Cards that Taunt...

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Mar 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Goldilocks	17 Mar 2003
Hi, I'm new to this forum! Someone on another board started a thread about which card they identify with most. I have kind of an opposite problem--I have a card that I've been unable to understand. I have had the Knight of Swords appear in almost every reading that I've done for myself for the last seven months. It falls out of the deck when I'm shuffling...I almost feel like the card is taunting me, but I have absolutely no idea what to make of it. It's very frustrating! I'm almost at witt's end! I guess whatever the card is trying to tell me isn't going to go away until I understand it, because it's been appearing for so long now. Does anyone know what this card might be trying to say? Has anyone else had an experience like this with a court card? To make matters worse, in the last reading I did the Knights of Swords, Cups, and Penticles all showed up, with the King of Wands as the outcome. These court cards stump me every time!

Dakini	17 Mar 2003
Check out Thirteen's Tarot Basics, it is very informative IMO and gives meanings on the courts,which I found very helpful. http://www.aeclectic.net/basics/ Welcome to the forum by the way. Bright Blessings Dakini

Goldilocks	17 Mar 2003
Thanks Dakini! I've looked at Thirteen basics, and you're right, they are very well written and very helpful. Unfortunately, I can't think of anyone in particular who behaves as the Knight of Swords, especially someone with a strong enough influence to have this card appear constantly for seven months. It is unusual, because I usually have an impression or a feel for the cards and what they are trying to say, but this one card feels out of reach for some reason, like trying to look through a fog. Do you have any suggestions that might help me overcome this? It's never happened to me before.

Alex	17 Mar 2003
my name? Alex. Quote: Originally posted by Goldilocks Unfortunately, I can't think of anyone in particular who behaves as the Knight of Swords...

HudsonGray	18 Mar 2003
Perhaps the Knight of Swords is an aspect in yourself that's coming out? Are you currently jumping into any fray, surging forward with sword raised, getting into battles of words? Is your aggressive side developing? ___________________________________________ Things in motion tend to stay in motion unless stopped. Yep.

Trogon	18 Mar 2003
Hi again Goldilocks! :D I'd have to agree with HudsonGray. If I had a knight or knights coming up repeatedly in a reading on myself (depending on the position of the cards in the spread, of course) I would have a tendency to think they referred to me in some manner. This is assuming that this knight isn't coming up in a position referring to an outside influence. ;) Just a couple of other thoughts on the subject though... You might want to do is do a study of the court cards. I am currently engaged in just this sort of thing. Pull the card and study it, write down the things that strike you about the picture. What does the person look like? Does their pose hint at motion? Where are they going, what are they looking at, what are they feeling and what type personality traits might this person have? What about their surroundings? How does this apply to the card and the things it's trying to portray? If you are also studying from books, you can compare your thoughts to what is written by others. Write those things down too. I would say that the most important thing in all of this, is writing your thoughts down in a notebook. The actual act of writing can help you to remember these things, to set them in your mind. Right now, since my shift at work is over, I don't have time to comment on these cards themselves. Will do so tonight when I come back in though...

fatham	18 Mar 2003
if it is someone you know, think of the element related and the astrological signs that go with it. Then think of people that you know close to you with those signs. It could even be someone you don't know yet. If your into astrology they could be speaking to you this way.

Thirteen	21 Mar 2003
The Knight of Swords is most frequently related to Gemini (very talkative!)--and like all Knights, his job is to get out the word on the kingdom (Pages might indicate that you'll receive a short e-mail or phone call or letter. Knights that you, yourself, will get on-line, or go to someone to "spread the word" to discuss something with them). Think of him this way: *He's on a horse, so he leaves the Kingdom, travels, encounters and interacts with a lot of strangers--including hostile strangers and enemies. *He wears the armor and sigil of that Kingdom, and so is their represenative. *He is fiercely loyal to that Kingdom, it's defender, and so will fight for what Kingdom is all about. A Knight is a soldier, a symbol of war. *He is young, and so filled with energy, passion, belief and purpose--powerfully so, as only the young can be. He will fight and die for his beliefs, he will follow them to extremes. *Last--and we'll come back to this--he's a Knight, an apprentice, if you will. He isn't an Earl or a Duke or a King. He serves the King. And in this service, he learns the ways of the world, so one day he, himself, may be a ruler. In the Thoth Deck, you don't have Knights, you have Princes--Kings in training. I agree with others that this is a message to you about yourself. As it is swords, it has to do with words or writing, justice, knowledge, or reason. Hudsongray is spot on--the first thing I would wonder is if you'd been getting into any passionate arguments of late--ESPECIALLY on-line, where discussion really is ALL words, not a fight between bodies as well. If not, then the next thing I wonder is the opposite--are you holding back? Do you want to enter into discussions--one in particular (perhaps with a parent, significant other, boss? Someone with more power than you, someone who is good with words?)--but check yourself. Do you want to fight (argue with a relative at the dinner table? With a teacher about a test? In an online political discussion?)--but feel that you can't really say the words you want to say? That you're just a Knight of words, not a King? Quote: To make matters worse, in the last reading I did the Knights of Swords, Cups, and Penticles all showed up, with the King of Wands as the outcome Indication that passion is King, in your case. But you are still learning how to funnel that passion into words (sword), feelings (cup), physical expression (pentacle). These are still Knights, still in training. This would indicate to me that opposite view i pointed out--that you want to express yourself, but you're not. Are you avoiding an argument you ought to be having? Perhaps the Knight keeps turning up because he wants you to open your mouth or write down exactly what you feel. He's taunting you--challenging you--to speak your mind rather than keep the peace.

WolfSpirit	22 Mar 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Goldilocks Has anyone else had an experience like this with a court card? Hi Goldilocks, my reappearing court is the page of pentacles. It is a card that is maybe a bit overlooked in readings where there are more dramatic cards and it is also a card I will not easily choose to identify with...an empress or high priestess is so much more appealing :laugh: But since this page keeps popping up I can't avoid him and I think he is telling me to make new beginnings and not to get carried away too much, let it develop slowly like plants in a garden. So maybe I should be happy with my page. It sometimes surprises me he keeps popping up though. I try different sources (other books etc.) to find further meanings for this card bu I haven't found any big revelations yet ;)

Goldilocks	22 Mar 2003
Wow, Thirteen, thank you! That's a fantastic interpretation! You're right, I have been avoiding having a discussion with someone, but I wouldn't have viewed the topic as being of an intellectual nature or involving any justice...although it does make some sense. I'm going to print out and reread your impressions, and I'm sure I'll be able to deal with the matter more quickly. There's only one or two issues that have lingered in my life for this long duration, so it certainly makes it easier to discern which one it is. I didn't realise that the card was connected to Gemini either--another interesting observation. The funniest part is that--without really considering what I was doing--I decided to start taking fencing classes last week! That must be my subconscious mind trying to make connections for me, because I didn't realise the correlation until yesterday. I've got to admit though, sword play is fun and a great source of exercise! :) Thanks again to everyone for their input, and I'm going to keep coming to these boards for good advice and ideas! Goldilocks

The Cards that Taunt... thread was originally posted on 17 Mar 2003 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.