The Minor Arcana

[Marissa Newman]

Often, the suits are associated with one of the four classical elements, with a common set of associations being the following: Wands with fire, Cups with water, Swords with air, and Coins with earth.[citation needed] In other sets of associations, Fire is occasionally exchanged with air for the Swords suit. Other associations are also possible:

Tarot Card Suit
Wands, Staves, Rods, Batons
Pentacles or Coins
Cups or Chalices
Swords

Playing Card Suit
Wands, Staves, Rods, Batons = Clubs
Pentacles or Coins = Diamonds
Cups or Chalices = Hearts
Swords = Spades

Elemental Correspondence
Wands = Fire
Pentacles = Earth
Cups = Water
Swords = Air

Class
Wands = Peasantry
Pentacles = Merchants
Cups = Clergy
Swords = Military or Nobility

Faculty
Wands = Creativity and Energy
Pentacles = Possessions or Material Body
Cups = Emotions and Love
Swords = Reason and Will

Seasonal Correspondence
Wands = Spring
Pentacles = Winter
Cups = Summer
Swords = Fall

Astrological Correspondence
Wands = Aries, Leo, Sagittarius
Pentacles = Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn
Cups = Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces
Swords = Gemini, Libra, Aquarius

Physical Characteristics - Complexion
Wands = Fair, Freckled
Pentacles = Dark, Sallow, Swarthy, Ethnic
Cups = Fair, Medium
Swords = Brown, Black

Physical Characteristics - Hair
Wands = Yellow, Auburn, Reddish
Pentacles = Black, Very Dark Brown
Cups = Light Brown, Blonde, Gray
Swords = Brown, Black

Physical Characteristics - Eyes
Wands = Dark or Light
Pentacles = Brown or Dark
Cups = Gray, Blue or Hazel
Swords = Light