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PLEASE NOTE - THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY BEING UPDATED. SORRY ABOUT THE MESS. I intend to fully get this page looking a bit more coherent soon!
For our non English speaking customers, please see the plain text card guides below. Please Scroll down to see which guide you would like (Especially created for our many non-English speaking deck owners, they contain the same text from the PDFS, but created for those who would prefer a version that can be copied and pasted into translation apps).
For our non English speaking customers, please see the plain text card guides below. Please Scroll down to see which guide you would like (Especially created for our many non-English speaking deck owners, they contain the same text from the PDFS, but created for those who would prefer a version that can be copied and pasted into translation apps).
FREE PDFS
Here's a list of our free printable PDF files you may find useful for the decks on this site.
Tarot
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Winter Waite Redux *coming soon*
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ORACLES
OTHER
Twisted Tarot Tales - Card Guide
plain text card guides
These are, more or less, exact transcripts from the PDF files and are placed here so that you can translate these into your own language with tools like google translate or freetranslation.com. We get many customers from various countries where English may not be the native language. I hope these text based guides are beneficial to you.
tAROT
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Spring Waite Tarot
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Thomson Leng
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Winter Redux
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Twisted Tarot Tales
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Chinese Propaganda Tarot
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King's Journey Tarot
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Simply Deep Tarot
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The Psychedelic Space Tarot– MAJORS
0. The Fool: An astronaut wanders out into an alien world. Being the fool, he throws caution to the wind by taking his helmet off. Thankfully he can breathe but only God knows what contaminates may be in this alien planet’s air, not to mention the space rock in his right hand. Think before you act is the message behind this card. In this space deck we have replaced his canine companion with a robot. The robot is inspired by the robot in Lost in Space who warns Will Robinson of danger. In the card the robots antenna is flashing / bleeping trying to warn him he’s about to fall over the edge.
1. The Magician - A powerful Magician type holds a glowing wand in his right hand, while a cup and meteorite (Pentacle) levitate near his left. He is dressed like the showman he is. He wears a sword around his waist. He has mastery of all the elements.
2. The High Priestess -– This alien priestess sits between two crystal pillars, while various planets can be seen in the distance. On her head she wears a crescent moon headpiece (the original Waite Tarot has her reclining on the crescent moon). Generally the card means sacred knowledge and intuition.
3. The Empress - The true epitome of an “alien queen”, this empress has a brood of eggs in front of her, some of which are already hatching. She sits within a cave, careful to take care of her babies away from the harsh alien environment. This card represents birth of all kinds.
4. Emperor - A lone robot sits in his egg shaped chair surrounded by various flashing buttons and beeping noises overhead, telling us that this figure is very much in control of the ship. On his lap is a futuristic control board, with which he can command things to happen just as he intends. This is usually seen as a father figure type, or a boss of some kind.
5. Hierophant -Somewhere, out there in that vast universe, it’s plausible that Pyramids exist, alongside strange religious books and strange priests, that may actually match our own. We see here a kind of religious order based on the pyramid. The priests religious clothing has many pyramid shaped patterns adorning it. In his hand, a religious book related to his religion. Perhaps he is preparing emissaries for a trip to earth. This card represents religious and spiritual matters of all kinds, and may indicate marriage.
6. The Lovers - I’ve always liked the idea of the human astronaut having a sort of lovelorn relationship with an alien being millions of miles away. Sort’ve like a long distance internet relationship on steroids. A heart can be seen hovering on what appears to be antigravity hover rings of some kind. The heart belongs to the alien woman who hands it to the red headed astronaut. A heavenly figure towers over them giving them his or her blessing. The man is obviously foreign to her world, as is seen by his helmet tightly fastened to his suit. A card for lovers, it indicates partnerships, and can also represent harmony between people.
7. The Chariot - A solitary man in a bubble like spacecraft wanders the vast expanse of the universe. In his hands he controls his destiny. A card that represents controlling one’s conflicting desires and feelings. As will be obvious with the imagery, can also indicate travel.
8. Strength - An alien woman whose bottom half resembles an octopus, tames an alien wild cat. The cat’s scaly skin and multi eye mane should scare anyone away, but patient endurance is required to calm any animal instinct. Her inner strength tames the beast.
9. The Hermit - A reptilian hermit holds up a very bright egg shaped lantern. He represents knowledge that can only be found by inner reflection, meditation etc. His light shines a lamp of truth onto the reading at hand.
10. The Wheel of Fortune - A huge circular “mothership” can be seen orbiting an alien planet. Flying in toward the mothership are various small spacecraft, representative of the hopes and dreams of the querent. These small ships all intend to dock, but the mothership, or “wheel”, will determine if such dreams may be granted entry. If you are down on your luck and get this card, a good change is surely around the corner, and if on a streak of good luck, then your “fortune” may begin to change.
11. Justice – She holds in her hand a laser sword, and in the other she holds scales. She is a divine being whose job it is to decide the fate of the good and wicked throughout the universe. A card of court cases, both good and bad. If you are about to reap what you have sown, will you look forward to the fruit of your work?
12. The Hanged Man - Every space adventurer’s fear. As a young child I always wanted to be an astronaut. Many kids do. I thought that would be the ultimate adventure. It did cross my mind on occasion though, the dangers involved. For this deck the hanged man looks reasonably chilled out, considering he has been entangled in his tether, and that tether is clearly separated from the main ship. Talk about lost in space! Of course this card visually would mean death, and the hanged man, let’s face it, in any other situation would represent suicide. Most interpret this card to mean suspension of action and inactivity. Some suggest it can indicate self-sacrifice
13. Death - Beneath an obnoxious black hole piercing the sky, an oppressive figure on a horse fires a laser beam, striking a second victim on the head, the first of which lies below the horses hooves, smoke still rising from his body. A mother and child pleads for their life. Death can, obviously, represent literal death but usually this applies more to the end of a relationship, business partnership or anything that can come to an end. As they say, when one door closes, another door opens. This should be the positive advice to be taken away from the card.
14. Temperance – An angel pouring liquid into two smaller vessels which appear to be tiny planets. She hovers over a planet that might look like it holds life. She represents moderation and patience, and to have a balanced approach.
15. The Devil – A reptilian looking being with tentacles coming from its wrists, has truly ensnared the two figures below. A human woman, and a planet headed long clawed figure who are instantly attracted to each other. They cannot escape and are enslaved to lust and addiction. Usually hints at something unusual or abnormal going on in a situation.
16. The Tower - Two astronauts fall from a tower in a space age city. It appears to be struck by a green laser blast from the sky. Nowhere else to go but down. This card represents sudden and total destruction.
17. The Star – A card of the superstar, and a positive card to receive, especially when concerned with hopes and dreams. An alien woman pours liquid into a pond. Can also denote charisma.
18. The Moon - A card that indicates hidden things. Think about the moon and it’s light compared to that of the sun. In the night, all things are only half seen. In this card two astronauts on the moon discover a traditional UFO saucer lodged in the rocks of the moon. How long as it been here? It is a mystery. The dark side of the Moon may holds many secrets. This card can represent dreams, illusions and things only half understood and half seen. A great reminder to stay calm, collect a few solid facts, hear both sides etc, then form an opinion.
