With the recent popularity of TheWolfWithin's playing card community project, and with someone suggesting that it might be fun to do a tarot deck, I have a suggestion for a topic. If it's cool with Wolf (I don't want to stand in the way if he has another cool project planned), I wonder if folks might be interested in an "Ancient Mythology" theme for a Tarot deck ... you know, like Egyptian, Roman, Grecian, Babylonian (etc) Gods and Goddesses, or scenes that depict stories from ancient mythology. The possibilities are endless. Wolf, whatcha think? Denise

I like the idea, especially given the orions of the Tarot in mythology. Shouldn't be stepping on toes - nothing says we cant have two projects going at once. Er... mix and match themes, or do they all have to be one theme?

Love mythology but don't know anything aout tarot cards really

Can probably do a quick metacrawler search and find more info than you needed or wanted to know. ;]

Ironbear ... I suppose we can mix and match, seeing as there is a lot of overlap from one culture to another. As another alternative, we can make each "suit" a different culture? Ghost ... tarot cards are similar to regular playing cards (which actually were a spinoff of tarot cards). Instead of hearts, spades, clubs, and diamonds, you have cups, wands, pentacles, and swords. Each of the number/suit combinations signify a different idea or concept, which makes tarot cards sort of fun and creative. There are also 22 major "arcana" that embody a specific trait or fate. If folks are interested in this project I can hunt down a few URLs that summarize the symbologies of each card. Denise

I wonder if Lorraine still has any of her tarot card images in the gallery. She did some wonderful ones last year. Diane

Attached Link: http://michele.readers.com/

Cool... that could work for me April. I just never know what mythology will appeal to my muse for an image, and a lot depends on what props and outfits I have...

Sorry... DMTyler, not April. I was just reading april's response on the other thread and got confrused. ;]

Call me Dee, or Deecey (got that last one from Syyd ). Lots more informal than dmtyler . I'm working up a web page for my site, that will outline the cards and interpretations, based on the Waite deck. I'll post the link here when I get it done. Stay tuned. 8-) I'm thinking Wands would be cool for Egyptian gods (since they were really into magical type stuff); Swords might be good for the Roman gods; Cups good for Grecian gods; and how about Druid/Celtic gods for the Pentacles? The Arcana can be a combination of all mythologies. Sound cool? Anyone want to volunteer for the borders while I work up some pages to keep track of these? I think once folks see what these cards can represent, it will REALLY get some ideas flowing. 8-) Denise

Ko... no problem, Dee. ;] I have a cat people deck, and a native american deck in my library shelf... mostly just because they're SO elegant looking. Tarot cards can be among the most beautiful artwork around if they're done well. I'm going to "dibs" the lovers and rejuvenation from the major arcana, once someone designs borders. I'd like the borders with a version on a photoshop layer if possible, so that it can be pasted over a render. I'm a traditionalist - I like to cheat in photoshop. ;]

Rejuvenation ... just want to verify where that falls. It LOOKS like it might be the card that is traditionally known as "Judgement". According to the book I have, the Judgement card represents change of position, renewal, outcome, decision, etc. The various names of these cards are confusing, so if a card has been known by another name I'll list that as well so that folks can choose the one they want to use for that particular card. 8-) In any case, that and the Lovers are yours. 8-) Denise

Yeah... I believe that you're right, but hort of looking into a guide I couldn't swear to it... Problem is, unlike a Crowley deck, neither of my two decks are standard. I picked them for looks rather than traditionalism, and I've gotten used to their conventions. Hrmmm... if they're a lot of non std decks out there that could raise a lot of these questions.

Yup which is why I'm putting the page together ... if there are any tarot experts out there, we want you Denise

Can I call "dibs" on "The World" and "The Fool"? LOL! I would like to do those two...if you guys don't mind.:o)

Okay .. and anything Celtic I want!! Grins

I like the Idea, count me in

i think it's a beautiful thing ;) and perhaps, for a Tarot, things might have to be a bit more standardized.........not so much as to stifle creativity, but enough to have a touch more uniformity given the nature of the Tarot.....and ummmmmmm.........if i may..........i'd like to be a complete jerk and lay claim to the Death card ;)

Maybe if the Rider-Waite deck was used as a standard to rally about? some decks swap the MA cards about numerically.. which does alter the readings 8 ) Most every one playing with Tarot have used a rider deck at least once. and the symbolism was simplifiyed a bit as well. unless you really want to use the Hermetic 8 ) I kinda like the princess cards... Cheers

