Okay, so the other day, I decided to do a little experiment with the Thoth tarot deck. I’ve been messing around with tarot for a while now, but the court cards always gave me a bit of trouble. You know, the Pages, Knights, Queens, and Kings – they’re supposed to represent people or aspects of personality, but sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly what they’re trying to tell you.
So, I thought, “Why not try to come up with some simple keywords for each of these court cards?” Something to help me remember their basic meanings and how they might relate to a specific question. It is said that these cards show how a person thinks, feels, and acts. They also tell us how mature the person is.
My Process
First, I laid out all the court cards from the Thoth deck. This deck is a bit different from the more common Rider-Waite deck. It was designed by Aleister Crowley, and the artwork is by Lady Frieda Harris. It’s pretty intense and full of symbolism. Some people called it The Book of Thoth.
I started with the Pages. Now, in the Thoth deck, they’re called Princesses, but the idea is similar. They usually represent a new beginning, a fresh perspective, or maybe someone who’s just starting out on their journey. So, for the Princesses, I jotted down some keywords like:
- Princess of Wands: Energetic, enthusiastic, adventurous, new project
- Princess of Cups: Sensitive, intuitive, creative, new emotions
- Princess of Swords: Curious, analytical, communicative, new ideas
- Princess of Disks: Practical, grounded, resourceful, new opportunities
Next up were the Knights. These guys are all about action and movement. They’re the doers, the ones who charge ahead and make things happen. In the Thoth deck, they’re just called Knights. My keywords for them were:
- Knight of Wands: Passionate, impulsive, dynamic, taking action on a project
- Knight of Cups: Romantic, idealistic, compassionate, taking action on feelings
- Knight of Swords: Assertive, intellectual, direct, taking action on ideas
- Knight of Disks: Reliable, methodical, patient, taking action on practical matters
Then came the Queens. They represent a more mature, nurturing energy. They’re the ones who guide and support, often from behind the scenes. Here’s what I came up with:
- Queen of Wands: Confident, independent, inspiring, nurturing through action
- Queen of Cups: Loving, empathetic, intuitive, nurturing through emotions
- Queen of Swords: Intelligent, perceptive, honest, nurturing through clear communication
- Queen of Disks: Practical, generous, down-to-earth, nurturing through providing stability
Finally, we have the Kings. They’re the rulers, the authority figures. They represent mastery and control in their respective suits. However, in the Thoth deck, they are also called Knights. So it is a little bit confusing. Anyway, I wrote:
- Knight(King) of Wands: Charismatic, authoritative, visionary, leading with passion
- Knight(King) of Cups: Diplomatic, compassionate, wise, leading with empathy
- Knight(King) of Swords: Strategic, rational, just, leading with intellect
- Knight(King) of Disks: Stable, dependable, responsible, leading with practicality
Result
After writing down these keywords, I tried doing a few readings, keeping them in mind. And you know what? It actually helped! When a court card popped up, I could quickly refer to my keywords and get a better sense of what it might be trying to communicate in the context of the reading. Before this, I didn’t realize that tarot card reading could help gain insight into the past, present, or future. I think it is so cool. It is like having a little cheat sheet for the personalities of the tarot deck.
Of course, this is just my personal interpretation. Tarot is a very intuitive practice, and what works for one person might not work for another. But if you’re struggling with the court cards, maybe give this keyword exercise a try. It might just help you connect with those royal figures a little bit better. I am so excited to share this and maybe I will do some similar experiments about Major Arcana later!