19. The Sun - A space boy on a green horse holds a sun themed pin wheel, while the blazing sun shines brightly above them. The sun spits out solar flares reminding us of the power of this gigantic life giver, without which we would not exist. The sun represents spring and especially summer, but also great joy and optimism. Can indicate a birth.
20. Judgement - As the dragon people get themselves reading for their “heaven’s gate” moment, they behold a massive UFO sucking up a poor soul (victim?). The powerful antigravity technology lifts the very rocks and dust from the surface of this alien world. The UFO is beautiful and multicoloured (slightly inspired by the musical UFO from Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind), but judgement has, nonetheless, come to the land. This card can represent the past catching up with you, old wounds, so to speak, reopening. Past issues never resolved finally landing on your lap. In a positive note, in relationships it can sometimes indicate second chances.
21. The World - A female astronaut sits on top of the world, surrounded by various planets, and an aura of stars. This card represents completion in projects, tasks etc and can indicate travel, especially international travel.
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – CUPS
Ace of Cups - A robotic hand holds a crystal cup surrounded by planets and stars. This card represents love of all kinds. Always a good card in relationship readings.
Two of Cups - Similar to the Lovers card earlier, we see an alien woman and a human astronaut man with two cups. They are in love. The two-snake caduceus behind them probably represents negotiation, or a good partnership (which would apply to more than romantic relationships)
3 of Cups - Three alien women, one with green skin, one with tentacles and one with claws like that of a crustacean, celebrate with their three crystal cups. Surrounding them is an abundance of alien fruit and vegetables, symbolic of a good harvest and having plenty. Can indicate birth of a newborn.
4 of Cups - An astronaut, still attached to his spacecraft by a tether, sits cross legged staring at three cups. Some suggest these three cups are the cups left over from the previous card, with the figure longing for something more, yet not able to see the cup being held right beside him. The cup being offered suggests hope of some kind. The client should be encouraged to look for what that hope might be. What is it they are not quite seeing that could be helpful?
5 of Cups - A figure looks at three knocked over cups. This figure does not see the other two still standing, or is not focused on them. The common interpretation is that he is mourning what is lost, rather than consoling himself with what he still has. A card of regret and disappointment the figure feels like a failure. The meteorites falling to the surface of this alien earth symbolises his feelings of sorrow.
6 of Cups - Back to childhood, an astronaut remembers his boyhood, playing with the local blue alien girl. He hands her a little flower. Nostalgia for home, and feeling like a child again. We get these feelings throughout our lives I think. I am sure I am not the only one. Perhaps it has a tinge of sadness, knowing that what used to be real is gone, forever, existing only as a memory. We sometimes wish we could “go back”, but did “it” even exist? It is a happy card usually, and indicates home and family.
7 of Cups -The Astronaut is faced with 7 temptations / desires. Clockwise from top left: Head: beauty (or vanity), Planet and Space craft: travel/exploration (or invasion), Snake: knowledge (misuse of knowledge for evil), Alien monster: represented as envy gone out of control (though it’s opposite would be feeling genuinely happy for someone). Crown: leadership (tyranny), Jewels: wealth (greed), Rocket ship: achievement (or pride). This card is usually interpreted as vain imaginings. The cups’ specific contents are not too important here, it’s more about wanting things, desiring things that may not do you any good.
I see these as similar to the 7 deadly sins of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.
8 of Cups - The figure walks away from the vain imaginings in the 7, and in the card you can see him doing his space walk. Leaving a bad situation and moving onto something better and brighter.
9 of Cups - The wish card. A female reptilian alien with tentacle arms holds 9 cups. This card represents someone’s dreams, especially those dreams coming true. It is an optimistic card. So be careful what it is you desire most, because this card indicts you may just get it.
10 Cups - Humans and aliens living together in peace. It’s a card of great blessings, especially in family and relationship matters. Three silhouette flying saucers hover over a mansion on a hill, perhaps extended family. The figures in the foreground wave farewell. A good card for families.
Page of Cups - A reptilian youth stands upon the seashore of a strange planet. In his cup is an alien sea creature which he studies. The Page represents a message of love. This is another card that can indicate news of a birth. The Page reminds us to enjoy youth and young love, for time is fleeting.
Knight of Cups - Often this figure may hold a romantic interest in the querent. He is considered the “courtship” period in a relationship. His horse’s mane resembles that of Medusa, but holds no real symbolic meaning to me, at least consciously, other than it is obviously an otherworldly horse. Again, like the rest of the Cups courts suit, he is a reptilian.
Queen of Cups - The Queen appears to be drawing some sort of strength from an almost earth like planet, but that planet is obviously still alien in nature. She is surrounded in the kind of water all self respecting reptilians prefer. Often this queen is thought to be psychic, or empathic in nature.
King of Cups - The King sits on a throne shaped like a heart. He is in control of his feelings and might even be a bit slow to show them. He holds a crystal tipped sceptre in one hand and a cup in his other, adorned with jewels.
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – PENTACLES / METEORITES
Ace of Pentacles - The pentacles are represented as meteorites throughout the entire suit. Two space craft can be seen flying in the background as a green skinned hand appears from a pink cloud holding a decent sized meteorite. This represents money and financial opportunities.
2 of Pentacles - A woman balances two meteorites while walking upon a rainbow bridge. It reminds me a little on the balancing act on a tightrope. She has skilfully mastered keeping things afloat. This relates to money; the amount of money coming in and the amount of money going out. She keeps an eye on what is being both earned and spent.
3 of Pentacles - An astronaut craftsman is publicly working on a project, and two green skinned bulbous headed aliens show him a digital screen with their exact plans. It’s a group effort. Think community, council, even public galleries.
4 of Pentacles - The big city. A figure sits hovering about a space age highway, as towering buildings flank him either side. This card represents saving your money, even smart spending. You are not just throwing it away. Making a little go a long way.
5 of Pentacles - Two astronauts have crash landed on a planet cursed by sandstorms. In the distance we see their spacecraft on fire and the flames rising through the meteorites that have caused it’s demise. One astronaut is injured, and another calls for help on a speaking device. If only they could see that little building between the two hills, they might be able to get help. This card indicates poverty, and sometimes illness and disability.
6 of Pentacles - An astronaut gives some coins to a poor alien, while the other is shown scales. This card symbolises generosity and giving. It is a reminder to us to give to those less fortunate when we have the means to do so.
7 of Pentacles - An astronaut takes a rest from mining space rock. He dreams of receiving a good price for it when it is finally gathered and refined, then sold at market. This card indicates hard work and the waiting period between creating a product and finally seeing some money for that product when it is finally for sale. This could be anything from a crowd funding campaign to as basic as planting seeds, like the original Waite Smith, maintaining the plant until it produces.
8 of Pentacles - This craftsman has a similar idea to the producer in the 7 of Pentacles, but instead of the hard labor of the 7, his work is a bit more skilled and technical. He is honing his skill. This card can mean engagement if appearing alongside romantic cards. A card related to dedication.
