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Special Topics in Tarot
Understanding the Tarot Court
Just who are those kings, queens, knights, and pages in the Tarot deck? Generally considered the most difficult part of the Tarot to interpret, they actually represent different characters or personalities that are aspects of ourselves. They also serve as teachers or projections of our own unacknowledged qualities. Two esteemed Tarot scholars unmask the court cards with details not found in any other book. Discover your significator and your nemesis. Compare the differences among the cards in well-known decks. Match the court cards with the zodiac signs, the Myers-Briggs personality types, and the Jungian archetypes. Learn a variety of spreads that reveal childhood issues, career destiny, and a storytelling spread to spark the creative writing process.
265 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2004
88 people are currently reading
528 people want to read
About the author
Mary K. Greer
51 books144 followersMary K. Greer is a scholar, writer, teacher and professional tarot consultant. With more than forty years experience in tarot as an author and teacher, she advocates a revolutionary approach to learning and using the cards that emphasizes personal insight and creativity. As an expert tarot reader, she works as a ‘midwife of the soul,’ using techniques that are interactive, transformational and empowering.
Mary is the founder of Tools and Rites of Transformation (T.A.R.O.T.) and is a member of many international tarot organizations. She is a featured speaker at tarot conferences and symposia around the world.
The author of nine books on tarot and a biography of four female magicians, Mary’s latest book is Who Are You in the Tarot? (RedWheel/Weiser, 2011). Her previous book, 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card (Llewellyn, 2008) won the COVR award for best divination book.
Mary is the proud recipient of the 2007 International Tarot Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2006 Mercury Award from the Mary Redman Foundation for “excellence in communication in the metaphysical field.”
With an M.A. in English literature, Mary was a faculty member and administrator of a college in San Francisco for eleven years. She is an Arch-Priestess/Hierophant in the Fellowship of Isis. As a world traveler, she has lived in Japan, Germany, England, Mexico, six states in the U.S., and currently resides in Northern California.
Mary is the founder of Tools and Rites of Transformation (T.A.R.O.T.) and is a member of many international tarot organizations. She is a featured speaker at tarot conferences and symposia around the world.
The author of nine books on tarot and a biography of four female magicians, Mary’s latest book is Who Are You in the Tarot? (RedWheel/Weiser, 2011). Her previous book, 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card (Llewellyn, 2008) won the COVR award for best divination book.
Mary is the proud recipient of the 2007 International Tarot Lifetime Achievement Award and the 2006 Mercury Award from the Mary Redman Foundation for “excellence in communication in the metaphysical field.”
With an M.A. in English literature, Mary was a faculty member and administrator of a college in San Francisco for eleven years. She is an Arch-Priestess/Hierophant in the Fellowship of Isis. As a world traveler, she has lived in Japan, Germany, England, Mexico, six states in the U.S., and currently resides in Northern California.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
December 25, 2025
3.5 stars
short review for busy readers:
Full of information, not all of it on topic or essential to the main theme of the book. The first 3 chapters are the history of the oldest Tarot decks, the middle chapters the practical ones, the last chapter tips on creating your own Tarot deck and then the reference section.
short review for busy readers:
Along with reversed cards, court cards or face cards are the most difficult Tarot cards to interpret. Are they talking about people, characteristics/personality traits, archetypical situations, intentions or even mental-emotional difficulties? And which when? That plethora of meaning is going to yield a vast variety of ways to look at the cards, or "understand" as the title says.
Anyone looking for a simple, straightforward method will be disappointed with this book. Greer presents a smorgasbord of ways to approach the cards. From the Quabalah to the Golden Dawn, to MBTI personality typing to the historic 'jobs' of King, Queen, Knight and Page and more.
That's confusing in and of itself. Especially considering the detail as Greer goes into.
Personally, I did not find the first 3 chapters on the history of specific decks interesting, helpful or on topic for interpretation assistance. The middle chapters hold more interesting (and practical!) meditations, "getting to know you" exercises and learning spreads. I also had my reservations about some of the things she said about choosing a significanter card, for example, but that was all.
In summary: a lot of verbiage, a lot of angles, a lot to choose from.
In the end, all you can really do is use the interpretation method that makes sense to you. Which, if you've been working the cards for a while, will be what you've been doing anyway. After reading this book, you'll continue, but with a few more layers added.
short review for busy readers:
Full of information, not all of it on topic or essential to the main theme of the book. The first 3 chapters are the history of the oldest Tarot decks, the middle chapters the practical ones, the last chapter tips on creating your own Tarot deck and then the reference section.
short review for busy readers:
Along with reversed cards, court cards or face cards are the most difficult Tarot cards to interpret. Are they talking about people, characteristics/personality traits, archetypical situations, intentions or even mental-emotional difficulties? And which when? That plethora of meaning is going to yield a vast variety of ways to look at the cards, or "understand" as the title says.
Anyone looking for a simple, straightforward method will be disappointed with this book. Greer presents a smorgasbord of ways to approach the cards. From the Quabalah to the Golden Dawn, to MBTI personality typing to the historic 'jobs' of King, Queen, Knight and Page and more.
