They are associated with the element of fire. The next group is Cups. Cup cards stand for the soul, internal essence and the unconscious. They are associated with the element of water. The next group is Swords.
Swords represent the mind, mental energy, wisdom and the intellect.
They are associated with the element of air. These cards stand for the physical body, practical skills and material creation. They are represented by the element of earth. Each reader has their own ritual about how the cards are handled and the reading is conducted. They will then lay the cards one by one in a particular formation, usually the Celtic Cross.