Tom, your intellect is very apparent as well as your knowledge of tarot but more than ever, what makes you a friend in my head and one of the greatest finds in my tarot journey is your natural conversational approach to explaining how you see and use tarot/decks. Listening to you feels like we are sitting, having sandwiches and beer and just shooting the breeze. Thank you, appreciate you.
Doesn’t it? I feel like he is a friend, I listen to him so much. Actually I think it would be a highlight of my life to go have a beer with him and chat tarot ! (This coming from a 56 YO mom!
I’ve been really struggling with court cards for a while now. But your “pagey wandy energy” examples and then the examples...damn! Really helped a lot! Thank youuuuuuu!!!!! 😊❤️
This is such a great video. I love how you approach the court cards. You are a great teacher, and I love hearing your thoughts and perceptions. Thank you so much for sharing!
I just love your communicative style! It's just like sitting down over a coffee and chatting about styles and thought processes. You've made me laugh out loud whilst thinking deeply about how my tarotiness is going to grow and develop. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I will be learning so much with you. PS Fozzie Bear 💖
I always love hearing a readers thought process behind how they interpret the court cards. I almost always learn something new from it, and this video was no exception. Wonderful insights here! Thanks for sharing your technique!
So... I think of the courts in terms of a modern day business. (Not because I have bad feelings about the monarchy or feudal system or whatever, but just because it's harder to relate to it) Pages are interns Knights are sales force & PR Queen are upper management & HR Kings are CEOs.
Great video! Of all the different types of videos you do, these "instructional" types are my favorite. (Not to say that I don't enjoy your deck reviews, because I certainly DO; but your instructional videos help make me feel more confident about reading the cards myself!)
Tom! I LIKE your book shelf. It generates a joyous sort of book envy in me. Thanks for including it in this vid. As for the information presented, it helps. It makes sense. SOME readers suggest if the Queen doesn't seem to fit as a person it may be what is desired or needed. Thanks.
Great video! I love the way you organized your thoughts around them. I always use the double-element system to form the basis of the personifications of the courts. To me page-iness is earthy and grounded. knightyness is airy and active. Queeniness is watery and nurturing. and Kingyness is firey and controlling. It's a place to start with the energies.
As much as I read rich and varied commentary on the 5 of pentacles, whenever I get it my first reaction is 'omg it's the end of the world', lol! I really enjoyed this walkthrough of how you apply context to the courts, thank you.
My approach to them is mostly contextual. For example, if the question is about a work situation, I think of them in terms of man (formed/expert), woman (older, nurturing, creative), knight (20-something with drive), page (newer recruit, communicator, timid, first timer in industry).
Loved the way you explained how you connect with the cards. I have never felt I could relate to each card and was feeling very overwhelmed. I finally feel like I might be able to actually become more familiar with all the information associated with each card. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and insight!!!!! ❤️
Oh my goodness. This was awesome. I've been in a few tarot courses over the past 6 months and none of them did this well at explaining them. Thank you so much for this! 💕
Tom, Thank you . This advice is extremely helpful. As others have already acknowledged, you're teaching style is so easy to understand and follow. You're helping my tarot practice immensely .
LOL The queen of swords might beat the clueless husband over the head with the ace of wands. I love how your mind works. Excellent, super helpful video!
I love your videos; they are helping me read more deeply. I'll keep watching. Thank you! One thing that I've never understood though, is "the masculine" and "the feminine" in tarot. Recently, the topic became important to figure out as I tried to create my own deck. I'd swear that The Emperor and The High Priestess are energetically connected, and The Empress and The Hierophant, too; the Magician seems to pair up energetically with various figures (usually male) in the Major Arcana. And it seems the kings and queens should be married outside their suit, e.g. the King of Cups to the Queen of Pentacles. Everyone today seems so certain about gender-- my inability to grasp these concepts makes me feel mentally disabled!