That's confusing in and of itself. Especially considering the detail as Greer goes into.
Personally, I did not find the first 3 chapters on the history of specific decks interesting, helpful or on topic for interpretation assistance. The middle chapters hold more interesting (and practical!) meditations, "getting to know you" exercises and learning spreads. I also had my reservations about some of the things she said about choosing a significanter card, for example, but that was all.
In summary: a lot of verbiage, a lot of angles, a lot to choose from.
In the end, all you can really do is use the interpretation method that makes sense to you. Which, if you've been working the cards for a while, will be what you've been doing anyway. After reading this book, you'll continue, but with a few more layers added.
April 10, 2022
A Focus on the Court Cards
Court cards are generally considered the trickiest and most confusing of the tarot. Tarot by itself is much to learn and, for me, endlessly fascinating. The more I learn the more I want to learn. This book takes you on a deep dive into the realm of the courts and suggests plenty of exercises (meditative and otherwise) to help with your own personal interpretations of the court cards as well as introducing several schools of thought and associations that have already been made with them. I would recommend this for any student of tarot.
Court cards are generally considered the trickiest and most confusing of the tarot. Tarot by itself is much to learn and, for me, endlessly fascinating. The more I learn the more I want to learn. This book takes you on a deep dive into the realm of the courts and suggests plenty of exercises (meditative and otherwise) to help with your own personal interpretations of the court cards as well as introducing several schools of thought and associations that have already been made with them. I would recommend this for any student of tarot.
July 3, 2008
Another great tarot book co-authored by Mary Greer. This is a very detailed and informative guide to the court cards that segues into many different approaches, from Jung to the Golden Dawn. One minor criticism is that some of the text is culled from Greer's Tarot for Your Self, but this is thankfully not the bulk of the reference.
February 25, 2021
A huge wealth of information and exercises, worth multiple read throughs. Definitely going to purchase a copy!
September 5, 2023
Understanding the Tarot Court, seeks to take readers from seeing the court cards as two-dimensional figures with simple characteristics through to knowing them as richly complex personalities. As the authors claim, “The purpose of this book is to make the court cards come alive, and to give you a deep familiarity with the cards and their possibilities.”
To do this Understanding the Tarot Court begins by providing an overview of both the different ways the court cards cards can be interpreted in a reading and a breakdown of the suit and rank associations, before encouraging readers to take a guided meditation to meet the court in a non-threatening way (at a beach party to be precise). This book combines information and a hands-on approach which is all designed to encourage you to see the court cards as people you can get to know.
Many different decks are incorporated and the way the activities are delivered makes this book suitable for use with any deck. There is not a one size fits all approach which makes this book applicable for all tarot reading styles. In examining the Minchiate Etruria deck at the beginning of chapter 2, they write, “This is but one example of conclusions that can be drawn from viewing the cards imaginatively. You may find that you see them in a different way.”
Whilst the book provides a wealth of information the reader is encouraged to explore their own deck/s and to draw and value their own conclusions. I love this aspect of the book. Various spreads are used as teaching tools as well. I really enjoyed being introduced to decks I hadn’t seen before and the inclusion of historical information that’s outside the general history of the tarot featured in many books.
In analysing the court’s personalities, the book considers their astrological associations and their Myers-Briggs Type before moving on to explore their Jungian archetypal connections. I found the next chapter that explores court card relationships insightful. I liked the section that discusses the significance of multiple court cards and/or court card combinations because it opens the way for a deeper analysis of a reading and can make the court’s appearance much less daunting.
The book wraps up with a comprehensive chapter on court card interpretations that offers four illustrations taken from various decks for each card followed by two pages of information. The text suggests their typical roles, masks and subpersonalities; their personality styles and values; their stresses, problems and weaknesses; their sample occupations; the events, situations and activities associated with them; the advice they offer; their traditional meanings; as well as their traditional reversed meanings. When this information is considered alongside the insights gleaned from doing the activities, readers can gain a thorough understanding of the tarot court.
About the Authors
Mary K Greer specialises in writing about and teaching methods of self-exploration and transformation. The activities in this book attests to that. If you are interested in discovering her other published titles see the about section in my review of one of her other books, 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card.
Tom Little is a health physicist with a PhD in astronomy. He is a Wiccan priest with a strong interest in Tarot history and antique decks (which readers benefit from in this book) who uses tarot as his primary spiritual tool.
Understanding the Tarot Court Contents
- Foreword by Rachel Pollack
- Introduction
- The Many Faces of the Tarot Court
- The Court Card Family
- The Court in Society
- The Court Within
- Court Card Relationships
- The Court and the Cosmos
- Bringing it all Together
- Build Your Own Court
- Court Card Interpretations
Appendix A:
- Court Card Comparison Chart
Appendix B:
- Myers-Briggs Court Card Comparison Chart
Appendix C:
- Golden Dawn Court Card Correspondences
Appendix D:
- Important Terms
- Bibliography
If you find the appearance of court cards in a reading challenging, spending time with this book will definitely change that. Even if you don’t, I still believe this book has something to offer as the exercises can help you to understand more about yourself and your way of seeing the world and others. It also forces you to think creatively which in turn expands your storytelling ability. This is an invaluable tool when working with the tarot.
