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.

The oldest complete seventy-eight-card deck that survives, engraved in 1491, and the first in which every suit card carries a scene rather than an arrangement of pips — three and a half centuries before the Rider–Waite pack of 1909 did the same thing.

Its trumps are Roman and biblical figures with their own names and no evident relation to the allegories the other decks share. They are filed here beside the standard trumps because they occupy the same numbered slots, which is a statement about position and nothing else.

Engraved in 1491 and out of copyright by centuries. The photographs are the British Museum's, released as public domain and hosted on Wikimedia Commons. 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
  1. Ace Asso di Bastoni Ace of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  2. Two Due di Bastoni Two of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  3. Three Tre di Bastoni Three of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  4. Four Quattro di Bastoni Four of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  5. Five Cinque di Bastoni Five of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  6. Six Sei di Bastoni Six of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  7. Seven Sette di Bastoni Seven of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  8. Eight Otto di Bastoni Eight of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana Eight of Wands: movement accelerating toward a definite destination. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
  9. Nine Nove di Bastoni Nine of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana Nine of Wands: resilience maintained after earlier conflict. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its place in the numbered sequence.
  10. Ten Dieci di Bastoni Ten of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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.
  11. 21 Fante di Bastoni Page of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana Page of Wands: news, curiosity and the youthful expression of fire. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
  12. 22 Cavallo di Bastoni Knight of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana Knight of Wands: impulsive movement, departure and rapid change. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
  13. 23 Regina di Bastoni Queen of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana Queen of Wands: warm authority, vitality and magnetic self-possession. The card joins the fire nature of Wands to its courtly role.
  14. 24 Re di Bastoni King of Wands in the Rider–Waite–Smith Bastoni · Minor Arcana 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
  1. Ace Asso di Coppe Ace of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  2. Two Due di Coppe Two of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  3. Three Tre di Coppe Three of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  4. Four Quattro di Coppe Four of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  5. Five Cinque di Coppe Five of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  6. Six Sei di Coppe Six of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  7. Seven Sette di Coppe Seven of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  8. Eight Otto di Coppe Eight of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  9. Nine Nove di Coppe Nine of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana Nine of Cups: satisfaction and comfort made visibly available. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its place in the numbered sequence.
  10. Ten Dieci di Coppe Ten of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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.
  11. 21 Fante di Coppe Page of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana Page of Cups: feeling and imagination taking an unexpected communicable form. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
  12. 22 Cavallo di Coppe Knight of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana Knight of Cups: an invitation or emotional approach carried with grace. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
  13. 23 Regina di Coppe Queen of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana Queen of Cups: deep receptivity joined to imagination and active care. The card joins the water nature of Cups to its courtly role.
  14. 24 Re di Coppe King of Cups in the Rider–Waite–Smith Coppe · Minor Arcana 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
  1. Ace Asso di Spade Ace of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  2. Two Due di Spade Two of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  3. Three Tre di Spade Three of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  4. Four Quattro di Spade Four of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  5. Five Cinque di Spade Five of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  6. Six Sei di Spade Six of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  7. Seven Sette di Spade Seven of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana Seven of Swords: strategy and uncertain advantage pursued indirectly. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its place in the numbered sequence.
  8. Eight Otto di Spade Eight of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  9. Nine Nove di Spade Nine of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  10. Ten Dieci di Spade Ten of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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.
  11. 21 Fante di Spade Page of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana Page of Swords: alert thought scanning for information, risk and change. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
  12. 22 Cavallo di Spade Knight of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana Knight of Swords: intellect and action advancing with speed and little hesitation. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
  13. 23 Regina di Spade Queen of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana Queen of Swords: discernment shaped by sorrow, independence and clear boundaries. The card joins the air nature of Swords to its courtly role.
  14. 24 Re di Spade King of Swords in the Rider–Waite–Smith Spade · Minor Arcana 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
  1. Ace Asso di Denari Ace of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  2. Two Due di Denari Two of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  3. Three Tre di Denari Three of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  4. Four Quattro di Denari Four of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  5. Five Cinque di Denari Five of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  6. Six Sei di Denari Six of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  7. Seven Sette di Denari Seven of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  8. Eight Otto di Denari Eight of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  9. Nine Nove di Denari Nine of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  10. Ten Dieci di Denari Ten of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana 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.
  11. 21 Fante di Denari Page of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana Page of Pentacles: study and practical attention directed toward material possibility. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
  12. 22 Cavallo di Denari Knight of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana Knight of Pentacles: patient responsibility and the dependable pace of material work. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
  13. 23 Regina di Denari Queen of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana Queen of Pentacles: material care joined to generosity, intelligence and inward value. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.
  14. 24 Re di Denari King of Pentacles in the Rider–Waite–Smith Denari · Minor Arcana King of Pentacles: material mastery expressed through stewardship and practical intelligence. The card joins the earth nature of Pentacles to its courtly role.