The Minor Arcana, or 'Numbered Suits' of the Tarot represent all that reflects the more day to day events that we live through as opposed to the Major Arcana which takes on the mantle of the more dramatic events we live through...
Be it material, emotional, Spiritual, Creative or Intellectual, each of these four suits represents a particular aspect of our lives.... For instance:
The Suit of Swords represents all matters of an intellectual nature, both positive and negative: the sharpness of a keen intellect, or the daggers of the mind. It's element is air.
The Suit of Wands is the one that represents the energy and movement in our lives... Creative; procreative and the like: that which generates. It's element is fire.
The Suit of Cups on the other hand represents the spiritual, intuitive and emotional side of life and as such is governed by the element of water, whereas...
The Suit of Pentacles represents the material side of life. It's element is earth.
It is upon these card that hte modern day playing cards are based, with theknight and Page combining to form the Jack in the decks of the present day. The Swords are equivalent to The Spades; The Wands translate into The Clubs; The Pentacles gave rise to The Diamonds and The Cups equate to the suit of Hearts.