Our journey with the tarot deck, has led us through each of the various cards. We have known the different teachers in the Major Arcana, the various incarnations of the Fool in the Minor Arcana pip cards (#1-10), and now we reach the Pages.
These four Court Cards are ¼ of all the various personality types that cover the entire human spectrum. For that reason, their personality types while narrowed, are also expansive in meaning.
As a result, it can be challenging to get an exact handle on what these cards have to say. For that reason, we will only be looking at the Pages and their personalities within this post.
If you have a tarot deck handy, I strongly encourage you to pull out your Pages and have them on hand. Take some time to sit with these cards and really look at the images before you, as you compare them to their personalities…
Pages: (Knaves or Princess)
With these four Court Cards (one for each suit), we encounter the different personalities of children or grandchildren. These cards can also be read as various personality traits that the Querant or Seeker needs to utilize or avoid in order to be successful. Lastly, these cards can represent personality traits at play directed by other people, so you know what to look out for.
Since Pages are representative of children, the personality traits we find within these cards revolve around qualities found within a person who is inexperienced in the ways of the world. Combining both the innocence and studious/curious nature of children, with their passion and youthful enthusiasm.
When the Pages present themselves, they can represent the Seeker as they enter into new beginnings or experiences. As they too are beginners or inexperienced.
Lastly, Pages can represent the qualities of our inner child. We can see this influence with the element of earth, used in conjunction with all of the Pages. Our inner child is born from the embodiment of the wilderness.
Rather than tame, this child is of the Earth. Nature is where one finds, soothes, heals, and re-centers themselves with their inner child. As is nature, this passion and energy comes from the untamed, so it’s not systematic but rather organic.
The Higher & Lower Vibrations: Understanding the Qualities Found Within the Cards
In all of my research, various teachers have addressed the positive and negative attributes of the Court Cards in various ways. Some read the positive attributes as the cards right-side-up, and the negative attributes as reversed. While other tarot readers reference these attributes as the higher or lower polarities of the cards.
As a result, I will be sharing the traits of these Pages as higher and lower vibrations. In truth we are a balancing of both light and dark energies. Moments where we are well-mannered and moments where we struggle and as a result are less polite.
Since the Court Cards strive to represent people, the good and bad, I will be sharing the positive and negative attributes of each card. We can also see how a personality trait can become positive or negative depending on the manner in which they are expressed in life.
Lastly, each Court Card has been connected to one of the 16 Myers-Briggs personalities. This is just another way that you can study the Court Cards. If you are unfamiliar with the Meyers-Briggs test, don’t feel pressured to pursue this avenue of study at this time.
Page of Wands: Earth + Fire / INTP
Wand Children:
When we combine fire and earth energy, we encounter the active child. These children are physically active, wild, and rugged. When they are exhibiting a higher vibration, they are fun to be around because they are always off on an adventure.
However, when these children are experiencing a lower vibration, they can become lost in their adventure. Their tons of energy can create the energizer bunny that can’t be wrangled. This energy can also twist their mood around. No-longer fun, they can become the negative child.
Personality Traits:
In keeping with the personalities of a child, the Page of Wands can be about having a positive attitude. When this card presents itself, it can represent a person who is physically active. With a curious mind, they are passionate about life, and share their contagious energy with those around them.
When you take a deeper look at the adventures they are on, you might discover a deeper reason behind their journeys. In their heart of hearts, they are searching for the magic of life and maybe even some hidden meanings.
If this is not representative of a specific person in a reading, it can mean needing to open your heart to the messages being sent by the Universe. The Page of Wands can also be about taking on a new perspective or approach to an old relationship/friendship/connection in order to see things in a new light or in a new way. Lastly, this card can symbolize a need for healthy, strong, and good communication.
When exhibiting a lower vibration, the Page of Wands can be representative of more negative personality traits. This can be seen when the card is surrounded by negative cards, holds a negative position in a spread, or is drawn reversed.
In this case, the Page of Wands is representative of having a negative attitude. In addition, tantrums, defensive mannerisms, denial, and ignoring the problem or their responsibility are all possible meanings. When experiencing a lower vibration, the Page of Wands can represent a person who has lost their spark or spunk. They become edgy, self-absorbed, and communication problems arise.
