Within the Tarot, the minor arcana is composed of 4 suits, each with their own elemental

correspondences. These elemental associations are great in giving you a general feeling about each of
the minor arcana cards, while also acting as examples for how these elemental energies can appear in
your daily life. You can also use the elements to get an overarching perspective of what your readings
main themes are. An abundance of cups can signal that relationships and emotions are at the core of
your reading, swords can signal that matters of conflict and intellect are playing a big role.

Polarities in Tarot Elements

You’ll also see a note in these summaries about polarities, which are if an element is active or passive
(sometimes called receptive). These play a strong role in how the elements interact with one another.
You’ll see these concepts referenced in astrology as well. Active and passive polarities are part of a
greater and balanced whole, and they both have their own strengths and weaknesses.

Active Passive

changes one’s environment adapts to environment

focuses energy outward focuses energy inward

direct indirect

extroverted introverted

active reactive

I’ve written a lot about each of the elements on their own separate page, but here is a summary of each
suit.

Suit Element Polarity Keywords

Wands Fire Active Action, inspiration, drive, willpower, passion, ambition

Cups Water Passive Emotion, feelings, intuition, relationships

Swords Air Active Logic, ideas, intellect, communication

Pentacles Earth Passive Nature, body, material world, stability

Alongside this basic understanding of the elements within tarot, the way that elements interact can also
affect how we read the cards. These rules of how elements affect one another are called elemental
dignities. If you’ve ever worked with a Thoth style tarot deck, you can see how these elements interact
within the court cards, where each court card is made of up two elements. How the elements relate to
each other also have an effect on that card’s meaning. Outside of the court cards, you can apply your
knowledge of elements within a reading as well; two fire or wands cards fuel each other’s strengths -
they can burn through anything that stands in their way, but can be difficult to control

Tarot Elements: Rules for Elemental Dignities

The following are the rules you’ll need to know for each of the element interactions. Later in the article,
we’ll go through each of these rules step by step, combination by combination. There are a total of 16
combinations in all.

If they are the same suit, they strengthen each other

Fire and Air are active, they support each other

Water and Earth are passive, they support each other

Fire and Water are enemies, they weaken each other

Air and Earth are enemies, they weaken each other

Fire and Earth are neutral to each other

Water and Air are neutral to each other

As you can see, there are 4 different types of relationships, which break down into the following:

Strengthen: Increases the intensity of the elements. It amplifies both their positive and negative
qualities.

Support: These elements have a collaborative relationship. They build one another up.

Weaken: These elements cancel each other out. They decrease the effectiveness of each element.

Neutral: They don't affect one another.

Tarot Elements and Combinations

The following are some descriptions of what these elemental combinations can look like. Some of these
you’ll notice are repetitive, but it’s because there can be some very slight variations for which is the
more dominant element in the pair. In the following notation, the first element is the dominant, with
the second being supporting. If you find this too much, the basic reading without weighting being given
to dominant and supporting elements can still be helpful in giving you additional layers of meaning.
Consider the following as a completionist’s guide on each of the combinations.

Fire Tarot Element Combinations

Fire / Fire - Strengthens

This combination is all action and ruthless intensity. Extremely powerful drive. Like other combinations
of the same element, both its strengths and weaknesses are amplified. This powerful energy can be
constructive and destructive; it can push you forward through many obstacles, but also leave a trail of
destruction in its wake.

Fire / Water - Weakens

Opposing elements mean that they weaken each other. Fire’s drive and motivation is cancelled out by
water’s emotions. Imagine having big ambitions and goals but being weighed down by fears.

Fire / Air - Supportive

This combination works well together, like oxygen fueling a burning flame. Air’s intellect and quick
thinking can support fire’s goals, pushing it forward quickly. New ideas can make one’s aspirations
bigger and grander.
Fire / Earth - Neutral

Usually considered neutral. Earth can bring some stability and practicality to fire’s flames and push it
towards its goal. If there’s too much of earth however, it can snuff the fire out. Big plans for the future
can either be manifested step by step with some practicality, but making a stark realization of your
reality can also make a dream dissipate.

Water Tarot Element Combinations

Water / Fire - Weakens

Water’s calming emotional energy is broken by the urgency of fire. Sometimes this can be helpful in
bringing water to action, but most of the time, it feels intrusive and perhaps coercive. Deep reluctance
can be inferred.

Water / Water - Strengthens

Deeply emotional and spiritual energy, but also perhaps disconnected from the real world. Imagine
being lost in one’s daydreams; perhaps trapped even. There’s the sense that much beauty, intuition and
creativity is in this world, but inability to make any changes in reality.

Water / Air - Neutral

They represent the heart and the mind; they can work together well if they are balanced, but they can
also conflict with one another. There’s the potential for a lot of confusion and pain when we try to
reason through our sometimes irrational feelings.

Water / Earth - Supportive

Supportive combination where earth gives some shape and foundation for water’s meandering ways.
Earth’s reliable and steady nature gives a sense of comfort here, when emotions may be running wild.

Air Tarot Element Combinations

Air / Fire - Supportive

Fire brings enthusiasm and drive to a well thought out plan created by air’s intellect and communicative
ability. Thoughts and ideas are being propelled forward with fire’s inspiration, lighting a spark that leads
to creative action.

Air / Water - Neutral

Water brings some tenderness to an otherwise very stark and controlling element. Air’s talent for
communication can be driven by water’s emotions; expression of feelings can lead to powerful changes
in this combination.

Air / Air - Strengthens

Powerful but can be destructive. Air unleashed can be unstable and disconnected from reality.
Sometimes this element combination can indicate cruelty and ruthlessness, but in a colder, more
strategic expression than say, the double fire combination.

Air / Earth - Weakens

Ineffective combination. While earth attempts to give some stability to air, it fails to work on an
overactive mind. Air fails to be moved, contained or changed by earth. Imagine someone who fails to
accept a reality check.

Earth Tarot Element Combinations

Earth / Fire - Neutral

Earth provides stabilizing and lush environment for fire’s spark of creativity. It can counterbalance some
of fire’s intensity. Imagine a dream coming to fruition with slow and steady infusions of enthusiasm and
energy. Fire can also burn earth down, but it renews and refreshes earth’s fertility anew.

Earth / Water - Supportive

Peace and satisfaction are suggested by this combination. Both elements are passive, so not much is
going on, but water brings a tranquil enjoyment to earth. Imagine the satisfaction that comes from
seeing the fruits of one’s work or what they have.

Earth / Air - Weakens

These elements don’t get along; air attempts to bring lightness to heavy earth, but earth is unmoved,
and instead drags air down. Air also brings a certain disdain for the materiality of earth, or a sense of
feeling imprisoned by one’s material constraints.

Earth / Earth - Strengthens

All earthy qualities are enhanced; both its solid reliability, strength and stability - but also its inability to
be moved. Can be presented as a stubborn obstacle, like a mountain, or an anchor that can both steady
you and restrict you.