The Bruja's Guide to Tarot

Knight of Cups

March 19, 2026

Element: Water

Imagery: A knight rides calmly while holding a cup before him, often crossing a quiet landscape that suggests emotional or spiritual quests.

General Themes: Romance, emotional pursuit, intuition, creativity, following the heart.

The Knight of Cups Upright

The Knight of Cups is a lover, not a fighter. You could say he is the Warrior of Love, championing meaningful connection and joyful passion. What is life without the sweeter things to soften the heartaches?

This card is a delicious invitation to invest in your personal life more and the world of passion—not your vocational passion or passion project, as with the other cards, but your Eros energy and sensuous side.

Seek out beauty and harmony. Fill your life with things that bring softness and soothing. Flowers in your home. Perfume that makes you feel beautiful. Even a coffee mug that a loved one gifted you—all of these are things that return you to the present and reconnect you to your body and emotional life.

Let your inner romantic be your guide. This card isn’t just about romance. It’s about romanticizing your life (in a healthy way, of course). Take a moment every day to pause and appreciate what makes your day magical. Tune into the little things that bring you joy. This will keep you open to new experiences and healthy connections.

The Knight of Cups Reversed

On the other hand, there’s such a thing as romanticizing your life too much and getting lost in daydreams. Don’t just fantasize about what you want, actively work on bringing those things into your life. Sometimes it’s as simple as doing an energetic check-in and seeing where stagnant energy is keeping you from being open to new relational energy. Sometimes it’s as simple as slowing down and practicing self-care so you have the energy to cultivate and tend healthy relationships. We often don’t tend our inner and personal lives in the same way we do our professional lives. But your personal life can’t grow if you don’t leave space for it to develop.

This card can also appear when you are allowing yourself to fully feel what you need to feel. This is where the Warrior of Love comes in. He wants you to free yourself by expressing your emotions in healthy ways and acknowledging that you have a heart and a body, as well as a head. This reversal wants you to embody Eros energy, but in a more grounded way—not the hyper-fantasy of romance, but by figuring out what it means to wake up and love your life every day.

The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot is the divination sister to the scholarly The Bruja Professor, a witchy take on literature, the occult & pop culture, and Enchantment Learning & Living, an inspirational blog celebrating life’s simple pleasures, everyday mysticism, and delectable recipes that are guaranteed to stir the kitchen witch in you.

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Knight of Wands

March 19, 2026

Element: Fire

Imagery: A knight rides a rearing horse across a desert landscape, holding a wand as if charging forward with enthusiasm and momentum.

General Themes: Action, passion, bold movement, adventure, impulsive energy, pursuing inspiration.

The Knight of Wands Upright

The Knight of Wands, much like the Knight of Swords, is about seizing the moment and charging forward. Only this card is a touch more grounded than the Knight of Swords. The energy is there for you to take this opportunity to make things happen. It’s time to pursue your passion!

Likewise, now is a great time for an adventure. This is not a card for the shy or demure. Put yourself out there and watch the Universe match your energy. Just don’t get reckless. The Wands carry a lot of fire energy, so it’s best to temper it. Tend the spark rather than burn too hot. Balance your enthusiasm and inspiration with some old-fashioned common sense and you will go far.

The Knight of Wands Reversed

In reverse, this card is a caution sign. Avoid impulsive behavior and chaotic energy. Think things through before making a rash decision. You might be itching for a change when you get this card, or otherwise anxious to get going. Resist that urge—slow down and examine where this panic energy is coming from. Once you get to the root of your restlessness, you can move forward in a healthier way.

You might find yourself in a high-drama situation that seems to have no end. Don’t feed the flames here. Withdraw energy and remove yourself from the situation. Chances are, you’ll find that the chaos fades when you stop feeding it. Turn your attention to your passions instead and develop a realistic plan to grow them.

At the same time, this card can sometimes appear when you’ve been burning too hot and need to step back from whatever it is you’re working on. It is important to know when to work and when to rest.

Knight of Swords

March 19, 2026

Element: Air

Imagery: A knight charges forward on a galloping horse with sword raised high as storm clouds swirl in the background.

General Themes: Determination, intensity, intellectual drive, decisive action, rushing toward truth or confrontation.

The Knight of Swords Upright

This is an intense card! Like the Eight of Wands, the Knight of Swords wants movement and action. So dive into those passion projects…just stay centered as you do so. Sometimes this card is a caution not to get carried away. The knight is literally trying to rein in his horse, so you might want to rein in your enthusiasm just a bit.

Be decisive in your actions and intellectual clarity, but don’t rush into anything foolishly. Think of yourself as a grounded conjurer who can cut through the noise and see the heart of the matter. There’s no need to force a confrontation here. Sometimes, the insight is enough to restore boundaries or help you move forward.

