Cookie Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Over the last year or so since I took up tarot, I have developed an interest in not only the meaning etc, but also the myths and lore that seems to surround tarot. They absolutely fascinate me, and I suspect that tarot has a bigger influence on days of yore & trends than historians would have us believe. I suspect, like most folk legends and Trixie tales, there is a little truth in them all. From the gems i've picked up from books & sites, here are a few i can remember off the top of my head. If anyone has any that they've heard/read I would love to hear them. Unlucky 13, which is very common in modern day culture, is said to have originated from The Death card. This could well be true, as in medieval times right up to late Victorian the mortality rates were so high that the Death card probably meant exactly that The banker J.P Morgan was said to have sold all his shares in a railroad after receiving the 6 of wands and after the tarot reader predicting an economic crash. Days later the market crashed and he bought the company back for 10% of what he sold it for. You could say his huge empire is built on the 6 of wands Wanda Gag who wrote the Disney presentation is said to have based Snow White on The Empress Shakespeare & the American poet T.S Eliot are said to have been heavily influenced by The Tarot. The ancient symbolism & archetypes are said to have opened up their imaginations to the universe...something that Dion Fortune & Jung adhered to. T.S def has references to tarot in some of his poems. And in the late 1940's an Italian man is said to have received a reading in Sicily that predicted his death (must of been some hard-core cards), he was so freaked out that he shot himself that night. The reader's prediction was right! This one def sounds dodgy though.
Raggydoll Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 The story that springs to mind (if I remember it correctly) is of an apartment that was burglarized. The weird thing was that it looked like if the burglar had stopped in his tracks and left the place without actually taking anything. In the bedroom the policemen found an open drawer and in there was a tarot deck. And on top of the deck was the Death card. So they came to the conclusion that the burglar was superstitious and got scared from seeing that card... Makes me think that it might be a good idea to always keep your cards out, just in case ;)
Cookie Posted October 13, 2018 Author Posted October 13, 2018 Thanks. Yes, good one. And sounds like the sort of thing that would happen in New Orleans or Haiti ... but i'm only guessing.
Raggydoll Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Thanks. Yes, good one. And sounds like the sort of thing that would happen in New Orleans or Haiti ... but i'm only guessing. Yeah, you are right it does sound like that! It reminds me a bit about the Bond movie “Live and let die” and the superstitious people featured in it.
PathWalker Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Shakespeare heavily influenced by tarot? Can I ask where that info comes from? Thank you PathWalker
Raggydoll Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Don’t know about Shakespeare but I do know that Ian Fleming and Crowley knew each other quite well. And apparently Fleming (being a naval officer) introduced Crowley to Winston Churchill during WW2. It is said that Crowley gave advice as to how they could take advantage of the superstitious beliefs of their enemies. Crowley was also said to be the one who suggested they use the V-sign as a psychological warfare against Nazis.
Cookie Posted October 13, 2018 Author Posted October 13, 2018 Shakespeare heavily influenced by tarot? Can I ask where that info comes from? Thank you PathWalker Yes, i think it was one of the Qabbalah writers like maybe Gareth Knight. Or it could have been on a tarot site ... i don't know. Or both. As i said, this is myth, tarot lore, like did King Arthur exist?. It may be true it may not be true. Shakespeare certainly uses many archetypes, i haven't read all his work (only one play at school) so I can't say.
Raggydoll Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Shakespeare heavily influenced by tarot? Can I ask where that info comes from? Thank you PathWalker Yes, i think it was one of the Qabbalah writers like maybe Gareth Knight. Or it could have been on a tarot site ... i don't know. Or both. As i said, this is myth, tarot lore, like did King Arthur exist?. It may be true it may not be true. Shakespeare certainly uses many archetypes, i haven't read all his work (only one play at school) so I can't say. This has been discussed over at ATF: https://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=51163
Guest Night Shade Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Great subject, by the way! :) I agree. I know absolutely nothing about tarot lore, so I'm learning a lot already. I especially like that bit about Snow White being inspired by the Empress - do you know any more about that?
