Different Meanings for Different Decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 15 Feb 2004, and now archived in the Forum Library.

horoskope88	15 Feb 2004
(I've searched to see if this topic was already a thread and didn't find one, but if it is....well...oops...) Hey everyone, I have a question...when you use different decks, are the meanings you assign the cards different between decks, or the same? Especially if you don't "agree" with the image on one of the cards in a certain deck, do you go with that deck's suggested meaning or do you apply the meaning of another deck to it? (Even if the images don't match up) I guess an example would be, if someone who always used the RWS deck decided to do a reading with the Thoth deck.

contrascarpe	15 Feb 2004
hi there horoskope! I am learning to go with my intuition. I firmly believe that it is nice to know what the "accepted" meanings of cards are, but as I go through the process, I go with my gut feeling. The last few readings I have done were based on meditating on the cards as I have seen them - and it was a good reason for me to experiment with different decks. My background is one of structure and for ME to depart from that is a miracle in itself. Once I got past the book meanings of cards, I felt so much better about my readings. That being said, once you feel comfortable with a deck, it is nice to see what the designer of the deck intended. However, it was so refreshing to read the book accompanying the Tarot of Prague. The designers (Karen and Alex) wrote a beautiful and detailed book surrounding the cards. But if you look through the forums, you will see that Karen herself has posted that the meanings go deeper than she originally intended them. I love a deck that can speak on many levels and I own a few of those. My advice - look at the cards and go with your gut feelings. The energy is in you, not the cards. Dan

Centaur	15 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by contrascarpe96 I am learning to go with my intuition. I firmly believe that it is nice to know what the "accepted" meanings of cards are, but as I go through the process, I go with my gut feeling I very much agree with this. I like to read some texts relating to a specific deck in order to find out about the symbology and also the traditional interpretations of specific cards. I think that this provides a solid foundation for working with a deck. But then, I like to go with what I feel... with what my intuition tells me about these cards. I just go with whatever a specific card says to me when I pull that card. Yes, I have the knowledge of the traditional interpretation, but intuition and gut-feeling as contrascarpe suggests is equally important and relevant in attributing meaning. A good example of this is in the depiction of the court-cards in the Thoth and the RW. The Thoth depicts the court-cards as a princess, prince, queen, and knight, whilst the RW depicts them as a page, knight, queen, and king. Having learned to intepret tarot using an RW based deck, I had much difficulty when I first started using the Thoth, as my familiarity with the court-cards in the RW led to feelings of confusion upon looking at the Thoth! Most frustrating! But now, I just go with my intution. I know that many people do not feel that it is appropriate to do so, but I just transfer the page, knight, queen, king hierarchy, to the princess, prince, queen, knight hierarchy. C

firemaiden	15 Feb 2004
I think it depends on what methods you use to derive information from the cards: for me personally, I enjoy gleaning ideas from the images themselves, -- so each different deck offers a new world of possibilities. At the same time I also read go by the card titles, and apply a more generic understanding of the card - divorced from its picture, then I put those things (and a lot of other things) together.

allibee	15 Feb 2004
pictures ..... bah humbug! Like some very insightful tarot dude once said ... the pictures have a habit of getting in the way

