The Witches Tarot

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

Magi	29 Dec 2004
I have nothing against this deck personally, but it seemes people tend to link it with false stereo types about us real witches. things like blood sacrifice or casting circle and calling quarters for every little magical thing we do. just my opinion.

dadsnook2000	29 Dec 2004
The Witches Tarot (not the Tarot of the Witches) is a fabulous deck. I have had great readings with it when the querent doesn't want to state their question. I use, for this deck, the Swords = Fire and Wands = Air form of interpretation. Now, I haven't seen stereotypes of what I think a witch might be -- I've only met a few and have liked those that I've met. The deck has impressed me as having a mixture of court, classical RWS symbology and modern/new age style illustrations. Temperance and the Six of Wands are my favorites in this deck. Its only cards like the two, three and four of cups that strike me as being coven-like. In fact, because of the mix of styles and themes, this deck is actually artistically fragmented -- yet it all blends nicely, somehow. Dave.

Magi	29 Dec 2004
my apoliges, I got the deck names confused. I ment the tarot of the witches, though you haved sparked my interist in the witches tarot with your descriptions.

dadsnook2000	29 Dec 2004
Well, artistically speaking we have strange decks here -- the Tarot of the Witches is very stark, stylistic and simplistic in a lot of ways, yet it has some nice points to it. It just isn't for me. On the other hand, as I mentioned, the Witches Tarot has several stylistic themes which should give it a mixed presentation, yet it hangs together. The pagan cards such as the cups, the Horned One and Temperance (among others) don't seem awkward to us who are non-pagen (at least this non-pagan). Some cards such as the Six of Swords seem almost abnormal in this deck. The contrast in scenes between the Three of Pentacles and Four of Pentacles is strange. So, as a Pagan deck, the Witches Tarot is OK artwise (but I still love it) while the Tarot of the Witches is more consistent within itself, but I don't like it. I like the Robin Wood tarot a lot, but like all decks, it has a few cards that (for me) are flat. Dave.

Magi	29 Dec 2004
Your points and opinion has been duely noted. And May I nsay that you seem well versed in the pagan themed tarots.

Moongold	30 Dec 2004
The Witches Tarot (Cannon Reed) was my first deck. The store didn't have a Rider Waite and I just didn't know what else to get. Knew nothing at all about Tarot but loved some of the images in the Witches Tarot. I still do, though I had to get another deck to learn on ultimately. Some people laugh at some of the images (men in spandex tights) but I didn't even notice to be honest. I have had some really good readings with it too and the accompanying book is good.

Gaidheal	30 Dec 2004
I think both the Witches Tarot and Tarot of the Witches are nice decks in their own ways, but I definately prefer the former. Personally, as far as Pagan-themed decks go, I'll take Robin Wood over either of the Witches decks any day. Also, Magi, I have to say...I really don't think people "stereotyping" us as casting circles and calling the quarters all the time is one of our biggest problems. They can think we cast circles until we're blue in the face for all I care...I'd be more than happy if they just stopped calling us Satanists! But hey, that's just me.

Magi	30 Dec 2004
No thats not my problem. My problem is all the fluffy bunny attitudes that people have in regards to that. That some thing is related to witchcraft that an overly ritualistic approach has to be made.

wiccanlady39	02 Jan 2005
I have had trouble doing readings from the Witches tarot especially if I am not doing a reading in person with someone because it seems to me alot of court cards come up whenever I use this deck and its confusing........ Thanks, Wiccanlady39

Sulis	03 Jan 2005
Images of Tarot of the Witches Images from the Witches Tarot - Ellen Cannon-Reed Magi wrote: but it seemes people tend to link it with false stereo types about us real witches. things like blood sacrifice or casting circle and calling quarters for every little magical thing we do. Are there blood sacrifices in the Tarot of the Witches then? I've only ever looked through this deck - I thought the pip cards were atrocious and the artwork was somewhat strange (big heads and disproportionate limbs and heads from what I remember) but I can't remember seeing any overtly pagan images at all like circle casting. Can't remember seeing any sacrifices either. Could you describe the cards you're referring to or better still link to some pictures. My favorite pagan themed deck is definately the DruidCraft tarot - beautiful deck and easy to read :) Love Sulis xx

