Chiriku
I have seen the merit to the arguments of the "set meanings, system-oriented" approach to reading, and to the "interpret whatever image is set before you however you feel called to" approach, and over the years, I--like probably many readers--have ended up combining elements of both approaches.
I take pleasure and intellectual stimulation (for me, one in the same) from approaching each deck as a potential system unto itself and trying to set aside other ideas to focus on what each deck creator has to contribute. I read the literature associated with each deck, whether that be the creator's own, or third party commentaries about the creator's vision (a la the various Crowley/Thoth commentaries), or supplemental lit such as DRACULA for the Robert Place Vampire Tarot.
And yet...and yet...
Some "set" meanings are so evocative to me, so archetypal or powerful or empowering to me, that they sit in my imagination and won't let go, not even when confronted with a deck system or card image that is blatantly disassociated from it or even oppositional to it.
Here are a few examples:
-- THE LOVERS: I always see the Marseilles-style element of "choice" in this card, and mention it in almost every reading I give, even if only as an introductory remark preceding my card-specific image analysis. The concept of Choice on a cosmic, greater-mystery level has just gripped me and won't let me go, even when the deck I'm looking at gives me a rather earthy picture of two people in a forest glade, naked and entwined.
-- STRENGTH-- I have encountered a few decks where the human figure is stereotypically strong (usually a brawny man with muscles bulging) but I don't care what the image shows, and I don't care that there are many historically early deck examples of Strength in that mode (with the allegory of Hercules, etc); my mind persists in ascribing the RWS image of a beast (whether internal or external to the human subject) being tamed by a more quietly self-confident, gentle form of strength. That type of strength is the more impressive to me on an intellectual and emotional level, and I interpret the card as such irrespective of the image set before me.
Now I put the questions before you:
1. Which cards does your consciousness leap to associate with a particular pre-determined meaning, irrespective of what image lies before you at the moment?
2. Why do you think you have attached yourself so thoroughly to this particular meaning, for this particular card?
3. Do you feel limited by this association and wish you could train yourself out of it, or do you glean something of value from having certain cards come up with the same core meaning no matter which deck or spread you use?
Would be interesting to see if people have more examples of Majors than of Minors. I gave two Majors as examples, but in fact the Minors are my favorite part of a tarot deck and I have more "essential meaning" cards from among those.
I take pleasure and intellectual stimulation (for me, one in the same) from approaching each deck as a potential system unto itself and trying to set aside other ideas to focus on what each deck creator has to contribute. I read the literature associated with each deck, whether that be the creator's own, or third party commentaries about the creator's vision (a la the various Crowley/Thoth commentaries), or supplemental lit such as DRACULA for the Robert Place Vampire Tarot.
And yet...and yet...
Some "set" meanings are so evocative to me, so archetypal or powerful or empowering to me, that they sit in my imagination and won't let go, not even when confronted with a deck system or card image that is blatantly disassociated from it or even oppositional to it.
Here are a few examples:
-- THE LOVERS: I always see the Marseilles-style element of "choice" in this card, and mention it in almost every reading I give, even if only as an introductory remark preceding my card-specific image analysis. The concept of Choice on a cosmic, greater-mystery level has just gripped me and won't let me go, even when the deck I'm looking at gives me a rather earthy picture of two people in a forest glade, naked and entwined.
-- STRENGTH-- I have encountered a few decks where the human figure is stereotypically strong (usually a brawny man with muscles bulging) but I don't care what the image shows, and I don't care that there are many historically early deck examples of Strength in that mode (with the allegory of Hercules, etc); my mind persists in ascribing the RWS image of a beast (whether internal or external to the human subject) being tamed by a more quietly self-confident, gentle form of strength. That type of strength is the more impressive to me on an intellectual and emotional level, and I interpret the card as such irrespective of the image set before me.
Now I put the questions before you:
1. Which cards does your consciousness leap to associate with a particular pre-determined meaning, irrespective of what image lies before you at the moment?
2. Why do you think you have attached yourself so thoroughly to this particular meaning, for this particular card?
3. Do you feel limited by this association and wish you could train yourself out of it, or do you glean something of value from having certain cards come up with the same core meaning no matter which deck or spread you use?
Would be interesting to see if people have more examples of Majors than of Minors. I gave two Majors as examples, but in fact the Minors are my favorite part of a tarot deck and I have more "essential meaning" cards from among those.