Swietlistej Drogi (Precious Light)

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 29 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

silver_rain	29 Feb 2004
I was wondering if there were people on this forum who have this beautiful, Polish deck and read with it? I read with this deck quite often, but usually the 'traditional meanings'don't really apply to the cards. For example, the Nine of Wands showed up in a reading yesterday. It has a long-haired woman on it, standing bended over an ill-looking man, laying in bed. She has one hand on his forehead and one on his hand. An angel above her is spreading light from his hands. For me this card is all about caring, the feeling of someone who is there for you to take care of you and nurture you. The 'traditional' meaning (based on Rider Waite) is more negative though, and the image is completely different. I would have loved to know what the author of the accompanying book had to say about the cards, but the book is obviously) in Polish! I would love to know what you think about this deck, and read your view on the meaning of the different cards. Scans can be found here: http://www.tarotgarden.com/database/images/s-decks/swietlistejdrogicards.gif (You can also see the Nine of Wands there)

Umbrae	29 Feb 2004
I posted about this deck when I first got mine. It still remains my fav reading deck. ‘Meanings’ are based on more numerological progressions, as opposed to the arbitrary meanings of the RWS. (IMO…sure they are…take out all four of the two’s…line them up…what do they have in common, why are they different? Do this with each set of numerical values…you’ll find that Waite’s meanings don’t ‘fit’, but hey – let’s not get too excited – it’s an opinion, nothing more). The deck unfortunately is difficult for Tarot Garden to restock. They have been waiting for a box to arrive since forever…(“The Deck’s in the mail!”). BTW: The deck comes with a lovely book - entirely in Polish...lol

Astraea	29 Feb 2004
Silver_Rain, I'm glad you drew our attention again to this wonderful deck -- and thank you, Umbrae, for the information about Tarot Garden's attempts to restock it. I do see elements of wariness/defensiveness in this card -- the figure on the bed seems to me to be physically wasted and fighting a fever, as indicated by the pyre in the background; and the being whose rays are channeled by the female figure feels ambiguous to me. I think that the card does fit the more traditional RWS-style view of the 9 of Wands, but it's a novel take on the theme.

Star Spirit	29 Feb 2004
What a beautiful deck...it's very unique.

lunakasha	29 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dead Star What a beautiful deck...it's very unique. I agree, Dead Star....thanks for bringing it to our attention, silver_rain! (Love your user name, BTW ;)) :) Luna

zorya	29 Feb 2004
i love reading with my drogi. something about the light, and the energy depicted with the drawings, touch me deeply. i also find that numerology works better than trying to fit rider-waite type interpretations to it. i see the 9 of wands as energy at its highest form. energy that can be channeled from the highest sources and brought to earth to heal. i also see, in the depicted fire behind the bed, energy that is rising up. on the other hand, sometimes i see this card as similar to a judgement card. the man is completing(9) his cycle on earth and his soul is being drawn up.

silver_rain	01 Mar 2004
It's very interesting to read all of your different takes on the Nine of Wands card, it made me think about it some more :) Thank you for that. Umbrae, I've never really studied numerology in depth, but I'll definately pay attention to it some more when reading this deck, from now on. (And lunakasha, thank you :) This is my usual username on all sorts of things, it just suits me)

Star Spirit	01 Mar 2004
I want it now (surprise, surprise). But I hear they're around $80. Is that for the set? I'd buy it soon if I didn't just spend $100 on a crystal ball :D So someone tell me, is this deck going to be going out of print soon? Should I be worried, or can I put it off a bit?

Mimers	01 Mar 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Dead Star I want it now (surprise, surprise). But I hear they're around $80. Is that for the set? I'd buy it soon if I didn't just spend $100 on a crystal ball :D So someone tell me, is this deck going to be going out of print soon? Should I be worried, or can I put it off a bit? Well, it's not out of print, but it is difficult for Jeanette to order. It took her months to get it when she ordered it for me. And yes it was a pretty penny. Is it worth that amount. ummm, gorgeous, yes, readable, yes, adverage card quality, useless book....only if you are REALLY, REALLY like it. I don't regret it, but remember how many decks you could buy with that amount. Mimi

Xarokys	01 Mar 2004
I have this deck and have gotten very good readings from it. This is one of those decks where I have to disregard traditional meanings, and just open my mind and let the cards speak to me. I like to sit quietly with the spread in front of me, still my mind and let my intuition have free rein. The hardest part is trying to silence that part of my brain which is busily informing me what each card is *supposed* to mean.

Alissa	01 Mar 2004
I agree with Xarokys. I also disregard traditional meanings and go with my intuition with this deck. I am not as informed in numerology, but sometimes I see correlations there as well. I love this deck, but I don't read with it as often as I do others. Mostly, I use it for myself, as I find it a good meditational style deck. The artwork has a vertigo effect on my brain that can sometimes send me "in" quite quickly.

Gerbear	01 Mar 2004
I have a European connection, who gets decks for me. This one has just been reprinted and should be available for a while. My cost was $36,including shipping, but there were no middlemen. It should arrive any time now, and I am looking forward to using it.

Star Spirit	01 Mar 2004
It's good to know that it's been reprinted. I can wait a while. Hey Gerbear, hook me up ;) Seriously though, is there any way I could get this deck without the book? It would be nice if they were sold separately, since most of us can't read Polish. That would knock off about half the price...and I'd more likely go for it.

The Swietlistej Drogi (Precious Light) thread was originally posted on 29 Feb 2004 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.