The Court Cards
The Court cards represent people. Mostly. And because of that, they can be complicated. Not so much complicated to understand as complicated to know when to interpret them as the querent or as another person. To interpret the Court cards, you will rely on, first, understanding them and then on both context and intuition. In the pages that follow, I will tell you what I think these cards mean. Here I will tell you that sometimes I ignore all that because I know that the Queen of Wands represents my client’s Uncle Hank (physical gender is irrelevant in tarot … it’s all metaphor).
With the Court cards, it is easier to understand the ranks and suits, which come together to create individual Court cards, rather than start with individual card meanings. Once you understand these general principles, you will find it easier to differentiate the Court cards.
Gender in tarot is symbolic. Kings and Knights are portrayed as male not because they only represent men but because they represent the active energy connected with the card. Queens are shown as female not because they only represent women but because the cards’ energy is passive. Pages are usually shown as young people who are either male or androgynous because the energy is still in a formative stage. In the interpretations below I will use gendered pronouns for simplicity, but please, please remember that Kings can represent women and Queens can be men.
The reason other people show up in readings is because they are involved with the situation being asked about. They play an important part or they wouldn’t have shown up in the reading. So your job is to figure out what role they play and how you can work with or influence them. Situations involving others can be unpredictable, since we cannot control their decisions or actions. However, by understanding what drives them, you can find ways to work with them, eliminate friction, and focus on common goals or agree on mutually beneficial courses of action.
The suit of Wands includes personality traits such as charisma, energy, optimism, charm, leadership, and warmth. Wands people are usually driven and passionate. They can also be self-
focused or even self-centered. They are volatile personalities that may become angry in a flash, making them rash, immature, or cruel.
The Cups personalities are often creative, empathetic, sympathetic, nurturing, sensitive, loving, intuitive, and caring. They are emotional and value relationships. They can also be needy, demanding a lot of attention from others in their lives, as well as being overly sensitive and easily hurt.
Logic rules the Swords cards, and these Court card personalities love solving problems and making plans. They are often precise, witty, clever, intelligent, and excellent communicators. Sometimes they appear as cold-hearted and distant. Because they are so discerning, they are quick to pick up on weaknesses and can be known for their sharp tongues and cutting words.
Pentacles people are practical, loyal, and stable. They tend to value money, resources, and creature comforts. Luckily, they are also often good managers of such things. Because of their connection with the physical world, they can seem shallow. In addition, their precise accounting can lead to pettiness and their stability can turn into dullness or stagnation.
As you see, each suit has its own style and nature. If you put any three Court cards in the same situation (or in the same spread), they will all react differently and thus produce a different outcome. Below are some examples.
• All the Court cards can be helpful in a crisis. Wands will take immediate action, Cups will provide emotional support, Swords will develop the best plan, and Pentacles will carry out the plan.
• All can be good friends, in their own way. Wands will be your go-to for a good time, Cups will be your shoulder to cry on, Swords will help rewrite your résumé or plan a vacation, Pentacles will go shopping or help with your budget.
• Like the real people they represent, they can also be manipulative, with Wands daring you, Cups dumping guilt, Swords wielding logic, and Pentacles tempting you.
• All can be obsessive, with Wands worrying about their ego, Cups feeding their emotions until they block out all else, Swords will argue themselves into an ulcer, and Pentacles will fret about pennies.
It is helpful to understand their personalities because understanding what motivates people will help you move through the world with greater ease and control.
The suits determine personality but the roles played are determined largely by rank: Page, Knight, Queen, or King. The rank also determines the extent of influence the person has on the situation. Even if you don’t think you know much about kings and queens and maybe even feel like such an archaic hierarchy has no place in our modern world, you will find that as symbols, these actually work really well. I’ve described the roles of each rank in the following pages.
The Pages
Pages are young, either chronologically or in terms of the situation. For example, they could be a teenager going away from home for an extended period for the first time or they could be a retired person going to college for the first time. They are usually enthusiastic about learning or doing something new but are probably also nervous, because they are unsure of themselves. Pages don’t have much authority or influence. They usually play a supporting role. They are generally willing and eager to be included in projects. They are willing to help because above all they want to feel included. All the Pages share curiosity, skepticism, courage, and fear. They all may feel slightly off-balance and grateful for support or guidance. In exchange, they can offer loyalty and enthusiasm.
Page of Wands
This guy appears brash and bold and confident, but be careful: his ego is super fragile. His biggest fear is looking ridiculous. He’s kind of like a bomb with a defective timer. Unpredictable. If he gets bored, he gets edgy and that’s dangerous. He needs help curbing his dependence on external validation, his anger, his frustration … in short, his temper tantrums. Give him the opportunity to explore, grow, and shine, and he’ll be an energetic friend and supporter.