PathWalker Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Shakespeare heavily influenced by tarot? Can I ask where that info comes from? Thank you PathWalker Yes, i think it was one of the Qabbalah writers like maybe Gareth Knight. Or it could have been on a tarot site ... i don't know. Or both. As i said, this is myth, tarot lore, like did King Arthur exist?. It may be true it may not be true. Shakespeare certainly uses many archetypes, i haven't read all his work (only one play at school) so I can't say. This has been discussed over at ATF: https://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=51163 Thank you :)
Cookie Posted October 13, 2018 Author Posted October 13, 2018 Don’t know about Shakespeare but I do know that Ian Fleming and Crowley knew each other quite well. And apparently Fleming (being a naval officer) introduced Crowley to Winston Churchill during WW2. It is said that Crowley gave advice as to how they could take advantage of the superstitious beliefs of their enemies. Crowley was also said to be the one who suggested they use the V-sign as a psychological warfare against Nazis. How interesting, yes this is the sort of stuff I love. I know Crowley was very influential around this time ... more than he is credited for by the historians. I'm not big on Bond, but i bet there is a villain loosely based on Crowley in his books. I was going to look up the 2nd world war because I read that fortune telling was huge then, and we were desperate so divination would have filtered into the higher echelons of society and maybe into the secret service. I also read things about Elizabeth I and her dealings with John Dee, he was an astrologer and alchemist and one time confidant of the queen, and he read her fortune often i believe And also I read that Victoria had her tea leaves and cards read after Albert died. It's hard to say if it's a myth or not, as she would have been inclined to keep it hush hush. But i'm going to do some research when i've a bit of time.
Cookie Posted October 13, 2018 Author Posted October 13, 2018 Great subject, by the way! :) I agree. I know absolutely nothing about tarot lore, so I'm learning a lot already. I especially like that bit about Snow White being inspired by the Empress - do you know any more about that? Hi Night Shade, thanks, yes, i read that quite recently,i'll have a think & get back to you... I scan/read quite a bit, mostly nonsense. I also read that Disney got Snow White from Grimm's fairy tales, and they were def influenced by archetypes, symbolism and magic
Raggydoll Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 Don’t know about Shakespeare but I do know that Ian Fleming and Crowley knew each other quite well. And apparently Fleming (being a naval officer) introduced Crowley to Winston Churchill during WW2. It is said that Crowley gave advice as to how they could take advantage of the superstitious beliefs of their enemies. Crowley was also said to be the one who suggested they use the V-sign as a psychological warfare against Nazis. How interesting, yes this is the sort of stuff I love. I know Crowley was very influential around this time ... more than he is credited for by the historians. I'm not big on Bond, but i bet there is a villain loosely based on Crowley in his books. I was going to look up the 2nd world war because I read that fortune telling was huge then, and we were desperate so divination would have filtered into the higher echelons of society and maybe into the secret service. I also read things about Elizabeth I and her dealings with John Dee, he was an astrologer and alchemist and one time confidant of the queen, and he read her fortune often i believe And also I read that Victoria had her tea leaves and cards read after Albert died. It's hard to say if it's a myth or not, as she would have been inclined to keep it hush hush. But i'm going to do some research when i've a bit of time. The character Blofeld is supposed based on Crowley. I’m not a huge Bond fan myself, but Live and let die has a special place in my heart since Jane Seymour was one of the first tarot readers I saw on TV. It made my own interest feel more cool and accepted I guess :)
Cookie Posted October 13, 2018 Author Posted October 13, 2018 I was thinking of him....the one with the bald head. I've never seen the film but i know the villain. Bond films on are on TV here constantly. I've never seen one, but now i'll watch Live & Let Die for sure.
Raggydoll Posted October 13, 2018 Posted October 13, 2018 I was thinking of him....the one with the bald head. I've never seen the film but i know the villain. Bond films on are on TV here constantly. I've never seen one, but now i'll watch Live & Let Die for sure. Yes you must watch it! Things you don’t wanna miss: how Solitaire’s (Jane Seymour’s) interpretations relate to the cards she pulls (if you think they relate or make sense, and if you feel that her card meanings are still valid in these modern times) and what type of spread(s) she uses. Plus, notice that they actually use two different decks in this movie (none of them being the Thoth though, so Crowley might not have been so pleased had he lived to see it ;D ). Would so very much like to hear your thoughts afterwards (don’t sweat, I won’t hunt you down if you don’t tell me about it X-D ). This is such a fun movie to study once you know a bit (or a lot) about tarot. Bond also interprets some cards, and his interpretations are.. interesting. Ok, I’m gonna stop now because I realize that I sound like a complete nerd. This movie just gets me a bit nostalgic! I was 14 the first time I saw it and it was a friend of mine who borrowed me her VHS copy (yes, this was back in the 90s 8) ) because she knew I was into Tarot so she was sure I would love this movie :)
Cookie Posted October 14, 2018 Author Posted October 14, 2018 Yes i watched a clip on youtube, i didn't realise it was from the 70's. i like 70's films, like The wicker man & clockwork orange etc ... they have style. yes, i'll watch it soon & let you know, for sure!
Raggydoll Posted October 14, 2018 Posted October 14, 2018 Yes i watched a clip on youtube, i didn't realise it was from the 70's. i like 70's films, like The wicker man & clockwork orange etc ... they have style. yes, i'll watch it soon & let you know, for sure! Yes, 70s movies are so cool!
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