When I discovered tarot, I found the tool to beyond comprehension. 78 cards created a stack so high that it was years later before I started my studies. Throughout the course of my classes, I had to break this deck into sections, in order to comprehend what lay before me.
Through these past months I have done the same with you. In breaking down the tarot deck and the other tools woven into it, I have striven to make this seemingly incomprehensible deck manageable and user friendly.
Rider, Waite, and Smith may not have created the tool we know as tarot. But their version of the deck has lasted to this day, popular all around the world, because of the enormous time, consideration, and thought that went into making it.
As we have seen within the Major and Minor Arcana, each card connects with various other tools and the symbols, imagery, and meaning behind them add another layer of quality to an already helpful tool.
Within this post, I want to look at the other tools woven into the Court Cards. From these other tools, we can begin to understand the energy and qualities found within each of the cards. We will cover, the elemental energies, the influence of numerology, the Qabalah’s Tree of Life, and the astrological influences.
The Elements & The Court Cards:
As we learned with the Minor Arcana, each suit (Wands, Cups, Swords, & Pentacles) aligns with a different element. In this way, the elemental energy influences and helps us to comprehend the cards within each suit.
In this instance, the Court Cards not only have their suit element, but each type of Court Card has an element as well.
As you can see from this diagram, the Pages align with the element of earth, the Knights air, the Queens water, and the Kings fire.
There is some debate over which element pairs with which Court Card. While most people agree about the Pages (earth) and the Queens (water), there are two schools of thought with regards to the Knights and Kings.
Personally, I align the Knights with air, and the Kings with fire. Others swap the elements. Their rational is that fire is a strong and wild energy. While the element of air as we see in the Suit of Swords is much more about the mind, morals, and truth.
I can understand how people can reach this conclusion about the element’s assignment, as well as others. But I disagree, because when we pair the Knights with air and the Kings with fire, we achieve a balance with the elements.
If you take another look at the original chart above, you’ll see that the elements follow the same order. With the Suits, the order is fire (Wands), water (Cups), air (Swords), and earth (Pentacles). With the Court Cards, the order is merely reversed.
From my perspective, this pairing allows each element to manifest the young and mature aspects. The earth element has the ability to not only express its wise qualities (Suit of Pentacles) but it can also express its young energy with the Pages.
The same is true for the elements of air, water, and fire. Yes, fire can be impetuous, wild, and even harmful (Suit of Wands). But it also possesses the ability to create, heal, and nurture as we see with the Kings.
The Pages: Earth
As I discussed in my article: Tarot 501 The Court Cards Introduced, the Court Cards represent many areas of our lives. They represent people, situations, and personality traits. For this reason, they are complicated and can appear daunting.
Pages are representative of children and messages. The type of message or the personality of the child is determined by the suit. From there, we get even more in-depth. For now, take a look at the elemental influence…
Page of Wands: Fire & Earth
With this Page, the element of fire and earth is present. We see fire represented by the passionate and energetic child. This fire is tempered by earth, the element for the Pages.
In this instance the element of earth reminds us that children are about their physical world. What they see and engage with is what their world revolves around.
Page of Cups: Water & Earth
Within the Page of Cups, we see the elements of water and earth. In this case we can also take a look at the relationship between these two elements. Water has the ability to nurture the earth and help it to grow. On the other hand, water can drown a plant.
Here we can see two potential paths the Page of Cups can follow. If the balance of water and earth is healthy, the emotions (water) in a child’s life can help to nurture and strengthen the growing (earth) child. But, if the emotions in a child’s life is too much, then the child is in danger of drowning.
Page of Swords: Air & Earth
We can see the impact of elemental relationships in each card. Here, the air and earth can speed up a child until they move too fast and fly apart. This can be categorized as speaking before thinking.
Since this quality is not limited to children, we can see how this card might represent a personality trait rather than a child. In this case, a warning or reminder to thinking before speaking, and to consider what it is you’re saying.
Page of Pentacles: Earth & Earth
This Page doesn’t encounter an elemental relationship like the other Pages. In this case, the Page of Pentacles only has the element of earth. As a result, we can see a strengthening in earth’s qualities in this card.