Page of Cups: Earth + Water / INFP
Cup Children:
Page of Cup children are the emotion-based children in the world. While the Page of Wands is all about the physical in action and sensation, the Page of Cups lives life based off their heart.
These sweet and sensitive children are known to embody tenderness and exude a sense of innocence. Since they are emotion based it can be common that these are your late bloomers. Having a creative outlet will benefit these children greatly.
When they are experiencing a higher vibration, these children are in-tune with the world around them and the things not being said. However, when in their lower vibration they can become emotional, weak, overly sensitive, and irrational.
To better understand this state, think of a pitcher of water. When you pour the pitcher of water into a glass or into the sink, the water itself changes shape. Water while intuitive and sensitive lacks a definitive shape.
Page of Cup children need structure or shape in order to truly flourish. It is from their support system that they can feel settled, comfortable, and safe. Without it, they can impressionable and wishy-washy in nature.
Personality Traits:
In keeping with Page of Cup children, the personality traits we see represented by this card revolves around emotional matters and intuition. Here we see people who are learning to express their emotions.
A dreamer or mystical energy surrounds this card. When it appears in a spread it can be talking about a person who is immersed in a world of emotions. Since Pages are children, the qualities of emotions and intuitions are young or being newly learned when seen in a reading.
It is when we travel to the Knights, Queens, and then Kings that we see more growth in these matters. Pages are most commonly about exposure, learning, or the young aspects of these personality types. In this case, the Page of Cups can talk about needing to have childhood trust born from a young heart.
When discussing a lower vibration, this card is about an abundance of emotions that leads the person in question to be lost within their own internal world. They can even appear passive or subservient, pliable like the water.
In even more negative instances, when surrounded by negative cards, the Page of Cups can represent a person who is too trusting or naive. Their emotions are pouring out of them uncontrollably.
They can become moody, taking too many emotional chances. The Page of Cups can also be representative of emotional walls created in order to keep people safe. You will need to look at the surrounding cards in order to know if these walls are healthy or not, or if they are still needed.
Lastly, when expressing a lower vibration, the Page of Cups can be representative of a person who wants to be loved so much, that they compromise their own morals and self in order to attain their desire. They can ignore corrections or directions to help resolve their behaviors.
Page of Swords: Earth + Air / ISTP
Sword Children:
When the Page of Swords comes up in a reading about a child, there is sadness. Most children are not born as Swords, but rather through their lives become them, due to trauma, the need for survival, or exposure to Sword energy.
While the Suit of Swords isn’t always negative and actually has some wonderful cards revolving around truth and morals, the Page of Swords is not a happy card when referencing children.
These children are on guard. For whatever reason, they don’t feel it is safe to be themselves or vulnerable. As a result, they are always in disguise. They obscure their quick mind and are decisive with their hearts (quick judges of character).
This change in children can come from abuse, survival or coping mechanisms (especially if they started out as Page of Cups and had no support for their big hearts), or it can be taught. If born into a racist, hateful, or damaging family, they can be taught “the ways of the world,” not knowing any other way to be.
When the Page of Swords is in a lower vibration, this card becomes representative of the “troubled” child. Either through behavior or a physical/mental disability. This card can be representative of autism, Asperger’s, as well as other medical disabilities.
These children are highly reactive by nature. They often times don’t hear what people have to say. Their communication skills may be limited to physical acts such as hitting. While hard to decipher, for whatever reason this is the best they can do to convey what they are thinking or feeling.
Personality Traits:
While the Page of Swords as children is generally not a happy story, the same can’t be said for the personality traits. What might by seen as wounds or coping mechanisms in children, can become healthy and unhealthy personality traits in adults.
On the higher scale of vibrations, the Page of Swords represents a person who is learning the value of knowledge. They are experiencing a change in their mental processes and self-identity. This new layer of self-understanding helps them take the next step in their growth.
Intelligent, precise, curious, and determined, these qualities help them master and control the things that interest them. From their perspective, this master and control provides them a freedom from fear and mundane insecurities (money, job, or even their bodies).
