Rusty Neon
I would suggest that Lee's post of today stay in this thread, even though his approach doesn't use the pictorial elements of the Tarot de Marseille.
Many tarotists using the TdM interpret the pip cards based on an approach based on number, suit (or suit and element), AND pictorial details. By using the pictorial elements, you better utilize the unique genius of the Tarot de Marseille. And this is the approach I personally favour.
However, the number/suit/pictorial element approach isn't the only possible approach to the TdM pip cards. Alain Brêthes' voluminous _L'interprétation des arcanes mineurs: des Nombres et des Quatre Élements_ uses strictly a number, suit/element approach to the Tarot de Marseille pip cards.
Moreover, there is no functional reason why the TdM can't be used to retrofit Etteilla or GD/RWS/Thoth meanings for the pip cards. Many of the Order of Golden Dawn members used decks with non-illustrated pip cards such as the TdM, Wirth or Italian decks. Also, it should be noted that the picture cards of the RWS minor arcana show only a subset and not the full set of possible GD meanings for the cards; thus, it can be more liberating and less confusing to use a deck such as the TdM. In his GD-based books on tarot, Gareth Knight's deck of choice (besides his own co-created deck) was the Tarot de Marseille.
Lee ... If your post of today ends up staying on this thread, I suggest that you also copy and paste the post and start new thread in the forum Using Tarot Cards, as this could benefit those who use other tarot decks (besides the TdM) that don't have fully illustrated pips.
Many tarotists using the TdM interpret the pip cards based on an approach based on number, suit (or suit and element), AND pictorial details. By using the pictorial elements, you better utilize the unique genius of the Tarot de Marseille. And this is the approach I personally favour.
However, the number/suit/pictorial element approach isn't the only possible approach to the TdM pip cards. Alain Brêthes' voluminous _L'interprétation des arcanes mineurs: des Nombres et des Quatre Élements_ uses strictly a number, suit/element approach to the Tarot de Marseille pip cards.
Moreover, there is no functional reason why the TdM can't be used to retrofit Etteilla or GD/RWS/Thoth meanings for the pip cards. Many of the Order of Golden Dawn members used decks with non-illustrated pip cards such as the TdM, Wirth or Italian decks. Also, it should be noted that the picture cards of the RWS minor arcana show only a subset and not the full set of possible GD meanings for the cards; thus, it can be more liberating and less confusing to use a deck such as the TdM. In his GD-based books on tarot, Gareth Knight's deck of choice (besides his own co-created deck) was the Tarot de Marseille.
Lee ... If your post of today ends up staying on this thread, I suggest that you also copy and paste the post and start new thread in the forum Using Tarot Cards, as this could benefit those who use other tarot decks (besides the TdM) that don't have fully illustrated pips.