Scariest card?

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 13 Sep 2001, and now archived in the Forum Library.

tiger lily	13 Sep 2001
I just found out that the card that scares me the most is the Star. Yep. not Death, Devil or Tower, but the Star. This card is haunting me for days now (and no, I donīt think it has something to do with the NY/DC attacks), ever since it turned up in a reading; it came up as the "key", whereas the Tower was "what you have achieved so far" (and I laughed, because it was *so* fitting!) The Star wants you to shed *all* your defenses, be completely open - which, to me, means totally vulnerable. When I see that naked girl, i immediately think "the naked truth" - that is another scary thing, isnīt it? To say the truth, even if itīs not popular. And at the same time to be so open and receptive that all the reactions hit you with full impact. No walls and high towers that deflect the blows. Scary.

purplelady	13 Sep 2001
That is an interesting interpretation of star, one I've certainly never heard before! I really like the star card and see it as one of the most beautiful cards in Many decks. I think of it as recieving a higher or spiritual truth , also healing energy. Yes, she is naked but then so are many of the other figures on the cards. I don't see this card as being defenseless at all. I think the woman Wants to recieve the pure and healing star energy. The truth is Always a great thing? (I pretty much believe so )

tiger lily	13 Sep 2001
Maybe it is because I received the Tower and the Star in the same reading... and I had my fair share of Tower in the past nine years, so I often feel as if all my defenses have been destroyed by those blows. I see the woman of the Star as the fair Maiden that was held captive in the Tower :-) ... after such a long time behind the Towerīs walls it can be scary to be in the open again...

.dc	14 Sep 2001
I'd have to agree on the unique perspective of the Star card. To me there is nothing scarier than receiving the Tower. To me it represents "shit hitting the fan". The everything will go to hell card. It's the card i got repeated while in job hell last year and disappeared once i left the company. The star on the other hand, while it's not my happiest card, leaves me faith and hope. to me it represents the "let something wonderful into your life". That a new surprise is coming and things will be okay if you trust in the universe. It's the card that i keep getting when i do a reading for bruce and i. it's the card that shows me things really will be okay even though i feel as if they're not. It's my guiding light... keeping me focused. blessed be, .dc

faunabay	14 Sep 2001
5 of pentacles. Loneliness - out in the cold. Every time I draw this card I get a little shiver.

Hoonoki	14 Sep 2001
i kinda like The Star. I understand your point of view about the total vulnerability but whenever i draw that card in a reading, i feel optimistic .. sometimes enthusiastic about the challenges i have to face with the card. The Moon makes me shudder, even by thinking of it.

Rhiannon	15 Sep 2001
faunabay & dc.: the 5 of pentacles scares the crap outta me too. But then, so does the Tower. Hate getting that in a reading. I agree. The sh*t will hit the fan. I get the Tower alot when I do readings for this one woman and her love life. :D Hoonoki: I don't exactly like the Moon card, but I appreciate it as a warning that all is not as it seems to be. I like to know when people are trying to deceive me. ;) Rhiannon :)

Elphaba	15 Sep 2001
The Tower for me as well. I really hate the thought of upheaval in my life. Every time this card comes up for me it's kind of like "ahh...here we go again". I always get a little start every time I flip over a Sword as well.

truthsayer	16 Sep 2001
i find the 9 of swords and the judgement card the scariest cards. in the traditional RWS, the 9 of S is a horrifying bloody scene of a guy lying on the ground w/ 9 swords in his back. kind of like a tarot version of agatha christie's "murder on the oriental express". it's the ultimate card of being "backstabbed". judgement prob bothers me b/c of being a pagan in a southern baptist community all my life. the scene of the dead coming up out of the graves is too much like what i've been preached at is going to happen during the second coming of christ and the rapture. even tho i say i don't believe in heaven or the second coming or hell or satan, when i see the judgement card i find myself shuddering and wondering--what if i'm wrong? what if this card is showing up to warn me to repent before it's too late. crazy isn't it? i've always sworn to myself i would always be true to my beliefs to the end but the judgement card reminds me of how i second guess the depth of my convictions at times. i've had tower and death card experiences so many times in my life, the cards seem like business as usual to me. ex. "hhmmmm...the tower showing up again? shesh! i could kick myself for overplanning on the other side what i'm supposed to accomplish this life. what was i thinking? death, too? well, i'm not surprized. if the tower is going to rock my world then some major transformations/soul deaths have to be on the way--again. next time i'm going to plan a vacation life to make up for this one. who needs to worry about hell in the afterlife!??!" ;D :D :p 8-) :-o

