Court Cards in Tarot – Page, Knight, Queen & King

Understanding Personality Archetypes & Maturity Levels in the Tarot

The Court Cards are the 16 personality-based cards in the Minor Arcana. Each suit — Cups, Pentacles, Swords and Wands — contains four court cards: Page, Knight, Queen, and King.

Unlike numbered cards, Court Cards typically represent:

• Personality traits and archetypes
• Emotional and spiritual maturity
• Life roles such as parent, leader, student, or partner
• People influencing your situation
• Aspects of yourself to embody or learn from

Quick Summary of Court Cards

Pages represent beginnings. Knights represent action. Queens represent emotional mastery. Kings represent leadership and authority.

This guide is part of our complete Tarot Card Meanings series, designed for beginners and advanced readers alike.

The Four Court Card Archetypes

Page – The Student & Messenger

Pages represent curiosity, learning, and youthful energy. They symbolize messages, new ideas, or someone still developing emotionally or spiritually.

Pages may indicate:

• New opportunities
• Messages or news arriving
• Immaturity or growth potential
• Exploration and discovery

Knight – The Action Taker

Knights represent ambition, movement, and pursuit. Each Knight expresses their suit’s energy actively and boldly.

Knights may indicate:

• Rapid progress
• Determination
• Conflict or urgency
• Chasing goals or desires

Queen – Emotional & Inner Mastery

Queens embody emotional maturity, intuition, and internal strength. They symbolize nurturing leadership and inner wisdom.

• Compassion and empathy
• Inner power
• Emotional intelligence
• Supportive leadership

King – Authority & External Mastery

Kings represent authority, leadership, responsibility, and mastery. They express the outward and structured version of their suit’s energy.

• Leadership roles
• Responsibility and control
• Strategic decision-making
• Dominant personality traits

Court Cards by Suit

Each suit expresses its court cards differently depending on its element.

How to Interpret Court Cards in a Tarot Reading

• Specific people in your life
• Current emotional state
• Personality influencing your decisions
• Maturity level to embody

Consider the suit, surrounding cards, context, and position in the spread for accurate interpretations.

Court Cards in Love, Career & Personal Growth

Each Court Card can show how a person approaches relationships, career goals, or personal development. For example, a Knight of Cups may indicate romantic action, while a Queen of Pentacles signals grounded financial wisdom.

How to Identify a Person Using Court Cards

• Card in a relationship or career position
• Personality matches someone you know
• Multiple court cards interacting

Explore Court Cards by Suit

• Cups Court Cards
• Pentacles Court Cards
• Swords Court Cards
• Wands Court Cards