Variety in Suit names for the Four Suits

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 01 Dec 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Rusty Neon	01 Dec 2003
I enjoy seeing the variety of suit names in English usage from various decks and traditions. Feel free to add to this list, as this is meant to be just a quick start. Rods: Fire, Wands, Batons, Staves, Torches, Sceptres, Clubs (or Spades) Cups: Water, Chalices, Vessels, Hearts Swords: Air, Pikes, Épées, Spears, Spades (or Clubs) Coins: Earth, Disks, Deniers, Pentacles, Loaves, Diamonds (I mention the French names only where they seem to have become integrated into English usage.)

Kyrielle	01 Dec 2003
Coins: Vesicas (Glastonbury Tarot) It seems to me I have seen Cauldrons as the Cups suit, but I can't recall which deck. -- Kyrielle

Diana	02 Dec 2003
Feathers (for air, I think). And Pumpkins (for crying out aloud). Somewhere there are birds (I think it's Rachel Pollack's deck). Probably air as well, seeing as they fly. And in the Crystal Tarot, they call the Cups "Chalices" in English. But they use the normal word in their other four languages that they love to put on some of their decks. (Just in case people can't recognise what a Cup is, or a Sword... I mean, some people are not so bright so it's probably helpful for them.)

jmd	02 Dec 2003
Since Rusty Neon has also included an elemental attribution, I'll also post the others which have been attributed to the suits in various decks and books: Bastons: Air, Water, Earth; Cups: Fire, Air, Earth; Deniers/Coins: Fire, Air, Water; Espee/Swords: Fire, Water, Earth. Of course, we each have our preferred attributions :) I've also tried to give one of the common alternative spelling of the suit where I could - for the sake of adding to the list.

Jewel-ry	02 Dec 2003
I think its Arrows for fire in the Vision Quest. J :)

galadrial	02 Dec 2003
From the Buckland Romani: Bolers (Wheels) Koros (Cups) Koshes (Wands) Chivs (Knives) From the Celtic Wisdom: Battle = (Swords) Skill= (Wands) Art =(Cups) Knowledge= (Pentacles)

Chronata	02 Dec 2003
This is from the deck that I am creating! Cups=Glass (water) Wands=Light (fire) Swords=Blades (air) Pentacles=Jewels (Earth) I know it's a little wacky, but this was how I decided my minors would be about 16 years ago, and I have stuck with it because the images and elemental ideas are so strong for me! This is the first time I have shared this with anyone!

Majecot	02 Dec 2003
Coins: Shields and Stones Legends Wand suit is Spears Chronata I like your idea for suits.. very inovative, do you have a preview?

TemperanceAngel	02 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata This is the first time I have shared this with anyone! Thank you for doing so, your deck sounds beautiful :D. XTAX

Diana	02 Dec 2003
Chronata: wonderful elements indeed. I look forward to seeing the finished deck. :)

Nevada	02 Dec 2003
Voyager Tarot: Cups Wands Crystals Worlds Tarot of the Old Path: Cauldrons Rods Swords Pentacles Nevada

LadyMedusa	02 Dec 2003
I can add these The Native American has Blades = Swords Pipes = Wands Vessels = Cups Sheilds = Pents The Greenwood has Arrows = Swords Stones = Pents LadyMedusa

Rusty Neon	02 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by jmd Since Rusty Neon has also included an elemental attribution, I'll also post the others which have been attributed to the suits in various decks and books: .... Of course, we each have our preferred attributions :) Actually, the Fire, Water, Air and Earth that I mentioned were intended as suit names, not merely elemental attributions, e.g., as in the Elemental Tarot by Smith/Astrop. The Elemental Tarot calls its four suits Fire, Water, Air and Earth (matching the GD elemental correspondences to Wands, Cups, Swords and Disks). The Tarot of the Spirits calls its four suits Fire, Water, Wind and Earth. The Osho Zen Tarot calls its four suits Fire, Water, Clouds and Rainbows. Can anyone recall any other decks with element-based suit names?

Rusty Neon	02 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by galadrial From the Celtic Wisdom: Battle = (Swords) Skill= (Wands) Art =(Cups) Knowledge= (Pentacles) In a similar vein, the Blake Tarot of the Creative Imagination has as its four suits Painting (= Pentacles) Science (= Swords) Music (= Cups) Poetry (= Wands) http://www.tarotpassages.com/blake.htm

jmd	03 Dec 2003
Rusty Neon mentions that the element names (Fire, Air, Water and Earth) mentioned 'were intended as suit names, not merely elemental attributions'. Thank you for this... and I stand corrected :)

paradoxx	05 Dec 2003
The Faery Wicca deck uses some interesting names Swords-Aer Wands are Tine (pronounce Chin) cups are Uisce (pronouced Ish-key) pentacles are Domhan (pronouned daw-ain)

Rusty Neon	05 Dec 2003
Quote: Originally posted by paradoxx The Faery Wicca deck uses some interesting names Swords-Aer Wands are Tine (pronounce Chin) cups are Uisce (pronouced Ish-key) pentacles are Domhan (pronouned daw-ain) Hi paradoxx ... What do those names mean?

paradoxx	14 Dec 2003
aer=air/sky tine=fire uisce=water domhan=earth/world not only taht, but the court cards are renamed too ainnir (awn-ear)is maiden or page ridere (Rye-deer)is knight Ard Ri (Rd-ree) is High King Banrion (Bawn-ree-on) is High Queen

The Variety in Suit names for the Four Suits thread was originally posted on 01 Dec 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.