Lesson 4 - Assignment [Archive] - MysticWicks Online Pagan Community and Spiritual Sanctuary

~Elise~

January 24th, 2005, 11:29 PM

For this assignment I want you to tell me which of the Major Arcana cards is your most favorite, and why,

The Sun is my fave--When this comes up I think of the song, Here Comes the Sun. things will be going my client's way. _happydanc

Because of the symbology in this card--a red dragon surrounded by fire and the currents it generates, it is obvious he has paid his dues. He is spitting fire, complete with symbols in the stream, symbolizing that he has learned to take the lemons life has given him and make not mere lemonade, but Hard Lemonade out of it. Manifestation skills are at a peak now.

the book says: Positive happenings leave you with a sense of freedom and joy. you may be blessed with material gain or recognition for your work. Good news is coming.
I say: Yup--what they said.

which is your least favorite, and why. It can be based on meaning or on art, or on your personal feelings... doesn't matter. Describe both cards to me, tell me what you like about them and what you don't.

Probably my least favorite in this deck is the Temperance Card. In the Celtic Dragon deck there isn't much a a visual clue--right off the bat--at least for me. You have 3 different color, (red, blue and green) dragons in a triskilion formation, which I guess could signfy balance, if you took the time to think about it. I usually have to stop and really think about what the card is supposed to mean when it comes up in a reading. Because the dragons look like they may be fighting, I tend to think about that when I see this cardat first glance.
There are a multitude of spirals in the sky in the background...but to be honest, they are so light I never really see them. The blue dragon would indicate emotions, the red sexual, and green-life itself for me.
The book says: This card may presage a period of creative inspiration, or a time of harmony and peacefulness. Self-control and inner guidance will get you through difficulties. A trip gives you a new perspective on an old issue. You need to adapt to new circumstances.
I say: Huh? How the heck do you get a trip outta this one?
With the different dragons -- you would need to have all three things,(sexual energy, life force and emotions), in balance to function properly in all aspects of your life. So Balance is the message that comes out of this card eventually for me.

JMO and YMMV,

Elise

Lolith

January 25th, 2005, 01:31 AM

Describe both cards to me, tell me what you like about them and what you don't.

I have a quick question about this part of the assignment. Do you want us to tell you what we like and don't like about both cards, or just say what we like about our favorite and what we don't about our least favorite?

Aidron

January 25th, 2005, 09:56 AM

Favorite Cards In General: These cards usually tend to be more appealing to me both aesthetically and metaphorically throughout the course of many decks, which are The Hermit, The Moon, The Star, The Sun.

Favorite Card In The Celtic Dragon Tarot: The Hermit would probably be my favorite within this specific deck. I typically enjoy the card's artwork regardless of the deck (as is made obvious by the above) and greatly respect its meaning, one that I apply much in my own life and feel is very critical to having a successful life, regardless of how you view success.

A dragon with hunter-green to emerald scales, with soft white undertones is lounged out upon a cliff-side with various faces and symbols carved into the rocks surrounding it. Numerous books lay out in front of him and he has one within his forearms, denoting he is in a state of serious examination and instropection, learning and getting the absolute most out of his isolation to improve himself, his life, and his world. He showcases a sly grin as he stares out at you, not at the books around him, which evokes a sense of confidence in me in seeing him as one who while isolated is powerful and assured of himself and his path at this point in time. I likewise take a lot of meaning from the rocky scenery and open sky you can see off to the right, denoting both a strong foundation upon which endless power can be drawn from and limitless possibilities if you remain diligent.

Least Favorite Cards In General: These cards usually tend to be less aesthetically and metaphorically appealing to me throughout many decks, which are Judgment, The World, The Hierophant, although I happen to adore the High Priest card in my own deck.

Least Favorite Card in The Celtic Dragon Tarot: This for me would probably have to be The World. It's just such a damn busy-ass card that it's like an outfit with too many accessories. You can't focus on one thing because your eyes are constantly being drawn here and there, leaving you with little focus, little memory of what you saw, and at times a headache. A man and woman stand holding wands and surrounded by various dragons. Even as I look at it now it is difficult for me to describe, there's just so much vibrancy and things going on that it tends to annoy me. While looking on the positive side I understand that this card manifests things in a magnificent and grand way, probably moreso than any other card, I just wish artists would for once not let their pens (or mouses) get away from them causing this card to look become the proverbial intuition train wreck that it so often is for me. How do I interpret it? What do I get from in it a reading? A trying task, my intuition can't come to the forefront cause I'm so busy guarding my gaze from all the eye sores and melodrama within the card. Makes me want to pour chamomile tea all over the thing put the characters within to rest, then maybe I'd have an easier time interpreting and examining this card. It's just... too much!

Amethyst Rose

January 25th, 2005, 12:14 PM

I have a quick question about this part of the assignment. Do you want us to tell you what we like and don't like about both cards, or just say what we like about our favorite and what we don't about our least favorite?

Oh yeah, that was kinda confusing wasn't it. Sorry. Tell me what you like about your favorite card, and what you dislike about your least favorite.

Amethyst Rose

January 25th, 2005, 12:17 PM

Good answers, both of you, thanks. :) I enjoy reading what people think of the cards in their deck.

Shana-chan

January 25th, 2005, 12:41 PM

I have two favorites in the Major Arcana. This isn't based on the meaning, just on the art on the actual deck that I have.

The Strength and the Empress are my two favorites out of this deck. The art on these two are the most beautiful out of all the Major Arcana's cards. The Strength shows a holy woman reaching out to a crowned Lion. It has that 'old medival painting' flair to it. The Empress tries to show the meaning of the card (plentifulness and mothering, right?), but it also manages to make the woman, the empress, look absolutely beautiful, with her dark hair all around her shoulders, wearing a medieval gown and a crown made of iridescent ribbon. They're both very lovely cards.

The one I dislike the most out of this deck is the High Priestess, which is unfortunate, because it is one of the cards that, in my created deck, will be represented by a picture of my friend. But, in this deck, instead of making her look like a beautiful, mysterious woman, they make her look like a very lazy woman from the Sahara desert. <.< Like a harem woman who just doesn't want to walk anymore. I know the the Priestess is supposed to represent an unwillingness to make the first move, but this is just too much in my mind. I'd rather have her sitting or reading, or.. something! Instead, she looks like she's about to pass out. :(

Anyhow, there's my two cents on my deck. ^.^

LadyAutumnCat

January 25th, 2005, 02:29 PM

Due Monday, January 31st

No research on this one, but I will be starting grading again now that everyone's mostly caught up. I will be basing grades on the effort it appears you put into it. So if your answer is one sentance long, then you won't get the greatest grade.

For this assignment I want you to tell me which of the Major Arcana cards is your most favorite, and why, and which is your least favorite, and why. It can be based on meaning or on art, or on your personal feelings... doesn't matter. Describe both cards to me, tell me what you like about them and what you don't.

My favorite card in the major arcana is the Star. In my deck there is a depiction of a woman in a bronze colored dress her arms extended as a star cat floats above them. The star cat is surrounded by stars that light up the dark sky around the two. I am particularly drawn to this card because it seems to be the bringer of hope and the end to problems. Since my life seems to always be affected by something negative, the star is what I am seeking, that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel.

However, I am also drawn to XX Rejuvenation. On my deck there is a depiction of a woman rising from a pod while a very cute lynx cat appears to be yawning (the expression on his face makes me think of whimsy and comfort), while 8 cat heads in aura's float above the lynx. I take this to mean that despite the fact that the cat is on his last life, he has come to life anew, and is using his life for the best. It is a renewal, hope anew as well.

My least favorite card has always been The Tower. On my deck there is a depiction of a large statuesque cat with an explosion coming out of his heart area, his eyes are aglow and he appears wrathful as he watches the humans and their cat, expelled from him/her. This card disturbs me because it reminds me of my fears of losing control, of disturbance, of failing, and of my panic attacks, where I can do nothing but fall. I fear losing everything, the one upheaval that will completely change things, and that is what this card signifies to me. My fears!

CanisFirebrand

January 25th, 2005, 02:54 PM

For this assignment I want you to tell me which of the Major Arcana cards is your most favorite, and why,

Favorite Card: It was hard to pick the absolute favorite of the Major Arcana in my deck. But, I keep being drawn to Card XIV, Temperance.

This card is one of the colorful ones in the deck. Most cards use the two colors black and blue. This one has red as the primary color with black in there are well.

Description: The card shows a female vampire, in deep concentration, in the midst of what I get the feeling is a powerful spell. Behind the woman, a pair of black wings are unfolded and match the upraised positions of her arms. In each hand, she holds a chalice and is pouring energy from one to the other.

In front of the woman, stands a large firebowl set upon a tripod(for lack of a better word). Each of the "legs" of the pedistal is a winged dragon. Two are prominently showing in the picture, with the third behind them and only the tips of its wings are visible. The dragons are black in color with outlines of red.

In the firebowl burns a blazing fire leaving a trail of black smoke/mist curling upward into the sky.

Below the firebowl is a powerful circle. The center of the circle appears to be a representation of the Sun with rays spiking out around its perimeter. Encircling the sun is a ring that contains what appear to be the planetary symbols between each spike of the sun. The floor is black in color and the power circle is bright red.

In the background of the card there is nothing but the smoke/mist created by the fire and the energy that the woman is wielding as she crafts her spell.

The top of the card lists the Roman numeral XIV, while the bottom has its name Temperance listed

My Thoughts: This is a striking card and I was drawn to it the first time I was browsing the images in the deck. There is such a power that is felt within this card and you can't help but stare in awe at its beauty. It's simplistic in color, but that doesn't detract from the card in the least. In continued reflection on this card, I keep sensing the phrase transformation. As if the female crafting her spell is doing so to transform herself/situation. It doesn't really follow the traditional meaning of the card, to me anyways. I don't have my LWB in front of me, and I will update this part after looking at it. But personally speaking, I feel this card is one of transformation, as noted above.

**EDIT**

What my LWB says:Divinatory Meaning patience and moderation, a frugal nature, justice balanced with mercy, action taken after contemplation.

My analysis: Those phrases do follow with the name of the card, but I still get the feeling the card is one of transformation. That word constantly seeps into my head when I view the card.

which is your least favorite, and why.

Least Favorite Card: Again, hard to pick one card I like least. I would have to say, that I like all the cards in this deck, but of the 22 choices, the one that doesn't appeal to me as much as the others is card XIX, The Sun.

Description: This card shows a naked male figure, possibly angelic or a dark angel, with bat-like wings floating in front of an almost fully eclipsed sun. In his arms, he is carrying a beautiful female angel in a white dress with wings made from feathers. I am assuming that the male is naked because you can clearly see the chest and his bare legs. The female he is carrying covers the rest of his body, save his arms.

The colors present in this card are black and blue.

The background of the card is all black. To simulate, what I assume is the moon, eclipsing the sun, there is a hazy blue half circle outline. The two figures are positioned in the center of the card in front of the eclipsed sun. The male figure appears to be walking as his front foot is flat, while the one behind is raised slightly with the foot arched as if in mid step. Though there is no ground apparent below them.

The top of the card lists the Roman numeral XIX, while the bottom has its name The Sun listed.

My Thoughts: I think the reason I chose this card as my least favorite of the Major Arcana in this deck is because of the depiction of the sun. My zodiac symbol is Leo and this the Sun is its ruling planet. To see the Sun being ecplised by the moon and its true beauty blocked, to me, has a slight air of disrespect.

The card is still a beautiful one to look at. The male figure carrying the female gives off the feeling that the two are lovers and that perhaps the female has passed and her lover is carrying her body to its final resting place.

