Tyldwick Tarot

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…

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…

Six of Staves: The laurel wreath is a connection to the previous card; an Olympic athlete has bested all his challengers and now is crowned as the victor. What has seemed like chaos - one obstacle after another - has now settled down and become a moment of success. The Greek/Roman temple in the architectural design is also symbolic of honor, built for the various gods and goddesses. The red columns on the diagram draw the eye, and remind me these were not just added for beauty, but helped support the heavy marble roof. In fact, the columns are some of the last part of the building still standing at these ancient sites. The Romans later figured out that arches could suppo…

Seven of Staves: Having grown up with four stepbrothers and stepsisters, I understand the desire to protect what is rightfully yours. I can just imagine a boy lining up the seven soldiers on his toy box while warning a younger sibling not to touch what's inside "or else." The toy box represents our creative ideas and projects that need to be protected from others who might try to represent them as their own. Or, they may need to remain hidden from people who constantly rip our dreams apart, telling us they are impractical or impossible. The circus elephants on the toy box imply another group - people who want us to "perform" in traditional ways instead of following our ow…

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…

Nine of Staves: On an ornate table sits a statue of Atlas struggling to hold up his sphere. Today, most people think what he is holding is the earth, but an investigation of classical art and literature finds it to be a celestial sphere. Zeus gave him the job of standing on the earth and holding up the "sky" to prevent the two from returning to their "primordial embrace." So basically, if you don't want to lose the ground you've made, hang in there. The only way to lose at this point is to give up. Of course with any creative endeavor, there is a time when it feels like you're trying to get to the top of the Empire State Building by walking up the steps wearing ankle weig…

Ten of Staves: Holy smoke, all those stacked cords of wood look like the Great Wall of China. A lot of work has been done up to this point. But the ten pieces with red ends (indicating what is important) have become buried beneath other things. It reminds me of when my daughter was born and I made the decision to work part-time in order to spend more time with her. Unfortunately, other people figured I had plenty of free time, so I was constantly barraged with requests to volunteer or help various causes or groups. Before I knew it, the reason I cut my work hours had been buried under a ton of other obligations. Just because we get to the "finished product" doesn't mean o…

Page of Staves: The Page of Staves (elementally speaking) is Earth of Fire, so its not surprising to find this setting to be an outdoor patio of some sort (Earth). The Fire part of his personality comes from his suit (Staves) and can be seen represented by the pair of dragons, the fire pit, the floor sun design and the flames on top of the arch. All Pages are learning the basics in life (Earth), but how they learn is very different. The Page of Staves likes excitement and adventure - pretty much everything fits in his comfort zone if it's new and interesting. If he wanted to learn about the pyramids in Egypt, he wouldn't be content to read about them in a book. He'd be ye…

Knight of Staves: In this card is the Knight of Staves (Fire of Fire), represented by the fireplace as well as the dragons and red roses. The dragons are no longer holding the staffs as they were in the Page of Wands card. Instead, the staffs now have a laurel wreath and an eagle on them, indicating the Page has successfully passed into the next stage: knighthood. As Fire of Fire, he symbolizes the excess/extreme of the Stave court cards. It's a good thing there is a fireplace shield here as a protector from the excessive heat and flying embers created by this Knight. See, he's traded in the open mind of the Page (who loved to learn) for OPINIONS (and yes, they're that bi…

Queen of Staves: The Queen of Staves is Water of Fire elementally; she uses her nurturing skills to get the job done. Her fountain flows down to keep the pool filled below. The flaming burners atop the urns, the red marble, the plants with fiery foliage, and the dragons hidden at the top all speak of her passionate nature. If you need a team leader, she's your gal. Water heated up will become steam - she knows how to get things moving. Yet she has another talent - the ability to attract a posse of people around her who will do what she asks of them. At the pool are a variety of plants (ferns, cattails) and fish that need water to survive. These are her "soldiers;" she kno…

King of Staves: Here is the King of Staves, elementally known as Air of Fire. The symbols of air can be seen in the window (the sky), the eagles and the French horn. Fire is represented by the red marble, red foliage, and sun design in the flooring. It is interesting to note the two staffs/spears that have been seen in the other three court cards of this suit have now increased to four, suggesting stability in this fiery suit. The heating of air causes it to rise, as with a hot air balloon, allowing a wide overview (much like the height and perspective the eagle can attain). Such clarity of vision is needed when leading/ruling others. He has to make sure his windows are k…

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…

Two of Cups: In this card is an image of a formal English garden; several yards apart are two huge pots of flowers. Both the pots and flowers are similar, indicating a relationship between people who may enjoy the same hobbies, have the same goals, share the same beliefs, or endorse the same political party. What they have in common is the spark that can create an abiding friendship, partnership or romantic commitment. Likewise, the slim, pyramid-shaped garden ornaments between the pots may represent common friends who introduce the pair to each other. The formality of the garden suggests that this is not a "one of" encounter; this relationship will develop some roots and…