Like any other card, this can bring prosperity or disaster. When the earth is in a healthy place, a stronger nurturing energy can be very beneficial. Other times, if the earth isn’t balanced by another element, it can bring a child or person down to earth too much. For example, pulling a person’s mind to Earth and the physical world while neglecting or forgetting emotions (water), the mind (air), or wild fun (fire).
The Knights: Air
Since the Pages are known as the children, as we journey froward within the Court Cards, we encounter the teens. Here we can see personality traits of a teen or the journeys we will be taking.
Knight of Wands: Fire & Air
With the Knight of Wands, we combine fire and air. In this instance we have the potential for a wonderful journey/adventure or a disastrous one.
When we consider the qualities of the elements, we can see that air plays a very important role in how the Knight of Wands acts. Too much air will either wipe out the fire or will spread the flames until all is destroyed. On the other hand, the air can help to shape the fire until it burns brightly and safely.
Knight of Cups: Water & Air
Here, we can see a different sort of journey being made. When you combine the elements of water and air, you achieve an internal adventure.
The quality of water is connected to emotions, while the quality of air is connected to the mind and truth. When you combine the two, we can see that the Knight of Cups signifies a person or journey where you delve into yourself and your feelings to seek out the truth.
Knight of Swords: Air & Air
Last time it was the Page of Pentacles, this time it is the Knight of Swords that doesn’t have an elemental pairing. As you can see within the image, this card has the potential for great haste and destruction.
When you move swiftly with the wind, collateral damage or unforeseen structural compromise can happen as the knight swiftly charges past. The Knight of Swords can represent a teenager lost within their own mind and unawares of their impact on the rest of the world or the personality trait of charging forward (but creating a mess at the same time).
Knight of Pentacles: Earth & Air
This final night does not race off into the night like the Knight of Wands or Swords. In this case, the elements of earth and air have reached a healthy balance.
As you can see within the image, this knight sits upon his horse in contemplation. The element of air allows him to stop and consider things, while the element of earth helps him translate these thoughts into action within the world. Rather than a dream that lives and dies within his mind, we can see from the fields around him, his dreams bear fruit.
The Queens: Water
As we continue to grow, we move past child and teen to become adults. It is with the Queens that we add another layer of complexity to the Court Cards. In this case, this card can represent an adult person, a situation, or a personality trait. And, it can also represent the internal aspects of a person.
When tarot was first created, the Queens represented women, and the Kings represent men. But we don’t just have men and women anymore. For that reason, the Queens can represent the part of us that lives within ourselves.
In essence, who we are when we’re alone, when we are with people we trust, or when we are connecting to our emotional side.
Queen of Wands: Fire & Water
The Queen of Wands starts us off, and immediately these two elements of fire and water start a potential war. When in balance, water and fire can be used in conjunction with one another to create great masterpieces. (Welding, manufacturing, etc.) But, when fire and water can’t find a way to mesh, you encounter a struggle with this card.
In this case, the Queen of Wands can be a card of great creation or conflict between her emotions and life. If a person doesn’t know how to express their feelings (especially hurt feelings) in a healthy way, you might be looking at Queen of Wands energy.
Queen of Cups: Water & Water
After the conflict of the Queen of Wands, we discover a great tranquility with the Queen of Cups. Since water is linked with emotions and intuitions, this card is the most psychic and intuitive card of the Court Cards.
This card can represent the woman or man, who lives and breathes based off of their heart. Always in a place of love, support, and friendship, you know she’s there for you.
But just like the Page of Pentacles, if there isn’t another element to balance her, she runs the risk of becoming overly emotional. Does the Drama Queen come to mind?
Queen of Swords: Air & Water
Following a woman of the heart, the Queen of Swords adds a little rational thought to the Queens. Here she has the potential to be a woman who takes her intuitive abilities into the workplace (especially male heavy occupations). Or she demonstrates the potential to become cynical as her rational mind and heart can’t find unity.
In this case, this card can represent a harsh woman or a rational one. It all comes down to execution. What does she choose to say with her words? What does she choose to do with her actions? The answers will let you know which type of Queen of Swords you’re dealing with.
Queen of Pentacles: Earth & Water
The final Queen takes a different tact with the element of water. While the Queen of Swords adds rational thought to her intuition, the Queen of Pentacles adds practicality. While very similar, they translate very differently in the world.
