The Minor Arcana

The minor arcana is comprised of four suits, the Wands, Cups, Swords and Pentacles. These all correspond to an element of our constitution and 5th being our spirit itself. These all combine to form our body as well as the world and universe around us. The soul usually selects several lesson to learn when in a physical body and the 5 elements support him in this mission. So the tattvas sometimes are seen working in our favor or sometimes against us.
The Swords are the suit of Air, air being the lightest is chosen as the first suit here. As this suit would represent the least amount of time, to change. It takes just a second for our mind to change or decide something. And so I consider the swords having the least time duration. Swords with its quality of sharpness helps us to cut through illusion, confusion, stress, or any negative stuck feeling with a 'decision' for change and grow.
The wands are the Fiery suit, the next little time consuming is the Fire. It takes a few minutes to strike a fire (of course when we try doing it the traditional way of rubbing two stones). So the next suit is the Wands, the fiery suit of Passions, Desires, Career, Work, Dreams, Enthusiasm, etc. The Wands are the the fiery energy that follows the swords decision. Desire, Passion, Drive is always needed for fulfillment of any thought or decision.
The next suit that takes a little longer time then the above two is the Cups suit, cups are watery suit and as we know the cycle of water it takes fire to raise vapor and bring clouds and bring down rain. Raining is a longer procedure and takes several months to gather enough vapor to form large clouds that would bring rain. The Cups are watery energy, what flows into you? of course Emotions and feelings. And so this suit is for Emotions, Feelings, Love, Affection, etc. Emotions of Love bring fulfillment into life, along with decisions and actions and work.
The last suit is the earthy suit, the suit of the element earth, physical dimension. The one that gives you the physical body. This is the densest and so takes the longest time to change or create something. Its the suit of materialistic world, resources, money, pleasures coming from luxuries etc.
Remember the above associations are my own, you might read some different elsewhere. You can use anyone which you feel is comfortable to you. Or you can create your own, but whatever you create should gel with your gut feeling. Stay consistent with them.