TotOP - Flower Language

Silverlotus

Flower Language

Tarot of the Old Path makes use of Flower Language to add further meaning to the cards. In general, each card contains one flower or herb whose meaning either expands or clarifies the traditional meaning of the card. For example, the card for the King of Pentacles contains a foxglove, which means someone successful in their business, an apt characterization of this man.

According to Microsoft Encarta, the Language of Flowers was first created by the Greeks, and was called florigraphy. It has remained in use until present time, and can be found in many literary works throughout the ages. William Shakespeare makes use of Flower Language in many of his plays, for example.

One website states that John Parkinson, a French gardener and physician, can be credited with assigning meanings to flower bouquets in the 1600s. From there, the use of flower meanings spread, and eventually found a great deal of popularity with Victorians.

From what I’ve been able to gather, from looking around the internet, some flowers have more then one mean. This is not to be unexpected I suppose, since meanings of items tend to change and evolve over time. Of course, this can cause confusion when it comes to studying this deck. The artist may have decided to use one meaning while we can only find another when search the internet. Thankfully, I cheated and bought the accompanying book, which will help us in deciphering the Language of Flowers of this deck. I think it might be interesting to examine other meanings for the flowers as well, in cards where a less common meaning is used by the artist.

Below are some interesting websites with some listings of flower meanings. Many sites seem to be mostly concerned with flowers in regards to weddings, so I’ve searched for some sites with more general meanings, and borrowed a link or two from Two of Wand’s post.

http://www.pioneerthinking.com/flowerlanguage.html
http://mimi.essortment.com/flowerslanguag_rvep.htm
http://www.apocalypse.org/pub/u/hilda/flang.html
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/plantanswers/publications/flowers/flowers.html


Sources
Rodway, Howard. Tarot of the Old Path. Neuhausen, Germany: Urania Verlags AG, 1997. (book)
Flower Language. URL: http://mimi.essortment.com/flowerslanguag_rvep.htm [May 4, 2003]
“Flower Symbolism.” Microsoft Encarta Reference Library 2002. [CD-ROM] Redmond, WA: Microsoft, 2001.
 

InionAradia

Follow-up for flower symbolism in cards

(Information about symbolism derived from: http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm)

Pentacles:
Ace: Buttercups- humility, neatness and childishness, according to: http://www.livingartsoriginals.com/infoflowersymbolism.htm#buttercup, but ingratitude, childishness and desire for riches, according to: http://www.languageofflowers.com/flowermeaning.htm; Three-leafed clover- the "Holy Trinity"- could also be Earth, Sea, Sky/Maiden, Mother, Crone. Also ease, comfort and properity, according to wikipedia.
Five: some kind of tree.
Seven: Dogwood(?)-durability.
Eight: Wheat- friendliness, riches: http://www.romantic-ideas-online.com/meaning-of-flowers.html
Page: Fuschia- confiding love
Knight: Daffodils- regard, unrequited love, chivalry and respect
Queen: Wheat- friendliness, riches; Rhododendron- caution, according to: http://meaningofflowers-guide.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/rhododendron-flower-symbolism.html and danger according to: http://earthfriendlygardening.wordpress.com/2006/09/14/the-language-of-flowers/
King: Foxglove- insincerity, according to: http://livingartsoriginals.com/flower-foxglove.html
 

InionAradia

Cauldrons

Ace: Celandine- joys to come.
Six: Ox-eye daisy- innocence, faithful love.
Page: Acanthus mollis- immortality, according to: http://www.seedaholic.com/acanthus-mollis.html
Knight: Pansies- loving thoughts, according to: http://www.aboutflowers.com/flower-a-plant-information-and-photos/meanings-of-flowers.html
Queen: crosswort, I believe. I can't find any information on its symbolism. Unless the hairnet is just a pattern, but I think it is flowers...
King: Tulips? Although it is very open... if it is a tulip, then: Love, fame.
 

InionAradia

Rods

The woods: From THIS: http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=151853 thread.
Ace: White Willow- ; Wheat- friendliness, riches.
2: Ash- healing, also the World Tree and Yggdrasil.
3: Ash- healing; Pear tree- fruitfulness, longlivity.
4: Ash- healing
5: Willow- resonance and harmony: http://www.thegoddesstree.com/trees/Willow.htm
6: Birch- love, also a tree of life.
7: Ash- healing
8: Hazel- wisdom.
9: Birch- love.
10: Willow- resonance and harmony
Page: White Ash- ; Fern- discretion, secrecy.
Knight: White Willow- ; Oak- bravery.
Queen: Silver Birch- ; Thornapple- deceitful charms: http://www.joellessacredgrove.com/language.html;
King: Goat Willow-
 

InionAradia

(I don't have the book, so some of these may be wrong.)