tarot of the old path

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 06 Jun 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

starnight	06 Jun 2003
Is tarot of the old path suitable for starter?

Silverlotus	06 Jun 2003
I'd say yes and no. I think it depends what sort of background you are coming from. If you are Wiccan, or follow a similar pagan path, then you would probably understand a lot of the symbolism in the cards. If you have little to no knowledge of either Wicca or tarot, then I think it might be best to try another deck first. Otherwise, you will be trying to learn about Wicca and tarot at the same time to make full use of the cards, and that can be a little daunting.

Moongold	06 Jun 2003
I'd like to differ :). (bowing respectfully to Silverlotus). Mooncat2 who used to read here started with Old Path and still uses it, to my knowledge. There is a lot in the imagery - it will keep you going going for a long time - but there is also enough of the archetypal meaning for anyone to be able to read with it fairly quickly (my opinion). Does it call to you? If it does, give it a go. There's a study group here which will help you a lot. Plus you get a stunningly wistful and beautiful deck.

zagone	09 Jun 2003
This deck is growing on me as I study it. I'd start a newcomer out on a straight RWS clone deck, but I think this could be a 2nd or 3rd deck if it appeals. It's cards mostly follow the traditional meanings, but then they do throw in several Wiccan factors. I've noticed in the Swords suite (and likely elsewhere -- I have not looked yet) that several of the tarot card divinatory meanings follow the Universal Waite pamphlet that comes with that deck something close to word-for-word. There are lots of Wiccan nuances that don't get explained in the book (although its a good book) -- I guess those are left up to you to find if you are following that path. I like it when different artistic takes on a card not only expand the range of possibilities for that card, but help me better understand the Waite deck "original" cards as well. For example, in the 4 of Swords the traditional Waite card has a tomb on it presumably with a dead person although its inferred from the card's meaning that the person is not dead but merely resting. The Tarot of the Old Path take on the 4 of Swords has a lady inside her fortress of swords and walls (a thinly veiled Wiccan circle reference) who has put herself apart from the world in order to rejuvinate, contemplate, etc. This Wiccan idea of worshiping and meditating in a space apart from the ordinary world IMHO may help explain why the Waite deck (which was of course from the magical Golden Dawn system) has a seemingly dead person on this card -- the person is resting in a space apart from this world magically. Or, I could be full of it, but anyway that's what I took away from the Old Path card that helped me understand a puzzling aspect of the Waite card. -- Zagone

The tarot of the old path thread was originally posted on 06 Jun 2003 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.