Spritual/Witchy/Pagan Meanings for Tarot Cards

[darkkittie099]

Hello everybody! :)

 

I was wondering if anybody had any suggestions for a book on the more spiritual meanings of the tarot cards? (preferably from a witchy/pagan standpoint). I have meanings for so many other facets of life but no so for more spiritual questions. It doesn't have to be a book either, it can be a blog or any other type of resource. Thanks everybody for the help! ^^

[Page of Ghosts]

I often think about the Hanged Man as when Odin pierced himself with his spear and hung on the Yggdrasil over a well so he could learn the secrets and magic of the runes. Is that the sort of thing you mean? It ties nicely in with the sacrifice and trial aspect of XII of course, heh.

[RavenOfSummer]

Hi darkkittie! Not sure if this is helpful to you, but maybe you would want to try working with a deck that has a strong pagan spiritual emphasis? For example, I know the Wildwood Tarot has a strong spiritual basis, including cards such as the Green Man, the Green Woman, and the Shaman. I believe the companion book talks a lot about the spiritual basis, for example linking the cards to the Wheel of the Year. (I don't actually own this deck but this is my understanding...for anyone who has it please correct me if I'm wrong!)

 

I do own the Celtic Wisdom deck, which definitely has a Celtic shamanism basis and discusses related spiritual concepts in the companion book. It's OOP but a beautiful deck. Another good option might be the Green Witch Tarot. There could be lots of others, maybe others could chime in.

 

In terms of working with any deck on a more spiritual level, I would actually recommend a good book on the history of tarot symbolism, such as Robert Place's book. The origin of the concepts and symbols of the tarot are very mystically spiritual in nature, so learning more about that background could help to apply those spiritual concepts to any deck. The tarot first developed in Renaissance Europe and as such was developed through a Christian lens, but the spiritual ideas represented go back much further, owing a lot to ancient Egypt in particular. I found the book absolutely fascinating.

 

I often think about the Hanged Man as when Odin pierced himself with his spear and hung on the Yggdrasil over a well so he could learn the secrets and magic of the runes. Is that the sort of thing you mean? It ties nicely in with the sacrifice and trial aspect of XII of course, heh.

 

Very interesting tie-in Page of Ghosts!

[Trogon]

I am working through Rachel Pollack's "Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom". I am finding that she has included a lot of discussion of what spiritual symbolism is included for each card. Many esoteric aspects of each card are discussed, as are the more physical aspects. As such, the spiritual, as well as psychological and physical (ie "regular life") aspects of each card are discussed. Though, when she gives divinatory meanings of the card (at the end of the each article), they mostly pertain to the more mundane aspects of a person's life.

 

So, I'm not certain if it will be quite what you're looking for, but I do feel that "Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom" does cover many aspects of each card. The symbolism, the spiritual and psychological, is discussed in enough depth that you can use that to add to the usual divinatory meanings of the cards. Ms. Pollack also gives us a good starting point for meditations on the cards so that we can add our own revelations on each card.

 

If you find a different book which addresses what you seek, I still highly recommend personal mediations on each card. This is where journaling can come into play for the student of Tarot (and after 25 years, I'm still a "student" of Tarot), because you can add notes of these different meanings to each card's journal entry.

 

Hope this was of some help to you.

[darkkittie099]

I often think about the Hanged Man as when Odin pierced himself with his spear and hung on the Yggdrasil over a well so he could learn the secrets and magic of the runes. Is that the sort of thing you mean? It ties nicely in with the sacrifice and trial aspect of XII of course, heh.

 

Yes! Something like that :). Love your interpretation of the hanged man btw. I can definitely see that story of Odin in the card :o ;D.

[darkkittie099]

Hi darkkittie! Not sure if this is helpful to you, but maybe you would want to try working with a deck that has a strong pagan spiritual emphasis? For example, I know the Wildwood Tarot has a strong spiritual basis, including cards such as the Green Man, the Green Woman, and the Shaman. I believe the companion book talks a lot about the spiritual basis, for example linking the cards to the Wheel of the Year. (I don't actually own this deck but this is my understanding...for anyone who has it please correct me if I'm wrong!)

 

I do own the Celtic Wisdom deck, which definitely has a Celtic shamanism basis and discusses related spiritual concepts in the companion book. It's OOP but a beautiful deck. Another good option might be the Green Witch Tarot. There could be lots of others, maybe others could chime in.

 

In terms of working with any deck on a more spiritual level, I would actually recommend a good book on the history of tarot symbolism, such as Robert Place's book. The origin of the concepts and symbols of the tarot are very mystically spiritual in nature, so learning more about that background could help to apply those spiritual concepts to any deck. The tarot first developed in Renaissance Europe and as such was developed through a Christian lens, but the spiritual ideas represented go back much further, owing a lot to ancient Egypt in particular. I found the book absolutely fascinating.

 

 

Thank you so much for your suggestion! I looked into both decks and the Wildwood Tarot seems to be more of my artwork taste. I have heard wonderful things about Robert Place's book and have been wanting to read it for a while. I added it to my Amazon cart;). I hope it will help me with the spiritual aspects of the card. I have also been wanting to look more into the history of tarot so  this should be fun! :)

[darkkittie099]

I am working through Rachel Pollack's "Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom". I am finding that she has included a lot of discussion of what spiritual symbolism is included for each card. Many esoteric aspects of each card are discussed, as are the more physical aspects. As such, the spiritual, as well as psychological and physical (ie "regular life") aspects of each card are discussed. Though, when she gives divinatory meanings of the card (at the end of the each article), they mostly pertain to the more mundane aspects of a person's life.

 

So, I'm not certain if it will be quite what you're looking for, but I do feel that "Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom" does cover many aspects of each card. The symbolism, the spiritual and psychological, is discussed in enough depth that you can use that to add to the usual divinatory meanings of the cards. Ms. Pollack also gives us a good starting point for meditations on the cards so that we can add our own revelations on each card.

 

If you find a different book which addresses what you seek, I still highly recommend personal mediations on each card. This is where journaling can come into play for the student of Tarot (and after 25 years, I'm still a "student" of Tarot), because you can add notes of these different meanings to each card's journal entry.

 

Hope this was of some help to you.

 

I completely forgot I had that book on my kindle! I remember when I first got it, I found it dry and the meanings were not what I felt when I looked at my cards (I know the blasphemy since that is a classic in our community LOL XD) but perhaps for what I am currently looking for it is just what I need. I am sure that book and the Robert Place book will help me. As for tarot journaling, I have a gazillion microsoft one note books on tarot on my computer XD. I haven't looked at them in like the last 3 years. That actually makes me think that perhaps I should look there too for some nuggets of wisdom. Thanks Trogon! :D  ;D . Thanks everybody for the suggestions! You all rock! :D 8)