Three of Cups: High on a roof top are three urns, one of which has been put to use as a nesting site for storks. These birds have long been seen as symbols of good luck, fertility and abundance. The partnership of the Two of Cups has now produced something of worth and value, and now it is time to celebrate its success. Yet it is not just two people this card represents, but also a group of people ("tribe") who have common interests and use their love of this interest to support, encourage and create. The decorative iron gate is a large part of the image of the card and seems to be a protective measure. It is not meant to exclude so much as it is to provide a sanctuary fo…

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 …

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…

Six of Cups: My first impression of this card was a vacation picture someone took while at the beach. But then I noticed the inscriptions on the concrete rail. It made me think of memorials, like the Vietnam Veterans Wall or the bronze inscriptions of the 9/11 victims at the twin pools in New York. I've also had friends who planted trees to remember their loved ones as a living memorial, much like the six pots of plants in the card. Such memorials can help us integrate the past with the present; it is a way to learn rather than to simply regret. It is not necessary to shut the door on the past, but it is important to appreciate and live in the present moment. The watering…

Seven of Cups: On an elaborately decorated table sit seven cups; on either side of the row is a vase holding a peacock feather. Behind the cups is a statue of Mahamayuri, one of several Wisdom Kings and Queens in the Buddhist pantheon. As guardians and protectors, these figures were generally depicted with ferocious appearances in order to frighten and destroy evil and ignorance. Mahamayuri however, was generally shown with a peaceful countenance and riding a peacock. In choosing what will fulfill us emotionally, this queen reminds us to look beyond sensual pleasures and the desires of the ego. Wisdom is needed in making this choice, and she warns us not to be impulsive b…

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…

Nine of Cups: Nine lovely decanters of perfume are lined up across a dresser. Smell can flood us with memories, change our mood and even influence our work performance. Our sense of smell is connected to the olfactory bulb, a part of the brain's limbic system that is often called the "emotional brain." Our brains forge a link between a smell and memory; when we encounter the smell again, the memory associated with it is recalled and produces an emotion. Here in these decanters are various moods we can choose from - the woodsy smell of confidence, the spicy smell of sensuality, the citrusy smell of focused energy, the fresh floral smell of an exciting beginning. These frag…

Ten of Cups: Seeing the cabinet filled with various containers (cups, pitchers, teapots, vases, etc.) in this card reminded me of a visit I made to see my grandmother in the nursing home years ago. She took me to see a quilt that hung on her friend's wall across the hall. Each square marked some part of the woman's life: her diploma, a wedding picture, symbols of her career, beloved pets, children and grandchildren, hobbies and friends. Like the cabinet filled with the containers, it was a testament to the emotional peaks in her life. It marked a life of emotional fulfillment, a life blessed by many experiences, challenges and people. The quilt squares and containers are …

Page of Cups: This young fellow has a heart as pure as the white roses beneath his portrait, and he's as sweet as the fruit (oranges?) growing on either side of the roses. Being elementally Earth of Water, his sweet side often shows up in physical ways. He'll want to kiss any boo-boo to make it better, and he'll bring you a bouquet of dandelion flowers he found while out playing in the yard. He's a bit of a dreamer, but that trait makes it easier for him to connect with his intuition and to take what he learns this way seriously instead of discounting it. The small pool at the bottom indicates how he sees life - everyone is a reflection of their emotions. As a result, thi…

Knight of Cups: Here is the Knight of Cups, elementally known as Fire of Water. Two dolphin figurines emphasize his watery nature and the fireplace itself his fire. A clock sits on the mantel, and like some of the other knights, he is driven by a need to get things done before time runs out, leading sometimes to a wonderful spontaneous experience and other times to an impulsive disaster. Yet the white flowers in the vases show his motives are generally pure. The dolphin figures speak to his need to be supportive and encouraging. He likes being the "white knight" that sweeps others off their feet with his kindness and help. The downside to this knight can be seen in the an…

Queen of Cups: The Queen of Cups is elementally Water of Water - enough to float a barge and enough in which to drown. There are multiple images of this element in the card: the head of Poseidon on the wall (the god of water rules her head and heart), the two dolphin-like fountains and the large pool of water. A magpie sits atop the garden wall, a symbol of omen and prophecy, and indicates this woman's intuitive and empathetic gifts. It's not unusual for her to see a coworker and remark, "Your eyes look so sad. Do you want to talk about what is wrong?" She may have a sudden feeling about someone or something, rush to get where they are, and find that funny feeling helped …

King of Cups: The King of Cups is elementally Air of Water. The window and eagles (on the vases) show his association with air, and the swans and clouds represent a combination of both elements. His gift is being able to maintain his composure and detachment while in the middle of emotional dramas. Like the swan that floats atop the water instead of sinking down into it, he can see with clarity what is going on in a situation without being blinded by all the emotional muck. On the table by the window is a hurricane lamp, and it reminds me of a lighthouse in a storm. It is his light that can shine through all the chaos and help keep relationships, groups, businesses, etc. …