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 |
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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.)
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Kyrielle |
01 Dec 2003 |
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Coins: Vesicas (Glastonbury Tarot)
It seems to me I have seen Cauldrons as the Cups suit, but I can't recall which deck.
-- Kyrielle
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Diana |
02 Dec 2003 |
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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.)
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jmd |
02 Dec 2003 |
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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.
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Jewel-ry |
02 Dec 2003 |
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I think its Arrows for fire in the Vision Quest.
J :)
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galadrial |
02 Dec 2003 |
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From the Buckland Romani:
Bolers (Wheels)
Koros (Cups)
Koshes (Wands)
Chivs (Knives)
From the Celtic Wisdom:
Battle = (Swords)
Skill= (Wands)
Art =(Cups)
Knowledge= (Pentacles)
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Chronata |
02 Dec 2003 |
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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!
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Majecot |
02 Dec 2003 |
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Coins: Shields and Stones
Legends Wand suit is Spears
Chronata I like your idea for suits.. very inovative, do you have a preview?
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TemperanceAngel |
02 Dec 2003 |
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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
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Diana |
02 Dec 2003 |
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Chronata: wonderful elements indeed. I look forward to seeing the finished deck. :)
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Nevada |
02 Dec 2003 |
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Voyager Tarot:
Cups
Wands
Crystals
Worlds
Tarot of the Old Path:
Cauldrons
Rods
Swords
Pentacles
Nevada
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LadyMedusa |
02 Dec 2003 |
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I can add these
The Native American has
Blades = Swords
Pipes = Wands
Vessels = Cups
Sheilds = Pents
The Greenwood has
Arrows = Swords
Stones = Pents
LadyMedusa
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Rusty Neon |
02 Dec 2003 |
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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?
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Rusty Neon |
02 Dec 2003 |
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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
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jmd |
03 Dec 2003 |
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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 :)
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paradoxx |
05 Dec 2003 |
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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)
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Rusty Neon |
05 Dec 2003 |
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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?
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paradoxx |
14 Dec 2003 |
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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
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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 threads in Talking Tarot, or read more archived threads.
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