The Knight of Swords Reversed

The reversal of this card is a sign to slow down. Like right now. Don’t go charging ahead until you cool off and look at the situation logically and with emotional distance. You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you say or do something you can’t undo.

Get grounded and rethink your game plan. Trust your intelligence and experience to guide you through this moment, and don’t hesitate to gather your resources and supporters. It is more important to think everything through and have a solid plan than to try to solve things on your own or fix them immediately. Slowing down here ensures a better outcome.

Focus on realignment instead of brute force to resolve this issue. Remember, if you are whole and aligned within, it is easier to navigate the external world.

Knight of Pentacles

March 19, 2026

Element: Earth

Imagery: A knight sits steadily on a still horse, holding a pentacle while surveying fertile fields.

General Themes: Persistence, responsibility, steady progress, patience, dedication to long-term goals.

The Knight of Pentacles Upright

The Knight of Pentacles is the grounded presence of a responsible soul. This figure wants you to steadily work toward your goals with dedication and patience—not haste. Get used to slow but consistent progress. Embrace routine and savor the ordinary magic that comes from investing in your calling.

Real conjuring happens when you show up every day and do the work. It might not seem glamorous or exciting, but it’s where the real enchantment happens. Too often we look to big revelations or dramatic shifts to move forward in our lives, including professionally or financially. But the truth is, that only happens when we stay consistent. It’s like the Universe needs to know we’re willing to put in the work and not looking for quick fixes.

So, in short, invest in the process. That’s where magic happens.

The Knight of Pentacles Reversed

On the other hand, when this card appears reversed, it’s a reminder that perfection is overrated. Invest in the process, sure, but don’t go overboard trying to make everything perfect. Part of showing up, day in, day out, is knowing that things are never simple or flawless. This card often shows up when you are getting rigid in your thinking or practice. Loosen up! You don’t always have to be working in order to make progress.

Work steadily on your goals, but find new inspiration. You might be feeling stuck right now and could use an infusion of passion. Let go of your need to control everything and get back to a sense of play and exploration. What inspired you about this calling or project in the first place?

At the end of the day, inspiration and discipline are a winning pair.

Page of Cups

March 13, 2026

Element: Water

Imagery: A young figure gazes at a cup from which a fish unexpectedly appears, suggesting imagination and emotional surprise.

General Themes: Emotional openness, intuition, creativity, sensitivity, messages from the heart.

Page of Cups Upright

The Page of Cups is another playful card, celebrating new connections and inspirations. Creativity is flowing and new friends pop up in unexpected places—like the fish peeking out of the Page’s cup in this card.

Be open to possibility here. This is a highly fertile time for matters of the heart and intuition. Let them guide you as you move forward here. Likewise, stay curious! So much of the Page energy is about being open to new things and cultivating an eternal sense of wonder. You can do this by nourishing your creative life.

Page of Cups Reversed

The Page of Cups reversed comes when you might be feeling disconnected from yourself or your emotions. Be gentle with yourself here and pull back. Once you feel more centered, let your feelings guide you.

Again, nurture your creativity. It will bring you back to yourself. Sometimes we get so focused on being productive or getting through the day that we forget to tend our inner life. Take a minute—or five—to feed your soul.

This is also a wonderful invitation to get spontaneous! Sweep away stagnant energy by getting playful and whimsical. The simple act of play can be a powerful antidote to self-doubt.

Page of Wands

March 13, 2026

Element: Fire

Imagery: A youthful figure stands in a desert landscape holding a flowering wand, looking at it with curiosity and excitement.

General Themes: Curiosity, creative spark, exploration, new inspiration, adventurous spirit.

Page of Wands Upright

The Page of Wands upright is an invitation to embrace your adventurous spirit. Make ‘yes’ your spell. What feels fun and exciting? What sparks your curiosity or inspires you? Go there.

Notice the figure on the card, however. Their feet are firmly planted on the ground. Get excited—get carried away, even! Just make sure to also cultivate grounded exuberance. It will take you farther. Think of this as a time to lay the foundation for future adventures and explorations. Instead of burning hot and then burning out, look for sustainable expansiveness.

Like the Fool, the Page of Wands asks you to embrace new things without expectations. Don’t go into a situation expecting a certain outcome. Instead, be curious, be open, and see what happens. You’ll be surprised at the magic you encounter!

Page of Wands Reversed

The reversal of this card asks you to expose your softer, more whimsical side. Enjoy a period of daydreaming and conjuring. Instead of venturing out into the world, explore your inner landscape and allow your mind to roam freely.

