Write a story from these cards!! new game!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 May 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

firemaiden	15 May 2003
I will pick some cards. We will each attempt to weave them into a story. Some will be absurd, I hope, some will be heartfelt, some sad, some -- hopefully not too many -- might even be boring! But who cares! Do the cards care? I hope not. Want to play? Lets try: How many cards do you think might be good? Seven? That gives 1) preamble/setting 2) situation 3) conflict 4) resolution 5) new conflict 6) climax 7) dénoument Stoies often have seven parts: Like this (veeeeeeeery) short story in Seven Parts: Or something like that. Have another idea? Fine. Its your story!! Agreed? Okay then: let me draw seven cards: I am using the Marseilles Deck, but it doesn't matter: 1) Queen of Wands 2) 7 of Wands 3) The Magician 4) The Hierophant 5) Strength 6) Ace of Swords 7) 3 of Cups ----------------- Good luck!!

Major Tom	15 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden 1) Queen of Wands 2) 7 of Wands 3) The Magician 4) The Hierophant 5) Strength 6) Ace of Swords 7) 3 of Cups The Queen of Wands stomped her foot and shook her long red hair. "Damn that racket from those yeoman practicing with their staffs!" For below in the courtyard that is indeed what was happening. Young yeomen were being trained in the use of the staff for warfare. "The noise is giving me a headache!" The Magician laughed and said, "But my lady - tis the skill of those yeomen that keep you in comfort." "Harumph!", said the Heirophant, "Me thinks the Queen would do better to reward the team that keeps her crown firmly on her head, than damn them. Perhaps even a show of Strength to inspire them." With that the Queen grabbed up her Sword, ran to the balcony and brandished the Sword above her head called out, "A hogshead of ale to the man who defeats his fellows! Come on lads a contest! The last man standing wins! For a moment there was silence as the men below stared up at the Queen in confusion. One man, wearing a silly hat, came to his senses first, and quickly, before the others recovered, knocked down the others as if they were dominoes. "My lady," he cried sweeping off his hat and bowing low, "I claim the prize!" The Magician and Heirophant joined the Queen on the balcony to see what would develop. The Queen surveyed the fallen men and softly sighed. "Then you shall have it", she cried, "Bring out the ale!" A cheer went up from the disheveled men. A servent brought 3 Cups to the balcony. "To happiness", said the Queen raising the cup to her lips, "and happy sounds." Howzat? ;)

firemaiden	15 May 2003
My Goodness! Major Tom! That was too fantastic for words! I love it! It will be difficult to think of these cards in any other way now, your story fits so well. This is going to be a real challenge to come up with a completely different take. Okay, let me think! (UH oh.... she's THINKING)

Khatruman	15 May 2003
I'm afraid to respond to this thread, lest I hurt your eyes ;). Seriously, if it involves writing a story, I will be writing forever, especially on SEVEN cards (just see my Moon's Journey post..*L*)

HudsonGray	15 May 2003
This is great to try through the entire deck--I saw something similar somewhere else & was doing 7 or 8 card layouts with storytelling, getting weirder & weirder stories as things went along (the one about the bungie jumper 'hanged man' and the butterfly princess comes to mind). You let your imagination flow.

Aoife	15 May 2003
I wanted to write a fictional response but I couldn't get out of my head, my first 'take' on these cards. Summer 2001 - run up to the UK general election. Tony Blair is visiting a hospital. As Blair and entourage are about to enter, a small woman bars his way, demanding that he answer why, despite previous promises the health service has deteriorated, the dedicated staff working against the odds. He answers with the usual platitudes but this woman is having none of it. She rebutts his political spin with the cold hard facts of personal experience. Blair is a consumate communicator but he starts to stumble over his words. Her responses remain pithy, powerful, politically devastating. Blair's aides are desperate to get him past this woman but the eyes of the media are focused fully on the scene. Her truth, delivered with passion and simplicity causes the biggest body-blow to an unstoppable re-election campaign. Eventually Blair is ushered past and the media horde rushes forward to surround this very small, very ordinary woman.

firemaiden	15 May 2003
Is this a true story then, Aoife? What an amazing take on the cards! I just love this stuff!

