A simple approach to Court Cards is the Family Reunion.
If you’ve never been to a “gathering of the clan,” try to imagine one.  It may look something like this:  Cousin Tom (a childhood bully) runs around telling everyone how much weight they’ve gained.  Right behind him comes   peacemaker Howard, explaining how Tom didn’t really mean the things he said.  Across the room,   egocentric Aunt Helen has cornered quiet Brother Billy, and is torturing him with unending stories of how she strategized a hostile take-over of her competitor’s company. 

Everyone brings a camera, and Granny Jones has appointed herself Director of the Photos.  "This time”, she says “let’s get all the women together."  Shuffle, shuffle.  " Now a photo of  all the women with their sons."  Shuffle, shuffle.  "Alright Dads, it’s your turn with your daughters."  Shuffle, shuffle.  "Cousins!  Where are all the cousins???"

If you look around the reunion with a detective’s eye, you’ll find every one of  Tarot's  Court Cards posing as your relatives.

Court Cards represent personality types.  Don’t let gender fool you.  Your mom can be the King of Swords and your dad the Queen of Wands.  Personality type, not gender is the key.

Exercise
Fill in the Family Tree with your relatives, then assign a Court Card to each.  It's okay to use the same Court Card more than once. 

In your journal:
1.  Were there some Court Cards you used several times? Some not at all?  Why do you think this is so?
2.  Were there any Court Cards that were harder for you to work with than others?  What were they? 
3. Did you gain any insight into your family dynamics? 

Court Card Groupings
You've seen how suits share similarities.  Do you think Court Cards are alike?  Pull all of the Court Cards out of your deck and sort them by "status", i.e., all the Kings in one row, all the Queens in the next row, etc.

Taking the Kings as an example, do you think they can be either a benevolent ruler or a cruel tyrant?  Isn't it possible that they can wisely invest to ensure their kingdom's future, or rob their subjects into abject poverty?  Do Kings use or abuse their power?  These are questions for you to ponder.  

Exercise 2-4   
1.  Do they share any physical characteristics?
2. Do they look "kingly?"
3. What can you tell about the realm that each King rules?
4. Do you like any of them better than the other?  Why?
5. Ask each King to tell the other Kings about himself and how he rules.

When you're finished, read what one Taroist learned about the Kings.

KINGS FROM NEW PALLADINI

King of Rods:  “I can tap into the magic of the stars.  I talk to spirit of all living things on Earth.  I can create a sense of magic in my kingdom, for all my people if they are willing to listen.  Sometimes I worry because everyone can’t see the beauty I see.  If I were standing on the distant mountain instead of here in my castle, I would see just as much beauty, and be just as connected to the energy that surrounds me.  I help my people bloom inside.”

King of Swords:  “I am fair, I am patient, I am balanced.  I listen objectively, I rule objectively.  I may look haughty but I am not.  It is merely my sense of objectivity that makes me appear detached.  I care deeply about governing my people fairly.  I can look at all sides and make a just decision.   My kingdom is well-tended.  I help my people live lives of reason.”

King of Cups:  “I rule with my heart.  I listen to the ancient tales the ocean and all its creatures weave.  I rely on that wisdom to know each person’s heart.  I love my people and they never doubt that.  I am not always objective, but I am always kind and compassionate.  I make decision based on my heart, not my head.  I love beauty, and my kingdom is one of the most beautiful on earth.  I give my people the gift of love.”

King of Pentacles:  “I can imagine anything, and what I can imagine I can realize in flesh.  The world I create in my mind is quickly actualized in reality.  I build and what I build endures.  My people are prosperous and healthy.  Their food has the highest level of energy possible.  Their homes and businesses function efficiently.  Their work is fulfilling.  My kingdom flourishes.  My people live in security.”

Do this exercise for each group of Court Cards, recording your discoveries in your Tarot journal.

A Little Something Extra

The following isn't really needed to interpret Tarot - but I've added it just in case you'd like to add a little something more to your Court Card understanding.

• Each of Tarot's  Kings, Queens and Knights relate to an astrological sign. 
• Wands are the Suit of Fire, so the King, Queen and Knight of Wands represent the three Fire Signs:   Aries (King), Leo (Knight) and Sagittarius (Queen).
• The Cups represent the Water Signs:  Cancer (King of Cups), Scorpio (Knight) and Pisces (Queen).
• The Pentacles are the same as the Earth Signs.  Taurus (Knight), Virgo (Queen) and Capricorn (King).
• Lastly, the Swords represent the Air Signs:  Gemini (Queen), Libra (King), Aquarius (Knight).

Is this confusing?  Remember that the Court Cards are personality types?  Do you have a Taurus in your life?  Is he/she anything like the Knight of Pentacles you just talked to?

If you're interested in seeing Celebrity Court Cards, the chart below lists astrological signs with their corresponding Tarot card and a celebrity example.  Hopefully they are people you’re familiar with.  Going back to your interpretations of  the Court Cards, do these celebs seem to fit the bill?

What do you think a Queen of Swords would have to say in a dialogue with the Knight of Wands?  Do you think this rings true when translated to “real life”?  Measure the accuracy against a “real life” Queen of Swords (John F. Kennedy) and a Knight of Wands (Jacquelyn Kennedy).