The People of the Deck: A Simple Guide to the Court Cards
Welcome back to our tarot journey!
We’ve talked about the big picture with the Major Arcana and the daily details with the Minor Arcana suits. Now, let’s meet the most fascinating and sometimes confusing part of the deck: the Court Cards.
These 16 cards, found at the end of each suit, represent the people, personalities, and energy in your life. But here’s the secret: they don’t always represent a different person. Often, they’re a beautiful mirror, reflecting a part of you that you need to acknowledge.
Think of them as the dynamic characters in your story. They show us how different energies and personalities express themselves in the world.
Let’s break them down by their rank, from the fresh-faced Page to the wise King.
The Pages: The Learners and Messengers
The Pages are the beginners of the court. They represent new energy, a fresh start, and the beginning of a journey within their suit.
A Page can be a new person entering your life.
More often, a Page is a message or an opportunity.
A Page can also be a new, childlike part of you that is just starting to learn about a specific area of your life.
The Page of Wands, for example, is a new creative idea or a sudden burst of passion. The Page of Cups is the beginning of a new emotional connection or a creative invitation from your intuition. Pages are all about innocence, curiosity, and new beginnings.
The Knights: The Movers and Shakers
The Knights are all about action. They are the teenage energy of the deck—full of drive, sometimes a little reckless, and always on the move.
A Knight can be someone who brings sudden change.
A Knight most often represents a period of focused action or a specific approach to a situation.
Knights can also be a dynamic part of yourself that is currently moving forward with speed and intention.
The Knight of Swords charges forward with a sharp mind and a clear plan, while the Knight of Pentacles moves slowly and deliberately to get a job done right. Knights are about pursuing a goal with gusto.
The Queens: The Nurturers and Masters
The Queens are the mature, feminine energy of the court. They have fully integrated the wisdom of their suit and express it in a nurturing, compassionate, and powerful way.
A Queen can represent a compassionate, wise woman in your life.
Most often, a Queen is a sign to embody the energy of that suit.
A Queen can also be the masterful, intuitive part of you that understands how to work with that energy.
The Queen of Cups can represent emotional mastery and empathy. The Queen of Wands embodies a confident, charismatic leader who inspires others with her creativity. Queens are about inner power and deep understanding.
The Kings: The Leaders and Authorities
The Kings are the masculine, logical, and authoritative energy of the court. They have complete mastery over their suit and use their wisdom to lead and provide.
A King can represent a mature man who offers guidance.
A King most often represents a position of power or authority.
A King can be the part of you that is in full control and can lead others.
The King of Swords, for example, is a master of logic and communication who makes clear, rational decisions. The King of Pentacles is a stable, successful leader who provides security. Kings are about stable leadership and full command.
The next time you pull a Court Card, try not to guess who it is. Instead, ask yourself: "Which part of my life, or myself, is this card trying to show me?" You might just be surprised by the beautiful insights you find.
💜 Simi