Does anyone know of a tarot deck with at least one mermaid in it?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 19 Jul 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

mermaiden	19 Jul 2002
If you know of a deck that has at least one mermaid besides the Merryday, Gill and Goddess decks then please reply to this message. Thanks! :)

faunabay	19 Jul 2002
there's one coming that hasn't been released yet (by Lo Scarabeo ??) that is all mermaids!!!! It won't be released for about a year I think..... the cards I've seen so far are beautiful though!! There's a thread started awhile back about the new decks from Lo Scarabeo. Check back in the archives. But I'll see if I can dig it up also.

faunabay	20 Jul 2002
OK here's a couple of threads where we talked about all the forthcoming decks from Lo Scarabeo - including the Mermaid Tarot..... http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4164 http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4484

kayne	20 Jul 2002
I used a Mermaid to represent Temperance... :D

mondk	20 Jul 2002
The Halloween deck has a mermaid in it. I'm pretty sure she represents the Queen of Cups(Ghosts). It is one of my favorite cards in that deck. Blessings, M.

dolphingirl	20 Jul 2002
Hi My deck has several mermaids in the minors if you want to send me a e-mail I would be happy to share :) Dolphingirl

Jeannette	20 Jul 2002
Lo Scarabeo's "Enchanted Tarot" (previously titled "The Tarots of the Golden Dawn," or "i Tarocchi dell'Alba Dorate" in Italian) uses a "fairy mermaid" figure on the Temperance card. Scans of this card are included with both the 22- and 78-card versions of the deck in the Tarot Garden database. You can access the sample scans with this link: http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_title=enchanted+tarot The "Tarot de Merlusine," a limited edition French deck, uses the legend of the maiden fish/serpent as the basis for its imagery. The actual form of Merlusine varies depending on the variant of the story (apparently there are several), and this variation is reflected in the card images. But there's definitely some mermaind-like creatures in there. The Tarot Garden database scans for the Merlusine can be accessed using this link: http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_title=merlusine If I think of any more decks with mermaid cards (I'll bet there are several), I'll make a followup post. -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com _________________________ Sharpei Diem: Sieze the wrinkle-dog.

Jeannette	20 Jul 2002
Aha! Enishi Gen's Uranai Tarot also uses a mermaid for the "Temperance" card. http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_title=enishi+uranai -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

mermaiden	20 Jul 2002
You all have given me A LOT of info and I thank you all soooooooooo much! :)

mermaiden	20 Jul 2002
It's so interesting because I've always had this feeling the my first tarot deck has not been made yet. I've just have always felt that and I thank you all for your help because I know now that I need to wait for Lo Scarabeo's Mermaid deck. Thanks again (special thanks to faunabay)! :)

Lee	20 Jul 2002
Isn't the Queen of Cups on the Cosmic Tribe a mermaid? I think so... -- Lee

HOLMES	20 Jul 2002
one of the suits is mermaids i beleive it is the cups suits. let me remember swords little boys playing pentacles little gnomes wands fairies.. yup cups is mermaids.

Rhiannon	20 Jul 2002
Also, the Queen of Cups is a mermaid in the World Spirit tarot, and the 2 of Cups is 2 mermaids in the Nigel Jackson tarot. R :)

Jeannette	20 Jul 2002
In Mendoza & Bourne's new Element Tarot, the Magician and Devil cards, as well as all the Cup suit Courts, are Mermaids. The Devil card is included in the samples provided at this link: http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/dbsearchengine.php?view_title=element+tarot -- Jeannette http://www.tarotgarden.com

Sally Gardens	20 Jul 2002
Well, it kinda looks like a mermaid as interpreted by Picasso, but the Motherpeace Priestess of Cups card features a mermaid: http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/motherpeace/full_size/48.jpg (Picasso crack notwithstanding, I do think this is a very cool card, though the scan above hardly does it justice.) The Two of Cups also has what appears to be either two mermaids, or a mermaid and a merman. Probably deliberately ambiguous, so you can interpret it however you like. http://www.tarot.com/images/decks/motherpeace/full_size/37.jpg

Cerulean	21 Jul 2002
I thought there were pretty mermaids in the Shapeshifter Tarot. It's a lovely deck for soft-focus readings, and you might enjoy checking the llewelyn's free web tarot readings to see if you like the deck. It may be the mermaids were the three of cups, so you might have to check google to find an image... The oddest mermaid was the Alchemical---she has both red and white liquids from her chest...I'm not recommending it, I just wanted you to be aware of it. Some people like the precise woodcuts and find the symbology to be intriguing. Thanks for posting the question...I used to use the Shapeshifter for intuitive readings...this reminds me of it. Mari H.