9 of Pentacles - A lady of leisure, she has earned every bit of it . She’s been a merchant and has sold many of her products for years, so now she can sit back and relax. Sometimes, unfortunately, this can mean that because of all the work she has involved herself with, she has had very little time for friends, so although she is wealthy, she may lack friendship. Quite an independent woman
10 of Pentacles - A great family card, it mainly relates to money, inheritance, estates etc, as represented by the Pentacles. This woman/mother in this family is not wearing an oxygen helmet, keeping with a recurrent theme in the deck that the galactic family is made up of all manner of races, tongues and creeds.
Page of Pentacles - An astronaut holds up his first meteorite. These particular meteorites are valuable in their universe. He is a student or apprentice, perhaps in finance. A good card for those starting out in a venture and wanting to know if there’s anything of worth in it. This is a sign that indeed there is.
Knight of Pentacles - An astronaut holds up a meteorite in an alien desert. His horse is strange in appearance, perhaps slower than most horses, but sturdy and dependable. This astronaut knight is reliable and you will be able to depend on him. He may take his time with things but I argue it is because he wants to do a good job, think things through etc.
Queen of Pentacles - She sits aboard a spacecraft that has landed in red rocky type terrain. In her hand she holds a precious meteorite. She is typically a homemaker, can handle bills and keep track of payments etc. She is quite a powerful woman. Might also be really into fighting for the planet, and caring about nature etc.
King of Pentacles - This king hovers above the planet earth, being the epitome of material wealth and possessions. Often a businessman or entrepreneur, he is successful in money matters. A great provider for his family, he is the Knight of Pentacles come to fruition. (Perhaps if you are a partner to the Knight of Pentacles mentioned earlier, your patience in him, through his evolution into the King, may have paid off!)
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – SWORDS
Ace of Swords - A laser sword burns brightly against the backdrop of a starry sky. It is held by a hand coming from a cloud. These hands that appear from clouds symbolise, I believe, an element not of oneself, but rather from something higher. Spiritual interventions almost, or in the case of the Aces, the raw element that makes up the suit; wind, fire, water and earth. The Ace in this suit represents clear mindedness and good judgement that will lead to success. Critical and rational thinking. Can be related to communication.
2 of Swords - A robotic humanoid figure crosses itself with two laser swords upon a seashore beneath numerous planets. This card represents difficult choices having to be made.
3 of Swords - Three swords pierce a planet themed heart. A card of separation and sorrow. Could even indicate divorce. Usually this card speaks of arguments, harsh words etc.
4 of Swords - A man lies upon a bed resting inside a spacecraft. Outside we see an orange planet. He is safe, away from hardship, struggles and battles. It is his time to rest. When you or a client receives this card it might be an indication you need to relax or take some time away for yourself.
5 of Swords - Two astronauts walk away from the astronaut in the foreground. The figure holding the most swords thinks he has won the battle, but it is a hollow victory. The fact is that the other two are walking away because the main figure is not fighting fairly. The snake in the background symbolises the treacherous snake in the foreground.
6 of Swords - A group of aliens make their way across the sea in the hopes of a better future. In the sea a scaly sea creature makes an appearance, reminding us that until we reach our destination, we can’t fully feel at peace. The card indicates moving towards calmer waters, travel, especially by sea, and escaping from a bad situation.
7 of Swords - An astronaut slips away stealthily, hoping to steal some swords from a training camp. We can see the people in the distance, but they are too far away to take any notice of the main astronaut in the picture. It is a card of theft, and a reminder that someone is taking things that don’t belong to them. It could be anything from intellectual property theft to just down and dirty credit card fraud. A card that reminds us to be on guard.
8 of Swords. - An alien figure is blindfolded and tied up with a fabric of some sort, and surrounded by laser swords. She feels trapped, scared even, that the next step she takes, since her legs are not bound, could be fatal to her. It has often been suggested that she is not tightly bound and may even be able to escape if she made a little more effort. It is a card of feeling trapped, isolated and not knowing how to get out of a situation.
9 of Swords - A man on a space craft has prematurely awoken from his hypersleep to discover that he wasn’t just having a nightmare. A huge tentacled creature has breached the ship. A card of worry, anxiety, and nightmares. It should be mentioned that not all of our fears are as real as we think they are. Sometimes we make them more real through our imaginations.
10 of Swords - A poor astronaut lies pierced through multiple times upon the shore. His oxygen helmet is cracked, and he is left for dead. A card that represents ruin of all kinds. It may be financial ruin, reputational ruin, even a ruined marriage or engagement. It would be a good chance to remind the client that with every ending there is a chance for a new beginning.
Page of Swords - A rocket ship lifts off in the background with a mighty explosion as a young astronaut practices with his sword. Thirsty for knowledge he can represent a spy, or rival who might be envious of you or the client (he may even be a spy and rival at the same time!). Be careful!
Knight of Swords - Unlike his other knightly counterparts, this knight, following in the tradition of his family, has ditched the horse and has upgraded to a futuristic hoverbike. He speeds through the air, sword raised. He is considered sometimes to be a family member or friend who stirs things up. Can be a troublemaker and one who does not think things through before charging into battle. (and often will live to regret it)
Queen of Swords - A lofty figure, she sits on a hovering throne above jagged rocks. She is considered an intellectual kind of woman and can be found taking a great interest in politics, causes etc. In many cases she may be a single woman, possibly lonely. Sometimes thought to represent a widow, she can at times feel heartbroken, and maybe feeling like she is left out of the crowd.
King of Swords - Propelled into the air by fiery boosters at either side of his rocket chair, this king is often a teacher, lawyer or any other person in authority. This guy does not really think with his heart, preferring instead to think with his more rational mind. Seeing this card in a reading can even warn of an encounter with the law or authorities.
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – WANDS
Ace of Wands -An alien hand appears from a cloud holding a glowing stick. It is surrounded by cities and civilisations, each encased in bubble like spheres. This is a card of action, of the impulse to get up and do something. The first spark of putting something into action.
2 of Wands - A gigantic figure holds the planet earth in his hand as though he plans to conquer it. This card is all about planning, and a big part of that planning is visualising what you want, streamlining it, and visualising it again until you have a definite plan of action. A great card of intention.
3 of Wands - A woman watches a spacecraft making it’s way down to the surface. It may be a supply ship! This is a card of waiting, and the card typically means “waiting for your ships to come in”.
4 of Wands - A fleet of flying saucers fly overhead, coming from a mountain. Two human astronauts find themselves on a planet similar to ours with breathable oxygen. This card represents family celebrations and things relating to house and home. Can also indicate weddings.
5 of Wands - Astronauts battle against aliens. As is usually the case, first contact with the “others” often results in bloodshed, fear, doubt etc. Thankfully this group of contenders are only partially serious and do not mean any permanent harm. This card represents petty arguments and disagreements, especially in groups.
