Eleven 
Each court card in the tarot has a specific gift. The specially created tarot spreads can be used to explore how the court card can aid your spiritual journey and deepen your understanding of the tarot. They can also give you clues as to how to use them when they appear in a tarot reading.
If a court card or two shows up in your reading and you get stuck, come back and look at the gift each card has been assigned in this section. See if that helps you understand the card and its meaning in the position better.
I always recommend that you journal your tarot readings, including the date you conducted the reading and the tarot deck that you used. There are prompting questions included that are outside of the tarot spread itself. These are very powerful questions that you can use to connect to the tarot court card, and I recommend including your discoveries along with your tarot reading in your tarot journal.
The following tarot spreads are all nine card tarot spreads so it is recommended that you allow for the time to read a larger tarot spread before you begin.
Instructions:
To start these tarot readings, go through the tarot deck that you are using and take the relevant court card out of the deck (for example, the Page of Cups, Knight of Pentacles, etc.). Place this card in the position of 1. Then shuffle the rest of the deck while concentrating on this card. Imagine that it is standing right in front of you. (You can close your eyes while you are shuffling if that helps.) What is its aura like? How does it feel? How do you feel around it?
When you feel ready, stop shuffling and cut the deck in your regular fashion. Then place the cards as indicated in each exercise below. The following layout is for all of the tarot court gift spreads.
The Page of Cups—Gift—Emotion
Elemental Associations
Page—Earth
Cups—Water
Like all pages, the Page of Cups is full of potential and has the purest energy of their court card family. Because of this, the Page of Cups can help you connect with your emotions and show what an amazing gift being in touch with your emotional body can be. Emotions can rule us. They can make or break our day when they are extreme or if we lack the other elements like intelligent (air) or grounding (earth) by helping balance it out. For this tarot spread exercise, however, you are going to be creating a safe space to really delve into your deep emotional well and reflect on its impact and power in your life.
Take some time to connect with your emotions while you are shuffling the deck. Remember the last time you felt full of positive emotions. What was going on in your life when that happened? Then, think about a time where you were faced with more difficult emotions like loss and sadness, for these also have gifts and lessons for you.
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Page of Cups—the significator card
2. How can I express my emotional self better?
3. What can I let go of to help unblock any negative emotions?
4. What can I do more of to connect to my emotional self ?
5. What do I need to let go of emotionally?
6. How can I connect to the Page of Cups better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Page of Cups share with my clients?
The Knight of Cups—Gift—Romance
Elemental Associations
Knight—Fire
Cups—Water
The Knight of Cups believes in love, love, love. They are all about love. They write songs and poetry about love. They battle for love and they are in love with being in love. Being the Knight of Romance, they are often triggered by love and romance. They can also tend to see everything through rose-coloured glasses. We all need balance, and romance is only one part of a relationship. This tarot spread is a chance for you to explore romance and how it can bring some spice into your life and help you fall in love with your life.
Take some time to connect to your romantic side. When was the last time you were shown romance? Or what would a romantic date be like for you? What comes to the forefront of your mind when you think about romance?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Knight of Cups—the significator card
2. How can I connect with my inner Knight of Romance, my romantic side?
3. How can I bring more pleasure into my life?
4. What is my love code; how do I like to express my love?
5. What potential romantic baggage can I let go of ?
6. How can I connect to the Knight of Cups better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Knight of Cups share with my clients?
The Queen of Cups—Gift—Intuition
Elemental Associations
Queen—Water
Cups—Water
The Queen of Cups holds the gift of inner knowing within her. This is intensified as she is double water (queens and cups are both water). This is a gift that flows through all of us, and by calling us to embrace the inner Mystic within, we are able to walk our paths in alignment with our highest good. She knows that when intuition is embraced, developed, and acted upon, it becomes a strong ally in our lives.
Take some time to connect with the Mystic within you. When was the last time you received an intuitive hit? Do you have any active “clairs” such as clairvoyance and clairsentience? Where in your body does your inner knowing sit?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Queen of Cups—the significator card
2. What messages do my guides want me to know about my intuitive gifts?
3. What do I need in order to develop my intuition further?
4. How can I release any fears around acting on my intuition?
5. What kind of mystic could I be?
6. How can I connect to the Queen of Cups better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Queen of Cups share with my clients?