Thirteen	21 Jul 2002
Has anyone mentioned Jane Lyle's RENAISSANCE TAROT? The court cards in the suit of cups is all Mermaids (and Mermen). All the court cards are of "elemental" half-humans in fact--with "tails" of flame or leaf or feather or fish. Here: http://www.wicce.com/lylerenpix.html And here: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/renaissance2/index.html and here: http://www.artoftarot.com/lyler7.jpg For a look at the deck--sorry, no pics of the cup court cards and their mermaids, but you get the idea. It's a stunning deck. All 3-d art. I have this deck and love it. Images are wonderfully simple, yet packed with little details and symbols. Very potent.

Starfish	21 Jul 2002
Thirteen - Thanks for posting these links! I've used the online free reading that features Jane Lyle's Renaissance Tarot and had thought that this deck was out of print. In checking out Borders (which shows which Borders stores near you have the things yuo want in stock) I noticed they have it listed in print AND available. I'll have to go and check it out (I've got a 20% off your total purchase coupon burning a hole in my pocket ;)) Blessings - :T7C Starfish

Lee	21 Jul 2002
Lyle's Renaissance Tarot (not to be confused with Lo Scarabeo's Renaissance Tarots) has been reprinted under the name Secret Tarot (not to be confused with Lo Scarebeo's Secret Tarots), so you are more likely to find it under that name. -- Lee

Starfish	21 Jul 2002
Thanks for the heads up - you're right, if I pull it up by name, that's the new name. Thanks for clearing up the confusion. :T7C Starfish

emily2otters	21 Jul 2002
the king and queen of cups in the tarot nova are merfolk. the colors used are brownish earth tones, however... puzzling. the knight of cups is not a merman, but he's riding a dolphin which evokes a similar feeling.

mermaiden	21 Jul 2002
Once again, I cannot stress how thankful I am to all of you for helping me out! I have spent literally hours on the internet without results just looking for tarot cards w/mermaids and all of you have been kind enough to look through your decks and dig through your memory to aid me in my search so once again, I thank you all so much!!! :) *hugs*

mermaiden	21 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mari_Hoshizaki I thought there were pretty mermaids in the Shapeshifter Tarot. It's a lovely deck for soft-focus readings, and you might enjoy checking the llewelyn's free web tarot readings to see if you like the deck. It may be the mermaids were the three of cups, so you might have to check google to find an image... The oddest mermaid was the Alchemical---she has both red and white liquids from her chest...I'm not recommending it, I just wanted you to be aware of it. Some people like the precise woodcuts and find the symbology to be intriguing. Thanks for posting the question...I used to use the Shapeshifter for intuitive readings...this reminds me of it. Mari H. Hey! I find this cool because I'm actually able to help you with something here (even though I'm a newbie). *LOL* the Alchemical mermaid has blood and milk flowing from her chest; you see, there is A LOT of very deep [with an almost secretive] symbolism where alchemy is involved and for some reason, I knew what the blood and milk represented but I can't remember. I'm thinking it represent birth and death.

Mermaid	22 Jul 2002
Shucks, guys... I'm kind of ashamed that I've got nothing further to contribute to this wealth of mermaidy information. I'm definately going to check out some of those decks! (PS - nice to meet you Meramaiden!)

Liliana	22 Jul 2002
The Princess of Cups in the Spiral givers the impression of being a mermaid, either that or shes where green scale pants, Im not sure lol :THP

mermaiden	22 Jul 2002
*LOL* Don't feel bad, Mermaid, this forum might actually help you out if you're like me and is obsessed with mermaids! *LOL* If you do come across anything in the decks you have, I'd be very happy if you'd post the info (you can never have too many mermaids)! *LOL*

emily2otters	22 Jul 2002
oops! having checked again, it seems that the tarot nova king of cups is not a merman, but is being devoured by a huge brown fish with very sharp teeth. and the big question: what was julie thinking? :D

Mermaid	22 Jul 2002
This is kind of off the topic, but here's a link to a court card you might like, Mera: http://www.mary-el.com/pagecup.html It's the Princess/Page of cups from the unfinished Mary-El tarot. She's not explicitly a mermaid as you can't see her lower body, but she's always kind of given me the impression the she might be ... and a gorgeous bald Mermaid with tatoos, how cool is that?

