Tyldwick Tarot

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

Three of Staves: On top of a chest sits a model of the ship Santa Maria, the flagship of Columbus on his first voyage attempt to discover the New World. People generally don’t build historic models of cars, planes or ships that weren’t of some importance, so this card indicates reaching an important step toward one’s goal. The ship also makes me think of the phrase “my ship has come in.” This phrase originated in areas along the coast where families made their money from the sea; mothers and wives often had to run a tab with tradesmen for food, clothing or other supplies. When their husbands or sons returned and were paid, these women could pay off the credit they had bee…

Two of Staves: In this image, two spikes of a red hot poker (aka torch lily) stand against a bare background. This plant is a native of Africa, so it likes lots of sun and heat. Hummingbirds love these flowers. Here, one inflorescence (cluster of flowers) is in full bloom while another is just beginning; hummingbirds could enjoy the fully opened flowers on the one spike, but would have to wait a while for the other spike's flowers to completely open. In the same way, we often find ourselves enjoying some part of life, but wondering, "Is this all there is?" What we have is good, but there might be something even better out there. We begin to feel restless. Should we mainta…

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 …

World What I notice in the World card: fixed sign symbols in crown molding dancing Shiva dogwood flowers three geometric solids : tetrahedron, sphere, cube The fixed astrological symbols (Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius and Taurus) in the crown molding suggest the grounding qualities of stabilization, determination, depth and persistence. They remind me even though things are constantly changing in the physical world, there is a center within where there is peace. In Hinduism, the Supreme Being is seen as having three tasks: creation, preservation and dissolution and recreation. Shiva (seen in this card) represents the destruction and regeneration stage. In this particula…

Judgement What I notice in the Judgement card: wallpaper with people (top) small altar with angel blowing trumpet two jack-in-the-box toys The wallpaper at the top of the card shows busy people going about their day. Like most of us, these people show how goal focused we can be to the extent that we are oblivious to the more subtle spiritual truths around us. The small altar's angel is probably Gabriel, often connected to the trumpet blowing angel in Revelations 11 declaring the kingdom of God had come. I'm not sure how most fundamental Christians missed the earlier statement of Jesus that the kingdom of heaven was within, which to me implies an inner awakening ra…

Sun What I notice in the Sun card: A statue of Surya Two large vases full of sunflowers Sun design on the wall and rug Surya is a sun god and the chief of the classical planets in Hindu astrology. He is often depicted riding a chariot harnessed by seven horses (or one horse with seven heads) which represent the seven colors of the rainbow or the seven chakras. He is associated with healing: in one Hindu legend, a man with leprosy was inspired to write verses in honor of Surya, and by the time he finished the last verse, he was cured. Surya represents the wholeness and balance that comes after the Fool has gained wisdom (through the previous majors) and been made aw…

Moon What I notice in the Moon card: lobster 2 dog statues pagoda-like models on the mantel a mirror with a full moon inside Those who eat seafood are well aware of the need for nut crackers to open the hard exoskeleton of lobsters to get to the meat inside. Humans aren't much different; we like to appear tough on the outside to hide our vulnerability on the inside. In fact, we do it so well, we sometimes hide and repress our emotions and memories from ourselves. The two greyhound dog statues remind me of guard dogs. They are the ego's helpers if we chance a peek at what lies in our unconscious. Their "woofs" are translated into fearful ideas about what we might …

Star What I notice in the Star card: water fountain in the shape of a hexagram Greek pottery piece flowers and ivy The water trickling down from the mouth of the fountain represents the cleansing and refreshing properties of water (much needed after the Tower experience). The hexagram symbol around the fountain is an alchemical one. The union of the fire symbol (triangle pointing up) with the water symbol (triangle pointing down) is a combination of opposites representing transmutation. In alchemy, that would translate to changing lead to gold, but in spiritual terms, it might signify enlightenment after experiencing the dark night of the soul. The fusion of the tw…

Tower What I notice in the Tower card: picture (glass cracked) of the Tower of Babel masks around the frame rug under table with star design The biblical story of the Tower of Babel tells of how (after the Great Flood) the people got together to build a tower to heaven. God saw what they were up to and zapped them so they spoke different languages. Without being able to communicate, they gave up their effort. Various rabbinic sources offer explanations for the the story. One suggests the people were motivated by wanting to be protected (no more floods) and special: "God has no right to choose the upper world for Himself, and to leave the lower world to us; therefor…

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…

Temperance What I notice in the Temperance card: painting of an angel (dressed half in red, half in blue) surrounded by an arch figures below painting (appear to be two angels on either side of a person) I will have to preface this post by saying most of what I see symbolically in this card is 99% from my imagination. This is the first card I've come to that I did not like (partially because I'm not fond of angels but mostly because details - even enlarged - were impossible to make out). The angel in the painting wears two colors: red and blue. The red color reminds me of the angel Michael, the commander of the celestial forces who brings a sword. The blue color r…

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…

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…

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…

Wheel of Fortune What I notice in the Wheel of Fortune: Outdoor garden with roses and ivy Water fountain with wheel below Four stone figures/faces The garden has two types of plants - annuals that die each year (some of the flowers and herbs), perennials that will come back for several years before dying (such as the roses and ivy). In the perennial group there is also evergreens (like the ivy) and deciduous plants that lose their leaves each winter. The garden is a perfect analogy for the changes that occur over time. Some changes seem quick (annuals), some a little slower (perennials), and some we hardly notice (evergreen perennials). The water drips downward to…

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…

Justice What I notice in the Justice card: a set of scales an ornate mirror animals at the top of the mirror - strange bug-eyed birds and a lion's head (possibly) unknown "dust-around" in the shape of a cottage two vases of fresh flowers One item that always seems to be in most Justice card is a set of scales, which for me imply fairness, equality and balance. It makes me think of trying to see-saw with my young grandson. He is so much lighter than I am, if we try to do the regular way I end up doing all the work because I am heavier. But if I make an adjustment - either put both grandsons on one end or move myself up the board toward the center point - the weigh…

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…

Lovers What I notice in the Lovers card: a painting of the Fountain of Diana a bust of Venus/Aphrodite two small frames of two different women table with drawers The painting in the background comes from a sculpture that originally topped a fountain that shows Diana reclining with a stag (that now is in the Louvre). What an interesting piece to use in the Lovers! Diana was a virgin goddess, and she required the same commitment from those who served her. Once a man stumbled upon her bathing, and Diana turned him into a stag; his own hunting dogs killed him. She is the force that persuades a person to make a choice to stay "pure" and foc…

Pope (Hierophant) What I notice in the Pope card: a stone statue of a pope a golden throne with cherubs and a crown on top a basilica-like room windows That the pope's statue is made of stone speaks to the importance of tradition - "But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed." (Galations 1:8). What you get from the Pope is knowledge and doctrine, as well as a sense of belonging (you're a part of the group). But you must "drink the kool-aide" and not question what has been taught. This could apply to more than just religion. I've had professors who held just as tightly to t…