The Major Arcana Game

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 12 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

psychic sue	12 Mar 2005
I played this game once before with a friend when we were trying to learn the 22 Majors. It takes the form of a story. So it starts with the fool - a little story told about him and the story ends with a connection to the Magician and so on. Thought it might be useful for people learning and also good fun! We could carry on with the minor arcana too if people like the game - I'll start it off with the Fool: The boy looked down at his faithful dog. The sun was shining and he felt a tingle of excitement. He was about to start off on his adventure... He had been out in the woods the day before and had come across a curious looking stick - it had symbols carved into it and a soft metal thread wrapped around it. Who could this stick belong to? Why had it been cast aside? It was too beautiful to leave there in the wood. He reached over and picked it up. Suddenly, he felt a surge of energy pulse through him - he felt powerful and strong. Strange images flashed into his mind - images of chalices and coins and swords and clubs - he suddenly knew within himself, that he had to leave the safety of his home and embark upon a journey. He was as certain about this as he had ever been about anything. He returned to his home and decided what he was going to take with him - things that held special meaning to him. The ring his grandmother had left him when she died, the letter from his father who was a long way away, pictures of his mother and siblings. Things which he could draw upon to sustain him on his travels. He wrapped these precious things in the brightest piece of material he could find in his mother's sewing box - it was a gold and purple piece of cloth, embroidered with images of stars and moons and covered in glittering sequins. He tied the cloth to the branch he had found in the woods - he was nearly ready to begin his journey. Lastly, he pulled on his colourful jacket, lovingly sewn and embroidered by his mother. As he walked out of the door, he noticed a single white rose growing at the side of the house. He picked it - it smelled so fragrant. This would remind him of the purity of the love he felt for home. He kissed his mother (she had called him a fool for rushing away without so much as a plan of where he was going) and began to walk the winding path through the woods, out on to the open road, his dog faithfully following at his side. As he neared the centre of the wood, he felt a strange vibration beneath his feet - he instinctively looked down but there was nothing to be seen. When he raised his head, he saw before him a man dressed in a white shirt and red cloak. "I see you have found my wand" said the Magician. "Come, I have important things to tell you"....

squeakmo9	14 Mar 2005
..."things you need be mindful of as you begin your journey. You've taken quite a risk in venturing so far from home with no clear destination in sight. I know some would consider this a foolish turn. I, however, suspect you have sensed a shift in your life, in your mind." Then the Magician turned toward the Fool's closely guarded bag. "What are doing?" chaffed the Fool, "That's mine!" As the Fool stepped back, the Magician quickly snatched the single white rose from the Fool's shaking hand. "Do you not trust me?" returned the Magician and in an instant the meager rose turned into a gleaming white scepter. "I believe this belongs to me as well" said the Magician. The Fool, mouth agape, stood thunderstruck. The Magician continued, "I told you I wanted to show you something, particularly something about yourself...now give me the bag." To scared to run, the Fool handed over the goods. "You don't understand, this is all I have in this world, please..." "I know" countered the Magician, "but now it is time to share it with others." At that instant, the Magician held his brillant scepter to the sky, "this is your faith!" roared the Magician and a blinding light overcame them, then utter silence. "Am I dead?" queried the Fool. "Well, why don't you open your eyes and see?" asked the Magician. At first everything seemed one happy blur, then slowly things began to come into focus. The Fool found himself in the most beautiful garden he had ever seen. Beautiful and fragrant lillies, dogwoods, wildflowers and such...it was utopia. "I am dead" said the Fool. "No" said the Magician, "you are finally awake!" In the middle of this magestic garden stood a perfect wooden table and on that table, four items: a golden chalice with as golden a medallion next to it, a well-honed saber, and an all too familiar stick. "I think I've seen these items before" said the Fool, "but I'm not sure." "Yes, you have, in dreams" said the Magician "but now they are real, they are yours." "What of my possessions?" asked the Fool. The Magician stood silent, his intense gaze fixed on the Fool. Then the Magi motioned his head to the table. The words began to resound in the Fools head, over and over again, "they are here, they are here." The Magician's lips never moved once. "They are here... how you value your grandmother's ring, how you value yourself, eternal in the medallion's gold. Your fathers words to sharpen your wits is in the saber's might. The images of mother and sister and brother are in the stick you held so close, this will keep you warm. The chalice will sustain you when all else fails for it carries love, unconditional." "But how will I find the strength to carry all these items along?" wondered the Fool. "What items?" asked the Magician. "Those, right there..."said the Fool, and with that all disappeared. Suddenly, the Fool found himself alone, again. "But where do I go?" he asked the darken sky. Then a far away voice whispered "follow your friend." At that instant, his faithful dog reappeared, barking and wildly wagging his tail. "Hey boy, am I glad to see you!" Then the Fool looked around and found himself to be just at the edge of a cliff. "Whoa" yelled the Fool, he could hear his dog barking louder as if urging him in the opposite direction. As he turned, he took one last look and wondered how close he had come to going over the edge. "Follow your friend" the voice said and with that the Fool left. "Where are you boy?" the Fool could barely hear his faithful companion's barks. The night grew darker and the brush, thicker, the Fool feared he had lost the path. He came to a dead stop. He turned his eyes upward toward the light of the moon, and that's when he heard or "felt" a voice surround him..."Welcome, young Master, welcome to my home."