New2Tarot	16 Sep 2001
Quote: truthsayer (17 Sep, 2001 02:04): i find the 9 of swords and the judgement card the scariest cards. in the traditional RWS, the 9 of S is a horrifying bloody scene of a guy lying on the ground w/ 9 swords in his back. kind of like a tarot version of agatha christie's "murder on the oriental express". it's the ultimate card of being "backstabbed". Erm, I think you're talking about the 10 of S in the RWS deck??? But I definitely agree. It's pretty disturbing, but when it came up in my 7-card spread focused on Career I interpreted it as the Completion (as with all 10s, say my books..lol) of my current job. But if I were focusing on something else, like Social or Family or something like that, that card would scare the crap out of me. It's really the only card in the RWS that bothers me. In the Crowley Thoth.. I think Death (because of the gangly, evil looking skeleton) or even Art because the lady has two faces and she appears to be grinning while .. doing something evil or something. I know that's totally off base, but that was my initial reaction to the card. Kind of weary. ANYHOW, I'm gonna finish off here. Later, New2Tarot

New2Tarot	16 Sep 2001
P.S. -> Oh, and I LOVE the Star card in the Crowley-Thoth deck. Later, New2Tarot

truthsayer	16 Sep 2001
[quote]New2Tarot (17 Sep, 2001 12:41): i find the 9 of swords and the judgement Erm, I think you're talking about the 10 of S in the RWS deck??? yes! you are correct! you win the prize! it was really a test to see if anyone would catch my error. ;D ;) seriously, thank-you for catching my oversight. i'm in nursing school at 39 and there's just not enough memory cells left in the frontal lobe of my cerebral cortex to cover nursing and tarot, too. but i carry on! :) i'm trying to switch tarot memories to visual memory to make more room in the verbal areas. unfortunately, this has diminished my capacity to correctly name cards even tho i know what they look like! ;) :p :D

Thirteen	17 Sep 2001
Quote: truthsayer (17 Sep, 2001 02:04): i find the 9 of swords and the judgement card the scariest cards. in the traditional RWS Well, frankly, if we're talking RWS, then most of the cards are scary and depressing :) All the swords are (#3, damn!) with bowed heads, blindfolds, blood and loss. The High Priest is forboding, the Emperor broods, the Chariot seems dour, the Hermit lonely. The Hanged man is sad, the Devil nasty, The Tower terrifying and, yes, Judgement does look like a Hell'n'brimstone Judgement. Which is why I have a bit of a problem with RWS. When I think of Judgement, for example, I always think of the Dragon Tarot, with hammer and anvil and a dragon bursting up out of the Earth. It's rebuilding upon the old something brand new. And it fits with the cards that have come before it.

truthsayer	17 Sep 2001
thirteen, you'll prob be more comfortable w/ the tarot of a moon garden if the rws is totally the wrong deck for you. i think the pictures in it are pretty gentle.

EveAnna	17 Sep 2001
On the whole, I like most of the cards in my original Rider Waite but one of those I don't like is The Tower, its such a dark card, just looking at it - its self explanatory.

Thirteen	17 Sep 2001
Quote: truthsayer (18 Sep, 2001 04:23): thirteen, you'll prob be more comfortable w/ the tarot of a moon garden if the rws is totally the wrong deck for you. i think the pictures in it are pretty gentle. Naw. Moon Garden's *too* nice and sweet. No, my fave is the Zerner Farber Tarot. Beautiful cards--one of the best chariot cards I ever saw. Very intreguing images. Also Renissance Tarot--remarkable cards there, too.

Chol	17 Sep 2001
I feel that the Star represents hope and belief in yourself and this is the reason you will often find it following the Tower. After the chaos of the Tower the Star comes and gives you hope. It is like a kiss from an angel when you are down, you must now find hope and faith as you pick up the pieces of your life and the star tells you that if you can do this then everything will be ok.

tarotbear	19 Sep 2001
The Five of Pentacles in the 'Tarot of the Stars' is quite different: a male and female playing mating games under a bower. No 'Dark Night of the Soul' here! They are positioning each other in an attempt to learn more about each other, and it is understood they are each trying to get the better advantage.

orczy	04 Oct 2001
It depends, but I think the Tower is the one card that makes me go "hmmmmm". I also find the Moon a bit of a scarey one, in fact it is the most spooky card, like something mysterious and chilling is in the offing. I have to say that I find the Star one of the happy cards. The Hanged Man is more of an annoyance than scarey. It always seems to say "Not yet..." and usually I want it now! I think it also depends on the deck. The Star in Crowley's deck is really beautiful, and the Moon is no way near as chilling as it is in more traditional decks (Marseilles) In the Marseilles deck most ofthe cards are scarey really, but I love that woodcut style, probably because of its inherent scariness. I think I was drawn to the Tarot because I saw it as something spooky. I now realise it isn't, but receiving The Tower, or the Moon, reminds me of those early days. Ah, nostalgia.