For the Queen of Pentacles, this is a woman who has built a home for herself. Known as the Matriarch, this home can consist of husband/wife, children, and pets, or an empire/business.
Again, it comes down to words and actions. These will determine which Queen you’re dealing with, which traits you need/don’t need, and whether it is a balanced Queen on an elemental level or if there’s upheaval.
The Kings: Fire
The final type of Court Card, the Kings are just as complex as the Queens. Here, they can represent an adult person, situations, personality traits, or how we translate our internal world (Queens) into the world.
King of Wands: Fire & Fire
We start off our Kings, with dual fire energy. Like all the other solo elements, you have the potential for a strong energy or an unbalanced energy.
When strong, this card can represent new enterprises, strong and passionate characteristics, and a person who is friendly and lively. But when unbalanced, this card can become the, “Baby King.”
This fire energy creates an erratic and fleeting friend/lover/partner. Around when there’s fun to be had and running away from commitment. This King has the potential to be both the positive and negative aspects found within life.
King of Cups: Water & Fire
While the King of Wands speeds through life leaving a trail of fire behind him, the King of Cups has learned to temper this fire. As we saw with the Queen of Wands, there is the potential for creation or war.
When fire and water come together the King of Cups can become the loving friend/lover/partner/husband/father and cherish his family. The fire energy allows him to be an active and lively friend. While the water energy helps him to listen and be there for you.
But when these two elements are at odds, this man can become lost within a see of emotions. How does he balance what he feels? How does he impart (fire) what he feels (water)?
King of Swords: Air & Fire
As the King of Cups connects with his tender side, the King of Swords exhibits almost none of the emotions. Here, fire and air can create two styles of people.
This first speaks only of danger. Whether two-faced or manipulative, the King of Swords has taken his passion and desires and put his mind behind his actions. Unfortunately, not for the better of everyone else. He’s a man that must win, no matter the cost.
On the other hand, air has the ability to temper and guide fire. In these instances, we can see the surgeons and proficient leaders of our world. Not based off of the heart, these people use their mind and intellect to shape their passion to manifest their greatest desires.
King of Pentacles: Earth & Fire
We end our Kings, with the King of Pentacles. Here we can see two distinct energy combos. The first draws our King down to earth.
The combination of earth and fire leads this King to live life based on the physical. What he can see, hear, taste, touch, and smell are all he needs to know what’s real. At times, this card can symbolize a construction worker, for the earth-based life that is being led.
On the other hand, this elemental combination can create a wise person. When you combine passion with the age and wisdom of earth, you create a person who has lived their life based on the physical but from a different perspective.
Either way, the King of Pentacles takes these two elements and uses them to create just a slice in personality types.
Final Thoughts on The Elements:
By looking at the combination of elements, we can begin to understand one aspect of the Court Cards. From these influencing energies, each Court Card can embody an aspect of life.
That being said, each card can also have qualities found with each element. In this regard, it has to do with the other influencing energies and qualities found within the card. I liken this to Chinese Face Reading.
In this tool, we each have a dominant element we connect with based on the shape of our face. But that doesn’t mean that we don’t also have qualities of the other elements as well. We merely have one dominant element, just as the Court Cards do.
If you are already familiar with the Court Cards or wish to delve deeper into the elements, take a look at this table. Here I have taken the elemental pairings (fire & water, for example) and put which combination of Court Cards apply. In this case, Queen of Wands (Wands- fire, Queens- water) and King of Cups (Cups- water, King- fire). How do these two cards read in a similar way?
If this is beyond what you are ready for, no worries. It is merely another layer into tarot if you’re interested.
Numerology & The Court Cards:
The next tool found within tarot, is numerology. If you are at all familiar with the Court Cards, you might be thinking that there are no numbers on the Court Cards! What on earth is she talking about?
A little while ago, I would have been right there with you. That is, until I came across a video that posed the question. So, I gave it some thought and concluded that there are two methods for assigning numbers to the Court Cards.
