Keywords in Marseilles readings

[dawntarot]

Hello all!

So I've been greatly enjoying reading in this style/method/whatever you want to call it. I do pips-as-trumps, more or less, and I've been finding that certain cards often signify the same thing.

For example, the Nine of Cups. To interpret this card, I mentally place it between the Hermit and the Sun (IX and XIX), then consider how these opposing energies are 'translated' through the element, which is Water, in this case. To me, this card would therefore signify the ending of a relationship: a return to a solitary emotional state, the relationship has already had its day, sort of thing.

In my 1JJ deck (which I know isn't strictly a TdM but I read it in the same way), this seems to be reinforced because the ninth cup is surrounded by autumn leaves - suggesting the end of summer, and creating a visual barrier, making it appear solitary.

So this got me wondering about keywords and whether they have any useful application for this type of reading? Do you find that some pip cards repeatedly mean the same thing? Or do you always take it 'as and when'?

I try to do the latter as much as possible, it's just that I'm starting to notice some patterns.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this.
Dawn

[momentarylight]

Originally Posted by dawntarot

Hello all!

So I've been greatly enjoying reading in this style/method/whatever you want to call it. I do pips-as-trumps, more or less, and I've been finding that certain cards often signify the same thing.

For example, the Nine of Cups. To interpret this card, I mentally place it between the Hermit and the Sun (IX and XIX), then consider how these opposing energies are 'translated' through the element, which is Water, in this case. To me, this card would therefore signify the ending of a relationship: a return to a solitary emotional state, the relationship has already had its day, sort of thing.

In my 1JJ deck (which I know isn't strictly a TdM but I read it in the same way), this seems to be reinforced because the ninth cup is surrounded by autumn leaves - suggesting the end of summer, and creating a visual barrier, making it appear solitary.

So this got me wondering about keywords and whether they have any useful application for this type of reading? Do you find that some pip cards repeatedly mean the same thing? Or do you always take it 'as and when'?

I try to do the latter as much as possible, it's just that I'm starting to notice some patterns.

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on this.
Dawn

Obviously you are developing your own system, which seems perfectly fine to me.

I am curious, however, as to why you would place the 9 Cups between the Hermit and the Sun in the way that you do.

Just curious.

I am newly returned to using Marseille decks and might use numerology and element, details of the image in the context of the overall reading, and pure intuition. Not sure that this really answers your question but I don't really like keywords. Symbolic language is very personal and it might be quite right for you, however .

[Sulis]

I don't use keywords with TdMs because for me these type of decks are just too fluid for that. When I'm reading I look at the patterns that the cards make together, the images and the symbolism first and foremost and if I was going to use keywords then I think they'd relate to the numbers more than anything else.
I don't tend to read cards individually when reading with TdMs, I lay out 3, 5 or 7 cards and read them together, looking to see if things are balanced, increasing, decreasing etc. so I don't think keywords would work with me.
Having said that, I don't like keywords with Golden Dawn decks either.

[dawntarot]

Originally Posted by momentarylight

Obviously you are developing your own system, which seems perfectly fine to me.

I am curious, however, as to why you would place the 9 Cups between the Hermit and the Sun in the way that you do.

Just curious.

I am newly returned to using Marseille decks and might use numerology and element, details of the image in the context of the overall reading, and pure intuition. Not sure that this really answers your question but I don't really like keywords. Symbolic language is very personal and it might be quite right for you, however .

I don't literally place them in a row, just mentally - it's just the way I've found best to read the pip cards, to see them as a midpoint between two opposing energies. I picked it up from the pips-as-trumps method, you can find that thread in the Index here.

I've been trying to avoid using keywords too. I like how fluid it is to read TdM as opposed to RWS. It's just that I'm finding some pip cards repeatedly mean the same thing to me and I think meanings are starting to get a little "fixed" in my head... that's what I meant by keywords. So I wondered if this was happening to others too. Perhaps I should revise my methods.

Dawn

[Thoughtful]

I tend to break down the pips cards, i.e. instead of looking at 5 of Swords and getting an overall meaning. I look at it firstly as the four of swords, then look at the one sword. I get much more meaning from the one card when l have broken it down this way. I came to this way of reading the pips intuitively and was quite amazed that during my readings it all made sense to the sitter. Sometimes l do not feel that l should break a card down in this way but to just read it as is. Really you just have to follow your intuition as of course we do when reading.

There are so many levels and deeper meanings in my cards, l use 1JJ Swiss mainly. They spark my intuition and using them regularly with clients l am beginning to learn so much more from them.

Thats why l love my deck l feel they are teaching me as l go along.

We all have our own ways of working with Tarot so there can be no right or wrong. Its interesting to note the way others read and what they get from their cards.

[dawntarot]

Hi Thoughtful, thanks for sharing your ideas. I would love to hear more about your pips method as I also use the 1JJ Swiss for the majority of my readings now. It's given me some amazing readings too and I too feel it is teaching me as I go along. Just a few days ago I felt pushed to lay out each suit from one to ten and read them as a story... It was fascinating how much I picked up!

Would you mind if I PM you about this deck? You're the only person I know of on here who uses this deck a lot and I was hoping I might compare some notes with you? Please let me know if this would be ok

Dawn

[Thoughtful]

Hi dawntarot, l am quite happy to have your pm, it is good to talk with someone who uses the 1JJ. I feel you are getting the same relationship with them that l have with mine. l know l would not part with them for the world.