Tarot Story

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Jun 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

Luminessence	17 Jun 2004
So who's up for creating a story using the tarot? Here's how it works. You draw a card (nobody will know if you cheat and pick one faceup, but it's more fun to do it randomly) and add a little bit to the story, basing it on the card you drew. It can relate to the card meaning, or the pictures on the card, or both. You don't have to add very much to the story if you don't want - a couple of sentences will do. And take it in any direction you want, however bizarre :) After all, the point is to have fun. I'll start off, using the Five of Sacred Circles from the Ancestral Path Tarot: Lyris lived in a remote area of the woods where not many people dared go. Most people wouldn't have liked to live so far away from the rest of the world, but Lyris was content, because she had never known anything else. However, one day she started to get curious about the outside world. She began secretly going further and further out of the woods, exploring. But her parents, who hated the outside world for how it had mistreated them, found out what she was doing. They forbade her from continuing to explore the outside world. But Lyris didn't obey, and her parents, afraid that they would bring the outside world back in to them, saw no choice but to exile her from the woods before anybody followed Lyris and found out that they were there. So Lyris left the woods for the last time. Now she was on her own, and she could never go back.

hyatt	18 Jun 2004
Lyris had every intention of following stars of Orion's belt but as she was walking she began thinking..."Gee, I am a little thirsty and would mind resting my feet for just a few mintues". And as luck would have it she spotted a light just beyound the next hill and decided that it was just as shiny as any star. The light was coming from a small wood and stone building. As she approached she heard howling laughter, the sounds of drunken singing and the crashing sound of furniture splitting. Curious she decided to open the heavy wooden door. She stood there in the doorway in awe, she had never seen people acting like this before. The smell of spilled beer interwinded with mustiness and stinky men filled her nostrals. She found the scent intoxicating and rather liked it. She spied three men sitting in a corner booth, three cups in the air in the middle of a toast. They looked harmless, or at least not as rowdy as the others and she asked if she could join them. Each of them smiled and fought over who was going to order her a drink. Finally a beer maiden came over and clanked down a mug. Lyris took a sip and since she had never seen nor tasted beer she thought it was awful. But something inside her told her to drink up. Besides being a little low on cash she wouldn't want to turn down any free nurishment. And so she sat and drank with these wonderful and generous merchants until she saw the sun creaping onto the window seal. The bar maiden asked kindly if she would like to sleep off the beers in the upstairs boarding room of the pub. Lyris graciously thanked her and hiccuped all the way up the stairs... ( based on the three of cups of the Secret Tarot deck) *editted to correct spelling of secret- sorry!

Luminessence	18 Jun 2004
When Lyris reached the room where she was to stay the night, she noted with regret how much sparser it was than her room in her parents' house in the woods. But there was nothing she could do about that now. She was about to lie down on the unfriendly-looking bed when she saw a butterfly flitting about the room. "What a pretty butterfly!" she said drunkenly, and grabbed for it. It took her a couple of tries before she managed to get ahold of it. But this butterfly was not like the friendly butterflies she had known in the woods. It clamped down on her hand with its sharp fangs. As the butterfly venom entered Lyris's bloodstream, she sank into delirium. (based on the 3 of Swords from the Tarot of Transformation)

Chronata	18 Jun 2004
Lyris opened her eyes, full of fog, and cobwebs, and found that she was in a boat. The gentle lapping of the waves was soothing...but the total disorientation of where she was and how she had gotten there slowly dawned making her shiver, and pull the blanket around herself. oh yes. There was the butterfly...and then...? She could remember no more of the night... the sky was slowly lightening as she looked up, past the many swords that were in the prow, hilt up and shining. She slowly became aware that there was a man behind her, silently rowing through the grey blue waves. She shuddered again. Thankfully, the shore seemed to be in sight. She wondered where she was going...had she been kidnapped in the night? Who was this person in the boat with her... Or was this all merely an illusion...a dream? She wrapped the blanket closer and hugged herself...not daring to say a word... The rower just kept rowing. Silently. (Morgan Greer...6 Swords)

