Interpreting Court Cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 Sep 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Macavity	18 Sep 2003
No, not really a review, just hoping to give a "heads-up" on a new book added to my little Tarot library that will perhaps help me with using tarot cards! ;) There seem to be rather few books that address the Court Cards specifically (one of my own blind spots) and this one looks to have potential. Briefly, the book is called "The Tarot Court Cards" (Archetypal Patterns of relationship in the Minor Arcana) by Kate Warwick-Smith and is reviewed on Aeclectic here. The thing that appeals most to me is that the author uses a "Qabalistic Equation" combining Suite & Level (Qabalistic World!) into a modern psychopherapeutic interpretation of the Courts in a: "supporter/detractor" & "resource/challenge" role. As the review says, it works if you subscribe to the theory! This does seem to fit rather well into my own "Thoth-philosophy" (it is deck independent) but, above all, is fairly memorable - For a change? Hope this gives someone ideas... :) Macavity P.S. Hmmm... "How do YOU use court cards" might make an interesting poll sometime? })

HOLMES	18 Sep 2003
i find the book good, and in depth . i havne't yet learned the courts cards as detractor and such yet, i am still working with the qablistic equation. example instead of saying fire in the water world i say spirt in the emotional world. and that makes it easier for me to understand. i wonder if the mary k greer book tarot court will deal with that as well ? (i haven't heard nothing about that particual book since tarot reversals ) i find the book by smith easier to understand then discovering yourself through tarot book.

Kiama	18 Sep 2003
I have not yet read the book, but recently I have finally cracked the Court cards, and worked out a way I can understand them all. I keep in mind the suit they are in, and ascribe something to each suit: Pentacles = work, earthy matters, or practicality. Swords = Conflicts or Intellect/Wisdom Wands = Sexuality, phallus, or self. Cups = Love or emotions. I then noted the common 'theme' with each Court Card: For instance, all the Knights (or Princes) seem to be searching for something. All the Pages (or Princesses) seem to be the early form of something. So, I worked this out: Kings = Master Queens = Channel (being Water of Water, she is the most receptive of the lot, and therefore is a channel for whatever her suit is.) Knights = Questers Pages = The First Stirring. I then put the Suit and Court together, to get: Master of Intellect/Conflict (King of Swords): this is a person who knows how to handle a sword (in other words, his mind and wit). He has mastered the art of philosophy, etc, but also the art of conflict. (That's the King of Swords in brief to me) Channel of Intellect/Conflict (Queen of Swords): she is the channel through which intellect flows. Quester for Intellect/Conflict (Knight of Swords): this person is constantly searching for new things to learn about, but because he is Air of Air, he never stays at one thing too long, and therefore knows a little about everything, but has no speciality. He is also very aggressive and constantly looks for a fight. The First Stirring of Intellect (Page of Swords): I left the conflict part out of this one, because it doesn't seem to fit. This is a person who represents the new ideas, the initial stirring on intellgence within somebody. The Master of Emotions, the King of Cups, has learned how to master his own emotions and guide others with theirs. He can also heal emotionally because of this mastery. I won't go into the rest, but some that I feel strike me as particularly useful are: Channel of Phalluses/Self/Sexuality (Queen of Wands): she simply exudes self-confidence and sensuality/sexuality. Quester for Emotions/Love (Knight of Cups): he is always searching for love (think Romeo). There is alot more I could write, but this is it in brief. I found that meditating on what it means to be a 'Master' of the suits or a 'Channel' of the suits, for instance, really helps me understand these cards. I find that taking them away from the traditional heirarchy and gender really helps aswell, since the Queen/King/Page/Knight thing never really gave me any hints as to the meanings of the cards. I have begun to really understand the Court Cards now that I have worked out a system that works for me. Blessings, Kiama

Macavity	18 Sep 2003
Yep Holmes and Good Stuff Kiama :) And not that different from the book? And indeed a bit of constructive thought helps here. With hinesight things do look less daunting. For interest (and hopefully not giving too much away other than free publicity!) Here's one of the cross correspondences ("supporter" role) from the Warwick-Smith book: Code:          Wands              Cups          Swords      Pentacles King     Spiritual Elder    Benefactor    Adviser     Mentor Queen    Seer               Confidante    Exactor     Healer Knight   Light Bringer      Lover         Champion    Protector Page     Child              Idol          Student     Apprentice I wasn't quite sure what an "Exactor" was, but it's basically someone who keeps us on our toes - As perhaps a Queen of Swords might? The "Light Bringer" made me think... Lucifer (doh!), but is more of a joy-bringer. And, as mentioned before, there's a lot more... the "detractor" to the above and the "resource / challenge" categories etc. etc. Anyway, since I've tried (basically) Guesswork, "Astrology", Myers-Briggs etc., this "multiplication method" does indeed seem a way to go. At least for those who like having some kind of system going on behind the scenes! ;) Macavity

DesertHowler	18 Sep 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Kiama I find that taking them away from the traditional heirarchy and gender really helps aswell, since the Queen/King/Page/Knight thing never really gave me any hints as to the meanings of the cards. I have begun to really understand the Court Cards now that I have worked out a system that works for me. [/b] Thank you. That helps a bunch as I'm just a beginner. DH

The Interpreting Court Cards thread was originally posted on 18 Sep 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.