The King of Cups—Gift—Sexuality
Elemental Associations
King—Air
Cups—Water
Sexuality is personal. It is my belief that it is not something that can be labelled and put in a box. The King of Cups knows who he is and knows that sex is a powerful force. He understands the creation, the destruction, the allure, the seduction, and the darkness that can be around sexuality. As a society, we have cheapened sex. We sell everything from hamburgers to cars with sex. We encourage children to grow up too soon and reward those who use their sexuality to gain fame and power more than talent in some areas. Or we repress it completely because we fear its power. The King of Cups is above that. He wants you to explore the real divine power of your sexuality, however that looks and feels to you and your life.
Now take some time to connect with your sacral chakra and your sexual power. What do you find sexually attractive? Does sex make you feel uncomfortable? Are you comfortable expressing what you want and need sexually? Do you feel connected to your sexuality—why or why not?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The King of Cups—the significator card
2. How can I connect more with my inner Eros (god of sex and pleasure)?
3. What area of my sexuality could I express more?
4. How does my sexuality connect with my spirituality?
5. What does the King of Cups have to teach me about sexuality?
6. How can I connect to the King of Cups better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the King of Cups share with my clients?
The Page of Pentacles—Gift—Nature
Elemental Associations
Page—Earth
Pentacles—Earth
This page is the closest to nature out of all of the court cards in the tarot. The Page of Pentacles reminds us that there is nothing more nurturing to the soul, no greater connection to be had to that of the natural world. They know that Mother Nature can teach us everything if we only take the time to explore and the patience to allow it to unfold in front of us. Nature takes her time and so too does the Page of Pentacles.
Take some time to connect with nature (even if you are inside—but extra gold star points if you are doing this reading and exercise outside). What is your favourite place in nature? Why do you feel and think you are drawn to those places? How do you feel when something takes time to develop or complete? What is your power animal/spirit animal and why do you think that is?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Page of Pentacles—the significator card
2. What are my natural gifts?
3. How can I aid my journey to completeness?
4. How can I bring forward my potential?
5. What does the Page of Pentacles have to teach me about growth?
6. How can I connect to the Page of Pentacles better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Page of Pentacles share with my clients?
The Knight of Pentacles—Gift—Endurance
Elemental Associations
Knight—Fire
Pentacles—Earth
This is the Knight that you want to have on your side for the long journey of life. The Knight of Pentacles has reserves of energy, conviction, and faith that others can only dream of. They are just as passionate about their quests and causes, but they ensure that they are doing everything that they can to go the distance. This knight has the gift of endurance and can teach us much about diligence and longevity. Like all knights, he is called to action, so don’t think this is just a passive energy. It is the one that all champions know can mean the difference between defeat and victory.
Take some time to connect with your fortitude and endurance. When was the last time something tested your endurance? What do you do in your life to prepare for the long term or long term journey, goals, or projects? Do you keep the long term in mind when you act? What comes up for you when you think of slowing down?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Knight of Pentacles—the significator card
2. What are my strengths?
3. What have I been resisting?
4. How can I aid my long term spiritual journey?
5. What does the Knight of Pentacles have to teach me about steadiness?
6. How can I connect to the Knight of Pentacles better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Knight of Pentacles share with my clients?
The Queen of Pentacles—Gift—Healing
Elemental Associations
Queen—Water
Pentacles—Earth
The Queen of Pentacles holds the sacred gift of healing within her. She understands that we need to allow all things to flow, just as holding on to anything too long creates disease. She knows the healing power of laughter, love, sweat, and tears. She knows the healing gifts that are found in nature all around us. She brings the elements of water and earth together for powerful healing magic. This is her gift and she wants all of us to help heal each other and ourselves. When we heal ourselves, we are a much more powerful force in the world and can fully share our gifts with others.
Take some time to connect with the healer within you. What heals you? Is there a special place in nature that you like to go to when you need to recharge? What does health feel like to you?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Queen of Pentacles—the significator card
2. What area in my life could use some restoration?
3. What do I need in order to find balance in my life?
4. Where can I release and relieve my diseases in my body and energy fields?
5. What kind of healer can I be?
6. How can I connect to the Queen of Pentacles better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Queen of Pentacles share with my clients?
