mm-tarot

[mm-tarot]

The Buddha Tarot (2004: Llewellyn) has an unusual 22nd card at the end of the Major Arcana. It does not replace card 0, as you see — the Buddha’s descent to the worldly plane of existence is “The Fool,” which makes sense if you know “The Fool’s Journey.” Parinirvana (card 22) refers to his leaving this plane and the death of his human/physical body. 

[mm-tarot]

The Major Arcana from the Buddha Tarot, by Robert M. Place (2004). Deck sold separately from the (quite nice) book. I’ve spent a lot of time studying Buddhist beliefs, and I always see parallels in most texts about interpretations of cards, “the Fool’s journey,” etc. This pack was irresistible to me — but I confess I haven’t worked with it very much.

[mm-tarot]

Of the several tarot books I’ve read, this is by far the most satisfying. I feel like Pollack has really researched the cards — their meaning as well as their history. She uses mainly the Smith-Waite deck but sometimes refers to others. 

[mm-tarot]

I’m really enjoying this book (published 2016). It relies heavily on the Smith-Waite deck, but it adds a ton of ideas about using your cards for inspiration in your own creative work. I really like the suggestions for each card (music, films, poetry) and the stories about artists and other creative people. 

[mm-tarot]

Yaasss ... I have acquired the Rumi Tarot, by Nigel Jackson (published in 2009). I found the book some years ago at a used book sale for $2. I’ve been searching for the deck ever since then. Some cards are slightly damaged, but the deck is complete. 

[mm-tarot]

When a pack of cards is referred to as the Tarot of Marseille, it means the illustrations on the 78 cards follow a particular design — mostly quite different from the more familiar Smith-Waite pack (first published in 1910). Thierry DePaulis’s second article (2013) is primarily about where that set of designs originated.

DePaulis found there were two distinct versions of the Marseille deck. The differences come down to just a handful of cards, but the decks are consistent in those differences. That is, if a deck shows a winged Cupid wearing a blindfold on Trump 6 (The Lovers), that deck will also show The Devil (Trump 15) “with a human face on his belly” (p. 102). The other deck type shows Cupid with his eyes wide open and the Devil with an unremarkable belly. 

Nine trump cards differ in appearance between the two types of deck, and a tenth difference is in the name of The Fool, written on the card as Le Fol (deck Type I) or Le Mat (deck Type II). DePaulis argues that the Type I design is the older of the two. The differences in Trump 21 (Le Monde) are the most striking.

“Type II is exemplified not only by the majority of tarots made in Marseille in the second half of the 18th century ... but also” by those made in Dijon and Fribourg, Switzerland, around the same time (p. 108).

Most of the article is devoted to exploring where either or both types originated. Type I probably existed “by the 1580s in France” based on a Spanish text related to the Inquisition of Mayorca.

Relying on evidence given in a historical book by British philosopher Michael Dummett, DePaulis concludes that the Tarot of Marseille originated in Milan, while “the earliest French tarot pack [was] made in Lyon ... in 1557″ (p. 113).

An interesting part of this article for me concerned the discovery of several very old tarot cards at the Castello Sforzesco in Milan in 1908. (I spent an afternoon wandering around the castello in 2013.) One of the cards (the Two of Coins) bore the date 1499. DePaulis also discusses another group of those found cards, which dates to the mid-1550s.

DePaulis says the Marseilles design has little in common with the Visconti-Sforza tarot cards, created (circa 1450–1480) for very wealthy Milanese families, but I disagree. Yes, the hand-painted cards with gold leaf are far more lavish and detailed, but just look at The Hanged Man, Judgment, and some others, and you can see inspiration for the simplified woodcut blocks used to print Marseilles decks. The first printing press in Milan arrived in 1470 — the same year for Paris. Lyon was three years later. Woodcut blocks were used to print playing cards before metal plates became common.