mermaiden	22 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by emily2otters oops! having checked again, it seems that the tarot nova king of cups is not a merman, but is being devoured by a huge brown fish with very sharp teeth. and the big question: what was julie thinking? :D *LOL* Thanks for checking! Isn't it funny that a merman can look like a person being devoured though? *LMAO*

mermaiden	22 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mermaid This is kind of off the topic, but here's a link to a court card you might like, Mera: http://www.mary-el.com/pagecup.html It's the Princess/Page of cups from the unfinished Mary-El tarot. She's not explicitly a mermaid as you can't see her lower body, but she's always kind of given me the impression the she might be ... and a gorgeous bald Mermaid with tatoos, how cool is that? Wow! That's a very intruiging pic, I can see where it is possible to believe that this woman could be a mermaid. I especially love the fish tattoo. I looked at the other pics from that deck as well and the other pics are also very vivid and detailed. They're beautiful on a whole but I find some kinda disturbing (ie. the devil looks a bit like the demon from "The Cell"). *LOL*

Thirteen	22 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Mermaid This is kind of off the topic, but here's a link to a court card you might like, Mera: http://www.mary-el.com/pagecup.html It's the Princess/Page of cups from the unfinished Mary-El tarot. She's not explicitly a mermaid as you can't see her lower body, but she's always kind of given me the impression the she might be ... and a gorgeous bald Mermaid with tatoos, how cool is that? Some stunning artwork in this deck--but I can't make sense of most of it ;) Really. I look at the card and wonder...um, why pick that? Like a swaddled, peacefully sleeping baby for, I think the 5 of pentacles. Huh?

emily2otters	22 Jul 2002
thirteen, you might be interested in the un-helpfully named thread "there's more new cards posted..." in this forum. lots of folks were talking about the mary-el and how puzzling some of it seems to be, and lo and behold the artist appeared and has been answering all our questions. there was much talk of the fives and why she chose to use such different themes. :)

Cerulean	23 Jul 2002
This wonderful question had me looking through Shapeshifter again. I'd always enjoyed the watercolors, just sometimes couldn't merge* with the ideas presented. But in order to really see if I could find a mer-person---just fyi, there's none---I pulled out the deck and book and other items from a drawer of collectible nice-to-have things that I normally don't go through. But I did find in the element of water and throughout the deck a merging with the archetype associations, such as dolphins, an octopus, and a rather good rediscovery. The sweet reflection of loveliness in the Star card might seem disjointed to some, but seemed to be a continuation of a 'story that dreamed me.' And also, my recently missed social security card beamed up its familar face to me. I had put in a special box in this drawer and for two week tried to find it... So anyway, a bit of magical and practical rediscovery came out with this question. I had vaguely thought these past two weeks while clearing out, how nice would it be to put the intention/question of finding something valuable and rediscovering my social security card and a hidden treasure. Guess what. It happened. So thanks for mermaid questions and to me, lovely Shapeshifter image mer-mories... Mari whose mer-ging with Shapeshifter mur-murings...

meatbox666	23 Jul 2002
The Voodoo Tarot deck has a mermaid in it. It is a very poweful deck and will tell you everything and then some more information. Not everyone can harness the kind of power that particular deck gives .

mermaiden	23 Jul 2002
Hey Mari! I'm very happy to know that this forum has given you helped you out so much. :D You know, though, I think the (I think it was the 2 of cups) has a mermaid on it because there's a blonde woman on a dolphin and it looks like she has a bit of a green blur behind her (this is what it looks like to me from the scans on the internet though so I could be wrong). :)

mermaiden	23 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by meatbox666 The Voodoo Tarot deck has a mermaid in it. It is a very poweful deck and will tell you everything and then some more information. Not everyone can harness the kind of power that particular deck gives . Hiya meatbox! I have seen the card in question but only a very, VERY small scan of it. :( Ever since, I've been looking for a larger pic of it to verify that it was, in fact, a mermaid (because it did look like a nice pic). I never found a larger pic, though, but I can tell that the whole deck in general won't really speak to me. Don't get me wrong, the artwork is nice, I just feel that it won't work out if I get it, and I'm not the kinda person that would collect a tarot deck just because of its artwork: any decks that I do own I would like to use. :) It's nice to know that that was a mermaid card though.

Mikael	23 Jul 2002
MM Mermaiden, i think you mean this pic: http://mardi.gras.com/voodoo/gifs/48.jpg Bb, Mik

midnightmerry	23 Jul 2002
The new "Beginner's Guide to Tarot" book/deck set by Juliet Sharman-Burke and Giovanni Caselli (illustrator) has mermaids in the Qu. of Cups card. They grace either side of the Queen's throne & are said to represent 'the bridge between the conscious and the un-conscious mind.'