Each method highlights different attributes found within the Court Cards, and for this reason can be helpful. I still don’t think assigning a specific number would work well, but take a look at these two methods and see if they help with your understanding of the Court Cards at all…
Method One:
As we can see with Method One, this style of numbering unites the Court Cards with the pip cards (#1-10). In this way it offers a continuation to the numerological energy of the suit.
It also keeps the energy moving by having the King become a number five. Since the number four creates a foundation and offers a sense of rest or pause, it can be limiting in energy. While the energy of the five, hints to more to come and a greater potential in life to be found. Especially since the number four isn’t the end (#9) and can become stagnated.
Method Two:
On the other hand, Method Two views the Court Cards as their own entity or group. Seen as their own story arc, the Court Cards then stand on their own, which is in keeping with many tarot books. The authors list the Court Cards after the Major and Minor Arcana pip cards.
If you also take a look at the Major Arcana cards that align with the Court Cards, you can see a little more of a similarity. In this case the Queens align with the number 3 and the Empress, and the Kings align with the number four and the Emperor. This style of numbering also aligns with the meanings found within the Court Cards.
Considering the similarities and insights that we find with both methods of numbering; I don’t consider the Court Cards as numbered during my day to day readings. But it did help me to better understand the cards. With this new perception and the thoughts that came from it, it has helped me in my readings.
Astrology & The Court Cards:
The next tool within tarot is astrology. The energy that comes down from the heavens has the ability to influence our home and us. So, it makes sense that this influence is included in a tool all about life and us.
For this reason, each card within the deck is assigned a zodiac sign, a planet, or both. Except for when we reach the Court Cards. When we get to these puzzling sixteen cards, all bets are off and everything changes.
For some reason, these cards are the most controversial and inconsistent of all of the deck. Even the literature on tarot can’t make up its mind. In my hunt for consistency and accuracy I have hit the books and re-researched tarot.
During the process I have found ideas that I agreed with and others that I thought were completely nuts. In the end, I was unable to find the answer on which sign of the zodiac matches with which Court Card.
Tarot readers can’t even agree on which type of sign (mutable, fixed, cardinal) pairs with which type of Court Card. Lastly, the Pages just seemed gipped.
Since there are 12 zodiac signs and 16 Court Cards, most people don’t assign a sign to the Pages. They just don’t have anything to do with astrology.
In the end, the only safe information I have to share with you at this time, is which three zodiac signs are aligned with which suit…
Since each suit has three zodiac signs I have found people who have assigned the Court Cards one of these three signs. The problem is no-one can seem to agree on which of the three signs.
Next I found a person who gives all three of the zodiac signs to each of the Court Cards within that suit. Talk about confusing! From his perspective (Jack of Wands), the Court Cards exhibit qualities found within all three of the signs. He also uses the Court Cards to identify the zodiac signs of potential people talked about in a reading. This works, if you are well-versed in astrology and know off the top of your head the signs and meanings.
Then to top it all off, my tarot teacher switches the zodiac signs of the Queen of Swords and the Queen of Pentacles. While most people see the Queen of Swords as Virgo energy and the Queen of Pentacles as Aquarius, she flips them.
In her fifty years as a professional tarot reader, she took her work with the cards and her knowledge of astrology and found that it just didn’t work for her. So, she assigned each Court Card (except the Pages) a zodiac sign and flips the two Queens.
What to do…
In short, I have very little to say about the astrological influence within the Court Cards. Since astrology is a secondary tool to tarot, I am not well versed enough to determine which zodiac belongs with which Court Card.
But I think that this confusing conundrum teaches something very important about tarot… The idea that it’s what works for you.
I have come to find that the tools woven within tarot, the cards, the images, and even the meanings are all put there in an effort to get the reader, you, to a place of intuition. They’re just pieces of paper put together into a deck. It could just as easily be 80 cards or 60.
At the end of the day, as you delve into this tool and study the varied layers of the cards, it’s all about you. How does your brain work? How do you see the world? What does your heart feel?
Don’t choose the meanings or the zodiac signs because a book or article say you should, but choose the one that makes sense to your mind. The one that will trigger your intuition and lead you to the answers and help you seek.
The Qabalah & The Court Cards:
The final tool we’ll look into today, is the Tree of Life as it relates to the Court Cards. As a student of the Qabalah, my knowledge is still in the learning phase.
