different menings of the cards in some decks

Thread originally posted on the Aeclectic Tarot Forum on 17 Mar 2005, and now archived in the Forum Library.

wind	17 Mar 2005
Hi everyone! I hope I am posting this question into the right section. I was wondering: I have a renaissance tarot deck which I find very beautiful...but some meanings of the cards are changed, for instance, 7 of swords means something like "go ahead, fight and win", 8 of swords means grief, whereas usually it means fears and confusion...3of cups means "salvation" or soemthing..and there are other interpretations which do not "follow" the general, usual meaning of the cards. The meaning is even written on the top of the card. I find this very confusing...I would love to work with this deck but I would like to use the meanings I am used to...Can I do that? Or am I interferring with he symbolism of the deck? I would really appreciate your opinion on this. Thanks!

Eco74	17 Mar 2005
What I do is just go by the images most of the time. What is referred to as "intuitive reading" where the standardised meanings of the cards take a backseat to the impression I get from the images. After starting to work with the Marseilles I have also adopted the number+suite/element-method for reading the pips which gives me yet another dimention. If you are more comfortable with going by the artists intended meanings, then learn them. If, on the other hand, you feel you could be comfortable with just "reading the images" then go ahead and get to know the cards. Have it tell you stories by laying a few out with no question, choose a card or a few cards that catch your interest and venture into the scene to get a deeper feel for what is taking place. The most important thing is not to follow the "correct rule-set" but to find a way for yourself to communicate with the particular deck so that you can hear its whispers and see its messages. The artist is also probably well enough versed in the ways of Tarot to be pleased however people relate to and communicate with the deck. I have several decks that I have different approaches to depending on the style of the artwork and the theme of the deck and would not want to be without any of them.

Fullmoonsinger	17 Mar 2005
I also just got the Renaissance Tarot. It sure is beautiful. Lovely watercolors. It's sooo different from the Rider-Waite-Smith. For example, the 5 of swords shows a man stealing swords--just like the 7 of Swords RWS! Too confusing. I wonder why the pictures are so different. Is there a system behind them? If so, what is the system? I wish there was a book for it. The LWB is too sketchy. We could just use the pictures, which might be good practice for me. I tend to rely on the "meanings" instead of trying to see what I see. MoonSinger

Kaylee Marie	18 Mar 2005
I have the Herbal Tarot, which is a RWS clone, with a couple minor exceptions. In Herbal, the 10 of Cups is said to be a little too happy for its own good and out of balance instead of the usual RWS interpretation of a happy, loving environment. Methinks it's because the artist assigned marijuana as the herb for this card and the publisher didn't like this association. :D So I just ignore the LWB in this instance and go with the traditional interpretation of this card. I liken the LWB to a tourist guide. It can point out great places to see (traditional/artist interpretations), but once you get to the destination (inside the card) you'll find treasures of your own. Travelers who are afraid to diverge from a preset itinerary aren't likely to see as much. Different tourist books for the same area may very well point you to different destinations, just as different tarot decks and books will point out different interpretations for the same card. Is one better than the other? The answer will vary with personal preferences. Or take a little from each and create your own. Once you start working with the Renaissance Tarot, you may find that some of the artist's interpretations work for you and some don't. Go where your intuition leads you. Even though I don't like the LWS interpretation of the Herbal 10 of Cups and generally ignore it, I have found a few instances that it fit. So whether you decide to ignore or embrace your new Renaissance interpretations, keep an open mind that interpretations can change across readings, not just decks. Best of luck as you get to know your new deck! Kaylee

Thirteen	18 Mar 2005
I think Kaylee said it best--use what artist's interpetations (combined with image) work for you. It's very easy once you're into Tarot to start collecting decks, and you're going to run into this problem a lot if you do. Your choices really are: 1) Stick with the interpetations you're used to and just flatly ignore the differences if you can. 2) Imagine you've a whole different kind of deck and run with those differences, forget the traditional. 3) A little of both. 4) Focus on pictures, numbers, symbols and completely ignore anything any book says, traditional or otherwise. Now, frankly, I don't completely like #4 because the artist/creator put hard work into that deck and gave you the images he/she gave you for a reason. So I think it always pays to at least READ the book that belongs to THAT deck--not the LWB, but the bigger book which really explains the artist's choices and decisions. From there you can decide which way to go--and that usually depends on the deck as well as your own inclination. For example, I have The Greenwood--it's pretty much in its own world; some of the cards are in a different place, have a different image, different meaning--some are missing altogether and replaced by interesting substitutes. In this case, I'd go #2--this is it's own deck with its own rules. Others, like the aforementioned Herbal tarot, have so little different about them that I might well just ignore what the book says (outside of its very useful herbal info) and keep to the traditional meanings--or work it out myself. And still others, like the Sacred Circle deck (where the High Priest is in the magician's place but should be in the Hierophant's spot, and the Shaman is in the Hierophant's spot but should be the Magician)--for that one I need to use a little of both, a little tradition, a little of the artist's vision. I wish we could give you one hard and fast rule for this situation. But that's the way of Tarot--it's more art than science in all respects, from decks to readings.

The different menings of the cards in some decks thread was originally posted on 17 Mar 2005 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.