Deck Idea that would Start the World on Fire!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Dec 2002, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Ophiel	09 Dec 2002
I don't know why nobody has thought of this before, but I have an idea that would get even non-Tarotists buying by the truckloads. How about a George W. Bush deck? Help me with the four suits...four symbols in ol' Georgie's life? If done right, this deck could have a lot of dark implications and morbid humor. The too obvious choice of THE FOOL would, of course, be reserved for GWB himself. Which card assignments would Chaney get? What about GB Senior? And his brother Jed, governor of Florida, and his other brother (it was his other brother right?) that was behind that Savings and Loan scandal? And what about his daughters? He does have a good mom, so she'd get a key card, too. No doubt we'd reserve THE DEVIL for Saddam, since Bin Laden is out of the way, or so it seems. And the tragedy in NYC on 9/11 would have to be THE TOWER(s). This man has quite a bit of power to toss around right now and is in a position to change the world. A deck would suit him indeed.

Ophiel	09 Dec 2002
BTW, I do not mean any disrespect for my country. The citizens are fine people with good hearts, mostly. I probably should have kept my idea to myself, but what is going on in the world weighs so heavily on everyone's mind. It's not just an issue for the U.S. What is going on right now impacts the entire planet.

anjocoxo	09 Dec 2002
I think that rumsfield should be the devil.... and the fool is the perfect card for GWB. However, I would never buy that deck. Anjo

dangerdork	09 Dec 2002
and the Eye in the Triangle should be the card backs.

jema	09 Dec 2002
there should be a pretzel suit

Khatruman	09 Dec 2002
Hey, how about a card that signifies you win, though you aren't the most popular. Maybe the Wheel of Fortune with Al Gore underneath the wheel though I wouldn't buy this suit either...bad enough having to listen to the guy... LOL.. PS, and I am not sure if he is a good fool, since a fool realizes he isn't that knowledgeable and is actually going out to seek knowledge and understanding. I think Bush relishes his stupidity too much.. Peace!

dangerdork	09 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Khatruman Hey, how about a card that signifies you win, though you aren't the most popular. 7 of swords, definitely 7 of swords... or maybe the 5. Both. whaat were the little hangie things on the ballots called? that could be a suit...

zorya	09 Dec 2002
you beat me to it dangerdork :D the 'hanging chads' suit. ....and maybe the 'oil' suit, with those big oil drill things to represent it.

violinlily	09 Dec 2002
whatever I was going to suggest in this post would have made it a "never liked and never will like the Clintons deck" and I wouldn't want to do that to this good thread. good original idea though, ttyl,

Teal	09 Dec 2002
The Tower card in the Haindl deck is eerily like a hit on one of the twin towers, complete with it being a sky scraper with paper flying out and down from it. Haindl painted the painting for that deck before 1988, though, so it's not meant as a depiction of that horrible event, but I was very surprised when I saw it.

jmd	09 Dec 2002
For those who haven't seen Haindl's deck, attached is his version of the Tower. I realise that many see there a similarity to the New York atrocities of the 11th September - but similarities can also be seen of most depictions (including the Marseilles).

Red Emma	09 Dec 2002
I'll have to take some time to think of some cards I'd recommend for the deck. Maybe our good friend, Al Gore, could be the hanged man. He sure was left out to dry. Or was that swinging in the wind. Then there're the Supreme Court Justices. How about Justice reversed? Wonderful idea, Ophiel. First time today I've had a good laugh. And I really needed one!

zorya	09 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Red Emma Then there're the Supreme Court Justices. How about Justice reversed? roflmao! how about; smoke stacks, as another suit, in honor of gutting the clean air act.

paradoxx	10 Dec 2002
The Great SEal of the United STates would be the Ace of Pentacles. The back should be the globe (after all, its just our world as we know it at stake with W's policies.) The 10 of pentacles would be the Bush FAmily and administration all waiting to be tried by a civillian court case. GB Sr. would be the Emperor, Cheyney the Heirophant, The Eye in the pyramid would be the symbol of the magician. The Empress would be the Firstlady, The Lovers would be symbolized by a two headed phoenix to relate it to the Seal of America, the Chariot would be the machiens of war supported by the flag of the Cancerean Nation. Can you guess what the tower could be? The world woudl be the un symbol (smoking iraq anyone) Hmmm. I can't think of any more at this time, but this is insightful.

jlbvt	10 Dec 2002
You could make all the cards reversed to begin with- like fool reversed would be GWB. Someone else said he does not quite embody the fool, but maybe reversed... You could do it by putting the names upside-down on all the cards.

Diana	10 Dec 2002
The Fool as GWB? How could this be? The Fool is the wisest of all the arcana. On my GWB deck, he'd be The Devil. No hesitation here. Gore, yes he could be the Hanged Man, I suppose. If the 10 of Swords was the RW meaning of being thrust to the ground with 10 Swords, it would be the Planet Earth being thrust to the ground by Pollution. And the Trees would be the the RW meaning of the 9 of Swords - nightmare indeed. 2 of Pentacles. Perhaps Powell trying to juggle between his loyalty to his duty, and his common sense. Oh dear............ This thread is not doing me any good at all. I'd better go somewhere else.

wavebreaker	10 Dec 2002
Quote: Originally posted by Ophiel How about a George W. Bush deck? That would be an insult to tarot... Quote: This man has quite a bit of power to toss around right now and is in a position to change the world. A deck would suit him indeed. If he would make any positive contributions, yes, but I haven't caught him doing any of that yet. IMO, he doesn't deserve a deck...

RedWood	10 Dec 2002
I am not going completely into politics..but Personally..I like Bush..I dont like some of the decisions he made..but right now..He is all teh US has..and I will support him for the moment.>NO POLITICS..In any country..deserve decks!

