Minor Arcana Tarot Guide: Suits, Elements & Full Meanings

What the Minor Arcana Represents

The Minor Arcana fills in the details around the big lessons of the Major Arcana. Where The Fool or The Tower might show a turning point, the Minor cards describe how you feel about it, what you say, which action you take, and how your practical world responds.

Minor Arcana cards often point to:

• Short-term events and passing moods
• Everyday choices and habits
• Work, money, health, and schedule
• Arguments, conversations, and inner dialogue
• Quiet emotional shifts and healing steps

Some readers see the Major Arcana as “fate” and the Minor Arcana as “free will”. You can debate that idea, but one thing is clear: when a spread holds many Minor Arcana cards, the story usually leans toward day-to-day life and things you can influence through decisions.

The Four Suits and Their Elements

The Minor Arcana is divided into four suits. Each suit links to a classical element and a main life area.

Once you feel the general mood of each suit, individual cards become much easier to read. A “sad” Cup feels different from a “sad” Sword; one leans emotional, the other mental.

How Numbers and Court Cards Work

Every suit contains ten numbered cards (Ace through Ten) and four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). The number gives a structure to the story; the suit gives the topic; the court cards bring people and personalities into the mix.

Number Patterns in the Minor Arcana

The Court Cards as People and Roles

Court cards often describe people, roles, or a style of behavior. They can point to you, to someone else, or to the “voice” you need to step into.

With this frame in mind, let’s walk through each suit with detailed meanings for every card, covering love, career, money, and spiritual growth.

Suit of Cups – Water, Emotion and Connection

Cups are the language of the heart. They talk about love, friendship, family, empathy, mood, intuition, and emotional memory. When Cups dominate a spread, feelings take center stage: joy, longing, grief, hope, nostalgia, crushes, jealousy, forgiveness, or deep care.

Balanced Cups feel like emotional flow—sharing, receiving, feeling safe. Blocked Cups feel like emotional walls, numbness, or drama that leaves you drained.

Card-by-Card Meanings: Cups

Ace of Cups

A fresh wave of emotion, a new connection, heart opening. This card often appears when your heart is ready to feel more—love, compassion, creativity, or spiritual softness.

• Love: New romance, healed heart, emotional renewal.
• Career: Work that feels meaningful or emotionally fulfilling.
• Money: Financial choices guided by values rather than fear.
• Spiritual: A gentle awakening, renewed faith or devotion.

Two of Cups

Mutual attraction, partnership, emotional reciprocity. A meeting of hearts where both sides show up.

• Love: Soul-level bond, dating that feels promising, reconciliation.
• Career: Strong collaboration, supportive colleague, aligned client.
• Money: Fair financial agreements or shared resources.
• Spiritual: Feeling guided toward people who match your frequency.

Three of Cups

Friendship, celebration, support circles, shared joy. This card glows with community energy.

• Love: Happy social phase, third-party influence, group events.
• Career: Team wins, networking, enjoyable coworkers.
• Money: Spending on gatherings, events, or celebrations.
• Spiritual: Group rituals, circles, or study communities.

Four of Cups

Emotional stagnation, boredom, apathy. You might be so lost in your own thoughts that you miss a new opportunity right in front of you.

• Love: Emotional distance, dissatisfaction, or taking someone for granted.
• Career: Feeling uninspired at work and craving change.
• Money: Stable yet dull financial situation; little excitement.
• Spiritual: A plateau that invites you to look at gratitude again.

Five of Cups

Grief, regret, disappointment. Focus on what went wrong instead of what still remains.

• Love: Heartbreak, breakup sorrow, guilt over past actions.
• Career: Loss of a role, missed opportunity, or regret over choices.
• Money: Financial loss, bad investment, or emotional reaction to spending.
• Spiritual: A dark night of the soul, yet two cups still stand—hope remains.

Six of Cups

Nostalgia, childhood memories, sweetness, simple joys. A desire to reconnect with a gentler time.