Again, I don't have my LWB with me, and I will update this part with its given meaning for the card.

To me, this card, has a sense of peace to it. The male seems resigned and at peace with the passing of the female. I get the feeling that the two were either lovers or were rivals in battle with such a respect for each other that he is tending to her fallen body. I would imagine that the male is carrying the female to her final desitination so that her body and spirit can rest and be at eternal peace.

**EDIT**

What my LWB says:Divinatory Meaning success, hope for the future, a fortunate marriage, the birth of a child, new opportunities and prosperity, stability, confidence.

My analysis: In other decks I have looked at, the sun card does indeed instill those phrases. I can sort of see them in the artwork for this deck. But to me, the card gives off the feeling of peace, possibly acceptance.

If you like, I can post an image of the cards so that you can see if my description matches what they actaully looks like. :)

Lady Ravenna

January 25th, 2005, 03:15 PM

My favourite card – description My favourite major arcana card in this deck is The Moon. This card shows a partial underwater scene with fish (life in accord with natural cycles), a shell (protection from changing currents), and coral. On the top part is 2 dolphins (cosmic breath) jumping out of the water with their noses pointing to a purple sphere with a woman’s face in it. Above the sphere is a crescent moon (shapeshifting), and below the sphere there is a full moon, with a quarter of it darkened. In the background are mountains. The sky is full of clouds that are various shades of purple. In the sky there are birds migrating (cyclic activity) in a V formation. Above the birds are the various phases of the moon. At the sides are 2 crystal obelisks, which represent masculine and feminine energies, and psychic abilities. (meanings from the LWB belonging to the deck)

Why it is my favourite I like this card because of the way it looks, I was drawn to it right away. I love the colours used in this card (purples & blues), and I also like the dolphins (my favourite sea creature). This card gives me a very calm and serene feeling.

Meaning “Illusion, Intuition. Using your intuition to perceive the truth. Don’t be deceived by appearances; trust your inner knowing to pierce the illusion”
To me with all the symbolism about cycles, and the serene and calming look of it, this card says you have come to a calm in the cycle, things are settling down, so you can take some time for yourself, and to sort things out. Also watching out for deception (shapeshifting).

My least favourite card – description My least favourite card in this deck is Wheel of Fortune. This card shows a woman holding wand with a globe (manifest spirit, heaven and earth) on the end. From this small globe springs a green spiral (dance of life). Above the small globe is a bigger globe. Below the smaller globe is a wheel (karma) with a spider (weaving web of fate) on it. At the very bottom of the card is tetragrammaton (name of divinity).

Why it is my least favourite Most of the other cards in this deck are so vibrant and busy, and to me this card is very simple. To me is looks as if this card does not fit in.

Meaning “Change. Maintaining inner balance in the midst of change is imperative to personal fulfillment.” To me this does make sense. The wheel goes around and things change, you have to balance yourself as the change happens.

Clockwork_Eros

January 25th, 2005, 07:02 PM

Hmmm, this is rather difficult. Isn't having a favorite card defeating the objectivity of a reading? What would be the point of assigning value to a specific card, when each one is as important as each other one. A negative connotation is not bad, simply a way to grow, and a positive connotation is not always something to be happy about. (Now, if we are talking about art and not meanings, oh, feel free to go to town)

Still because it is an assignment, meaningwise, I enjoy the Star and the Wheel of Fate. The Wheel because it is in tune with my current mantra of having faith in the future I cannot see. Oracles may help, but any number of factors can still change the future-one of the reasons I prefer using oracles to divine things other than the future, such as major problems, areas of stress, weakness, strength, etc. I like the Star, because in the Thoth deck, it is my favorite painting. I love the geometric swirls of the stars, the cool blues and lavenders, and the Aquarius imagery.

The art of the Osho Zen tarot is amazing, and I can't pick a single favorite. The ones that I do particularly like, for their style, use of colour, and composition-not meaning- are Beyond Illusion (the composition and colours), Letting Go(I really enjoy the rendition of the leaves and water), Receptivity (The lotus image is gorgeous), No-Thingness (surprised me, in a deck that was renowned for it's art, that the card was simply black-I was expecting a buddhas mind, or plain white even), Intensity (The use of colour in this is mind-numbingly beautiful, and the implied lines of the body/force work wonderfully together), and my favorite of all, is Trust, because I think it evokes it's namesake the best out of all the cards. It was really an ingenious composition.

Least favorites? I don't care for the art on Politics in the Osho Zen tarot. Other than that, I don't have any cards that I dislike for their meaning. as I said, each meaning is needed, a single part of a larger whole, and acceptance of the negative is vital for adherence to the positive. We attach too much value to a certain outcome or situation, and this is what causes unhappiness, which too is need to grow.

Dashifen

January 25th, 2005, 07:48 PM

CARD I LIKE: HIEROPHANT (5)

The card I think I like best in the whole deck for the connection between the artwork/symbolism and the meaning of the card is the Hierophant. The vertigo deck uses comic book characters and the one on this card is Morpheus, the Sandman from the graphic novels of the same name by Neil Gaiman (god among mortal authors, by the way). I'm a non-traditionalist so the reversed meanings within this card of change and liberalism as oposed to tranditionalism and the maintenance of the status quo are attractive to me. In fact, if I had to describe myself, I've often use the reversed Hierophant to do so. The fact that I prefer the reversed meaning of the card and the jaundiced, yellowed, sickly look of Morpheus on the card seems to imply the illustrator's take on traditionalism as well. Also, that Morpheus, as the King of Dreams, is the Hierophant seems ironic since the perspective of the King of Dreams who presides over the visions of us all while we sleep is seen as the traditionalist whereas dreams are quite often rather nontraditional again seems to imply that the "authors" of the Vertigo tarot were trying to imply something about their points of view on the card and on traditionalism in general.

CARD I DON'T LIKE: MOON (18)

Actually, I don't really like the fact that from The Star through Judgement (17 - 20) of the Vertigo deck there are no connections to the comic books. But, the card that I have problems reading no matter what is the Moon. It just doesn't seem to make as much sense to me depending on the spread -- especially reversed. In fact, this is one of the few that I read the same way right-side-up or reversed. I understand the card and have an interpretation that I use, but I have a hard time explaining that interpretation to others. Basically, I see the card as representing understanding in an instinctual, non-intellectual way. But, since we as humans really understand things only in an intellectual way, most people seem to become more confused as I try to explain the card more completely.

The interesting thing about it is that the people who I think understood the card were two mormons who felt that I was describing the premortal state of a soul (mormons believe that there are premortal, mortal, and afterlife stages for every sould) and some others have felt that I was describing the understanding that a person receives when one reaches heaven, and while I agree that this is the type of understanding, most people, myself included, have trouble applying this understanding to the "real world" that we live in day-to-day.

The interesting thing I've always wanted to see is if those with a grounding in Eastern thought rather than Western can come to grips with this card more completely. However, I've not had the chance to discuss the card with anyone of Eastern philosphies. Specifically, I can see clear connections between the Moon and the release of one's higher-self during zen meditation or the many of the concepts of Tao and the Hindu Dharma. One day, I'll have to assault the philosophy department of the university I work at and see if anyone will chat with me.

As always, these card images are copyright 1995 and 2000 by DC Comics and were illustrated by Dave McKean.

Rain Gnosis

January 25th, 2005, 08:41 PM

Upon reading this assignment I knew in an instant, without a doubt, what each of these cards are.

My favourite card in any given deck has always been the Star. In the Quest tarot, the Star is depicted by a naked, translucent, silver woman standing in the center of the card. She stands beneath a starry sky, and the brightest star shines clearly above her. She stands with her left leg slightly in front of her, her knee bent, and her right arm curved so her right hand is placed on her hip. She faces toward, and with her right hand pours a liquid composed of star-like sparkles and coloured light and dark blue. The liquid falls into a lake before and around here, though she stands on a rocky walkway through it, and mountains rise behind her. The lake has a five pointed star, and the top point points at her, while each point is lit by a blue beacon-like light.

Symbols shown here include the sign of aquarius, the garnet, amethyst, diamond, and jade, and the roman letter R. The border is coloured white, relating to air, swords, lungs, and breathing. The card is number 17 of the major arcana. Also there are the Hebrew letter Tzaddi (fish hook), and the rune Eh, depicted on the card. The colours shown are silver and grey, blue, and especially white, along with the black of the night sky.

This is my favourite card because of its meaning - it is subtitled hope, and the star is the guiding light even in the darkest days. It suggests divine beauty and purity, and yet the star is mysterious - distant and feminine. It is both the hope that drives our aspirations, and the purity of divine connection we can already observe.

My least favourite card in any given deck has always been the Tower. In the Quest tarot this is depicted by a futuristic skyscraper among many, however the central skyscraper focused on is surrounded by flaming, falling piles of debris. Crows circle it, and the horizon is angrily reddish, with clouds and a bolt of lightning stricking the main tower. A wide eye, as if frozen in the moment of shock, is seen vaguely in the sky.

Symbols shown here are few, as the card's simple artwork suggests the cutting sharpness of its meaning. It is associated with the planet Mars, and the gemstones ruby, garnet, and bloodstone. The border is red, suggesting passion and wands. The letters of the Roman alphabet shown are Q and U, the Hebrew letter depicted is Peh (mouth), and the rune is Yr. The colours used are stark grey and blue, punctuated with broad dashes of fiery reds, oranges, and yellows.

This is my least favourite card again, because of the meaning. This card depicts complete destruction, terror, and violence. While this destruction is often necessary, it is nevertheless shocking and often painful. It may suggest oppressiveness, buried emotions exploding to the surface, and errors along with danger.

Interestingly this card is number 16 in the major arcana - poised just before the Star. This suggests to me that the terror and destruction found in the Tower can give way to the light of hope in the Star. It is this path that I have looked to myself in times of crisis and change.

celticfire

January 25th, 2005, 10:27 PM

ok...i'm going with first impressions on what i've found to be my fav and least fav of the major arcana. i'm sure as i learn more and work with them all more, i may change my mind/opinion...but that's for later.

My favorite card is The Moon. In The Celtic Tarot by de Burgh, this card is one of the most colorful of the deck because it shows more vivid coloring than the simple pastel colors mainly used throughout. But the coloration itself isn't what has drawn me...its what's in the picture. A full moon is high in the night sky (represented as a mix between electric and midnight blue). Below the moon is a circle of standing stones. In the center of the stones the ground appears illuminated and is a mixture of bright yellow and orange...as if grass doesn't grow there because it is worn down by those utilitzing that sacred space. The ground outside of the stones, is covered with a lush carpet of green. The brightness of the grass is only blotted out by some of the stones' shadows.

The colors of the card and their representations to me are:

white of the moon - healing, purity, intellect
blue of the night sky (dark blue/purple hue) - spirituality and tranquility
yellow/orange of the circle center - energy, strength, communication, conciousness
green of the grass outside the stones - healing, promise, renewal

What I believe this card says is that The Moon symbolizes hope and renewal of both the body and the mind and is the personification of imagination. What the book says about this card is that it is the card of nurturing. It represents strong dreams and powerful intuitions. Some things are hidden from the concious view, and you must trust yourself to find the clarity and the truth.

