Learn about the Court Cards in Tarot, the Page, Knight, Queen, and King meaning.
The Tarot Court Cards are the Page, Knight, Queen, and King in each of the four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. They represent people, personality traits, and energies that show up in a reading. From the Page’s inexperience to the King’s maturity, the Court Cards reveal different stages of growth and mastery.
The Court Cards in Tarot are some of the most mysterious and misunderstood figures in the Tarot. Unlike the Major Arcana (big life themes) and the Minor Arcana (daily influences), the court cards often represent people, personalities, or energies that influence your reading.
They are divided into four suits, Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles, and each suit has four roles: Page, Knight, Queen, and King. Together, these sixteen cards act like a Tarot “family,” showing us different stages of growth, levels of mastery, and styles of expression.
Many readers struggle with the courts because they can be read as:
- People (someone in your life or yourself)
- Traits or qualities (a personality influence)
- Energy (a way of approaching a situation)
The Journey of the Court Cards
Each rank reflects a different stage of development:
- Page – The student or beginner. Represents curiosity, inexperience, and the spark of new potential.
- Knight – The adventurer. Brings movement, drive, and sometimes recklessness. Knights pursue their goals passionately, but are not always balanced.
- Queen – The nurturer. Symbolizes mastery on an inner level, emotional intelligence, intuition, and the ability to guide or care for others.
- King – The leader. Represents maturity, authority, and experience. Kings embody external mastery, showing control and responsibility.
This progression, from the Page’s raw curiosity to the King’s seasoned wisdom, mirrors how we grow through different stages of life and learning.
*The Court Cards are grouped with the Minor Arcana, but they have their own patterns and meanings, so they get a page of their own
Court Cards by Suit
Wands Courts – Passion, Action, Creativity
Cups Courts – Emotions, Love, Intuition
Swords Courts – Intellect, Truth, Challenge
Pentacles Courts – Grounding, Work, Abundance
The Court Cards are like the faces of the Tarot, showing you the energies, personalities, and archetypes that guide your story. Whether they represent a real person or a way of approaching a challenge, they add a deeply personal layer to your readings.
Court Cards Tarot FAQ
What are the Court Cards in Tarot?
The Court Cards are the Page, Knight, Queen, and King in each of the four suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. They represent people, personality traits, or energies in a reading.
How do you read Court Cards?
Court Cards can show up as actual people, personality traits, or symbolic energies. Pages represent beginnings, Knights action, Queens inner mastery, and Kings leadership.
Why are Court Cards hard to interpret?
They can mean multiple things depending on context, a person, a trait, or an energy, which makes them feel more complex than other Tarot cards.