Creating My Own Deck

[Crysiira]

I'm working on creating my own Tarot deck, and I guess I was wondering if there are any really good books/websites explaining in-depth the meaning of every card. I have a little book of interpretations of the cards but I was maybe looking for something a little more comprehensive. I want to get the drawings and the meanings in perfect correlation! Suggestions?
:tarotwitc

[MoonDragn]

If you want to go with a standard deck, pick up a book about the Rider-waite.

However most tarot deck makers prefer to have their own interpretations on what the cards mean. The tarot is like a deck of symbols a reader learns to associate with things. So the more objects on the picture, the more meanings can be divined from it. Going with traditional meanings is ok, but those decks that really stand out are the ones who take it a step higher with their own interpetations.

[Aris]

I don't usually look at meanings online but a good site for decks in general is: http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/ (http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/learn/meanings/)

That's the link to their meanings' page.

Personally I'd take a look at that, but I'd also look at other decks and see what symbolization they use to bring forth meaning in subtle ways. That and intuition always work best.

I'm fairily good with Tarot myself so if you have any more specific questions I wouldn't mind helping either.

Good luck with your deck!

~Blessed be

[fay]

Personally I think that the best way to get to know the meanings of cards is to study your deck and see what each particular one means to you or what impressions you get when you look at it. If you wanted to, you could then compare these impressions to the meanings in your book or a website etc. My friend told me this ages ago, but it wasn't until recently when I sat down and did it that I realised how useful it was :).

[RavensEye]

What I have been doing for the creation of my decks is meditating on the card and then taking it from there as to what meanings I will be using for the deck.

however another site if you want to go look at meanings of the cards is http://www.learntarot.com

[business voodoo]

i would make two book suggestions ... first, the mother peace tarot and the original book that goes with it talks a lot about their creation of that deck. second, "the tarot" by case is an excellent source as well especially for its cross-referencing to things like the kabbalah.

the only other thing i would say to research into is the history of whatever system of tarot you are chosing to use. i suggested these two books because one, the mother peace, is based on a matriarchial energy, and the tarot (along with all the waite rider tarot systems) are of the patriarchial energy system. if you know what that means, you know what you need to research ... if you don't know what that means, before you get too deep in developing your own deck, you should do the planet a favor and research the issue and examine your intention for the deck.

perhaps creating an oracle deck is what you want, or perhaps creating a tarot system that eliminates the duality of the matriarchial/patriarchial systems (if that is possible); but, in my opinion, with all of our imbalance on the planet, we definitely do not need another patriarchial based deck right now.

really try to understand all the symbols of your creation as well as the archtype and historical meanings of the card's innate symbols ... e.g., the history and meaning of 0 and its adaptation in the mainstream because of the use of 0 in commerce.

some of my random thoughts in connection with your post ...

what a lovely quest to create a deck ... fantastic ! good luck.

[Crysiira]

Thank you all for your thoughts and references! It will take a long time to create, but if I ever get done in this lifetime, I'll make sure to post pictures here!