Embrace the excitement of new beginnings. Enjoy this moment before things are fully in motion. Watch the seed sprout and reach to the sky before it knows that it is a sunflower. See the green shoots sprouting from the Page’s wand in this card? Sometimes a fresh start sneaks up on you when you least expect it. Appreciate it.

Lastly, don’t stress about setbacks. Use them to get clear about what you want. Every bump in the road is a lesson that makes sure you’re moving in the right direction.

Page of Swords

March 13, 2026

Element: Air

Imagery: A youthful figure stands alert with a raised sword, winds swirling through the landscape as clouds move behind them.

General Themes: Curiosity of the mind, vigilance, communication, learning, intellectual exploration.

Page of Swords Upright

You are a budding intellect in this card, full of new insights and sharp perceptions. It is important to nourish this new critical thinking muscle with the Page of Swords. You might still be learning to trust yourself, so this card comes as encouragement. This is true not just for your literal smarts but also for the psychic stuff—dreams, instincts, those sharp insights that come out of nowhere. Trust those.

When you do this, you don’t have to be so guarded. You can trust yourself to make the right call. This, in turn, means you can move through the world in a different way. You are free to explore, knowing you are safe.

Now here is where it gets really fun…trusting your intellect also means you have permission to get curious! Explore what nourishes you mentally and focus on expansion. When you aren’t stuck in hypervigilance, life opens up around you, often presenting new opportunities for growth and development.

Page of Swords Reversed

This reversal is seriously asking you to let your guard down. The good news is that when it appears, it means you are safer than you realize in whatever situation you are grappling with. Sometimes, we get so used to surviving, negotiating, and planning for future scenarios that we move through life closed off, always prepared for the next battle, like the figure in the card, sword always at the ready. You don’t really need to do that, however.

Use your strong mind to imagine more nourishing possibilities. Instead of searching for threats, search for joy, adventure, and whimsy. Lay down your sword and see how life responds to your openness and curiosity.

This card can also appear reversed when you are struggling to communicate difficult feelings, and so remain perpetually guarded. Express yourself in healthy ways so your emotions don’t leak out in negative ways. It is better to be direct and solution-focused than to bottle anything up.

Page of Pentacles

March 13, 2026

Element: Earth

Imagery: A young figure stands in a fertile landscape holding a pentacle with focused attention, contemplating its potential.

General Themes: Study, dedication, manifestation, practical learning, new opportunities in the material world.

Page of Pentacles Upright

All Pages usher in an exciting new chapter. Like the Aces, they represent raw potential, only now it is ready to be embodied and brought to life. The Page of Pentacles reflects an auspicious time to develop new creative projects.

The Page, like the Fool, is very much a novice, so use this time to embrace the learning process. Remember when you were once new at something and how you eventually grew into mastery through simple practice and steady devotion. You’re at a starting point here, but that doesn’t mean you can’t build something wonderful if you stay open and curious.

Let your inspiration guide you. This is not a time to get bogged down in little details or potential setbacks. Focus, instead, on the potential of this new idea and see where it takes you.

Page of Pentacles Reversed

Reversed, this card wants you to learn from past mistakes. Go forward into your new adventures with the wisdom from your experiences. It is one thing to feel like a novice, charting new territory, but another to walk blithely into a new chapter without having learned anything from the last one. That will only lead to you recreating the same story to your detriment.

Likewise, be excited about your new project—but stay grounded. This might caution you to do your homework or plan a little more before diving into things. Be honest about what is sustainable for you to grow. A good way to do that is to refocus on the things that revitalize and energize you.

The Kings

June 12, 2024

The Kings represent the full maturation of the Knights and rule alongside the Queens as equals of their different realms. Where the Queens reign over the inner world, the Kings rule over the outer world. They represent maturity and authority, a strong leader who protects and supports those under his care. The Kings are the epitome of healthy masculinity (again, regardless of gender, as we all have masculine aspects to our nature).

Their dark side would include being overly authoritarian or, like the Swords, so logical that they ignore important wisdom of the imaginative or emotional realms, which is what makes the Queens a good balance force for them (and vice versa).

In general, however, these court cards more often represent the quiet assurance of someone who had learned their life lessons the hard way: through experience, aging, and making mistakes. As a result, they have the impenetrable confidence of someone who doesn’t need to explain themselves or prove anything—an admirable quality, especially if imposter syndrome is something you struggle with.

The Kings are all about owning your power and learning to use it wisely.

The King of Pentacles

The King of Swords

The King of Wands

The King of Cups

Image Description: Starry background with the words, “The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot: The Kings: Leaders, Authority, Intellect, Outer World.”

