The Tarot
 

I've been studying the Tarot lately, and even picked up this book from the library:




I'm quite surprised by the legitimacy of it all, and was expecting a lot more "hocus pocus" than there is. As soon as I discovered that Tarot was more about self-definition, and guiding free will based off of Jungian archetypes, rather than foreseeing the future; I was hooked.

However, I accidentally forgot to purchase a beginner's deck, and went straight ahead and purchased "Tarot of the Dead", based off of Mexico's Día de los Muertos. This is troublesome though, for it's very difficult to interpret or remember the symbolism of the deck's vague, minor arcana cards.




I understand what each suit represents (intelligence, emotion, action, wealth) but can't figure out a quick way to remember what each particular number of each suit means.

Judging from DannyHimself's avatar, there has to be at least one other person on this board interested in the Tarot, and I'm assuming a few others are too.

So, let's discuss.

I thought this was going to be a thread about the Holy Mountain. I love that scene in the tarot room with the spinning floor. ANYWAY..

Yeah, the tarot's interesting to me too. All I know about it is from wikipedia, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8vltSs8P1Q

Better?

every deck is different and I dont know that one..

generally speaking if it has a major and minor arcana in the same numbers as the common standard deck types, then the numbers corresponding will be the same, with just different items changed in for cups, pentacles/discs, wands, and swords.. and meanings could be drawn from that.

A lot of tarot is bonding with your deck though, and if it is non standard cards then you will just need to read what the author has suggested, and then start drawing your own meanings which will become more constant as you get to know them and work with them more.

THE TAROT WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO CREATE A SOUL.

Great.

Yes, I understand that. In my deck: pens=wands, pistols=swords, coffins=cups, reels=pentacles. But the cards themselves are as symbolic as a deck of playing cards. So, until I memorize each of the 56 meanings for each minor card...am I basically fucked? Or is there a pattern of some sort?



Yes, my deck's based on acknowledging death as part of the circle of life. Hence the spooky skeletons.

That's a really nice set. In terms of using them, it's basically what Phoenix said: so long as there's the standard 78 cards (22 major, 56 minor arcana) you'll be fine, just a case of trying to memorise their meaning basically. It might be an idea to get a cheap deck using more standard symbols based on the Tarot de Marseilles. these are the symbols that most other tarot decks are based on, so once you've memorised that style, other versions will become a lot simpler.

A really good book if you want to delve deeper is this one.

Oh, and here's what I mean by the tarot de marseilles set (only showing its major arcana):

I was considering that, but I'm a poor son of a bitch,and have to work with what I have, for the time being.

I'll definitely seek out that book, as well.

PS: I could've sworn Danny had 'The Hanged Man" avatar. I apologize for getting the 2 of you mixed up. So many damn D's on this board.

just cross-reference them online if you can't get a marseilles deck. Where did you get your day of the dead set, btw? It's really nice.

I'm after a Crowley set at the moment. Much closer to the marseilles set with really nice symbols:

(^^^ I read that first one as Knight of Dicks)

I would be interested in seeing the type of reading I would get from demonrail.

granted, he may not "know me" very well, but phoenix had me hanged. :(


inb4 phoenix explains that this is my fault and not her's.

Borders books.

But it's also available on Amazon, if you're really interested. Just search "Tarot of the Dead"

Thanks. I think I just found them. Are yours by Monica Knighton?

My friend has a set and he did a reading. I really don't know what to think of it.

i ate the death tarot card as a bet once... im still alive... horseshit the lot of it!!!



(..........sound of paulybee getting his coat and running away from the loinclothed leigons of doom and scary rabbits)

You would still be alive, unless you happened to choke on it. The death card just means some kind of transformation or change.

stuff like this interests me, like palm reading etc. i dont think there is much in it and its open to interpretation but its an interesting subject to me.

well i did shit myself doees that count?

Yes they are by Monica Knighton.




Check out the death card in this deck. I love it.

Well I suppose the 'change' in your case would refer to your underpants, so absolutely. :eek:

I love how they've got the fool as a hitchhiker. lol.

Wait until you see The Emperor.

Do you have a pic of the Emperor card?

These are nice:

Check it:

.

Lol. That's brilliant! I'm definitely getting that set. Roll on payday. Cheers!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjective_validation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forer_effect

most pagan ritual, and tarot itself, acknowledges and embraces this as a part of life and change. But yeh the deck looks pretty interesting. It might be an especially good deck to use at samhain?

