The suits
The tarot suits
The four suits in the minor arcana (cups, swords, wands and coins) each represent the four natural elements of water, air, fire and earth respectively. These meanings can be further interpreted to mean emotions, mental and psychological concerns, challenges and possessions.
Cups – this suit corresponds to hearts in a modern deck of playing cards. Other names by which this suit are known include chalices, coupes or goblets. Cups represent water, which also represents the emotional and creative side of our personalities – love, happiness, imagination and artistic ability.
Swords – the equivalent of spades in a modern deck of playing cards, this suit is often known as epees. As well as symbolising the natural element of air, swords also indicate action and progress as well as intellectual matters.
Wands – other names for this suit are rods, batons or sceptres; the equivalent to the suit of clubs in a standard playing card deck. Wands represent positive energy – creativity, progress, optimism and a restless desire to succeed.
Coins – symbolising business, commerce, status and professional and financial matters, these cards are also known as discs, deniers, pentacles and circles. They correspond to diamonds in a modern deck of playing cards.