[mm-tarot]

Most articles about the Tarot discuss reading the cards, spreads, the meaning of suits, the major and minor arcana, etc. I recently read two articles that discuss instead the history of one particular deck, or pack — the Tarot de Marseille. I became interested in this deck when I read The Night Circus (a wonderful novel), and the only deck I have worked with is a Marseille deck.

The first article is quite dry, with lots of untranslated French and Italian. The gist is that the 78 illustrations of the Marseille Tarot pack might not be as old as many fans would like to think, and it was almost certainly NOT designed or printed in the south of France, let alone in the city of Marseille. “The earliest mention of playing cards in Marseille is a notarised act of 1381″ (p. 29) — but these were not necessarily Tarot cards. The game of tarot “was played in Marseille in the 16th century,” judging from evidence dated to 1567. But playing with cards is not the same as making them.

The earliest that tarot cards are known to have been made in Marseille is the 1630s. Records of taxation on the printers and sellers on playing cards show that tarot cards existed at that time. Printers in Lyon also complained of counterfeiting.

A pair of cards in the Marseille Tarot style (La Papesse and the nine of Deniers) have been dated to around 1685 and to the city of Marseille (they were glued into a book binding), but cards of this design had existed in Paris 20 years earlier. 

In conclusion, the design of these cards likely did not originate in Marseille, but eventually decks in the Marseille Tarot style were printed and sold in that city, at least by 1734. Interestingly, “no other city has handed down to us so many tarot packs,” the author informs us (p. 39). “Nearly 40 tarot packs from the 18th century and the early 19th century” — all coming from Marseille — have been preserved (p. 35). 

[mm-tarot]

I’ve been working on understanding the qualities of each of the four suits of the minor arcana. These descriptors come from a variety of sources. 

[mm-tarot]

I always found the Celtic Cross spread difficult and confusing. Earlier today I read a really simple explantation of it from Stuart Kaplan, who is quite an expert in tarot. Then I saw this illustration on Pinterest, and I grabbed it to remind me that this once confusing spread is not really so difficult after all.

The one key thing missing from this illustration is that UNDERNEATH card 1 is the real first card, which is selected by the reader to represent the querent. The card is called the Significator. While it may be a trump card (major arcana), it is often one of the court cards (page, knight, queen, king). Card 1 is laid exactly on top of this Significator card.

The reader chooses the Significator and then asks the querent to shuffle and cut the deck three times.

This covers you: Your encompassing situation right now.

This crosses you: Obstacles.

This crowns you: The best or the ideal.

This is beneath you: What you have to work with. Your base.

This is behind you: If your life were a river, this is the part you’ve already traveled.

This is before you: The part of the river that’s coming up next.

Your attitude and your relation to the matter in question.

Your environment, your surroundings (now).

Your hopes and fears.

What will come. This card cannot be read in isolation but must be interpreted based on the entire spread.

. 

[mm-tarot]

Court cards - Wands - Batons

Here we have the four court cards of the suit: page (valet), cavalier (knight), queen, king. I also laid the ace of this suit on the right side.

Since this is the first batch of court cards I’m learning, I will add some general notes about all court cards. First, their association with the four elements:

Page - Earth (steadfast, roots, growth, reliability)

Knight - Air (movement, cerebral, intellect, cunning, vigilant)

Queen - Water (forgiving, mercy, compassion, adaptability)

King - Fire (power, passion, will, determination)

Since court cards show people, in a reading they often represent a person. The page might be either a man or a woman, a young person, or a child. The others might represent the gender they appear to be (but not necessarily). Sometimes a court card represents the querent, and sometimes another person.

The Page represents someone loyal and faithful, but maybe inexperienced. In the suit of Wands, a Page symbolizes the start of a new project, or maybe a new relationship. A beginning. This reminds me of The Fool, starting out on his journey, empty and innocent.