Marion	07 Oct 2001
I was intrigued by Truthsayers comments that the 10 of swords was her worst card. 22 years ago I was up for an important (to me) promotion at work. There was quite a long period to elapse between the exam and rating board and hearing the outcome... the better part of a month. To say I was worrying about this would be an understatement. I hardly dared draw cards for what I might see. Finally I drew one card, and it was the 10 of swords. I actually laughed with relief.... and why? Because I knew that no matter what happened, it clearly could never be as bad as lying on a deserted beach with 10 swords in my back. I took it as the cards saying "Lighten up!"

truthsayer	07 Oct 2001
Quote: Marion (08 Oct, 2001 02:38): I was intrigued by Truthsayers comments that the 10 of swords was her worst card. 22 years ago I was up for an important (to me) promotion at work. There was quite a long period to elapse between the exam and rating board and hearing the outcome... the better part of a month. To say I was worrying about this would be an understatement. I hardly dared draw cards for what I might see. Finally I drew one card, and it was the 10 of swords. I actually laughed with relief.... and why? Because I knew that no matter what happened, it clearly could never be as bad as lying on a deserted beach with 10 swords in my back. I took it as the cards saying "Lighten up!" thank-you for sharing that story, marion. i've never seen the 10 of swords like that. once again i am getting the "lighten up! get over yourself!" message. it's great when the universe is so clear in her messages to me. :)

Solandia	27 Oct 2001
The cards I least like to see in readings is the Three of Swords. Grief, pain and mourning. And personally, I'm not very fond of the Five of Pentacles or the Ten of Swords. ~ Solandia

witchywoman	28 Oct 2001
As strange as this may sound, I feel most scared of The Empress card. Motherhood is something I find rather terrifying and I have always 'known' that I will never be a mother. When the card comes up it always frustrates me because I think - 'go away - you are not supposed to be in MY readings'. I know it's silly because there are so many other things it could mean, but it always unnerves me.

tiger lily	28 Oct 2001
Quote: Solandia (28 Oct, 2001 12:01): The cards I least like to see in readings is the Three of Swords. Grief, pain and mourning. And personally, I'm not very fond of the Five of Pentacles or the Ten of Swords. ~ Solandia Well, by now you already know that I have some *strange* ideas about some cards... ;-) I always thought of this card as the moment when truth strikes you. It pierces your heart, because it is beyond *words*. It doesnīt have to be a painful truth, and the resulting emotion doesnīt have to be grief. I remember when I was little and we visited a church. The day was grey and rainy, but when we were inside, the sun peeked through the clouds and the light fell through one of the stained-glass windows. I was so struck with this beauty that I stopped breathing for a moment :-) Thatīs the feeling I associate with the 3 of Swords: eternity piercing the heart with awe and wonder.

mystic	30 Oct 2001
And Marion....you got the job?? 10 of Swords hands down....I wouldn't say that any card is scary, it's the implication of what they mean......and the fear of what they bring to a reading.....In all the readings I have done for myself I have never had the Devil or the 10 of Swords appear......I hope I never do.....

Marion	31 Oct 2001
Quote: mystic (31 Oct, 2001 01:55): And Marion....you got the job?? .... I did actually. Didn't come first but there were a number of positions available.

MeeWah	31 Oct 2001
Like Tigerlily, the 3-Swords has struck me as the moment of truth or reckoning (as well as a card of acute disappointment or pain & mourning); where knowledge rips the veil of illusion. For some years, it was the card I dreaded, more than The Tower or The Devil. Another is the 5-Pentacles. It speaks of more than a material loss. It also refers to a spiritual lack of understanding or a poverty consciousness which may well underlie the material loss. Also have read it as a lack of appreciation for what one has.

Psy_child	11 Nov 2001
In my deck i find the worst card to be the 5 of swords. It's ruin. It represents betrayal & loneliness and it awlays comes true.

Greenman	11 Nov 2001
none of the cards are inherently 'bad'. they can all be good in certain situations. however, having said that, i always get a slight shiver whenever ANY of the 5's show up! as far as the Star goes, i see this as being one of the most hopeful cards in the deck. after having passed through the 5 cards prior to this, the Fool emerges to see the 'light at the end of the tunnel', the new dawn created by the Tower. of course he still has to face the Moon's illusion, the realization that nothing is ever as great (or as bad) as it seems. but the Star definitely gives me hope. i see her nakedness as freedom ("and as a sign that you are truly free, you shall be naked in your rites"). she is secure, knowing that even naked, she is NOT vulnerable.

january	11 Nov 2001
The Moon gives me the creeps. The picture in RW just emits an aura of eerieness. The towers, a road leading nowhere...I just don't want to be there! When I looked at this card for the very first time, I didn't notice the yellow road winding between the towers; I thought it was all water, like a tidal wave just buried a town and all that could e seen of the aftermath were these "towers". Guess that impression just stayed with me! The barking dogs remind me of when any animal sees something that I, with clouded awareness from human over-thinking, cannot see. But the MEANING to me isn't all that scary. It suggests that I need to cut through some fears and illusions and to be aware. The cards that scare me by their meanings are 3, 9 and 10 of Swords, what I call the "ouch" cards. - january

cayte	12 Nov 2001
I think the 5 of pents is my Tarot monster of all times. the idea of being that bereft... However The Tower feels like spiritual wasabi! Like the entire structure of my life is about to change. It's like Death takes away my assumptions and the Tower removes my axiomatic concepts.

The Scariest card? thread was originally posted on 13 Sep 2001 in the Using Tarot Cards board, and is now archived in the Forum Library. Read the active threads in Using Tarot Cards, or read more archived threads.