When trying to understand the meaning of each Tarot cards, it’s a good idea to know the history of some of the symbols used. The court cards in the Minor Arcana of the Tarot have a long and notable presence in history and as archetypes. The Page in particular is interesting because of his connection to a noble class as well as a working class.
The page, in principle, was a young man attached to a noble house in service. If he did his tasks with speed and a good attitude, there was good chance he would be trained as a knight eventually. In Tarot, the Page can refer to a young man or woman – gender is not attached to this court card. The Tarot symbolism of the Page is deep and is connected back to the duality of his roots.
The page will often be placed in the position of being confidante to others but normally keeps his or her feelings to himself. The page will help others to follow their dreams but will rarely lose sight of their own. Supportive and discreet, the Page works best when working for others; they are at a point in their development where while they have their own opinions, they also need the structure and comfort of a partnered relationship.
In the Middle Ages, a page was a respected position, often filled by a young nobleman training to become a squire for a knight. As a squire, the page would accompany the knight on his campaigns and carry his armour for him (when not in use). Often, squiring was the page’s entry into the world of courts and kings. After his apprenticeship in arms was complete, the page would become a knight himself and teach other pages the art of battle.
In Tarot, the Page is usually still in a dependent position and usually is represented by a child, teenager, servant, animal or an adult who perceives themself as being dependent. One of the lessons of the Page is to realize that we are all in process of transforming our lives and rising to a new level of importance and responsibility.
Part of bearing the outcome of speaking one’s mind is having responsibility for ourselves; the page knew that the menial tasks of today would lead to a knighthood in the future – if he learned his lessons well. Apply yourself to what you may consider to be beneath you today if it leads to something more tomorrow.