Glad to hear this is a hearty go from all! 8-D Will be done with the Arcana descriptions soon and will post the URL as soon as I upload it. Have made note of the latest requests and will add them to the list. Ghost, I'll do the descriptions for the Pentacle cards (Celtic) next so that you can make your picks if you don't see anything you like in the Arcana. 8-) Denise

That sounds like an excellent idea, and I'd be anxious to have a part in it as well. There should be steps to be taken to make sure that there is some reasonable correspondence to the meanings of the original cards, even if the usage of symbols varies. I can help define some aspects of individual cards, but only in between commissions (i.e. when time permits). Also keep in mind that sources can vary on interpretations -- there are no "right" ones, but using cumulative sources will give you a clearer idea. So no nit-picky arguing, just concerns raised when something is wildly out of context. And since everyone would want to do Major Arcana, I'd think it should be such that no one can do more than one of the Major Arcana. Leave room for people. There's only 21 of those. The royal cards might need to be divvied up, too. Something else to agree upon would be the specific royals. Some decks have Princess, Prince, Queen and King, some have Knight, Prince, Queen and King, etc. I suspect that we'd want at least 2 female royals, so the former would be better. I'd like to try the Queen of Cups, personally.

Hm. A thought. There are some consistencies between Arcana. For instance, the Fool (#0) appears later as the Hanged Man (#12), the Lovers (#6) appear on the Devil's card (#15)... do we want the people doing these cards to network re: the look of these characters to keep them sort of consistent?

Attached Link: http://www.deesden.com/tarot/index.html

I'll have to look at my deck and think about which of the two I want most out of those. Hrmmm...

Hm. I'd thought TheWolfWithin had chosen the Devil -- I see I was wrong. I want that one! (Pwetty pwease...?) :D

I will take "The World", someone else can have The Fool. LOL! I already have an idea I am sketching out. I hope that there will not be too many limitations on what we can do. :o "The World" on my deck is XXI. I would have to get out my books to remember what the actual description is and unfortunately....they are in my daughter's room and she's sleeping. I would rather not wake her to get it. LOL! I was planning on basing mine on some old Tarot Cards that were my great-grandmother's. I have to admit....I should know more about them considering the deck is very old. LOL!

Heya Wizz! waves up the thread You gonna work up a tarot render for this? Hrmmm... some mystical or ornamental celtci borders could work... if they're not too heavily celtic, they shouldn't clash with the other mythologies.

I'm not too worried on the limitations. I figure if I do a sharp render and it doesn't quite fit, I can always post it - just not include it in the tarot project.

LOL! Good point Ironbear! I am really inspired by this idea!

Weeee!!! Another project to do. Some more late night poser fun. :-) Hmmm... looking at Denise's site, I'll take the Tower. Well, time to do some late night research.

I would love to take part...we have the Lord of the Rings Tarot deck here at home, if any of you haven't seen that one I suggest you take a look, I love the images in it! The only difference is the pentacles are replaced with Coins(at least it's the only obvious difference to me since I'm not really a Tarot expert either:))...anyway, if it's available I would love to do the Empress and possibly maybe one card from the Pentacles suit(if it's okay and they aren't all taken)...anyway, let me know if it's okay and I can at least start on a scene or something...:)

As far as a border design, I wouldnt' know what to suggest but maybe something kinda neutral like a black or gold border that won't take away from the images inside the frame may work..:)

hugs to all lynde

All descriptions are up at the site. I'm going through the list now to update who's got what so far. If I have any questions I'll post them. If you want to sign up for a card, please keep the posts all in one place (this thread). I'll check it frequently and update the list on the site as time permits. I'm SO psyched that you're all up for this ... the idea started spinning during the first card project and I've been sitting on it for a while. 8-) Thanks everyone 8-) Denise

hrmmmmm...... if the dual female royals are needed then you'd want to go with the Hermetic deck.. as that's the one with the princess.. I'll try to dig them out of the container to ensure the numerological and face good luck with all the astrological/alchemical symbols 8 ) I suggested teh Rider -Waite as that's one deck mostpeople are familiar with.. just watch any horror flick with a deck in it.. especially the Witchcraft series.. CHeers dinnae know Bear..I'm still trying to determine which deck's being used? R-W, Hermetic, the one with the collection of consonants (from I believe france) who's name escapes me at teh moment...

um, I changed my mind. I'll go for Justice.