6 of Wands - A victorious alien rides upon an equally bizarre looking alien horse creature. Marching alongside him are multiple alien races of the big bug eyed variety. A great card to find in readings. Whatever you’re doing it’s working! It is always suggested, however, that one not bask in the glory for too long, because there may be those eyeing up your position at the top and wanting it for themselves.
7 of Wands - A Sleestak from Land of the Lost makes an appearance in our 7 of Wands. Christine loved the show when she was a kid, and once in awhile this character makes an appearance (see the horror comic themed Twisted Tarot Tales).
A card of competition and struggle, the figure stands his ground, as the others try to take his place at the top.
8 of Wands - A series of 8 glowing sticks fly through space just above a planet that looks similar to our own earth. A card of fast movement, fast communication and can indicate travel.
9 of Wands - A solitary astronaut stands guard against the enemy. He has sustained some slight damage, as is seen on the ripped sleeve of his right arm. A card of problems and setbacks. A call to be on guard against such issues. Try to encourage the client to be on guard against an outside force.
10 of Wands - A weighed down astronaut carries 10 colorful sticks to a nearby space structure. His ray gun is firmly placed in the holster so we know that although this is a card of burden, it is not in any way related to war of any kind. This is a burden that can probably be shared if you would be willing to ask for help.
Page of Wands - An intergalactic astronaut plants a flag upon an alien landscape. He is an adventurer who likes to explore. The flag’s emblem symbolises a coalition of various planets working as one to further such exploration.
Knight of Wands - The knight, like the rest of his royal family, has a blue skin tone and slightly elongated head. A card of travel, especially by land, this character is high energy and impulsive.
Queen of Wands - She sits on a strange throne with the back of her chair appearing to be a window into the universe. In her hand she has a long wand, as though a sceptre. This queen is a great planner and loves to be the life of the party. A very active woman, she likes to be involved socially.
King of Wands - This king, like his Queen, appears to sit on a throne with a window to the universe. From his window we see the celestial night sky. The King of Wands is a man who is very much in charge, and can be thought of as almost being like an emperor. A love of nature and the countryside. This figure, like other kings, represents adult males, for example husbands, bosses etc.
BONUS CARDS
The Fool (without robot) - Similar to the Fool with the robot, this bonus card has all the same meanings, (minus a robot of course.) Some of the cards had a few different versions and Christine felt that they could be included as bonus cards.
The Emperor (without his control panel) - An alternative version of the Emperor, where he has no control panel. Instead, his arms rest upon his thighs as he gazes onwards. Christine liked this version and so we decided to include it. The card still holds the same meanings as the original.
7 of Swords - When I drew this 7 of swords, in my mind she needed to be included, even as a bonus, though I still see her as the main 7 of swords personally (just because I like how she turned out). I like the other 7 of swords in the deck too, but I think visually this one turned out a bit more interesting. Just my personal opinion. In this card she is trying to sneak away before sunrise. The window of opportunity for that successful getaway is now closing. She needs to act fast if she wants to escape undetected.
Justice - Again, I tend to see this bonus card as more the “official” justice card, again mainly because it looks more interesting to me. From her neck downwards she has a celestial type body, and she sits on a structure of some sort which is almost covered in mist. She retains the same card meanings as the other Justice card in the deck.
0. The Fool: An astronaut wanders out into an alien world. Being the fool, he throws caution to the wind by taking his helmet off. Thankfully he can breathe but only God knows what contaminates may be in this alien planet’s air, not to mention the space rock in his right hand. Think before you act is the message behind this card. In this space deck we have replaced his canine companion with a robot. The robot is inspired by the robot in Lost in Space who warns Will Robinson of danger. In the card the robots antenna is flashing / bleeping trying to warn him he’s about to fall over the edge.
1. The Magician - A powerful Magician type holds a glowing wand in his right hand, while a cup and meteorite (Pentacle) levitate near his left. He is dressed like the showman he is. He wears a sword around his waist. He has mastery of all the elements.
2. The High Priestess -– This alien priestess sits between two crystal pillars, while various planets can be seen in the distance. On her head she wears a crescent moon headpiece (the original Waite Tarot has her reclining on the crescent moon). Generally the card means sacred knowledge and intuition.
3. The Empress - The true epitome of an “alien queen”, this empress has a brood of eggs in front of her, some of which are already hatching. She sits within a cave, careful to take care of her babies away from the harsh alien environment. This card represents birth of all kinds.
4. Emperor - A lone robot sits in his egg shaped chair surrounded by various flashing buttons and beeping noises overhead, telling us that this figure is very much in control of the ship. On his lap is a futuristic control board, with which he can command things to happen just as he intends. This is usually seen as a father figure type, or a boss of some kind.
5. Hierophant -Somewhere, out there in that vast universe, it’s plausible that Pyramids exist, alongside strange religious books and strange priests, that may actually match our own. We see here a kind of religious order based on the pyramid. The priests religious clothing has many pyramid shaped patterns adorning it. In his hand, a religious book related to his religion. Perhaps he is preparing emissaries for a trip to earth. This card represents religious and spiritual matters of all kinds, and may indicate marriage.
6. The Lovers - I’ve always liked the idea of the human astronaut having a sort of lovelorn relationship with an alien being millions of miles away. Sort’ve like a long distance internet relationship on steroids. A heart can be seen hovering on what appears to be antigravity hover rings of some kind. The heart belongs to the alien woman who hands it to the red headed astronaut. A heavenly figure towers over them giving them his or her blessing. The man is obviously foreign to her world, as is seen by his helmet tightly fastened to his suit. A card for lovers, it indicates partnerships, and can also represent harmony between people.
7. The Chariot - A solitary man in a bubble like spacecraft wanders the vast expanse of the universe. In his hands he controls his destiny. A card that represents controlling one’s conflicting desires and feelings. As will be obvious with the imagery, can also indicate travel.
8. Strength - An alien woman whose bottom half resembles an octopus, tames an alien wild cat. The cat’s scaly skin and multi eye mane should scare anyone away, but patient endurance is required to calm any animal instinct. Her inner strength tames the beast.
9. The Hermit - A reptilian hermit holds up a very bright egg shaped lantern. He represents knowledge that can only be found by inner reflection, meditation etc. His light shines a lamp of truth onto the reading at hand.
10. The Wheel of Fortune - A huge circular “mothership” can be seen orbiting an alien planet. Flying in toward the mothership are various small spacecraft, representative of the hopes and dreams of the querent. These small ships all intend to dock, but the mothership, or “wheel”, will determine if such dreams may be granted entry. If you are down on your luck and get this card, a good change is surely around the corner, and if on a streak of good luck, then your “fortune” may begin to change.
11. Justice – She holds in her hand a laser sword, and in the other she holds scales. She is a divine being whose job it is to decide the fate of the good and wicked throughout the universe. A card of court cases, both good and bad. If you are about to reap what you have sown, will you look forward to the fruit of your work?
