Somewhere over the rainbow!

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Nov 2003, and now archived in the Forum Library.

gloria	17 Nov 2003
The RW Ten of Cups shows a joyful family scene, a happy family group. The couple are reaching for the rainbow holding the ten cups. The rainbow symbolizes perfection, a time to wish, to love and to be happy. But hang on a minute, the colours aren’t right. Yellow, white and pink? These aren't the colours of a true rainbow. Could this imply the couple are reaching for something that isn’t really there? Maybe the true happiness and joy they seek in those ten elusive cups isn't within their grasp. One may suggest that these ideas would refer to the reverse or ‘shadow’ side of the card. But there’s no getting away from the fact that it is a ‘dodgy’ rainbow, whichever position you view it from. I'd appreciate your views on this, Gloria.

Umbrae	17 Nov 2003
I used to have a Volkswagen with a rainbow in the back window – it was reversed from a normal order that would conform to the laws of physics…but you see – it was an allegory. The Rainbow depicted on the 10 of Cups is an allegory – it’s art. Picasso used to paint women with eyes on two sides of their heads – now I’ve never seen a woman like that… It’s art…it’s allegory…

lawguy51	17 Nov 2003
Quote: Originally posted by Umbrae Picasso used to paint women with eyes on two sides of their heads – now I’ve never seen a woman like that… ...well Umbrae, I've definitely known women with eyes in the back of their head!! ;) Lawguy51

gloria	17 Nov 2003
Quote: The Rainbow depicted on the 10 of Cups is an allegory – it’s art. It’s art…it’s allegory… Exactly. The "rainbow" is symbolizing some deeper and underlying meaning. By the way Lawguy you took the words right out of my mouth! Regards Gloria.

Sulis	17 Nov 2003
Rainbows don't last for ever. Sometimes when I see this card I think of the transetory (sp?) nature of rainbows, they fade and so will the happiness (sometimes). The tens relate to the Wheel of fortune and signify the end of a cycle, the start of something new. I've never really thought too much about the colours on the RWS rainbow. The colours on a lot of Waites deck are to say the least strange. Love and light Sulis xx

firemaiden	17 Nov 2003
I think you have to consider the limitations of printing techniques for the period. You know, even when I was little illustrations in childrens books were only in a few colours, (sixties). It started to get cheaper and easier to produce lavish full colour illustrations in what, about the 1980's I think. And now of course, anyone can print a full scale colour illustration in seconds on their inkjet... So, as much as I love to dissect artwork, the colour scheme in the RWS is one of those things that can lead you astray.

Le_Corsair	17 Nov 2003
The solution is fairly simple, I think; Pamela Smith did the RWS deck on contract, and wasn't paid especially well for it. Did you expect each card to be a masterwork? Besides, colors shown in the recent editions of the RWS may not reflect what was in the original artwork; I think those drawings don't exist anymore, so how can we know? (if I am mistaken in this statement, someone please correct me.) She didn't do too badly; it's only important that you recognize the rainbow as a symbol, as others on this thread have pointed out. Bob:THERM

jmd	18 Nov 2003
I find it so very interesting how Pamela Colman Smith has depicted various scenes on the pips - whether I agree with them is quite irrelevant. They give a direction and indicate certain elements as any image does. I remember when I first saw the image, what struck me was not so much the arrangement in the shape of what may be a radiant bow, but of the clarity of the sky following what may have been a deluge - the children dancing upon the ground, the adults thankfully acknowledgeing the spiritual powers on high, expressing themselves - in their multitudes - in the shining light radiating from below and above the ten cups. In the background, what looks like a house I took for Noah's Ark. The bowed-arc in the sky, radiating light, may therefore not be a rainbow at all, though it may certainly represent this. It is interesting that the two colours used (yellow and red) are the two 'extremes' of the manifestation of Light in Goethe's view on Light (who strongly criticised Newton's views, by the way). Light radiating, pure and unsullied, is yellow. Light shining in the darkness, dispelling the latter, though also hindered in the 'struggle', reddens... ... in the end, Light overcomes Darkness. As Love does.

gloria	18 Nov 2003
Sullis has given me an idea here. Maybe the rainbow here is in the act of dissolving, and this would give a clue as to things not being what they appear to be. Let’s face it, PC had the colours at her disposal, it would have been no big deal for her to paint the rainbow in its correct form, especially if you take into account the minute detail lavished on other cards. So my original thoughts still stand. Yes the ‘rainbow’ is a symbol, as is everything else depicted in the deck, which ultimately leaves the interpretation in the mind of the reader. In answer to your question Bob, no I wouldn’t expect the cards to be masterpieces, after all that would be naďve of me. However, having said that, I do see them as small works of art in their own right. Thanks JMD, an interesting line of thought there. The very reason I posted thread, to provoke 'new' ideas. Regards Gloria.

ros	11 Dec 2003
Could the rainbow mean to be aware of our happiness? Somewhere I read that there is 7 colors blended in the rainbow & that could be the chakras, (spiritual part of the card). Mabee it is telling us about the gold at the end of the rainbow to make sure we really know what we are searching for. "be aware of the beauty in our lives" "Your have to put up with the rain to get a rainbow" We all take notice & say how beautifull a rainbow is, & mabee that is what we should take notice in our own lives. Just some ideas.

firemaiden	11 Dec 2003
The rainbow is the God's covenant with the earth, and the symbol of living in God's grace. Quote: God said this is the sign of the covenant which I establish between myself and you and every living creature with you, to endless generation : My bow I set in the cloud, sign of the covenant between myself and earth. When I cloud the sky over the earth, the bow shall be seen in the cloud. Then will I remember the covenant which I have made between myself and you and living things of every kind. Never again shall the waters become a flood to destroy all living creatures. The bow shall be in the cloud; when I see it, it will remind me of the everlasting covenant between God and living things on earth of every kind." God said to Noah, "This is the sign of the covenant which I make between myself and all that lives on earth." Genesis 9 : 12 to 9 : 17

WalesWoman	11 Dec 2003
I like the transcient explanation for the strange rainbow coloration, the illusion of a rainbow, because I honestly don't think that the full spectrum of color was omitted due to color limitations, since the other colors appear elsewhere. So when this card comes up, do you dance a jig or look deeper? Is this really the situation or is it an illusion of your desires? Is this a lasing thing or something to enjoy and celebrate because nothing lasts forever. Have you arrived to a place or is this the end of a phase and the beginning of something new? I can't think of the exact quote, I think it was something the gladiators used to say to each other, "Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die" Yuck! I like the feeling of achievement, that you've gotten over the humps and bumps and it's the promise that all that old junk is behind you, there may be new humps and bumps to get past, but you've reached a new level in your relationships making you stronger and unified. Or maybe that's what I want to believe since it came up in my daily reading this morning.

The Somewhere over the rainbow! thread was originally posted on 17 Nov 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.