The Minor Arcana consists of 56 cards and resembles conventional playing decks.
This deck has been used throughout history in a game of chance called Tarrocho. It is still played in parts of Europe today.
The Minor Arcana has four suits. Cups are equal to hearts and ruled by Water. Coins are related to diamonds and ruled by Earth. Swords are similar to spades and ruled by air. Wands are ruled by Fire and are equal to clubs.
Each suit has an ace, 56 numbered cards and four court cards. Authentic Tarot decks include a king, queen, knight and page. Some modern decks have a queen, king, prince and princess. Every symbol on the cards has a secret meaning.
In a reading, the Minor Arcana describes everyday situations and adds details to the major cards.

WANDS

Ruled by fire/creativity.
Spiritual plane, Spring.
Linked to Aries, Leo, Sagittarius.
Change, movement, action, communication, negotiation, passion, freedom, flexibility.
Positioning and nearby cards hold important clues.

Ace of Wands
Opportunity, new start, career success, adventure, passionate love affair.
Two of wands
Freedom of choice, overseas connection, best of both worlds.
Three of wands
Overseas trip, visitors, group venture, progress.
Four of wands
Stability, prosperity, celebration, travel.
Five of wands
Distractions, arguments, inner turmoil.
Six of wands
Co-operation, triumph, satisfaction, reward.
Seven of wands
Advantage, growth, rivalry, competition, control.
Eight of wands
Well directed energy, rapid progress, air travel.
Nine of wands
Past struggle, frustration, almost completed.
Ten of wands
Slow progress, heavy burden, doing things the hard way.
Page of wands
Active, confident child, a short trip, part time job, good idea, letter, plan, phone call.
Knight of wands
Likable young person, honest, fun loving, persuasive and enjoys taking risks, is energetic and optomistic.
Sales, communication, advertising, travel and team sport, adventure. Negative, impulsive, reckless, irresponsible, bad news.
Queen of wands
Successful, mature woman, passionate, expansive, talkative, warm, kind, generous, artistic.
Leadership, management, real estate, travel, sales, media, lawyer. Negative: Egotistic, unpredictable, unreliable.
King of wands
Warm and generous mature man, cheerful, optimistic, passionate, adventurous.
Good friend, father, husband, boss, traveler, builder, property developer, electrician, fireman, artist, entertainer.
Negative: Irresponsible, braggart, inconsistant, mean, thoughtless.

CUPS

Ruled by water/emotional.
Astral plane, Summer.
Linked to Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces. Indicates love, motherhood and children, dreams, intuitiion, creativity, imagination, hopes, fears, weakness.

Ace of cups
A new love, a birth, pregnancy, creative project, peace, prosperity, new home.
Two of cups
A relationship or business partnership, commitment, promise, agreement, co-operation, marriage.
Three of cups
Denotes female friends, celebration, motherhood, fertility, first stage of success.
Four of cups
Discontent, missed opportunity, self preservation, indecision.
Five of cups
Sadness, loss, regret, self pity, grief, failure.
Six of cups
Indicates nostalgia, old friends, links to the past, reunions.
Seven of cups
Clouded vision, unrealistic promise or expectation, mental problems.
Eight of cups
Is an inner or physical journey, disillusion, escapism, leaving home, a new pathway.
Nine of cups
Reflects success, material comfort, accomplishment, self sufficiency, independence.
Ten of cups
Is often called the wish card, describes, indicates a successful outcome, tradition, a family gathering or holiday.
Page of cups
Is a shy, dreamy child, creative and emotional, imaginative and easily influenced.
Invitation, kind gesture, compliment, gift, new friend.
Knight of cups
Is a sensitive, creative young person, romantic and impressionable, a poet, writer, entertainer, artistic project, romance, proposal, gift, new love.
Negative: Dreamy, unrealistic, promiscuous, low self esteem.
Queen of cups
Is a mother, wife, a sensitive, maternal woman, possessive, intuitive, creative.
Negative: Over protective, dependent, promiscuous, self indulgent.
King of cups
Is a home loving family man, kind, sensitive and loyal man, may be a friend, father, husband, boss, counselor, teacher.
Negative: Irresponsible, unrealistic, indulgent, emotional problems.

PENTACLES /COINS

Ruled by Earth
Physical plane, Autumn.
Linked to Tauras, Virgo, Capricorn.
Represents finance, health, authority, status, property, tradition.

 

Ace of pentacles
Predicts career success, opportunity, lucky break, financial gain.
Two of pentacles
Juggling act, fluctuation, mood swings.
Three of pentacles
Indicates childbirth, recognition, growth.
Four of pentacles
Reflects financial security, materialism, a miser, a good organiser.
Five of pentacles
Poverty, injury, social security, hardship.
Six of pentacles
Means shared win or inheritance, good samaritan, kind deed.
Seven of pentacles
Favours slow steady progress, sound investment.
Eight of pentacles
Depicts apprentice, student, rapid progress, career success.
Nine of pentacles
Predicts financial comfort, luxury, self sufficiency.
Ten of pentacles
Indicates retirement, tradition, family tree.
Page of pentacles
Is a sensible, steady child, a birth, an opportunity, gift, part time job.
Knight of pentacles
Is a sensible, hard working young person. Steady and good with money. Logical and careful.
Farmer, banker, broker, accountant, medical, law student.
Queen of pentacles
Is a sharp, strong minded woman, a banker, treasurer, nurse, doctor, dietician.
Refers to career, health, material wealth, property and luxury.
Negative: Can be materialistic, mean, bossy, over bearing.
King of pentacles
Is a self made man, a lawyer, judge, doctor, employer, accountant, banker.
Represents finances, mortgages, sale or purchase of property, tradition, family money.
Negative: Can be mean, over bearing, stubborn, materialistic, old fashioned.
Also predicts financial loss, bankruptcy, failed investment.

SWORDS

Ruled by air/mental energy.
Mental plane, Winter.
Linked to Gemini, Libra, Aquarius.
Indicates intellect, higher education, mental health, law, design, music.

Ace of swords
Sudden radical changes, major decision, accomplishment, legal case, medical procedure.
Two of swords
Depicts clouded vision, difficult choices, fear of failure, self protection.
Three of swords
Indicates broken heart, heart attack, infidelity, love triangle.
Four of swords
Foretells the end of a battle, an illness, successful venture, time to rest and recuperate.
Five of swords
Depicts rivalry, peer pressure, bully tactics, unexpected or and empty victory.
Six of swords
Moving away from turbulence, relocation, a trip over water.
Seven of swords
Represents a thief, lost cause, sabotage, time to cut your losses and move on.
Eight of swords
Suggest entrapment caused by fear, self pity and indecision, imaginary restrictions.
Nine of swords
Denotes mental overload, insomnia, headaches, worry, nightmares.
Ten of swords
Can be violence, drug abuse, back stabbing, medical procedure.
Page of swords
Is a bright, intelligent child or student, also predicts news, ideas, messages.
Knight of swords
Is an intelligent young man or woman, possibly a law, medical, music or drama student.
Negative: Impulsive, unpredictable, unconventional.
Queen of swords
Is an intelligenty, professional woman, a clever teacher, lawyer, doctor, musician.
Also represents communication, concentration, independence.
King of swords
Is a learned man of position and power, intelligent and witty, impulsive and clever.
Also depicts authority and order, decisive action, mental health, legal or medical advice.