Tarot 101: Numbers in the Minor Arcana (Ace–10)

Each suit of the Minor Arcana runs from Ace through 10, showing a full cycle of growth in that area of life. Learning what the numbers mean gives you a shortcut to interpreting any card, no matter the suit.


Ace: New Beginnings

  • Role: the seed or spark.
  • Themes: potential, fresh energy, opportunities.
  • Example: Ace of Cups = new feelings, emotional opening.
  • Example: Ace of Wands = creative spark, passion.


Two: Balance & Duality

  • Role: choices, partnerships, tension between two forces.
  • Themes: harmony, decision, division, or connection.
  • Example: Two of Swords = indecision, blocked choice.
  • Example: Two of Pentacles = juggling responsibilities.


Three: Growth & Expansion

  • Role: development, first results, collaboration.
  • Themes: teamwork, expression, growing influence.
  • Example: Three of Cups = celebration, community.
  • Example: Three of Wands = progress, waiting for results.


Four: Stability & Foundations

  • Role: structure, rest, consolidation.
  • Themes: security, stability, or sometimes stagnation.
  • Example: Four of Swords = rest, recovery.
  • Example: Four of Pentacles = holding on tightly, protecting resources.


Five: Conflict & Challenge

  • Role: disruption, change, struggle.
  • Themes: tension, setbacks, growth through challenge.
  • Example: Five of Wands = competition, disagreements.
  • Example: Five of Cups = loss, regret, focusing on what’s missing.


Six: Harmony & Support

  • Role: resolution, kindness, recovery after conflict.
  • Themes: generosity, healing, balance restored.
  • Example: Six of Cups = nostalgia, kindness, childhood connections.
  • Example: Six of Pentacles = giving and receiving support.


Seven: Reflection & Reevaluation

  • Role: pause, assessment, testing.
  • Themes: questioning progress, reconsidering direction.
  • Example: Seven of Wands = standing your ground.
  • Example: Seven of Pentacles = patience, slow growth.


Eight: Movement & Momentum

  • Role: progress, discipline, breakthroughs.
  • Themes: advancement, dedication, transitions.
  • Example: Eight of Cups = walking away, seeking more meaning.
  • Example: Eight of Wands = fast movement, messages.


Nine: Nearing Completion

  • Role: challenges before success, endurance.
  • Themes: resilience, testing limits, nearing the finish line.
  • Example: Nine of Swords = worry, sleepless nights.
  • Example: Nine of Wands = perseverance, protecting boundaries.


Ten: Completion & Fulfillment

  • Role: the peak, cycle’s end, results.
  • Themes: culmination, outcomes, endings that bring renewal.
  • Example: Ten of Cups = happiness, family harmony.
  • Example: Ten of Swords = painful ending, release, rock bottom.


Why It Matters

Every numbered Minor Arcana card blends its number + its suit. Knowing the numbers gives you an instant structure: Ace = beginnings, Ten = completion, with all the stages of growth in between. Once you learn this framework, any card becomes easier to interpret at a glance.


The numbers Ace through Ten form the backbone of the Minor Arcana. Each number carries a theme, from the spark of the Ace to the fulfillment of the Ten. Once you know this sequence, you can read any card by combining the number with its suit, turning 40 numbered cards into a simple, structured system.


Next Steps

With the numbers in place, you’ve now got the full framework for the Minor Arcana:

  • The Four Suits (daily life areas).
  • Court Cards (roles and personalities).
  • Numbers Ace–10 (growth cycles).

In the next Tarot 101 guides, we’ll step back to the Major Arcana and explore The Fool’s Journey: the story that ties those 22 cards together into one arc.


Good luck on your Tarot journey!

-StarredSprig 💜

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