My least favorite card is that of The Tower. In The Celtic Tarot deck, this card shows a large circular tower springing up from a 'harsh' landscape (heavy greenery all around it). There is a man and a woman who are falling from the tower. The woman is on the left and she if falling headfirst. She is wearing a yellow gown and a red cape. The man is on the right side of the tower and he is wearing a yellow shirt and gray/blue pants with brown boots. He also is falling head first from the tower. At the top of the tower appears to be a diamon which is being illuminated by the lightning which appears to have struck it. The tower itself is gray/white and has four arched windows (three are very visible while the fourth is off to the side. The sky itself is either dark because of the storm or dark because it is night. The color is a very deep navy blue.

To me this card says destruction and upheaval, both of which are out of one's own control. There is no way to stop this...it is inevitable. The book says that The Tower card is change of lifestyle or present circumstances, but that this change can be one of freedom and liberation. The feeling I have from this card is not quite that...its more of the destruction feel. I don't know if this is because of my lack of knowledge or the fact that I have been reluctant on a subconcious level to work with this card.

*EDITED* info here:
i decided to do a 'quizilla' about which tarot card are you (well, me) just to see how close it comes to the card i 'favor'...here's what i got.

"You are the Moon card. Entering the Moon we enter the intuitive and psychic realms. This is the stuff dreams are made on. And like dreams the imagery we find here may inspire us or torment us. Understanding the moon requires looking within. Our own bodily rhythms are echoed in this luminary that circles the earth every month and reflects the sun in its progress. Listening to those rhythms may produce visions and lead you towards insight. The Moon is a force that has legends attached to it. It carries with it both romance and insanity. Moonlight reveals itself as an illusion and it is only those willing to work with the force of dreams that are able to withstand this reflective light."

this was right on...and it shocked me! i 'assume' its ok to post a link to the quiz here...i thought it was interesting...to say the least.

http://quizilla.com/users/Koshari/quizzes/Which%20Tarot%20Card%20Are%20You%3F/

because my deck is not found on aeclectic.net, i couldn't glean any information from that realm...but i also found some things from the ata.

The most probable explaination as to why I prefer the card The Moon is because of how I feel about the Goddess and the feminine Divine in general. I am not a feminist though, by any means...nor do I not honor the God. But I 'feel' drawn too, closer too, more in tune with all things relating to the Goddess. Also, one point mentioned on the ata that I totally agreed with is that the lack of 'things' (ie. symbols, detail, etc) on the card itself is perhaps to inspire introspection. "We must find meaning within ourselves"...and this relates to my spiritual side completely in that as long as you're not hurting anyone, and as long as it 'feels' right/comfortable to you, then follow that. Not everything has to be a script...it is what you believe and how you honor those beliefs.

Now on aeclectic.net, I found that the card that I most dislike, The Tower, is just that...a card to be leary/afraid of. It is the Fool revisiting something he thought he'd been able to let go of or leave behind. "False concepts and institutions we take literally or for real" is another way they have described this card. Something will 'happen' when this card comes up in a reading...it will be shocking. But this card is also about tearing down or destructing those false concepts...those things that hold one back...demolishing the control/power of whatever makes us weak. Nothing happens without a reason, and the resolution to this card is that something new will come...something brighter, stronger, more lasting.

OK...that's a bit more on my cards.:) I found the extra reading (even though there wasn't supposed to have to be any research involved on this assignment) enlightening.;)

Amethyst Rose

January 26th, 2005, 01:28 AM

celticfire

January 26th, 2005, 05:04 AM

I think you're reading too much into it. :) I'm just curious as to what people like and dislike about their cards...it's a look into your personality for me, and it helps you evaluate your deck as well. It has nothing to do with objectivity.... It seems that most people are talking about art.... no one's mentioned meaning so far.

you say that no one has mentioned meaning so far...can you elaborate? i ask because i see that several of us have talked about what we feel or believe the cards to mean along with what our book(s) say they are to mean/represent? i know in most we do discuss the artwork, but we also discuss the symbolism of that artwork also...which too is how we derive meaning(s). just my .02.

LadyAutumnCat

January 26th, 2005, 10:55 AM

I thought I discussed meaning, but I'll give it another go.

As in my earlier post I chose the star and rejuvenation as my favorites. Both cards represent to me hope and beginning anew. I am drawn to these cards because to me they mean that in life we have the ability to begin again to remake ourselves no matter how difficult things have been. I think that this is important in readings, because it can help direct where a person is going and what is going on around them. If I were to draw these cards in a reading, I would be very positive that the cards are signaling a metamorphosis to something new. I think this is vital in everyone's life, because remaining static means that there is no progress. As the fool journeys he must realize that there is hope even in the darkest of times, and that after the dust clears he can rejuvenate he can heal and become a new person from his experiences.

As for the tower, my least favorite card, it utterly signals catastrophic change to me. There's no other way I can look at it. The people are expelled from the tower where they are above everything, to finally face the lowest they can get. I think it's tied into the wheel of fortune, where life has its ups and downs, and we have to face them all. The tower is the sudden upheaval of life, where we are forced to face ruin and make something out of it. The initial shock may be truly crushing, however for us, or the fool, it is the way that we/he can develop and move forward. Despite the positive outcome, if he chooses to overcome, the tower is a disturbing card to me, as it's possible that the expulsion from the tower can injure a person irreperably.

I hope that this helps, or improves on what I have submitted, I'm a bit bummed about not being on the honor roll this time. And, don't really know what else to expand on.

Amethyst Rose

January 26th, 2005, 11:44 AM

you say that no one has mentioned meaning so far...can you elaborate? i ask because i see that several of us have talked about what we feel or believe the cards to mean along with what our book(s) say they are to mean/represent? i know in most we do discuss the artwork, but we also discuss the symbolism of that artwork also...which too is how we derive meaning(s). just my .02.

I meant that no one has really made an issue of the meaning being why they like or dislike a card. Of course after I made that post, someone did, so it's a moot point now.

Amethyst Rose

January 26th, 2005, 11:48 AM

I hope that this helps, or improves on what I have submitted, I'm a bit bummed about not being on the honor roll this time. And, don't really know what else to expand on.

Hugs... you were on the honor roll with assignment #2. :) Your extra work for this assignment bumps you up as well. You've been doing a great job!

OriginalWacky

January 26th, 2005, 03:14 PM

AmethystMoon08

January 26th, 2005, 03:37 PM

Oops! sorry sorry, totally out of it today :bug:

My favorite Major Arcana card is the Lovers. Number 6 on the Robin Wood deck. In her deck, she shows the lovers as a man and a woman, both nude. The woman has long flowing dark hair, and the mean blonde hair. Each of their palms are turned upward; The man holds the sun in his hand, and the woman the moon. The man has a string thing tied around his muscle on his left arm, and both are by a tree walking in the grass.

This card represents sexuality, attraction and love, along with unity. I love this card because it represents so much of what people yearn for, and it seems as though it rarely pops up.. making it just that much more special when it does.
The lovers card also represents a choice to be made, when a new path in life must be taken.
===================================
Least favorite card: The Devil
The Devil is number 15 in the Robin Wood deck. It shows two people,nude, chained to a treasure chest box, the chains representing a pentagram. The man reaches out for the light, as they are in a very long dark tunnel, a glimpse of light being shown, but no matter how hard they try, they simply can't reach to it.
I don't like this card because of all it represents. I don't like how it represents and means oppression, greed, negative thinking, fears, addiction, sadism, or cruelty. The card also represents those obsessed with money.

Amethyst Rose

January 26th, 2005, 04:22 PM

My favorite Major Arcana card is definitely Queen of Cups!
I use the Robin Wood tarot deck, and in this deck she is simply beautiful. She's sitting in a seashell throne by the sea, and you can see the beautiful sunset and sand and waves. I love this card; I've always loved water. I'm a swim team swimmer, so I just really connect with this card.

**Edit later, gotta go**

Uh, hun? The Queen of Cups is a minor arcana card. :)

linaXgrazzada

January 26th, 2005, 09:29 PM

I really like two or three cards. I am partial to the magician, the star, and surprisingly the death card.
I really like the magician because it is a great motivator. It seems that I can liken the magician to myself. A self-reliant person who seeks knowledge and stands for originality and creativity. I tend to be that way. A bookworm artist who goes for what she wants full force. I also love the art for the magician on my deck. It has a man holding a glowing wand and has a table in front of him which one cup one sword one pentacle and one wand on it. On the ground and framing the art are red and white flowers. They look like carnations and lilies. The detail on the flowers is so awesome and beautiful.
I love the star. In my book the first three words describing it are hope, faith, and inspiration. I have found that I pull this card when I do need inspiration. When I am writing music or take a study break from schoolwork, I sometimes will pull the star. I love how it means to have faith and it can also mean fulfillment so it doesn’t give an “empty promise” so to speak.
I guess the death card appeals to me right now because I am soon graduating high school and I am looking for a new start. I am feeling the transformation in myself from girl to woman. I guess I’m still in that transition state. The death card usually will come up for my future in daily readings or for “what I feel the need to create.” At first I thought that a bit scary (I need to create death?!?) but now I understand it really means I feel a need to recreate myself. As an adult, or somewhat of an adult for now.
I really do not like the hierophant. I know it can stand for mercy and forgiveness but in my experience with it, it leans more towards the servitude and conformity aspect of the card. I hate the feeling of being controlled or told what to do. I guess that’s the teenage rebel inside my head.
Sorry this is so long. I hope you enjoy!

Willow Rosette

January 26th, 2005, 11:14 PM

Ok I screwed up a little. I did this assignment in my truck while at work today so I did not have the actual assignment in front of me. So I did not remember that It was supposed to be just major arcana so my least favorite card is a minor arcana card but I will come back and post my least favorite Major Arcana card tomorrow night.

Just a quick note. I loved this assignment and think I might write out a discription for all of my cards. It really helped me to think about them and see every single detail. So if Im over discriptive sorry but I wanted to paint a good picture of what the card looks like. Expecially my least favorite, it moved me alot even though it is my least favorite.

My favorite card is XX Rejuvination

The main part of the picture is a tall slender naked woman standing on a green plant looking thing. It kind of comes up and around her legs like a bowl but looks more like a plant. She has long bloundish hair with bloundish/gold highlights. It is long enough to reach her knees in the back. Her arms are stretched up to the sky as in giving thanks. The look on her face is like looking up at the sun and soaking up the warmth. Her hair is blowing and discreetly covers up her womanhood and one breast. There is a gold cat with brown spots standing behind her and to the right. He is looking toward the reader with his mouth open and kind of kitty bliss on his face with his eyes scrunched closed. As I said he is all gold with brown spots excepts the tip of his ears, jaw line, are white. As well as his belly and the tip of his tail. He is standing on the green plant thing with his back legs slightly crouched and his front legs stretched so he is standing on his toes. (I dont know he is a he, it just kind of fit) Going up the right side of the card are 8 bubbles of different sizes. Inside each bubble ar ethe faces of a cat. Although they have different expressions on their faces, it is mostly with their eyes. 2 have very wide open eyes 1 is a large bubbleand the other is very small. 3 are just open normal with medium size bubbles. And three have scrunched closed eyes. 2 medium size and 1 small. They all look the same as the main cat the only difference is the ones with their eyes open have bright brilliant green eyes. One other thing to mention before I go on to explain why I love this card. There is a brilliant radiant white light shining on the woman from above. The underside of her arms, the back of her hair, and the back of her legs are all shadowed. And even though there are no light or shadows portrayed on the cat he seems to be enjoying it as well. Kind of like his kitty bliss comes from the womans rapture.

