The tarot deck is divided into two main sections: the Major Arcana, consisting of 22 cards with powerful archetypal imagery, and the Minor Arcana, which contains 56 cards divided into four suits. These four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles (also called Coins or Disks)—form the foundation of tarot’s symbolic language and correspond to the four elements recognized in ancient philosophy.
Wands: The Element of Fire
Wands represent the element of fire and embody energy, passion, creativity, and spiritual growth. This suit is associated with action, ambition, and the realm of inspiration. When Wands appear prominently in a reading, they often signal periods of growth, creative endeavors, or new beginnings that require enthusiasm and drive.
The imagery of Wands typically features wooden staffs or batons, symbolizing natural power and potential. From the Ace of Wands, representing the initial spark of inspiration, through to the Ten of Wands, which can indicate being overburdened by responsibilities, this suit chronicles the journey of creative and spiritual development.
Cups: The Element of Water
Cups correspond to the element of water and represent emotions, relationships, intuition, and the subconscious mind. This suit deals with matters of the heart, emotional connections, and our inner emotional landscape. Cups readings often reveal insights about love, friendship, emotional fulfillment, or challenges in relationships.
Depicted as chalices or goblets, Cups symbolize the vessel that holds our emotions. The Ace of Cups offers emotional renewal and love, while the progression through the suit explores various emotional states and relationships, culminating in the Ten of Cups, which represents emotional fulfillment and harmony.
Swords: The Element of Air
Swords align with the element of air and symbolize intellect, communication, truth, and conflict. This suit governs mental activity, decision-making, and clarity of thought. When Swords dominate a reading, they often point to intellectual challenges, conflicts that need resolution, or important decisions requiring careful thought.
Swords cards typically feature blades, representing the double-edged nature of intellect—it can cut through confusion to reveal truth, but it can also wound when wielded carelessly. The journey from the Ace of Swords, representing mental clarity and truth, to the Ten of Swords, which often symbolizes a painful ending or rock bottom, illustrates the power and potential pitfalls of intellectual pursuits.
Pentacles: The Element of Earth
Pentacles (also known as Coins or Disks in some decks) correspond to the element of earth and represent material concerns, physical well-being, and practical matters. This suit addresses finances, career, home, health, and physical manifestation. Pentacles readings frequently offer guidance on work, money, or tangible achievements.
Depicted as coins or disks often inscribed with a pentagram (a five-pointed star), Pentacles symbolize material wealth and resources. The journey from the Ace of Pentacles, representing new material opportunities, through to the Ten of Pentacles, which symbolizes legacy and long-term abundance, traces the development of material security and physical well-being.
The Suits in Practice
In tarot readings, the distribution and predominance of suits can provide valuable insight. A reading with many Wands might indicate a period of energy and creativity, while numerous Cups could suggest emotional matters taking center stage. An abundance of Swords might point to intellectual challenges or conflicts, and multiple Pentacles often indicate a focus on practical and material concerns.
Understanding the four suits and their elemental correspondences provides a framework for interpreting the Minor Arcana and adds depth to tarot readings. Together, these elemental symbols create a comprehensive system for exploring the diverse aspects of human experience—from our spiritual aspirations to our emotional connections, intellectual pursuits, and material needs.
Whether you approach tarot as a psychological tool, spiritual practice, or predictive system, the four suits offer a rich symbolic language for navigating life’s many dimensions.