The Minor Arcana
Each suit runs from Ace through Ten and ends in its four court cards. Read down a suit to follow its element, or cross the suits by number to see the four cards gathered under one sephirah.
A Marseille-pattern pack of the Besançon type, printed in Paris by Lequart before 1890 and once owned by Paul Marteau. It is a card game before it is anything else: the trumps carry titles, the suit cards carry only their signs.
This deck publishes no meanings, and none are supplied for it here. Marseille packs were printed for play, and the divinatory readings attached to them by Etteilla and his successors came later and from outside — presenting those as this deck's own would date them a century too early.
Printed before 1890 and long out of copyright. Digitised by the Bibliothèque nationale de France from the Paul Marteau collection and released as public domain. The plates on Wikimedia Commons ↗
By number
The same number in all four suits is one family, and each family has its own page with the Sephirah Book T places it in.
By suit
Wands 14 cards · Ace to King
- Ace As de Baton Ace of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ace of Wands: creative beginnings and the first release of active energy. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Two Deux de Baton Two of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Two of Wands: power held in tension between achievement and dissatisfaction. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Three Trois de Baton Three of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Three of Wands: enterprise expanding beyond its first secure foundation. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Four Quatre de Baton Four of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Four of Wands: stability expressed as celebration, refuge and shared completion. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Five Cinq de Baton Five of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Five of Wands: energy meeting competition and testing itself through friction. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Six Six de Baton Six of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Six of Wands: achievement made visible and acknowledged by others. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Seven Sept de Baton Seven of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Seven of Wands: defending a position through courage and sustained effort. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Eight Huit de Baton Eight of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Eight of Wands: movement accelerating toward a definite destination. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Nine Neuf de Baton Nine of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Nine of Wands: resilience maintained after earlier conflict. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Ten Dix de Baton Ten of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ten of Wands: success or responsibility becoming oppressive through excess. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Page Valet de Baton Page of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Page of Wands: news, curiosity and the youthful expression of fire. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
- Knight Cavalier de Baton Knight of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Knight of Wands: impulsive movement, departure and rapid change. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
- Queen Reyne de Baton Queen of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Queen of Wands: warm authority, vitality and magnetic self-possession. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
- King Roy de Baton King of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith King of Wands: mature fire directed through conscience and command. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
Cups 14 cards · Ace to King
- Ace As de Coupe Ace of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ace of Cups: emotional and spiritual abundance offered at its source. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Two Deux de Coupe Two of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Two of Cups: mutual recognition and the bond formed between two people. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Three Trois de Coupe Three of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Three of Cups: shared joy, support and the completion of a social undertaking. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Four Quatre de Coupe Four of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Four of Cups: discontent that prevents a new possibility from being recognised. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Five Cinq de Coupe Five of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Five of Cups: grief focused on what is lost while something valuable remains. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Six Six de Coupe Six of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Six of Cups: memory, childhood and the emotional influence of the past. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Seven Sept de Coupe Seven of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Seven of Cups: imagination offering many visions without secure substance. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Eight Huit de Coupe Eight of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Eight of Cups: leaving behind an investment that no longer carries its former meaning. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Nine Neuf de Coupe Nine of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Nine of Cups: satisfaction and comfort made visibly available. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Ten Dix de Coupe Ten of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ten of Cups: emotional fulfilment shared through family and community. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Page Valet de Coupe Page of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Page of Cups: feeling and imagination taking an unexpected communicable form. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
- Knight Cavalier de Coupe Knight of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Knight of Cups: an invitation or emotional approach carried with grace. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
- Queen Reyne de Coupe Queen of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Queen of Cups: deep receptivity joined to imagination and active care. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
- King Roy de Coupe King of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith King of Cups: emotional steadiness and creative intelligence amid change. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
Swords 14 cards · Ace to King
- Ace As de Épée Ace of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ace of Swords: clarity and decisive force capable of creation or destruction. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Two Deux de Épée Two of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Two of Swords: a guarded equilibrium that postpones rather than resolves conflict. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Three Trois de Épée Three of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Three of Swords: painful division made direct and impossible to ignore. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Four Quatre de Épée Four of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Four of Swords: withdrawal and stillness used to recover from conflict. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Five Cinq de Épée Five of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Five of Swords: victory that leaves loss, alienation and dishonour behind. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Six Six de Épée Six of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Six of Swords: a deliberate passage away from strain toward another condition. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Seven Sept de Épée Seven of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Seven of Swords: strategy and uncertain advantage pursued indirectly. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Eight Huit de Épée Eight of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Eight of Swords: restriction that feels total but may be temporary and escapable. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Nine Neuf de Épée Nine of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Nine of Swords: fear and grief intensified by the solitary mind. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Ten Dix de Épée Ten of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ten of Swords: an exhausted conflict reaching an unmistakable ending. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Page Valet de Épée Page of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Page of Swords: alert thought scanning for information, risk and change. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
- Knight Cavalier de Épée Knight of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Knight of Swords: intellect and action advancing with speed and little hesitation. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
- Queen Reyne de Épée Queen of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Queen of Swords: discernment shaped by sorrow, independence and clear boundaries. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
- King Roy de Épée King of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith King of Swords: judgment, law and the authority to make consequential decisions. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
Pentacles 14 cards · Ace to King
- Ace As de Denier Ace of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ace of Pentacles: material opportunity appearing as a concrete beginning. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Two Deux de Denier Two of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Two of Pentacles: adaptation required to keep changing material demands in motion. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Three Trois de Denier Three of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Three of Pentacles: skill becoming recognised through serious collaborative work. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Four Quatre de Denier Four of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Four of Pentacles: security gained by holding tightly to what has been accumulated. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Five Cinq de Denier Five of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Five of Pentacles: material hardship and exclusion occurring beside possible shelter. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Six Six de Denier Six of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Six of Pentacles: resources circulating through generosity, dependence and measured power. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Seven Sept de Denier Seven of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Seven of Pentacles: patient evaluation of work whose harvest is not yet complete. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Eight Huit de Denier Eight of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Eight of Pentacles: competence developed through repetition, attention and practice. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Nine Neuf de Denier Nine of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Nine of Pentacles: self-sufficient material well-being cultivated over time. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Ten Dix de Denier Ten of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Ten of Pentacles: wealth understood as inheritance, household and continuity. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its place in the numbered sequence.
- Page Valet de Denier Page of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Page of Pentacles: study and practical attention directed toward material possibility. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
- Knight Cavalier de Denier Knight of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Knight of Pentacles: patient responsibility and the dependable pace of material work. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
- Queen Reyne de Denier Queen of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Queen of Pentacles: material care joined to generosity, intelligence and inward value. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
- King Roy de Denier King of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith King of Pentacles: material mastery expressed through stewardship and practical intelligence. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
