Man, when I first got into Tarot, I dove in headfirst, you know? Like, really obsessed. I grabbed a Rider-Waite deck, found a few books, and just started pulling cards. The Major Arcana? Yeah, I kinda got those eventually. They felt like big life lessons, big themes. The numbered cards in the Minor Arcana? A bit trickier, but with some effort, I could link the numbers to stages and the suits to themes. Cups for feelings, Wands for action, Swords for thoughts, Pentacles for stuff you can touch. Made sense, mostly.
But then I hit the Court cards. Oh boy. Queens, Kings, Knights… and the Pages. The Pages were the ones that really threw me for a loop. For the longest time, I’d pull a Page and just kinda… mumble something vague. “Oh, a new message is coming.” “Someone young is involved.” It felt so generic, so flat. I knew there had to be more to it, but I just couldn’t grab it. I felt like I was fumbling in the dark whenever one showed up in a spread.
I got really frustrated with those Pages. It was like they were teasing me, holding back their secrets. So, one evening, I just decided to stop everything else and focus purely on them. I pulled out my deck and laid down just the four Pages: Page of Wands, Page of Cups, Page of Swords, and Page of Pentacles. I didn’t open a book. I didn’t look up a website. I just looked at the pictures. Really looked.
I started with the Page of Wands. Young kid, holding a wand, looking up at it. Fire suit. What does fire mean? Spark, passion, energy, new beginnings, adventure. This kid looked curious, maybe a little naive, but definitely excited. So, I thought, “Okay, this isn’t a full-blown adventure yet, but it’s the spark of one. An idea, an invitation, a new burst of energy.” I started connecting it to those moments where you just feel that sudden urge to try something new, or when someone brings you an exciting, fresh proposal. It’s that initial ‘Aha!’ moment of enthusiasm.
Next up was the Page of Cups. A gentle-looking person, holding a cup with a fish popping out. Water suit. Water is emotions, intuition, creativity, dreams. The fish felt like a surprise, a little wonder. So, I started seeing this Page as a new emotional beginning, a tender feeling, or a gentle nudge from your intuition. Someone offering a pure, heartfelt emotion. It was about the initial stirrings of love or friendship, or a creative idea that just gently surfaces from your subconscious. It wasn’t a tidal wave of emotion, but a single, clear drop.
Then I moved to the Page of Swords. Kid holding a sword, looking alert, perhaps a bit nervous, surrounded by wind. Air suit. Air is thoughts, communication, intellect, challenges. This kid looked ready for anything, maybe a bit jumpy, kinda sharp. Not fully skilled, but eager to learn or challenge. So, for me, this became about new ideas, new ways of thinking, or a message that cuts straight to the point. It could be someone challenging your thoughts, or bringing news that might shake things up intellectually. It’s the first sharp inquiry, the initial quest for truth or clarity, sometimes a little blunt or awkward because it’s new.
Finally, the Page of Pentacles. This one seemed the most grounded. A young person, holding a pentacle, looking at it intently, like they’re really studying it. Earth suit. Earth is practical matters, money, learning new skills, tangible results. This Page felt like someone serious about learning or starting something real. So, I linked it to new practical opportunities, starting a new skill, or getting news about money, work, or tangible resources. It was about the first step in making something concrete happen, the student embarking on a new course, or a solid, grounded offer coming your way.
I didn’t stop there. I started a dedicated journal just for the Pages. Every time I did a reading, and a Page appeared, I’d jot down: “Which Page? What was the question? What did it feel like in the moment?” And then, crucially, I’d track what actually happened after the reading. Did that “spark of an idea” from the Page of Wands actually turn into a project? Did that “new emotional offer” from the Page of Cups materialize? This hands-on tracking, watching them play out in real life, made all the difference.
It slowly started to click. I stopped trying to force complex meanings. I realized the Pages are all about the beginning energy of their suit. They are the heralds, the learners, the first steps, the potential. They aren’t the fully realized Kings or Queens, nor the forceful Knights. They’re like seedlings, full of promise but still delicate and fresh.
- For the Page of Wands, I now instantly think: “New creative spark! Adventure call! Exciting news!”
- For the Page of Cups: “A fresh feeling! Intuitive whisper! An offer of affection!”
- For the Page of Swords: “Sharp new thought! Important message! A challenge to ideas!”
- For the Page of Pentacles: “Real-world chance! New skill to learn! Tangible offer!”
Now, when a Page shows up, I don’t hesitate. I just quickly connect it to that core “newness” paired with the suit’s element. It stripped away all the overthinking and allowed me to give an immediate, intuitive interpretation that almost always resonates. It truly changed how I connected with the cards, especially those tricky Court ones. It wasn’t about memorizing; it was about truly understanding their initial, raw energy.