gargoyle_guarded	03 Jan 2005
Personally, I love all the cards in The Witches Tarot and enjoy listening to what they have to say. I agree that the Court Cards initially can be confusing. Having a better understanding and using the Court Cards as modifiers, I now look forward to their appearances in a spread because I find they shed additional light on a situation. As far as the Six of Swords....at first I did not like this card and felt it was totally out of character with the rest of the cards. It wasn't until I realized the card depicted a shield and the images were actually designs on the shield. Upright, the shield is up, and therefore protecting. Reversed, the shield has been lowered but should actually be raised because the past is still causing pain. With respect to The Witches Tarot in general, I get a kick out of the people who say that there is too much nudity in the deck and especially the suggestion of beastiality in the Strength card. Lol. Please.

Magi	04 Jan 2005
no, I'm reffering to the attitude most people have to things that have "witch" in the name. I appoligize for the things i may have said that were out of context.

gargoyle_guarded	04 Jan 2005
Magi wrote: .....it seemes people tend to link it with false stereo types about us real witches.... Hi Magi. There wasn't anything you said that was taken out of context. I was simply agreeing with you in the sense that the deck seems to get bashed because it's a "Witch" deck. Other than the pentacle on the back of the cards, I do not find there are a lot of images in the deck that would imply witchcraft. No more so that the Waite or any other deck. The Witches Tarot depicts more of a "Kabbalah" representation than anything else. Regardless, the deck is beautifully illustrated and a very good friend to me. Despite what people may think, I do not call the quarters or summon the guardians before I read. But I do ask for guidance from my Lady. ;o) Bright Wishes and Blessed Be.

Sulis	04 Jan 2005
gargoyle-guarded wrote: Other than the pentacle on the back of the cards, I do not find there are a lot of images in the deck that would imply witchcraft. No more so that the Waite or any other deck. The Witches Tarot depicts more of a "Kabbalah" representation than anything else. Regardless, the deck is beautifully illustrated and a very good friend to me gargoyle-guarded, I think that you and Magi are talking about 2 different decks. Magi is talking about The Tarot of the Witches by Fergus Hall whilst you're talking about The Witches Tarot by Ellen Cannon Reed. Magi please don't appologise - I'm unfamiliar with the deck you're talking about - I thought that maybe negative stereotypes were depicted in it. gargoyle-guarded wrote: I was simply agreeing with you in the sense that the deck seems to get bashed because it's a "Witch" deck. Now I am familiar with the Ellen Cannon-Reed deck which Gargoyle-guarded is referring to. In my opinion it's not necessarily because it's a 'witch deck' that this deck is critisised: Myself, I couldn't work with it mainly because of the elemental switch of Swords - Fire and Wands - air. That and the court cards which are basically all the same apart from the colour - just couldn't read them. Those 2 points along with some 'strange' artwork, including men in speedos and a Magician who looks like a very ugly woman in drag managed to put me off this deck. I love the lack of borders and the pentacle design on the back by the way :) Love Sulis xx

gargoyle_guarded	04 Jan 2005
Ah, yes you are correct Sulis. My bad. I misunderstood but got it now. Hey, since I'm here..... Sulis, you mentioned that you had The Witches Tarot also and that you "...couldn't work with it mainly because of the elemental switch of Swords - Fire and Wands - air...." I just wanted to comment. As you are already aware, most decks do assign the elements of Air and Fire to Swords and Wands respectively. I find this quite interesting because I have a hard time using Swords as Air and Wands as Fire. When I owned the Mythic Tarot (my first deck) those correspondences didn't make sense to me then. I think this is because I associate a WAND with something you wave in the AIR and a SWORD is something that is forged using FIRE. I kept screwing up and getting the elemental assignments reversed. So, when The Witches Tarot came into my possession something clicked and everything fell into place. It's like it was meant to be. The Universal Waite is a deck my partner uses and I love the color schemes and illustrations. However, when I assist him with his readings I'm always trying to revert back to Swords=Fire and Wands=Air. It's stuck in my head now. :) Anyway, just wanted to say it's fascinating how different people relate to or connect with different decks. Cool.

The The Witches Tarot thread was originally posted on 29 Dec 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.