What are the strengths of each tarot system?

[Chariot]

I'm addressing my query to anybody here who regularly reads with more than one tarot system.  By that I mean the RWS, Thoth,  Marseille, etc.  What are the strengths of each particular system? How do you choose which one to read with, at any given time?

 

I am only familiar with the RWS system, but always wondered about the others.  I'm not sure I want to spend the remaining years of my life (I'm 76 now) learning a new system if it's only going to show me what the RWS system already does.  However, if there is a lot to be gained by learning another system, then maybe I should!  🙂

[Rose Lalonde]

Great discussion topic. Like if a carpenter had 2 kinds of saws that were best for different jobs, but, when left with only one saw, she could still do the work.

 

The Thoth system is my go-to when I'm pathworking, interested in advice for myself, spiritual guidance, etc. (Because it's explicit about the astrology, alchemy, hermetic Qabalah, and color theory that the Golden Dawn Society associated with tarot cards. The ongoing discussion of whether they should have associated those is separate from your post here. I can't argue with the results in my readings, regardless.)

 

TdM is clear and to the point for me, so I prefer it for questions like whether to fix my car or buy a new one, or whether the sitter will get a promotion, etc.  (The way I read TdM doesn't require study, really. It's mostly getting used to seeing eye-rhymes and the way the figures face or turn away from one another, how crowded or not the pips look, plus basic numerology you already know from reading with the RWS.)

 

The RWS falls in between for me. I don't think of it as a different system from the Thoth since both are based on the Golden Dawn Society system. But since they put their own slant on it, made some changes, chose how much of the GD system they illustrated on the cards, and finally, since the art styles are not alike -- they end up reading differently despite their common ancestor. (If anything, the RWS reads more like the TdM for me, but less terse. ymmv, obviously)

[Chariot]

11 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

Great discussion topic. Like if a carpenter had 2 kinds of saws that were best for different jobs, but, when left with only one saw, she could still do the work.

 

The Thoth system is my go-to when I'm pathworking, interested in advice for myself, spiritual guidance, etc. (Because it's explicit about the astrology, alchemy, hermetic Qabalah, and color theory that the Golden Dawn Society associated with tarot cards. The ongoing discussion of whether they should have associated those is separate from your post here. I can't argue with the results in my readings, regardless.)

 

TdM is clear and to the point for me, so I prefer it for questions like whether to fix my car or buy a new one, or whether the sitter will get a promotion, etc.  (The way I read TdM doesn't require study, really. It's mostly getting used to seeing eye-rhymes and the way the figures face or turn away from one another, how crowded or not the pips look, plus basic numerology you already know from reading with the RWS.)

 

The RWS falls in between for me. I don't think of it as a different system from the Thoth since both are based on the Golden Dawn Society system. But since they put their own slant on it, made some changes, chose how much of the GD system they illustrated on the cards, and finally, since the art styles are not alike -- they end up reading differently despite their common ancestor. (If anything, the RWS reads more like the TdM for me, but less terse. ymmv, obviously)

Thank you!  Exactly the kind of information I was hoping to get from this thread.  May I ask you which system you learned first?  Did your knowledge of that system influence your take on the others?  I mean, if I started with Thoth or TdM, would my previous knowledge and familiarity with RWS be a big influence?  Is it possible to 'start from scratch' with tarot systems, if you already know others?

Edited yesterday at 07:02 AM by Chariot

[Rose Lalonde]

11 hours ago, Chariot said:

May I ask you which system you learned first?  Did your knowledge of that system influence your take on the others?  

My first full deck had its own system. Practically an oracle in that sense. Years later, I joined Aeclectic and spent a few years exploring. I think TdM was first. I enjoyed a great reading group we had for a line of cards. I wasn't influenced by my previous deck, because it was so different. Then I tried RWS clones. Then RWS. Then the Golden Dawn deck to dig into the roots of RWS. Then the Thoth. 

 

11 hours ago, Chariot said:

 I mean, if I started with Thoth or TdM, would my previous knowledge and familiarity with RWS be a big influence?  Is it possible to 'start from scratch' with tarot systems, if you already know others?

I do think it's possible. If you don't want the RWS to be a big influence, then focusing on the art in front of you and having a new reading method should do the trick.  Do you read playing cards? I ask because if you aren't thinking of the RWS 7 of cups when looking at the 7 of hearts, you're already on solid ground.  

 

Actually, I can think of one problem I'd have... if I read with another system that also had astrology on the cards, but different associations, like Papus, Journey into Egypt or Holy Light -- that might do my head in. To read the Lovers as Taurus, for example (shudders 💀😅) I'd have a hard time letting go of the meaning of Gemini. -- Not that one is 'right' or 'wrong' or best because it was first, etc  To me it only matters that I have methods that I've made my own that give useful readings.

[Chariot]

22 hours ago, Rose Lalonde said:

My first full deck had its own system. Practically an oracle in that sense. Years later, I joined Aeclectic and spent a few years exploring. I think TdM was first. I enjoyed a great reading group we had for a line of cards. I wasn't influenced by my previous deck, because it was so different. Then I tried RWS clones. Then RWS. Then the Golden Dawn deck to dig into the roots of RWS. Then the Thoth. 

 

I do think it's possible. If you don't want the RWS to be a big influence, then focusing on the art in front of you and having a new reading method should do the trick.  Do you read playing cards? I ask because if you aren't thinking of the RWS 7 of cups when looking at the 7 of hearts, you're already on solid ground.  

 

Actually, I can think of one problem I'd have... if I read with another system that also had astrology on the cards, but different associations, like Papus, Journey into Egypt or Holy Light -- that might do my head in. To read the Lovers as Taurus, for example (shudders 💀😅) I'd have a hard time letting go of the meaning of Gemini. -- Not that one is 'right' or 'wrong' or best because it was first, etc  To me it only matters that I have methods that I've made my own that give useful readings.

Thanks again. No, I have never tried reading with an ordinary playing card deck.  Somehow, it doesn't appeal to me.

 

I actually own a Tarot de Marseilles deck that I've never tried to read with—so I might try reading with it, and see how I get on.  Because the pips aren't illustrated, I can be more ...systematic?...with the meanings, as the artwork won't influence me.

 

The only other pip decks I own are The Neuzeit Tarot by Walter Wegmüller and the Zigeuner Tarot, which is also Wegmüller's.  These are the two most bizarre decks I own, and I've had them for many years, but never tried to read with them.  I just love the artwork, which is why I bought them.  Still love the artwork!  However, the pips, while not illustrated with meanings, like the RWS decks, contain such crowded and strange images that it would be difficult to step back and read them in a pragmatic way.  I think I'll just continue to treat these two decks as a mini art gallery, and actually attempt to read with the more normal Tarot de Marseilles.  🙂

I don't own any Thoth decks ...yet.  🙂

Edited 44 minutes ago by Chariot