Tarot and Your Daily Life
The Court Cards
by James Ricklef
Maturity is perhaps the
most definitive attribute of the Tarot’s king and queen cards,
and so the four Tarot queens rule over the feminine aspects of wisdom.
They can indicate (or advocate) being supportive, nurturing, sympathetic,
creative, receptive, and cooperative. Their advice comes from the
heart more than from the head (as it does with the kings), and they
exercise flexibility and resourcefulness with the skills they have
mastered.
The Queen of Wands projects an air of serene confidence. Holding
a staff of authority in one hand and a sunflower (which keeps its
face turned constantly toward the sun) in the other, she sits comfortably
on her throne while at her feet sits a black cat. The sunflower symbolizes
a disposition that is optimistic and sunny, and the cat indicates
an independent nature. And so this card represents a strong, capable
person who is exuberant, charismatic, and energetic, although her
self-reliance may lead her to want to have things on her own terms.
This queen is passionate about everything she does, and she is also
inspirational and supportive in any group effort, ardently encouraging
others in their efforts as well. Ultimately, then, the Queen of Wands
urges us to be cheerful, friendly and gregarious, and to cultivate
a deep appreciation for the people in our lives.
There is a much more contemplative and reflective quality in the
next card, the Queen of Cups. This queen reverently holds an elaborate
cup that is covered (as opposed to the simple open cups in the other
cards of this suit), and this icon symbolizes the mysteries of the
intuitive, subconscious mind. Similarly, the Queen of Cups personifies
our ability to understand our emotions and to be in touch with them,
(as opposed to being in control of them, as is the case with the
King of Cups). She also exemplifies the ability to love unconditionally,
and this card may indicate those times when empathy and emotional
support are integral to the solution of our problems. For example,
it may suggest that these qualities will help us reconcile a difficult
relationship. More generally, though, this card advises us to find
the loving, caring, and compassionate part of ourselves, to search
for it deep within our hearts and then to accept and embrace it.
The Queen of Swords sits
erect on her throne with her sword held straight up. This queen has
learned the lessons of life from the school of hard knocks and so
she epitomizes wisdom gained through loss and suffering. But although
grief and sorrow can bring us understanding and insight, it also
can leave us emotionally barren if we are not careful. For example,
we may find rigid dogma to be a safe haven that protects us from
the stinging vagaries of the world, or we may cling to strict rules
of what is “right and wrong” without tempering our judgment
with compassion (perhaps because misery loves company). In any case,
this queen advises us to be fair, impartial, and open to both sides
of an argument, while her darker aspects serve as a warning against
becoming moralistic, sanctimonious, and self-righteous. In order
to help us in this effort, she exemplifies the old admonition to “Know
Thyself!” for we cannot begin to judge the lives of others
until we have gazed unflinchingly into the dark corners of our own
minds.
There is a remarkable resemblance between the image on the Queen
of Pentacles card and medieval paintings of the Madonna and Christ
child, with the pentacle icon taking the place of the divine child.
With this association in mind, we see that this card can indicate
someone who is creative, nurturing, and care giving, and it also
indicates the seeming paradox of abundance born of charity. In truth,
however, generosity does not deplete us; it enables the endless bounty
of the universe to flow into and through our lives, and so this card
signifies fertility and prosperity. On a more mundane level, we also
may see in the Queen of Pentacles the qualities of practicality and
responsibility, and in that case this card says that abundance is
also born of resourcefulness. Finally, this card may signify a mature
experience of sensuality in that it counsels enjoyment without extravagance,
and comfort without indolence.
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 