Maan	23 Jul 2002
O and on the ace of cups from the robin Wood tarot is a little mermaid too

mermaiden	25 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by mermaiden Hey Mari! I'm very happy to know that this forum has given you helped you out so much. :D You know, though, I think the (I think it was the 2 of cups) has a mermaid on it because there's a blonde woman on a dolphin and it looks like she has a bit of a green blur behind her (this is what it looks like to me from the scans on the internet though so I could be wrong). :) Sorry, I did make a mistake. I actually got to see that card in person and that blur I was referring to wasn't even there! *LOL* Mikeal and Maan - Thanks! :) Midnightmerry - Wow! That sounds interesting because the mermaids have quite a bit of a symbolic role in that card. :) Thanks for posting too! :)

Jewel	25 Jul 2002
Well mermaids are my thing too, and I know I have more decks than have been mentioned here that have at least one mermaid in them. I know the Miracle Tarot, a japanese deck also available at Tarot Garden has a lovely mermaid on one of the cards, and the Cosmic Tribe has a mermaid as the Queen of Cups. But I know there are more, I just need to look through my decks when I have time. I am anxiously awaiting the LoScarabeo mermaid deck, although from what I have seen of it I must admit I would have done somewhat differently (i.e. the tower card).

mermaiden	25 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel Well mermaids are my thing too, and I know I have more decks than have been mentioned here that have at least one mermaid in them. I know the Miracle Tarot, a japanese deck also available at Tarot Garden has a lovely mermaid on one of the cards, and the Cosmic Tribe has a mermaid as the Queen of Cups. But I know there are more, I just need to look through my decks when I have time. I am anxiously awaiting the LoScarabeo mermaid deck, although from what I have seen of it I must admit I would have done somewhat differently (i.e. the tower card). I know! I can't wait for the Mermaid deck too! That's probably one deck that I would just get to add to my mermaid collection though because I don't think it'll speak to me (the tower card was kinda funny to me because I was wondering how the mermaids made it up that far to begin with *LOL*). I actually bought my first deck (the Thoth deck) and was pleased when I rememberd the Empress was a mermaid (it's an okay pic of a mermaid though...I know I'm picky). I'm still hoping that David Delamare will make a deck w/his incredible paintings. Okay, I might as well confess to this now but I actually wrote to DD and asked him to consider creating a tarot deck! *LOL* I know, pretty werid, right? I always think of his paintings when I think of the ideal deck though...

truthsayer	26 Jul 2002
if you are into mermaids, you need to go to tarot totes. there is a mermaid tarot tote under catalogue in the goddess section. she's really pretty! i don't know if anyone else mentioned these 2 decks as i am sleepy and not up to reading this whole thread but...the FACT deck has a mermaid. meewah did the queen of cups as a mermaid. if i'm not mistaken the greenwood has one, too in the major arcana.

Starfish	26 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by truthsayer if you are into mermaids, you need to go to tarot totes. there is a mermaid tarot tote under catalogue in the goddess section. she's really pretty! She is really pretty! I have that tote (with the perinwinkle blue cording) - it's the home of my Gill deck (the Princess of Cups in the Gill wanted to be with other mermaids ;)) :TKIP :TKIC :TAW Starfish

Molly	26 Jul 2002
Hey all. The Light and Shadow deck has a beautiful mermaid for princess of cups. The Blue Rose tarot featured at tarot passages has two mermaid cards: Also the page of cups and the 3 of cups. The 3 of cups is quite beautiful - one of the mermaids is holding her son - a merboy? *G* Also, I am pretty sure that the Tarot of the Moon Garden had mermaids in it (I don't own the deck anymore, so this is going by memory only). Hope that helps :-)

Maan	26 Jul 2002
Hi Molly your right!!! How could i forget!!! The empress card in the Tarot of the moongarden is a mermaid!

mermaiden	26 Jul 2002
You know, I almost bought Tarot of a Moon Garden. Now I wish I did! Those mer-cards sound really nice! That pouch is beautiful! I love the cloth! :) That's a really cool site, and the funny thing is I was just thinking about "Tarot accessories". *LOL*

Maan	26 Jul 2002
O my dear i think whe got you hooked;) Welcome to the tarot-holics

Maan	26 Jul 2002
http://www.tarotpassages.com/gregoire1.htm This is a lint to a review of the tarot of the moongarden. if you scrol down you will see the mermaid card

purplelady	26 Jul 2002
The" Daughter's of the Moon "Tarot has a mermaid on the "maiden of cups " card ( sort-of comparable to the princess or page of cups except in this deck there are only 3 court cards per suit - maiden , mother, and crone ) . I think A Lot of decks have at least a mermaid or two in there Somewhere! I am Really looking foward to that Lo Scarabeo Mermaid deck also!

