Via Tarot

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Jewel	17 May 2004
I am starting to work with the Via Tarot (Susan Jameson/John Bonner). Just looking through the deck I found it quite amazing. The deck blends tarot, qabalah, astrology and alchemy, and is very Thoth based (a plus in my book). Unfortunately the book that goes with the deck is quite lacking in my personal opinion, and I would like to hear from those of you that are using the deck to see what your take on the deck, particularly the minor arcana. My initial impression is that there is quite a bit of alchemy included in the minors (at least in the cups). As the book mentions nothing of alchemy or how it is used I was wondering if someone could please shed some light on this for me. The Qabalah I am familiar with so I do not need help with that at this time. Thanks for your assistance with this.

Cerulean	17 May 2004
Lon Duquette's talk yesterday was about the Crowley Thoth, but the deck that I brought to the lecture was the Via--I wondered if there was enough symbolism like the Thoth that I would get the same feel if I looked at his slides and my Via at the same time. If you have Lon Duquette's book on the Thoth, he does cover in the majors some symbols of alchemy, for instance the red lion and white bird, which switches into the red bird and white lion or vice versa...I didn't really see that in the Via. But the lecture was for the Thoth and I knew I could always go back and check Lon Duquette's book and my cards to see if I saw the same things. The Via's symbolism against the beautiful backdrops were fine for me with some cards, but mostly I added my own take with stickers. I don't think I'm going to do anything intensive with the Via other than cut off it's borders for the next week or so--my brain needs a break. I don't know why but the red and white fluids of Via did not remind me of Alchemy--but what you picked up is very very good and may suggest new avenues for me. Take care. Cerulean

Jewel	17 May 2004
Hi Cerulean, thanks for the response. I have that book on my wishlist as I really want to do a major study of the Thoth deck. I can use it, I have a decent understanding of the Qabalah, and love it but really want to dig in if you know what I mean. My issue with the Via is that a friend has sent it to me to see if (1) I like it, which I do, and (2) to see if I could help shed some light on the minors for her. I do not have a problem with the Majors at all. Once I get to really working with the deck I will probably be OK with the minors, I just want to see if there are any insights on the use of alchemy in their design as that is one esoteric discipline I know relatively nothing about. Without a doubt the deck is beautiful, and there is a lot there. I am most intrigued by it and look really forward to working more with it. I will be happy to share whatever I learn over my study of it. Please do the same!

lunakasha	17 May 2004
Hi Jewel!!! I have been contemplating the Via Tarot for quite awhile.....I really love the artwork, and have become more interested in it since becoming reacquainted with the Thoth. I have also been reading Duquette's book, and was wondering if it would be helpful in shedding some light on the Via as well as the Thoth. Thank you for starting this thread....I will be keeping an eye on it as I am sure it won't be long before I give in and grab myself a copy of the Via!!! :D :) Luna

Cerulean	17 May 2004
On the question: I just want to see if there are any insights on the use of alchemy in their design as that is one esoteric discipline I know relatively nothing about. ------------------------------------------------------ Hello Jewel, I realize that you said that you have no problems with the majors--but you might not realize that the Via lacks alchemy threads even in the majors, so it may be a bit of a stretch to look for it in the minors...sorry, I wasn't clear. I hope the below is helpful... Hopefully I can be a little clearer for others, just in case they are looking for alchemical symbology related to the Crowley Thoth majors being reflected in the Via majors. I'm quoting from my memory and Lon Duquette's book. My memory is of yesterday's lecture on The Thoth majors on card VI Lovers being all about the alchemical marriage and by card XIV Art in the Thoth tarot, the transmution is signalled by many many symbols, which the Via lacks. Here are snippets from the Lovers and Alchemy from Lon Duquette's summaries: "Atu VI is the fourth of the alchemical trumps. A familar alchemical maxim reads solve et coagula, "solution and coagulation." The process of solve is represented in tarot by the Lovers; the process of caogula in the Art cards. This makes sense astrologically because in the zodiac, Gemini (the Lovers), is opposite Sagitarius (Art)...the main characteristics of the alchemical love story is not the bride nor the groom, but the child of their union. In the Thoth tarot, the child is symbolized as the Orphic egg, that, as Crowley reminds us, "represents the essence of all life. "Like the events surrounding the birth of any child, our alchemical scenario develops in stages. Atu VI, the Lovers, is the wedding ceremony, Atu XIV, Art is the Honeymoon, in Atu IX, the Hermit fertilizes the egg, and Atu XIII, Death, keeps it nice and warm in the last stage before hatching. "In this card is a scene from one of the most famous alchemical texts of all them the Alchemical Marriage of Christian Rosenkreutz ..." The Via in Card VI has some of the alchemical story of the Crowley Thoth, but this thread is not continued in the succeeding majors. Nor is some of the important alchemical imagery of the Thoth cards referenced. Lon Duquette further explains the alchemical thread that is continued in Art, Hermit and Death in his book "Understanding the Crowley Thoth Tarot". The Via designs in Art, Hermit and Death are simplified or modernized in a softer way. But I do not find the abundance or similar alchemical symbols found in the Thoth major cards to be in the Via as far as I can see. Because of that, I'm sighing a little--but if I do get to comparing Thoth and Via minors, I'll also look for the alchemical thread. I need to take a break though from doing this comparison though, the lecture on the Thoth majors is still spinning in my head. Sorry if I wasn't clear- hope it might be helpful to others. I needed to write this out to help get some things straight from what I absorbed yesterday. Cerulean

