To sum up a spread - what number is a King?

[H-Revolution]

Originally Posted by rwcarter

Unless the court cards in the deck you're using have numbers on them, I also wouldn't use court cards when trying to come up with the quintessence/summary card.

Good point! Thank you so much!

[prudence]

Originally Posted by Amanda_04

..14..

I got 13....did you consider the court to be "1" ?

Also, I never add the courts, only the numbered cards.

[rwcarter]

Originally Posted by prudence

I got 13....did you consider the court to be "1" ?

Also, I never add the courts, only the numbered cards.

As the last pip is Ten, if you order the Courts Page, Knight, Queen and King, their numbers would be 11, 12, 13 and 14 (King) if one were assigning numbers to them.

But if the deck you're using has Prince, Princess, King, Queen, then the King would be 13 instead of 14.

[Sulis]

Since the court cards aren't numbered, I don't assign any numbers to them.

[Cenozoic]

If the deck came with numbered court cards, then you can use that number. If not included then it's up to you if you want to assign them with one.

So for you, you could have the answer:

King rx + VI Lovers + Seven of Cups


King rx = 14

14 + 6 + 7 = 27
2+7 = 9
= IX Hermit

Or you could have it negative:

King rx = -14

-14 + 6 + 7 = -1
= I Magician rx

Or you could have no number for the courts:

King rx = 0
0 + 6 + 7 = 13
= XVIII Death


It's really personal preference. I do what most of the others do, which would be the last method. I just leave the courts as no number, and leave the quint number as a positive one. But do what's most comfortable for you.

[H-Revolution]

Originally Posted by rwcarter

As the last pip is Ten, if you order the Courts Page, Knight, Queen and King, their numbers would be 11, 12, 13 and 14 (King) if one were assigning numbers to them.

But if the deck you're using has Prince, Princess, King, Queen, then the King would be 13 instead of 14.

Thank you. Makes sense now!

[H-Revolution]

Originally Posted by Sulis

Since the court cards aren't numbered, I don't assign any numbers to them.

Thank you, Sulis!

[H-Revolution]

Originally Posted by Cenozoic

If the deck came with numbered court cards, then you can use that number. If not included then it's up to you if you want to assign them with one.

So for you, you could have the answer:

King rx + VI Lovers + Seven of Cups


King rx = 14

14 + 6 + 7 = 27
2+7 = 9
= IX Hermit

Or you could have it negative:

King rx = -14

-14 + 6 + 7 = -1
= I Magician rx

Or you could have no number for the courts:

King rx = 0
0 + 6 + 7 = 13
= XIII Death


It's really personal preference. I do what most of the others do, which would be the last method. I just leave the courts as no number, and leave the quint number as a positive one. But do what's most comfortable for you.

This is really helpful, thanks! Fwiw I did what most people seem to do (no number for the courts) and ended up with Death. Not the most uplifting summary but at least there's no confusion about what the cards are trying to tell me

[cmarie]

I usually do not count the courts, but when I do I give the Kings 2, because that is their place on the tree of life. Just another option!

and Amanda, I never thought of adding negative numbers on the reversals - very interesting idea!