The King of Pentacles—Gift—Stability
Elemental Associations
King—Air
Pentacles—Earth
The King of Pentacles sits steady and firm on his throne, and there is good reason for this. The decisions that he has made in life have been carefully considered and planned to ensure that he is secure in his position and within himself. It take a lot to shake the King of Pentacles because his foundations are strong. This gift can be lent to all areas of your life: work, career, spirituality, relationships, and health. The King of Pentacles can show you how to master consistency, balance, and cohesion. The King of Pentacles knows that the mundane matters, that it is all connected and builds a flourishing reality if only we pay attention and do the work that it requires.
Take some time to connect with your foundations. Do your foundations in each area of your life feel strong and well tended? What areas require more consistency? What daily actions can you take to bring more balance and cohesion into your life? What does stability look and feel like to you?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The King of Pentacles—the significator card
2. How can I bring more physical stability into my life?
3. How can I bring more emotional stability into my life?
4. How can I bring more spiritual stability into my life?
5. What does the King of Pentacles have to teach me about personal boundaries?
6. How can I connect to the King of Pentacles better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the King of Pentacles share with my clients?
The Page of Wands—Gift—Creativity
Elemental Associations
Page—Earth
Wands—Fire
The Page of Wands is creativity personified. He sees creative opportunities everywhere and is the first to offer solutions and inventions that no one else has considered before. He is able to bring things forward from inspiration to form. The Page of Wands is utterly uninterested in passionless people, projects, relationships, and spiritual paths. He knows that passion is a driving force for change and creation. That is not to say that the Page of Wands hasn’t been burnt by his experiences. He plays with fire of course, but he knows that everything that he touches has the power to transform. This is the gift of creativity.
Take some time to connect with the creator within you. Do you consider yourself a creative person? Why or why not? When was the last time you created something? Do you fear judgement of your creativity? Has that stopped you from fully embracing your creative side?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Page of Wands—the significator card
2. How can I ignite my creativity?
3. What is potentially blocking my creativity?
4. What is being transformed inside me?
5. What does the Page of Wands have to teach me about being a creator?
6. How can I connect to the Page of Wands better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Page of Wands share with my clients?
The Knight of Wands—Gift—Adventure
Elemental Associations
Knight—Fire
Wands—Fire
The Knight of Wands is always on an adventure of some sort. He inspires us and enthrals crowds of people with his tales of far-off places and wild exploration. He also seems to have friends everywhere. He is an ever expanding being. The Knight of Wands can show us what a beautiful gift being open to the world, people, and experiences can be. He sees challenges and obstacles in life as just another adventure waiting to happen. He is the desire to dare within all of us and calls us to join him into the wilds to ultimately find ourselves.
Take some time to connect with your inner explorer. Do you crave adventure or the couch? (Either is cool, no judgement.) What is adventurous to you? When was the last time you explored something you were passionate about? How do you handle new experiences, people, and places?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Knight of Wands—the significator card
2. What is to be discovered for me right now?
3. What is holding me back?
4. How can I be more open to challenging the norm?
5. What does the Knight of Wands have to teach me about adventure?
6. How can I connect to the Knight of Wands better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Knight of Wands share with my clients?
The Queen of Wands—Gift—Confidence
Elemental Associations
Queen—Water
Wands—Fire
The Queen of Wands exudes confidence and class and she demands it quietly. When the Queen of Wands walks into a room, all eyes follow her. She doesn’t shy away from the limelight and enjoys being in her personal power. Even if you are not one to seek attention, the Queen of Wands holds the gift of personal inner confidence—that inner flame that doesn’t ever go out and doesn’t need outside sources to fuel it. It is from there that we are able to move through the world confidently. It impacts every area of our lives, from ensuring that we have healthy boundaries to standing up for ourselves and what we believe in and having self-sustaining energy and drive.
Take some time to connect with your inner flame. How brightly is it shining? How does it make you feel when you have attention on you? Do you view yourself as a confident person? How does it feel when you are in a space of confidence?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Queen of Wands—the significator card
2. How can I bring more confidence into my life?
3. What fears do I have around being my authentic self ?
4. What can I release that is no longer serving my confidence levels?
5. What guidance does the Queen of Wands have for me?
6. How can I connect to the Queen of Wands better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Queen of Wands share with my clients?
The King of Wands—Gift—Leadership
Elemental Associations
King—Air
Wands—Fire
The King of Wands is a natural-born leader. He inspires loyalty and action in people as easily as it is for the rest of us to breathe. He knows that to rally people to his cause and vision, he needs to lead through action and passion. Leadership can be quiet or full of force, but it is always inclusive. To be a real leader, you are required to take full responsibility for your life so that you can inspire those around you to work with you in realising your dreams. Leaders do not see themselves as better than anyone else, but as an essential part of a team. The King of Wands can teach us a lot about embracing our inner leader.
