The court cards in the tarot are probably the most difficult cards to read. They are all very regal in appearance with the kings and queens seated on thrones wearing crowns and ornate robes and the knights upon horses wearing suits of armour, however they all represent various persons or personality types.

Pages and knights are the most complex, they have different meanings depending on their positions in the spread. Pages seek the lesson of the suit usually in the form of ambitions and plans. For example, a page of pentacles shows the need to seek stability or financial success, however in the past position it would refer to the querent's childhood.

Knights by contrast represent taking the action of the suit, ready to go into battle to achieve their outcomes. They indicate that the time of planning and consideration is over and now is the time for action. This is a stronger and more forceful message than the page. For example, a knight of wands would indicate the need to begin a plan or venture. In the past position it would refer to the querent's adolescence.

Kings and queens represent persons who have matured and mastered the lessons of their respective suits. In a reading they represent an actual person known to the querent or possibly even the querent themselves. For example, a queen of cups would represent a caring, warm and devoted woman.

Card	Upright		Reversed
Page	The page is the messenger of the suit and overall brings a direct message of opportunity to a reading, for example a page of pentacles brings a message to undertake an investment, business venture, or course of study. In the past position it represents childhood ambitions, dreams of success, business ideas and wealth		A reversed page brings a different message, the same page tell the querent to hold off on plans and avoid getting financially involved. In the past position it represents childhood struggles, hardship or unfulfilled goals
Knight	The Knight represents action, the plan has progressed beyond the Page to the doing, however Knights are not mature and display the impulse of a teen, for example a Knight of Cups might rush into a relationship without due thought		When reversed the Knights display immature negative traits, for example a reversed Knight of Wands is aggressive, impulsive or risk taker
Queen	A Queen refers to a mature woman, she is mature in thinking and has mastered the lesson of the suit, for example a Queen of Wands has reined in the impulsive urge but remains practical and energetic		When reversed the Queen displays the negative side of the suit, for example a reversed Queen of Pentacles is prone to be competitive or jealous
King	Similarly a King refers to a mature man, he is mature in thinking and like the Queen has mastered the lesson of the suit, for example a King of Swords has reined in his controlling side but remains logical and organised		When reversed the King displays the negative side of the suit, for example a reversed King of Cups is emotionally vulnerable or tries to exert emotional control

As a general rule court cards can be interpreted as follows:

• Page Upright - Stop dreaming and start acting
• Page Reversed - Hold off from acting now
• Knight Upright - Making the right move
• Knight Reversed - Making the wrong move
• Queen Upright - A woman who has mastered the suit
• Queen Reversed - A woman who has not mastered the suit
• King Upright - A man who has mastered the suit
• King Reversed - A man who has not mastered the suit