Tyldwick Tarot

Ace of Coins "the sacred hoop of my people was one of the many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all..." ~ Black Elk The coin on this card resembles a hoop, which brought to mind the quote by Black Elk. Circles are found throughout many cultures, from the medicine wheels of native people to the sand mandalas of Tibetan Buddhists. For Swiss psychoanalyst Carl Jung, they represented wholeness. As humans, we seek the blessings of health and wealth - the kind of wholeness that will allow us to live life more fully. Most wheels and mandalas begin with a dot in the center that radiate…

Ace of Cups: Here is the beginning of the Cups suit, whose motto might be "I feel." Aces are pure potential and show us what is possible, particularly in the realm of emotions for the Cups suit. Most people generally think of relationships with this suit, but it may also include intuition and spirituality. On this image is an urn/cup with a covering over its top. It makes me think of Pandora's box - what kind of relationship will spring out if the top is taken off? There may be a chance for deep love and friendship, but heartache and betrayal is also possible. Do we choose to be vulnerable and see what happens? The design behind the urn looks similar to the sun design use…

Ace of Staves: Here is the beginning of the Wands/Staves suit, whose motto might be "I create, I do." Aces are raw power and show us what is possible. The Tyldwick Ace of Staves is a simple staff with no leaves sprouting or anything attached to it. It reminds me of a staff one might use in hiking to aid in climbing. And that is indeed what it is - a tool to be USED. The top has a most definite phallic appearance, which represents the creative energy available. The background of the card is a geometric design of squares, indicating a need to bring what we are enthusiastic about into solid reality. Also in the design are 14 smaller red squares - the same number of cards in …

Ace of Swords The suit of swords represents clarity in various guises: ~ the objective truth ~ sudden creative inspiration or problem solving ~ effective communication ~ the light of understanding Yet the sword is double-edged; it can be used to help or harm. The spiraling steel basket around the hilt is more than just a decoration. Along with the cross-guard (hand-guard), they keep the hand from sliding down towards the blade during thrusts and protect the hand from blows by an opponent. Care must be taken with our knowledge and words, or we may wind up with unintended injuries. We need the cross-guard to stop us from crossing boundaries that we don't need to c…

Chariot What I notice in the Chariot card: hall tree bench charioteer statue (possibly Apollo) medieval tapestry on wall 2 Naxian sphinx statues A hall tree bench is often found near the entrance of a home; it usually has hooks or storage space under the seat for coats, gloves or boots. Here it has become a chariot, and the charioteer has stored all his personal stuff so he can concentrate on what's in front of him. He'll have to wait to sit on that comfy seat, as he has important things to do. The charioteer makes me think of Apollo, who in the 3rd century BCE became associated with the sun (merging with the god Helios); he drove his chariot across the sky, maki…

Death What I notice in the Death card: a mirror with the image of a skeleton holding a sickle clock a pump organ two urns on top of the organ Just as the Fool stepped out of the looking glass from one reality to another to begin his life, here something or someone passes back through again to the other side. The skeleton with his sickle becomes a reaper, cutting down what had once been growing and alive. The clock above the mirror indicates that, at least on this side of the mirror, time eventually comes to an end. As the writer of Ecclesiastes put it, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a ti…

Devil What I notice in the Devil card: Mirror (darkened with shadow inside) Goat head on top of mirror Candle sconces (empty) Two statues (fleeing) attached to sconce Empty fireplace The mirror is darkened though there seems to be the shadow of a person's head in it. I am reminded of the biblical phrase, "For now we see through a glass darkly," as well as Plato's Allegory of the Cave. It implies a time when a person can see only shadows of reality. He doesn't have the ability to think clearly, even though he might think he can. The goat head at the top of the mirror is a nod to the Greek god Pan, who is associated with the wildness of nature. He was often depict…

Eight of Coins “I need solitude for my writing; not 'like a hermit' - that wouldn't be enough - but like a dead man.” ― Franz Kafka When I first had a look at this card, I felt like I was inside a room looking out a peephole. The eight faceted jewels suggest we are perfecting a craft or in the process of some sort of development. And as Kafka states, we need the solitude to do so. The distractions of other people, social dramas or happenings, and the "shoulds" can keep us from concentrating on what is at hand. We must manage our resources carefully, which includes our time. The painting in the peephole is from "The Très Riches Heures," a medieval book of hours commi…