Page of Cups
The Page of Cups takes himself very seriously. When he commits to something, he is all in and all earnestness. Guide him gently, helping him protect his heart without becoming cynical. Immaturity, unrealistic expectations, over-sensitivity, and a tendency toward secretiveness can make him hard to deal with. Help him navigate those choppy waters and you will win a sweet and devoted friend.
Page of Swords
The Page of Swords is smart and knows it. What he doesn’t know is that he lacks finesse and sometimes wields that sword like a club. He has a deep love of truth and justice and a tendency to oversimplify complex situations. He is kind of judgy (a shadow side of discernment) and can be a gossip. Help him most by showing him how to navigate shades of grey while maintaining ideals and you’ll have a great out-of-the-box thinker in your corner.
Page of Pentacles
The Page of Pentacles loves things! He can be a great collector (or hoarder). He can be very efficient (or lazy). He can be fiscally motivated (or greedy). His relationship to the material world is a work in progress. Help him to see the magic under the material and that all consequences aren’t necessary physical. Guide him toward a more balanced view of life and you’ll have a devoted go-to person you can always count on.
The Knights
Knights are among the most volatile of the Court cards, often unpredictable, extreme, and chaotic. They are all about taking action. They can be single-minded and incredibly focused, always on whatever quest that has captured their attention. Knights are usually more interested in their own lives than anyone else’s. But they do have some power and ability, if not much experience or true authority. Whatever action they take will have an effect, for good or ill. They are hard to control, especially when focused on their own pursuits. However, if you can capture their attention and convince them to do what you want them to, you will have your hands full with a lot of powerful energy.
Knight of Wands
This knight is driven by will and passion. He wants his own way and will stop at nothing until he gets it. Or until he is distracted by the next awesome idea. He will pretty much ignore any damage he does to property or people while on his quest. The good news is that such intensity cannot last long. If you can catch his fickle attention and direct it how you want, do it quickly before it dissipates. If you cannot capture his attention, just get out of the way until he wears himself out.
Knight of Cups
This romantic dreamer is motivated by emotion and often says that he must follow his heart. Confusing emotions with soul, he thinks that every feeling is a message from his soul and worthy of acting on, and damn the consequences. He is not as actively dangerous as the Knight of Wands. Instead, his damage may be caused by neglecting other parts of his life that are equally important, only he doesn’t see it that way. This knight could be hard to sway unless you lead with something that engages him on an emotional level. Logic or bottom line results will not affect him.
Knight of Swords
Here we have a thinker who is enchanted with his own mind. He feels very clear on his decision or belief system or whatever worldview is driving him right now. He has also convinced himself that his truth is right for everyone and will use his formidable logic, skillful argumentation, and cherry-picked evidence to convince the world. He flashes around wielding dangerous things and therefore can cause a lot of damage very quickly. For while he is completely committed to an ideal, he lacks strategy. Show him how your strategy can further his agenda and you can get him on your team, which is safer than the alternative.
Knight of Pentacles
The guy loves anything to do with increasing resources and efficiencies. His weakness is caution, because he fears risk or loss more than anything else. He’s not yet learned that all growth involves risk. His strengths are devotion, stamina, and patience. He knows that timing is important and he will calmly wait until the perfect moment before acting. He may appear passive or weak, but that is usually not the case, although he is not immune to being tedious. If you get him on board with your goals, he is, of all the knights, the most reliable for a long-term project.
The Queens
More than any other Court card, the Queens seem most likely to actually want to (and are able to) help you. They have the disposition as well as the wisdom, experience, and power to do so. The Queen’s power is not always external or obvious. Like an iceberg, her influences are hidden, deep, and powerful. Although inclined to be helpful, Queens are not pushovers. They are usually busy, involved people, which is one reason they are such great resources. They can also be tricky because they are so complex. Personal connection is important for them. If they take an instant liking to you, that’s fabulous; just don’t betray their trust. If they decide they don’t care for you, it’ll be hard to change that opinion. Solidify your connection or overcome a rift with common sense, such as recognizing her skills and experience. If she decides to connect with you, she can be a friend, a mentor, a cheerleader, or a role model.
Queen of Wands
The Queen of Wands is strong and confident and is excellent at inspiring others. Call on her if you need a pep talk. She will try to encourage your own boldness or push you into taking action, whether you are ready for such steps or not. Because of her strong character, it will be hard for you to determine if she is pushing too hard or just hard enough. Know this: if she is involved in the situation, it is because it furthers her own agenda, whether that is simply empowering all of her friends or something else.