aaquwaa	19 Mar 2005
"I have been waiting for you" Through the swirling mists, the fool could see a beautiful, mysterious dark woman. Dressed in rich, purple robes and exquisite dress such as he had never seen. An ornate silver cross hung from her neck. She wore a jeweled moon crown. She beckoned him to approach her throne. "Come" she said. The fool felt a shiver of fear at the unknown. "Maybe I should go back" he said turning. "Foolish one, you cannot go back, Come." The fool approached her. She smiled slightly at him. He sat at the foot of her throne, looking up at her. "What are those stone pillars? What is behind that curtain? What are those scrolls you are holding? Who are you? Where do I go from here?" he questioned. "Foolish one, I am one to all. You are not yet ready. You have a long journey ahead with much to learn. Look inside yourself." The fool felt a serene peace flood him with her words. He liked this mysterious woman bathed in moonight. The fool was suddenly very tired, so tired, he couldn't hold his eyes open. He would rest, just for a bit, just for a little bit. When he awoke, he could feel the sun on his face. He was in a garden, a beautiful garden, with a river flowing by it.................

Free Flight	19 Mar 2005
There was grass & flowers in this garden and admist all the natural beauty stood a woman. She was dressed in a beautiful dress which bulged around her stomach. Her hands were placed serenly on her baby to be as she looked at the fool. "Welcome son," she smiled. The fool felt immediately at peace in her presence and although his tounge longed to blurt out all the things in his mind in her serene presence he held it. "You have travelled far and yet you still have further to go" she said and opened her arms to him. He moved into her embrace and felt warm and enveloped like a baby does when held in its mothers arms. Whilst taking comfort in her he looked around at the natural surroundings in which she dwelt and he understood that he was in the presence on mother earth. He asked her "how can I go on this journey, when all I have learnt is that I am not prepared for anything." Serenly she smiled at him and replied "Son you have the upbrining behind you to be strong. You had a mothers love and care in all your youth and this should hold you strong through the battle of life. Look upon my belly, my fertility and my peace. I am at one with nature and my femininity and it is a side of you too that you need to embrace. It is but one half of you. Take heed in my words and my comfort and travel forth through your journey with the blessings of me." Sadly the fool turned his back on her and continued on his way. He felt nurtured though and this gave him strength to find out who he was meant to be. Soon he came to an ice-waste land. In the distance he could see a throne....