Bluemanticore	18 Jun 2004
Soon they arrived at shore. There she saw a cloaked man, staring sorrowfully at an octopus that had been washed ashore. Lyris stepped out of the boat and walked over to the man. "Why don't you help it?" she asked him. "Why bother?" the man replied. "It will just die sooner or later. What's the use?" Lyris walked away in disgust. As she slid the octopus back into the sea, she heard a voice. It was coming from the octopus! "Thank you," it said. "Always remember, no matter how much you may be rejected by friends and family, there will always be others who will love you. Do not become depressed, things will get better." Lyris watched as the octopus slowly swam away. ---- Based on the 5 of Cups from the Shapeshifter Tarot The Rejection card

Kahlie	18 Jun 2004
Quote: After a while she started to feel more at ease. She peeked out from under the blanket and saw beautiful stars reflected in the water. Their tiny little lights filled her with a wonderful serene feeling. Her journey had not been easy so far, but she had an inexplicable sense of hopefullness. Lyris wondered how it suddenly turned night, but she could find no explanation for it. It looked like she was being rowed into a totally different land then the one she had left behind. (Inspired by The Stars - Tarot Nouveau) English is not my native language, so I hope it's ok. Bluemanticore posted faster then I did. So I decided to change the story =) After the wonderful words of the octopus Lyris felt herself filled with a new hope. She felt determined to face the challenges that lay ahead. For some reason she felt wonderfully at ease. On the beach she spotted two maidens dancing and singing. White Seashells where littered around them, like little stars. The sight of them filled her with happiness, and she wondered if she could join them.

Sillanza	18 Jun 2004
But then she felt uneasy about trying to join the maidens. Lyris was beginning to believe that her parents were right: keeping yourself at a distance from the world is safer. Though the octopus had been kind, the circumstances of her arrival at this strange place gave her pause about appoaching the maidens. What if she was wrong, and they weren't all they appeared to be? Lyris felt paralyzed by her own doubt. ========= 8 of Swords, New Palladini

Chronata	18 Jun 2004
Lyris was very uneasy...paralyzed by both fear and doubt. Something about the maidens seemed very wrong...but she could not understand what it was, nagging at her sub-conscious. She knew to trust to instincts, howerever...and as they beckoned to her, the uneasy feeling grew stronger. Suddenly, emerging from the inky sky the Moon appeared. It bathed the entire landscape in an eerie pale shadow...and Lyris could now see the maidens for what they really were...strange skeletal creatures, like hungry bone-faced dogs. There were two strange dark obsidian spires in the distance, that glowed wiith a warmth not found here on the shore. A large red Lobster appeared and crawled towards her. Lyris ran...and hoped to reach the towers before the giant sea crustacian could reach her. (Vertigo...Moon...sorry this has taken such a dark turn! Think i need a happier deck!)

Bluemanticore	18 Jun 2004
As Lyris ran past a giant fir, she heard a woman's voice shout out to her, "Be brave Lyris!" Lyris froze on the path and slowly looked to her left. Standing there was an amazing sight. There stood a being who was half woman and half bear! And standing next to her was another being who was half cub and half little girl. Lyris stared as the woman spoke again. "Lyris, be brave. You have the courage to face your fears." "Yes Lyris," said the Cub-girl," You have nothing to truly fear but fear itself." "Bravery alone won't help me against that, that lobster," said Lyris. "That may be so," said the Bear-woman. "But you must have courage before you can do anything." "Be brave Lyris," said the Cub-girl, "and we will share with you are bear strength and our bear claws. You will be able to stand up to your fears." "Ok," said Lyris, "I will face what I am afraid of." With that, the two bear-people suddenly vanished and as the did, Lyris was suddenly cloaked in an imprenetable bear cloak with a club in her hand that ended in a sharp bear claw. "Ok," said Lyris to herself, now feeling much more confident. "I can do this." --- Based on the Courage card. Major Arcana 8, from The Shapeshifter Tarot.

