👸🏾The Tarot Queens Have Become the Mentors in That Afro Drip Tarot

One of the best things about creating your own tarot deck is the ability to update and modernize the cards with everything you’ve learned about them. The Queens in the tarot are often likened to the nurturers or mothers, which seems to go well with the water association of this rank in the court cards. 

Water is associated with empathy, emotion, intuition, and relationships. Each queen modifies her watery attributes with the elemental attributes associated with her suit, as all court cards do. I’ve even seen it described as different mothering or teaching styles. So, why did I rename this rank to the Mentors in That Afro Drip Tarot? 

For one, I believe every one of us embodies all sixteen court cards of the tarot. What makes us unique individuals is how strongly we connect to these archetypes and how often. If you’re a person who’s very passionate, creative, and spontaneous, you probably relate to the Scepters (Wands) court more than the others. But that doesn’t mean you completely lack the sensitivity of water, the analytical strength of air, or the pragmatism of earth. 

I felt like calling this rank of the courts “Mothers” or something similar would be a disservice to those who would eventually read with this deck outside of myself, because one doesn’t have to be a mother to embody these traits. Language matters and we can often shoehorn our - and others - thinking with the words we use. 

As the third rank of the tarot courts, the Queens possess wisdom and leadership that comes from growing into their maturity with life experience that the two preceding ranks (the Students and Zealots) lack. Though they are the third rank out of four, I actually consider the Mentors to be on equal footing in their maturity as the rank that follows, the Luminaries, aka Kings. What sets them apart is the reach of their influence. 

I chose to call the Queens “Mentors” instead because the influence of their traits is more intimate and personal than the influence of the Kings. These figures aren’t giving big speeches to crowds of hundreds or thousands. Their impact is more on the one-to-one or one-to-few level. However, the lessons they impart can have far-reaching ripple effects that even they couldn’t predict. How many world leaders are able to tell stories about formative life lessons they carried from childhood imparted by a mother or wise teacher? That’s the impact of a Mentor. 

We can understand each Mentor by thinking about the kind of advice or words of wisdom they’d give when responding to the same situation. Let’s say you were dealing with a rough break up. The Mentor of Scepters is probably going to ask what you need to do to smile and have fun and forget about your ex. Should you go dancing? See a movie? Make some art? The Mentor of Vessels is more likely to hold space for you. She’ll want to know if you need a hug or space to cry. If you want someone to hold your hand, you’ve found the right person. The Mentor of Blades is the most likely to ask why you’re even giving this person any room - rent free, she might add - in your headspace. She’d point out all their intellectual shortcomings and remind you that you were always out of that person’s league to begin with. She’d emphasize the facts as she perceived them to help you move through your feelings. The Mentor of Coins is most likely to focus on your health and wellbeing. She’d suggest you go for a jog or do some yoga, stop ordering takeout so you can cook instead, and balance your budget.

Whatever you prefer to call this rank of the tarot court card, just remember they’re primarily about intimate influence. Their advice may be simple, but that doesn’t take away from its profundity. 

Get to know the Mentors and all the other court cards in That Afro Drip Tarot by ordering your copy of the deck today! The pre-order period will last until February 29th, 2024.

Shaniqua ❤️