If it makes it easier I can remove the princess cards and just go with the standard R/W deck. One thing I liked about the book source I had was that it gave attributes as presented by several different decks (Golden Dawn, Waite, Crowley, Case, and other derivations thereof). I know I have the standard Rider/Waite book around here somewhere as well ... but for now, I'll remove the references to the Princess cards. So please no one pick those. 8-) Back to change the pages again. OK szeven, you're on for Justice. And lynde, let me know what pentacle you'd like. 8-) Denise

no No dee. I"m quite fond of the hermetic my self 8 ) I just require a "standard" deck to work with... doesn't mattre which one.... just so tis consistant... as I'm sur eyou know.. not all the numbers of the major arcana match from deck to deck 8 ) Cheers love... no worrys

thats a nice compilation of info in such a short time dee :) i'd like to do 6 of cups. "Lord of Pleasure", happiness, pleasure, beginning of steady gain :) i'll work on this one a bit longer than the pinup card... the descriptions are just delicious :) a plain gold border would be my suggestion. or one border for each of the 5 suits? all plain, just different colours? whatever :)

Wizzard ... with your nick, it makes sense that you like the hermetic. ;-) OK, we'll go with the Princesses as well (dang, now I have to put them back in! LOLOLOL). As long as we're going with them, I'll take the Princess of Cups (with Cancer/Pisces rising, I simply HAVE to take a water woman ). April, I'm a writer, I type REAL fast. You're on for 6 of cups. Dee Denise

Wizzard, if you know of a URL offhand that would post pictures and descriptions of a widely-used Hermetic deck that we can all refer to, that would be cool. Would save us all from asking a lot of questions . You'll also notice that I didn't assign numbers to the arcana yet for just that reason! ROFL Dee

I'll go through my links 8 ) I'll post as soon as I find it

here's a few mostly rider-waite though... 8 http://www.thetarot.atfreeweb.com/ http://www.astroamerica.com/t-sacre.html http://www.wild-moon.com/passions/tarot.htm#review http://homes.acmecity.com/charmed/journey/255/pix/373.htm Some have walk through with pictures and interpretations.. some are sales placse unfortunately.. I just hit the metaphysical links in my favs.. 8 ) Cheers

After browsing through my Cat deck again... [damn, those cards are beautiful] I think I'll take the Temperance card, or Justice - whatever she is in the deck we're using. I'm going to leave the Amerind deck out of consideration, even though it's the one I use most often. It's symbology is extremely myth specific, and almost takes a bit of shamans or dreamwalker traing to interpret sometimes. They are elegant cards though... Whatever I do, it'll probably be eclectic anyway...

any time Dee 8 ) heh..I would have done bettre if I wa sat home with the complete link list 8 ) rest well pleasant dreams

Hrmm... Temperance and Justice are not one and the same... this deck has both. Er... sorry, rejuvenation and judgement. Typing in my sleep again. ;] Rejuvenation is the one I settled on, whatever she is in other decks...

Hello gang i want to do this as myth+magic is such an inspiring subject. i dont know what card i want so has any one got a suggestion, how about instead of each of us picking our own card let dmtyler choose one for each of us based on the style of each individual artist and there own individual style. just a thought

ooh.. co-operation combined with a challenge 8 ) I like that Idea dolly... maybbe a dual choice for each? one based on they're talents one opposite? maybe even a collaboration twixt artists.. and some are really good with backgrounds as others are with figures.... hrmmmmm....... :::wanders off mumbling::: oh the possibilities...

yer that sounds even better one for what your good at,and one for what you aint good at,an experiment ,and a lesson all rolled into one this is going to be a lot of fun

A compromise... we each pick one from the Arcana that we like, and Dee picks one for us from the minor arcana. She can probaly hit out galleries and make an accurate guess at which ones our style would find difficult... Some how Wizzard, I keep seeing you with the Magician, or High Priest card... ;]

or death? I"ll let Dee choose.. as with my time referant.. shrug I just have to know which deck tis decided on.. or. maybe a twin deck? hrmmm... mixed deck? hrmmm.. so many possibilities... and with dolly's idea.. 8 )

Duh... oh yes.. we'll also need teh dimensions spelled out... heighth width final type thing... keep it all the same size? CHeers