The reason this card is my favorite is very personal. For several weeks I kept getting the same reading. My life is going though changes, I need to work through these changes on my own, and gain strength from my new found independence and renewed spirituality. That was not a lesson I really wanted to learn and fought it quite awhile. Once I gave in and accepted what I need to work on and started working on the change I drew this card. I have had my deck for about 2 years and never drawn this card before. 2 days after drawing this card Freya declared herself to me. So even though I absolutly hate change, I knew after drawing this card that the small baby steps I had made in accepting what I needed to work on and change in my life was all I needed to do to find a helping hand to guide me through this change.

So to me the meaning of this card is: rest after struggle, basking in the love of the Goddess.

The lwb meaning is: Well it is very long but what fit was: Rejuvenation, rebirth, improvement, development, promotion, effort that ends in just reward.

My least favorite card is the Five of Pentacles

This card has a very dark background. with varring shades of blue on a rock wall and rocks scattered on the ground. The rocks in the back ground are large and a very dark blue. About a forth of the way down the card are medium sizw rocks that vary a blue-grey kinda color. And at the vary bottom of the card are small rocks that vary in color from the same blue-grey as the medium rocks to almost a light bluish purple. There is a woman on her knees Kinda leaning or resting on the bigger of the medium rocks. Her hair is kind of a greyish blue color and is very full and kinda rounded. but long down to the middle of her back. Her right arm is resting on the rock with her head on her arm. There is a single tear comming from her eye. Her hand that is up by her face has a ring on it with a large blue stone in it. she is wearing a deep purple dress that very much blends in with the rocks. Her other arm has a rust colored bracelet that goes up the lower portion of her arm. Her hand is reaching down toward the smaller rocks stroking a cat that apears to be dead. Her touch seems to be very soft and sad. The cat is a light brown, almost a red color, with black stripes. It has white ears, muzzle, toes, and under belly and apears to be ablout the size of a medium house cat. The cat is very well painted. It apears kinda wilted and lifeless. With the exception of the womans hair and the touches of white on the cat, the whole picture is done in deep colors. With one other exception. On the top, left side of the card there are five pink circles. They are stacked kinda pyramid shaped with two on the bottom two in the middle and one on the top. Inside there is kind of an abstract flower. 4 of the flower pedals are light pink and the insides are a very light blue, but they vary in shades. The bottom two are a very light blue, almost a white. The left one in the middle is slightly darker and the one on top is the darkest but still a very light blue in color. The fifth card is the second one on the right in the second row and is different from all the others. The outside of the corcle is still the pink, while the flower pedals are a white as well as the inside. Although the inside has a cat face on it. Covering all of this and a little outside the circle is a bright, kind of twinkeling haze. It is kind of a generic cat face and it is not like the one the woman is crying over. . At first look I assumed the cat in the star was the cat that had died. But after describing the circles and loking closer Im kinda thinking it is maybe more a diety cat or something along that line. To me that would explain the bright white mist around the cat in the star.

The meaning on this card was harder than the other since I dont have a personal experience to relate it to but, this card touched me so much I think it means the loss of a friend or something valued.

The lwb deffination is different than what I thought it meant but with this deck the lwb tends to be pretty accurate. Material trouble, destitution, loss, failure, impoverishment, lover, misaffection. I can see loss andmaybe destitutuin in the picture but deffinately not material trouble. it seemed more about emotion than material loss to me.

The discription of the lwb on the painting is somewhat different than I saw so I thought I might add a part of it for what the artist meant. The woman is grieving over the only remaining thing that loved her. A scraggly street cat. She failed in her efforts to save the cat (does that have something to do with the story I never understood?) In her misery she does not see the cats spirit has appeared in one of the pentacles (they look like flowers) causing it to glow with hope rebornThe rocks point heavenward to symbolise hope (I totally missed that one) I could tell there was meaning in the shape but failed to describe it or catch what it was.

Again I will repost my least favorit of the major arcana, I am still glad I did this one.

Flaire-FireStar

January 26th, 2005, 11:35 PM

Devi

January 27th, 2005, 03:13 AM

My favorite card is Existence which is in the magician's spot in the Osho zen deck. It has a very tranquil feeling to it. There is a person facing away from the viewer. I assume its a woman because of the long dark hair. The woman is sitting in the nude on what looks like a huge green lily pad or leaf. Its stem stretches downward. She faces a mixture of colors, purples, blues, and white. Glowing white stars are all around. A shooting star sails by. She's sits in the midst of space and seems to be quite at home.

I like this card because of the confidence and wonder it invokes. She looked vulnerable at first. She's naked and alone sitting in space, But on closer inspection I realized she isn't ill at ease she seems quite peaceful and in no hurry. But as I continued to look I thought she must be really confident to be able to be so out in the open completely in tune and connected to everything around her. She gives off a feeling of being completely self assured. Another way I looked at it was that she was the creator of this sparkling scene. She is meditating and visually creating this tranquil reality around her. It reminds me of my second favorite Osho Zen card the star ( which is named silence ) because of the same peaceful magical feeling it invokes. This was the card I saw while browsing on the internet and it made me want to purchase the deck.

My least favorite is no-thingness. Its in the place of the Hierophant. The card contains no symbols or picture. The card is completely black.The reason it's not a favorite is I don't get the idea behind it.

When I read the interpretation it doesn't become clearer. It's more like I can't seem to relate this to the more traditional Hierophant descriptions. I like most of the philosophical interpretations in this deck but this one confuses me for some reason. I don't hate it, I just don't understand the connection yet.
Here is a quote from the book

"It is unmanifest yet, but contains all. In the beginning is nature, in the end is nature, so why in the middle do you make so much fuss? Why in the middle, becoming so worried, so anxious, so ambitious-why create such despair? Nothingness to Nothingness is the whole journey."

CanisFirebrand

January 27th, 2005, 08:54 AM

I updated my post, http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?p=1583179#post1583179 with the meanings of the cards from my LWB and a little more.

Aleigh

January 27th, 2005, 09:05 AM

I had a hard time picking only one favorite, and any that I don't like. I decided to look at this two ways. First off, I picked cards that I like and don't like merely for how they are depicted in my deck. My favorite Major Arcana card because of the way it is depicted in the Celtic Dragon deck is the Death card. The card shows a smooth, white dragon, with shreds of skin hanging off it. It looks like a snake shedding it's old skin, with a shiny, white, new skin underneath. There is a ray of bright, white light shining down on the dragon from above. To me, this card shows the real meaning of the Death card better than any other deck I have seen. For me, the Death card means new beginnings...shedding your old ways and starting over. The skeleton on horseback in my other decks doesn't really get this message across as well to me as this card does. I'd really like to have a poster made of this card. I just love it.

The second method of choosing a "favorite" card that I considered is "Which card do I most like to have come up in a reading?" I'm probably a freak, but I love it when the Tower comes up. To me this card means shaking things up...changing the status quo. I hate stagnation, I get bored easily, and I love it when things get shaken up a bit. So far, nothing but good things have come from this card coming up in a reading. It always involves a bit of a tense, scary "What the heck is going on?! What am I going to do?!" moment, but in the end, it's always been a good thing. :whatgives In this deck the card shows a tall gray tower (although it's more like an obelisk than a castle tower) being struck by lightning, with pieces of stone falling down around it, like most decks. It is also being surrounded by two scary looking gray dragons who are breathing fire. There are no people falling down, as there are in some decks. On first glance it looks like the dragons are attacking the tower, but when I looked closer, it almost appears that they are trying to protect the tower...protect the status quo and resisting change.

Now for my least favorite card. My least favorite Major Arcana card specifically in the Celtic Dragon deck is the High Priest. While I like that they called it the High Priest instead of the Hierophant...it's just a boring card and I don't think it depicts very well what it is supposed to signify! It shows a man in a white tunic, gold pants, and a blue cloak standing in front of a tapestry with two dragons sort of kissing over his head. One is black, the other is white. The man is holding a wand in one hand and a sort of walking stick or staff with a dragon head in the other. It's a minor thing, but there aren't even any real dragons in this card, unlike the rest of the deck. To me, this card is supposed to signify a teacher, or initiations, rituals or ceremonies, loyalty or belonging to a group and in this deck the card doesn't really show any of that. I prefer the card in other decks that at least show him with some followers or students! There's just no "group" or "teacher" feeling for me in this card. It's one of the only cards in this deck that I think the creators really fell down on the job.

My least favorite Major Arcana card to have come up in a reading is 15...the Devil in most decks but it's called Chains in this deck. It's a fairly typical depiction of this card though...it shows a man and a woman (clothed in this deck) loosely chained together, with a kind of scary looking gray dragon very loosely holding onto the other end of the chain. The couple are standing in a sort of a spotlight in front of and to the side of the dragon. The man has his back to us, but the woman is facing forward and her eyes are closed...like she's blocking out the situation. I know this card usually means being trapped in a bad situation because of your own refusal to do anything about it, but it also can signify wasting your time or energy on useless indulgences or addictions. Mostly I don't like this card because it keeps on coming up for me, and I already know that I have an addictive-type personality and I very easily get wrapped up and hooked on stupid things, like certain TV shows or drinking too much coffee, or my sometimes obsessive addiction to the internet. I try not to do it, but it keeps happening and that damn card almost always comes up for me. :rolleyes: I always feel like "I know...I'm working on it...tell me something I don't know already!" when it comes up. :lol: Although, I have to say, that this is one of my favorite cards for how it is depicted in the Celtic Dragon deck...mostly just that they changed the name to Chains which I think is a better description, considering what it means, than "The Devil".

goldcat79

January 28th, 2005, 01:54 AM

Okay well the deck is the :Tarot of the cat people

My favorite card if i have to pick one is the XX card which is Rejuvenation and in this deck this card has some of the best detail in the cards when i look at this card i can almost feel the pure power of the joy and love for life it shows from the lady leaping skyward from the water with long blonde hair and her arm reaching skyward as to say ty for bing alive and her cat at her side looking back over his life and being on is ninth it now looking forward and back he is happy and to be in the now of life and that is what this card says to me

Well then if i have one i dont like it the XV The Devil
i know there many cards that can have some of the same meanings but the art on this card is dark andno real detail in it his cat are just plain scaredy cats one black and one a light orange color and cat wond it is just a plain card to me he robes could done in s diffrent style to make it look better but that is just me

Lolith

January 28th, 2005, 07:44 AM

The first part of this assingment was fairly easy for me. I remember when I first bought my deck (Robin Wood), and I started flipping through it for the first time. Some of the cards caught my eye, and one of them happened to be (IX)The Hermit. In my deck, this card shows an elderly man with a long white beard standing on top of a mountain. He is dressed in a tattered, gray cloak, but appears so content. He is holding in his hands a long staff and a lantern. The lantern is held high above him and it's shining bright. The sky is dark, and in the background are beautiful snowcapped mountains.

The reason I like this card so much is the scenery in it, and the memories it brings to mind. Whenever I see this card, I think of my first trip ever to the mountains. I hiked up to the top, and the feeling I had when I stood up and looked around was incredible. It was one of the most peaceful and serene moments of my life. The fact that the hike up was long and difficult made the view on top that much better. In a way I envy the man in the card. I see him up there, and I wish I could be there too. If I had the opportunity to be where he is, I would spend a great deal of my free time on that exact spot thinking and meditating. I think the thing that I enjoy most about this card is the way it draws me into it.

Picking out which card I didn't like in my deck was the difficult part of this assignment since I think they are all so beautiful. What I did was lay them all out so I could get a good look at them all. After looking at them for a while, I noticed that a few of them stood out. These cards were: (XIX)The Sun and (V)The Hierophant.