To do this Understanding the Tarot Court begins by providing an overview of both the different ways the court cards cards can be interpreted in a reading and a breakdown of the suit and rank associations, before encouraging readers to take a guided meditation to meet the court in a non-threatening way (at a beach party to be precise). This book combines information and a hands-on approach which is all designed to encourage you to see the court cards as people you can get to know.
Many different decks are incorporated and the way the activities are delivered makes this book suitable for use with any deck. There is not a one size fits all approach which makes this book applicable for all tarot reading styles. In examining the Minchiate Etruria deck at the beginning of chapter 2, they write, “This is but one example of conclusions that can be drawn from viewing the cards imaginatively. You may find that you see them in a different way.”
Whilst the book provides a wealth of information the reader is encouraged to explore their own deck/s and to draw and value their own conclusions. I love this aspect of the book. Various spreads are used as teaching tools as well. I really enjoyed being introduced to decks I hadn’t seen before and the inclusion of historical information that’s outside the general history of the tarot featured in many books.
In analysing the court’s personalities, the book considers their astrological associations and their Myers-Briggs Type before moving on to explore their Jungian archetypal connections. I found the next chapter that explores court card relationships insightful. I liked the section that discusses the significance of multiple court cards and/or court card combinations because it opens the way for a deeper analysis of a reading and can make the court’s appearance much less daunting.
The book wraps up with a comprehensive chapter on court card interpretations that offers four illustrations taken from various decks for each card followed by two pages of information. The text suggests their typical roles, masks and subpersonalities; their personality styles and values; their stresses, problems and weaknesses; their sample occupations; the events, situations and activities associated with them; the advice they offer; their traditional meanings; as well as their traditional reversed meanings. When this information is considered alongside the insights gleaned from doing the activities, readers can gain a thorough understanding of the tarot court.
About the Authors
Mary K Greer specialises in writing about and teaching methods of self-exploration and transformation. The activities in this book attests to that. If you are interested in discovering her other published titles see the about section in my review of one of her other books, 21 Ways to Read a Tarot Card.
Tom Little is a health physicist with a PhD in astronomy. He is a Wiccan priest with a strong interest in Tarot history and antique decks (which readers benefit from in this book) who uses tarot as his primary spiritual tool.
Understanding the Tarot Court Contents
- Foreword by Rachel Pollack
- Introduction
- The Many Faces of the Tarot Court
- The Court Card Family
- The Court in Society
- The Court Within
- Court Card Relationships
- The Court and the Cosmos
- Bringing it all Together
- Build Your Own Court
- Court Card Interpretations
Appendix A:
- Court Card Comparison Chart
Appendix B:
- Myers-Briggs Court Card Comparison Chart
Appendix C:
- Golden Dawn Court Card Correspondences
Appendix D:
- Important Terms
- Bibliography
If you find the appearance of court cards in a reading challenging, spending time with this book will definitely change that. Even if you don’t, I still believe this book has something to offer as the exercises can help you to understand more about yourself and your way of seeing the world and others. It also forces you to think creatively which in turn expands your storytelling ability. This is an invaluable tool when working with the tarot.
October 27, 2018
Clearly written for the beginners such as myself. I took notes and have some of the cards already locked in memory. Very helpful!
April 7, 2025
Preziosissime le pp. 173-221, dove _finalmente_ si trattano gli Onori a uno a uno, assai meno preziose (con alcune eccezioni, ovvio) le altre. La Greer purtroppo – per quanto apprezzatissima autrice – tende ad “allungare il brodo” qua e là, inserendo cose di varia natura con il pretesto che l’apprendimento e lo studio debbano essere anche un gioco. Orbene, non voglio essere frainteso: concordo appieno sulla motivazione, ma _non_ concordo sui contenuti “ludici” inseriti, che spesso lasciano il tempo che trovano. Parimenti di “brodo allungato” sa anche la parte storica di trattazione degli Onori, e l’interpretazione di una Croce Celtica presentata a mo’ di esempio non si capisce bene dove voglia andare a parare in alcuni punti.
Sparse qua e là nel libro si trovano tuttavia tre stese, due delle quali sono tra quelle che più uso nella mia pratica.
Sparse qua e là nel libro si trovano tuttavia tre stese, due delle quali sono tra quelle che più uso nella mia pratica.
September 13, 2007
Greer and Little provide a very detailed and in-depth analysis of the tarot court cards. I especially like the tables of correspondences. My primary criticism is more a matter of personal taste than anything else, but I wasn't particularly fond of the decks featured in the illustrations. Overall, a pretty fascinating look at a very specific aspect of the tarot. Recommended.
January 8, 2013
Good, helpful resource. I don't agree with everything in it and it gets a bit long-winded in parts, but has some good activities and suggestions for understanding the court cards. Worth looking at if you have trouble with them.
April 27, 2009
Helpful exercises, and history of the Tarot.
May 6, 2009
An invaluable teaching tool!
December 17, 2015
I still love the reminder that the cards, at the end of the day, are tools that reflect us.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews