Robin Woods symbolism

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 16 Feb 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Britney	16 Feb 2003
Hi all! I have recently got the Robin Woods deck. I LOVE it! it is beautiful and really calls to me- although i am having trouble getting very familair with the cards and feeling confident about them (this is my first 'real' deck -got a 'starter' deck for christmas- it has the meanings right on the card! so easy and convienient but i wanted more of a 'challenge' and nicer looking cards)- ANYWAYS, i have been reading about wicca and paganism and have learned a lot- but i am not finding "definitions" for the symbolism. for example, i know that fire, water, etc. have meanings. but what are they? what do starts represent? what does the sun represent? -- there are no just 'answers' to these questions and although i am figuring out that they are important and symbolic- i don't know WHY. thank you for all info!

wavebreaker	16 Feb 2003
Do you have the book that Robin Wood wrote to accompany the deck (it doesn't come with the deck, you have to buy it separately)? It contains detailed descriptions of all the cards, and explains the symbolism used.

raeanne	17 Feb 2003
Britney, I strongly agree with Tarotlady! Robin's book, "The Book", is wonderful! It is easy and fun to read and will explain everything. It is a "must have".

Kiama	18 Feb 2003
Yep, a third recomendation for the book, but also some advice on intepreting symbols in the cards... How about looking at the symbols in the cars, an working out what they seem to represent to you? For instance, take a look at the 2 of Cups in the deck. What does that lion headed cadeuceus mean to you? To me, it means healing, because I have always seen the caduceus as a medical symbol. But even furthr, I realise that the lion reminds me of the strength card, so I can pinpoit the exact TYPE of healing... Healing through understanding, friendship, listening, etc, which is perfect for the 2 of Cups! A fun thing to do, aswell as being useful for you, is to go through your Robin Wood deck, and note down all the symbols you see... Then note down what YOU think they mean... What does a snake symbolise to you? What about a birch tree? Colours? And when you see butterflies what do you think? Then look for matches of symbols in other cards... Like I did just now with the 2 of Cups and Strength card. Butterflies: What cards are they in? The Fool, Death... Now, what do those two cards have in common? Change. And we have an answer to a possible symbolism of a butterfly! Enjoy your new deck: I have been using the Robin Wood for nearly 3 years now, and love it to bits! Kiama

HudsonGray	18 Feb 2003
Remember that some of the meanings are reading specific--the 2 of cups came up for me in a reading about my cat--I saw it as showing me, him (as the guy), the medical caudecus for his medical problems, with the lion head above as him coming through all his problems to conquer all.

cyan	19 Feb 2003
So happy for you Britney, Robin Wood is a super deck. When you get the book you will really enjoy it also. She is a very earthy person and the book is easy to read. I also had the deck for a while before I got the book and found it easy to read, but the book adds an incredable wealth of detail.

The Robin Woods symbolism thread was originally posted on 16 Feb 2003 in the Talking Tarot board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.