Tarot Suits and the Secret Life of Medieval Society

When people first look at a tarot deck, they often see the suits — Cups, Swords, Wands, and Pentacles — as nothing more than categories. But the suits are not just random groupings. They are rooted in the structure of medieval society, and once you understand that, you will never look at a tarot spread the same way again.

Let us roll back a few centuries. In medieval Europe, life was divided into layers of society where everyone had a role. From the workers in the fields to the church leaders holding spiritual authority, society ran on a system of class, duty, and power. Whether you were born into it or fought your way through it, you belonged to a group. Tarot reflects that structure, and it is one of the reasons the deck still works today.

Here is how the suits line up:

Wands – The Workers

Think of the peasants, labourers, farmers, and craftspeople. They built the world with their hands and effort. Wands carry this energy of action, growth, and the determination it takes to survive. When Wands appear, you are looking at the “get up and do” layer of life.

Pentacles – The Merchants

As trade and money became more important, the merchant class rose. Pentacles are tied to resources, value, stability, and exchange. They are not just about coins, but about how we measure and manage what we have. When Pentacles show up, you are dealing with material life, not just wealth, but the systems that support it.

Swords – The Nobles

The sword was the weapon of power, law, and decision. Nobles and rulers did not just hold land; they held authority. The Sword suit reflects clarity, logic, justice, conflict, and the sharper side of life. When Swords dominate a spread, expect themes of choice, control, and consequences.

Cups – The Spiritual Leaders

In medieval times, the church was not just a Sunday stop. It was the backbone of society, the authority on morality, and the guide for purpose. Cups carry this legacy: connection, faith, emotion, and the meaning we attach to life. When Cups appear, you are being asked to look at the heart, the soul, and what fulfils you.

What does this mean in practice?

It means that when you lay out the cards, you are not just seeing pretty pictures. You are looking at a living system of society. Each suit gives you a clue about where the reading sits in someone’s life. Is it about their work and effort? Their resources? The power structures around them? Or their inner world and search for meaning?

This perspective grounds tarot in something practical and human. It is not floating in the clouds of energy or vibes — it is anchored in how people have lived, struggled, and grown for centuries. That is why the cards still make sense today: human life might look different on the surface, but the layers of survival, wealth, power, and meaning have not gone anywhere.

Here is a quick exercise to try: next time you do a reading, do not rush to interpret each card. Step back and ask yourself: Which class of medieval life is showing up the most here? Are you being pulled into the fields, the market, the castle, or the chapel? That single question can cut through confusion and give you a clear starting point.

Tarot works best when it is layered. The suits give you one of the most reliable layers you will ever use. Once you start to see them as more than symbols, the readings stop being vague and start being stories — stories that link back to how people have always lived.

If you want to dive deeper into practical tarot without having to memorise 78 card meanings, you will love my book Clear-Cut Tarot- The Book I Wish I Had. It is written to give you logical, layered methods that stick and help you read with confidence.