Going by artwork alone, I'd have to say that The Sun is my least favorite out of this deck. My deck represents this card in a similar way that others do. It has the common child sitting on a horse with the sun shining bright above and sunflowers in the background. The child is blonde and chubby cheeked riding naked on a small white horse. I know that this card means very good things when it comes up in a meaning, but I really dislike the look of it. Most of the objects in the picture would bring a lot of happy thoughts to most people, but not to me. The sunflowers bring to mind childhood summers and the friends I had, but these are not happy memories. Yellow is the prominent color in this card, which makes sense being the sun, but it also happens to be my least favorite color. The horse looks kind of creepy to me. There is something about the shape of it's eyes and the almost dreaded mane that doesn't sit right with me. The final thing about this card that I dislike would have to be the child. My view of what a cute child looks like is probably different than what most would think, to me, this kid is not cute.

Now I'll discuss what I dislike about The Hierophant. For description of this card, I'm going to copy what's in the book since I don't know the exact names for the objects in the picture.

This card shows a bishop, shorn and shaven, standing in his stone church. He is wearing a gold miter with a crown at the top, and keys in the design, and carrying a gold scepter. At his feet kneel two acolytes with tonsured heads. One is smiling, the other frowning.
The thing I hate most about his card is the amount of Roman Catholic symbolism. I'm not bashing Catholics at all, but for the majority of my life I was forced to accept this as the way things should be. I was to accept what is right and wrong without question. The two acolytes in the picture are young children. The bishop behind them appears to be preaching. When I look at the child who is frowning, I see myself as a child sitting in church acting like I should, but not liking it. I remember thinking how ridiculous it was to have to accept what they were telling you as fact. I remember feeling like I was being controlled, and how it seems as what they were preaching seemed so out of date with today's society. I remember being told what was acceptable to wear as a young girl, and what the appropriate behavior was.

When I looked in the LWB that accompanied this deck, I was quite surprised with what I saw. The meaning for this card is:

Tradition, captivity, servitude, ritual, inactivity, retention, timidity. A desire to hold on to old thoughts and ways even if they are outdated. Concern for form over function.
I would hate for this card to come up in a reading, because to me it would mean that I am being unproductive. At least that's the first thing that would come to mind. The only thing that I do like about this card is that the images evoke feelings in me that come very close to what the artist had in mind. I noticed that the LWB meaning was different than the ones you gave for the same card. The bad thing about this card is that it'll be hard for me to see it in a positive manner, or any way other than the initial feelings it gives me. I suppose this gives me a hurdle to get over. Joy!

Raven Reed

January 28th, 2005, 02:14 PM

My favorite card in the Goddess Tarot deck is the Wisdom card which corresponds to the High Priestess. The Goddess in the card is Sarasvati

Saraswati is the Goddess of learning, knowledge, and wisdom. She is the goddess of all arts - music, dance, literature, all sciences, crafts and skills. The Sanskrit word "sara" means "essence" and "swa" means "self." according to http://www.goddessherself.com/mantras/sarasvati.htm)

In the card she sits in a lotus flower which is floating in water. She has one leg drawn up in "lotus position", the other is down. She is ready to spring forth and help someone out. She has four arms, in one is a book, in one, prayer beads and two hold a vina, a type of indian stringed instrument. She is softly gowned in light yellow colors, and wears golden jewelry and a crown. Her border images are swans.

Sarasvati's four arms represent her influence over the four directions and all areas of life. Her bright clothing and demeanor represent knowlegde and wisdom vanquishing the darkness of ignorance. The lotus represents purity and peace, and the ability to reach spiritual wisdom while having roots in the earth. The book she holds represents knowledge and learning, her beads spiritual knowledge. The musical instrument represents the growth of knowledge through culture. The swans symbolize prudence.

This card is my favorite for several reasons. When I returned to school, I felt often that this particular Goddess was at my side. As I learn new things, I still feel an affinity for her. I also like the meaning of the card. According to the Goddess Tarot book one meaning is "Wisdom gained in a graceful manner." But the traditional meanings of intuition, imagination, potential are all meaningful to me as well.

It is much harder for me to pick a least favorite card. All cards have valid and important meanings, even the ones I don't like to see. I think that if I had to pick one, it would be either The Moon or Power which corresponds to The Emperor. I will describe The Moon.

The Moon is represented by Diana, Roman Goddess of the hunt, wild animals and the moon.

In the card, she is surrounded by wintery trees, through which two deer peek. At her feet are four hunting dogs. She is clothed in a purple tunic with a grey/brown cloak. She holds a bow. The other arm reaches behind her to grab an arrow. There is a half crescent moon upon her brow. Her border image is moonlit forest.

The animals and trees in the forest represent the light of the moon which influences all growing things. The wintery-ness of the trees represents the ability of the moon to influence things even when it is darkest winter and little grows.

There are several reasons I dislike this card. When I look at my favorite card, I see layer up one layer of symbolism. This card has relatively little to my eye, perhaps because I dislike the card so much. A circular reason. :) Also, one meaning of the card to me is emotions out of control. As I have a mood disorder, I am particulary sensitive to it.

Madjek

January 28th, 2005, 06:43 PM

The Major Arcana card I like the least is the easy question. It’s The Hierophant. (I have the Universal Waite deck) There is a religious man sitting on a throne-type chair. On his head there is a big golden head piece. It has three rows of crowns. He holds his right hand up with two fingers pointing up as if blessing the people the men in front of him. In his left hand he holds a stick looking thing with 3 small rods going across it. (Not sure what to call it) He wears a red robe with white trim. Some of the trim goes down the middle of the robe and there are three crosses going down it. At the bottom of the trim there is a diamond shape. He wears blue under the robe and the sleeves under the robe are white. There are two columns on either side of him; near the top there seems to be a design of bulls. There are also two men in front of him, they could be his scholars. In between them and in front of the hierophant lie two keys crossed over one another. T here is red carpet on the floor with checkered pattern going down along the sides of it. There are also 4 circles with x in front of him. The men in front of him wear colorful attires as well. The one on the left has red flowers on a brown background and he other wears white flowers on blue background. There is yellow trim on both of the men.
The reason I don’t care for this card to much is not because of its meaning but because of the hierophant himself. I have never like organized religion or religious figures. Every time I see one, be it the Pope, a priest, a rabbi, I get an uncomfortable feeling. :blech: I don’t like them. Except for monks, I don’t get that feeling when I see them. Weird eh?

The card I like the most is Strength with The Fool close behind. I love this card I could stare at it for hours. There is a middle aged woman dressed in a white dress with a flower crown with red flowers on her head, the same flowers for belt around her waist. The infinity sign seems to be floating on top of her head. She is petting a lion. The lion’s tail is between his legs and is licking her hands. She is scratching under his head with her right hand and has the left hand on top of his mouth. The lion looks happy to be with her and she is in total control of the beast. In the background there is a mountain and some hills to the right, as well as some nice green trees. The sky is golden. I love it because of the way she is in control of the lion and how happy he looks to be with her. I love animals and I would love to pet a lion like that so maybe that is why I like it! Ha! Ha! I also like the name of the card. Strength is a quality you can never have too much of in my opinion. I always smile when I see this card. :loveduv:

halfwaynowhere

January 28th, 2005, 10:30 PM

I don't think i can really choose a favorite card, because my tastes change, and my life goes through phases, and the cards seem to have different meanings when i look at them in different perspectives. I guess right now I like the chariot, as the graphics are different, the card shows an alien in a flying saucer (I described it in a previous assignment). I like what it seems to represent to me right now, which is creativity and liberation, because the flying saucer is different, and it can go different places, and the alien can make his own decisions. I think my least favorite card in this deck is the moon, seeing as it depicts a moon man sitting at a bar, getting drunk and depressed, which just seems pathetic to me, although the card itself represents emotions and such... i just don't like the way it is symbolized in this deck.

Bookgirl83

January 28th, 2005, 10:34 PM

My deck is the Hanson-Roberts Tarot.
My favorite card is III The Empress. I especially like the artwork on this card. A young adult woman relaxes on a throne; She is dressed comfortably in a white tunic with a red vest and a blue wrap is draped across her lap. She is surrounded by ripe fruits and grain. In her hand she holds a scepter symbolizing her authority. I love the meaning of this card as well, female strength and progress; fertility; being a wife, mother or sister; and practicality. I feel a connection to the meaning of this card and to the image it uses. To me, it represents much of what is good about being a woman.
My least favorite card was much harder to pick. I finally settled on XVIII The Moon; my deck shows a bright full moon with a female face in profile, drops fall from it toward the green earth. A dog and wolf howl at it, behind them are two ominous towers. In the foreground, a crawfish rises from a river. As much as I like the image, I picked this card as my least favorite because I am uncomfortable with the meaning. I am afraid of the dark; I dislike being alone at night. This card symbolizes all those fears and because of that it is not my favorite card. I have been trying to associate the moon with good, comforting things and the goddess, but this card forces me to examine the alternate, uncomfortable side of the moon.

Brielle LaLune

January 29th, 2005, 04:08 AM

Wow! This assignment was a lot tougher than I thought it would be. I've had my cards for years, so after all the love and energy I've put into them, it was especially difficult for me to choose a least favorite card. I ended up settling on The Chariot, more for aestetic reasons than anything. This card is based on the Battle of Mount Badon and features a man in a chariot being drawn by two horses, one black and one white. They are harnessed with gold, and the man is brandishing his sword. They ride beneath a blue, waving banner with three gold crowns on it. I am not sure exactly why this card is the least appealing to me, but a lot of it has to do with the colors...The sky is overcast and slightly ominous looking, and the background is all washed out browns and greys.

My favorite card was also a difficult choice...I was torn between The Moon, The High Priestess, and The Horned One. In the end, The Moon won out, for many reasons. This card features Morgan Le Fey, and never fails to consistently draw my eye. Morgan sits in the wood at the edge of a sacred spring. Her arms are raised in invocation and she is draped in a luminous white shift and irridescent yellow robes. Her shift seems almost to be a part of the spring. Around her left wrist is coiled a serpent, a representation of wisdom and mystical knowledge, as well as of royal lineage. Just above Morgan, framed by trees, is an enormous and beautiful full moon, which is also reflected in the sacred pool. The colors of this card are mostly deep blues and indigo.

Aside from the sheer beauty of this card, I have always felt a connection to the character of Morgan Le Fey. I have been infatuated by Arthurian legend for as long as I can remember, and have always felt a sort of kinship to her...Its really quite difficult to describe! *LoL* I also adore all of the symbolism held by this card...it practically calls out to me.

Wolfscout1

January 29th, 2005, 06:56 AM

Due Monday, January 31st
For this assignment I want you to tell me which of the Major Arcana cards is your most favorite, and why, and which is your least favorite, and why. It can be based on meaning or on art, or on your personal feelings... doesn't matter. Describe both cards to me, tell me what you like about them and what you don't.

I'll start with my least favorite.
5 The Hierophant I have the Robin Woods deck. she uses a catholic Bishop on a stone throne in a stone buiding. regally clad and appearing full of self. two acolytes below him one happy one sad. * sort of fits real world don't it.* the card is for conforming, controlling , captivity, servitude , empty ritual, manipulative.
All negative aspects and a negative feel in general for the card. as Robin Woods views the church and this card i can follow right in with that as well. total dislike.

Favorite.
I am torn between two cards equally for favorite.
9 The Hermit Robin Wood's deck a older man with white beard stands on a mountain top with staff and lantern meaning is meditation, strength, funtional, positive , masculine, enlightened , willful and determined. the staff shows his journey has been long and hard. I can identify with this man and the meanings on this card in many ways.