• Love: Past lover, childhood sweetheart, or healing old patterns.
• Career: Returning to an old project, workplace, or long-held dream.
• Money: Comfort in modest means or support from family.
• Spiritual: Inner child work, healing through play and kindness.

Seven of Cups

Choices, fantasies, daydreams, confusion. Many options float around you, some real, some illusion.

• Love: Romantic fog, mixed signals, multiple suitors or wishful thinking.
• Career: Ideas without a clear plan; job options that feel overwhelming.
• Money: Tempting offers that need solid research.
• Spiritual: Spiritual “shopping”, trying many paths without grounding.

Eight of Cups

Walking away from something emotionally familiar that no longer satisfies. Hard decisions that favor growth over comfort.

• Love: Leaving a relationship or dynamic that feels empty.
• Career: Quietly planning an exit from a job that drains you.
• Money: Choosing emotional peace over high-stress income.
• Spiritual: Seeking deeper truth, retreat, pilgrimage energy.

Nine of Cups

Emotional fulfillment, wishes granted, personal contentment. The “wish card” many readers love.

• Love: Satisfaction, feeling loved and accepted.
• Career: Pride in your achievements and recognition.
• Money: Enjoying the fruits of your effort, treating yourself.
• Spiritual: Gratitude practices, feeling aligned with your path.

Ten of Cups

Emotional completion, family joy, long-term harmony. A vision of shared happiness and emotional safety.

• Love: Marriage, deep commitment, or emotional home.
• Career: Work that supports life happiness, not just income.
• Money: Stability that benefits your loved ones.
• Spiritual: A sense of belonging in the world and with your people.

Court Cards of Cups

Page of Cups

Soft, dreamy, sensitive energy. Messages of love, apologies, or creative ideas.

• Love: Sweet gestures, crushes, romantic texts.
• Career: Creative proposals, internships, early stages of passion projects.
• Money: Small opportunities linked with creativity.
• Spiritual: Heightened intuition, gentle signs and synchronicities.

Knight of Cups

The romantic, the idealist, the person who follows their heart. Movement led by emotion.

• Love: Romantic offers, emotional pursuit, heartfelt confessions.
• Career: Work that follows passion rather than logic.
• Money: Decisions guided by feelings; helpful for charity or art, risky for high-stakes deals.
• Spiritual: Quest for meaning, devotion, spiritual romance with life.

Queen of Cups

Empathy, emotional wisdom, deep inner listening. Someone who holds space for others.

• Love: Nurturing partner, emotional safety, strong empathy.
• Career: Healing professions, counseling, creative leadership.
• Money: Financial choices that consider emotional impact on family and self.
• Spiritual: Psychic sensitivity, vivid dreams, deep prayer or meditation.

King of Cups

Emotional maturity, calm presence, steady compassion. Feelings are strong yet managed with balance.

• Love: Serious emotional commitment, emotionally stable partner.
• Career: Leadership with empathy, wise decisions that consider people.
• Money: Calm approach to finances, avoiding extremes.
• Spiritual: Guiding others through emotional or spiritual waters.

Suit of Wands – Fire, Action and Passion

Wands are the spark. They speak of drive, courage, excitement, ambition, creativity, sexuality, and the urge to move. When Wands fill a spread, action wants to happen. You may feel restless, eager, or inspired—sometimes all at once.

Balanced Wands feel like confident movement. Unbalanced Wands slide toward burnout, anger, or scattered activity with no clear direction.

Card-by-Card Meanings: Wands

Ace of Wands

A burst of inspiration, a fresh project, a new surge of confidence. A match being struck.

• Love: Strong attraction, flirtation, chemistry.
• Career: New project, business idea, or career spark.
• Money: Opportunities that require boldness and initiative.
• Spiritual: Renewed enthusiasm for practice or purpose.

Two of Wands

Planning, long-range vision, choosing a direction. You stand at a gateway, looking outward.

