Extra Cards

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 30 Jun 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Kyrielle	30 Jun 2002
What is the purpose of the extra card that sometimes comes with a Tarot deck? In Wheel of Change, it's the card with the color wheel on it; in Hanson-Roberts, it's the card with the gypsy that says "To all believers;" in the Connolly, it has the door on it and says "Gateway to Meditation." I think I read something about the meaning or uses for this card, but I've forgotten it. Anybody know what I'm talking about? --Kyrielle

Starfish	30 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Kyrielle in Hanson-Roberts, it's the card with the gypsy that says "To all believers;"I think I read something about the meaning or uses for this card, but I've forgotten it. Anybody know what I'm talking about? My best friend (who has the Hanson-Roberts) uses this card as her significator, so as not to pull an otherwise "usable" card from her deck. :TTEMP Starfish

Kitty	30 Jun 2002
Thoth has an extra black card in it. I know that the 'wise ones' in the forum should have an answer :)

Phoenix	30 Jun 2002
Sometimes tarot deck creators add these extra cards, usually to the Major Arcana, because they feel that they make the deck somehow complete. My Londa Tarot has an extra card in it called"who are you really." I use this card because i feel that it can somehow add depth to a reading. Other decks that have extra cards are the Shapeshifter Tarot, and the Osho-Zen Tarot. Kitty, which version of the thoth do you have?? Mine(The small one with grey borders and three Magus' in it) doesn't have this card in it.

Kitty	30 Jun 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Phoenix Kitty, which version of the thoth do you have?? Mine(The small one with grey borders and three Magus' in it) doesn't have this card in it. It is the small deck, don't have the three Magus in it, jus the first one with him on his 'surfboard' Will have a closer look when I get home- it is a plain card with a black background and (i think-wait till I check though) the cross thing that is on all of the backs of the cards.

Phoenix	30 Jun 2002
Thanks Kitty! This isn't the deck that I have.

Lee	01 Jul 2002
Another reason there's often two extra cards is that in the printing process, they have to produce 80 cards anyway because it's done as a single sheet, so I guess they figure they might as well put something on them. Some publishers use them for advertising purposes. -- Lee

HudsonGray	01 Jul 2002
Duh, now THAT makes a lot of sense! Wish I'd thought of it. I know the book publishing industry has the same thing going, it's why kids books have exactly the same numbers of pages, groupings vary per age group, but if you look there's always the same number of pages in each type of book--they cut them apart from larger sheets & don't want to waste any, even if it means putting 3 blank pages at the end of the book.

Maan	01 Jul 2002
A dutch research worker "docters van leeuwen" has his own theory about the two extra cards. He thinks that in the middel ages, people where afraid of the power of the curch so they "hide" two cards of the tarot. People who used the tarot in that time new the meaning of those cards. But in time people forgot the meanings and eventually the cards dissapeared. This dutch person even made designed his own deck with the two "missing" cards. He calls them Juno, and Jupiter. I believe a have seen a copy of his deck for sale at tarotgarden. Its called "de tarot van de herstelde orde" Wich means something like the tarot of the restored order...but Dutchies feel free to translate it better than i did :) I never found a english book about this subject so i believe this person stands alone in his believes Love and light Maan

wavebreaker	01 Jul 2002
Maan: this deck is actually on sale on eBay at the moment. ;) The description contains a picture of some of the cards. The two extra cards are shown at the top left and top right in the picture: "De Intuďtie" (intuition/Juno) and "De waarheid" (truth/Jupiter).

Starfish	01 Jul 2002
Tarotlady - Thank you for the link - it's a gorgeous deck and I love those two extra cards. Hmmmm.... might have to place a bid... ;) :TSTAR Starfish

Kaz	01 Jul 2002
the doctors van leeuwen deck i saw some time ago, i didn't buy it as i didn't like it. now i see i should have, somebody would have liked it here.... "tarot of the restored order" sounds great maan :-) kaz

Momof6	04 Jul 2002
I know each person decides what to do with it but I chose to leave it in my deck. When I first looked at my Robin Wood deck and saw this card, I immediately thought "unknown" when I saw this card. Bright Blessings, Momof6

Keslynn	04 Jul 2002
At first, I always just tossed those extra cards aside as having no purpose. When I use a significator (which is rarely) I have the querent choose it and then put it back into the deck. So no use there... Then I found that they make great bookmarks, especially since I'm bad and read more than one book at a time. Plus, it seems a shame to just throw away 2 whole cards out of every deck. :) Kes

harlequin	04 Jul 2002
i am new to aeclectic and the tarot as well and i am trying to do as much learning as i can. i was able to see the deck that was up for auction on ebay and i have to say i really like the deck and plan on buying one later on down the line. i got the chance to see the two cards, juno and jupiter, now it raises a question in my head, does it now make the traditional 78 card deck incomplete or is this a version of the creator's idea on how the deck should be?

wavebreaker	05 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by tarotlady Maan: this deck is actually on sale on eBay at the moment. ;) The description contains a picture of some of the cards. The two extra cards are shown at the top left and top right in the picture: "De Intuďtie" (intuition/Juno) and "De waarheid" (truth/Jupiter). If anyone is interested in the "Tarot of the restored order", please note that the deck on eBay is highly overpriced. I've found the deck to be available from at least three bookshops here in the Netherlands for around €19. The person at eBay is asking €30 (€1 = +/- $1.03) So if you seriously want it, just PM me and I will try and get it for you for the regular price.

Lee	05 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by harlequin i got the chance to see the two cards, juno and jupiter, now it raises a question in my head, does it now make the traditional 78 card deck incomplete or is this a version of the creator's idea on how the deck should be? Hi, Harlequin, welcome to the Forums! :) To answer your question, I'm not familiar with that particular deck, but I suspect that Juno and Jupiter are the same cards as the standard High Priestess and Hierophant, also known in older decks as the Popess and Pope, and in this deck they've just been renamed Juno and Jupiter. The Swiss 1JJ deck is another deck which also renames them Juno and Jupiter. So it's still a complete 78-card deck. There are many, many decks out there these days which rename several of the cards, but as long as the card relates in some way conceptually to the original pattern, we still consider it Tarot. -- Lee

wavebreaker	05 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Lee So it's still a complete 78-card deck. Actually, this one is a 80-card deck, with Juno and Jupiter as the extra cards (assuming that you are still referring to the Tarot of the Restored Order?).

Maan	05 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by harlequin does it now make the traditional 78 card deck incomplete or is this a version of the creator's idea on how the deck should be? Hi harlequin welcome :) I actually read a book from the creators of this deck and they state that this: the "normal" 78 tarot deck is incomplete! They did alot of research ( did not note where or what kind of research) and found out that the tarot originaly had 80 cards. That's why its called "restored order" IMO the two extra cards are almost the same in meanings given as the the hierophant and the high priestess! So and see any extra being added to the usual 78 cards. But i don't have the deck so i don't know how it effects a reading????? Love and light Maan

The Extra Cards thread was originally posted on 30 Jun 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.