When expressing the lower vibrations, the Page of Swords can be representative of a person who has no filter. Their reactive behavior can stem from their morals. In this case, their truths must be held and defended to the point of unbending rigidity.
This card can also be about gossip, manipulation, and deceitfulness. Since these people are worried about life, themselves, and reaching their dreams or impressing those they respect, they can become on guard and even sneaky.
An uncompromising attitude stems from a need for control and hides all their insecurities. When they become caught up in their own growth and mastery, they can overlook others and their needs.
Lastly, the Page of Swords when seen in the worst light can be about harsh words and criticism. Going so far as to represent spying, suspicion, deviousness, and jealousy.
Page of Pentacles: Earth + Earth / ISFP
Pentacle Children:
The final Page deviates from the Page of Wands, Cups, and Swords. Instead the Page of Pentacles represent children who demonstrate qualities found within each of the previous Pages.
These children are your old souls. As young people, they don’t really fit in. This can come from a place of feeling disconnected or out of sync from the other children around them.
Since they have a hard time relating to the topics, hobbies, or perceptions of the other children, they can be quiet and introverted. Either having one or two close friends or many acquaintances.
The reason behind their many acquaintances is that Page of Pentacle children have qualities found within the other three Pages, but not enough to really connect on a deep and consistent level. So, they drift from one acquaintance to the next, in order to meet their physical, mental, and emotional needs.
They are physical like the Page of Wands. However rather than delving into a physical activity like sports, they are more drawn to nature and the seclusion it offers. While physically adventurous, it also acts as a natural shield from the outside world.
Like the Page of Cups, Page of Pentacle children are also very intuitive. They can come across and ethereal, lost or rather veiled. Their identities are hard to get to know. Their inner wisdom comes partly from this world and what they feel and observe, and the other half from the unseen.
When representing the lower vibrations, the Page of Pentacles has a lot in common with the Page of Swords. Due to the age or maturity already found within the Page of Pentacle children, they can build walls in order to protect themselves. Sometimes not even speaking during their early years of development.
They can detest school because they have a hard time interacting with the other students. When in a lower vibration, these children lack the patience, compassion, and acceptance for the class clown and the ineptitude or lack of dedication by some children.
Personality Traits:
While the Page of Pentacle children can seem obscure or hard to pinpoint, the same cannot be said for the personality traits you find within this card. In children, the maturity and wisdom of these old souls can leave them out of step with their peers, but in adults these qualities can be rather wonderful.
In this case, the Page of Pentacles is known as the scholar. The childlike energy here is demonstrated through deep curiosity, focus, and studious behavior. This is your practical dreamer.
They are committed to learning and the bigger picture. As a result, they fully commit to things, knowing how big the project might be. These long-term goals lead them down elaborate paths of exploration and shine a light on their determination.
With a practical attitude, this card can also represent a person who is inexperienced. When considering the qualities found within a child, this card can present itself in a reading when the Seeker is new to a hobby or area of life.
They are entering the stage of the scholar. Where they currently lack hands-on experience, but probably have done their research about others who have had the experience.
When expressing the lower vibrations, the Page of Pentacles represent people who have lost their way. Their steadfast nature seems to have deserted them and they can become unpredictable.
Sometimes this can be a necessary step in their journey, allowing for a reassessment of their lives and who they are. Or it can be representative of a loss in judgment, even representing retail therapy. Where a person has lost that practical attitude and is acting without a balance or unity with their mind, body, heart, and soul.
Final Thoughts:
After having read about the four Pages, take out your deck or take another look at the picture of the Pages, and consider each card. How might you remember their meanings?
Do the images help you? Are the elements helpful? Can you think of anyone from your childhood or a child you know who might embody one of the four Pages?
Ultimately, each tarot reader creates their own unique connection with the cards. What you’ve just read came from deep study and many resources. I not only took the notes from my tarot classes, but the insights of different tarot readers. Lastly, I pulled every deck I own, read the meanings according to these various decks, and then sat with the cards themselves.
While these meanings are meant to guide and direct you to how to read the cards, by working with these cards yourself you will be able to create a stronger connection.
How do you understand the children and personality traits represented by the Pages?