Great video, thank you for this, it’s SO helpful!! Also another great tip that I got from this video as I’m still learning, is to write down my question, and a little backstory to the question. This will make it easier to understand the cards pulled. 😀
Yes,very clear(to answer your question if this video makes everything clear)Ihave learned a lot from your videos. Way more then any book ever did(although some were helpful too) It's a great thing you take the time to make these videos. Thanks so much
This video could not have come at a better time! I am 3 months old at Tarot reading and studying voraciously. Yesterday I did a reading for a casual friend. They know I am very new. She was worried about an outside interference in her relationship. The 4 of Wands, the Queen of Swords and the High Priestess cards came up. I read it as the other person was represented as the Queen of Swords...a cold energy inserting herself into the mix. I read my friend as the High Priestess, holding the silent confident power in the rolled up scroll on her lap and the 4 of wands as celebrating all the small wins in her relationship with her partner whilst being protected behind the wands close to her castle. Um home. Even though the High Priestess card isn't a court card it spoke to me in that way. She said she felt empowered. Being as I am extremely new, I would really appreciate feedback. I have been giving a lot of readings and the court cards have not scared me off so far. Thank you so much for this awesome and much appreciated lesson!😊
As usual stellar information. For me the hardest part for the courts, was I started with playing card and many different card games where the court cards had a value of "king takes queen, queen takes jack" with trick taking games. So when I got interested in tarot I did not want a value system in courts but it was work for me to "get over it" lol. I didn't understand the terms "majors and minors" either. For me it was trumps and suits, again going back to card games "to trump a trick". So I went for page, in training, Knights,quest for something, queen,experienced ruler, king,experienced ruler. They just rule different aspects of self queen inner and king outer. lol Then I got my first tarot book that told me court cards are "difficult". LOL, so of course they became difficult. I was an idiot, then I went back to my way. :) :) and let that evolve.
This is the best explanation of the tarot court. Thank you! I am confused about you saying pages don’t do anything. They spend all day taking messages between people. Also, as for pages being the servant of the knights...isn’t that a squire? Are they the same thing in some systems? I’ve always treated pages as messages and messengers.
I'll add my two cents - I don't think it looks shabby or whatever when you use notes. It says to me that you want to make sure you hit all your points. I found your approach to explaining the Court cards super interesting.
You and I have the same view of the court cards. I read the court cards as levels of mastery of the element represented in the suit. Ie a student of an intern of a master of. So you go from the page as a student to the king CEO, let’s say. It helps to identify what level of mastery of a personality type, or occupation, etc. I like the court cards but when I first started reading in the seventies... they used to baffle me until I decided I had to give them jobs. Sounds like you landed there as well. It’s so fascinating. It’s also very hard to articulate these concepts about the courts. Also... I feel we are all of the court cards. We are all the elements. Though astrological association , like you say do play a part. Like people the court cards are complex. I could talk about this for days.
Yes! Perfect timing, I've been focusing on court cards, going to get me some tea and notebooks! Edit: I was craving curry so made dinner while listening and it was perfect
As usual, very thought provoking. One comment: this worked when the question involved somebody else (boss, husband, kids). But if the question is, for example, "how do I find my creative purpose in life", it's harder to identify who is who. Do you assume there's a boss or partner influencing the querent's creative life...but what if there isn't? I get and appreciate the wisdom when it comes to a situation that involves others, but some don't (or don't seem to). But as always, you provide great advice!
not how i read the courts at all, and in all the years i've been reading i've never had an issue with them. however, i love hearing what you have to say. thank you
Would you say this method is a refinement of your method of reading reversed courts as the querent? The uprights being the querent or others depending on who the subject of the question is?
Do you have any deck recommendations of something that is more cultural- like middle eastern cultures or something like that? I've seen one's made for Egypt, African, European, Asian cultures, Russian, etc. but not really for Indian cultures. All the ones I've found are OOP and extremely expensive.
I like your explanation here. I think you have good reasoning and good examples, but I still don't like reading the courts as people--I think it just feels a little old timey to me. Personally, I really enjoy reading the courts in a dual element system where the queen of swords is the airy side of water or the king of cups is watery side of earth. Guidwife and Kellyanne Maddoxx both have videos about this way of reading the courts. I find that this system works really well with decks that don't have people in the courts. I would be curios to see how you read courts that don't have people in them.
Tom, your intellect is very apparent as well as your knowledge of tarot but more than ever, what makes you a friend in my head and one of the greatest finds in my tarot journey is your natural conversational approach to explaining how you see and use tarot/decks. Listening to you feels like we are sitting, having sandwiches and beer and just shooting the breeze. Thank you, appreciate you.
Doesn’t it? I feel like he is a friend, I listen to him so much. Actually I think it would be a highlight of my life to go have a beer with him and chat tarot ! (This coming from a 56 YO mom!
I couldn't agree with you more!!
I second this reply. Tom's natural manner makes it easy to follow his instructions and his friendly guidance instills confidence in my own readings.
I’ve been really struggling with court cards for a while now. But your “pagey wandy energy” examples and then the examples...damn! Really helped a lot! Thank youuuuuuu!!!!! 😊❤️
This is such a great video. I love how you approach the court cards. You are a great teacher, and I love hearing your thoughts and perceptions. Thank you so much for sharing!
I just love your communicative style! It's just like sitting down over a coffee and chatting about styles and thought processes. You've made me laugh out loud whilst thinking deeply about how my tarotiness is going to grow and develop. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I will be learning so much with you. PS Fozzie Bear 💖
I always love hearing a readers thought process behind how they interpret the court cards. I almost always learn something new from it, and this video was no exception. Wonderful insights here! Thanks for sharing your technique!
