The Minor Arcana

The Minor Arcana are the 56 cards split into four suits — Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles — each running Ace through Ten plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). Where the 22 Major Arcana cover big life themes, the Minor Arcana handle everyday detail: a specific conversation, a specific decision, a specific mood, rather than a sweeping life chapter.

Each suit maps to a classical element and a domain: Wands (Fire) for action and will, Cups (Water) for emotion and relationships, Swords (Air) for thought and conflict, Pentacles (Earth) for work and money. Within every suit, the numbered cards trace the same rough arc — a spark (Ace), building (2–4), tension (5–7), and resolution (8–10) — just filtered through that suit's theme.