Obvious/not so obvious card meanings

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 18 May 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

SongDeva	18 May 2004
People have mentioned lately, specifically when talking about the Pagan Tarot from Lo Scarabeo, that they don't know what the meanings of some of the images are supposed to be. As I've come to trust my intuition, I've realized that the cards don't have particular meanings until I'm doing a reading, or when I'm in the "flow," so to speak. For example, when I was doing a vargo gothic reading for Lswern this weekend, I found the cards to be very talkative and specific. According to Lswern, the reading was pretty accurate. But after the reading, looking at them, I noticed they just didn't say as much ( maybe now it was just a cute guy leaning against a wall looking spooky, and for the reading it was 'your parents just don't know what to make of you!') This didn't bother me because I'd come to understand this trend. As a result, when looking at my new Pagan (Ole'!) I knew exactly what the others who own the deck were talking about, and yet I was sublimely unworried. I knew that for me the meanings would make themselves clear when I read with the deck. Has anyone else noticed this trend? This may be an intuitive-style reading question. Those of you that use more traditional meanings will perhaps notice this phenomenon more in the way that individual card meanings morph for each reading.

Alissa	18 May 2004
I don't have the Pagan Tarot, but I do find myself following your style of reading with other decks quite often. Those that do not speak the "RWS" language I often read more intuitively. Like you describe, I open myself to the picture itself and see what I see, at that time, in that reading. Perhaps it is a red rose. Perhaps it is the card's number. And yes! The look on his face. Open mouth, speak. ;) For me, the Vargo, Drogi, Decameron and even the Shapeshifter can be read "openly". The imagery and minor arcana progression of "meanings" is very different than the standardized Golden Dawn stuff, so it opens up my intuitive side, more than my "book leanring" side when I read with them.

Astraea	18 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by SongDeva I've realized that the cards don't have particular meanings until I'm doing a reading, or when I'm in the "flow," so to speak. Yes, this is what I think, too. Studying meanings "in the abstract" can give one a general sense of the card's feeling-tone, but even that can morph considerably in specific readings.

Imagemaker	18 May 2004
Quote: I knew that for me the meanings would make themselves clear when I read with the deck. This is the way I read, too. What rises to mind can only happen in that particular combination of question, time, and intent. It's also why, as someone posted elsewhere not long ago, you get different types of messages with different decks. With each one, a reader develops a language of understanding and communication. For me, this "read the signs" skill is what developing intuition and divination (defined as making the divine manifest) is all about. Sending a question out and "getting" a reply, however it comes.

Savoyali	18 May 2004
Same here :) The Pagan is actually the deck that taught me to trust intuitive readings and not be afraid of not even referring to the LWB. As I've said otherwhere, even cards that weren't making any sense when I looked at them in turn, will do so when they turn up in a reading. Ergo, am decidedly unworried about this trend :D And indeed, they may be saying entirely different things in different readings, that's part of what makes it so much fun. It all fits perfectly with the way I've come to think tarot might work, so no worries there, either.

Staramber	20 May 2004
My Shakespearian (thanks Dad) arrived yesterday I took one look at them and thought 'My God! What do I do with these?' But with my first couple of decks I bought I did readings first and then, only after I was comfortable, did I look in the LWB to see the meanings they give. Thanks for reminding we what works for me.

Sulis	20 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Alissa IThose that do not speak the "RWS" language I often read more intuitively. Like you describe, I open myself to the picture itself and see what I see, at that time, in that reading. Perhaps it is a red rose. Perhaps it is the card's number. And yes! The look on his face. Open mouth, speak. ;) For me, the Vargo, Drogi, Decameron and even the Shapeshifter can be read "openly". The imagery and minor arcana progression of "meanings" is very different than the standardized Golden Dawn stuff, so it opens up my intuitive side, more than my "book leanring" side when I read with them. The more I read, the more I find that this is so. I'm finding that I quite like decks which are a little different from the standard RWS. I'm finding the Merryday to be a deck which kicks in my intuition - I tend to read the pictures a lot more than I do with RWS style decks. I'm looking forward to getting the Osho Zen as I think this will be another deck which I will read in this way. Love Sulis xx

Imagemaker	20 May 2004
Sulis, you will love the Osho Zen! It is transcendent, in so many meanings of the word!

SongDeva	20 May 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Imagemaker Sulis, you will love the Osho Zen! It is transcendent, in so many meanings of the word! Err, what she said! Big time!

Sulis	20 May 2004
I know, I'm going to love it. I don't buy many decks these days but I've had a yearning for this one for ages now so I've gone ahead and ordered it. I just keep on seeing threads by people who's opinions I respect praising this deck. Some things you just gotta do :) Sorry for highjacking your thread by the way SongDeva ;) Love Sulis xx

The Obvious/not so obvious card meanings thread was originally posted on 18 May 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.