Tarot · 24 June 2026 · Charlotte Himsworth
The Court Cards: Pages, Knights, Queens and Kings
Sixteen characters, four stages of maturity, each a part of ourselves.
Each tarot suit has four court cards: a Page, a Knight, a Queen and a King. Together the sixteen court cards are some of the most human images in the deck.
Four stages
One gentle way to read them is as stages of maturity. The Page is the student, curious and fresh. The Knight is the adventurer, moving with energy. The Queen is inner mastery, receptive and wise. The King is outer mastery, steady and responsible.
Parts of ourselves
Court cards can describe other people, but they are often more interesting as parts of ourselves. We all have an eager Page of Cups or a decisive Queen of Swords within us.
Elements meeting elements
In many traditions, each court rank also carries an element, so a Knight of Cups might be read as fire within water: passionate feeling in motion.
A practice
Look through the court cards and choose the one you most resemble today, and the one you would like to grow towards. What quality would bring you one step closer?