As a result, I will only be covering the basics within this post. If you are familiar with the Qabalah or want to learn more, I encourage you to delve into the relationship with these two tools. With what little work I have begun to do; I have already reaped wonderful benefits from learning more about the Qabalah and tarot. With that said, let me share what I know…
Within the Tree of Life (seen within the formation of pentacles in the 10 of Pentacles) we have 10 circles or Sephiras. These circles create what we commonly know as the Tree of Life.
Each Sephira has its own name, number, and meaning. They connect with one another to not only build the tree, but life itself. For this reason, I almost think of the Tree of Life as a diagram. Demonstrating the path to enlightenment/divine, and the path back to earth and the physical.
In this case, each type of Court Card is assigned a Sephira. But even in the beginning of my studies, I found that not everyone agrees which Sephira belongs with which type of Court Card. With that in mind, I am sharing one potential pairing…
The Pages:
As you can see within this chart, the Pages are connected with Malkuth. As a number ten, it can be reduced through Pythagorean reduction to a one. (10- 1 + 0 = 1). In this case, the Qabalah connects with the First Method of numerology and the Court Cards.
Malkuth is all about the physical of life. Us here on earth (the element of the Pages). Pertaining to our five sense, this Sephira is about our day-to-day life on earth.
In looking at this Sephira with regards to the Pages, we can see this energy works in tandem with what we already know. Since Pages represent children and messages, we can see that Pages are about life here on Earth.
As children, they are connected with their five senses and are not yet old enough to have started critical thinking or spiritual contemplation. While messages are all about relaying thoughts and ideas having to do with our day-to-day life here on Earth.
The Knights:
Since the Knights are connected to Chokmah, they are connected with the second Sephira. Chokmah is about manifestation and the Great Father.
We can see these qualities expressed within the Knights, since they can be the teens or about various journeys we take. With regards to teens or journeys, we can see this quality found within the second Sephira in the form of movement and creation.
As teens, they are in a place in their lives where they are creating friendships, memories, and putting forth the energy and intention to manifest their adult future to come.
With regards to journeys, we create them through intention and putting things in place. Through planning, thinking, ideas, and action we manifest various journeys in our lives.
The Queens:
The third Sephira, Binah, represents understanding, fulfillment, and the Great Mother. In this case, these attributes are commonly found within the Queens of the Court Cards.
Since Queens can represent women, (mothers) we can see this idea of the natural qualities of a mother woven into each Queen. As we begin to study each card’s personalities, we will see the qualities of mother expressed differently between each Queen.
The Queens can also symbolize the internal world of a person, in this case we can see the elements of understanding and fulfillment. When we connect with ourselves, reaching that level of understanding, we are then able to approach life from a place of strength and comfort. We know who we are and where we desire to go.
The Kings:
The last Sephira diverts and jumps to number six, Tepheret. Translated into the word, beauty, this Sephira is all about both aspects of life- sacrifice and redemption. For those of the Hebrew faith, this Sephira is also about messiah figures.
In this case, we can see this energy expressed in the Kings in two distinct ways. The first is the external qualities that the King can represent. While the Queen is about our internal world, the King is about how that translates into the world.
As a result, the Kings can speak about how we weave into the world. Through this idea of sacrifice and redemption we can see how a King might represent a person’s way of working within a community.
The second quality we see is the messiah figure. In this case, the King’s very name links himself to the messiah. Many people associate a messiah figure with that of a King, but of a spiritual base.
What I take from this connection is that we each play a role within the world. We are at times placed in positions of leadership or authority, even if it’s not for an entire nation.
In those instances, we choose what type of leadership we will utilize. Will it be based on spiritual beliefs, practicality, greed? Each King demonstrates different ways of translating who we are into the external world.
Final Thoughts:
With four tools, we can begin to understand the qualities found within the Court Cards. From there we will delve into the personality traits/people/qualities of the cards, their situations, and lastly take a look at their story arc.
Whether you’re knew to tarot or delving deeper, I encourage you to take the time to consider your deck. Do you connect with it? How do you feel about the card’s meanings? What works for you?
With these broad generalizations of the Court Cards it exposes you to the cards and it gives you an opportunity to think about what they mean to you; before we delve into the specifics.