• Love: Considering future with someone, or deciding what you truly want.
• Career: Strategic career decisions, expansion, travel plans.
• Money: Investment planning, weighing options.
• Spiritual: Choosing a path or tradition that fits your nature.

Three of Wands

Ships on the horizon, results from earlier actions, progress unfolding. You have moved from planning into execution.

• Love: Relationships moving forward, distance relationships, exploring new experiences.
• Career: Waiting for responses, deals, or results from your efforts.
• Money: Returns on long-term efforts start to appear.
• Spiritual: Seeing early confirmation that you are on a meaningful path.

Four of Wands

Celebration, homecoming, milestone moments. Solid foundations that give room for joy.

• Love: Engagement, moving in, family gatherings, joyful union.
• Career: Completion of a phase, launch parties, recognition.
• Money: Spending on home, property, or celebrations.
• Spiritual: Feeling safe and grounded in your spiritual community or practice.

Five of Wands

Competition, petty conflict, rivalry, tension. Not always harmful; sometimes it’s a training ground.

• Love: Arguments, jealousy, conflicting priorities.
• Career: Competitive work environment, brainstorming clashes.
• Money: Financial disputes or pressure from others.
• Spiritual: Internal struggle about beliefs or spiritual identity.

Six of Wands

Victory, recognition, confidence, public praise. You are seen and appreciated.

• Love: Relationship pride, feeling valued and chosen.
• Career: Promotions, awards, project wins.
• Money: Financial progress others notice.
• Spiritual: Feeling supported by guides, signs, or community.

Seven of Wands

Defensiveness, standing your ground, protecting a position. You worked for this, and you’re not giving it up easily.

• Love: Defending boundaries, proving your commitment or worth.
• Career: Holding onto a role or decision under criticism.
• Money: Protecting assets, negotiating firm terms.
• Spiritual: Staying true to your path despite others’ opinions.

Eight of Wands

Fast movement, messages, travel, momentum. Delays lift, and things move quickly.

• Love: Texts, calls, rapid progress, sudden romance.
• Career: Many emails, busy schedules, quick developments.
• Money: Swift decisions about purchases or deals.
• Spiritual: Strong signs, synchronicities, quick downloads of insight.

Nine of Wands

Wounded yet standing, resilience, perseverance. You’re tired but not done.

• Love: Guarded heart, cautious hope after past hurts.
• Career: Near burnout yet close to a breakthrough.
• Money: Being protective and careful with resources.
• Spiritual: Faith under pressure, continuing practice even when it feels hard.

Ten of Wands

Heavy load, responsibility, carrying too much. A cycle reaching its limit.

• Love: Relationship feels like hard work, one person carrying more.
• Career: Overload, too many tasks, need for delegation.
• Money: Debt pressure, financial responsibilities stacked high.
• Spiritual: Spiritual duties feeling like burden instead of nourishment.

Court Cards of Wands

Page of Wands

Curious spark, experimental energy, good news regarding passion projects.

• Love: Playful flirting, early stages of interest.
• Career: Trying new ideas, exploring possibilities.
• Money: Small opportunities to increase income through action.
• Spiritual: Starting a new practice with excitement.

Knight of Wands

Adventurer, bold mover, impulsive at times. Moves fast and loves the thrill.

• Love: Passionate but sometimes inconsistent partner.
• Career: Entrepreneurial moves, risk-taking, bold career shifts.
• Money: Willingness to take financial risks for potential gain.
• Spiritual: Intense short bursts of practice, retreats, pilgrimages.

Queen of Wands

Charisma, self-confidence, creative leadership. The person who walks into a room and changes the mood.

• Love: Magnetic, self-assured partner, strong boundaries.
• Career: Visible leadership, public-facing roles, influence.
• Money: Confident handling of finances; willing to invest in self.
• Spiritual: Embodied spirituality, showing up fully as you are.