Maan	10 Dec 2002
In a way GWB should have a deck cause at the moment he is controling the world..he has all the cards in his hands without us having anything to say about it. :( At the moment he is the wheel of fortune and the rest of the world is like the eight of swords

Ophiel	10 Dec 2002
Diana had a good point, that GWB could not be THE FOOL because that would make him the wisest. How about making him the HUNG MAN?

Baneemy	22 Jul 2003
The suits: Wands > pretzels Cups > oil drums Swords > guns Coins > money The majors: 0. The Fool - George W. Bush 1. The Magician - 2. The Priestess - 3. The Empress - Laura Bush 4. The Emperor - Saddam Hussein 5. The Hierophant - Dick Cheney 6. The Lovers - 7. The Chariot - sherman tank 8. Justice - 9. The Hermit - 10. The Wheel - Gore and Bush riding the wheel of fortune 11. Strength - 12. The Hanged Man - Gore - or maybe the Hanged Chad 13. Death - Osama bin Laden 14. Temperance - Dubya the alcoholic 15. The Devil - John Ashcroft 16. The Tower - WTC 17. The Star - 18. The Moon - 19. The Sun - 20. The Judgment - "Shock and Awe" 21. The World - -Baneemy

Little Baron	22 Jul 2003
I think non-tarorists would be drawn in by it but not sure it is one I would warm to. I often thought of 'celebrity' decks. I don't know if any exist. I have seen samples that people have created - Tori Amos and Marilyn Manson. The Marilyn Manson one, even though I am not a fan of his personally, is stunning. I would imagine that someone like Madonna would be a good subject. Her career has been a pretty big journey in itself and as far as material for a photo/collage deck, her image changes and expression would make for an interesting outcome. Best wishes Yaboot

Tallarico	22 Jul 2003
I love my country and it's administration. I would never buy this deck and I shudder at the cards you are choosing. :TAS

anjocoxo	22 Jul 2003
To me GWB is definately the 5 of swords, the Fool is too good for him. The devil is rumsfeld... and the towers are the buildings in baghdad being destroyed. Anjo

Red Emma	22 Jul 2003
I'm glad of a chance t revisit this idea. I still like it, although as others have said, I wouldn't buy such a deck. I'd get upset every time I used it. That said, I agree that GWB couldn't be the fool. It seems that the fool is well-meaning, a bit innocent, but willing to experience life and learn. Dubya, on the other hand, is naive but stupid, willing to do what it takes to benefit himself and his friends, with little regard for anyone else. Either us, his unwilling constituents, or the citizens of the world. Not the devil, either. As I read the devil, he is completely aware of his actions, and their outcomes. He glories in the pain and discomfort of those he victimizes. I would thus characterize many of Dubya's colleagues and his staff. But how about Colin Powell? I used to admire and respect him. I don't know what to make of him now. I guess, as hard as I laughed when I read the initial posting of this thread, I now find the whole idea very sad. Not the idea of the thread, which I still admire, but the idea that we in the U.S., and the world as well, are vulnerable to such jerks, almost too painful to laugh about. Again, thanks for the thread and the idea, Ophiel.

Shade	23 Jul 2003
Funny someone mentioned the five of swords I did a reading about hte country's future in 2003 on new years and got the page of cups for the first quarter, the emperor for the second quarter, the 5 of swords for the third (now) and the lovers for the 4th. Anyhoo how about Colin Powell for Strength or maybe Temperence? he seems to have a modicum of self control among those folks. Personally I would make the head of the EPA, the woman who lowered air pollution restrictions the Devil (make she be squashed by a falling smoke stack). How about Weapons of Mass Destruction for the moon, taht seems to be the nightmare that GWB has followed for too long. And maybe the 2004 elections could be the star, for a sense of hope. I really want to be fair to the bush supporters and pick something good he's done as a card but unfortunately I (personally) don't consider anything he's done to be good for the country or the planet... sorry. And how about Jenna Bush annd her fake ID as the Chariot?

Little Baron	23 Jul 2003
In response to the earlier twin tower reference, I posted once before that the rune looks pretty much like a plane as well, which makes it all the more eerie. Best wishes Yaboot

Elle	23 Jul 2003
I would not use this deck - I would not want to spread its bad vibes to others - its bad enought the entire world is being subjected to the real thing now -but it would make a good conversation piece. I like the idea already posted of Powell as the 2 of Pentacles! It's perfect!

divinerguy	23 Jul 2003
GWB would be a great Fool. Here's why: He's the only President we've ever had with an 86 IQ. Folly is his middle name, with no thought as to the consequences of his actions. He's got the ears of a circus elephant. This link helps illustrates my point: http://funnypictures.hypermart.net/funnypicture10.htm

Alex	15 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Ophiel The too obvious choice of THE FOOL would, of course, be reserved for GWB himself.

Galiana	15 Nov 2003
Condi Rice as the High Priestess?

Requiella	16 Nov 2003
Great idea for a deck! This would be a quite clever product of/commentary on the (unfortunate) "spirit of the times"--not necessarily a deck to use, but a great collectors' piece. Here's my contribution: The World: A view from outer space of the earth being blown up (i.e., one possible outcome of the recent international tensions and idiocy of our current administration). Yes, this is very dark, I know, but I'm looking at this deck as belonging more to the dark humor category. This card could also be an admonishment--not your typical idea for the World, but the first idea that came to mind.

ros	16 Nov 2003
O.K. I'm with Maan. I like that comment. Has anyone who said who the author should be? lol

The Deck Idea that would Start the World on Fire! thread was originally posted on 09 Dec 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.