The Knights of the Tarot

Many dread the court cards when they show up in a reading. No need to feel that way. After you read this short overview that is.

Here is the tricks to apply, so your heart will jump when they show up, an that is because whenever you meet them in a reading again, they will feel like old friends (or acquaintances, older brothers, past lovers, annoying ex boyfriends...).

The trick for the court cards is to personalize them. They are people you know and love (or not). You can use my overview below as a starting point for exploring the knights. Pick them out from your deck and lay them beside each other. Where do they differ? Where do they resemble each other? For me, they all represent immature male traits. They try to be all grown-up, but they are not yet. What they have is strong opinions, lots of energy, they are MUCH of something, all in their own special way.

Personally, I do like the kings more. But that might be because I have passed 40 and prefer mature male personas who outgrew their immature former selves... I see the knights as the immature former selves of the Kings. They are their sons who tries to be like their fathers. But haven't lived long enough to reach the kind of depth and maturity that a king needs in order to reign. In time, though, they will learn and be wiser.

However, what would the world be without the Knights? They are fearless, they express themselves, they are full of life force, they have goals and visions, they try hard to be who they vision themselves to become.

In the Knights, we find the Conqueror, the traveller brave enough to discover unknown land (fire). We have the dreamer, the poet, the serial monogamist - he who falls in love with a new woman every second week, thinking not on the ones he leaves behind, but on the ones who waits around the next corner (water). We have the young, but immature leader, the one who gains many fans with his bold speeches, he who thinks it is ok to run people over in order to move "the cause" forward. We have that one person at a party who will always start a discussion just to start a discussion, thinking whatever he says he will always be right (air). And lastly, the hard-working young man, destined to push himself forwards, huzzling as much as he can, looking at the elders, knowing/believing he will be a successful as them one day. He can be hard on himself for not doing enough, not growing his craft or his fortune fast enough, or he can think this way about others who lack his dedication and eagerness to work hard.

What they all have in common, is that they will look to their Kings and see who they will become, when they live longer, become wiser and understand more about life. However, not every person on this earth will ever reach the potential of the Kings. Some, in fact, quite many, will forever be a Knight.

Tip to understand the Knights more: Meditate on the cards. Make up stories about who they are, their personality traits, their level of maturity, they view on work, material gains, love, politics, relationships and community. Who in your surroundings fit the description?