The tarot court cards - the problem addressed
The tarot court cards - the problem addressed
The Court cards have caused me and many students of the Tarot great difficulties in interpreting over the years but with the help of The Tarot Court Cards: Archetypal Patterns of Relationship in the Minor Arcana' by Kate Warwick-Smith I now understand them as personality types that we either have to assume to make progress or, if the tarot is being particularly uncanny, they represent actual people that we are attracting to our world through our behaviour, and probably, our repeated inability to deal with.
As an example if you are particularly struggling financially and not able to earn enough for your basic living, then the appearance of the Page of Pentacles' would indicate assuming that persona in order to move your situation on. Conversely, if The lonely millionaire miser sitting in his mansion selects the Page of Cups' in his spread that would indicate he must find some outlet for his compassion to bring him out of his grasping fear.
These are somewhat oversimplified examples but serve to illustrate the approach I take to their appearance in a spread. My definitions follow.
THE COURT CARDS: CUPS
Page of Cups: Is learning about love and feelings. Seeking an idol or beautiful object to evoke emotional joy and love. At their best this persona manifests harmony, balanced emotion, trust, innocence, openness and dreamy love. A healer of wounds. At their worst this persona presents narcissism, preoccupation with image, vanity, jealousy, selfishness and insecurity.
Knight of Cups: Is learning to express love. Inspires others with loving energy and passionate feelings; motivating others to access their emotional fuel with exuberance and joy. Attractive, admirable, exciting. This persona can also be self-serving, needy and clinging; becoming negative towards their desired love object if not possessed; Fickleness, infidelity and worthlessness.
Queen of Cups: Is the master of Love. A confidante. Devoted to others, compassionate, understanding, nurturing. Emotional honesty, listening. This persona suffers by revelling in being a victim; seeking sympathy, draining and smothering others. Self-sacrifice for ego, blaming others.
King of Cups: Is the master of expressing love, the benefactor. Loves unconditionally with no boundaries; forgives and accepts everyone. As the betrayer violates trust, neglects and abuses others; has a defensive veneer of loathing; aloof, unkind and disconnected.
THE COURT CARDS: PENTACLES
Page of Pentacles: Is learning self-dependence, the Apprentice. Learning skills for living; establishing security and financial power. Training for livelihood and survival. When unhappy has lack of enthusiasm for tasks; little effort or ability; seeing everything as a chore, activity as pointless. Lazy Idler.
Knight of Pentacles: Is Practising skills learned. Creating stability and security. Grounded and safe, able to provide for self and others; confident in worldly matters; responsible and reliable. When struggling abandons responsibilities; highly values the status quo; safety above everything; passive aggressive behaviour; stubborn.
Queen of Pentacles: Is the master of security. Helps others feel secure; maintains routines to ensure care and support. Looking after diet, exercise and rest to ensure best performance. Knows limits and functions well. As unskillful persona seeks to reduce security and health; seeks sensual pleasure dangerously; self-deprivation, stress, compromised health.
King of Pentacles: Is the master of security. Highly accomplished in chosen skill; recognized and rewarded for this; major producer/provider; honest hard practical worker. Shares abundance and knowledge. As the miser withholds accessible resources, hoarding; inability to give back.
THE COURT CARDS: WANDS
Page of Wands: Is learning about self-confidence. Idealistic, curious, enthusiastic, spontaneous, playful and excited. Otherwise is rebellious, holding fast to childhood fantasy; immaturity and wishful thinking.
Knight of Wands: Is learning to express confidence. Original, exciting, humorous, creative, inspiring, ironic and alternative. As the trickster is slippery, elusive, manipulative and sarcastic.
Queen of Wands: Is the master of self-confidence, the Diviner. Makes a consistent effort to see true self; individualistic, inspirational, keenly intuitive. At her worst she comes with self-deception; egoism, inflates achievements and qualifications; grandiose ideas of self.
King of Wands: Is the master of expressing self-confidence. Has perception of alternative realities; understands existence in wider context; has rare insights. Or is the Zealot: limited to spirit only; delusions of power; abuser of power.
THE COURT CARDS: SWORDS
Page of Swords: Is learning to learn, student. Thirsty for knowledge, new take on old ideas; asks penetrating questions; curious and enquiring mind. As the the dabbler in knowledge has a partial, shallow interest without purpose; asks mindless questions. Lazy mind and unapplied knowledge.
Knight of Swords: Is learning to express ideas: Champion. Advances your cause; impersonal loyalty to idea; vigorous active support; focused mind; strategist, goal directed. When insecure is argumentative, contentious and intolerant. Takes opposite position to spite.
Queen of Swords: Is the master of knowledge. Makes accurate judgements cutting away the useless. Professional, efficient, thorough, truthful, impersonal. As the critic attacks other's ideas to feel powerful; vain display of knowledge; sharp or brutal comments.
King of Swords : Is the master of analysis, advisor. Sees all possibilities; chooses what works without emotion; thinks clearly and distils ideas for others. As the dictator is a cold, calculating mind prepared to sacrifice others to achieve goals. Sees only own ideas as valid; narrow-minded and harshly critical.
More Jungian tarot analysis takes place here
Low-cost OEM products exports doubled in Jiu Cheng Chuan shoes Emigrated to lack of cards Hydrolysis and fermentation technologies involved in biofuel production The Mechanisms of an Aquacel Dressing Wool pearl product development - antifreeze mono ethylene glycol Manufacturer - mono ethylene glycol PTN Product Review - How Does PTN Successfully Train Poker Players? Buying Raw Shea Butter - Great Skincare Product Porch Skirting - Dress Up Your Porch With Classy Vinyl Lattice Panels Virility Ex - How Virility Ex Compares With Other Male Enhancement Pills And Products The Best Ways To Pick And Choose A Black Evening Dress-black prom dresses An Evening Gown Is A Timeless Classic-fashion evening dresses Make your look sexier with V Neck Long Sleeve Cotton Dress Top Picks In Dillards Prom Dresses-short prom dresses Daring Prom Dresses: Picking One That Best Suits You-Black and White Prom Dress