Fool Stop Tarot Blog

Beltane Tarot Blog Hop

The blog before us was Amanda Donnelly's 78 Whispers.

We are very excited to be the kick-off blog for the Beltane Tarot Blog Hop. It was a lot of fun to share pictures from various decks last time so we thought we would do that again for you.

This round's topic is "Fire Tends To All". We thought we would turn to the Sun card to show you different ways this card has been interpreted.

One of the first deck U.S. Games published was the iconic IJJ Swiss in 1970. This deck represents an older style of Tarot. It is considered a Marseilles variant. With a woodcut design, these cards feature very basic colors of black, red, blue, green and yellow. 1JJ Swiss Tarot Deck, © 1970 U.S.Games Systems, Inc.

From the same year, the Aquarian Tarot's Sun has a very different look. Some might call it a bit creepy but others love the smiling sun. Aquarian Tarot Deck, © 1970 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

From the Rider-Waite deck, one of the most well known Sun depictions. Here we see the child on the white horse with the sun overhead. Rider-Waite Tarot Deck ® © 1971 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

The Tarot of the Witches sun even has a star beauty patch. Tarot of the Witches, © 1974 U.S. Games Systems, Inc.

The very old school Pierpont Morgan-Bergamo Visconti-Sforza Tarocchi Deck from 1975 (reprinted in 1984) offers an unusual sunless sun. This is said to be a card that was added later. It's very rich and lush with the gold.

One of the earliest black and white decks, the Hermetic Tarot Deck offers an almost ArtDeco type sun. © 1979 U.S. Games Systems, Inc., Here we have the Lord of the Fire of the World.

The Morgan Greer, also a 1979 publication, offers two people staring at each other, but includes the sunflower and the wall from the Rider Waite.

The first of the round decks, the 1983 Motherpeace went far afield in its interpretation of this card. A zebra and a giraffe romp in this bright yellow card while a lot of happy folk frolic.

Moving into the 90's, we see the 1995 Rohrig Tarot's Sun shows a blazing white hot sun. It looks a bit like a fried egg, doesn't it.

Kris Waldherr's 1998 Goddess Tarot moves to an old folk tale to depict the Sun.

Fradella Adventure Tarot by Frank Fradella, (c) 2003 shows an uncle playing with his niece and nephew in a nod to the family focus of the Sun.

From 2008, the Deviant Moon by Patrick Valenza remains a top pick year after year due to the unusual imagery. Here two moon people seem to be engaged in a fiery tango.

Arnell Ando's Transformational Tarot shares a masculine, confident Sun.

The 2011 Crystal Visions Tarot has the white horse but the figure is a young woman standing with the sunflowers.

Another 2011 deck is the award-winning Cat's Eye Tarot. Here we see the Sun as a bright orange sun-loving cat with daisies.

Finally, releasing this month, Lisa Hunt's Ghosts and Spirits interprets the Sun as the spirit rising up.

So which of these decks are in your collection? We hope you have enjoyed this journey through just a few of the many Tarot decks published by U.S. Games. You can find us on Facebook where we post a Question Of The Day M-Sa.

The blog after us is Andrew McGregor's The Hermit's Lamp.

EXPRESS TAROTBLOGHOP TICKET: If you hit a missing link along your TarotBlogHop, you can get back on the bloghop from this master list. TarotBlogHop Master List, May 2012.

13 means Death?

So today is one of those days that holds a lot of fear for some folks. Friday the 13th! I mean there's even an seemingly-never-ending horror movie series, right? And let's not even talk about covens and black cats and ladders.

But what about the thirteenth card in the Tarot deck? What does it mean when you get this in a reading? Should you hide under the bed? Leave town? Pretend it didn't happen?

Not really. Death traditionally means change. In some decks like the Sun And Moon Tarot, it's been given the additional title of Rebirth to show what happens after the change. Or Transformation in the Joie de Vivre Tarot.

Think of the Death card as unavoidable endings that lead to new ways of being. And isn't this last Death a happy fellow from the Halloween Tarot?