King of Wands

Visionary leader, bold and strategic. Focused on big goals and long-range impact.

• Love: Partner who leads, protects, and inspires, sometimes stubborn.
• Career: Entrepreneur, founder, or senior leader energy.
• Money: Taking calculated financial risks for long-term vision.
• Spiritual: Guiding others by example, living purpose through action.

Suit of Swords – Air, Mind and Communication

Swords live in the mind. They bring clarity, logic, questions, anxiety, truth, arguments, decisions, and the stories you tell yourself. When Swords dominate a reading, thoughts run fast. Some are helpful; others cut deeper than they need to.

Balanced Swords feel like clear communication and wise decisions. Unbalanced Swords lean toward harsh words, overthinking, or mental exhaustion.

Card-by-Card Meanings: Swords

Ace of Swords

Mental breakthrough, decisive clarity, truth revealed. A sharp new idea slices through confusion.

• Love: Honest conversation, defining the relationship.
• Career: Strong strategy, clear plans, important contracts.
• Money: Clear view of finances and needed changes.
• Spiritual: Insight that shifts your view of life.

Two of Swords

Stalemate, indecision, guarded heart. Logic and emotion face off.

• Love: Avoiding a decision, silent tension.
• Career: Stuck between two choices, fear of picking wrong.
• Money: Not wanting to look at financial reality.
• Spiritual: Blocking intuition with overanalysis.

Three of Swords

Heartache, betrayal, painful truth. Sharp yet honest.

• Love: Breakup, third-party pain, harsh words.
• Career: Disappointment, criticism, loss of trust.
• Money: Financial shock or difficult news.
• Spiritual: Opening the heart after disillusionment.

Four of Swords

Rest, mental recovery, retreat. Time out to heal your mind.

• Love: Break from drama, cooling off period.
• Career: Vacation, sick leave, or quiet planning.
• Money: Pausing big moves; saving and regrouping.
• Spiritual: Meditation, silent retreats, deep rest for the soul.

Five of Swords

Conflict with a winner-takes-all flavor. Arguments where nobody truly wins.

• Love: Petty fights, ego battles, unkind words.
• Career: Office politics, backstabbing, hollow victories.
• Money: Disputes over assets or unfair deals.
• Spiritual: Realizing you can walk away instead of fighting every battle.

Six of Swords

Transition, moving from rough waters to calmer ones. Mental relief after stress.

• Love: Healing phase, moving forward after tension.
• Career: Changing environments, relocating, or leaving a stressful job.
• Money: Slow improvement, repayment plans, relief strategies.
• Spiritual: Integration of lessons, gentle forward movement.

Seven of Swords

Strategy, secrecy, sometimes deceit. Acting quietly, not sharing full plans.

• Love: Hidden feelings, secrets, or sneaky behavior.
• Career: Solo work, independent strategy, or lack of transparency.
• Money: Hidden expenses, secret savings, or shady deals.
• Spiritual: Private practice, or avoiding facing certain truths.

Eight of Swords

Feeling trapped by thoughts, yet the way out exists. Self-imposed mental prison.

• Love: Feeling stuck in an unhealthy dynamic but unsure how to leave.
• Career: Belief that you have no options, even when some exist.
• Money: Anxiety about debts or lack, with more solutions than you see.
• Spiritual: Limiting beliefs about what is possible for you.

Nine of Swords

Worry, sleepless nights, anxiety loops. Sometimes the fear feels bigger than reality.

• Love: Overthinking, fear of abandonment, replaying old pain.
• Career: Work stress spilling into night-time, dread about future.
• Money: Panic about bills or security.
• Spiritual: Shadow material surfacing; time for healing support.

Ten of Swords

Rock bottom, final ending, mental exhaustion. The good news: from here, things tend to rise again.

• Love: End of a relationship or painful realization.
• Career: Job ending, harsh criticism, dismissed role.
• Money: Financial collapse, loss, or hitting a bottom point.
• Spiritual: Deep surrender, ego collapse, space for rebirth.

