Snakes

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 09 Mar 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

katrananda	09 Mar 2004
If one were to feature a woman dancing with a snake in a tarot card, which tarot card would it be? I thought maybe the High Priestess, as there were snake cults, but I'm open to other suggestions, even if they incorporate pentacles, swords, etc. Thanks. Katrananda

Kissa	09 Mar 2004
In some Marseilles, it is unclear whether the ribbon-like feature at the bottom of Temperance's dress is the dress itself or a snake. Ancestral Path Justice has a snake if I remember properly. Tarot of Prague's High Priestess features a snake. Many many snakes everywhere indeed. Must be some more. Have to think and go thru my the cards. Kissa sorry cannot post attachments

closrapexa	09 Mar 2004
There a decks where, in the World card, the womon is is dancing in the center of a snake its own tail, a symbol of eternity

Simone	09 Mar 2004
XXI - Universe, Crowley Thoth, a naked woman dancing with a snake... Light and love Simone

Ravenswing	09 Mar 2004
how about the Queen of Wands? There's lots of myths (including biblical) where staffs change to snakes... fly well raven

Le_Corsair	09 Mar 2004
There is often a snake shown in the Hermit card, as well; the Sharman-Caselli deck is just one example. I suppose you could include one with the RWS-type World card, the woman's nude body would look good with a snake draped around it.... :D Bob :THERM

Diana	09 Mar 2004
It would depend, I suppose, which aspect of the snake you were trying to bring out. Symbolically, it has many different meanings.

laura_borealis	09 Mar 2004
This tarot is really snakey. I love snakes and snake symbolism, so I'm happy to see this thread. kundalini... damballah...

Ilithiya	09 Mar 2004
Spirit of Flower's Devil has the fairy holding a snake... oi, that kid give me the creeps. :) llly

Jewel-ry	09 Mar 2004
The Haindl Empress has a snake on it. Its a great card, one of the first I managed to meditate with. J :)

baba-prague	09 Mar 2004
The Baroque Bohemian Cats' tarot has a snake (attacking the horse) in the Knight of Swords. At this point I don't know if there will be other snakes. Anwyay, as the deck shows cats, not women, this may not be all that relevant to this discussion LOL I have a feeling there is a snake in the Mary-el. I'll go and look.

firemaiden	09 Mar 2004
Dancing with a snake would have to be the world card - Euynome and Ophion.

Chronata	09 Mar 2004
in my sideshow tarot that I am currently working on...I made the snake charmer the High Priestess. :) But I could see it working equally well for the World, or one of the Queens...my thought would be the Queen Of Wands. The New Orleans Voodoo deck shows many cards with women dancing with snakes.

Hedera	09 Mar 2004
There's also a woman wrestling/dancing with/hugging a big snake in the Strenght card of the Haindl.

katrananda	09 Mar 2004
Now, for the next bit of the question. If you are creating a tarot deck, and a woman has volunteered to pose with a snake, and the Queens are already taken, as is the High Priestess, the Empress, Death, and the World...... what's your next card of choice? I must admit, I like the idea of the Strength card, but that may also be taken shortly. Other suggestions are welcome. I can't see the snake being cooperative in biting its own tail, either..... Thanks again, Katrananda

Alissa	09 Mar 2004
The Lovers. A woman holding a snake could be used as a biblical reference to the Choice made in the Garden of Eden.

Jewel-ry	09 Mar 2004
The Haindl has a snake on the strength card too! I like this idea, its curled almost in a figure 8. J :)

The Snakes thread was originally posted on 09 Mar 2004 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.