Take some time to connect with the leader within you. What kind of leaders inspire you? Who has been your favourite leader in your life? What kind of leader would you like to be?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The King of Wands—the significator card
2. What is my style of leadership?
3. How can I inspire loyalty in others?
4. How can I manifest my vision in life?
5. What does the King of Wands have to teach me about leadership?
6. How can I connect to the King of Wands better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the King of Wands share with my clients?
The Page of Swords—Gift—Inspiration
Elemental Associations
Page—Earth
Swords—Air
The Page of Swords calls down the lofty ideas and inspiration from the mind and brings them to earth. The Page of Swords is always discovering new things and new ways of looking at situations or people. He is always in a sense of awe of the magic that is all around us. When we are inspired in life, we are not only in a place of generation, but we also inspire those around us. The Page of Swords can be our muse if we let this energy into our space and listen to the music they play.
Take some time to connect with your inner muse. What inspires you? Who inspires you? What doesn’t inspire you? Do you have a guide or muse that you connect and communicate with in life? How does your spiritual path inspire you?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Page of Swords—the significator card
2. What can I do to be more inspired?
3. What blocks (if any) do I have when trying to tap into my inspiration?
4. How can I be more inspiring to others?
5. What does the Page of Swords have to teach me about inspiration?
6. How can I connect to the Page of Swords better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Page of Swords share with my clients?
The Knight of Swords—Gift—Action
Elemental Associations
Knight—Fire
Swords—Air
The Knight of Swords does not care for excuses or reasons for not moving forward. They are already doing what most people are just considering or are too busy for. The Knight of Swords is always moving and it is this energy that can help us get unstuck and move towards the place that we really want to be. While movement for movement’s sake can be a type of avoidance, this knight knows the quest that he is on is one of great importance. It is the gift of acting on our passions that this card can bring to our lives.
Take some time to connect with your inner warrior. What causes are important to you? When was the last time you exercised? Do you seek outside guidance every time before you act? When was the last time you actively worked on your passion projects?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Knight of Swords—the significator card
2. What do I need to do right now in order to move forward?
3. What do I need to stop overthinking about?
4. How can I be more of a warrior in my life?
5. What does the Knight of Swords have to teach me about taking action?
6. How can I connect to the Knight of Swords better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Knight of Swords share with my clients?
The Queen of Swords—Gift—Truth
Elemental Associations
Queen—Water
Swords—Air
The Queen of Swords knows herself deeply, which makes her a formidable person indeed. Not much shakes her or can sway her when her mind is made up. The Queen of Swords can see into the truth of any matter and can be a brilliant ally in planning and self-discovery. The truth is not always easy to hear, which can earn this card quite the reputation, but the Queen of Swords knows that it is only when we come to the truth that real change can begin.
Take some time to connect with your inner truth. What do you know to be true about yourself ? What has lead you to your inner truth in life? Do you fear telling or sharing the truth to those you know? Do you stand by your convictions and beside your choices when you have made them?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The Queen of Swords—the significator card
2. How can I be more assertive with my inner truth?
3. What truths am I afraid of ?
4. How can I let them go with love and understanding?
5. What does the Queen of Swords have to teach me about emotional intelligence?
6. How can I connect to the Queen of Swords better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the Queen of Swords share with my clients?
The King of Swords—Gift—Clarity
Elemental Associations
King—Air
Swords—Air
The King of Swords is the expert in his given field and has been elevated to that place through crystal clarity. He does not waste time or energy on anything that would complicate matters, and he can see the world through a very defined lens. The King of Swords is known to see a situation as either black or white, and shades of grey do not interest him. While this is extreme, he can aid us in seeing straight and getting through times of confusion and drama.
Take some time to connect with your vision. What do you do when something or someone confuses you? How does it feel when you gain clarity on something? Do you speak your needs clearly to others? Do you believe in extremes when it comes to people or situations without looking at all sides of the matter?
Exercise
Place the cards as follows:
1. The King of Swords—the significator card
2. How can I find more clarity?
3. What is blocking my view?
4. What do I need to focus on?
5. What does the King of Swords have to teach me about decisiveness?
6. How can I connect to the King of Swords better as a tarot card?
7. What lesson can the King of Swords share with my clients?