The Four Suits as Aspects of Jungian Function & Psycho-Spiritual Development

Carl Jung described these functions as two pairs of opposites qualities. The first two functions are rational functions; THINKING (Swords) and FEELING (Cups). The second set of functions are ‘Irrational’, SENSATION (Coins, material world) and INTUITION (Wands).
Jung suggested that these functions should be in balance and that suggested that if a person exhibited a strong pull in either direction (called a Principle function) will result in an underdeveloped or suppressed opposite function (Auxiliary function). For example, if someone was highly developed in the THINKING and SENSATION function, they may have an underdeveloped emotional component.

Suit	Element	Jungian Function	Focus
Wands	Fire	Intuition	Subjective, internal reality
Cups	Water	Feeling	Emotion, empathy
Swords	Air	Thinking	Intellect, detachment
Coins	Earth	Sensation	Objective, external reality

“These four functional types correspond to the obvious means by which consciousness obtains its orientation to experience. Sensation (i.e. sense perception) tells us that something exists; thinking tells you what it is; feeling tells you whether it is agreeable or not; and intuition tells you whence it comes and where it is going.” Man and His Symbols, Carl Jung