I find it's fairly difficult to get the wrong deck for you. Most people don't buy something they are not drawn to in some way. The only thing I wouldn't really suggest is buying a deck that has absolutely no help from its author in interpretation unless you have a little experience in tarot and are strongly drawn to the deck in regards to energies or vibes you feel when looking through it and so on. You know. There are definately decks of cards I have that get used more, and are my favourites.. that I feel a stronger bond with. But even the ones I use less, they have their uses. Generally the decks I use less, are the more mischievous? I have an elven deck that I get really odd vibes from if I try and use it when it isn't especially calling out to be played with. It prefers to be left alone unless it has something to say.(http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/elves/index.shtml)

Practice makes perfect. Start with a lot of quiet time with yr new cards and getting to know them. I always use white sage with a new deck, and when using them, try to have candles appropriate for the time of year. Try simple reading layouts, don't start off with really big spreads. If you don't you might end up getting frustrated and confused if you end up with a bunch of seemingly conflicting cards. When you can, try and do simple readings for friends. One or three card draws, simple clear HONEST questions from them. Don't pick friends who are going to tell you they are asking about one thing, but really have something else on their mind. It wont help you one bit.

it's your fault, and not mine.

fault is wrong word, though. It implies bad thing that happened because of something. Tarot just shows feelings and energies and pathways.

I dont know why you focus on that card so much, it's certainly not a bad one. To be honest I forget all the cards that came up but it was no way negative over all.

I've never been attracted to it.

I like this better



(no, it's not "space invaders")

A Podcast I like:

Episode 22: Tarot-rama

Wed, 24 May 2006 15:40:00 EST
In your near future we see an hour long episode dealing with these mysterious and misunderstood cards. Out There science news returns with military-funded tongue sensors, and we discuss the esoterically banal "Smith Code."

About.com's tarot resources page

Wikepedia entry for "Tarot"

Article on tongue sensors

Alfred Douglas. (1991). The Tarot : The Origins, Meaning and Uses of the Cards. Penguin.
Paul Huson. (2004). Mystical Origins of the Tarot : From Ancient Roots to Modern Usage. Destiny Books.
Ronald Decker, Michael Dummett. (2002). A History of the Occult Tarot: 1870-1970. Duckworth Publishing.
Download Episode

I recently got really into this..

Life cards are really interesting.. add up your birthdate and look through to see what you find. I have the Heirophant. Which is pretty accurate. A holy card, dead set on changing the world. But also the people around them. Positives and negatives you know.

I heard from someone that the only time your deck is accurate is when its given as a gift. I told my friend that so as a going away present she bought me a pocket deck. So far its been really really good to me.

Each card has a huge symbolic meaning.. But usually you can interpret from the pictures themselves on the card. And after you do readings more often you get your own interpretation of the card and its meaning... Its sort of like dreams in my opinion. Cryptic and deep rooted subconcious.

INTERESTING AS SHIT.

looks like giger!

(just looked it up and it seems to be)

pretty!

I'm with the woman I'm spending my life with due to a tarot reading, though I'm not sure it wouldn't have happened some other way if I hadn't had one.

I a way, "self-definition, and guiding free will based off of Jungian archetypes" is the same thing as "foreseeing the future". The future won't happen if we don't get off our asses and make it. At least that's what my reading said. That was eight years ago, and I really haven't needed one since.

No one is going to respond to my baiting?
D:

it has its place ^

tarot is .. fun. so is any type of scrying. For me it is to do with understanding patterns in yourself and around you.. If you believe inthe interconnectedness.. of all things.

Periods of depression and elation in my life definately correlate with how much inter-connectedness I see.
At some points I get filled up on only a certain level of connections and not be able to delve any deeper or apply these connections to a particular scheme, and organize them, and end up becoming full and frustrated and eventually I realize I've become apathetic and unfocussed in general again.
And every time that happens, the ability to regain focus is less and less.


Phoenix, how do you know what candles to use during the year?

I guess it probably depends on yr own beliefs also, but I generally use colours and smells related to pagan sabbats, or the full moon. Depends when I'm using cards.

I love my Thoth deck but haven't pulled it out in quite a while...I've probably forgotten everything by now. :(

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_and_Method

And if you can't appreciate the art of a tarot deck for what it is, then what can you appreciate?