with the element of Air. They focus on thoughts, communication, truth, and conflict. They can cut through confusion to bring clarity or highlight tension that needs resolving.

In readings, Swords can show where decisions are needed, where perspective matters, or where miscommunication is causing strain. They often appear when truth is coming to the surface.

Swords remind us that while clarity is valuable, words and ideas have power. They ask us to use discernment and honesty, recognising both the constructive and destructive potential of the mind.

Wands

Wands are tied to the element of Fire. They deal with action, passion, ambition, and personal drive. They can inspire forward movement or signal the risk of burnout if energy is unfocused.

In readings, Wands highlight the spark behind ideas, the courage to act, and the drive to make changes. They can also warn against impulsive decisions.

Wands remind us that passion fuels growth, but it needs direction. They speak to bold action, resilience, and the creative force that drives transformation.

Elements and How They Shape the Tarot Suits

Each suit’s element shapes the way its themes show up in readings. Earth grounds Pentacles with stability and patience, Water gives Cups emotional depth and flow, Air sharpens the intellect of Swords, and Fire fuels the drive of Wands. These elements also interact, adding complexity and richer meaning when suits appear together.

How Suits Work Together in Readings

Seeing which suits dominate a spread can reveal the reading’s focus. Many Pentacles might point to practical concerns, Cups to relationships, Swords to mental challenges, and Wands to action. A mix suggests a balanced approach, while an absence can reveal neglected areas of life.

Minor Arcana
All Tarot Card Meanings
Tarot Elements
Numerology
Court Cards

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in each suit?

Each suit has fourteen cards: the Ace through Ten, plus four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. This structure gives a mix of numbered progressions and personality-driven court cards, offering insight into both events and the people involved.

Do the suits always match the same elements?

Most modern decks use the traditional links: Pentacles with Earth, Cups with Water, Swords with Air, and Wands with Fire. Some decks switch these associations, so if you’re working with a non-traditional deck, check the guidebook to see how the creator intended them to be read.

Are some suits more positive than others?

No. Each suit has both uplifting and challenging cards. Pentacles can mean growth or stagnation, Cups can show joy or emotional overwhelm, Swords can bring truth or conflict, and Wands can inspire or exhaust. The context of the spread shapes whether the message feels challenging or supportive.

How can learning the suits improve my readings?

Knowing each suit’s themes helps you see patterns and the bigger picture of a spread. It lets you read more fluidly, connecting cards into a cohesive story rather than isolating them. This makes readings clearer, more accurate, and easier to remember.

What are some other names for the suits?

Different decks and traditions may use alternative names for the suits, reflecting cultural or stylistic preferences. Pentacles might be called Coins or Disks, Cups as Chalices, Swords as Blades or Spades, and Wands as Rods, Staffs, or Batons. While names change, the core meanings remain, carrying the same elemental links and symbolic themes in readings.