The Court Cards of the Tarot, the Royal Family and their Astrological Associations
The tarot court cards are one of the most enigmatic parts of the tarot. When discussing the Minor Arcana we see the relationship between each suit of the minor arcana (Wands, Cups, Pentacles and Swords) with the ancient elements (Fire, Water, Earth and Air). The Court cards, are also representing of the suit they belong to, but they have a different way to manifest the elements values, along with the astrological significance these court cards get.
The royal family of the Court cards contains the Father (King), the Mother (Queen), The Prince (Knight) and Princess (Page). Each corresponds with the divine feminine or masculine with a dimension of age (Elder Father and Mother, Young Prince and Princess) as time changes people - they are not the same throughout their lives. The Court Cards represent people who are at varying degrees of mastering an element - so the king of Wands is the protector and master of the Fire element which is associated with charisma, vitality, creativemess and bravery. He is the fire of fire. The Queen of wands is the passive master of the fire element, she is magnetic, attractive and inspiring. She is the water part of fire.
Similarly, the Knight of wands is the young king in making, so he is still rash to act, hot tempered, egoistic or vain. He is the air part of fire. Finally, the Page of Wands, os the blossoming princess full of dreams and hope, she brings the innocence of creation, the playfulness, the indirect mastery of the fire element, she is the earth part of fire.
The Court Cards and their astrological associations are very enigmatic and not easy to reconcile. The most accepted attribution method is one that looks to astrology to explain the character of the court cards, with the positive characteristics of the associated astrological sign being their strengths, the negatives act as the court card’s shadow (the hidden parts of their personality which they may be ignoring).
In each suit, the signs of the elemental suit are assigned by the cardinality of the sign. Kings are Cardinal signs, since they are central and essential. Queens are fixed, as they are predetermined, unchanged by externals and are fastened securely into place. Knights are Mutable as they are still pushing and changing. The Pages are without an astrological sign association, they simply signify the earthy part of each sign. They represent the situation and resources, possibilities, opportunities, that act as catalysts to push people to grow into the types of the Courts.
The Wands Court Cards are the fire people, even their looks can be associated with the fire element (blond / bright hair, clear/piercing eyes). The Kings of Wands is an Aries, The Queen of Wands is a Leo and the Knight of Wands is a Saggitarius. The Page is the earthy part of fire.
The King of Cups, in the water element, is Cancer. The Queen is Scorpio and the Knight is Pisces. The Page is the earthy part of water.
The King of Swords, in the suit of Air is a Libra, The Queen of Swords is an Aquarius, The Knight of Swords is a Gemini. The Page is the earth part of Air.
The King of Pentacles is a Capricorn, The Queen of Pentacles is a Taurus and the Knight is a Virgo. The Page of Pentacles is the earthy part of earth.