lunakasha	18 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Bluemanticore As Lyris ran past a giant fir, she heard a woman's voice shout out to her, "Be brave Lyris!" Lyris froze on the path and slowly looked to her left. Standing there was an amazing sight. There stood a being who was half woman and half bear! And standing next to her was another being who was half cub and half little girl. Lyris stared as the woman spoke again. "Lyris, be brave. You have the courage to face your fears." "Yes Lyris," said the Cub-girl," You have nothing to truly fear but fear itself." "Bravery alone won't help me against that, that lobster," said Lyris. "That may be so," said the Bear-woman. "But you must have courage before you can do anything." "Be brave Lyris," said the Cub-girl, "and we will share with you are bear strength and our bear claws. You will be able to stand up to your fears." "Ok," said Lyris, "I will face what I am afraid of." With that, the two bear-people suddenly vanished and as the did, Lyris was suddenly cloaked in an imprenetable bear cloak with a club in her hand that ended in a sharp bear claw. "Ok," said Lyris to herself, now feeling much more confident. "I can do this." --- Based on the Courage card. Major Arcana 8, from The Shapeshifter Tarot. Lyris took a deep breath and clenched the club tightly in her hand, feeling the bear's spirit stirring within her. She took a few steps, moving slowly at first, and then began to quicken her pace along a narrow path covered with leaves. She looked up and began to see a faint light coming through the trees, and she suddenly realized that she was going to be OK, that she was not alone.... Lyris continued walking for several minutes, and with each step she became more excited...knowing that her journey through the darkness would soon come to an end. Soon she was able to see a shimmering light coming through the trees, like diamonds glittering in the afternoon sunlight. Her pace quickened again, and she felt a smile coming to her lips as she realized where she was heading, and squinted as the shimmering light grew brighter and more beautiful with each step. Lyris was standing about fifteen feet from a clearing at the end of the path....and just beyond that path, she could now clearly see the diamond-light shimmer of sunlight dancing upon the waves of blue water. Lyris stepped still closer....slowly now, as if not sure whether to believe what she was seeing....she pushed her way through the branches and felt one foot sinking into a warm cushion of sand. Now she stood, looking breathlessly, taking in the endless path of water ahead of her....freedom was hers at last....but where would she go from here??? (Five of Cups--Via Tarot) :) Luna

Bluemanticore	18 Jun 2004
Suddenly, Lyris heard a voice. "Wondering where to go, Lyris?" it said. Lyris glance to her right and saw three faces, a man, a woman, and a little girl, just floating in a mountain stream leading to the sea. The voice spoke again, coming from the man's face. "If you have the nerve, Lyris, we can send you on a quest that will take you here and there, there and here, leading you to happiness at the end." The woman's face spoke. "All you have to do is find the Four Artifacts of Arcana: the Sword, the Cup, the Wand, and the Coin. And then take them to the Magician." "Four artifacts, huh?" said Lyris. "Well, I have nothing else to do, why not?" "Very well," said the girl's face. "As you find each artifact, you will find what you need to lead you to the next one." "To find the first artifact, the Sword of Arcana, follow the salmon of our stream. The will lead you to the person who can give you aid in finding the Sword." "Ok," said Lyris, and she headed off, following the salmon upstream. --- Based on the 8 of Cups, the Quest Card, from The Shapeshifter Tarot.

