Every time I tell someone I am a Tarot card reader, the first question that they ask me is: “Do Tarot card readings really work?”
While this question does bring a lot of snarky, smart-alec-y answers to my mind, I normally try to explain some things to these people. I thought I might just share my thoughts over here…
The pictures in Tarot card decks are centered on a particular theme, and often follow either the Rider-Waite-Smith system or the Thoth system. The Druidcraft Tarot Deck is based on the themes of Wicca and Druidry and follows the Rider-Waite-Smith system. Created by Philip and Stephanie Carr-Gomm, and Will Worthington, these exquisite cards have been a favorite of mine ever since I got them many years ago. If you are curious, you can visit the deck’s website and even read an interview with the authors. There are some other interesting things on the site that you can also read about.
Meanwhile, lets just dive into the review of these really brilliant cards.
In the Tarot, the Suit of Pentacles represents the element of Earth. Earth is stable and steady – it is tangible and materialistic. Therefore, the Suit of Swords talks about situations in day-to-day life that deal with materialistic and practical matters.
So let us see how the energy of the Earth element manifests itself in this cycle of ten cards from the Suit of Pentacles.
The Suit of Cups in the Tarot represents the element of Water. Water flows and takes the shape of the container that it is kept in. Water can be soothing and refreshing, and it can also cause floods. Water may not be harmful to touch, but it is strong enough to break through rocks and mountains in its journey. It is because of these reasons that water represents feelings and emotions.
Let us see how the cycle of Water manifests itself in the Suit of Cups.
The Suit of Swords in a Tarot deck is a representation of the element of Air. Air is something that one can’t really see – but one can feel it. It is invisible, but one can sense its presence when it flows. And Air can flow both slowly or fast – it can be a welcome breeze on a hot summer day, or it can be a gust of wind that topples trees and houses.
Air can therefore represent thoughts and ideas – the products of the realm of the mind. And we all know that the mind is a labyrinthine maze.
Let us look at the Suit of Swords and how the energy of Air manifests itself – and how the labyrinth of the mind unfolds itself in this journey of the cards.
In the Tarot, The Suit of Wands represents the element of Fire. Fire is hot, and burns. It is also the representation of passion, desire and that kind of energy that burns as it moves upwards. The Suit of Wands can therefore represent those areas in life where such Fire energy plays a very prominent part – i.e. – the areas of work, and in the aspects where one is relating to other people.
Today, let us look at the Suit of Wands, and how we can see the journey of these different energies manifest themselves in our lives on a day-to-day basis.
This is the concluding part of the articles in this series. And as is fitting with the theme of conclusion, I shall be looking at the pair of cards from the Major Arcana that talk about beginnings and endings – the most important aspects of any cycle.
So, lets go ahead and look at the third pair of cards that depicts cycles – The Fool and The World.
The Tarot of The New Vision is a very stunning, and different take on the imagery of the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. See, with the RWS images, you are seeing something – but the Tarot of the New Vision images show you what is on the other side of that image.
Makes for a pretty interesting learning and reading experience, if you ask me. The deck features artwork by Raul and Gianluca Cestaro. If you buy the book and deck kit, then you will also get a fully illustrated book that was written by Giordano Berti, Tiberio Gonard, Raul and Gianluca Cestaro. So lets have a look at this wonderful deck created by Lo Scarabeo.
Buying your own Tarot card deck can often seem like a very daunting task, especially if it is your very first Tarot card deck. There are many things you have to consider, and then of course, there are the superstitions about the first deck you own. How do you face this task? Let’s figure this out together… (more…)
