The Tarot Room – Georgianna

Today’s Tarot Card Compare looks at 3 versions of the 5 of Cups.

The first card is from The Bright Idea Deck by Mark McElroy and Eric Hotz. The second is from ETA Tarot, a collaborative deck, with this card created by Cam. And the third card is from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot by Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

How are themes of disappointment, despondency, and/or unrealized expectations expressed in each image? How are the cards similar? How is each unique?

The 5 of Cups can be a tough card to get in a reading. It’s worth remembering that if it does appear, you might want to look around your situation and see what positive aspects you may have missed, what cups may not have spilled. It’s not just being positive for positivity’s sake – it’s part of the message in the card.

Today’s Tarot Card Compare looks at 3 versions of the 6 of Wands/Keys.

The first card is from The Pulp Tarot by Todd Alcott. The second is from The Collective Tarot, a collaborative deck, with this card created by Lori Lawrence. And the third card is from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot by Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

How are themes of victory, celebration, achievement, and mastery expressed in each image? How are the cards similar? What makes each unique?

These are nice cards to get in a reading … assuming, of course, that you’re the one they’re talking about.

Today’s Tarot Card Compare looks at 3 versions of the 10 of Cups/Analysis/Double Vajras.

The first card is from The Sherlock Holmes Tarot by John Matthews and W.H. Kinghan. The second is from Buddha Tarot by Robert M. Place. And the third card is from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot by Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

How are themes of community, sharing, homestead, and emotional completion expressed in each image? How are the cards similar? What makes each unique?

It’s interesting that all three, though very different from one another, each have an arc of sorts, ‘overarching’ the central image.

Today’s Tarot Card Compare looks at 3 versions of the 5 of Wands.

The first card is from the Tarot of the III Millennium by Iassen Ghiuselevv. The second is from the Picture Postcard Tarot by Marcia McCord. And the third card is from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot by Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

How are themes of rivalry, competition, fiery interaction, and/or the need for compromise expressed in each image? How are they similar? How is each unique?

The Tarot of the III Millennium is certainly the outlier within this group. Sensuality, or maybe even enticement, seems to be its focus. Very different than the other two.

Today’s post is part of a series where I share some observations and/or questions about images in specific cards.

It’s not so much about defining the cards, but rather a series of points you might look at to widen your own interpretation of the images.

Seven Observations/Questions about the Rider-Waite-Smith Moon card …

1. The Moon is part of the Major Arcana, and as such, more like a weather pattern moving in than a particular circumstance.
2. As #18 in the Major Arcana, its place is towards the end of a long pattern or cycle.
3. There are two dogs, one looks a little jackal, or wolf-like, the other has a more domesticated feel.
4. Is the crayfish planning to crawl out of the water, or just sit at the edge? And speaking of, why is there a crayfish?
5. The path leads right out of the picture. I wonder where it’s going.
6. What are the towers guarding? Or are they just a gateway … if so, to where?
7. Is the moon in eclipse? What’s flying off it?

And of course, there’s so much more to the images in this card. I encourage you to keep delving.

Today’s Tarot Card Compare looks at 3 versions of the Ace of Swords.

The first is from the Darkana Tarot created by Dan Donche and Jansen Hale. The second is from Vanessa Tarot by Lynyrd Narciso. And the third is from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot by Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

Do you see symbols of new ideas, perspectives, and personal authority in each of these cards? How are they similar? What sets them apart?

It’s interesting that a symbol as straightforward as a sword can look so different.

Here’s a card compare of 3 versions of the 9 of Pentacles/Coins. The first is from the Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot by Graham Cameron. The second is from Karma Tarot by Brigit Boline Erfurt. And the third is from the Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot by Arthur Waite and Pamela Colman Smith.

I like each version in its own right.

Take a look and see what you think. How are the themes of personal abundance, self-discipline and clarity of vision expressed in each version? What makes them similar? What makes them unique?

I love comparing cards. Don’t be surprised if I do this again …

The Rider-Waite Smith deck is probably the most popular Tarot deck in the world. Though painted by Pamela Colman Smith, Arthur E. Waite is credited with most of the deck’s design. But is that fair?

In Mary K. Greer’s upcoming webinar, she’ll be investigating whether or not Waite should be given as much credit for the deck as he actually gets.

Though the famed occultist clearly had a specific plan for the Major Arcana, what about the images in the Minor cards? They were some of the first Tarot Minors to be illustrated with actual scenes in them rather than simply suit symbols.

How did they come about and whose idea were they? Pamela Colman Smith’s?

These are some of the questions Greer will be exploring in Secrets and Sources of the Rider-Waite Smith Minor Arcana.

The two-part class will be offered through Global Spiritual Studies and will be live January 24th and 31st at 9:00 pm ET (6:00 pm PT). It will be available afterwards on download and DVD.

Check out Greer’s blog, or go directly to the Global Spiritual Studies site to learn more.

Hope to see you there!

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