Courts- Why do we need them?

[Saturn Celeste]

Courts- Why do we need them?

 

https://www.tarotforum.net/threads/courts-why-do-we-need-them.99537/

 

I saw this thread on the front page of Aeclectic today and thought it would make a good discussion thread.  In my current profession, I make sure to work on the court cards in a reading.  To me, they are important because they can really give a clear result on featuring actual people involved in the situation.  Either people or energies, the court cards have a special place in a reading.

[DanielJUK]

I think they are important because they do show people. I know beginners hate them because they are a nightmare to work out how to use them until you get experience. You can read people and characteristics in all the cards but like so many other cartomancy systems, the people cards are important. They do add to my readings. Either telling me about people around me or what characteristics I need to take on.

[RitualVision]

I personally look for a court card if possible. Often the real answer resides in what that court card is doing or wants to do. Or it provides guidance on qualities to embody in order to bring the reading to fruition. The other minors are great for 'background' energy, like whatever is in the air. The court cards provides some grounding and some action steps once you lock into the qualities of the court card in question.

[Mister]

So, why do we need courts?

Strictly in terms of need, we don't. Les Majeurs do just fine on their own.

 

However, the courts are useful if employed.

One practical part is to use them to see what the actual state of a situation is like.

For example, if the read is about finishing a project, and all what turns up are pages 'n knights, then the finish of a project will likely not be the actual completion of the grand idea but a step towards that.

Anotherone is by suit merged with element, say we read on something involving co-operation, and all the courts which turn up in the read are of opposing elements (given that you actually use elements, another thing not strictly needed but plenty useful if employed), then there is no co-op at this point in time.

Progression-wise, they can be handy - if someone thinks she's got it in the bag, and the progression goes king/queen downwards to page/knight same suit, it can be interpreted as a "not yet".

Consequently, if it goes the other way, it can be interpreted as a sort of promotion.

Another take is to limit the use of people cards strictly to the kings and queens, the knights and pages can then be used to give us information about what they are up to.

 

They are useful, in more ways than one, for the above suggestions are anything but exhaustive.

 

How do You do with them?

[Barleywine]

I've created spreads that use only the pip cards or only the trumps, but i think a courts-only reading would be a little thin unless it has a very specific purpose. I have a structured approach to them when reading for someone else. First, I ask the sitter whether they could represent another person with an interest or stake in the matter (I like to joke semi-seriously that everyone likes to have someone else to blame for their troubles). If I draw a blank, I propose that they could be showing attitudes or behaviors the querent should either adopt or avoid in the matter (this one covers most situations). Finally, I will resort to talking about impersonal, spiritual or universal energies that may be at work in the circumstances. I sometimes use them as Significators, but only rarely these days.