View Full Version : Symbolism that you think should be in the cards
The message below written by Pedeka inspired me to open this thread... Would you like to share the list of symbols you think should be on a specific card?
And what reason you have for using a symbol...OR leaving out symbols of excisting/traditional Tarot Decks.
THANK YOU!!!
Bram
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Pedeka wrote:
Hi
Im new to the forum, but am VERY interested in this. I have complied 3
ring binders full of "symbolism" and what I think should go into the
"perfect" deck. I think I'll have to get more paper for notes after reading
here...lol. I have some artistic talent, but mainly doing large scale murals,
though I have done some manuscript illumination. I think that I haven't
started because , being a gemini, that I'm afraid that I won't have the
follow through to keep up the energy for a whole deck. Plus the idea of
"paring down" everything that I would want to put into each card is
daunting. I think each card would have to be mural sized to cram all the
pictures and symbols I would decide to add.
But I do like the idea of being able to follow with others and learn by what
they are doing.
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I prefer the High Priestess have black and white pillars, preferably with the B and J on them. and that she has the TORA scroll. I also like her wearing the equal armed cross and some sort of moon symbol.
:THP
My mind is absolutely refusing to work at the moment ..but I can't wait to read the ideas that'll be generated here.
...also just thinking how cool a huge tarot mural of the fools journey would be, with all the scenes blending seamlessly into each other and coming full circle. wow! ..would love to see something like that!
quote"..also just thinking how cool a huge tarot mural of the fools journey would be, with all the scenes blending seamlessly into each other and coming full circle. wow! ..would love to see something like that!"/quote.
Oh me, too. How utterly marvelous. What a great idea! I would love one for my front hall. Oh my. I'm quite taken with the idea.
Namaste,
Debins.
Originally posted by Liliana
I prefer the High Priestess have black and white pillars, preferably with the B and J on them. and that she has the TORA scroll. I also like her wearing the equal armed cross and some sort of moon symbol.
:THP
Hi Liliana...thanks fo the reply!
Could you tell me why you like to use these symbols?
The Magician and The High Priestess (don't they respresent ying and yang?) Why are the pillars black and white on the card, for the High Priestess respresents ying? and it somehow suggests a relation between her and the Charriot, which I don't quite see.
I need to study the occult more, chuckles
Well Im an ecleclectic Christian
The pillars are a couple things, first they are the pillars of Solomons temple in the Bible. They also are the pillars of severity and mercy in the Qabala (also black and white) The B and J are Boaz and Jachim,also on the pillars of Solomons temple.
I like the moon symbol because the High Priestess is astrologically the moon card and I especially like the triple moon symbol as a link to Wiccan highp riestesses, tho I know that is not what the rider waite is depicting
Im like the equal arm cross as a symbol depicting balance of all elements, and also a symbol of Christianity to me personally.
I like the partially hidden tora scroll because of its representation of secrets hidden, does it say tarot backwards, or does it say torah, the first 5 books of the Bible
THE ORIGINAL :THP
I think a veil should also be added to the HP to represent the hidden mysteries and to enhance the relationship with Isis.
I' also love to see a kitty with the HP but this is a personal taste ;P
blue_fusion
24-06-2002, 11:10
well, id like more of white for the death card. as well as white lilies. and chrysanthemums, and wysterias. and trees with spanish mosses, perhaps an orchard, and a man walking underneath the trees, holdind hands with a child, towards their long walk to eternity.
hope that helps.
:)
HudsonGray
07-07-2002, 14:07
One question here--I think first you'll want to decide if you want to stick with the basic Rider-Waite interpretations or strike out on your own & stick your own symbolism in, breaking new ground. There are a lot of RW clones, and many which are unique--they're all tarot but follow different courses.
Which category were you looking to be in? I think you need to decide that first before starting in on the entire deck. Most people here seem to think you're doing a RW clone.
migueldart
23-07-2002, 21:12
I have the nagging suspicion that all female images in the Tarot are different aspects of the Mother Goddess.
Am I wrong?
Sorceress_Jade
24-07-2002, 18:04
I want to leave out monotheistic religious symbols, that includes kabbalistic ones.
I think that when I make my deck I will do my best to leave in place a lot of the classical concepts of the cards, but that I will do my best to change the actual image away from waite inspired imagery.
I get tired of seeing decks with the same pictures drawn differently. It becomes tiring to me.
ChrisTheObscure
11-09-2002, 14:35
When I make me first deck, I want it to be very simplified....no numbered cards, no words on the cards....even the images will be abstract - ie, certain colours/shapes for the major arcana, not necessarily people. It will primarily be a deck for self-meditations.
For the high priestess card, for example: it will look as if one is staring down into a deep, swirling tunnel....one side of the tunnel wall will be dark grey, and the other half light grey....deep in the dark depths, as if way, way, way down, a speck of green or red. Because to me, the HP represents withdrawl (like into a tunnel or cave), or seeking out hidden, obscure truths.
C.
Originally posted by ChrisTheObscure
When I make me first deck, I want it to be very simplified....no numbered cards, no words on the cards....even the images will be abstract - ie, certain colours/shapes for the major arcana, not necessarily people. It will primarily be a deck for self-meditations.
>snip<
C.
I think that's the key, right there. Unless you're planning to make a deck for mass publication, the way you structure it should have meaning to you.
My own deck is structured on the traditional idea of the trumps representing a journey to completeness (at least that's how I understand it), though the journey I'm depicting is of a slightly different bent. Also my suits are numbered one through nine rather than ten, though each has the traditional four court cards.
I should clarify: when I say 'traditional', I guess what I really mean is 'based on what I've read regarding the R-W deck and decks designed along a similar line'. I don;t want to step on any toes.