Starfish	26 Jul 2002
Quote: Originally posted by purplelady I am Really looking foward to that Lo Scarabeo Mermaid deck also! Ditto! I wish it would come out already :) :TKIP :TKIC :TAW Starfish

retrokat	11 Sep 2002
I'm fascinated by mermaids, too, so I snuck one into one of the cards from my deck goldentarot.com: http://www.goldentarot.com/mastar.htm

truthsayer	11 Sep 2002
i think the mermaid in your card is wonderful and adds a new dimension to this card. of course, i think your whole deck is wonderful. i look forward to its publication!!

Jewel	11 Sep 2002
Gorgeous deck by the way! What card is the mermaid in? I did not see her :( ..... love the Devil and Moon cards!

fairyhedgehog	11 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by kayne I used a Mermaid to represent Temperance... :D I love that card, kayne. I think using a mermaid for temperance is a brilliant idea, but especially as you've portrayed her.

Teal	11 Sep 2002
The Merryday deck has one in it, too.

Cerulean	11 Sep 2002
Temperance as the mermaid: Kayne's idea was great and I found also the mermaid as Temperance in Enchanted Tarots by Gaudanzi (sp). I looked more closely at the suit of cups and it's very cool --- in the Enchanted Tarots of Lo Scarabeo, the Nine of Cups is a blue-eyed, golden-haired woman with a delicate feathery thing, almost like fins, beside her legs. There is a smile on her face, as if she is transforming from person to perhaps Mermaid. In the two and six of cups, a dark-haired woman is featured...I really liked searching for such references in this tarot--- it has images that speak of scenes from Anglo Saxon fairy tales, more like Hans Christian Anderson. I found the tarot is still available at some bookstores, even though Lo Scarabeo is going to soon resell it under a different name. Thanks for the ideas, Mari H.

retrokat	11 Sep 2002
Thanks for the kind words re the deck :) I know it's a bit hard to see the mermaid in the smaller graphic, so I've popped a bigger version of just that card onto the site. Look down - she's swimming in the stream in which the nude dips her toe (The Star): http://www.goldentarot.com/mastar.htm I wish I could put all the cards on the site at a reasonable size, but you know what happened last time I did that. *sigh* I thought about using the mermaid in my Temperance card - perhaps I should have, sounds like people think she would have been more appropriate there. To be honest, I just really like mermaids, and she was the ONLY one I could find in my source material. I could only use her in one of the cards featuring a stream & it suited the composition of my Star card best. It sort of felt right to me too (from an interpretative point of view) - although I can't say why really. Oh well, at least she's in the deck!

blue_fusion	11 Sep 2002
hi. i also used a mermaid, but this time for the lovers card of my deck, here: http://necromance.topcities.com/masque/home.htm :)

Riversea	12 Sep 2002
On the Nine of Dishes card, a Mer-family is pictured. :)

maiden	12 Sep 2002
The Alchemical Tarot by Robert M. Place which the Star has been mentioned as a mermaid ... has two tails actually. So I'm not sure if she is technically a mermaid. ;) The blood and milk that stream out of her breasts into the sea water "form the alchemical trinity of sulphur, mercury and salt." this from the book The Alchemical Tarot. The true mermaid in The Alchemical Tarot is the lovely Queen of Vessels. Interesting thread.

WolfSpirit	16 Sep 2002
Not a tarot deck so I'm not really answering your question...but the Fairy Ring oracle has a mermaid AND a fairy that can turn into a seal.

juice	18 Sep 2002
Sorry if this one is already up, but the Mythic has 3 mermaids on the 3 of cups. Also the ace of pentacle and tower although I think it is supposed to be posiedon.

Jewel	18 Sep 2002
Quote: Originally posted by maiden The Alchemical Tarot by Robert M. Place which the Star has been mentioned as a mermaid ... has two tails actually. So I'm not sure if she is technically a mermaid. ;) Yep she definetly qualifies as a mermaid technically ... just a different variety ;)

The Does anyone know of a tarot deck with at least one mermaid in it? thread was originally posted on 19 Jul 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.