Learning the Court Cards
Court cards usually represent people, but can also represent situations. The client's query, the complete tarot spread, and the wisdom of the tarot being sought by the reader will determine which is the appropriate situation. Court Families
Characteristics of CourtiersKing (man in his maturity):
Queen (woman in her maturity):
Knight (a young man):
Page (youth or child of either sex):
Multiplicities of Court CardsThe recurrence of court cards within a spread of cards is considered by some to indicate additional information for the questioner and others in his/her life. A.E. Waite, in The Key to the Tarot, ascribes the following meanings to multiplicities of court cards:
The reader is urged not to take these interpretations too literally. Each reader may form his/her own interpretation for multiplicities. Caution should always be used in advising the questioner as to certain meanings, i.e. "serious illness". It would be unethical to predict to a client that someone in the client's life was to become the subject of a serious illness sometime soon; however, it would be perfectly acceptable to take this combination as referring to some past event in the client's life, and how that event might have some bearing on the client's present situation. Astrological Correspondences of the Court CardsEach Sign of the Zodiac may be related to one of the court cards. The classification of the Signs by the metaphysical qualities Cardinal, Fixed and Mutable, reflects the three basic principle of life: creation, preservation and destruction, respectively. The Cardinal signs (Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn): generate outgoing, dynamic energy. The Kings are connected with the Cardinal signs. They are authoritative, powerful, and energetic. They represent creative, enterprising ways of relating to life, with a strong will to accomplish goals and realise ambitions. The Fixed signs (Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius): are more consistent, steady, loyal and reliable, with great reserves of patience. The feminine, homemaking qualities of the Queens correspond to these Fixed signs. They are images of stability and containment. The Mutable signs (Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces): are more volatile, always ready to change to suit the current mood or the surrounding environment. The Knights, restless, excitable, seeking new challenges and adventures, display the adaptable characteristics common to the Mutable signs.
The Pages There are still four Court cards, the Pages, to be accounted for. The Pages represent the spirit or essence of their respective Elements, and are less specific than their elders. They lack the Qualitative aspects that their elders have acquired, and are indicative of the unfulfilled potential that is consistent with their youthfulness. Pages are also frequently the bringers of messages or news, and may serve as aides to their elders. They may also challenge their elders, as children challenge their parents, pushing the limits.
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