noby
Suits as different "stations" and "positions" of community life in older times?
I've been working on a little notebook of my own ideas and meanings for the cards, and my own interpretations of traditional meanings assigned to the cards. I've had all the cards out and going through them in order, and most recently have been working with the numbered Minors, after having recently gone through the Court Cards. In doing this, I noticed a trend in each suit that now seems so obvious, I can't believe I didn't notice it before.
Wands represents the adventurers, travelers, diplomats - those that must leave home and community behind to fulfill their duties and purpose in life.
Cups represents love, relationship, family, domesticity - the life and work of the home, the navigation of relationships, child-rearing, domestic activities.
Swords represents the warriors, those who fight to defend their home and community, how they must prepare and act in battle.
Pentacles represents the farmers, the craftsmen, the laborers, those who work within a community and are its main source of life, work, and wealth.
This perspective has allowed me to see some cards in a new light, particularly the Tens - now I see the Tens as the "end of the journey" for an individual in each station.
Instead of the Ten of Wands being "overburdening," I now also can see it as the adventurer, the traveler, returning home with all he's learned and gathered from his experiences away from home.
The Ten of Cups is the joyful family and home realized through the fulfillment of a domestic path.
The Ten of Swords represents the warriors who fall on the battlefield and must give their lives in defense of their homeland, as opposed to those who return to the domestic life of Cups or Pentacles.
The Ten of Pentacles represents the established home, security, and wealth, the fulfillment of a path of work in service and trade that "brings home the bread."
I assume I'm not the first person here to notice this... any observations on this way of looking at the Minors in the RWS?
I've been working on a little notebook of my own ideas and meanings for the cards, and my own interpretations of traditional meanings assigned to the cards. I've had all the cards out and going through them in order, and most recently have been working with the numbered Minors, after having recently gone through the Court Cards. In doing this, I noticed a trend in each suit that now seems so obvious, I can't believe I didn't notice it before.
Wands represents the adventurers, travelers, diplomats - those that must leave home and community behind to fulfill their duties and purpose in life. Cups represents love, relationship, family, domesticity - the life and work of the home, the navigation of relationships, child-rearing, domestic activities. Swords represents the warriors, those who fight to defend their home and community, how they must prepare and act in battle. Pentacles represents the farmers, the craftsmen, the laborers, those who work within a community and are its main source of life, work, and wealth.This perspective has allowed me to see some cards in a new light, particularly the Tens - now I see the Tens as the "end of the journey" for an individual in each station.
Instead of the Ten of Wands being "overburdening," I now also can see it as the adventurer, the traveler, returning home with all he's learned and gathered from his experiences away from home. The Ten of Cups is the joyful family and home realized through the fulfillment of a domestic path. The Ten of Swords represents the warriors who fall on the battlefield and must give their lives in defense of their homeland, as opposed to those who return to the domestic life of Cups or Pentacles. The Ten of Pentacles represents the established home, security, and wealth, the fulfillment of a path of work in service and trade that "brings home the bread."I assume I'm not the first person here to notice this... any observations on this way of looking at the Minors in the RWS?