12. The Hanged Man - Every space adventurer’s fear. As a young child I always wanted to be an astronaut. Many kids do. I thought that would be the ultimate adventure. It did cross my mind on occasion though, the dangers involved. For this deck the hanged man looks reasonably chilled out, considering he has been entangled in his tether, and that tether is clearly separated from the main ship. Talk about lost in space! Of course this card visually would mean death, and the hanged man, let’s face it, in any other situation would represent suicide. Most interpret this card to mean suspension of action and inactivity. Some suggest it can indicate self-sacrifice
13. Death - Beneath an obnoxious black hole piercing the sky, an oppressive figure on a horse fires a laser beam, striking a second victim on the head, the first of which lies below the horses hooves, smoke still rising from his body. A mother and child pleads for their life. Death can, obviously, represent literal death but usually this applies more to the end of a relationship, business partnership or anything that can come to an end. As they say, when one door closes, another door opens. This should be the positive advice to be taken away from the card.
14. Temperance – An angel pouring liquid into two smaller vessels which appear to be tiny planets. She hovers over a planet that might look like it holds life. She represents moderation and patience, and to have a balanced approach.
15. The Devil – A reptilian looking being with tentacles coming from its wrists, has truly ensnared the two figures below. A human woman, and a planet headed long clawed figure who are instantly attracted to each other. They cannot escape and are enslaved to lust and addiction. Usually hints at something unusual or abnormal going on in a situation.
16. The Tower - Two astronauts fall from a tower in a space age city. It appears to be struck by a green laser blast from the sky. Nowhere else to go but down. This card represents sudden and total destruction.
17. The Star – A card of the superstar, and a positive card to receive, especially when concerned with hopes and dreams. An alien woman pours liquid into a pond. Can also denote charisma.
18. The Moon - A card that indicates hidden things. Think about the moon and it’s light compared to that of the sun. In the night, all things are only half seen. In this card two astronauts on the moon discover a traditional UFO saucer lodged in the rocks of the moon. How long as it been here? It is a mystery. The dark side of the Moon may holds many secrets. This card can represent dreams, illusions and things only half understood and half seen. A great reminder to stay calm, collect a few solid facts, hear both sides etc, then form an opinion.
19. The Sun - A space boy on a green horse holds a sun themed pin wheel, while the blazing sun shines brightly above them. The sun spits out solar flares reminding us of the power of this gigantic life giver, without which we would not exist. The sun represents spring and especially summer, but also great joy and optimism. Can indicate a birth.
20. Judgement - As the dragon people get themselves reading for their “heaven’s gate” moment, they behold a massive UFO sucking up a poor soul (victim?). The powerful antigravity technology lifts the very rocks and dust from the surface of this alien world. The UFO is beautiful and multicoloured (slightly inspired by the musical UFO from Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind), but judgement has, nonetheless, come to the land. This card can represent the past catching up with you, old wounds, so to speak, reopening. Past issues never resolved finally landing on your lap. In a positive note, in relationships it can sometimes indicate second chances.
21. The World - A female astronaut sits on top of the world, surrounded by various planets, and an aura of stars. This card represents completion in projects, tasks etc and can indicate travel, especially international travel.
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – CUPS
Ace of Cups - A robotic hand holds a crystal cup surrounded by planets and stars. This card represents love of all kinds. Always a good card in relationship readings.
Two of Cups - Similar to the Lovers card earlier, we see an alien woman and a human astronaut man with two cups. They are in love. The two-snake caduceus behind them probably represents negotiation, or a good partnership (which would apply to more than romantic relationships)
3 of Cups - Three alien women, one with green skin, one with tentacles and one with claws like that of a crustacean, celebrate with their three crystal cups. Surrounding them is an abundance of alien fruit and vegetables, symbolic of a good harvest and having plenty. Can indicate birth of a newborn.
4 of Cups - An astronaut, still attached to his spacecraft by a tether, sits cross legged staring at three cups. Some suggest these three cups are the cups left over from the previous card, with the figure longing for something more, yet not able to see the cup being held right beside him. The cup being offered suggests hope of some kind. The client should be encouraged to look for what that hope might be. What is it they are not quite seeing that could be helpful?
5 of Cups - A figure looks at three knocked over cups. This figure does not see the other two still standing, or is not focused on them. The common interpretation is that he is mourning what is lost, rather than consoling himself with what he still has. A card of regret and disappointment the figure feels like a failure. The meteorites falling to the surface of this alien earth symbolises his feelings of sorrow.
6 of Cups - Back to childhood, an astronaut remembers his boyhood, playing with the local blue alien girl. He hands her a little flower. Nostalgia for home, and feeling like a child again. We get these feelings throughout our lives I think. I am sure I am not the only one. Perhaps it has a tinge of sadness, knowing that what used to be real is gone, forever, existing only as a memory. We sometimes wish we could “go back”, but did “it” even exist? It is a happy card usually, and indicates home and family.
7 of Cups -The Astronaut is faced with 7 temptations / desires. Clockwise from top left: Head: beauty (or vanity), Planet and Space craft: travel/exploration (or invasion), Snake: knowledge (misuse of knowledge for evil), Alien monster: represented as envy gone out of control (though it’s opposite would be feeling genuinely happy for someone). Crown: leadership (tyranny), Jewels: wealth (greed), Rocket ship: achievement (or pride). This card is usually interpreted as vain imaginings. The cups’ specific contents are not too important here, it’s more about wanting things, desiring things that may not do you any good.
I see these as similar to the 7 deadly sins of pride, greed, wrath, envy, lust, gluttony and sloth.
8 of Cups - The figure walks away from the vain imaginings in the 7, and in the card you can see him doing his space walk. Leaving a bad situation and moving onto something better and brighter.
9 of Cups - The wish card. A female reptilian alien with tentacle arms holds 9 cups. This card represents someone’s dreams, especially those dreams coming true. It is an optimistic card. So be careful what it is you desire most, because this card indicts you may just get it.
10 Cups - Humans and aliens living together in peace. It’s a card of great blessings, especially in family and relationship matters. Three silhouette flying saucers hover over a mansion on a hill, perhaps extended family. The figures in the foreground wave farewell. A good card for families.
Page of Cups - A reptilian youth stands upon the seashore of a strange planet. In his cup is an alien sea creature which he studies. The Page represents a message of love. This is another card that can indicate news of a birth. The Page reminds us to enjoy youth and young love, for time is fleeting.
Knight of Cups - Often this figure may hold a romantic interest in the querent. He is considered the “courtship” period in a relationship. His horse’s mane resembles that of Medusa, but holds no real symbolic meaning to me, at least consciously, other than it is obviously an otherworldly horse. Again, like the rest of the Cups courts suit, he is a reptilian.
Queen of Cups - The Queen appears to be drawing some sort of strength from an almost earth like planet, but that planet is obviously still alien in nature. She is surrounded in the kind of water all self respecting reptilians prefer. Often this queen is thought to be psychic, or empathic in nature.
King of Cups - The King sits on a throne shaped like a heart. He is in control of his feelings and might even be a bit slow to show them. He holds a crystal tipped sceptre in one hand and a cup in his other, adorned with jewels.
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – PENTACLES / METEORITES
Ace of Pentacles - The pentacles are represented as meteorites throughout the entire suit. Two space craft can be seen flying in the background as a green skinned hand appears from a pink cloud holding a decent sized meteorite. This represents money and financial opportunities.