Thank you, as always for your completely approachable, understandable examples.
So... I think of the courts in terms of a modern day business. (Not because I have bad feelings about the monarchy or feudal system or whatever, but just because it's harder to relate to it)
Pages are interns
Knights are sales force & PR
Queen are upper management & HR
Kings are CEOs.
So king sets policies, queen oversees them, knights interact with the public/customer and interns are learning the ropes.
Great video! Of all the different types of videos you do, these "instructional" types are my favorite. (Not to say that I don't enjoy your deck reviews, because I certainly DO; but your instructional videos help make me feel more confident about reading the cards myself!)
Found you today. I subscribed immediately. Thank you for all your your knowledge.
Tom! I LIKE your book shelf. It generates a joyous sort of book envy in me.
Thanks for including it in this vid.
As for the information presented, it helps.
It makes sense.
SOME readers suggest if the Queen doesn't seem to fit as a person it may be what is desired or needed.
Thanks.
Great video! I love the way you organized your thoughts around them. I always use the double-element system to form the basis of the personifications of the courts. To me page-iness is earthy and grounded. knightyness is airy and active. Queeniness is watery and nurturing. and Kingyness is firey and controlling. It's a place to start with the energies.
Very helpful; thank you! I, too, am a fan of your bookshelf :-)
As much as I read rich and varied commentary on the 5 of pentacles, whenever I get it my first reaction is 'omg it's the end of the world', lol! I really enjoyed this walkthrough of how you apply context to the courts, thank you.
SO interesting, this is such a good starting point for reading court cards. I love the idea of attaching actual people.
Thanks for sharing. You explain things so well.
My approach to them is mostly contextual. For example, if the question is about a work situation, I think of them in terms of man (formed/expert), woman (older, nurturing, creative), knight (20-something with drive), page (newer recruit, communicator, timid, first timer in industry).
Loved the way you explained how you connect with the cards. I have never felt I could relate to each card and was feeling very overwhelmed. I finally feel like I might be able to actually become more familiar with all the information associated with each card. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and insight!!!!! ❤️
Oh my goodness. This was awesome. I've been in a few tarot courses over the past 6 months and none of them did this well at explaining them. Thank you so much for this! 💕
Brilliant!! Loved the Astrology reference.....learn so much from you!!! Thank you Tom !!!
This is the best way I have heard these court cards...thankyou
Tom, Thank you . This advice is extremely helpful. As others have already acknowledged, you're teaching style is so easy to understand and follow. You're helping my tarot practice immensely .
thanks, this is very helpful and you are so much fun as you are informative
LOL The queen of swords might beat the clueless husband over the head with the ace of wands. I love how your mind works. Excellent, super helpful video!
Thank you! I love how you explained this. Makes so much sense. Love your channel!
I love your videos; they are helping me read more deeply. I'll keep watching. Thank you! One thing that I've never understood though, is "the masculine" and "the feminine" in tarot. Recently, the topic became important to figure out as I tried to create my own deck. I'd swear that The Emperor and The High Priestess are energetically connected, and The Empress and The Hierophant, too; the Magician seems to pair up energetically with various figures (usually male) in the Major Arcana. And it seems the kings and queens should be married outside their suit, e.g. the King of Cups to the Queen of Pentacles. Everyone today seems so certain about gender-- my inability to grasp these concepts makes me feel mentally disabled!
Everyone has to find a path that makes sense. It took me a long time. You’ll make sense of it.
Great video, thank you for this, it’s SO helpful!! Also another great tip that I got from this video as I’m still learning, is to write down my question, and a little backstory to the question. This will make it easier to understand the cards pulled. 😀
Brilliant! Hung on every word....REALLY helpful. Many thanks👏👏
Yes,very clear(to answer your question if this video makes everything clear)Ihave learned a lot from your videos. Way more then any book ever did(although some were helpful too) It's a great thing you take the time to make these videos. Thanks so much
This video could not have come at a better time! I am 3 months old at Tarot reading and studying voraciously. Yesterday I did a reading for a casual friend. They know I am very new. She was worried about an outside interference in her relationship. The 4 of Wands, the Queen of Swords and the High Priestess cards came up. I read it as the other person was represented as the Queen of Swords...a cold energy inserting herself into the mix. I read my friend as the High Priestess, holding the silent confident power in the rolled up scroll on her lap and the 4 of wands as celebrating all the small wins in her relationship with her partner whilst being protected behind the wands close to her castle. Um home. Even though the High Priestess card isn't a court card it spoke to me in that way. She said she felt empowered. Being as I am extremely new, I would really appreciate feedback. I have been giving a lot of readings and the court cards have not scared me off so far. Thank you so much for this awesome and much appreciated lesson!😊
This was very helpful and fun to watch. Thank you very much.