Eight of Cups: The "sevens" are generally about assessing and evaluating, but in the "eights" things have been put in order, so now it is very clear what is real and what isn't. There can be no more wasting time with denial or fantasies. And what is seen in this Eight of Cups? An old potting shed is filled with broken and neglected tools. What should have been kept in good working order has been discarded in a dark shed. What should have been valued and appreciated is now ignored and neglected. This relationship is obviously lacking in what Aretha spells out in her song: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. However, the stack of pots do show some order - five on one side and three on the other…

Eight of Staves: The target in this card has a central red circle surrounded by many smaller brown circles. The brown circles represent trial and errors - the many times the mark has been missed. They may also indicate distractions that took attention away from the goal. The arrows are a variety of sizes with different flight feathers attached, implying a variety of strategies used. They have been placed in a holder, meaning the challenge/game has been already played. Now we must wait to hear the "score." It is interesting that no bow is found in this card. Perhaps the bow is our own self; we take aim at the target (make a plan), supply the tension by pulling back the str…

Eight of Swords There’s only one reason to put barbed wire on top of a fence or wall – to keep people from climbing over it. Having spent part of my childhood on a large farm, I can attest to the problems of trying - attempts often ended with a trip to the doctor for a tetanus shot. But one thing I do remember about those acres and acres of fields enclosed by barbed wire fences. There was always a gate somewhere. So why stay here in this one spot and stare at the wall and wire? It’s a good excuse not to have to do anything. I can point and say, “I have no options.” Okay, maybe it does look like I am blocked with no way out from where I’m standing. But if I’ll move my f…

Emperor What I notice in the Emperor card: Lots of neatly arranged books (library) Bust of Greek philosopher (Pythagoras possibly) Armillary sphere Globe Black and white checkerboard floor Antique writing desk I love books, so the library in the background immediately caught my eye. I bet if you asked the Emperor what the native flora and fauna were in his kingdom and he could immediately go to the right books and pull them out. This guy is educated and enjoys learning because it helps him become a better ruler. The neatness of the books is also a hint that he is very organized. I have a tendency to feel more centered inside when my environment isn't chaotic, an…

Empress What I notice in the Empress card: Ephesus statue of Diana/Artemis Outdoor garden with roses and other flowers Tall oaks behind garden wall Planter urns on wall (at least one filled with ivy) The statue of Artemis/Diana is modeled on one discovered in Ephesus. On the lower part of the figure are rows of animals; beside her were probably two deer before they were broken. Archaeologists argue whether she has eggs, breasts or bull testicles on her chest, but regardless, they all are forms of creation and fertility. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals". Though she was a protector, she also led t…

Five of Coins This image appears to be an abandoned building: vines grow up the wall, weeds choke the yard, and old pieces of furniture and other junk litter the area. Yet a set of windchimes made of five dangling circles hangs intact. In this card, the security and stability of the four has given way to the disturbing, disruptive energy of the five. Health, home and our finances may be affected. It feels so hopeless that we may just want to sit in that old, weathered chair chanting the mantra, "Woe is me." But this situation didn't just drop out of the sky, it has been building for some time. And unfortunately, it seems only pain will motivate us to change our circums…

Five of Cups: I can't think of a better image for loss than what is used in this card - a mausoleum. The low-hanging limbs of the trees seem to cling to the building, suggesting a difficulty in letting go and moving on. The iron gates on the mausoleum explicitly make it known that what is gone won't be coming back - the lost won't be found, the broken won't be mended. It wasn't until I saw the reflection of the mausoleum that I realized this area was a swamp. Like those emotions of grief, regret and sorrow, its boggy mud threatens to suck you under with each step. But there is hope... water lilies are blooming in this swamp. The water lily seed begins deep in the darkness…

Five of Staves: In the "fives" of all the suits is the challenge of being human. In the Staves, it represents a clash of how to get things done. This image includes a shield and five javelins, which might seem dire until you notice the painting on the shield. It shows Greek wrestlers participating as athletes in the ancient Olympic Games. Javelin throwing was also part of the games - whoever hurled it further (as long as it landed tip-first) was the winner. The object of these games was not to kill and destroy your opponent, but to best him athletically. In the same way, this card indicates we must prove ourselves by offering the best option or argument for getting someth…

Five of Swords This image reminds me of the many homes around here that were foreclosed on and now sit abandoned and neglected. It resembles what might be the 5 of Pentacles in the RWS, but it is actually a take on a Thoth-inspired meaning; it could be entitled "The Dark Despair of Defeat." But what caused the defeat in the first place? I think the dirty, broken window gives a hint - lack of clarity and detachment when it comes to self-assessment. My daughter and I were watching "Cake Boss" the other night, and one of the women on one team had an extremely strong personality. She demanded the huge cake they were making be stacked in a certain way. Even though her teamm…