2 of Pentacles - A woman balances two meteorites while walking upon a rainbow bridge. It reminds me a little on the balancing act on a tightrope. She has skilfully mastered keeping things afloat. This relates to money; the amount of money coming in and the amount of money going out. She keeps an eye on what is being both earned and spent.
3 of Pentacles - An astronaut craftsman is publicly working on a project, and two green skinned bulbous headed aliens show him a digital screen with their exact plans. It’s a group effort. Think community, council, even public galleries.
4 of Pentacles - The big city. A figure sits hovering about a space age highway, as towering buildings flank him either side. This card represents saving your money, even smart spending. You are not just throwing it away. Making a little go a long way.
5 of Pentacles - Two astronauts have crash landed on a planet cursed by sandstorms. In the distance we see their spacecraft on fire and the flames rising through the meteorites that have caused it’s demise. One astronaut is injured, and another calls for help on a speaking device. If only they could see that little building between the two hills, they might be able to get help. This card indicates poverty, and sometimes illness and disability.
6 of Pentacles - An astronaut gives some coins to a poor alien, while the other is shown scales. This card symbolises generosity and giving. It is a reminder to us to give to those less fortunate when we have the means to do so.
7 of Pentacles - An astronaut takes a rest from mining space rock. He dreams of receiving a good price for it when it is finally gathered and refined, then sold at market. This card indicates hard work and the waiting period between creating a product and finally seeing some money for that product when it is finally for sale. This could be anything from a crowd funding campaign to as basic as planting seeds, like the original Waite Smith, maintaining the plant until it produces.
8 of Pentacles - This craftsman has a similar idea to the producer in the 7 of Pentacles, but instead of the hard labor of the 7, his work is a bit more skilled and technical. He is honing his skill. This card can mean engagement if appearing alongside romantic cards. A card related to dedication.
9 of Pentacles - A lady of leisure, she has earned every bit of it . She’s been a merchant and has sold many of her products for years, so now she can sit back and relax. Sometimes, unfortunately, this can mean that because of all the work she has involved herself with, she has had very little time for friends, so although she is wealthy, she may lack friendship. Quite an independent woman
10 of Pentacles - A great family card, it mainly relates to money, inheritance, estates etc, as represented by the Pentacles. This woman/mother in this family is not wearing an oxygen helmet, keeping with a recurrent theme in the deck that the galactic family is made up of all manner of races, tongues and creeds.
Page of Pentacles - An astronaut holds up his first meteorite. These particular meteorites are valuable in their universe. He is a student or apprentice, perhaps in finance. A good card for those starting out in a venture and wanting to know if there’s anything of worth in it. This is a sign that indeed there is.
Knight of Pentacles - An astronaut holds up a meteorite in an alien desert. His horse is strange in appearance, perhaps slower than most horses, but sturdy and dependable. This astronaut knight is reliable and you will be able to depend on him. He may take his time with things but I argue it is because he wants to do a good job, think things through etc.
Queen of Pentacles - She sits aboard a spacecraft that has landed in red rocky type terrain. In her hand she holds a precious meteorite. She is typically a homemaker, can handle bills and keep track of payments etc. She is quite a powerful woman. Might also be really into fighting for the planet, and caring about nature etc.
King of Pentacles - This king hovers above the planet earth, being the epitome of material wealth and possessions. Often a businessman or entrepreneur, he is successful in money matters. A great provider for his family, he is the Knight of Pentacles come to fruition. (Perhaps if you are a partner to the Knight of Pentacles mentioned earlier, your patience in him, through his evolution into the King, may have paid off!)
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – SWORDS
Ace of Swords - A laser sword burns brightly against the backdrop of a starry sky. It is held by a hand coming from a cloud. These hands that appear from clouds symbolise, I believe, an element not of oneself, but rather from something higher. Spiritual interventions almost, or in the case of the Aces, the raw element that makes up the suit; wind, fire, water and earth. The Ace in this suit represents clear mindedness and good judgement that will lead to success. Critical and rational thinking. Can be related to communication.
2 of Swords - A robotic humanoid figure crosses itself with two laser swords upon a seashore beneath numerous planets. This card represents difficult choices having to be made.
3 of Swords - Three swords pierce a planet themed heart. A card of separation and sorrow. Could even indicate divorce. Usually this card speaks of arguments, harsh words etc.
4 of Swords - A man lies upon a bed resting inside a spacecraft. Outside we see an orange planet. He is safe, away from hardship, struggles and battles. It is his time to rest. When you or a client receives this card it might be an indication you need to relax or take some time away for yourself.
5 of Swords - Two astronauts walk away from the astronaut in the foreground. The figure holding the most swords thinks he has won the battle, but it is a hollow victory. The fact is that the other two are walking away because the main figure is not fighting fairly. The snake in the background symbolises the treacherous snake in the foreground.
6 of Swords - A group of aliens make their way across the sea in the hopes of a better future. In the sea a scaly sea creature makes an appearance, reminding us that until we reach our destination, we can’t fully feel at peace. The card indicates moving towards calmer waters, travel, especially by sea, and escaping from a bad situation.
7 of Swords - An astronaut slips away stealthily, hoping to steal some swords from a training camp. We can see the people in the distance, but they are too far away to take any notice of the main astronaut in the picture. It is a card of theft, and a reminder that someone is taking things that don’t belong to them. It could be anything from intellectual property theft to just down and dirty credit card fraud. A card that reminds us to be on guard.
8 of Swords. - An alien figure is blindfolded and tied up with a fabric of some sort, and surrounded by laser swords. She feels trapped, scared even, that the next step she takes, since her legs are not bound, could be fatal to her. It has often been suggested that she is not tightly bound and may even be able to escape if she made a little more effort. It is a card of feeling trapped, isolated and not knowing how to get out of a situation.
9 of Swords - A man on a space craft has prematurely awoken from his hypersleep to discover that he wasn’t just having a nightmare. A huge tentacled creature has breached the ship. A card of worry, anxiety, and nightmares. It should be mentioned that not all of our fears are as real as we think they are. Sometimes we make them more real through our imaginations.
10 of Swords - A poor astronaut lies pierced through multiple times upon the shore. His oxygen helmet is cracked, and he is left for dead. A card that represents ruin of all kinds. It may be financial ruin, reputational ruin, even a ruined marriage or engagement. It would be a good chance to remind the client that with every ending there is a chance for a new beginning.
Page of Swords - A rocket ship lifts off in the background with a mighty explosion as a young astronaut practices with his sword. Thirsty for knowledge he can represent a spy, or rival who might be envious of you or the client (he may even be a spy and rival at the same time!). Be careful!
Knight of Swords - Unlike his other knightly counterparts, this knight, following in the tradition of his family, has ditched the horse and has upgraded to a futuristic hoverbike. He speeds through the air, sword raised. He is considered sometimes to be a family member or friend who stirs things up. Can be a troublemaker and one who does not think things through before charging into battle. (and often will live to regret it)
Queen of Swords - A lofty figure, she sits on a hovering throne above jagged rocks. She is considered an intellectual kind of woman and can be found taking a great interest in politics, causes etc. In many cases she may be a single woman, possibly lonely. Sometimes thought to represent a widow, she can at times feel heartbroken, and maybe feeling like she is left out of the crowd.
