Natalia Lee

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Category: The Court

The Kings of the Court

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The Court

Lastly, there are the kings in the court. Here each king will speak in its own voice.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The King of cups

“I am elegantly draped, a graceful man with good taste. I speak from the heart and I charm all my listeners. On occasions, I’m haughty, and love beautiful things. I’m a man that loves, sometimes a father, and the potential to love. Like cupid I point my arrow and nail my target.”

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Kind of swords

“My sword is unsheathed and I’m ready for whatever may come my way, poised for combat. I’m a young king, alert and unscrupulous. I’m also self-righteous, and seek to prove my might. Some consider me dark, but in truth I’m the power of might and cunning. I am war, I am swift action, quick movement, a magician, and on occasions the dead.”

The King of batons

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

“I am young and wily, strong and hardworking. I have a clear vision, and a determination that always shapes that vision into fruition. With my mighty scepter in hand and confident stance, I am virility personified. Self-assured, direct, a man of brawn. I’m the power to act, willingness, the determination to construct, to create, to form.

The King of coins

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

“A wise king I am. A measured man. I stare intently at my treasure as I have amassed substantial wealth. My robes are costly, my throne is grand. I know the machinations of the mind and how to use them to my advantage. The land at my feet is fertile because I am acquired abundance. I am often a learned man, astute, with the power to spend, also the potential for financial freedom, and the best business partner. I am sovereignty.”

~~~

I hope you like what I’ve done with the courts, specifically with The Spanish Tarot. This can be done with any tarot deck, just look and observe what is unfolding in the card. Now to finish these surveys with the suit of batons…
The Queens of the court

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The Court

We continue with the courts, here the Queens speak.

Queen of coins:

The Spanish Tarot, Heraclio Fournier, Spain

The Spanish Tarot, Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot, Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

“Draped in my regal raiment, I know what I hold in my hand, the power of money and fortune is at my fingertips. Quick and astute, my crown highlights my most valued asset, my head. I am order and revenue, haughty and resourceful. My eyes see the value of all things, as I orchestrate what is around me for my benefit. A wise choice, a sensible route, I show you the way to improve your lot.”

Queen of swords:

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

‘A swift cut, I slice through falsity and contrivances in a heartbeat. I am stern and bold, holding my sword aloft as a defense, in protection of what is mine. I tolerate no fools and remove all superfluousness. A dark warning, the power to kill, and a force that strikes with the strength of the pikes of on crown.”

Queen of cups:

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

“Gentle and sweet, I am a like a flower that spreads her fragrance. I know my heart, and hold my open cup unabashed. It is a brimming fount of love and sensuality. I am supple, and love above all else. I disclose truths of the heart. I am a harbinger of peace, and I am patience.”

Queen of batons:

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

“I am vivacity, a hearty woman that forges the way for herself. My hair is long and unruly because I am wild and free like the wind that ruffles my garments. My baton is big and I am strong enough to wield it with force. I am the one who forges onward, relentless and unyielding, the tree from which this baton is made of. I know the value of work, I am constancy and resilience.”

~~~
The knights of the court

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The Court

Continuing my survey of the court cards:

After the pages come the knights, the mounted ones, the riders of the court. Remember, these surveys are in their voice, the voices of the courts as I hear them.

The knights:

Knight of Cups, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

Knight of Cups, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

of cups:
“I gallop forth with eagerness, the ground swelling at my heels as I go. My cup is held aloft, uncovered like my head. I hold a sack of dreams, unashamed of my openness, I come with gifts and a light heart, trickling like the movement of a cascading stream. I am a burst of emotion, a clear vision from the heart directed, I am the center that guides your steps.”

Knight of Batons, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

Knight of Batons, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

of batons:
“My horse is draped in finery, with a flower on the bridle. My demeanor is aloof as I brandish my baton. The ground underneath me is fertile and lush, an abundant landscape. I know how to move and where I am going. My pace is consistent as is my determination. I am a direction in business, a call to action and work, an exercise in refinement and perfection. My finery has been attained through the sweat of my labor.”

Knight of Coins, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

Knight of Coins, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

of coins:
“My horse faces the future as I keep an eye on the mark. I seek money and ways to make it, I seek the sharpening of my knowledge, and cunning refined on the whetting stone. I hold a knife at the ready, prepared to defend what is mine. I value the solid transaction and the spirit of discovery. I am the herald of the quest for gain, the insatiable seeker, the cunning artificer.”

Knight of Swords, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

Knight of Swords, The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

of swords:
“Armored and ready, my horse and I are poised for any and all attacks. With sword upheld and vision steady, I scour the horizon for the enemy. I am the warrior prepared and stealthy, I bring pain and revolts at my back. I bring desolation wherever my steed charges. I am the doubt that cuts, and the herald of war. On occasions, when the question is right, I am a messenger from the underworld.”

The Spanish Tarot published by Heraclio Fournier, Spain.

~~~
Sex in the court

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The Court

In May I began my oracular survey of the court cards, which can be read here starting with the Pages. Before I go any further, I want to address gender, or rather sex and the court cards.

First a statement: as a diviner, I do not make distinctions a priori in regards to the male and female courts. What I mean by this is that I do not have a standard differentiating line prior to the question and the reading, of what sex the court cards will represent.

For example, if someone were to ask about what to do about something that is inherently personal and subjective concerning their self (pertaining to their person-hood), and in the spread a mix of male and female courts, or all females or vice versa frame the answer, then I do not immediately jump into a list of gendered or sexed court card meanings and in the process, deviating from the answer to the question.

Reading the court cards should not be about seeing sex or gender, only. Reading them should also be about going beyond identity, and identitarian divisions, beyond the self that is aware. Most importantly, the context to the question should frame how the diviner sees the court cards that pop up in a reading. Context comes before meanings and identity, it establishes the foundation from which the diviner will speak.

In micro, this approach looks like the following (with example questions):

How do I love myself fully?

Tarot del Fuego by Ricardo Cavolo, published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2014.

You love yourself fully by carrying inside rather than outside your treasure. Loving yourself is about birthing the self within, instead of carrying your ego for all to see. It is the subtle art of self acceptance born from the heart.

What does loving myself look like?

Tabula Mundi Tarot In Minima, MM Meleen, Atu House, 2016.

Loving yourself looks like a consistent culturing of the landscape of the self, watering the soil with the regular nurturing of the heart.

A king of cups can be both male and female, furthermore, he can go beyond gender and stand in for concepts and ideas. Likewise, the queens can be male and more. This applies for all the court cards.

Tarot del Fuego by Ricardo Cavolo, published by Naipes Heraclio Fournier, Spain, 2014.

I end here with the addition that yes, there are lines and frameworks within which diviners work and part from. First, there is context. Second, the court cards do have cartomantic definitions that define the patterns of what they represent. The queen of cups is a blonde lady, generally beautiful with light eyes, the queen of swords is a dark lady with a sharp face. The king of batons is an auburn haired, swarthy, middle aged man. Whatever these associations might be for you, excellent, hold them but also don’t forget to challenge them. To go beyond what you see, to let the cards go beyond what they represent. As I dive further into the court cards, remember they embody the premise of yes, and… In other words, the courts are what you see and also more…