As usual stellar information. For me the hardest part for the courts, was I started with playing card and many different card games where the court cards had a value of "king takes queen, queen takes jack" with trick taking games. So when I got interested in tarot I did not want a value system in courts but it was work for me to "get over it" lol. I didn't understand the terms "majors and minors" either. For me it was trumps and suits, again going back to card games "to trump a trick". So I went for page, in training, Knights,quest for something, queen,experienced ruler, king,experienced ruler. They just rule different aspects of self queen inner and king outer. lol
Then I got my first tarot book that told me court cards are "difficult". LOL, so of course they became difficult. I was an idiot, then I went back to my way. :) :) and let that evolve.
This is the best explanation of the tarot court. Thank you! I am confused about you saying pages don’t do anything. They spend all day taking messages between people. Also, as for pages being the servant of the knights...isn’t that a squire? Are they the same thing in some systems? I’ve always treated pages as messages and messengers.
Really a great explanation of the court cards! Thank you so much ♥️
I really enjoyed this video as i always have difficulty with the courts. Thank you for sharing Tom
This was flipping AWESOME!!! Gave total clarity Thank you Thank you Thank you
Whenever I look at you, I think of King Henry VIII. Very appropriate for this lesson!
Love the way you teach!
Have you ever considered offering a tarot related mentoring program/course?
I'll add my two cents - I don't think it looks shabby or whatever when you use notes. It says to me that you want to make sure you hit all your points. I found your approach to explaining the Court cards super interesting.
You and I have the same view of the court cards. I read the court cards as levels of mastery of the element represented in the suit. Ie a student of an intern of a master of. So you go from the page as a student to the king CEO, let’s say. It helps to identify what level of mastery of a personality type, or occupation, etc. I like the court cards but when I first started reading in the seventies... they used to baffle me until I decided I had to give them jobs. Sounds like you landed there as well. It’s so fascinating. It’s also very hard to articulate these concepts about the courts. Also... I feel we are all of the court cards. We are all the elements. Though astrological association , like you say do play a part. Like people the court cards are complex. I could talk about this for days.
This was SO. GOOD. 🙌🏼💖🙏🏼
Amazing once again. Thank you 😊
"Off the Cuff Rando, the name of my new band..." that alone made me hit the like button. 😄
Thank you the explanation you provided was very helpful!!
Yes! Perfect timing, I've been focusing on court cards, going to get me some tea and notebooks!
Edit: I was craving curry so made dinner while listening and it was perfect
As usual, very thought provoking. One comment: this worked when the question involved somebody else (boss, husband, kids). But if the question is, for example, "how do I find my creative purpose in life", it's harder to identify who is who. Do you assume there's a boss or partner influencing the querent's creative life...but what if there isn't? I get and appreciate the wisdom when it comes to a situation that involves others, but some don't (or don't seem to). But as always, you provide great advice!
Great. Would like more because ... well, because
Luv!
Thank you! Hell yes it helped! I took notes!!
I really enjoyed your video.. Do you always see the courts as people? Do you ever see them as energies?
Almost always people or peopleishness ♥️
You're funny lol I love the way you teach :)
not how i read the courts at all, and in all the years i've been reading i've never had an issue with them. however, i love hearing what you have to say. thank you
"Off the cuff rando" I'd listen to that band😂😂😂
🤣
😂 Me too.
Would you say this method is a refinement of your method of reading reversed courts as the querent? The uprights being the querent or others depending on who the subject of the question is?
PS Did you buy some good stuff at Michael's? Did you use your coupon?
Do you have any deck recommendations of something that is more cultural- like middle eastern cultures or something like that? I've seen one's made for Egypt, African, European, Asian cultures, Russian, etc. but not really for Indian cultures. All the ones I've found are OOP and extremely expensive.
That’s a great question. I‘ll have to do some searching.
Tom Benjamin thank you! I’ve been trying and the only things I find are out of print decks 😖
And you Tom are Professor-ness
That was very very interesting. Thank you. Hymn....
I like your explanation here. I think you have good reasoning and good examples, but I still don't like reading the courts as people--I think it just feels a little old timey to me. Personally, I really enjoy reading the courts in a dual element system where the queen of swords is the airy side of water or the king of cups is watery side of earth. Guidwife and Kellyanne Maddoxx both have videos about this way of reading the courts. I find that this system works really well with decks that don't have people in the courts. I would be curios to see how you read courts that don't have people in them.
Courts are people cards to me, even if the art doesn’t show them. It’s core to me.