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Court Cards of the Tarot show how we respond in life

By Norma Cowie

2004

The 78 symbols of the tarot are an ancient tool of divination. Today besides demonstrating events, they are used to understand the psychological approach to life. In particular the 16 court cards, the page, knight, queen and king of the four suits, namely wands, cups, swords and pentacles demonstrate behaviors and responses we have to life.

 

As a reader, I look to the court cards to advise me how my client handles their life. I approach the four suits to represent aspects of being.

 

The wands represent thoughts, they show me how my client is thinking, are they clear, are they confused. The page of wands will advise that my client tends to get caught up in their thinking and not see the bigger picture. The knight of wands on the other hand shows they are going after what they want. They are putting their thoughts into action. The queen of wands demonstrates that the client will tend to get side tracked due to fears and not see their goal through to the end. The king shows that though they are far seeing they will often procrastinate.

 

 

 

The cups represent feelings and show whether the client is happy or sad. The page of cups shows the tendency to get caught up in events and lose perspective. The knight, my personal favorite of the knights, shows they have the ability to proceed after what they want with consistency and will tend to achieve their goals. The queen of cups represents the dreamer, the person who can blow things up out of proportion, procrastinate and not want to deal with reality. Depending upon other symbols it can also show they are intuitive. The king shows the client handles their emotions, sometimes to the point of denial even though they are be able to see ahead and can achieve. Sometimes it will show the client is self righteous and judgmental.

 

The swords represent problems and challenges in the life, and will show me how they respond to the issues created. The page is reactive and will need to be more open and receptive. The knight tends to rush in and not look or think at all. The queen appears to be open and inviting but actually it is a front, she is frightened and unsure. The king is stubborn and set and needs to be approached with logic in order to see anything differently than what he has already decided. He does not like emotion or emotional reaction at all.