The court cards follow a pattern
similar to that of the pips, with a slight phase shift. The Kings (Princes),
Queens, and Knights are each allotted thirty degrees – the width of one zodiac sign. The Queens, Princes and Knights are placed around the zodiac according to the seasons of the year in the northern hemisphere. In your birth chart each planet or point will reside in a region governed by one of these court cards.
Figure 4: Court Cards and Quarters of the Year, 20o Pisces rising. The
Queens give birth to the four seasons.
The Watery Queens: The four Queens, being “watery” motherly cards, give birth to the four seasons signaled by the four cardinal signs of the zodiac. All births require a period of gestation, which occurs during the last decan (the final 10 degrees) of the preceding mutable sign. The Queens’
“waters break” at the cardinal points of the year and thus they govern the first two decans (the first twenty degrees) of each cardinal sign.
Fiery Wands: The Queen of Wands gives birth to spring on March 21st of each year in the tropical zodiac, after having gestated the unborn season of spring during the
transitional final decan of mutable Pisces (March 11 - 21), the end of winter.
Watery Cups: The Queen of Cups gives birth to summer on June 22nd and governs the last decan of
mutable Gemini and the first two decans of cardinal Cancer.
Airy Swords: The Queen of Swords gives birth to autumn on September 23rd and governs the last decan of mutable Virgo and the first two decans of cardinal Libra.
Earthy Pentacles: The Queen of Pentacles gives birth to winter on December 22ndand governs the last decan of mutable Sagittarius and the first two decans of cardinal
Capricorn.
The Airy Kings/Princes: Having given birth to the four seasons at the cardinal points of the year and having
nurtured the seasons through their early stages of growth, the watery Queens turn over the care of their seasonal offspring to the four Kings. The Princes/Kings are charged with the ordering and consolidation of the four seasons at the peak of their
development. The airy Kings
(Crowley’s Princes) begin their task during the final decan of the cardinal signs and continue their work during the first two decans of the fixed signs of each quadrant. According to the British astrologer C.E.O. Carter, “all fixed signs have a power-seeking propensity.”[8]
Pentacles: Thus, The Prince/King of practical earthy Pentacles
governs the last decan of cardinal Aries and the first two decans of the fixed Earth sign Taurus.
Wands: The Prince/King of creative fiery Wands governs the
last decan of cardinal Cancer and the first two decans of the fixed Fire sign Leo.
Cups: The Prince/King of compassionate watery Cups governs the last decan of cardinal Libra and the first two decans of the fixed Water sign Scorpio.
Swords: The Prince/King of
analytical airy Swords governs the last decan of cardinal Capricorn and the first two decans of the fixed Air sign Aquarius.
The Fiery Knights: Having
administrated the four seasons at the peak of their development, the Kings turn their care over to the fiery,
impetuous Knights whose are charged with the transition from one season to the next. Thus, the Knights rule the last decan of a fixed sign and the first two decans of the subsequent mutable sign.
According to Carter, “the mutable factor introduces flexibility and a power of adaptation.”[9]
Swords: The Knight of airy Swords, who is in charge of the movement from spring toward summer, governs the last decan of fixed Taurus and the first two decans of the mutable Air sign Gemini. Summertime will not truly begin until the Queen of Cups gives birth to summer at the very end of Gemini, which occurs at the summer solstice.
Pentacles: The Knight of earthy Pentacles, who is charged with the transition from summer to autumn, governs the last decan of fixed Leo and the first two decans of the mutable Earth sign Virgo. Autumn will not truly begin until the Queen of Swords gives birth for the Fall at the very end of Virgo, which occurs
at the autumnal equinox.
Wands: The Knight of fiery Wands, who oversees the movement from autumn to winter, governs the last decan of fixed Scorpio and the first two decans of the mutable Fire sign Sagittarius. Wintertime will not truly begin until the Queen of Pentacles gives birth to winter at the very end of Sagittarius, which occurs at the winter solstice.
Cups: Finally, the Knight of watery Cups, who is in charge of the
transition from winter to spring, governs the final decan of fixed Aquarius and the first two decans of the mutable Water sign Pisces.
Springtime will not truly begin until the Queen of Wands gives birth to spring at the very end of Pisces, which occurs at the vernal equinox.