Luminessence	18 Jun 2004
Lyris followed the salmon up the stream for days, until the stream became nothing more than a trickle of water spurting out of the desert sand. The salmon, who had continued swimming in the stream despite the fact that the stream was now smaller than the salmon was, jumped in the air and disappeared. Lyris looked around, hoping to see the person who was supposedly going to help her on her quest. Sure enough, she saw a young girl standing by the stream. The girl was smiling. "Ooh, a fish!" she said. "We hardly ever get fish up here!" She turned and saw Lyris. "And a visitor, too!" She ran up to Lyris. "What are you doing here?" "I was led here by the salmon," she said, feeling a bit awkward. "It was supposed to lead me to the person who can help me find the Sword of Arcana." Surely this girl couldn't be the person I'm looking for, Lyris thought. The girl nodded, seeming unsurprised. Her grin stretched even wider. "So you're the one! They told me you'd come. I've been waiting and waiting." "Who told you I'd come?" asked Lyris. "The desert spirits," said the girl. She held out the rod she was holding. Lyris hadn't even noticed it before then. It was made of sparkling crystal, and it sent light out in every direction. "They gave me this to give to you. They told me to tell you to follow the path it marked for you, and it would lead you to what you need to find." The girl frowned. "But I don't know what that means. It isn't marking a path." Lyris took the rod from the girl. To her surprise, the light it was giving out changed. Instead of the rod sending light out in every direction, now the light only touched the ground to her right. She turned to the right, and the light stayed where it was. Lyris now knew what she needed to do - she needed to follow the light. She thanked the girl and set out on her way. (based on the Page of Wands from the Robin Wood Tarot)

Bluemanticore	19 Jun 2004
Lyris walked on and on, sometimes turning left, sometimes turning right, getting hotter and hotter and hungrier and hungrier. Soon she came upon a strange sight: a satyr-woman and a minotaur man. They were standing in front of two large stones with another large stone on top of it, making a sort of doorway. "Hello," the woman said to Lyris. "Going somewhere?" "Yes," said Lyris cautiously. "Maybe we can help," said the man. "How can you help me?" Lyris asked. "Take our doorway and you will be transported to your destination much faster than walking through the desert," said the man. "But not without risk," said the woman. "The door may be quicker, but you might meet some things you might wish to avoid." "Hmm," thought Lyris. "Make your choice," said the man. "Our door, speed with some danger." "Or walking the desert, slower but a bit safer," said the woman. "I would like to get there faster, I am quite hot and tired. And I do have my bear weapons. But even so, do I want to take the risk when I could avoid it?" Lyris thought to herself. "Wait a second!" Lyris thought. "Which way is my compass wand pointing?" Unfortunately for Lyris, the wand was now pointing two ways, into the door and deeper into the desert. "I guess I'll have to decide for myself," said Lyris. So Lyris made her decision. --- Based on Major Arcana 15, Choice, from the Shapeshifter Tarot. Traditional card= The Devil. Resonance, Flexibility, Decision Making

hyatt	19 Jun 2004
Lyris felt heat upon her face as she walked through the doorway. The path appeared to be in darkness but the heat of the desert sun still beat down on her. The pebbles under her feet transformed into hot steaming stones. It made her want to walk faster but she could hear faint tortured voices ahead of her. She began to doubt her decision and wondered if she had the strength to move thru the darkness. The wand was still shining light on her path, but it looked like it was fading. It's internal energy was slowing fading away. She walked until she saw the source of the heat, a warm glow coming from the loins of a horned and winged creature. To the sides of him were a man and a woman losely chained they appeared lost in themselves. Lyris felt changes in her desires. Suddenly she desired the man in chains. She could think of nothing else other than satisfing her fanasties. And as she got closer she was losing her will power, her steps were not her own she was sliding towards him as if she was in a rip tide. Without warning the wand produced a blinding light, jarring all of Lyris lustful thoughts. It produced such an intense light that she was binded from the others and could only see the cool white light and she followed.... --- the devil from the secret tarot deck

Bluemanticore	19 Jun 2004
Suddenly standing in front of Lyris was Lugh, the Celtic God of Light. "Get a little sidetracked, did we?" he ask Lyris with a smile. "Um, uh," stammered an embarrased Lyris. "Well, no one is perfect," he said. "But we need to get you back on the right road to find the Sword. Follow my stag, he will lead you in the right direction." "Okay," said Lyris, "Thanks." "And a word of advice," said Lugh, "Always remember the light is what it takes to keep you out of the dark. Now get moving." With that, Lugh vanished and Lyris was left in a dark tunnel, with only Lugh's white stag to keep her company. There was light coming from one direction and complete darkness in the other. "Let me guess," Lyris said to the glowing white stag, "we go in the direction of the light?" The stag nodded it's head and they headed off. --- Based on the 13 of Swords, God of Fire: Lugh. Traditional Card: Queen of Swords From the Shapeshifter Tarot