The Queens

June 12, 2024

The Queens are the rulers of the imaginative realms. They embody empowerment through creativity, the dream world, and honoring your intuition. Although the Queens embody deeply feminine attributes, they can speak to all genders (as can all court cards, regardless of the gender of the figures in the images).

The Queens are the court cards that are at one with the Universe because they operate from the inside out. They embody the old occult saying, “As Within, So Without.” In other words, they manifest by energetic alignment, nurturing their internal life, and being in harmony with themselves.

They are the nurturers and the mother figures of the tarot, inviting us to slow down and reconnect with our inner world. They know that abundance and happiness come from being true to our natures.

Like the Cups, it’s important not to get completely lost in the realm of emotions with the Queens, although they are generally positive cards. On the whole, these are gentle cards celebrating the wisdom that comes with age and experience.

The Queens offer messages of unity and authority through creativity and receptivity. Their power is one of openness, curiosity, and awareness, proving that softness and gentleness can be just as powerful energetically as the more masculine energy of the Knights or the Kings.

The Queen of Pentacles

The Queen of Swords

The Queen of Wands

The Queen of Cups

Image Description: Starry background with the words, “The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot: The Queens: Nurturers, Abundance, Intuition, Inner World.”

The Knights

June 12, 2024

If the Pages are the messengers of the court cards, inviting new energy and change, then the Knights are the action-oriented cards telling you to get moving! It’s one thing to heed the call or the message of the Pages and quite another to go head-long into the direction they want you to move in.

The Knights are more mature than the Pages, as they are no longer youths and have more experience under their belts. That said, they can still be rash, and their dark side is rushing into things or pushing too hard to get things done. They are so action-oriented that they sometimes forget to slow down, read the signs, and see stillness as a necessary part of moving forward. They have yet to grow into the wisdom and maturity of the Queens and the Kings.

The Knights know how to get stuff done, and they won’t wait around for life to happen. That’s great energy to have if you’ve been feeling stagnant or stuck. Just temper it with the knowledge that sheer force won’t always win the day.

The Knights, at their best, are guardians of the open road, encouraging you to get moving, even if you don't have all the answers. You can learn as you go, and ultimately, there’s something to be said for just going for it! How often would we take a risk or try something new if we had all the facts before us? And, knowing what we now know, what wonderful things would we also miss out on if we didn’t do the thing we weren’t quite prepared for?

The Knight of Pentacles

The Knight of Swords

The Knight of Wands

The Knight of Cups

Image Description: Starry background with the words, “The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot: The Knights: Adventurers, Warriors, Take Action, Get Moving.”

The Pages

June 12, 2024

The Pages are the young messengers of the court cards. They often come bearing messages of growth, opportunities, and exciting new directions. Of course, like the Aces, the Pages offer only the potential or the knowledge that the energy for growth is there. You still have to act on it to make it happen.

Like an exuberant youth, this card is full of energy and excitement, so much so that its potential downside is tons of inspiration with no follow-through. The page can be immature or unfocused, but more often than not is seen as representative of your inner child. The best way to get the most out of this card is to take action and utilize the potential of this card without over thinking things.

On the flip side, a more positive reading of the Page is someone who is young at heart and sees the world as a place filled with wonder and opportunity. Every setback is a message from the Universe, redirecting your focus and putting you on the right path with the Pages. Every day welcomes a new adventure that can take you wherever you want to go. In this way, the Pages are much like the Fool.

Consider the Pages as the messengers, inviting you to put your energy toward conjuring good things. This card is brimming with excitement, so have fun imagining new ways of being for yourself, and then get to work making it happen!

The Page of Pentacles

The Page of Swords

The Page of Wands

The Page of Cups

Image Description: Starry background with the words, “The Bruja’s Guide to Tarot: The Pages: Youthful Exuberance, New Opportunities, Messengers, Receptivity.”

The Court Cards

June 12, 2024

The court cards are part of the Minor Arcana represent personalities, people, and ways of being in the world. They can also represent levels of maturity or stages of life, the Pages being the least mature and most youthful, and the Kings representing maturity and the gravitas that comes with experience.

Although these cards often represent people, they aren’t necessarily gender specific. For example, you might run into someone who has big Knight of Cups energy, but that person could be of any gender.

That said, sometimes they represent parts of ourselves or times in our lives and show up when we need to invoke the energy of their specific court card medicine. The Pages typically show up when you need to look at the world through the eyes of a novice or innocent, much like The Fool. The Knights show up when you need to be assertive and action-oriented, like a young warrior. The Queens usher in abundance and nurturing energy. The Kings reflect authority, discipline, and strength.

Follow your intuition when you draw the cards as it will tell you if you should read these cards as people in your life, aspects of yourself, or an energy you need to tap into.