Jewel	19 May 2004
Cerulean, thank you so much! That is very helpful indeed. As far as the minors, it was the suit of cups, and lack of info in the Via book that brought on the question. I will just focus on the Qabalah correspondences of the Via for now. The back of the book was very misleading in that it states that the deck contains Qabalah, Alchemy, Astrology and I forget what else, but when you open the book it only talks a little (very little) about the Qabalah ... not a darn thing on the other disciplines it says the deck uses. Do not get me wrong, the deck is great, the book is not. But you "need" the book (at least during the deck acquaintace phase) because the minors have no key words like the Thoth does *LOL*. If the minors had key words I say do not bother with the book at all. If you are good with reading pip cards, then you can probably do without the book as well. Lunakasha - just break down and get the deck, it is wonderful (and beautiful). So far it seems like a much simpler version of the Thoth in many ways.

lunakasha	19 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel Lunakasha - just break down and get the deck, it is wonderful (and beautiful). So far it seems like a much simpler version of the Thoth in many ways. Twist my arm, OK??? :eek: OUCH not so hard!!! :P LMAO....it is next on my list, definitely Jewel!!! I will post here as soon as I get it!!! :D :) Luna

Jewel	19 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunakasha I will post here as soon as I get it!!! :D I look forward to seeing your post later today *ROFLMAO* :P

lunakasha	19 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel I look forward to seeing your post later today *ROFLMAO* :P Mwhahahaha....you are a tarot temptress!!! }) :D Luna LMAO

lunakasha	19 May 2004
Hmmmmm..... I wonder if Barnes & Noble might carry them??? Hehehehe!!!! I am pretty good at torturing myself.... :D Luna

Jewel	19 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunakasha Mwhahahaha....you are a tarot temptress!!! }) No darling, I am one of the charter members of Taroholics Annonymous here at Aeclectic! ... so did you get it yet? *LOL*

lunakasha	19 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Jewel No darling, I am one of the charter members of Taroholics Annonymous here at Aeclectic! ... so did you get it yet? *LOL* LOL :D Me too!!!! You get in automatically if you purchase an average of six decks per month!!! :eek: On a VERY fixed income... I barely made the cut!!! }) NOOOO not yet, but I made a valiant effort...drove to Barnes & Noble but their selection is very *yawn* uninspiring!!! Oh well....did I leave empty-handed??? Hmmmm....I bought the mini Tarot Nova for $8.... Gotta maintain membership status! :D :) Luna

Frank Hall	19 May 2004
I've been reading about the question of alchemy in the Via tarot.I too like the striking art,for instance,Major 10.The book doesn't tell much,maybe to let the symbolic art do the talking.Still, the cups move through a sequence of transformation of the emotions,from self-centered to Self-directed,after the ace.Look at the upper image of 6 of cups.Alchemy!Higher Being struggles with lower dragon nature.The "higher heart" takes the lead in 9 of cups.The 10 is the heart as mirror of the harmony of the cosmos.I don't pretend to fully get it.But the sequence of cups is of alchemical transformation of the heart,from personal to cosmic.

Cerulean	20 May 2004
I sometimes struggle with trying to understand how to translate the symbolism I am learning to something related to the allegorical world the artist and author are creating. Thanks for the friendly alternative Cerulean

Jewel	20 May 2004
Thank you Frank! Any insights on the alchemical relation in the other suits of the minors? This is very helpful information. Cerulean, I bought the Lon Duquette book today. I think that will be very helpful in studying the Thoth and perhaps the Via as well. Also got the Rachel Pollock book on the Kabalah.

lunakasha	20 May 2004
Well Jewel..... I am within inches of ordering the Via....in fact, it is already in my amazon shopping cart!!! Just trying to decide what else to get with them....hmmmm!!! }) I believe it is a deck/book set....true??? I wonder, do you have the book, and is it helpful??? I also have the Duquette book (and Ziegler's Tarot: Mirror of the Soul) which I am hoping will help me with the Via..... Soon....yes!!! :D Luna

September Pixie	20 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunakasha LOL :D Me too!!!! You get in automatically if you purchase an average of six decks per month!!! :eek: On a VERY fixed income... I barely made the cut!!! }) Uh... no one look at my recent purchases! I am a tarotholic and proud! I'm not ready for help!! not yet! not yet! 3 from Jewel, 4 from Faunabay, +amazon, + ebay, + trades.. OH MY! :eek:

lunakasha	20 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by September Pixie 3 from Jewel, 4 from Faunabay, +amazon, + ebay, + trades.. OH MY! :eek: And all within the last WEEK???? WOW!!!! :P You are now in the Tarotholics Hall of Fame..... I am humbled before your supreme wickedness, hehehehe!!! :laugh: Congratulations SeptemberPixie.....sounds like you will be keeping VERY busy with all your new best friends!!! :D :) Luna

Jewel	24 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by lunakasha I believe it is a deck/book set....true??? I wonder, do you have the book, and is it helpful??? Luna, I have to say I am not impressed in the least by the book. The only reason I feel you should get it is because it does contain key word descriptions of the minors that could assist you, other than that I find the book quite useless. I have not gotten to work studing the deck using the Lon Duquette book, but I think any books you have that relate to the Qabalah from the Golden Dawn point of view will be much more useful to you than the book which comes with the deck. So did you buy the deck yet? *LOL*

The Via Tarot thread was originally posted on 17 May 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.