The Knights
Knights - Minor Arcana
(Tarot Course - Lesson 12)
Knights appear after Pages in the Tarot. A Knight is a skillful individual who has been honored and rewarded by the King. This is where the Page's apprenticeship ends, and they gain self-confidence. Knights are individuals whose abilities have been proven, their successes have been heard of, and they have offered their services to the King with assurance. The Knight knows the path they are taking, is well-planned, and is confident in the steps they are going to take. Their purpose is clear, and they are determined to take the necessary steps to achieve it. Knights also enjoy taking risks and are brave warriors. They are always prepared and equipped for battle, so when Knights appear in a reading, it can sometimes signify that victory is on the horizon.
When representing an individual, a Knight is more action-oriented compared to a Page. The Page may have just started a task and hasn't even planned it yet, while the Knight has a plan in hand and is a highly motivated individual ready to take steps forward. The one who ensures that the journey initiated by the Page continues is the Knight. The Page might not finish what they started, but the Knight is determined to finish it.
Knights also represent the period of maturity that falls between youth and old age. While they are more mature and experienced than Pages, they are never as mature as the Queen and King, nor do they have the life experience that they possess. Their experiences are sufficient for them to be successful and continue the journey they have started. Knights have also received education in the field they want to progress in, and they are individuals who know very well what they are doing.
In addition to their common qualities, each Knight has distinguishing characteristics. For example, the Knight of Cups is emotional and always prefers to listen to the heart. Although all Knights are warriors, the emotional nature of the Knight of Cups takes precedence over their warrior spirit. The Knight of Swords is the most warrior-like and ambitious among all Knights. They are ready to do anything to achieve their goal. According to the Knight of Swords, everything is fair in war. The Knight of Pentacles thinks that money can open any door, so they may act a bit like a bribe-giver during their journey. They are generous and offer financial benefits to everyone to achieve their goal. If you hear a Knight saying, "If this works out, I'll pay you this much," they are definitely the Knight of Pentacles. The Knight of Wands is passionate about entrepreneurship and always has the brightest ideas.
On a physical level, Knights generally represent individuals aged between 20 and 40. As mentioned earlier, in the court cards, the gender representation can be somewhat unfair by featuring 3 males and 1 female. Therefore, male figures do not always have to represent men. The Knight can also represent a highly motivated woman who is somewhere between youth and maturity.
One common characteristic among all Knights is that they are not static but dynamic. Each of them has a horse, which represents the means and equipment that will take them to their goal. The Knight is fully prepared for success and is eager to achieve it. They are not beginners but trained and prepared for success. The movement in the horses indicates that a continuous improvement is on the horizon, and each day will be better than the previous one, signifying that tomorrow will be closer to the peak than today.
Knights are often referred to as messengers by many tarot readers. Each Knight brings a message related to their suit. They can also be the harbinger of a significant development or good news in a particular area. For example, the Knight of Pentacles might indicate good news about work or earnings. The Knight of Cups will bring a message related to the emotional aspect of our lives. The Knight of Swords invites us to battle and struggle.
Knights are also action cards, signifying the transition from a stagnant period to an active one. All Knight cards have a horse, and the position of the horse's leg indicates a forward movement. The horse is always in motion. This indicates that it is time for the person who sees the Knight cards to make a significant leap or take a step up the ladder. One thing is certain: these cards are full of youthful energy and are not stagnant or inactive cards, always promising progress.
Reversed Knights:
When Knight cards appear reversed, the rider on the horse falls off, and progress comes to a temporary halt. The charismatic Knight may experience a temporary loss of charisma or go through a shame recognized by society. Therefore, reversed Knight cards can be associated with the loss of prestige, rank, or encountering an obstacle that hinders success. When a Knight's journey, which has been initiated with confidence, suddenly halts, it may be due to a momentary burst of self-doubt. Although the Knight is still a Knight and remains well-equipped and courageous, they may have experienced a minor setback or things didn't go as expected, leading to a setback in the battle. Therefore, reversed Knight cards can also signify temporary disappointments or a temporary loss of motivation. Those who see these cards reversed should prepare again and know that there is nothing wrong with giving the same thing another try, having learned from past mistakes. In cases where a lot of effort and energy is wasted, reversed Knights may also serve as a warning against the misallocation of energy or failure to use it productively. There may be a diploma, talent, or youthful energy, but this energy is either not being used or is being consumed for unproductive tasks. The Knight should mount their horse and focus on their goal. However, when these cards appear reversed, the individual who sees them may hesitate to take action even though they have everything they need to achieve their goal. Consequently, the journey to the summit, represented by the King, has been temporarily halted. These journeys continue only when Knights appear upright.