Chronata	19 Jun 2004
Following the direction of the light, Lyris, and the white stag, began to walk, but the ground was heavy, and they made little progress. The stag bowed it's head for her, indicating that she should mount, and once astride the stag's back, they moved quickly, with the speed that the wind might use to travel. Soon, they reached a clearing that was filled with ruins of what appeared to be some ancient stone temple. "Lyris"... A voice, from one of the great stone edifaces called her name. Like the wind itself had spoken... Lyris dismounted, and she and the stag cautiously approached the collums where the voice was heard. Within there was a woman seated on a throne. In one hand she held a pair of golden scales, and in the other a great shining sword. "I have been waiting for you," said the woman, smiling slightly. "So you are aware of my quest, then?" Lyris questioned. The woman nodded, noticing that the crystal staff Lyris carried was emmitting an intense brightness. "This is for you", the mysterious woman offered, handing her the heavy sword, "it is the sword of Truth...and of Justice. Take it with you upon your quest...and when you are unsure if someone is telling you the truth, then just hold out this sword. If it points up, the person before you is truthfull... But if it points downward then they are most certainly lying... "This will aid you in your journey as you seek the Artifacts of the Arcana." Lyris took the sword in gratitude and turned around to try to heft it above her shoulders...but when she looked back, the woman, the ruins and the temple had disappeared, and she and the stag were left looking at the staff, whose light seemed to point them towards the dark road to the West. (RWS Justice)

Satori	21 Jun 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Chronata Following the direction of the light, Lyris, and the white stag, began to walk, but the ground was heavy, and they made little progress. The stag bowed it's head for her, indicating that she should mount, and once astride the stag's back, they moved quickly, with the speed that the wind might use to travel. Soon, they reached a clearing that was filled with ruins of what appeared to be some ancient stone temple. "Lyris"... A voice, from one of the great stone edifaces called her name. Like the wind itself had spoken... Lyris dismounted, and she and the stag cautiously approached the collums where the voice was heard. Within there was a woman seated on a throne. In one hand she held a pair of golden scales, and in the other a great shining sword. "I have been waiting for you," said the woman, smiling slightly. "So you are aware of my quest, then?" Lyris questioned. The woman nodded, noticing that the crystal staff Lyris carried was emmitting an intense brightness. "This is for you", the mysterious woman offered, handing her the heavy sword, "it is the sword of Truth...and of Justice. Take it with you upon your quest...and when you are unsure if someone is telling you the truth, then just hold out this sword. If it points up, the person before you is truthfull... But if it points downward then they are most certainly lying... "This will aid you in your journey as you seek the Artifacts of the Arcana." Lyris took the sword in gratitude and turned around to try to heft it above her shoulders...but when she looked back, the woman, the ruins and the temple had disappeared, and she and the stag were left looking at the staff, whose light seemed to point them towards the dark road to the West. (RWS Justice) Lyris rode the stag silently, her back aching under the weight of the Sword of Truth and Justice. How had she gotten herself into all of this mess? Not long ago her life had been so simple. Boring, but simple. Was this adventure what she really wanted? Would this path really lead her to happiness or would she find herself worse off than she was when she lived a quiet, predictable life with her parents? As Lyris pondered these thoughts her eyelids got heavier and heavier and soon she was asleep. In no time at all the stag had stopped walking and Lyris found herself being dumped unceremoniously onto the ground. As she hit the dirt the side of her head bumped into the hilt of the sword, bruising her temple. As Lyris sat in the dirt rubbing her head she realized that two men stood arguing in front of her. She had no idea who they were, only that the stag indicated no danger as he grazed on the young, green shoots of grass not far from Lyris. The arguement ceased and the two men turned to Lyris. The had long, black hair pulled up into high ponytails on top of their heads. One man wore purple and green robes draped across his muscled shoulders and hips. The other wore blue and orange robes tied similarly. The man in blue spoke to Lyris. "We will not steal your wand nor your sword, but we want your bear cloak and if you don't give it willingly we will have no choice but to take everything you have and leave you here, naked." Lyris was tired and hungry. She was willing to compromise. "Well, it is two against one, so I tell you what. Give me some food answer three of my questions and I'll give you my bear cloak." The two men started arguing with each other again, and Lyris sat listening, still sitting in the dirt. Finally the man in the green robes spoke. "You are trying to trick us, but we need that bear cloak, so we agree to your terms." And the men quickly made a fire, a stew and produced such delicious bread and wine that Lyris was soon stuffing her mouth full of food. The loss of the bear cloak was unexpected, but a full belly was heavenly. Osho Zen Deck Compromise 6 of Rainbows Claudia

