Norse/Viking Tarots

[Phoenix_Down]

Does anyone have any recommendations for tarots in the vein of Norse Mythology?

I am dissatisfied with a few examples I have seen of Norse tarot... The wrong gods being associated with the wrong cards; I believe the vikings tarot has Uller as the Emperor, when clearly that position belongs to Odin...

It's possible that I will not be satisfied unless everything is the way I envision it personally. =p

[Mariana]

The most readily available decks can be seen on http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/nordic.shtml (nordic themes) and http://www.learntarot.com/subjcn.htm (celtic and norse themes). There may be other, rare decks that other people know of, though.

[brujaja]

Years ago I got into these rune cards that were like runes crossed with norse mythology tarot cards...not "tarot" specifically, but in that realm. http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Runes-...5473832&sr=8-6


I also know of some guys who are currently in production of a new and specifically Norse Tarot deck...if you're super interested i could try and put y'all in touch, or at least encourage them to post their results here when the project is done.

[Lleminawc]

Originally Posted by Phoenix_Down

I believe the vikings tarot has Uller as the Emperor, when clearly that position belongs to Odin...

well for me Odin would "clearly" be the Magician/Trickster, or even the Hanged Man ...

[Phoenix_Down]

If I were going to do it I would probably just allow certain deities to be on more than one card.

Magician- Loki, as his Magician/Trickster aspect (benevolent)
High Priestess- Freya
Empress- Frigga
Emperor- Odin, as his Lord of the Aesir aspect
Heirophant- Freyr
Lovers - Skadi (choosing a husband)
Chariot - Thor
Strength - Tyr (hand in Fenris' jaw)
Hermit - Odin, In his wisdom seeking aspect
Wheel - Norns
Justice - Forseti
Hanged Man - Odin, hanging from Yggdrassil
Death - Hel
Temperance - The twins, Balder and Hodur
The Devil - Loki, as the Deciever aspect (malevolent)
The Tower - Surt striking Yggdrassil
The Star - Delling, personification of twilight
The Moon - Nott, personification of night
The Sun - Dagur (as a child), personification of the day
Judgement - Baldur and Hodur returning after the Ragnarok
The World - Either Ymir of Yggdrassil.

I have Loki as both Magician and Devil, linking the two cards, separating him into his evil and non-evil personas. Hopefully this would be clear. I think of all the card choices this would probably be the one most criticized. Odin would make a good choice here as well, but I like the reversal, here...

Odin is Emperor, Hermit and Hanged Man, as he fits all three roles well. It's just as well for a deity with so many names.

Skadi is an odd choice for the lovers, as she is kind of a hard-nosed deity it seems, but the emphasis here is on the choice she made... in the myth, she had to choose her husband by his feet. Skadi chose the prettiest, thinking them to be Baldur's, but they were in fact Njord's.

Temperance was probably the hardest to pin down, because none of the deities are all that well tempered. Baldur and Hodur together seemed a good choice; while they represent light and darkness, they are twins, and never quarreled.

Strength was always a card about willpower, and Tyr placing his hand within Fenris Wolf's jaws, fully knowing it will be bitten off, while reassuring the beast that nothing is amiss was an act of impressive willpower.

It may be odd seeing a male deity as the star, but it would seem to fit.

But like I said earlier, this tarot won't exist unless I make it myself, and I am so picky I am not sure I would be satisfied with anything else...

[Phoenix_Down]

Originally Posted by brujaja

Years ago I got into these rune cards that were like runes crossed with norse mythology tarot cards...not "tarot" specifically, but in that realm. http://www.amazon.com/Witches-Runes-...5473832&sr=8-6


I also know of some guys who are currently in production of a new and specifically Norse Tarot deck...if you're super interested i could try and put y'all in touch, or at least encourage them to post their results here when the project is done.

I typically am not interested in non-tarot cards, but those rune cards are pretty darn neat. Sounds like a cool way to learn the runes...

I would be interested in what they come up with when they are done, and what they are up to...

[WolfDeca]

The Norse Tarot (OOP but I've seen copies floating around) has several of your envisioned associations.

Differences:
Fool - Balder as young god
Magician- Odin
Empress/HP- reversed from your predictions
Emperor- Tyr
Lovers - Freya and Brisingamen (also more the 'choice' aspect)
Hermit - Heimdall on guard
Death - Slaying of Balder
Temperance - Beseeching of Hel (This is the card I can relate least to - the image doesn't suggest temperance to me at all)
The Devil - Loki, being punished for slaying Balder
The Tower - Ragnarok
The Star/Moon/Sun - symbolic cards
Judgement - Some gods returning after the Ragnarok
The World - Balder reborn

And the Minors are really great.

[Rede Seeker]

I have both decks and find the Vikings Tarot the most useful. Please give it a chance.

Odin as Hierophant
Saga as Empress
The Valkyries as the Death Card

There is much wisdom painted on those cards.

[Glass Owl]

Originally Posted by Rede Seeker

I have both decks and find the Vikings Tarot the most useful. Please give it a chance.

Odin as Hierophant
Saga as Empress
The Valkyries as the Death Card

There is much wisdom painted on those cards.

I know this thread is old, but it's inspired me to put the Vikings Tarot on my wish list (along with Power Of The Runes.) Too bad the Norse Tarot is OOP and expensive, it looks interesting too. I don't know about Norse mythology but I'd like to learn more.

[Penthasilia]

Don't forget the giants tarot- of all of them it is my favorite and---YAYY- it is still in print!