The fifty-six cards of daily life — the four suits and their elements.
The Minor Arcana are the fifty-six cards that handle the texture of ordinary experience — the choices, moods, labors, and encounters that fill the space between the great turnings of the Major Arcana. They divide into four suits, each tied to one of the classical elements and one domain of life. The numbered pips (Ace through Ten) trace a situation from seed to fruition; the court cards — Page, Knight, Queen, King — personify ways of embodying the suit's energy.
Each suit has its own overview page tracing the element, the arc of the pips, the courts, and the astrological and Kabbalistic correspondence: Wands · Fire, Cups · Water, Swords · Air, and Pentacles · Earth.
The four suits share one architecture — an element apiece, the same ten pips, and the same four courts.
flowchart TD
MI["Minor Arcana — 56 Cards"]
MI --> W["Wands — Fire"]
MI --> C["Cups — Water"]
MI --> S["Swords — Air"]
MI --> P["Pentacles — Earth"]
W --> ST["Ten pips (Ace to Ten) + four courts (Page, Knight, Queen, King)"]
C --> ST
S --> ST
P --> ST
Wands · Fire
Passion, creativity, and action. Willpower and energy. Spiritual matters and inspiration.
Ace of Wands · Two of Wands · Three of Wands · Four of Wands · Five of Wands · Six of Wands · Seven of Wands · Eight of Wands · Nine of Wands · Ten of Wands · Page of Wands · Knight of Wands · Queen of Wands · King of Wands
Cups · Water
Emotions, relationships, and intuition. The heart and feelings. Love and connection.
Ace of Cups · Two of Cups · Three of Cups · Four of Cups · Five of Cups · Six of Cups · Seven of Cups · Eight of Cups · Nine of Cups · Ten of Cups · Page of Cups · Knight of Cups · Queen of Cups · King of Cups
Swords · Air
Thoughts, communication, and conflict. The mind and intellect. Mental clarity and struggle.
Ace of Swords · Two of Swords · Three of Swords · Four of Swords · Five of Swords · Six of Swords · Seven of Swords · Eight of Swords · Nine of Swords · Ten of Swords · Page of Swords · Knight of Swords · Queen of Swords · King of Swords
Pentacles · Earth
Material world, body, and resources. Practicality and manifestation. Work, health, and finances.
Ace of Pentacles · Two of Pentacles · Three of Pentacles · Four of Pentacles · Five of Pentacles · Six of Pentacles · Seven of Pentacles · Eight of Pentacles · Nine of Pentacles · Ten of Pentacles · Page of Pentacles · Knight of Pentacles · Queen of Pentacles · King of Pentacles