Fool What I notice in the card: Mirror/looking glass Mardi Gras-like jester mask looking out of mirror 6 different butterflies around mirror Greyhound balanced on edge of black and white marble mantel Metronome or pyramid-shaped paperweight Featureless artist mannequin The mirror reminds me of "Through the Looking-Glass," the tale of Alice who climbed through the mirror to an alternate reality. Things are not what they seem! The jester mask is on the inside of the mirror, about to come into our reality. Again the mask underscores the fact that what is on the outside is not necessarily a true reflection of what is. The jester's wisdom may not come across as poli…

Fortitude What I notice in the Fortitude card: pool with murky green water garden wall with a protruding lion's head wren The garden itself can represent an unprotected place. In the world outside the safety of our cocoons, we find people and situations that we have to deal with, from "pesky mosquitoes" to "poisonous vipers." The lion is the fiery passion and power we have to deal with these things, but it must be tamed to be useful. Its mouth is closed and its razor-sharp claws are hidden behind the garden wall. In this capacity, it provides us with courage (minus the violence) to meet our challenges; it gives us an inner strength (minus the arrogance) to remain s…

Four of Coins Some people use locks and safes to guard their possessions, and others use magic. In this card, there is a circle made of planetary and alchemical signs. Above it is a stone head of Jupiter and within it is a square filled with numbers. The circle represents the wheel of change - the impermanence of physical life. The Roman god Jupiter (king of gods, sky and thunder) watches over to protect and preserve what is good (I'm sure he's hiding a thunderbolt somewhere). The 4 x 4 square is Jupiter's "magic square" (kamea in Hebrew); these squares were an arrangement of numbers (usually integers) in a square grid, where the numbers in each row, and in each column…

Four of Cups: On a mantel sit four German beer steins with a medieval tapestry behind them. These steins originally had lids to keep out insects. But what is being kept out here? A clue can be found in the tapestry - it is a part of a group of tapestries called "The Hunt of the Unicorn." In this particular tapestry, the unicorn is using its magic to purify the water that had been poisoned by snake venom. The unicorn represents the ideals many of us have when we start something new. Unfortunately, real life rarely lives up to those ideals. I remember when I first started working with women alcoholics and addicts. I wanted to save them, to help turn their lives around. The …

Four of Staves: An artist's palette and a jar holding four brushes and cleaning fluid sit on a table. The background is blank, perhaps what will be painted. The palette is used to mix paints, adjusting the colors until the right shade is reached. This card reminds me of building a house. Though the framework and foundation may have been laid (the blank canvas), there are hundreds of other decisions to be made - choosing what kind of flooring, picking out wallpaper or paint, deciding on faucets and cabinets... The list (mixing colors) seems endless and the number of choices a bit overwhelming. But this card encourages me to celebrate having created a stable base to work f…

Four of Swords The wheelchair is a symbol of being incapacitated, but in this case it is not the body that is the problem but the mind. It is the result of over-thinking, or “analysis paralysis.” We’ve become like a little motorized toy car that has run into the wall and continues to bump into it without going anywhere. What we need to do is stop thinking about the problem and rest our brains. I’ve been amazed in the past that as I’m falling asleep or waking up in the morning, I’ll suddenly find the key to unlock the puzzle that’s been driving me crazy. The solution can also come when my mind is distracted by some mundane task like weeding or cleaning. The other symbol…

Hanged Man What I notice in the Hanged Man: An inverted man (resembling the Vitruvian man) with a sun behind his head Oak leaves/limbs surrounding the painting Newton's cradle Heavy chest with drawers The inverted man is the sun god, known among neopagans as the Oak King. The Oak King was associated with spring and summer - active times of the year when new growth, fertility and abundance reigned. But at Midsummer, when the long days began to get shorter and shorter, the Oak King was "sacrificed" by his other half - the Holly King. The Holly King would reign until Yule, after which the days would gradually start to lengthen again and the Oak King would come back i…

Hermit What I notice in the Hermit card: lots of RED lantern-like hanging lamp fountain statuary (man) in wall niche If you were to collect all the major arcana cards in this deck and fan them out, this one would stand out immediately because it is infused with the color red. Usually I associate red with passion, energy and the life force, but this doesn't seem to fit. In my former employment, I was a bookkeeper, so it wasn't surprising that the phrase "in the red or in the black" passed through my head. Being in the black means you are making enough money to pay bills and have some left over. Being in the red means you are operating with a deficit. So this card in…