I think it's just a matter of building on a framework that works for you. There's nothing wrong with copping an established system. However, I would have to agree that seeing the R-W deck with re-drawn artwork does get tiring. I've seen a couple of decks like that, and even in that limited circle I noticed that the artist left a lot of detail out.
That's just my Two of Coins.
temperlyne
17-10-2002, 03:46
I'm also working on a deck of my own and I just let my emotions guide me. I think of the card I want to do and just start drawing. I'm not concerned with any of the symbolisme. To me the picture must speak through my heart and not through my mind I guess. I just believe strongly in speaking images. When I look at a card such as the High Priestess, I like to feel the mystery and seclusion rather than translate it from the symbols. Bu I guess it is easier if you are creating a personal deck thats meant only for yourself like I am, I only have to recken with my needs.
Major Tom
17-10-2002, 04:06
Originally posted by Jackal
I think that's the key, right there. the way you structure it should have meaning to you.
I think it's just a matter of building on a framework that works for you. There's nothing wrong with copping an established system. However, I would have to agree that seeing the R-W deck with re-drawn artwork does get tiring. I've seen a couple of decks like that, and even in that limited circle I noticed that the artist left a lot of detail out.
That's just my Two of Coins.
My actual departure point was the book The Tarot - A Key to the Wisdom of the Ages by Paul Foster Case. It goes with the BOTA deck and explains completely every symbol that appears on the cards right down to the colours used. You're meant to colour it yourself. You can see the version I coloured at http://www.majortom.biz/t-shirts/html
Otherwise I fall in that limited circle with my tarot at: http://majortomstarot.0catch.com/ I did leave out a lot of the details, but I do like to think I've made up for that. }) I do find myself getting further away from my departure point - I'm quite proud of my Wheel of Fortune card. My friend Kayne appears on the 4 of Cups. :)
Major Tom, I had a look at your deck and it is FANTASTIC!!! I especially love The Devil.
I like the idea of immortalizing your friends in a tarot deck. It sure looks like you are having a great time putting it together.
Originally posted by Major Tom
My friend Kayne appears on the 4 of Cups. :) Yeah! Bet you didn't know that would happen when you first started that deck... :P
Demonesse
19-10-2002, 07:54
The crab in the Moon. Okay, this is irrational but it just has to be there :) As for creating a deck, I believe one should include more symbolism rather than less, but I feel at the same time it's important to create cards that are unique yet part of an integrated whole and at the same time reflecting one's emotions, thoughts & feelings at the time of creation.
I get tired of seeing decks with the same pictures drawn differently. It becomes tiring to me. ---Sorceress Jade
So true. Enough of the Rider-Waite clones already.
Because to me, the HP represents withdrawl (like into a tunnel or cave), or seeking out hidden, obscure truths. --Chris the Obscure
Interesting. I've always thought that it represented looking within to find deeper, hidden truths and exploration of esoteric mysteries, but I've never thought of it as representing withdrawal of any sort...
temperlyne
19-10-2002, 11:14
".. For the high priestess card, for example: it will look as if one is staring down into a deep, swirling tunnel...".
I like the idea of the High Priestess as a swirling tunnel. Maybe it could reprsent knowledge being sucked in by her as she represents being receptive.
Demonesse
19-10-2002, 12:05
MajorTom - cute deck!!! I wish we could click on the cards to see a close up :( The Moon and Devil are really nice - who are the human guinea pigs you recruited? They look like they're having fun. ;)
Originally posted by Demonesse
Interesting. I've always thought that it represented looking within to find deeper, hidden truths and exploration of esoteric mysteries, but I've never thought of it as representing withdrawal of any sort...
It does kind of make sense- what better way to explore deeper hidden truths and esoteric mysteries than by withdrawing from the mundane, material world (like a meditative retreat?)
Wait- I think that would make you a... um... hermit. :D
HIDEABED2001
21-10-2002, 22:09
New to tarot....but very intrested in making my own deck, cause i have yet to find one for me....I would like to put the runic sympols on the major arcana.....every major arcanda has a rune tied to it..some may have more, there are 25 runes and 21 major acanda cards....of the subject, but it came to me in a dream to rember that i was not reading the cards for myslef....not sure if it means that i will be reading others and not to put to much of my own intrest in the cards i make....
I like the idea of putting the runes on the major arcana. I think there are a couple of decks that have experimented with that idea- check out the Haindl deck (that's the first one that comes to mind).
Which brings up an interesting point, at least to my mind: I have seem many decks that coincide the Hebrew alphabet's 22 letters with the Major Arcana. How do you feel about leaving them out?
Is it possible to have a Tarot deck that does not tie in to the kabbalah (or alternate spelling of your choice)?
Originally posted by Jackal
Is it possible to have a Tarot deck that does not tie in to the kabbalah (or alternate spelling of your choice)?
Yes, I'm Jewish, and you have my permission. }) *LOL* Just kidding, but really, I think it's unnecessarily limiting to make yourself be kabbalistic about tarot. Yes, there are 22 major arcana and 22 (basic) letters in the Hebrew alphabet; yes, there are ten sefirot in the Tree of Life and ten numbered cards of each suit. But there are also four of each suit and of each type of court card, corresponding to the four elements; that is independent of kabbalah. And there are lots of such examples of the other influences and associations in tarot. Kabbalah does not define it.
WillieHewes
22-10-2002, 06:29
I know very little of kabbalah and have been reading and designing tarot for years without missing it. :) As Qolus said, there's many ways of approaching it. I think the Tarot and the Kabbalah are linked but can exist independently. Then again, I might just be one of the uninitiated who doesn't know anything...
Willie - the Uninitiate
Originally posted by Qolus
Yes, I'm Jewish, and you have my permission. }) *LOL*
Ha! Thank you, oh gracious one! :D