The Seasons of Tarot — A Personal and Traditional Look at the Four Suits

Daniela Hills Author

The Tarot suits can mirror the seasons in many ways. Here’s the approach that resonates most with me.

Over time, I realized that there are so many different ways people connect the four suits of the Tarot with the seasons. Some follow old traditional systems from esoteric teachings, while others just go with what feels right—trusting their intuition and the natural flow of life.

I actually learned my suit-season associations from a teacher I had years ago. It just made sense to me right away—so natural and easy that I’ve been using it ever since. It simply clicked on both a symbolic and spiritual level.

Later on, I found out that this way of seeing things is very similar to how Pagan and Wiccan traditions align the elements with the seasons and the directions in the Wheel of the Year. That was such a nice confirmation of what I had already felt deep down.

So, in this post, I want to share the seasonal system I use, show you how it compares to other interpretations, and hopefully inspire you to find the version that speaks to you the most.

Why Connect Tarot to the Seasons?

The suits of the Tarot correspond to the four classical elements—Air, Fire, Water, and Earth—and these elements have long been associated with seasons, directions, and life cycles. Aligning the suits with the seasons can add depth to your readings, helping you tune in to the energy of where you are in your personal journey—or where your querent might be.

Just like nature has a rhythm, so do our inner experiences. The seasons of the year can become a mirror for the seasons of the soul.

My Seasonal System: Suits in Rhythm with Nature

Here is how I was taught to see the suits in relation to the seasons:

• Swords = Spring

• Wands = Summer

• Cups = Autumn

• Pentacles = Winter

Let’s take a closer look at each suit and why this connection feels so natural.

Swords – Spring (My View) vs. Winter or Autumn (Others)

• How I Learned It and My Perspective
  Swords are aligned with the element of Air, the realm of thought, clarity, communication, and insight. To me, they belong to spring—the time of new ideas, fresh perspectives, and mental awakening. After winter’s stillness, spring brings a sharp breath of air and a sense of direction.

• Other Views:
  Many traditional interpretations associate Swords with winter, seeing them as cold, harsh, and reflective of challenges or truth. Others link them to autumn, a time of cutting away and letting go.

Why Spring Feels Right to Me:
Spring is when the mind stretches, when choices need to be made, and when our clarity returns. Like a sword, it cuts through confusion.

Wands – Summer (Widely Agreed)

• My Perspective & Most Others:
  Wands represent Fire—action, passion, ambition, and movement. Summer is their season: vibrant, alive, and full of energy. This is when we pursue our dreams and express our creativity.

Why Summer Feels Right to Me:
The days are long, the sun is strong, and life is in full motion. It’s the peak of energy and purpose—just like the suit of Wands.

Cups – Autumn (My View) vs. Spring or Summer (Others)

• How I Learned It and My Perspective:
  Cups are ruled by Water, the emotional and intuitive suit. I associate them with autumn, a time of inner reflection, emotional depth, and heartfelt gratitude. As the leaves fall and we gather inwards, we tune into our feelings more deeply.

• Other Views:
  Some link Cups to spring, as a time of new love and gentle emotion. Others choose summer, for warmth and emotional abundance.

Why Autumn Feels Right to Me:
Autumn is a time of rich emotional processing and spiritual maturity. The mood matches the introspective, flowing energy of Cups.

Pentacles – Winter (My View) vs. Autumn (Others)

• How I Learned It and My Perspective:
  Pentacles represent Earth—the body, home, work, finances, and the material world. I see them as belonging to winter, a time to get grounded, conserve energy, and focus on stability. It’s about preparing, building, and surviving.

• Other Views:
  Many associate Pentacles with autumn, the season of harvest and reaping what we've sown.

Why Winter Feels Right to Me:
Winter asks us to slow down and rely on what we’ve built. It’s a time to root into what matters and prepare for the next cycle.

Comparison Table

Rooted in Earth-Based Wisdom

What’s beautiful is that this suit-season system aligns with the Pagan Wheel of the Year, where the suits follow the elements and their seasonal directions:

Even if you didn’t grow up with this tradition, it’s easy to feel its rhythm in the world around you. The Tarot becomes a mirror of both inner and outer nature, reflecting life’s natural flow.

Final Thoughts: Let the Seasons Guide You

There are so many ways to connect the seasons with the Tarot suits—and honestly, none of them are wrong. I can see why different traditions interpret them differently—somehow, they all make sense in their own way. Some people follow tradition, some follow what their teachers showed them, and others simply trust their intuition.

What matters most is what brings the cards to life for you.

If the system I learned and shared here resonates with you, I invite you to try it out in your readings. See how it feels and how it might deepen your connection to the Tarot. Let nature inspire your insights—and trust the cycles of your own inner world.

And if you’ve learned a different way to align the suits with the seasons, that’s perfectly fine too! Stick with what feels right for you.

I’d love to hear your thoughts:
Do the seasons speak to you through the suits in the same way—or differently?
Feel free to share in the comments or come join the conversation in our community.

With love and light,
Daniela

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Categories: : tarot, Tarot Cards