Queen of Cups
The Queen of Cups thrives on deep, personal relationships. She is usually emotionally involved or invested in her friends in a healthy way. She feels, senses, or intuits a lot and, almost always, her conclusions can be trusted. Her guidance can be invaluable. She is generally supportive and helpful and, if she has the funds or access to funds, loves to play the role of patroness. If you aren’t into touchy-feely BFF connections, you may find her a little cloying but if you need a hug and some gentle empathy, go see her immediately.
Queen of Swords
If you need your résumé updated, your wedding plans organized into a spreadsheet, or a surefire approach to dealing with your boss from hell, the Queen of Swords is your hero. She’s smart and experienced. Even though she’s tasted the good and the bad, she’s not bitter or cynical. She also has killer discernment and can sniff out deception a mile away, as well as sort out the most tangled knot to find the truth at the center. She is not above crafting a plan that both solves your problem and furthers her own agenda.
Queen of Pentacles
When you need to make the most of a little, when you need to create a blockbuster with a shoestring budget, the Queen of Pentacles can help. She may not be as elaborate as the Queen of Cups, as elegant as the Queen of Swords, or as fast as the Queen of Wands, but all the details that actually matter will be attended to and all the resources will be used to their fullest potential. From managing your budget to accessorizing an outfit, from deciding on a vacation to selecting a retirement plan, this queen is a font of useful ideas.
The Kings
In a reading, Kings represent someone with authority who will affect the outcome of the situation. Kings make decisions, delegate, and have responsibility for individuals and/or groups. They usually have achieved some level of mastery, expertise, and accomplishment and are often concerned with maintaining the status quo. They may make final decisions about hiring, scholarships, loans, or insurance coverage, actions that could have a huge impact on someone’s life. Because of their roles, Kings are the least accessible of all the Court cards. Gaining their attention isn’t easy. When you do have it, you have to make the most of that opportunity. Sometimes that opportunity may not be in person, but on paper, such as through a résumé or formal proposal or application.
King of Wands
The King of Wands loves business, particularly entrepreneurship or self-starters. He responds to passionate presentations and exciting, daring ideas. To influence him or gain his support on a project, point out how the plan will further his own goals, engage his passion, or use his energy and/or resources in an exciting way. He does not respond as well to emotional pleas, excruciatingly reasoned arguments, or bottom lines. Spark his creative and energetic interest, and you will have his attention. However, his attention will be short-lived, so make the most of it.
King of Cups
The King of Cups follows his heart and is moved by the hearts of others. He very much wants to do what is right. Although sensitive and compassionate, he is not a pushover. He always feels his responsibility keenly. To enlist his support and influence his decisions, appeal to his sense of tolerance and the greater good. Discover what matters to him, what ideals guide his decisions. Emotions move him, but he is mature and experienced. Childish, emotional outbursts will not serve you well with him. Balance your emotional appeal with wisdom and practicality.
King of Swords
The King of Swords worships at the shrines of reason and logic. He delights in truth, enjoys communication, and finds comfort in clearly defined rules. He is driven by the conviction that he is doing what is right. If you talk or write to him, don’t bother with emotional approaches. Don’t expect excitement or passion to sway him. Focus on reason and logic, have all your points clearly defined, and express them as simply as possible. He is more apt to be impressed with predicating future performance based on past performance rather than some ground-breaking new idea … unless you have a lot of data to back it up.
King of Pentacles
The King of Pentacles is practical and values results. He likes things to run efficiently and effectively while producing something of quality. Gaining his interest or support is easy. Simply show him how an idea will make his life easier or more productive. Focus on both the bottom line and good quality, and you’ll find him an attentive listener. Don’t bother with emotional pleas or fancy presentations … unless they are of the “form follows function” variety, in which case, he’ll be even more impressed.
Playtime
Understanding and Improving Relations
Think about an interaction with someone that you’ve had recently that could have gone better than it did. Select a Court card that best represents you and your role in that situation. Select another that represents the other person and their role. Place them next to each other. First, notice the visual tableau they create. How are the figures in the cards relating to each other? Second, using the card interpretations in this chapter, determine what caused the conflict at a basic, symbolic level (not the specifics of the situation). Third, use what you learned from the visual and interpretive comparisons to create a scene that would have worked more smoothly.
Plan for Success
Do the same exercise, but for an upcoming interaction. Think about how that interaction would normally play out. Then, using what you can learn from the cards, create a new plan that will bring about a more harmonious conversation.