So, what do you see the Death card as? How would you read it in a reading about a job? What about love? How does this card make you feel? Any funny stories to share about this thirteenth card of the Tarot?

Death (sometimes riding a pale horse), in order of appearance:

1. Cary-Yale Visconti Tarot
2. Rider-Waite Tarot
3. Crystal Visions Tarot
4. Joie de Vivre Tarot
5. Halloween Tarot

#Tarot Thoughts On A February Full Moon 2012

Tomorrow, February 7^th brings us a Full Moon in the sign of Leo. Native American tribes refer to it as the Full Snow Moon, the Little Famine Moon, or the Full Hunger Moon, referencing the time of year, weather conditions, and how the tribes were affected. Leo brings in the energy of an increased sense of purpose, and how we creatively express that purpose.

The Full Moon itself is viewed by many as a time for bringing to fruition the seeds that were sown during the New Moon, and releasing those things that are no longer working for  us. While I do hold that to be true, I also believe that the full energy of the Moon can be used to begin new projects. The choice of releasing the old, bringing in the new, or doing a combination of both is up to each individual.

We will be looking at our individual freedom (which is rapidly changing as the structures that make up our society change), as well as our responsibility to community (local and global). We need to take care of ourselves – to create personal time, to take the time to meditate, ground ourselves, and connect with whatever we accept as Spirit. A new paradigm is coming into being – as we adjust to it, we need to find our sense of balance in life – personal/professional, work/play, family/self … the list goes on.

Leo is all about spontaneity and freedom of expression. It is also good to remember that Leo is a Fire sign – it wants to be out and about and doing things! It is time to share stories, and to allow ourselves to grow from both sharing our own stories, and listening to other people’s stories.

Leo also asks us to express our dreams and hopes for the future. To do this, we need to be grounded in the present. Other energies to keep in mind as we navigate the Leo Full Moon are those of the Hierophant (2012 is a number five year, relating to the Hierophant in the Tarot), and the Dragon (from the Chinese New Year, which started January 23^rd).

The Leo Full Moon has a partner in all this – the Aquarius Sun. While the Leo Full Moon is more about individual self-expression, the Aquarius Sun brings our energy and focus to the common good, towards helping humanity as a whole. It is all about community, groups, and social causes. Push/Pull between individual good and common good.

One way to share our stories is through divinatory readings. I am going to add the small thought here that these readings can be done as individuals, or they can be done within a group setting. Or we can read as individuals with a focus on global issues/connections. Do what feels right for you.

This is my offering for the Leo Full Moon. Cards were drawn from Patrick Valenza’s “Deviant Moon Tarot” .

My Story

1. What am I conscious of on this Full Moon? Knight of  Cups
2. What am I not conscious of on this Full Moon? Page of Cups
3. What is coming into my consciousness on this Full Moon? Queen of Swords
4. What do I need to release? The Magician
5. What do I need to bring in? Knight of Wands
6. How can I access my creative self? The Empress
7. How can I best express my creative self as an individual? Five of Swords
8. How can I best express my creative self within community? The Hermit
9. What new goals am I forming? The World
10.  Where are these new goals taking me? Ace of Pentacles

The Seeker is conscious of new information coming into a situation, and, on a more personal level, of the influences that a possible romantic interest is bringing into their life. It can well be that the new insights, and new opportunities, are opening up because they are opening themselves up to another person. 

The Seeker is not yet conscious of the fact that they are accessing their imagination, and their creative/emotional self. They are beginning to experience and express a greater degree of compassion in their life.

What is coming into the consciousness of the Seeker is a need to get to the truth of things – in their own life, and in the world around them. During this time, the Seeker will be walking alone.

The Seeker literally needs to release their need to control everything, and to be the one that makes things happen in their life. They need to step back, take a time out, and learn to flow with life, to allow Spirit to do its work.

What the Seeker needs to bring in is the ability to make decisions on the fly (sometimes pondering too much is not a good thing!), to allow themselves to be impulsive from time to time, and to go on a journey that may come to them in a very sudden manner.

