Tarot and *el Camino* ?

[firemaiden]

It was a conversation in chat with Le Pendu and jmd on day, that got us on the topic of Saint James (Saint Jacques) being either the Fool or the Hermit or both -- and this led to another idea that's been bandied about before... is it possible the trumps thesmelves might be souvenirs, or even a guide to the various places visited on the path to Santiago del Compostela?

If so... what route would one look to for clues?

I began exploring pictures of monuments on the road to Santiago that one can find on the internet. Here is an interesting page from the route from Le Puys (France). I was hoping to find kind of kneeling statue that would look just like the star card.

Just as a jumping off point, today I found this on the Le Puys page: La Tour des Anglais (Aubrac) which reminded me so much of some of the early tower cards with the tree etc...

Not that I think it really means anything, but it sure reminds me of some of the early tower cards.

[Rosanne]

Thanks for the great photo link there Firemaiden. I have been interested in the Penitents Pilgrimage for along time since thinking that La Papesse was Mary the Magdalene. Go search out the reliquary of St Voy- it looks like the Papesse, with crown and book on lap. I have seen a kneeling Aquarius on one of these pilgrimage sites- I think I found it by following the old Marionology sacred waters and wells along the way. It is so strange how Mary was much more revered than Jesus in the Tarot part of Europe. The Church went out of its way to stop this type of worship. It was a female expression of power against such strong patriarchy I think.~Rosanne
ps this scanned St Voy was a bible holder I think.