King of Swords - Propelled into the air by fiery boosters at either side of his rocket chair, this king is often a teacher, lawyer or any other person in authority. This guy does not really think with his heart, preferring instead to think with his more rational mind. Seeing this card in a reading can even warn of an encounter with the law or authorities.
PSYCHEDELIC SPACE TAROT – CARD MEANINGS – WANDS
Ace of Wands -An alien hand appears from a cloud holding a glowing stick. It is surrounded by cities and civilisations, each encased in bubble like spheres. This is a card of action, of the impulse to get up and do something. The first spark of putting something into action.
2 of Wands - A gigantic figure holds the planet earth in his hand as though he plans to conquer it. This card is all about planning, and a big part of that planning is visualising what you want, streamlining it, and visualising it again until you have a definite plan of action. A great card of intention.
3 of Wands - A woman watches a spacecraft making it’s way down to the surface. It may be a supply ship! This is a card of waiting, and the card typically means “waiting for your ships to come in”.
4 of Wands - A fleet of flying saucers fly overhead, coming from a mountain. Two human astronauts find themselves on a planet similar to ours with breathable oxygen. This card represents family celebrations and things relating to house and home. Can also indicate weddings.
5 of Wands - Astronauts battle against aliens. As is usually the case, first contact with the “others” often results in bloodshed, fear, doubt etc. Thankfully this group of contenders are only partially serious and do not mean any permanent harm. This card represents petty arguments and disagreements, especially in groups.
6 of Wands - A victorious alien rides upon an equally bizarre looking alien horse creature. Marching alongside him are multiple alien races of the big bug eyed variety. A great card to find in readings. Whatever you’re doing it’s working! It is always suggested, however, that one not bask in the glory for too long, because there may be those eyeing up your position at the top and wanting it for themselves.
7 of Wands - A Sleestak from Land of the Lost makes an appearance in our 7 of Wands. Christine loved the show when she was a kid, and once in awhile this character makes an appearance (see the horror comic themed Twisted Tarot Tales).
A card of competition and struggle, the figure stands his ground, as the others try to take his place at the top.
8 of Wands - A series of 8 glowing sticks fly through space just above a planet that looks similar to our own earth. A card of fast movement, fast communication and can indicate travel.
9 of Wands - A solitary astronaut stands guard against the enemy. He has sustained some slight damage, as is seen on the ripped sleeve of his right arm. A card of problems and setbacks. A call to be on guard against such issues. Try to encourage the client to be on guard against an outside force.
10 of Wands - A weighed down astronaut carries 10 colorful sticks to a nearby space structure. His ray gun is firmly placed in the holster so we know that although this is a card of burden, it is not in any way related to war of any kind. This is a burden that can probably be shared if you would be willing to ask for help.
Page of Wands - An intergalactic astronaut plants a flag upon an alien landscape. He is an adventurer who likes to explore. The flag’s emblem symbolises a coalition of various planets working as one to further such exploration.
Knight of Wands - The knight, like the rest of his royal family, has a blue skin tone and slightly elongated head. A card of travel, especially by land, this character is high energy and impulsive.
Queen of Wands - She sits on a strange throne with the back of her chair appearing to be a window into the universe. In her hand she has a long wand, as though a sceptre. This queen is a great planner and loves to be the life of the party. A very active woman, she likes to be involved socially.
King of Wands - This king, like his Queen, appears to sit on a throne with a window to the universe. From his window we see the celestial night sky. The King of Wands is a man who is very much in charge, and can be thought of as almost being like an emperor. A love of nature and the countryside. This figure, like other kings, represents adult males, for example husbands, bosses etc.
BONUS CARDS
The Fool (without robot) - Similar to the Fool with the robot, this bonus card has all the same meanings, (minus a robot of course.) Some of the cards had a few different versions and Christine felt that they could be included as bonus cards.
The Emperor (without his control panel) - An alternative version of the Emperor, where he has no control panel. Instead, his arms rest upon his thighs as he gazes onwards. Christine liked this version and so we decided to include it. The card still holds the same meanings as the original.
7 of Swords - When I drew this 7 of swords, in my mind she needed to be included, even as a bonus, though I still see her as the main 7 of swords personally (just because I like how she turned out). I like the other 7 of swords in the deck too, but I think visually this one turned out a bit more interesting. Just my personal opinion. In this card she is trying to sneak away before sunrise. The window of opportunity for that successful getaway is now closing. She needs to act fast if she wants to escape undetected.
Justice - Again, I tend to see this bonus card as more the “official” justice card, again mainly because it looks more interesting to me. From her neck downwards she has a celestial type body, and she sits on a structure of some sort which is almost covered in mist. She retains the same card meanings as the other Justice card in the deck.
Black LIGHT TAROT - THE MAJORS
0. The Fool : Stars fizzle from the fingertips of the young carefree flower child forming a rainbow. Preoccupied, he moves a little too close to the cliff, though his faithful companion warns him of the danger.
1. The Magician : A showman’s wand sends a trail of stars right across the card, indicating that he has a powerful energy about him. He has complete control over all the elements, as seen by the four elements upon his table; Pentacle (earth), Sword (air), Wand (fire) and Cup (water). According to A.E. Thierens, Waite tells us The Magician represents the querent, regardless of male or female.
2. The High Priestess : Atop her head rests an eye. It is the third eye, able to peer into situations normal eyes cannot. She brings with her a spiritual message in the form of a slightly hidden scroll. A.E Thierens suggests that though the Magician represents the querent of any sex, when the querent is female this card, The High Priestess, influences them more.
3. The Empress : A rainbow springs from the sky and becomes a river, flowing under the feet of the empress to water the plants in her garden. She is the “earth mother”, who represents spring and the birth of all living things upon the planet.
4. Emperor : A hippy father figure. He is a powerful force and usually represents the most dominating male force in one’s life (but not necessarily in a bad way). In other words he has more authority about him, and in a family setting would be the “man of the house” so to speak, or at work he might be a boss.
5. Hierophant / The Guru : This figure holds in his hand a dripping colourful heart, which represents his spiritual side. He represents spiritual love in this deck of cards, alongside being the go to person in matters of spiritual questions. His head can be found in the loftier pursuits of life, and this is represented by his seat upon the clouds. Inspired by the Maharishi.
6. The Lovers : Two lovers meet under an angelic being. Behind the female lies a tree reminiscent of the tree of knowledge while the male stands in front of the burning bush, which symbolises divine commands. A great card for matters of the heart and relationships.
7. The Chariot: According to Thierens, the Charioteer represents the Magician who by this stage has become a “conqueror”. He wears epaulettes; a smiling moon on his left shoulder, a frowning moon on his right. He represents the ability to manage conflicting feelings, desires etc. Can also represent travel.