squeakmo9	04 Apr 2005
"Do you like the Throne?" A deep, dark voice asked behind him. The Fool, not so much as even bothering to acknowledge, was in complete awe of the ornate seat before him. The Emperor yelled "Are you deaf as well as dumb, boy!" "What?" said The Fool, as if awakened from a spell. "Whaaat??" The Emperor mimicked. "I just like your chair" stammered the Fool, "it is your chair, right?" The Emperor approached slowly. The Fool could clearly see him now. The old man must have stood a foot or two taller than he, immersed in a thick red garb, and making an interesting clanking noise. "Could that be armor?" He thought and then realized better to keep that query to himself. Soon the two were nose to nose, the Fool could feel The Emperor's hot, stinky breath. "That, as you put it, IS NOT my CHAIR, BOY...it IS MY THRONE!" replied the Emperor. "Got it?" asked the Emperor. "Got it!" said the Fool. "Gooood" the Emperor returned as he slowly began to walk in a cadence, circling the Fool. "By the shear laziness of your reflexes, I take it, you've seen the Empress " the Emperor asked. "Oh, the nice lady with the baby... is that your wife", wondered the Fool then quickly regreted the question. "Is that all you do?" shook the Emperor... "Ask questions that are not meant to have answers, boy?" Then the Emperor took the Fool by the ear, and began to march up a slope of land. "Breath deep, boy, it's just going to get worse", soon the slope became a hill. "Lift those legs, boy... HIGHER, you're not with your momma now", then the hill lead to a wall of frost encrusted rock. The Fool, completely exhausted, fell onto the ground. "Get up, boy, and stop shaking!" yelled the Emperor. "But I'm cold and tired, and, and... WHO IN THE HELL ARE YOU TO DO THIS TO ME?!" spewed the Fool. Suddenly the filtering system from the Fool's brain to his mouth went A.W.O.L. , an easy flow of epithets followed...and finally, "YOU'RE NOT MY FATHER, YOU BASTARD!" Then silence. Moments passed but to the Fool, it felt like a lifetime. Then he heard a low, bubbling titter coming from the Emperor. It was then that the Emperor extended his arms overhead, "I'm going to be clobbered for sure" thought the Fool. The Emperor reached for his red robe, took it off and covered the Fool in it. "Why are you doing this?" asked the Fool. "Now you are protector, master, and father of your own will". As the Emperor said this, he took a step back and revealed a golden scepter and orb. Gently he rested the sacred items at the foot of the mountain causing a portion of rock to give way to what appeared to be a tunnel. The Fool stood frozen. "That is the way" said the Emperor and urged the Fool to move on. "Sir, Your Majesty, I..." The Fool began. "You need to go now, boy." With that the Fool slowly entered the tunnel. Drops of dew lined the walls and in a short while he noticed a faint glowing light upon the ashen earth and the sweet scent of incense...

psychic sue	17 Apr 2005
As he grew closer, the fool clearly saw the holy man. He sat with one hand clutching his Mitre, the other with two fingers raised to the sky. In front of him knelt two priests, looking upon the Heirophant with awe. He sat between two pillars and two cross-keys lay underneath his throne. The fool approached nervously. The Heirophant spoke, his voice soft and melodic - "what can I give you boy?". "Knowlegde" said the Fool. "Spiritual knowledge boy. I am the keeper of religion and order. I can interpret the sacred mysteries, but these are not all that must sustain you in life. Keep order in your home, marry, have children in wedlock, lead a solid and stable life. Do not attempt to go outside the norm. Stay within the safe confines of acceptable society - these are the messages I would give to you boy". "But I have already left the confines of my home, what now?". "Go out into the world. Learn about religion, spirituality, then make a solid base for yourself. Look to governments and institutions to help you. establish routine - this will be an aid to your security". "You will learn your lessons the hard way boy. Wisdom is born of experience and great truth can found in difficulty and suffering. Learn from these lessons boy". "Thank you great Heirophant, my burden will be easier to bear with this knowledge. Now I must continue on my quest". The fool genuflected and carried on his way. After a while, his faithful dog (who was running ahead) began to bark and yap - in the clearing, the Fool could make out two bodies, softly entwined...........