6 The Lovers a man and woman in natural beauty walking, communicating , balance, love , respect, partnership, trust, romance , honor , sensuality. The art work and intentions i feel from this card always boost my personal spirits. And help me to focus , especially ever since i got this deck -- when trying to reach a balance of a solution for a new problem.

Willow Rosette

January 29th, 2005, 02:57 PM

Sorry it has taken me so long to redo my least favorite card. I had a hard time deciding.

My least favorite card in the Major Arcana Series is VII Justice. It is my least favorite because of the art work.

The back ground is a dark green with kind of a light green arch pointing towards the top of the card. At the bottom of each end of the arch is a statue of a cat seated but sitting very straight and kind of on guard. They are the same green as the back ground except their eyes are a very bright yellow, kind of glowing. standing in between the cats and in front of the arch is a woman. In her right hand is a sword blade up. it has a green handel with a teal stone in the middle. In her left hand hand is a dark green balance. both of her hands are also dark green as well. On her left hand she is wearing a green ring that is hard to see because it is almost the same color as her hand. On her head is a simple gold crown with brown jewles and a white fluff circling the bottom. Her hair is a golden blonde and pulled straight down her back. She is wearing very light gold circle earings in her ears. Her dress has a very high colar that is white around the the shoulders is a white fluff border. hanging from the border is fluff balls. Her dress is a medium gold color with kind of a shiny gold circles all over it. it is very long in the body and in the arms the sleeves go all the ground. it is belted at the waits with a lighter gold belt that kinda looks like circles linked together. there is a second belt uner the one at her wais that kinda drapes down a little over her his and comes to a point trailing towards the ground.

I have purposely left out what her face looks like because it is the reason this card is my least favorite. Her face is kind of a greyish white color and kind of sunkin in at the cheecks so that her cheeks are very visable. she has a very small knose as well as a very small mouth. Her eyes are very large and take up a good part of her face. She just looks kind of dead to me. Like there is no life or emotion or anything inside of her.

looking at this card i would see a meaning of balance and equalness.

-Sky-

January 29th, 2005, 05:37 PM

For this assignment I want you to tell me which of the Major Arcana cards is your most favorite, and why, and which is your least favorite, and why. It can be based on meaning or on art, or on your personal feelings... doesn't matter. Describe both cards to me, tell me what you like about them and what you don't.
Generally,I like the Major Arcana more than the Minor Arcana.This is because i believe that Major Arcana deals with powerful energies and intense meanings.Also in my deck,the Sacred Circle Deck,Major Arcana has more symbolism and colours than the 4 suits.
But my most favourite Major Arcana cards are the High Priestess and The Warrior(Strength in most decks).
For each card I decided to give a description and the reasons why i like it.

The High Priestess:
http://www.tarotwisdomreadings.com/TarotDecks/schp02.JPG
(Pic is not very good)
Description: This card depicts the High-Priestess,a pale and serious young woman clas in white and silver robes.On her forehead she wears a silver fillet bearing the image of the crescent moon.In her hand she holds a crystal ball.She is shown standing in a holy well accompanied by a swan.Behind her in the sky us a full moon and a willow branch overhangs the border.Snowdrops grow at her feet,demonstrating that it is the season when the first sighns of spring begin to stir-the festival of Imbolc,which falls at the beginning of February.

Why do I like it?
Actually this is the card I ultimately like not only in the Major Arcana but in the whole deck.I like the meaning,the symbolism,the journey of the fool and the art which is stunning.I believe that I was drawn to this card from the first time I was introduced to the art of tarot reading.But in this deck,I just fell in love with the High-Priestess as soon as i saw the picture online.This card has for me the everlasting power of the Goddess and her teachings.
The art: The art is literally breath-taking.From the first time you look at this card you feel intense emotions and you also feel like your intuition is awakening.The colours are very magical,purple stands for psychic awareness and it is one of my favourite colours.It helps open the third eye and grow spiritually.The High-Priestess is a very beautiful woman but i feel that her beauty comes from the beauty of her soul and this is why she is surrounded by this light.She looks ethereal!And the moon is behind her as well as the scenery is also beautiful and inspiring.
The symbolism: The High Priestess is the witch,the Wise Woman who relies on her intuitive understanding to gain wisdom.She knows the cycles of nature,the patterns of the stars,the tides of the moon,the habits of the animals,and the virtues of every plant.In the High-Priestess I see a woman i want to be like.I want to grow into a woman like this,train as a High-Priestess and inspire people like she does.I love the fact that she relies in her intuition,her emotions and enstincts(sp?).Also Brigid is my patron Goddess and I respect and admire her a lot as i see in her the above qualities and virtues.
In this card,the willow tree hangs over Brigid's well.The willow is sacred to the Moon Goddess,because it is a tree that loves water,and the moon governs the tides and brings moisture in the form of dew.The sea,the emotionns,and the feminine are governed by the moon,which,in its monthly rhythm is female,opposed to the daily movements of the sun,which is considered male.
Brigid's bird familiar,the swan,circles the well.It was once believed that a swan only sings once-when it is dying.Its song is associated with prophecy(knowing its death),music,and poetry.Swan skin and feathers were used to make a cloak of a celtic poet.In some stories,the song of a swan held magical properties that could make mortals sleep.Swans are very beautiful creatures and I remember that as a little girl I was watching "Swan Lake" and loved swans.Their beauty lies in their mystery.And as I am a poet myself I like this symbolism of the card a lot.
The Meaning: The card of the High Priestess represents a link to the subconcious mind,the inner world of the Self,which cannot be accessed through the intellect or waking conciousness,but which is only revealed in dreams and symbols.This card is telling you to pay attention to your dreams and intuitions: a facet of you is trying to make itself known.People see me as very spiritual as I receive everything in a different way and interpret by intuition and symbolism.I think that my link to my subconcious and my emotions is what manifests my magic and keeps me attuned to the nature.This is why the High-Priestess is a card that teaches important lessons.
Spiritually,when it appears in a spread it means that we are about to attain a new level of enlightnement.We may have realised the power of intuition and have begun to study psychic matters.This card can indicate a particular attraction to the occult,a thirst of secret knowledge.

The Warrior
http://www.tarotpassages.com/images/SacCircWarrior.jpg

Description: The card shows the British warrioress Scathach,who trained the Irish hero Cuchulain in her school for warriors.Her name means "the Shadowy one".She readies herself for the Lughnasadh games to prove her worth.A borage plant grows at her feet and she is accompanied by her familiar,a budger.
Why do I like it: This is my second favourite card.I especially like the way the creators of this deck turned Strength into The Warrior as I feel that I can connect to this aspect.I believe that there is a warrior in every one of us.
The art: The art is impressive or imposing,it is plain but yet meaningful.What i like about the depiction of Scathach is the expression she has.She looks independant and so confident.She looks like she is poised for battle.She radiates an inner-strength that stems from the knowledge that she has the experience and the ability to deal with whatever she may face.And she also holds a sword,my favourite weapon.
The meaning: The warrior here is a psychic warrior,with body,mind and spirit as weapons.These must be trained in harmony.The warrioress faces her own fears,develops her spiritual courage and hones the Will.We are all subject to many fears,and it is the warriores's purpose to seek them out and defeat them.The warrioress is another woman I admire as Maeve is a goddess of mine.The warrioress stands strong and protetcs her ideals as well as her loved ones.She conquers her fears and whatever stands between her and her goal.She is independent and strong.And this is what I am in me but I am working on bringing it to the surface.
Also the card teaches that our spirituality is a quest and we must find our own truth,a basic belief of mine.
Card I don't particularly like: The Tower

The Tower
I have faced the Tower in some readings I've done for myself and others.And although i like dark cards and cards that have destructive meanings,this card to me is kinda "annoying".
Description:The card depicts a high tower standing lonely in a rocky environment with a couple of trees behind.The tower is struck by lightning.the borders of the card show rowan berries and a snake.At the background we can also see a full moon.
What I don't like:
The art and symbolism: I find this card very plain for my interests.It doesn't show anything I can attune to.It doesn't include images of inspirations.Every time i look at it I either feel dissapointed or empty.Also i dislike snakes as for me they represent enemies(long story,past curse).Snakes for me are a bad omen and so is the tower that is struck by lightning.I also dislike the belief that the deities struck the sinners with lightnings in orde to punish them,it just doesn't appeal to me.
Meaning: The tower in this card represents all the things that you have built up around yourself,the exterior face you present to the world.It indicates that an unexpected shock or disaster will change your life completely.Some action you have taken un the past is now beginning to have unfortunate consequences that you have never imagined.The tower that you have so carefully created will be destroyed no matter what you do-plans and ambitions will be shattered.
The meaning of the tower is one that...doesn't make me feel comfortable.I know that you have to take the good with the bad but it kinda makes me feel helpless.It states that "no matter what you do" the tower will be destroyed and I never liked not being able to save something.Also a person's ambitions and plans are the ones that keep him fighting and it is very dissapointing to see them shattered.
(I'm sorry i didn't write lots about the card i dislike but it didn't really inspire me and it is kinda late :) )

I also took the quizilla test another member suggested and it showed that I am the Hermit card:
You are the Hermit card. The Hermit has chosen a solitary spiritual path. He shines light on his inner self and, by this means, gains wisdom. The Hermit's home is the natural world and it is by being in tune with that world that he learns the laws of nature and learn how they operate within himself. His path is a lonely one as he lives in silence and has for companionship only his own internal rhythms. But those crossing his path are touched by his light and wisdom. Though often alone, he manages nevertheless to instruct those who meet him and guides those who chose to follow him on a path towards enlightenment. Image from The Aleister Crowley Tarot deck. http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/thoth/
This is true and coincides with how i feel right now and the way i work with my magic.But it doesn't coincide with my favourite cards.

Blessed Be and Expect my 3rd assignement tomorrow!
~Anna

Rua

January 29th, 2005, 08:00 PM

Favorite Card: The Lovers
The colors and art on this card are great, very vibrant. This card has so much hiden meaning and not all of it good. There are so many different ways of looking at it. It could just be that I like this card because Im in a good relationship now. I also have an easy time seeing from the eyes of the man and woman on the card.

Least Favorite Card: Judgement
This card just gives me a bad feeling. The pale deathly people and the angry looking angel just kind of creep me out. I get a weird feeling every time i draw this card. The colors are very dull on this card and the art work isnt that great. I have a hard time dicerning a meaning for this card. I cant picture myself anywhere in this card except maybe hiding behind a mountain or something.

Shatril

January 29th, 2005, 09:07 PM

Rider Waite Smith Deck

Favorite Card: Wheel of Fortune--Round and Round she goes, where she stops nobody knows. Everytime I see this card it reminds me of the ups and downs of life. The fickle whims of fate. The symbolism is so rich in this card, that it would take 10 pages just to describe it. This also is the life death and rebirth cycle on a card. It includes the tetramorph symbols of the angel eagle bull and lion.

Least Favored: The Emperor--I really don't have lots of trouble with any of the cards, however, authority figures just put me off in the main. So if I were to have to say that I have a least favorite, I guess this is it. Even benevolent authority figures generally tend to rub me wrong, therefore, as the symbolism of an authority figure this makes me ill at ease. This card aslo does not have the rich symbolism of most of the other cards.

Rainlily

January 30th, 2005, 01:44 PM

The deck I am using is the Rider waite deck.
My favorite card out of the major arcana is The Star, picked purely for the visual aspect. A naked woman is seen kneeling by the edge of a pond, she holds a water jug in both hands one she pouring into the pond and the other onto the grass. Behind her is a tree with a bird sitting in it.Tthe sky is blue and has eight stars in it, one bright yellow star and seven smaller white stars.
What attracts me to this card are the stars which remind of elven stars although they are not elven stars as they have eight points not seven.

