A place you can see all the cards in the Glastonbury Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Apr 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kiama	29 Apr 2002
You can see all the cards from this marvellous deck here: http://www.gothicimage.co.uk/books/shop_glastatarot.html Just scroll down the page, until you see the link saying 'Images: Major Arcana' and 'Images: Minor Arcana'. As mentioned by Faunabay (Or was it Fairyhedgehog?) this deck is surprsingly attractive, despite its simplistic art and bold colours... This really is an amazing deck, and I am so tempted to go order it right now, except for the fact that my money is going on other decks is month.... *Sniff* Next month maybe! Kiama

wavebreaker	29 Apr 2002
I'm about to order it. It was the Glastonbury Tarot website (http://www.isleofavalon.co.uk/tarot/index.html) that first got me interested in tarot about 6 months ago, so I really like to have the deck myself. I'll let you know when I get it!

catlin	29 Apr 2002
Oh, Kiama, How could you!? I should have never brought up the Glastonbury subject! You naughty girl lured me into wishing the next deck!!!

kayne	29 Apr 2002
I like those bold colours! Hmmm... interesting :D It's great to see as much in the minors as there is in the majors... Am I the only one who had never heard of vesicas before? Kiama, can you tell me anymore about this symbol?

Kiama	29 Apr 2002
Kayne: I have written a bit about the origins for the Glastonbury Tarot's Vesicas in my Ace of Pentacles card commentary for the FACT deck. The Vessica comes from the covering of the Chalice Well, which is said to be where Joseph of Arimathea buried the Holy Grail... It is a geometric design, incorporating the maxim of 'as above, so below'. I've forgotten who it was desiged by now... Kiama

faunabay	29 Apr 2002
I still love my deck (yes Kiama it was me that started this again LOL) One thing to keep in mind though is the cards are pretty flimsy. I've got one of mine that is already turning up and peeling on a corner. But that shouldn't keep anyone from buying them. I just love this deck!!! :) They are very easy to read with. The colors (while kind of flat) are very bright and bring alot more color meanings into the cards than normal.

Zhritza	30 Apr 2002
Huh - turns out I like this deck more than I thought I did. It does have a characteristic that is an ongoing issue with me, though: cards' traditional meanings that are not really positive are made so, for example Five of Swords as Acceptance and Ten of Staffs as Responsibility. On the other hand (I am such a Libra that it's not even funny :rolleyes: ), I realy like the Eight of Chalices, Renewal...

jmd	30 Apr 2002
Kayne, the Vesica, or more properly, the Vesica Piscis, was used from mediaeval times onwards especially as aureales around Christ and Mary. It is 'properly' formed by the intersection of two arcs... roughly thus: (), if you can imagine the upper and lower sections connecting. There are two especial ones which are considered true or perfect: the first by intersecting two circles through their centre, and the second by mean of the Golden section, the width being in Golden proportion to the height. In Tarot, the card which is usually associated with the Vesica Piscis is XXI the World. The Vesica is usually considered a feminine symbol (as representative of the birth canal), and the Piscis as Christ. Hence, the total figure is sometimes also said to represent initiation (a new birth into the Spiritual domain). The representations on the Glastonbury deck are of the well-cover, and incorporate, as well as the three circles, the Vesica thereby constructed.

Pollux	30 Apr 2002
I WANT IT I WANT IT I WANT IT !!! Kiama! I want it! Gotta try it. I think it has got all it takes to become my favourite deck ever. Geometric, simple, easy on the eye, particular colours... And doesn't seem to be lacking in symbols and all. In addition, I am glad that the style of the Majors is similar to that of Minors, one pet peeve out first of all. :P I am also interested because I am struck by the associations, since they are so... natural! I love them. That Hanged Man with the Fishing King... I would buy it just for that card. Kiama told me there's a book coming with it, and it's fine since I am not much into Arthurian Tales, and that would add valuable sources to my general knowledge, apart form my Tarotical experiences... I WANT IT SO BAD!!!

Kiama	30 Apr 2002
Also, to add to what JMD said, on the covering of the Chalice Well in Glastonbury, the Vessica Piscis is pierced by what is known as the Bleeding Lance. Don't know why! Anyway, about the deck... I'm talking my boyfriend into buying it for me for Beltane... >:) I've been in love with Glastonbury and everything about it ever since I went there last Summer... I'm hoping to go again this Summer, after my birthday, and again next Summer, with Pollux, Kayne, Catlin, and her friend! Kiama

Pollux	30 Apr 2002
Originally posted by Kiama : (...)the Bleeding Lance... The Bleeding Lance of the Fishing King? The one that hit him? *mumble... mumble...* WOW!

kayne	30 Apr 2002
Thanks for all the info Kiama and JMD. I really liked that symbol... Is it derived from the same source as the symbol for Pisces which also includes two arcs (and seems to have a similar name as piscis)? Have you all noticed how positive the images on the Starves cards are? Not like the usual ten of rods...

jmd	30 Apr 2002
Yes, Pisces and Piscis are totally etymologically related: they both mean 'fish'. Also, though I didn't mention it before, strictly speaking, Vesica Piscis means 'fish bladder'. The Vesica symbol is also related to the Almond in its shape, and in symbolic meaning, in that they both bring forth new life. The Bleeding lance is certainly connected, with the Arthurian saga, and especially with Parcival, to the unbearable wound suffered by the Fisher King... and also to Christ, as the Fisher of Man, and King, who suffered from a lance wound upon his side, and from which part the Blood became a transformative part of the crucifixion. If anyone has the opportunity, to see Wagner's Parzival is a pretty incredible experience... even if you do not really fancy opera!

Kiama	01 May 2002
Notice that where the two circles join in the Vessica Piscis, a fish symbol is created! :) Kiama

The A place you can see all the cards in the Glastonbury Tarot thread was originally posted on 29 Apr 2002 in the Tarot Decks board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Decks, or read more archived threads.