Fairawen	18 Apr 2005
Awww... I had this whole beautiful thing in my head... you had to have PEOPLE?!? *sigh* A writer must make the best of it I suppose... Though I must admit... *EEEEW!* :P I ain't makin' 'em naked... no way... awww, I guess I've gotta... The sun framed the two perfectly, the rays shining both on and beyond them. The boy had to hold up his hand in an attempt to shield some of the light from his young eyes, so that he might see the two better. He bent down to hush his dog, finally realizing what it was that his youthful eyes beheld. Here, in the near distance, lay two, male and female, entwined... yet asleep. The woman's soft, pale curved lay delicatly upon the broad, semi-muscular shoulder of the man. Her long, silver hair laid across his bare chest, skin pale as the woman's. The man's silver hair, so very similar to the woman's, lay trailing down to the ground, askew and yet not messed. The man's arms crossed across the woman's back, holding her tightly to him. Both looked peacefulk beyond comparisson, only wishing to stay asleep beyond time and much farther then simple wordly beauty. The boy could see nothing but the afore mentioned, but was aware (though he was not sure how) that here was something beautiful beyond comparison. But... what was this? The woman's eyelids flickered slightly, her body stirring ever so slightly. The boy immediatly gave a nasty glare down at his small dog, who returned his glance and put his tail between his legs humbly. Had he woken her? No... no, it seemed as if she hadn't even noticed their presence. Not even after his dog's incesent yaps. Her eyes opened ever so slightly, that action followed by a few slow blinks. She raised one hand off of her lover's shoulder, to which she had been holding (even in sleep), and rubbed sleepily at her eyes as she yawned. Her movements, in turn, slowly and gently woke the man. Their gazes slowly turned upon one another. They smiled ever so subtly. Yes, they had awoken. This was not a dream. They were still by eachother's sides. Almost as if to asure himself, the man reached up and stroked the woman's face. She closed her eyes, as if to better understand and relish his touch. She, ever so slightly mind you (for all of their actions seemed ever so subtle, as if they were made of china and might break each other) pressed her cheek into the man's palm. They stayed this way for a moment. Then, slowly, then man pulled the woman's face to his lips. He did not, however, press his lips against hers. Instead, showing affection beyond words, he pressed his lips to the woman's forehead. The boy's eyes grew wide. The lovers had begun to glow with a strange, white light that made the sun behind them seem like a star compared to the almighty moon. Like a flicker next to a brushfire. Almost like a grain of sand next to the all-powerful ocean. For the two glowed with something far stronger then a mere sun. The woman opened her eyes, for they had been closed, and raised her head off of his lips. She laid level with her man, looking him in the eye once again. He returned the gaze, their eyes both shining with a knowledge that no one could have taught them other then the one whose arms they were in. Almost as if time had been slowed, they moved toward one another. Their eyes closed softly, their arms subtly wrapping around the other's body more tightly. The boy fell to his knees. Their lips were almost touching, when they both opened their eyes. One looked to the other for some sort of reassurance. Suddenly, they both realized, looking into each other's souls, that their was no greater assurance that they could ever recieve. They both smiled. But, unlike all of thier other movements, they had smiled widely and suddenly. And, just as suddenly, the boy gasped. Their lips touched. Suddenly, as if they could no longer bare to be apart in such a way, they kissed. Their bodies glowed too bright for human eyes. The boy quickly grabbed his dog, shielding his eyes with one hand while he tried to shield his own eyes. He decided better of it, only shielding his eyes slightly as he watched the two. The bright, moon-white light flourished around the two for a moment or so, completly silent. Then, without warning, the white light (and it's two inhabitants) shot like a bullet into the air. They traveled up and up, flying into the incoming night and the sky so massive and beautiful. The boy removed his hand from the dog's eyes, so that he also couls see this wonder. The couple's hair grew longer then it had been, the silver strands trailing far behind them as they flew together up into the sky. Gently, they curved their accent, making it so that they still traveled up... but so that they might see more of the world as they did so. The boy watched until, suddenly, the white light shot across the night sky so quickly, that he lost sight of the two a moment later. The boy smiled as he blinked a tear from his eye. "Well, what'd you know." The dog looked up at him in question, so the boy returned his confused gaze with a confident one, then returned his eyes to the sky. "So that's how you make a shooting star." The boy stood, beckoning his dog follow him as the sun began to set, on a most beautiful world. After all, the boy thought... This world had to be beautiful, if it held more lovers. Sorry, that's all I got. *shrug* I'll do better next time! Oh, and sorry it was so long. :P ~Fairawen~