My least favorite card is The Devil picked not only for the visual aspect but the meaning as well. "The devil" is seen sitting before a man and a woman who are chained to what he is sitting on, both are naked and have horns. The man has a fiery tail while the woman has a plant for a tail. "the devil" has a goats head, goats legs and bat wings. He holds a stick(?) in his left hand which is on fire and his right hand is raised.

There are mulitple reasons why I dislike The Devil card. First we all know this is really The Horned God which christianity turned into their devil, and secondly the man and the woman chained up.
It is funny that this card is called the devil because when I look at this card I see the nastier side of Christianity. Before I go further I want to say that I am not trying to offend anyone or come off as anti-christian, I'm not. There are quite a few christians that I have met in my life whom I adore, my problem is what some christians do in the name of their religion.
What this card represents to me is first how some christians try to make other religions and cultures out to be evil, not only did they do this in the past but some are still doing it today. Secondly this represents to me how some christian churchs tell their members how to think, feel and believe instead of giving them guidance and letting them decide for themselves, in other words they are chained down with no freedom.
Last but not least there is the meaning of the card itself. My lwb says ravage, violence, vehemence extraordinary efforts, force, fatality, that which is predestined but not for this reason evil. Obviously this is not a good card and not one I want to show up in my readings.

badkitty

January 30th, 2005, 03:05 PM

I know this is very past due and thus won't be graded (or if it is it won't be good) but still wanted to do it.

Strength has always been my favorite major arcana card. In many decks there is a lion on it which as a Leo I identify with, and I also have always seen it as inner strength more than physical strenght.

The deck I ended up using for this class, the Sacred Circle deck varries a bit from what I have traditionally seen. Instead of Strength being 8 it is "The Warrior". I still love the card as the woman pictured holding a sword looks a bit like me, and most amazingly I play a live action role playing game which involves sword fighting, and what she is wearing is like what I wear.

She is standing in a ready position in an open green field. I think of awareness and alertness.

An odd thing to me is that a badger is at her feet in place of a lion. Apparently he is meant to be connected to the secrets of the earth, again going back to power within. This does not resonate as well with me as a symbol of that.

The border of the card has leaves and flowers of borage, an herb associated with courage and strength. I am working more and more with herbs, so I appreciate the touch.

My least favorite card in this deck is the High Priest. The picture doesn't suit the meaning I've previously learned. The figure on the card is an older man a field looking at a book. He seems unaware of his surroundings. He is more focused on learning than the world around him. I have always considered this an action card.

Ivy Artemisia

January 30th, 2005, 04:09 PM

My favorite card has always been the High Priestess. She always seems so balanced, and beautiful. She seems wise and intuitive. Things that I've always wanted to become. She is the epitome of my hopes, goals and dreams. In the Gilded deck, she seems to be floating gracefully, barely clothed, and right above the water. Her head is thrust back and she seems to be serene in enjoyment.

My least favorite card has always been the Hierophant. I'm not quite sure why, just that I've always been sorta turned off by the card. I guess that's because it always seems to be a pope-like man, and I don't like the way that Catholics exclude the feminine from the priesthood. In my new deck, however, the pop-like figure is either standing in front of or is esconced in a window of stained glass... I like it better than the other hierophants I've seen.

Bix

January 30th, 2005, 07:06 PM

While looking through my cards, the one that struck me the most was the Star card. It just radiates peacefullness and calmness. The dragon in my Dragon Tarot deck is just awestruck by the shooting star passing overhead. This card just reminds me to stop once in a while and just look at the simple things in life and be content with them. Whatever is happening in my life right now, things will get better. It's a nice, comforting feeling.

The one card that I like least is the Devil card. Everytime I look at it I just get negative vibes from it. It has a frightening and almost sinister feeling about it. I can't find a positive aspect about it, other than in order to see the good in things, you'll have to see the bad in it.

Goddess Rhiannon

January 30th, 2005, 08:05 PM

I used my favorite deck for this assignment....the authorian tarot...which was given to me by floracove.

I have two favorite cards....and I feel that they are my favorites because they both depict an image of what I vision when I talk to Rhiannon....The priestess....wearing purple with blond hair ....nimue is her name and The moon with another beautiful woman known as morgain le fay. These two cards for some reason...just do it for me. They have the ability to draw me right into the cards themselves.

My least favorite card is The tower. I have no idea why I dislike the card so much....because I love dragons. For some reason it does not have the visual appeal that I crave....maybe in time...it will.

Anubis RainHawk

January 31st, 2005, 12:15 AM

My favorite card of the major aracan is The Star. Just by looking at it, I get a feeling of hope, peace, and mystery. This card shows a nude blonde woman kneeling near a small body of water with her foot in the water and her knee on green grass. She pours water out of a silver bowl and clear crystal bowl into the body of water an onto the grass, respectivly. Above this woman is a large and brilliant eight pointed star surrounded by seven smaller stars. She is next to a beech tree baring young leaves. On this tree sits a small bird. A number of flowers grow on the grass including Bluebells. Far behind this woman are a row of trees behind tall icy mountains.

The woman is nude to show freedom and her ability to truly be herself. Because Robin Wood believes this card as one of the representations of the Goddess, she gave the woman blonde hair to show that the Goddess has bright aspects. The bowls are drawn to look as if they could be placed together to form a perfect sphere, representing balance. As she pours the water in the water and grass, she is uniting the material and spiritual planes. The placement of her feet have the same meaning. She kneels as an act of dedication and honor of all things. As she gazes into the pool of water she comtemplates the nature of the universe, so she is active in meditation. A relfection of the star can be seen in the silver bowl to show that meditation can lead to answers.

The eight stars represent the wheel of the year. The biggest shows that the seeker is focused on something. The tree next to her is a beech tree which represents knowledge and wisdom. The leaves are young to show renewal and the bird on the tree represents intuition and knowledge. The Bluebell flowers represent magick and psychic abilities. There are lots of trees to show how there are many at this state and the mountians show higher divine knowing.

The major aracana card I dislike the most would be Justic. I don't like this card for the simple fact that it's boring. Fairness, karma, and justic are great things, but it's not really exciting. In this card a blonde woman sits between to large columns. In her left hand she holds a sword and in her right hand she holds a pair of scales. Behind her is a grass feild and a tree behind each of the two pillars. She wears a red cloack and a purle over coat that has a green hood. Laurel leaves are around her head.

The woman's hair is blonde to show fairness and the laurel shows that detachment will prevail. Her eyes a wide open to show she sees both sides, thus able to make the best descision. This is further emphasisized with the two colums. The woman's sword shows truth. Her scales show judgement and they are pefectly balanced to show how she is perfectly balanced. The nature imagery show that though fairness is ancient, it's still alive and important.

The woman's cloack is red to show the power she must posses to hold this position. Her hood shows growth and how she takes the time to look over everythin indivindual item to make the best descsion possible. Her face is very serious showing how she is extremely logical and does not use any emtion in make any kind of choice. That's why I don't like it. I understand it's nessicary for the deck and it does have a very positive message, but I find it really boring.

Anubis RainHawk

Eternal Seeker

January 31st, 2005, 12:35 AM

The Magician

A Mage in ceremonial robes stands with a wand in the right hand, raised to heaven, and his left hand points downward to the ground. On a table before him are the elemental tools. He is surrounded by a white aura, and an infinity symbols appears above his head. Around his waist, as if it were a belt, is a serpent devouring its own tail.
The background is yellow, as if representing bright sunshine. Roses grow overhead, and also around the table, intermixed with white lilies.

The bright sunshine is representive of spiritual light: enlightenment. Red roses usually indicate romantic love, but can also mean passion. Intermingled as they are with white lilies, representing purity or spirituality, taken together could be interpreted as having passion for the Great Work, that of spiritual evolution. The white aura surrounding the Mage attests to his spirtual nature, and the infinity symbol, according to Eliphas Levi, represents "life and the universal spirit". Of the serpent, Waite himself states, "... but here it indicates more especially the eternity of attainment in the spirit." Further, he states, "In the Magician's right hand is a wand raised towards heaven, while the left hand is pointing to the earth. This dual sign is known in the very high grades of the Instituted Mysteries; it shews the descent of grace, virtue and light, drawn from things above and derived to things below. The suggestion throughout is therefore the possession and communication of the Powers and Gifts of the Spirit." Also, " This card signifies the divine motive in man, reflecting God, the will in the liberation of its union with that which is above."

The Magician is a theurgist, working to the highest goal: that of spiritual evolution. This is my favorite card, because the path of the ceremonial mage is the one I have chosen, and it is to this that I aspire.

LWB meanings: Originality, creativity, imagination, self-reliance, spontaneity, self-confidence, ingenuity, flexibility, masterfulness, self-control, deception, sleight of hand.
Waite meanings: Skill, diplomacy, address, subtlety; sickness, pain, loss, disaster, snares of enemies; self-confidence, will.
Golden Dawn meanings: Skill, wisdom, adaptation. Craft, cunning, etc., always depending on its dignity. Sometimes Occult Wisdom.

The Devil

This card is overwhelmingly black. The floor is made of black and white tiles, and in the middle resides a black double cubical altar. Two figures are chained to the altar: a female, with a tail ending in a bunch of grapes, and a male, with a tail of fire. Both have horns. The figure crouched on top of the altar is even more imposing: a goat-headed figure, with hairy legs and bat wings. Superimposed on his horns and forehead is an inverted pentagram. His right hand is empty, but raised, and his left points a torch downward to the earth.

Black is the color of the material world, being removed from the spiritual light. Of the two chained demons, Waite says "These are analogous with those of the fifth card". The Golden Dawn interpreatation of their version of The Lovers reads "The impact of inspiration on intuition, resulting in the illumination and liberation - the sword striking off the fetters of habit and materialism". On this card, however, both inspiration and intuition have been shackled to the black double cubical altar, representing the material universe. Both the altar and the checkered floor are standard in a Golden Dawn temple (http://www.geocities.com/lvx_120/temple.html). The symbolism of the inverted pentagram we find in the Golden Dawn's Ritual of the Pentagram:

Traced as a symbol of good, it should be placed with the single point upward, representing the rule of the Divine Spirit. For if thou shouldst write it with the two points upward, it is an evil symbol, affirming the empire of matter over that Divine Spirit which should govern it.
Both inspiration and intuition are bound to the material universe, the material is placed over the spiritual, and the torch is held low, as to illuminate nothing other then the ground beneath it. What sort of creature is this crouched upon the altar? Who else would be at the altar of a ceremonial magician other than a ceremonial magician? Look at the similarities between the two cards. See the way the figures hold their arms? Yes, this devil is indeed a ceremonial magician, but unlike the theurgist, who works for spiritual evolution, this magician has denied his spiritual nature, and only cares for the material. This card is the anti-thesis of The Magician. When I look at the face on this card, I see the face of evil, for it is truly the love of the material over spirit that is the root of all evil. When I look at the face on this card, I see... myself. This is surely what my shadow holds within itself, and it is this nature I must rise above to become The Magician, the theurgist. "We have met the enemy, and he is us."

