Minor Arcana
The Minor Arcana consists of 56 tarot cards divided into four suits: Cups, Pentacles, Swords, and Wands. These cards reflect everyday situations, emotions, decisions, and actions that shape our daily lives. Each suit corresponds to a specific element and aspect of human experience—Cups to emotions, Pentacles to material matters, Swords to intellect, and Wands to creativity and passion. While the Major Arcana highlights life-changing events, the Minor Arcana offers insight into the subtleties and choices that influence our personal journey.
The Cups
The Pentacles
The Swords
The Wands
Minor Arcana Cheat Sheet
| Cups Card | Essence | Upright Snapshot | Challenging Snapshot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ace of Cups | Seed / pure potential | Beginnings, spark, opportunity | Blocked start, hesitancy |
| Two of Cups | Duality / choice | Balance, partnership, options | Stalemate, indecision |
| Three of Cups | Growth / collaboration | Expansion, support, progress | Delay, misalignment |
| Four of Cups | Foundation / stability | Structure, security | Stagnation, rigidity |
| Five of Cups | Change / challenge | Adaptation, tests | Conflict, instability |
| Six of Cups | Harmony / support | Cooperation, relief | Imbalance, strings attached |
| Seven of Cups | Assessment / faith | Patience, introspection | Doubt, wasted effort |
| Eight of Cups | Mastery / momentum | Skill, progress, focus | Burnout, scattered energy |
| Nine of Cups | Culmination / resilience | Fulfillment, perseverance | Fatigue, worry |
| Ten of Cups | Completion / consequence | Closure, outcome realized | Overload, excess, endings |
| Page of Cups | Messenger / student | Fresh news, curiosity, learning | Naivety, immaturity, mixed signals |
| Knight of Cups | Pursuit / action | Movement, invitation, romance/quest | Inconsistency, idealism, moodiness |
| Queen of Cups | Mastery (inner) / nurture | Compassion, intuition, holding space | Overgiving, emotional overwhelm |
| King of Cups | Mastery (outer) / leadership | Emotional steadiness, wise counsel | Detachment, control issues, repression |
Minor Arcana — Suits at a Glance
💧 Cups — Water
Quick essentials for each suit: element, focus, highlights, challenges, and court energy.
Core Focus
Emotions, relationships, intuition
Upright Highlights
- Love
- Compassion
- Creativity
- Spiritual flow
Challenging Energy
- Emotional blocks
- Codependency
- Escapism
Court Archetypes
Page: sensitivity Knight: romance Queen: empathy King: emotional mastery