The Tarot Room – Georgianna

Eight Observations about the Rider-Waite-Smith Queen of Swords.

1. Butterflies on her crown and throne
2. Red tassel on her wrist – often interpreted as a reminder of hardships overcome …
3. There is wind in the trees behind her,
4. Clouds are heavy near the ground, clear skies above – where a bird is flying
5. Clouds on her cape
6. She holds her sword upright in her right hand, her left hand outstretched.
7. There’s a cherub on her throne.
8. The Queen is in profile, facing right … we can’t see her whole face.

And of course there’s more. What else do you notice?

Sometimes just looking at the card and saying what you see out loud can be a powerful reading in itself.

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

 It’s not meant to define the cards, or dig deeply into hidden meanings behind the symbols, but rather to simply notice a few things within the images that might widen your own interpretations.



Six Observations/Questions about the Rider-Waite-Smith Temperance card …

1. The Angel wears a triangle on their chest – the symbol of fire, while just below that symbol, water flows between two chalices. What might this suggest in a reading?
2. The Angel has a third eye, or a disk situated where a third eye might be. Does this add anything to how you see the Angel’s message?
3. Irises grow to the left of the Angel – they often represent faith, courage, wisdom, and hope. What do they symbolize to you? How does that symbology fit in your reading?
4. To the left of the Angel is a path up into the mountains and towards the sun – how might that concept be interpreted?
5. Do the colours of the Angel’s robe and wings add meaning to your interpretation of this card?
6. One of the Angel’s feet is in the water, and one is on land, perhaps symbolically balanced between the emotional and the practical? How does this duality mirror other dualities in the card … and/or in your reading.
   
   As I always say … keep digging in – there’s so much more to see in every card,

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.

Five Observations/Questions about the Rider-Waite-Smith 10 of Wands …

1. The character in the image is carrying their load in a manner that protects each of the sprouting leaves at the top of each branch. What might that suggest in terms of your reading?
2. Given that this card is a number 10, and that the Minor Arcana goes from Ace to 10 … this card is at the end of a progressive cycle. How might that play into your reading?
3. There’s a house, or a castle, let’s call it a ‘manor’ in the background – who lives there?
4. The load looks heavy, but the sky is a lovely blue – what might that indicate in your reading?
5. This card is one of the Stage cards … like a character is on set. Is there something ‘performative’ about what’s being described?

As is always the case, there’s so much more to this card than I’m observing here. I encourage you to keep looking.

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.

7 Observations about the Rider-Waite-Smith 2 of Pentacles

1. A green lemniscate encircles the pentacles being juggled, suggesting an ongoing process of growth and transformation through the tasks at hand.
2. This is another ‘stage’ card, meaning it looks like the Juggler is performing on a stage – what might that mean in a reading?
3. The water in the background is decidedly choppy, but the boats are riding the waves comfortably. Considering water represents emotions, what might this suggest?
4. This 2 is connected to the Major Arcana card #2, the High Priestess – how might her wisdom and quiet strength be influencing this card?
5. The Juggler is wearing the colours red and rust, with light green shoes – fiery energy with a foundation of new growth? Or something else?
6. The Juggler is in motion both with his hands and his feet – this is not a static situation.
7. And finally … the Juggler is wearing a really odd hat – I don’t know what that means, but I’ve always thought it amusing and worth noting.

Take a look and see what else might be in this card … it’s one thing to memorize a guide book, it can be even more interesting to focus on what you actually see in the image.

This is the first in a series of posts where I plan to share a few observations about specific cards.

It’s not so much meant to be me defining what a card might mean in a reading, but rather just a series of points connected to, or incorporated into a card image that might widen your own interpretation.

Six Observations about the Rider-Waite-Smith 6 of Pentacles …

1. It’s a pentacles card and therefore describes a situation in the physical world.
2. This 6 is connected to the Major Arcana card #6, the Lovers, and therefore incorporates ideas surrounding choice, commitment, and self-actualization.
3. in a reading, the querent might be represented by any or all of the characters in the image – the person doling out the coins, the person receiving them, and/or the person still waiting.
4. There is a distinct difference in the colours worn by the characters, with the two supplicants in blankets of muted yellow and blue, while the person with the coins (and the scale) is in vibrant red, and a tunic of stark black and white.
5. The RWS 6 of Pentacles is considered a ‘stage’ card, meaning that it looks like the characters are performing on a stage.
6. There seems to be a castle, and a forest in the background. Who do you think lives there?

Of course there’s much more to this card than these six points, but how might these particular ideas influence your interpretation of this card in a reading?