Tarot and Your Daily Life
The Court Cards
by James Ricklef
The four knights in the
Tarot’s Minor Arcana encompass both the exciting and the annoying
traits of teens and young adults in that they can be energetic and
impatient, bold and reckless, and heroic and quixotic. They may be
crusaders or explorers in the areas governed by their suit, but they
also tend to be more confident than competent in such pursuits. And
so these knights represent periods in our lives when we are exploring
and testing new skills or knowledge -- often through trial and error
-- and when experience has only begun to enrich and temper our understanding
of something as we begin to progress from mere knowledge to wisdom.
The Knight of Wands charges forward with his wand held aloft like
a banner carried into battle. He is not afraid to take a chance on
a new way of doing things, and so this card may indicate a bold approach
to a problem or a quick, decisive action. On the other hand, this
impulsive knight may over commit himself, then move on to a new endeavor
before he has finished what he was doing, for he is easily swept
away by his passions. Thus, this card warns us against letting our
passions carry us away. Although being able to charge forth with
drive and determination can be desirable at times, it is a dangerous
habit to develop since it may lead to unreliable or erratic behavior.
Notice, however, that the Knight of Wands appears to be reining in
his horse as it strains to race ahead, which symbolizes a struggle
to control our passions. If we give them free rein, they can gallop
out of control, but if we direct them properly, they can help us
accomplish great things.
There is a profound change of pace in the next card, the Knight of
Cups, which exhibits a serene, unhurried mood. Here we see a knight
who has slowed down, perhaps to re-evaluate or re-integrate his feelings
before moving on again. The reflective quality of this card implies
that this knight can be a visionary, someone who will listen to his
intuition and then act upon its insights. With that in mind, we see
the advice to pause now and then in order to reflect upon the wisdom
in our heart so that we may actively pursue our dreams. In addition,
this knight in shining armor is concerned with love and romance,
which is the providence of this suit. At his best, the Knight of
Cups continually searches for new ways to express his love and to
keep the romance in his relationship alive, and this card advises
us to develop these qualities within ourselves as well.
The Knight of Swords appears to be an idealistic crusader as he races
along at breakneck speed, eagerly brandishing his sword. Unfortunately,
he may go overboard and become a zealot, or his idealism may be
misguided, half-baked, or myopic. At his best, he has a questing
mind, he adheres to his principles, and he acts decisively, but
this knight also can be argumentative, sarcastic, or tactless.
However, we can find a great deal of guidance by considering both
his strengths and his weaknesses. This card advises us to make
our journey through life a constant search for knowledge. We should
carefully consider what is right and act upon our convictions,
but we should not be afraid to reevaluate and reconsider our attitudes,
beliefs and ideals either. And we must not become so immersed in
the realm of ideas and beliefs that we lose sight of the human
aspects of life, such as the feelings of others.
The Knight of Pentacles sits quietly astride a sturdy mount, which
looks like it would be more at home pulling a plow than charging
into battle, and he seems to be surveying his land rather than looking
for a new conflict. In fact, this is the only knight in the Tarot
deck who is completely motionless, which indicates that he is mindful
of staying grounded. He is slow to make a commitment, but once he
does, he will keep it for he is loyal, dependable, and trustworthy.
He is also practical, meticulous, and hardworking, and he will tenaciously
defend whatever he has accomplished or achieved. On the other hand,
he may be dull and unimaginative, as well as stubborn and unyielding.
But like all the knights, he advises us to cultivate his virtues
and ward against his shortcomings. Finally, he reminds us that a
journey of a thousand miles begins with one step and is traveled
one step at a time.
James
Ricklef is a professional Tarot reader, teacher,
and writer. His new book, “Tarot: Get the Whole Story,” explains
how to create your own spreads, and it presents a variety of spreads
which it illustrates using sample readings for well-known historical,
mythical, and fictional characters. For more information about the
author’s work, see his website: www.jamesricklef.com
James
Ricklef is a professional Tarot reader, teacher,
and writer. His new book, “Tarot: Get the Whole Story,” explains
how to create your own spreads, and it presents a variety of spreads
which it illustrates using sample readings for well-known historical,
mythical, and fictional characters. For more information about the
author’s work, see his website: www.jamesricklef.com 