The Seeker can access their creative self by being willing to nurture themselves, to give themselves time and attention. They also need to open themselves up to the feminine mysteries. The Seeker needs to be willing to birth their own ideas.

The Seeker can best express themselves in a creative way as an individual by living their life in harmony with those around them, by not creating or adding to conflict.

The Seeker can best express themselves in a creative way in community by going within themselves, recognizing the answers they will find there, and sharing the strength of that wisdom with others.

The new goals that the Seeker is forming are coming out of the previous cycle of their life – they are at a point where their life is coming together on all levels. They need to take the time to enjoy being “whole”, they need to enjoy their sense of “victory”, before they move on to the next level. The goals that percolate during their time of celebration will be the ones they take into the next cycle of their life.

The new goals are taking the Seeker into the land of opportunity, into a time of success, prosperity and abundance in the physical world, but also into a sense of balance between their physical and spiritual worlds.

I would love to see comments on this interpretation – to see how others interpret this spread!  

Scans were taken from the “Deviant Moon Tarot”, Patrick Valenza, U.S. Games Systems., Inc, 2008.

© January 2012 Bonnie Cehovet

Guess the #Tarot Deck

Here's a snippet from one of our more popular Tarot decks. Can you tell us what deck this card is from and what deck?

Leave your answer in the comments. I'll announce the winner on Friday January 25th. You win bragging rights and a cool spread sheet from U.S. Games Systems Inc.!

Italian Vacation Anyone?

Arnell Ando has created a marvelous slideshow of their grand tour of Italy. She shares this in the hopes that you can see a "bit of the magic & wonder so atmospheric in bella Itali."

Come take a mini vacation with Arnell and friends.

Tarot Art & History Tour ~Italy 2011

Want to go yourself? Check out the upcoming 2012 Italy tour: http://www.arnellart.com/tarot-italy-tour2012.htm

Integrating Card Meanings in a Tarot Reading (via Mary K. Greer)

I asked a group of tarot readers on Facebook to give their top advice for how to combine and integrate card meanings in a spread. It’s one of the things that beginners find most bewildering, but we can all learn more about. Forty-nine people responded (see list of contributors at the end). I combined, edited and grouped the advice to form sets of approaches, moving roughly from the most intuitive to the most analytical. Share this material freely but please include the list of contributors and a link back to this post.

There are no rules to interpretation.

Interpreting Body Language and Facial Expressions in the #Tarot pt 2

Continued from Wednesday's blog.

Confidence and Determination

As strong stance – whether sitting or standing – can convey a sense of confidence, determination, will power, and determination. In the four cards above, notice how each figure is sitting squarely and facing front. There’s a sense of confidence and authority, and a seeming determination to stand firm on whatever situation is before them. Now note how each face is staring straight at you, eyes fixed, with no apparent emotion; none of them will tell you any of their secrets and will not divulge any more information than what they think you need to know.

Interpreting Body Language and Facial Expressions in the #Tarot

By Mike Hernandez, Tarot Reader

www.justenoughtarot.com

Isn’t it amazing how much body language and facial expressions play a part in numerous aspects of our daily lives? I thought about that at the mall the other day, while I was walking around just watching people and meandering in and out of various stores. At one point I realized this is also true of people that appear in the Tarot. It made immediate sense to me, given that the cards reflect all the aspects of our lives.

In this article I’ll demonstrate how body language and facial expressions of the people in the cards expose nuances and subtleties that can add an extra layer of meaning to your readings.

Exposing your true self

Body language can say a lot about your true state of being at any given moment. Although you may think you’re portraying yourself in a positive (or, perhaps, even neutral) manner, your body might be indicating otherwise. Have you ever been in a situation where you say something to someone or some group of people, they take what you say at face value, and then begin doubting what you’ve said soon after for some unknown reason? It could most likely be your body language.

12 Day Tarot Art and History Tour of Northern Italy, Autumn 2011

I appreciate the wonderful Tarot decks U.S. Games is donating to the Tarot Museum in Italy, as well as this opportunity to share about how it came to be that I find myself bringing a suitcase laden with decks and a merry band of Tarot travelers to bella Italia this fall…

Poetry in Tarot

Poetry is a very subjective subject, isn't it? Some like rhyme. Some prefer metered verse. Still others would rather just not read or write poetry at all. In many of the certification programs, there is a step that asks the student to interact with the cards in a different way.