Sillanza	22 Jun 2004
Lyris left the men without her bear cloak, but with a renewed sense of purpose to find the remaining artifacts of the Arcana. She, the stag and her ever-growing pack continued due West. At about twilight, they came upon a lovely clearing by a rushing brook. Growing beside the brook was a beautiful glowing tree laden with fruit. Under the tree Lyris saw the source of the golden light: two exquisitely made cups! "It couldn't be this easy ..." Lyris thought. After all, she had only begun to head West. As she neared, she could hear a keening whine coming from the direction of the stream. As she approached the tree, she reached for the two golden cups ... who hopped to the other side of the tree! As Lyris reeled from the cups' decidedly independent movement, she heard the voice raised to a shrill pitch, "Stop, thief!" The voice was that of a ... woman? Man? Upon viewing the person in the stream, Lyris was amusedly unclear. "Those are the only two cups I have left," chided the hairy-lipped woman, brushing her long, wet plait out of her face. "The others have taken their leave, preferring the stream's company to mine, and where does that leave me now? With half my inheiritance gone, what is my fiancee to think ..." continued the woman, as she waded in the stream searching for her wayward cups. Lyris was beginning to understand why the other cups left. She had assumed that all the Arcana gifts would be given to her, as the Wand was, but what if they could choose of their own free will? Lyris quickly decided that if a cup could hop, perhaps it could hear, "Hey, who wants to get out of here? Hop into my pack for a journey like no other." One cup did just that. As it entered the pack, the cup brushed Lyris' hand, and she felt an overwhelming sense of peace and gratitude. Lyris quietly gestured to the stag and as they slipped away like silk across skin, the plaintive cries of the disillusioned woman faded into the background. (5 of Cups - Spiral Tarot)

hyatt	24 Jun 2004
With her new cup Lyris felt better about her journey. Her self doubt was seeming to fade. She made up her mind that adventure is always better than a safety net. And as she was pondering her thoughts on who would ever want to live in such a net she saw a small town ahead of her and it looked like they were in the middle of having a festival. "What luck!" Lyris thought "a golden cup and a party all in the same day". She looked at the cup and it smiled back at her with a twinkle of golden shine - fill me up! She approched the festival with caution, tied her stag to a near by tree, and preceeded to look like she belonged. There were sword swallowers, ladies dancing, men drinking. A bearded woman filled her golden cup and winked at her. She walked around drinking her brew until her eyes fell apon a young man high on a wall juggling. His footing was precarious to say the least. She stood there mesmerized by his talent and craftsmanship. His act started to become more and more intricate and dangerous. He was so high up she couldn't really make out what he was juggling. Suddenly he twisted, threw one of whatever it was in the air and yelled "This is for you Lyris" and bounced off the other side of the wall. It clanked on the ground next to her after falling hundred feet. It was a small coin - a pentacle. Lyris put it in her pocket, swigged the last of her brew and untied her stag. This party had been a success. ---- based on the 2 of pentacles from the secret deck

The Tarot Story thread was originally posted on 17 Jun 2004 in the Tarot Games & Fun board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Tarot Games & Fun, or read more archived threads.