Court Cards of Swords

Page of Swords

Curious mind, questions, messages, social media energy. Sometimes gossip too.

• Love: Texts, online stalking, light but watchful interest.
• Career: Research, learning, new ideas in early stages.
• Money: Studying finances, reading fine print.
• Spiritual: Reading widely, exploring many viewpoints.

Knight of Swords

Fast-moving logic, blunt speech, rushing toward a point. Brilliant yet intense.

• Love: Direct conversations, arguments, or sudden announcements.
• Career: Quick decisions, debating, pushing agendas.
• Money: Rapid financial moves that need a calm review.
• Spiritual: Strong opinions about beliefs, sometimes rigid.

Queen of Swords

Clear thinker, honest, perceptive. Sees through nonsense quickly.

• Love: Wants honesty and mental connection, low tolerance for games.
• Career: Strategy, analysis, editing, management.
• Money: Smart budgeting, fair but firm decisions.
• Spiritual: Discernment, separating intuition from fantasy.

King of Swords

Authority of the mind. Law, rules, structure, reason. Detached yet fair when balanced.

• Love: Partner who values communication and logic, sometimes emotionally distant.
• Career: Leadership in law, policy, systems, analysis.
• Money: Strategic planning, long-term financial structure.
• Spiritual: Philosophical study, clear frameworks for belief.

Suit of Pentacles – Earth, Body and Material Life

Pentacles bring everything down to earth: money, work, home, health, time, and slow growth. When many Pentacles appear, a reading points toward practical choices and long-term results.

Balanced Pentacles feel steady and secure. Unbalanced Pentacles feel stuck, greedy, or overly cautious, or they scatter effort so progress slows down.

Card-by-Card Meanings: Pentacles

Ace of Pentacles

New material opportunity. Job offer, business seed, health routine, or financial doorway.

• Love: Relationship that supports stability and grounded growth.
• Career: New role, client, or project with solid potential.
• Money: Chance to improve finances if you act with care.
• Spiritual: Making spiritual practice part of daily routine.

Two of Pentacles

Juggling, multitasking, balancing priorities. A lot in the air, yet still manageable.

• Love: Balancing relationship with work or other duties.
• Career: Handling many tasks, side hustles, flexible roles.
• Money: Robbing Peter to pay Paul, cash flow management.
• Spiritual: Trying to keep practice alive in a busy life.

Three of Pentacles

Teamwork, craftsmanship, shared skills. Building something real together.

• Love: Building a life together, practical support.
• Career: Collaboration, project teams, learning from mentors.
• Money: Joint investments, shared goals.
• Spiritual: Study groups, learning from teachers.

Four of Pentacles

Holding on tightly. Security, but sometimes stinginess or fear of loss.

• Love: Emotional guarding, reluctance to open up.
• Career: Safe job, fear of change.
• Money: Saving strongly, yet risk of hoarding or scarcity mindset.
• Spiritual: Clinging to old beliefs out of fear.

Five of Pentacles

Material struggle, feeling left out, worry about survival. A card many dread, yet it always shows a light nearby if you look.

• Love: Feeling unsupported, lonely even when not alone.
• Career: Job loss, low pay, or feeling undervalued.
• Money: Financial hardship, debts, scarcity.
• Spiritual: Feeling abandoned by the universe, yet help is closer than it appears.

Six of Pentacles

Giving and receiving, generosity, support. Balanced flow of resources.

• Love: Kind gestures, mutual support in practical ways.
• Career: Fair pay, mentorship, being helped or helping others.
• Money: Donations, loans, support from family or benefactors.
• Spiritual: Karma balancing through giving, service as devotion.

Seven of Pentacles

Patience, assessment, long-term growth. Checking whether effort matches results.