Seren	17 May 2003
Aoife, what a great story. I'm sure I remember that incident as well, but unfortunately, it's far too often that the politicians don't have answers for real world questions.

firemaiden	17 May 2003
Quote: 1) Queen of Wands 2) 7 of Wands 3) The Magician 4) The Hierophant 5) Strength 6) Ace of Swords 7) 3 of Cups Once upon a time there was a brassy woman of great personal courage, but unfortunately a bit too masculine to really please men. For reasons which escaped even her, she ended up after a long list of tawdry affairs and spoiled marriages, as the manager of a Wand Store. Now think what you may about Wands, there are many kinds of these, and I am not going to spell out to you which kind I mean. Suffice it to say, that it was not the sort of job you brag about at parties, nor had she ever felt comfortable inviting her mother to the premises. Now there came a day, the euro being excessively high against the dollar, that it was decided to reduce the cost of wands by 30%. This caused somewhat of a ruccus in the store the day the sale was announced. Because, as you can imagine, there are many young people dying to get their hands on a good wand, who simply cannot afford the going rate. That day, it was the 7th of August, if I recall, a group of ruffians beat a path to her door. They were loud and unruly, shouting and throwing the wands all about. A few of the more delicate varieties were unintentionally broken. She was about to ring up the local police, when in walked Mr. Smith, the next door used-car salesman. What a relief! He was something special this guy! Wow, slicked-back hair, black sunglasses, perfectly ironed suit, always holding in his mouth that little toothpick that says, "my-a grandmother could-a eat your-a grandmother for-a breakfast!"" or alternatively, I'm-a trying to-a quit-a smoking". "Cazzo, Louisa, what-a you let deess-a creemeenalss in for? You want I keeck them een-a da teeth?" "Boss, hey boss" said one of the guys, "look at this wand, its made out of crystal!" "Oh miserere, Giuseppe, you-a blow-a my cover, Louisa thinks I sell-a cars" "My, my, oh dear, what is it you do then? Mr.. uh..."Smith" "He's an under-cover cop" said Giuseppe "No, I'm a not a cop" "He's a narc!" said Luigi. "No, I'm a not a narc!" "'He's a detective, Louisa, watch out" "No, I'm a not a detective" "Well, Mr...Smith, I think you can tell me" "Okay, well, promise you won't a laugh atta me?" "I promise Mr. Smith, don't worry. I have all kinds coming into my store" "You are going to hate-a me, for this" "Oh you darling man, how could I hate a man with such cool hair and sunglasses? You are perhaps a movie star" "Tell her boys" said Mr. Smith. "You sure, Boss?" "You a tell her... I a can't " "Louisa" said Giuseppe, taking a deep breath, "Mr. Smith is ... is.. he is.. a" "Go on dear" said Louisa "He is .... a PRIEST" "oh my!!" Louisa came out from the counter and got down on her hands and knees. "Forgive me father, I am a humble sinner. Please don't tell my God what I do for a living" to be continued

firemaiden	17 May 2003
Quote: to be continued (anyone want to finish this?)

ArwenNightstar	20 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden Lets try: How many cards do you think might be good? Seven? That gives 1) preamble/setting 2) situation 3) conflict 4) resolution 5) new conflict 6) climax 7) dénoument Firemaiden, may I share this spread with some writer friends? I would like to play with it a bit (maybe add some more cards to it) as a possible spread for the book I am working on. Let me know! Thanks!

firemaiden	20 May 2003
Sure Arwen, if you promise to finish my story here!! :D:D

ArwenNightstar	20 May 2003
Quote: Originally posted by firemaiden Sure Arwen, if you promise to finish my story here!! :D:D LOL! No can do! I am up to my EARS in trying to get this Tarot for Writers book going as well as getting ready for a writer's conference in NYC in July.

The Write a story from these cards!! new game! thread was originally posted on 15 May 2003 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.