The Tarot court cards can be confusing to interpret, but a basic understanding of the meaning of each Tarot suit and each member of the court can make it easier. The four Tarot Pages tend to be more confusing than most because they can have so many different meanings. If you remember a few simple facts, though, their meanings and interpretations fall into place.
Who Are the Tarot Pages and What Do They Mean?
Each Tarot suit in the Minor Arcana has four court cards - Page, Knight, Queen and King. While some decks change the names a bit — the Crowley deck, for instance, has Princess, Prince, Queen and King — the general meanings remain the same.
In medieval times, pages were young boys in training to become knights. Thus, the pages of the Tarot represent young people, often teenagers or children. They may represent students, or a period of studying or apprenticeship. By extension, that apprenticeship may be to an idea or way of thinking rather than in service to a craft or business.
Pages were also often entrusted with delivering messages between courts and houses, thus the pages sometimes represent the delivery or receipt of a message. Since pages represent youth, they may also represent the beginning stages of a new project or relationship.
The Minor Arcana Pages by Suit
The precise meaning of a card depends on the suit. Here's a look at the various pages.
- The Page of Wands represents the element of Fire. Wands represent communication and energy, thus the Page of Wands represents the enthusiastic beginning of a new project or a communication that brings good news about a project.
- The Page of Cups represents the element of Water, the element of the subconscious and of emotions. Thus, the Page of Cups represents a love letter, or the awakening of psychic awareness. He may also represent unconscious or subliminal messages.
- The Page of Swords represents the element of Air, the element of conscious thought, conflict and judgment. When the Page of Swords appears in a reading, he may represent a letter or communication about a legal matter, or the beginning of a new course of study. Of all the pages, the Page of Swords is the one that is closest to the conventional understanding of student.
- The Page of Coins represent the element of Earth, the element of pragmatism, family heritage and earthly wealth. The Page of Coins may suggest a communication about career or money, or an inheritance. The Page of Coins may also represent a long-awaited letter about any subject, as the Coins often represent the slow, orderly progression of things.
The Tarot Pages as People
Often, the Court Cards of the Tarot represent actual people. The pages most often represent a young person, though they may represent a person with a youthful outlook on life. They are gender-neutral, and may represent either a male or a female.
- The Page of Wands is most often a fair person with blue eyes and red or blond hair. That person is energetic and enthusiastic, and may be flirtatious.
- The Page of Cups is usually a fair youth with blond hair and blue eyes. The Page of Cups is generally introspective and naive, and may be a dreamer.
- The Page of Swords often represent a young person with dark hair and dark eyes. Most often, this page is studious and loyal, and may be stickler for rules. The Page of Swords may be seen as argumentative because he is drawn to defining things precisely.
- The Page of Coins is generally dark-haired, dark-eyed and dark-complected. In personality, this page is practical and studious, with well-defined goals toward which he is working.
While a basic understanding of the Tarot court positions and the meanings of the four suits will help a Tarot reader interpret readings quickly, real understanding comes with practice, frequent use and study. Like any other discipline or philosophy, discussion with others who are studying the same disciplines can provide new insights to even the most experienced of readers.
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