• Love: Evaluating whether a relationship grows in a healthy way.
• Career: Reflecting on career direction, wondering if it is worth the effort.
• Money: Long-term investments, savings building slowly.
• Spiritual: Patience with slow yet steady growth.

Eight of Pentacles

Skill building, hard work, craftsmanship, focus. The apprentice card.

• Love: Putting in effort to improve the relationship.
• Career: Training, upskilling, focused work that builds mastery.
• Money: Income through consistent effort; mastery that increases value.
• Spiritual: Daily practice, repetition, commitment to growth.

Nine of Pentacles

Self-sufficiency, comfort, elegance, enjoying what you built. Independent security.

• Love: Healthy independence, stable single life or balanced partnership.
• Career: Recognition as a skilled, trusted professional.
• Money: Solid savings, comfort, maybe small luxuries.
• Spiritual: Confidence in walking your own path.

Ten of Pentacles

Legacy, long-term wealth, family possessions, generational impact. The full earth-suit outcome.

• Love: Family, long-term partnership, shared property, commitment.
• Career: Stable career peak, business longevity, succession.
• Money: Inheritance, long-term investments, property, lasting security.
• Spiritual: Feeling part of a lineage or tradition.

Court Cards of Pentacles

Page of Pentacles

Student, planner, practical beginner. Small yet real opportunity in material life.

• Love: Slow but sincere interest, grounded gestures.
• Career: Study, apprenticeship, new job or skill.
• Money: Careful planning, first savings, new income stream.
• Spiritual: Learning to bring spiritual insight into daily life.

Knight of Pentacles

Slow, steady worker. Reliable, patient, sometimes stubborn. Step-by-step progress.

• Love: Loyal partner, slow courtship, reliability over fireworks.
• Career: Hard worker, long-term role, consistency.
• Money: Saving, methodical investing, low-risk approach.
• Spiritual: Quiet, regular practice that builds over years.

Queen of Pentacles

Earth mama energy: nurturing, practical, grounded, generous. Blends care and competence.

• Love: Caring partner, cozy home, emotional and practical support.
• Career: Manager, caretaker roles, someone who keeps everything running.
• Money: Wise household management, smart spending for comfort.
• Spiritual: Sacred domestic life, nature-based practice.

King of Pentacles

Master of material stability. Business owner, provider, steady leader with a focus on results.

• Love: Dependable partner, long-term commitments.
• Career: Senior position, entrepreneur, solid leadership.
• Money: Wealth, strong assets, big responsibilities.
• Spiritual: Expressing spiritual values through work, generosity, and stewardship.

Reading Minor Arcana Patterns

Once you know the suits and cards, patterns in a spread become the real magic. Many Cups? Emotions rule the situation. Heavy Swords? Thoughts and communication shape the path. Wands everywhere? Action and passion drive events. Pentacles stacked? Practical, financial, or health themes carry weight.

Notice combinations:

• Cups + Pentacles: Love and money issues mixing, or emotional security tied to practical stability.
• Wands + Swords: Debates, decisions about bold moves, heated arguments or strong brainstorming.
• Cups + Swords: Emotional conversations, therapy, working through pain with words.
• Wands + Pentacles: Turning passion into consistent work or business.

The Minor Arcana does not shout. It nudges. It reminds you where your habits, moods, and choices are steering your day. Understanding these cards gives you language for those shifts, and with that language you can respond more consciously.

Final Thoughts: Let the Minor Arcana Speak Your Daily Story

The Major Arcana may get the spotlight, yet the Minor Arcana walks with you through most readings. These cards whisper about the way you talk to yourself, how you show love, how you handle deadlines, and what you do with the money in your account.

Keep practicing with the suits, elements, and numbers. Pull a daily card and ask: “Is this a Cup, Wand, Sword, or Pentacle day for me?” Over time, the Minor Arcana stops feeling like fifty-six separate cards and starts feeling like a living language for your everyday life—honest, direct, and surprisingly comforting.