The Knight is all about “making something manifest in the physical realm” (Kelly-Ann Maddox). He’s a mover and a doer. This is multiplied for the Wands, the suit of action and creative productivity. He can also mean travel and adventure. He reminds me of The Magician.

The Queen is more like La Papesse (The High Priestess) than The Empress, with her intuition and wisdom. She is very positive, open, and understanding. In the Wands, she embraces passion and enthusiasm. She shows sincere interest. She is completely honest. She’s also relaxed and self-confident.

The King can make things happen, enforce the rules, lead and conquer. In the Wands he is very positive, He is controlled and responsible, representing a good use of power. Like the Queen of Wands, he is honest and optimistic. He’s so active and full of energy, he looks like he wants to jump out of his chair. With his strong will, he gets things done.

[mm-tarot]

Ten of Wands: The ten in a suit signifies a completion, a fullness. It also signifies that a new stage can begin, or is about to begin, and so, great change might be imminent. Since the wands stand for passion, creativity, creation and destruction, this completion could mean something is all burned out.

[mm-tarot]

Continuing with the suit of Wands.

Seven of Wands: Like most of the odd-numbered pips, a seven indicates some kind of change or movement. It might mean a major decision, or setting priorities for future progress. Deeper development of your art or a new path forward for your energy.

Eight of Wands: Transformation or sudden change. This could be good or bad. It could be too fast. You might make a snap decision. Something significant is about to happen in the sphere of your creative passions.

Nine of Wands: This is a winding down, a time for taking stock and reflecting, a pause. You might be indulging in regrets, or you might be taking pride in your accomplishments. 

[mm-tarot]

Continuing with the suit of Wands.

Four of Wands: The fours are similar to the threes in that they indicate a strong foundation in this sphere of life. The sphere of the Wands is creativity and energy (also your work, your vocation). You might be feeling satisfied. But there’s a warning element in four: Don’t get stuck where you are. The message of the four is to move forward, keep moving ahead.

Five of Wands: The five indicates some instability, maybe a conflict, in the realm of desires and goals. You have moved on from the safe and comfortable place. You will be tested. You need to rise to the challenge or surmount obstacles.

Six of Wands: The result that comes after a period of struggle, instability, or conflict. Your situation after facing a challenge in your creative life or your job. There’s a sense of accomplishment here, a sum of all you’ve learned and mastered. Your efforts have paid off.

[mm-tarot]

Three cards 8-27-16

[mm-tarot]

The first suit I am studying in the Minor Arcana is Wands.

Ace of Wands: The start of an undertaking. Beginning a new project. A new job. Creation, beginning. The birth of a child. An adventure. All the potential that lies in these. Because Wands symbolize energy and activity, here is the auspicious start to a fresh application of these. Look at all those sparks of energy flying out from the stout and ready club! 

Two of Wands: Boldness. Courage. A mature person. A dominant individual. Attainment. In the twos we have balance or duality, possibly a choice or decision. A crossroads! Are you dissatisfied with your situation? Is a firm step now required?

Three of Wands: Practical knowledge. Your apprenticeship is complete and you have the skills with which to proceed. Enterprise or trade. Business smarts. Negotiation, possibly compromise (but not a weakness). Strength. The stable tripod. A foundation on which to build. A firm base for creative projects or work.

[mm-tarot]

Aces for all four tarot suits

Swords - AIR - spirit - top left

Wands (Batons) - FIRE - energy - top right

Cups - WATER - love - bottom left

Coins (Deniers) - EARTH - groundedness - bottom right

The pips, or number cards, share certain characteristics across the suits. For the aces we can say they represent the essence of their suit.

What is potential in that realm of life (each suit represents a particular realm).

The wholeness of the idea of that suit. Its basic quality. Its root.

[mm-tarot]

Wands - Batons

Here we see the 10 “pip” cards of the suit. 

Element: Fire

Characteristics: Energy, life-force, activity, invention, progress, growth, building, creativity, passion, ambition