The Meaning of the Suits in Tarot

In tarot, many different aspects of a card come into play to deliver a single meaning, the question, the position, the suit, the number or title, and the art. In this blog post I am going to be doing a comprehensive breakdown of the suits without nuance.

Suit of Swords

The suit of swords, also known as the suit of daggers, knives, blades, or spades, is focused on matters of the mind. In the debate of sense or sensibility it urges us to move towards sense. The suit of swords will appear during conflict, turmoil, or crossroads. It tends to warn us of things that must be faced, dealt with, and overcome. While it does urge us towards rational thought and structure, it also warns us against becoming too disconnected from emotions, which can lead to coldness, manipulation, and intimidation. These messages of varying extremes seem to become clearer when looking to the suit’s associated element: Air. While air is the element of intellect, which is no doubt the reason for it being associated with the swords, it also is an element of flexibility, inspiration, and intuition. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you are unwilling to listen to others opinions you’ll never be able to educate them. If you don’t trust your instincts once in a while, you may become disconnected from human nature. If you don’t let that knowledge inspire you, then there is no point in having it.

Suit of Cups

The suit of cups, also known as the suit of goblets, chalices, vessels, or hearts may appear as the antithesis to the suit. In the same debate of sense or sensibility the cups urge us to move towards sensibility. The suit of cups is focused on matters of the heart and soul, which is a pretty expansive topic seeing as our heart and soul may not always be in agreement. The card appears in readings to discuss many topics. In matters of the heart it asks us to examine our relationships with people and our environment as well as the dreams we have for ourselves. In matters of the soul, the cards are preparing us for spiritual journeys and awakenings. On the one hand the suit of cups tells us that our heart and soul hold great potential and feed artistic and creative endeavors. However, if we get too caught up in our dreams or our emotions we may become over engulfed in fantasy. If we chase too many whims then we may grow inactive leading to creative blocks. The associated element for the suit of cups is water, and with emotions being so beautiful and yet so dangerous it's no wonder these two were paired together. The ocean waves can overwhelm us, drown us, and in tidals destroy entire cities. Yet this dangerous and powerful part of our planet is also very regenerative and keeps us alive every day. Water is an easily charged element for witchcraft which mirrors how easily our emotions can be swayed.

Suit of Pentacles

The suit of pentacles, also known as the suit of coins, disks, or diamonds is focused on matters of the physical world. It is often equated to the suit of money matters (probably due to the use of the word coins) however it in fact focuses on all material and physical matters in our daily life such as physical health, education, nature, and career. The suit of pentacles shows up in a reading to remind us that hard work pays off and that laziness does not. Mere manifestation will not do the trick if you do not first lay the foundations. A pentacles card may show up during changes in your daily life such as career changes, moving from your home, or health matters. Despite its association with man made materialism and the rewards you may seek from it, pentacles do not encourage us towards capitalism the way one might hope. In fact, they may show up to remind us that we have become disconnected from nature and are in need of grounding. They warn that too much material obsession leads to greed and stubbornness. It’s from the suits’ often forgotten messages surrounding nature that we draw this suit’s associated element: earth. Earth is all about fertility, strength, and grounding and connection to this element is key to great success. When we are not one with the more natural world we grow depressed, disconnected, and even lonely. The climb to the top is made of a staircase of human flesh, that many eagerly step on with their eyes only on the money waiting at the top. A witch knows that if you trust in yourself, your efforts, and the universe, you will find your way up without harming others.

Suit of Wands

The Suit of Wands, also known as the suit of rods, scepters, or clubs, focuses on our energy and drive. Wands cards ask us and may even help us identify the source of our emotions, decisions, and actions. They show up in readings as a message to get our priorities straight and start feeding into our passions. We don’t only need to know what we truly want to do, but we must do it. As a call to action wands encourage adventure, risks, and change. Despite the wands being a card of clarity, we may find that we have competing energies within us in deciding what to do. For example, I am in constant debate of whether I would be content living in a tiny cottage by a waterfall or if I want to have a penthouse in New York City. Both sound appealing to me, but my divide between the two means that wands are a constant character in my tarot pulls. Being torn or over-obsessed with your passions can lead to hot-headedness, anger, and recklessness. Although we are encouraged to take risks, too many risks and poorly timed ones leave us with nothing. The overwhelming energy of the wands pairs well with its associated element: fire. This is the element of love, passion, divinity, and protection. We are strong behind our firewalls, but an uncontrolled flame can destroy an entire home.