Emeraldgirl	18 Apr 2005
The Fool wondered desolutely on pondering all he had seen so far when he came upon a town which seemed to be celebrating for the day. He walked up to one of the towns men and asked "What goes on here today? The Townsman replies " Our victorious army returns from the great battle. This is a parade in their honour" The Fool watches as soldiers march past and the band plays. Suddenly from around a curve in the road The Fool sees a sight that stops his breath for a moment. A magnificent Chariot pulled by one white sphix and one black rounds the corner. The tonsman whispers "There's General Mage. He held the army togther by the sheer force of his will and made it victorious. Look at the way he doesn't even hold the reins of The Chariot" Th Fool watched awestruck with heroworship at the sight. Then he caught sight of the scepter raised in General Mage's hand "The Magician" the breathed. General Mage turned and gave him a saucy wink when all of a sudden the dog started barking startling General Mage who lost his concerntration and The Shpinx who had been waiting for an opportunity to rebel took advantage of the situation and bolted in opposite directions pulling the Chariot apart in the process and casting General Mage into the dirt. "Come here young man with the dog" The General bellowed out before dissolving into great deep belly rumbling laughs. "My young friend" he stated " You have shown me an important lesson. I have won victory through the force of my will but no one can keep constant force in a battle. My pride had grown to great for me to see that. I think you my young friend and bid you to remember the lessons you have learnt today." The Fool knodded relieved to be spared from this man's wrath. "However" This thundering word turned The Fool's Blood to ice. "You have shamed me before this town and my pride although bruised will not allow this insult to go unpunished. Begone from this town for now and the rest of your days. You are BANISHED........................................"

squeakmo9	08 May 2005
The word barely finished its way out of General Mage's lips when the Fool and his dog disappeared into the crowd. All he knew was the importance to go in the opposite direction. Barely able to catch his breath, the Fool and his running side companion found a safe haven at the foot of a small hill. "That big bag of wind, was it my fault he lost control of his chariot, boy?". His friend just looked up at him as if to say, "Don't look at me" and laid his head down on the soft grass. The Fool rested next to his friend sensing they were safe and enjoyed the gentle sweet scent of the passing breeze. He could see the town from a distance now and caught a faint roar from the excited towns folk. As he laid flat on his back, the Fools eyes stared into the clear blue sky, thoughts quietly racing through his head. He felt himself floating as he fixed his gaze onto the endless blue. The Magician's scepter in Mage's hand, the warm embrace of the lady with the baby, the Hierophant's soft voice, and that amazing shooting star. Curiously, the roar of the crowd grew louder and louder causing the Fool to bolt up, heart pounding, he wondered if Mage had gotten a mob together to flay him after all. The Fool slowly turned around and to his horror it wasn't a mob that was roaring in his ears but a very huge cat, actually a lion. As the Fool scampered away from this sight, his fearless companion barked madly and began to nip at the heels of this beast. Finally figuring on how to work his quivering legs, he stood frozen at the thought of impending death. "Silence, Zenobia, silence". Suddenly the Fool caught sight of a distant figure, his eyes fighting to focus. All at once fear left him and with that the beast stood quiet like a stone. The woman neared and the sweet scent of countless roses wafted in the air. He felt her beauty. She neared and turning her hands upwards toward the sky, she gently rested them upon its head. "Now, now Zenobia, no need to be scared, he meant you no harm, isn't that right young man?". The Fool looked into her eyes and sensed her goodness and authenticity. "I scared HER??? She, It, scared ME!" The woman began to giggle and directed her glance at the Fool's dog. "and you, little one, are brave". "Who are you?" asked the Fool. "To you, I am Strength and SHE is my friend, Zenobia". At once, she took hold of the Fool's hand softly guided it onto Zenobia's head. "You see, young one, force need not always be brutal. There will be times when a gentle but firm touch is needed to tame what appears to be wild". "She doesn't APPEAR to be wild, Miss, your friend IS wild". Strength patiently continued, "You misunderstand, young Fool, you must learn to distinguish between what is heard and what is actually meant. She had no desire to kill you, what you saw was fear and her desire to be rid of you. It was YOU who trespassed HER territory. She simply was asking you to leave. Now, please, do not be offended, she was simply stating her boundaries". "Boundaries?" asked the Fool. "Yes, boundaries, young one, we all have them and we all convey them in one form or another. I was once like you, young and naive, but I learned to use my head, to know myself, trust myself and now you must too". The Fool looked at her puzzled while Strength looked back at him and smiled. They stood a whisper apart, the Fool caught sight of that shooting star in his head. She gently laid her hands on his shoulders and the Fool closed his eyes, waiting for a kiss. That's when she turned him around and with a kiss to his cheek she pushed him on, westward bound. "Goodbye young one". "But where am I going?" the Fool asked. "Straight ahead, you'll know when to stop, Goodbye". So onward they went as the sun set both the Fool and his companion walked on until darkness fell. "Lets rest, boy, I'm tired and it's too dark to see..." and with that a light began to shine in the distance...

The The Major Arcana Game thread was originally posted on 12 Mar 2005 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.