LWB meanings: Subordination, ravage, bondage, malevolence, subservience, downfall, lack of success, weird experience, bad outside influence or advice, black magic, unexpected failure, inability to meet one's goals, violence, shock, fatality, self-punishment, temptation to evil, self-destruction.
Waite meanings: Ravage, violence, vehemence, extraordinary efforts, force, fatality; that which is predestined but which is not for this reason evil.
Golden Dawn meanings: Materiality. Material Force. Material temptation; sometimes obsession, especially if associated with the Lovers.

sources: The Golden Dawn by Israel Regardie, The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by A. E. Waite, LWB for the Universal Tarot, http://www.geocities.com/lvx_120/temple.html

Amethyst Rose

January 31st, 2005, 01:07 AM

I know this is very past due and thus won't be graded (or if it is it won't be good) but still wanted to do it.

Not late at all, hun, it's due Monday. :) Good job!

Valkie

January 31st, 2005, 11:44 AM

I had a really hard time deciding which one to put into each catagory... there were two for each. Ultimately, I had too... I'm not good at choosing between favorites, but all of them seemed to follow a theme :tongueout .

Dragon Tarot.

First, favorite is the Devil. The dragon is flying downwards, tail above his head. Colors in his body include red, deep blue, and gold. In one hand, he is holding a flaming trident and around his neck is a star pendent. The sky behind him is a murky combination of colors with red and black on top and green and white below. On the ground underneath him are two skeletons with a chain leading from them to a tree on the left. There is a spider web in the lower right corner attatched to a tree and flames around the skeletons and spider web. Capricorn is the astrological indicator.

Why...? I'll admit, I do like darker art and the devil cards in every tarot deck that I've seen have really appealed to me. It talks to me about facing my inner demons, the pain of not living your own life, and the sacrifice of giving up control. It reminds me that this is my life and the ultimate end of it, is my decision.

Least favorite, the Hierophant. This picture is a green dragon. The best way that I can describe his body stance is of a cartoon dragon that is rising off of the ground to attack people below, with the middle of his back slightly above his head. Above him is a double V, symbolizing both the heavens and the earth, man and god, man and woman. On his head he wears a horned helmet with a triple circle on it. On the left side, he holds the control cross of a puppet dragon that he is making to climb a ladder. On the right, he holds a barbell with the world on one side and the universe on the other. Behind him on the right is a stained glass window with a Star of David. He's inside an archway of black night with stars. Taurus is it's astrological indicator.

I know why this card is my least favorite... it's about conformity and obidience. Do what everyone else is doing just for the sake of fitting in. Stability and peace at the cost of your independence and spirit. Society before self. I understand that this card is also about balance and the need to put others before yourself... but it always feels like it's requires a little bit of your soul in payment for the balance.

Aidron

January 31st, 2005, 12:34 PM

Haven't felt like myself lately. If it's not the flu it's something else, but I digress. So, I'm going to re-do my assignment for Lesson 4 because I feel I could have done much better while cutting it very close. :foh:

Favorite Card: This time around I have decided to select The Moon. The Moon has a lot of important to me, both inside and outside of the tarot, so naturally this card usually resonates very strongly with me. In a sense, I either love it or hate it depending on the artist's particular rendition of it. The Rider-Waite one I despise, for example, but the one in my own deck, the Celtic Dragon, I adore.

Description: A single dragon with dark grey covered in various twisting scales that protrude from its body and wings stands with one foot upon a mound of exposed roots, yet no tree (the dragon obviously taking the place of it). With its other foot raised and its small arms stretched outward it arches its back so that its lower body and tail and its upper body and head create a crescent shape with the curvature pointing upward toward the sky. Smoke rises from its mouth (and in fact most everywhere, with its body seemlessly transforming into the smoke in some places) and nostrils, its tongue elongated and curved from its mouth, and all over the ground various other twisting roots can be seen. There are no other trees, however, only piles of roots with some growing up toward the sky, a scene the conveys the trees have all either died or looking similar to a thorny landscape. High in the midnight blue sky a large moon encompasses most of the background, pale white in color with a luminous glow around it.

Traditional Meanings: The Moon card often denotes the unconsciousness, inner desires, intuition, psychic influences, the wild and the tamed, our deepest fears and dreams rooted deep within us.

What I get From the Card: I get all of the traditional meanings and much more from this card. To me The Moon (in particular this card) also reflects solitude, reflections, primal instinct, secrecy, urges, living in harmony with natural cycles and also falling victim to them giving up your free will.

What I Like About It: Unlike in most decks I enjoy that the moon in this card is actually full as opposed to the usual crescent. Annoying symbolism of crustaceans, wolves and dogs, and pillars are not present. I have often found that The Moon card is one of individualism and that it is highly annoying that so few moon cards look different. This one, however, obviously has taken a unique and different approach to the card, unlike any other deck that I have seen yet is still able to convey both traditional and new meanings, at least for me. The mood of The Moon is usually a quiet and somber one, one that is not discarded in this particular card and that is something I appreciate. It is subtle, but powerful in its subtleness, which is what makes for the best moon card in my opinion. Its strength lies not in flamboyant imagery meant to bombard the mind, but with gentle symbolism that taps your mind on the proverbial shoulder with new insights at every turn.

Least Favorite Card: Admittedly I have trouble picking a least favorite, even The World I have some affinity for in my own deck, but another card I am not quite as thrilled with as the other cards just so happens to be The Star, one that I usually adore in most decks. My usual love of this card being somewhat lessened in this deck is probably what caused it to resonate so strongly in this way.

Description: The scene is amidst a cosmic background, various stars and planets hang on the ebony black void, some even looking familiar such as the planet to the left which reminds me of Saturn. Shooting stars, comets, all are present. This card obviously at a first glance does not focus on one star so much as it does on the many different kinds of stars or cosmic bodies we may confuse for stars with our naked eye. If there is one thing this card does not lack its stillness, everything in the background seems to almost be dancing, even the planets. A sort of cosmic ballet, if you will. The more eye-catching stars have bursts of white light surrounding them, symbolizing in reality the white hot fire they possess, but metaporically symbolizing the bright prospects and potential each one carries.
Among the many dancing celestial bodies seven orange-red dragons fly throughout the sky. They appear quite small, but depending on whether or not you wish to view them as being right up close to some of the celestial bodies such as say, Saturn, they may actually be enormous. All along the dragons their scales change from a bright orange to a soft orange, with hints of red here and there, and they dance freely and (apparently) happily among the cosmos.

Traditional Meanings: The Star often denotes freedom, endless possibilities and potential, guidance, wishes, hopes, dreams, creativity and a care-free attitude.

What I get From the Card: The Star often is confused with The Sun, I feel. While they both do represent good fortune, I view The Sun as being a completion card or one of end result, whereas The Star is at the beginning of the cycle or journey, representing optimism, hope, and the good fortune that lies waiting for you to grab. Freedom, hope, potential and optimism are the strongest underlying points I get from it.

What I Dislike About It: While I enjoy the card to a degree and it may be unfair to refer to it as a least favorite, I do wish one star had been singled out to offer greater focus. It is not necessarily a huge hinderance, however. I do not wish to see familiar imagery of a woman, nude, pouring water into a lake, but I feel this particular card may have strayed down a visionary path not quite my ideal of perfection. There is much I do enjoy about this card, but overall my dislike for this card simply stems from a slight difference of opinion in how to best bring about the card's full character.

Rowan MoonDragon

February 1st, 2005, 01:49 PM

I know I'm a day late....I hope its ok.

My deck is the Universal Waite deck and my favorite major arcana card would have to the The Sun. Just looking at it brings joy to my heart. I could have a bad day and see this card and get immediate happiness and joy. The sun is bright yellow and it makes the beautiful sunflowers grow. A child rides a horse and has a a flower wreath around its head. A child having fun in the sun! Its like watching my own children having fun playing outside. Just an all out wonderful card!

My least favorite is The Tower. I get immediated feelings of death, destruction and chaos. I actually sometimes physically hurt when I see this card. Lightning strikes the tower and 2 figures are falling down. Theres fire in the tower and its very dark.

Amethyst Rose

February 1st, 2005, 07:02 PM

No problem! Thanks!

Anubis RainHawk

February 1st, 2005, 11:28 PM

Favorite Card: The Star

This card shows a nude blonde woman kneeling near a small body of water with her foot in the water and her knee on green grass. She pours water out of a silver bowl and clear crystal bowl into the body of water an onto the grass, respectivly. Above this woman is a large and brilliant eight pointed star surrounded by seven smaller stars. She is next to a beech tree baring young leaves. On this tree sits a small bird. A number of flowers grow on the grass including Bluebells. Far behind this woman are a row of trees behind tall icy mountains.

The woman is nude to show freedom and her ability to truly be herself. Because Robin Wood believes this card as one of the representations of the Goddess, she gave the woman blonde hair to show that the Goddess has bright aspects. The bowls are drawn to look as if they could be placed together to form a perfect sphere, representing balance. As she pours the water in the water and grass, she is uniting the material and spiritual planes. The placement of her feet have the same meaning. She kneels as an act of dedication and honor of all things. As she gazes into the pool of water she comtemplates the nature of the universe, so she is active in meditation. A relfection of the star can be seen in the silver bowl to show that meditation can lead to answers.

The eight stars represent the wheel of the year. The biggest shows that the seeker is focused on something. The tree next to her is a beech tree which represents knowledge and wisdom. The leaves are young to show renewal and the bird on the tree represents intuition and knowledge. The Bluebell flowers represent magick and psychic abilities. There are lots of trees to show how there are many at this state and the mountians show higher divine knowing.

meaning: When the Star appears in a reading, it indicates hope, peace, and wishes coming true. It can idicate Occult development and balance on all levels. Overall, it's a great card.

personal response: When I look at this card, I can help feeling is happiness. The imagry conveys such a beatiful and peaceful period of time. Unlike the Rider-Waite deack, the Robin Wood deck has this card set at night. I think this is better because it further shows balance: though the time is dark the sky is bright.

I have read in a number of places that this card can represent the star that appeared at the birth of Christ. Though I no longer see myself as a Christian, I understand why one would make such a connection. The star over Christ represented the hope of the birth of the King, so I think it's a great connection.

Least Favorite Card: Justice
The major aracana card I dislike the most would be Justic. In this card a blonde woman sits between to large columns. In her left hand she holds a sword and in her right hand she holds a pair of scales. Behind her is a grass feild and a tree behind each of the two pillars. She wears a red cloack and a purle over coat that has a green hood. Laurel leaves are around her head.

The woman's hair is blonde to show fairness and the laurel shows that detachment will prevail. Her eyes a wide open to show she sees both sides, thus able to make the best descision. This is further emphasisized with the two colums. The woman's sword shows truth. Her scales show judgement and they are pefectly balanced to show how she is perfectly balanced. The nature imagery show that though fairness is ancient, it's still alive and important.

The woman's cloack is red to show the power she must posses to hold this position. Her hood shows growth and how she takes the time to look over everythin indivindual item to make the best descsion possible. Her face is very serious showing how she is extremely logical and does not use any emtion in make any kind of choice. That's why I don't like it. I understand it's nessicary for the deck and it does have a very positive message, but I find it really boring.

meaning: Justic indicates fairness, karma, and justic. It represents the best most balanced descison as well as success in legal situations. The seeker is told that s/he will get what is deserved, though I feel it will most likely be "good" karma, rather than retribution.

personal response: Justic is such a serious card. The woman on the card seems so up-tight and lacking any kind of emotion. I do get the feeling that the "greater good" will provail, but it's not very exciting. Justic is important, but I think the other major arcana have more exciting and interesting themes to them.

The first deity that comes to mind when I think of Justic is Ma'at. Obviously, she is a very important goddess, but I think her trait is kind of boring. I remeber Kala Trobe wrote in "Invoke the Goddess" that her mundane archetype didn't excist within mankind because the idea is too abstract.

Anubis RainHawk