Lesson One – Memorizing the Classic Card Meanings

“People” or Court Cards”

Traditionally the kings, queens, knights, and pages of the Tarot deck are defined as the interpersonal aspect, the “people cards,” representing people around us or personality traits within us.  No longer arcane and enigmatic images on dog-eared cards, for me the Tarot court card figures represent dynamic and powerful archetypal forces. They embody and communicate primordial patterns of relationship and personal expression, reflecting a perennial wisdom that reverberates through all manifestation.
Kate Warwick-Smith

Learning Your “Court” Cards

In the classic Tarot decks, the Court cards are named Kings, Queens, Knights and Pages. Early interpreters of the Tarot drew upon the notion of “Royal Court” in the design of this section of the Tarot.  Royalty was believed by earlier generations to be representatives of the divine on earth.  This is why early Popes were Caesars, and manifestations of God in traditional religions were Princes (ie. Christ was a descendent from the House of David, Buddha was a prince who relinquished all his material wealth).

A more appropriate, and less hierarchal name for the court cards is “People” cards They can be better remembered and understood as representations of four families.

The Wands family; fiery, passionate, creative, boisterous, exciting is also overbearing, domineering, and judgmental. In a visit with the Wands/Flames family, you might experience them as passionate, energetic, hot-headed, opinionated, and creative.

The Cups family; intuitive, unstructured, affectionate is also mercurial, changeable to the point of non-commitment. They are challenged in remaining grounded. If you were visiting a Cups family, you might describe them as highly intuitive, perceptive, empathetic, impractical, and visionary.

The Swords family; brilliant of mind, clear headed, non-judgmental. They are analytical, debating, well spoken and well read.  In visiting them, you might find them intellectually stimulating, combatant, well informed, and physically undemonstrative.

The Disks/Pentacle family; appreciation for the finer things in life, beautiful music, cozy surroundings, good food, lots of laughter. This family might also present materialistic, resistant to change, and prejudicial. In visiting their home, you would find it filled with beautiful things, abundant with delicious food and relaxing atmosphere, warmth, generosity, and tradition.

People Card Occupations

Wands: inventors, administrators, teachers, mentors, innovators, diplomats, politicians, competitors, salespeople, leaders, wheelers and dealers, seekers of spiritual knowledge, business consultants, managers.

Cups: mental health professionals, social workers, hypnotherapists, artists, musicians, spiritual healers, psychics, astrologers, drug and alcohol counselors, lovers of the arts and music.

Swords: scientists, researchers, engineers, writers, mediators, lawyers, military personnel, computer consultants, methods analysts, travel agents, pilots, Secret Service, detectives, surgeons, problem solvers, thinkers.

Disks/Pentacles: doctors, dentists, craftspeople, bakers, students, builders, construction workers, herbalists, farmers, gardeners, money and property managers, hair and beauty operators, gamblers, athletes, dancers, massage practitioners.

GO TO WORKBOOK 

Examine and reflect on each of the people card families in your deck.

Which of the people cards best represents you?  I’ve always identified with the Queen and Mother of Cups, but as I age, I’ve noticed this shifting to a cross between the Knight of Wands and the Queen of Cups. I’m intuitive (as I’m sure you are too or you wouldn’t be taking this course), emotionally attuned, and fiery with spirit, determination and creativity.

Journal your associations to families you know that remind you of these Tarot families.  When I was working to memorize my cards this worked wonders for me!  Every time a people card came up in a reading, a person I know would immediately pop into my head.  This provided immediate and accurate recall. Many Taroists will claim that the people cards are the most difficult to learn and read but I never found this to be the case due to using this method of association.  We remember the people we have emotional interaction with in our lives – apply these relationships to your people cards and what seems quite difficult will become amazingly simple.  Personalize your decks and the memorization work moves along at an accelerated rate.

Exercise 1

Read the “Court Card” chart in Giles 1996 pp. 146 – 148

Exercise 2

Find 5 web sites by published, well known Tarot Masters and critique them (hint:  check out the authors recommended on your resource list).

Interview these Taroists via email and ask them,

“What decks do read?”

“Which decks would you recommend?”

“What is your philosophy of the Tarot?”

“What school of Tarot thought do you adhere to?”

“How did you become a Tarot reader?”

Exercise 3

List more occupations that would fit with each Suit family.  What challenges would a Sword person face in a counseling profession?

Exercise 4

DECK COMPARISON 

Go to Tarot sites on the Internet that have full colour pictures of Tarot decks.  Compare and contrast your deck with 3 other decks that appealed to you. 

Preparation for Module 2 The Tarot Epic 

Giles (1992) – pp. 22 – 62

Lesson One

• Introduction to Minor Arcana
• Number Symbolism in the Pip/Number Arcana
• Introduction to Major Arcana
• Introduction to People and Court Cards