Thirteen	15 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by horoskope88 when you use different decks, are the meanings you assign the cards different between decks, or the same? Especially if you don't "agree" with the image on one of the cards....I guess an example would be, if someone who always used the RWS deck decided to do a reading with the Thoth deck. I always try to read the book--not the LWB, the real deck book--that comes with a deck and see what the author intended. I also go through the deck carefully and try to see if the meaning I associate with the card is anywhere to be found in the new deck. Often, the new meanings are more similar than they seem at first glance. Alchemy for Temperance, for example, isn't too far a stretch. Sometimes, yes, I've run across a deck where the author's meaning doesn't work for me. Usually, however, such alternate meanings usual feel lame rather than insightful--dull or safe or simplistic (like one deck that wouldn't use pentacles because the author feared their association with paganism). And yes, I confess to ignoring such meanings if they really rub me the wrong way. But...BUT. I've found that if I give the new deck and its new or differing definitions a try, I often end up EXPANDING the meaning of the card as I know it. Sometimes, I even end up finding I like the new definition better. My favorite--mentioned often, so forgive me for repitition--is Crowley's 6/Swords vs. RW 6/Swords. RW says--6/Swords is "leaving rough waters behind, smooth waters ahead." But Crowley relates 6/Swords to science, to discovery and mental connections. What a rich and interesting interpeation is Crowley's compared to RW's! I wouldn't leave RW's behind, but knowing Crowley's has certainly expanded and enriched that card for me. New ideas can feel uncomfortable and make you want to retreat to the safety of the old ideas. But you're cheating yourself out of growth, insight and learning if you do that. Instead of retreating back into the comfortable meanings, why not let the deck be...itself? See how it feels to be a Thoth reader instead of an RW reader? If you hate it, hey, you gave it a try, now back to RW. But you may find that you don't hate it as much as you think. Or at the very least, that you come away from it with new alternative meanings for RW. If you wear the same kind of clothes, replacing old clothes with new clothes that look just like the old, you stay comfortable and safe--but you also never challenge yourself, never experiment, never expand yourself. You never give yourself a chance to develop, evolve and find a new and possibly better style.

crystal cove	15 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by allibee pictures ..... bah humbug! Like some very insightful tarot dude once said ... the pictures have a habit of getting in the way Exactly. Couldn't have said it better myself. I tried to go with the idea that each deck brought something different to the table, but more often than not, it was just a commercial gimmick. Too many pictures DO get in the way.

Chronata	16 Feb 2004
For me, lately anyway, it goes in this order... First, I read by intuitive response...whether it's in the picture on the card, or the words (a title,a keyword)... or just an image or word that springs to mind when I see the card. Second...I read the meaning as I have always associated with that particular card...no matter which tarot I am using. Third...if I want more...I will find the book that comes with the deck, and read what the author or artist has to say. It doesn't always come to this point...and it doesn't have to.

Star Spirit	16 Feb 2004
I'm also learning to read intuitively, and have noticed that cards in different decks will often show me a different side of the story, and I believe that when I chose that particular deck, it was part of the intuitive process...in other words, we intuitively know how much to shuffle and which cards to choose or to deal, but I think it also has something to do with which deck we use. With me I usually get a feeling about it, and unless someone requests a particular deck (which also tends to work great) I will choose one based on what I feel to be right, and this along with its cards applies well to the reading.

lionette	17 Feb 2004
Quote: Originally posted by Thirteen ... and see what the author intended. I also go through the deck carefully and try to see if the meaning I associate with the card is anywhere to be found in the new deck. ... But... BUT . I've found that if I give the new deck and its new or differing definitions a try, I often end up EXPANDING the meaning of the card as I know it. Sometimes, I even end up finding I like the new definition better. So nicely said Thirteen! I've been using the synthesis method that you describe and am really liking how the card interpretations exchange fairly well, between my decks. Really has opened up my mind to more possibilities for the cards.

ScarabFlight	17 Feb 2004
I'm still new, but I really enjoy a card with lots of visual stimuli. It helps me to come up with more ideas, and helps me to make up stories for the cards. Perhaps when I get more proficient I'll be able to do more with less. My sister in law has a deck that had no "stories" on the pip cards, while they were beautiful, I had a hard time making heads or tails of them!

jog1118	17 Feb 2004
i learned tarot via memorizing keywords. when i had my second deck, i remembered trying desperately to fit the keywords i learned into the cards. when i had my 3rd deck, however, i felt i was only kidding myself and had to go with my intuition and give my decks their own "personality"...now i have 5 decks and, though i still remember and use my keywords, i give respect to each of my decks (and the decks that will still come my way :D) and grant them their right to show me what they want to show me... :smoker:

mysticali	17 Feb 2004
I think for me it isn't just the look of the deck thats important (and I acknowledge it is) but also something about the feel of the cards. The size and thickness - something tactile I guess - to assault all your senses. I wonder how important that is to an artist or adept - I believe it should be crucial - or is it just me?

The Different Meanings for Different Decks thread was originally posted on 15 Feb 2004 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.