8 of Swords picture in the RWS deck

[Marisa Kirisame]

Among all these intriguing (and mainly symbolical) pictures, the girl on the 8 of Swords enjoyed my special attention: she reminds me of these scary Japanese vengeful spirits with long black hair - onryo. Even my boyfriend is afraid of them, as they're quite atmospheric. And the environment further adds the tension: swords, bondage, barren plain with a lone mountain. I think she'd make a great character for a horror movie or a videogame with this appearance, and what do you think of her?

 

Also, can she make a significator for an onryo? xD

[ToadieOdie]

I googled onryō to make sure I understood what you were talking about and then I clicked on the google images link. I think the thing about the Eight of Swords and the onryō here would mean to seal it away or restrict its freedom of movement or its ability to act. I don't know which deck you're looking at, but I think this is a critical point to keep in mind with this card. Attached to my post is four versions of this card that I hope illustrates what I'm getting at. They all depict females in this card as you have described, so they are in keeping with the spirit of what you're talking about, but they also remain true to the meaning of this card in various ways.

 

 

For those that would like to know more about what an onryō is, you can read about it here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onryō

[EmpyreanKnight]

I love scary stories! This thread on the onryō reminds me of the Yotsuya Kaidan, the classic (and cursed?) tale of Oiwa, the wife who was betrayed and murdered by her lout of a husband so that he can marry a wealthy dame. The bloody vengeance her ghost served up to those who wronged her was downright terrifying.

 

This reminds me of one of my favorite decks - the Ghosts and Spirits Tarot. Every card presents a specter, spirit, or ghostly tale, and the Oiwa the onryō haunts the Five of Wands. I'm sure you'd love it, Marisa!

 

Here's a pic of the card in case you're curious:

 

[EmpyreanKnight]

Also, welcome to the forum, Marisa. Glad to have you here. ^-^

[ToadieOdie]

 

Oh! That is a creepy card and sounds like the perfect deck for paranormal writer readings.  <3 I need to check it out... >:D

 

 

And yes, it is a pleasure to meet you Marisa! <3 :hug:

[EmpyreanKnight]

IKR? If you check out the USG link in my previous post, there is a Booklet button there that you can click on to download a pdf copy of the LWB. It tells the story of the wraith presented in each card plus the divinatory meanings. There are some youtube videos that show the cards too, so you can see if they are to your liking.

 

Just looking at the cards, reading their tales, and cross-referencing them with some meaty books on ghostly lore, checking out the internet for the various accounts on encounters with these spirits - studying a deck has never been so much fun. :))

[ToadieOdie]

It's now on my wish list. >:D

[Marisa Kirisame]

Thanks, that sure is a horror deck! I loved the classic story as well, it's really scary, though my boyfriend liked various kitsune tales more (he wants me to get a deck with foxes).

 

The image I was talking about originates from the basic RWS deck drawn by Pamela Colman Smith, which I'm sure everyone here had seen, hence the multiple variations on different decks. Though I don't understand how discussing the artistic value of a drawing and the similarity of the woman depicted and the scary Japanese spirit can fit in "Tarot Techniques".

[EmpyreanKnight]

Hi Marisa! I like kitsunes too, tho I'm more partial to tanukis, at least their more benign fellers that is.

 

I just can't resist going off into a tangent since I get excited about how ghosts have been portrayed in divinatory media. However, the original topic centered on the discussion of how the bound lady in the 8 of Swords resembles a vengeful spirit in some horrific Japanese tales. If you notice, the threads in the Tarot Techniques section center on the discussion of a particular Tarot card, its meanings, usage, images, symbolism, and ways to use it. The Talking Tarot section is devoted towards the discussion of various Tarot topics in general, so I transferred the thread here. :)

[EmpyreanKnight]

Regarding the 8 of Swords - I've encountered some tales of Bound Ghosts, and some of them are quite horrific. There is a fictional rope-bound spirit who died of strangling in the 13 Ghosts movie that is called The Bound Woman. She is the 3rd denizen of the Black Zodiac, the avatar of the Black Gemini. This is her story:

 

Susan LeGrow had a privileged life and was a member of her school's cheerleading squad. Her parents were the richest people in town, thus instantly making her the most popular girl at her school. However, Susan also had a defining flaw: her treatment of men. She used her beauty to flirt and toy with them, leaving many men heartbroken. Her friends warned her she would regret it someday, but she didn't listen to them.

 

During her Senior year, Susan dated the captain of the school football team, Chet Walters. When Chet caught Susan with another boy on Prom Night, he angrily clubbed Susan's new boyfriend to death and tied Susan up. He then killed her by strangling her with his tie and breaking her neck, and buried her body under the 50-yard line of the school football field.

 

This Black Gemini ghost looks like a very apt 8 of Swords to me. I like how the card corresponds to the first decan of Gemini, and how her death by asphyxiation is also related to the element of Air, which is attributed not only to the sign of Gemini but to the suit of Swords too. There are just so many amazing synchronicities at work here. ^-^

[Marisa Kirisame]

Oh, 13 Ghosts, I've seen that one - my boyfriend likes it since childhood. Maybe Tarot served as an inspiration for this. There are two of these too, the original and the newer remake.

[EmpyreanKnight]

Oh! I didn't know that the 2001 movie is actually a remake of a 1960 original. I'm now going to check the latter out, I just hope it's at least as good. Thanks Marisa. :)

[Marisa Kirisame]

No problem. We didn't know about the original movie too before he showed me a 2001 remake and I then found the movie's website where they mentioned the old 13 Ghosts.

What card would be the Jackal, though?

 

Also, if anyone of you is an artist and gets inspired, I'd really like to see a drawing of onryo spirit in the role of 8 Swords lady (my own drawings are no good, being childlike :( ).

[Saturn Celeste]

I've just got to jump in here too!  I happen to love the 13 Ghosts movie!  I've seen the original one and it used 3D glasses.  It has a flash that warns you to put your glasses on for the ghost!  But the remake is the one that I love, it's the house!  It's so amazing!  I don't think the premise of the ghosts is based on the tarot, but instead it's based on the Zodiac.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirteen_Ghosts

[ToadieOdie]

I have not seen either version of this movie.  :o I feel totally left out on this one. I wonder if either is available on Netflix...

[Marisa Kirisame]

It is based on Zodiac, but the inspiration for a single idea often comes from different sources. The scary bound Dark Gemini lady is quite a coincendence to ignore.

[ToadieOdie]

I agree. That's why I would like to see this movie for myself - either version would be fine. I wonder if my mother would be interested in watching it with me?

[Marisa Kirisame]

Watch the newer one - it has more flashy stuff and a better house. Will be easier to chew these days.

[Saturn Celeste]

I agree. That's why I would like to see this movie for myself - either version would be fine. I wonder if my mother would be interested in watching it with me?

It does show boobies briefly if you get the uncut version.  I looked on Netflix and didn't find it.  Amazon has used copies that start around $1.52.

[ToadieOdie]

I agree. That's why I would like to see this movie for myself - either version would be fine. I wonder if my mother would be interested in watching it with me?

It does show boobies briefly if you get the uncut version.  I looked on Netflix and didn't find it.  Amazon has used copies that start around $1.52.

 

 

 

Thank you for the heads up. I'll make sure Scholar Owl gets the warning so he doesn't blow up with embarrassment like he did when he watched Underworld (I forget which one) with us that one night. ::) Man that kid is so uptight sometimes. lol

[EmpyreanKnight]

I'm just happy that my friend who's a connoiseur of old classics has a copy of the original 13 Ghosts. I hope that it's in a disk at least lol. Going to watch it back to back with the remake. :)