If you Google "tarot poetry", you will come up with a lot of hits. About 4,700,000 even with the search restricted to avoid "THOSE" sites. Let's examine some of what's out there. The majority that I found was on the Major Arcana.

BRINGING TAROT TO THE TABLE: World Tarot Day 2011

On World Tarot Day (May 25th) You Will See one of the Rarest Tarot Images -- Ever.

Before I talk in this guest blog post about World Tarot Day on May 25th, imagine the scene, if you will -- it is a foggy evening in England, November 1921 ... so foggy that travel is being disrupted across the country. Elsewhere in the world, the Japanese Prime Minister is assassinated, and Hitler and Mussolini are as we speak establishing groups which will soon plunge the world into yet another war. However, a spiritual seed is also being sown -- by

The New Year Expressed Through The Aces

We are entering this new year with a new moon in Capricorn, and a partial solar eclipse, also in Capricorn. Layer this over the number four (Emperor) universal energy for the year, and we have some serious power at our disposal!

Wednesday's Mystery Card Revealed

~~~~

So did you guess correctly that Wednesday's mystery card was Temperance from the Rider-Waite Tarot? what do you know about this card? When you get it in a reading, how do you generally interpret it?

Did you know that the Visconti-Sforza Temperance did not have wings? I think that her hair gives the idea of wings. Do you agree? Did you notice that she doesn't have anything flowing from her jugs? You are just left to imagine that she is transferring something. The colors are reflected in the Rider-Waite. Her red arms become the angel's red wings.  Her blonde hair is the same only shorter. Her feet don't touch water and earth like the Rider-Waite Temperance, but both have mountains in the background.

Another bit of trivia about this card is that  it is thought that this card was done by someone other than the artist who did the majority of this deck. Why it is a different artist seems to remain a mystery though.

 

Patrick Valenza takes a unique look at Temperance in his Deviant Moon Tarot pictured above. His moon-faced winged woman is a far cry from what I imagine Plato thought of when he offered up his virtues. Did you know that some people refer to Temperance as Restraint? How does that change your own opinion of this card? Do you already read that as part of the card's meanings?

The curious face of this Temperance draws me in. Is the hidden face of the moon peeking out the one we need to focus on? When you compare it to the sweet and simple angel of the Tell-Me Tarot, do you get different meanings or not? Something else to review is which hand is up and which is down?  Below are the Temperance card from the Tell-Me Tarot and from the Archeon Tarot. What are some things that you see in all of these cards? What is missing from the original Rider-Waite in these others (or re-interpreted) that you notice?



 

What is a Temperance card that you love? Is it one of these or does another one catch your fancy? Think about the colors as well as the vessels in use. What are they pouring? Is it tangible or not tangible? What does that mean to you?

 Looking forward to talking about Temperance...in moderation of course.

 

 

And, just for fun, here's Angel from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He's Temperance in that unpublished Tarot deck from Rachel Pollack and Paul Lee.

 

Witches' Brew

I read this interesting article in the NYTimes yesterday, which features the pagan perspective of Vicki Noble, the author of Motherpeace Tarot. Please read it and let us know what YOU think.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/23/us/23witch.html?_r=1

Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot

Have you seen our new Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot?

This deck provides companion cards to the acclaimed book The Sacred Tarot by C.C. Zain, which explores the relationships between the Tarot, Kabbala, Astrology, and Numerology. The original 1936 black and white images have been redesigned as full-color Egyptian Tarot cards and the deck comes with a 48-page LWB.

Below are eight images from this deck, as well as the box cover image:

 

 

The ISBN for the Brotherhood of Light Egyptian Tarot is 978-1-57281-656-5. The ISBN for The Sacred Tarot book is 978-1-57281-675-6. Each is available at your favorite brick-and-mortar or online bookseller. If you don't see it, just ask for it by name and ISBN.

-- Janet