8. Strength : A brightly dressed woman can be seen affectionately tickling the chin of a once ferocious lion. She has, with her feminine whiles, “tamed the beast”. The forces of nature, being conquered, are friendly to us. Inner strength and determination.
9. Hermit : In front of a backdrop of celestial lights and planets, the Hermit’s lamp glows, lighting his way. He is “mentally always alone” according to Thierens, and represents, in divination, guides, teachers etc. This card can represent a person pulling back, perhaps even “holding their tongue” until they think about things a little more. Also it can represent the most obvious thing; that the person in question is a bit of a recluse (nothing wrong with that I might add…many of us are!)
10. Wheel of Fortune : This is a card that for us, has always mainly represented that one’s luck is about to change or there is a chance of something happening, so much so that we’ve written it onto the card for extra emphasis. We have done this with a few cards (for example “love” on the Guru card and “wish” on the 9 of Cups). A general rule of thumb is that if your luck has been great, sadly it may be about to change. However if you’ve had a string of bad luck, this is a great card to receive.
11. Justice : An important card in the era of “social justice”, this card can represent a person who is the “avenger of wrongs”, but can also indicate court cases of all types ranging from civil marriage to prison.
12. Hanged Man: A man hangs upside down with both hands behind his back. This card can indicate that someone is sacrificing themselves, be it in a romantic relationship or even in business. Generally the card speaks of inaction. Though not a popular interpretation, this card can also indicate literal suicide. Thierens goes into this a little in the “General Book of Tarot” when referencing Judas Iscariot. Interestingly enough The Death card immediately follows the Hanged Man.
13. Death : Have you ever seen such a bright and happy depiction of Death before? Don’t let that fool you. It means generally an ending of things, but can of course mean a literal death, depending on the question asked. It’s popular to interpret this card as “transformation”, i.e the caterpillar becoming the butterfly, but we see transformation more as “Judgment” and so for us, this transformation idea is better represented in the Judgement card later. Generally an end of something.
14. Temperance: A representative of the sun, the angel has one foot in the celestial waters and the other on land. Beyond the rising yellow sun we see a rainbow. It is said that within the cups is the “liquor which holds life” A call for patient endurance. Angels represent messages from the heavens and being celestial in nature, only appear in the Major Arcana (the other examples being Lovers and Judgement and possibly the Devil card, biblically speaking) This angel reminds us to take a balanced approach to things.
15. The Devil : Speaking of the Devil, we again see a sort of angelic messenger. Even the Devil, the tempter, has a purpose. How can we test what we are made of without this character? In this card the two people are chained to a negative source. Notice the Devil’s torch of fire (lust) ignite the “tail” of the man. Take note that the very similar Lovers card (in terms of the visual appearance of man and woman) possess no tails. The tails speak of the animal nature. The card is very carnal and represents lust, addiction of all sorts, vices and problems.
16. The Tower: The lust and debauchery in the Devil card can only go on for so long, before things fall apart, often very abruptly. In the case of adultery, this could be the sudden breakdown of a marriage. This card can represent the sudden collapse of long standing beliefs.
17. The Star: The card of charisma and superstardom. She represents anything related to hopes and aspirations. This is always a good card to have in a reading. This card reminds us of the talents and creativity within each of us, if we should care to seek out what we’re good at.
18. The Moon : A card that represents not being able to see things clearly, so the things you “do” see sometimes are not actually truly as they appear. A good example is a child who “sees” monsters in the night, only to see in the morning it was a coat hanging in the corner. The darkness has made his mind race to all sorts of conclusions. Keep in mind that the moonlight is but a pale imitation of the sun’s light. This is a call to not jump to conclusions until you get a bit more of the picture. That being said, it can also represent hidden secrets, hidden feelings etc that may be real and tangible, but again, since they are hidden they may still remain unclear. This card can also relate to mental health, i.e the somewhat dated word “lunacy” coming from lunar.
19. The Sun : A happy baby sits on a horse beneath a very happy sun. A great card to receive in a reading. It can also represent sunny weather, holidays etc. Can also represent children and babies.
20. Judgement : This card will be familiar to those with a biblical background, particularly that of the New Testament’s Book of Revelation, though a belief in the resurrection is also looked forward to by many Jewish people, Muslims, and other faiths worldwide. Some are of the belief that the first mentions of resurrection can be found in the early writings Zoroaster. This card speaks of Judgement, yes, but also second chances too. In a symbolic sense, what is being conveyed here is that things are resurfacing, perhaps hidden secrets you fear being judged on. It’s something we will all face in life, in some form or another. It is not all bad, though, as it can also be a time for second chances, coming clean, letting go of a burden.
21. The World : A woman holds two wands in her hand. She is powerful and has come “full circle”. She is victorious and has “overcome”. A very positive card in all readings.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS - CUPS
Ace of Cups : An overflowing cup filled with various colors. It can represent a heart overflowing with love. Great card for romantic readings. Like all Aces, this is the beginning of its suit; This is the initial feeling / potential / beginning of the suit. In this case deep emotions of love.
2 of Cups: A very good card for love readings. Two people come together offering each other their cups (their hearts, similar to the overflowing cup in the Ace).
3 of Cups: A happy gathering of women celebrating. This card can also represent the news of a birth, or parties. A card of festivity. Let your hair down and enjoy yourself (you’ve probably earned it!)
4 of Cups: A man surrounded by trippy mushrooms. Three cups are in front of him. To his side another cup comes along from a spiritual source. He either ignores it or doesn’t see it. It’s a reminder to us to keep an open mind. Opportunities may be around the corner. Remind the client or enquirer that opportunities are trying to make their way into their lives but they may not be seeing it.
5 of Cups: A man is upset over three of his Cups (perhaps the three cups he had in front of him in the 4 of Cups) having fallen over. Their contents are spilled and lost. Why does he continue to concern himself with these three cups? Better to appreciate what you still have, than to lament the loss of what has gone from you.
6 of Cups: An adventure of the mind, a figure goes all the way back to his childhood through a series of mental images. As mentioned in the 5 of Cups, it is better to appreciate what you still have, rather than grieve over what is gone. In this case he still has his memories. Yes, the past is physically gone. He can’t physically or mentally become the child again, but the joyous memories of childhood can bring comfort still.
7 of Cups: A figure has come to the crossroads of choosing. What does one desire in life? Is it feasible? At the moment, whether it is achievable or not, is of no consequence. This is a card of daydreaming. There is no concrete plan to achieve any of it. Rather, it is an exercise of conjuring up the desires first. It can indicate also that your plans are unrealistic (assuming you have some in mind)
8 of Cups: A figure can be seen walking away from 8 Cups. He is walking away from an unhelpful situation. Above him a planet’s oceans spill into the sea nearby. Everything has a cause an effect. No one is ever truly isolated from the rest of the world and we must make hard decisions. To stay or to go?
9 of Cups: A genie appears from a lamp, symbolic of being granted wishes. This is the strongest card in the deck for depicting wishes and having them fulfilled (the 7 of Cups being dreams; a little bit different). This could be considered the fulfilment of the 7 of Cups after one follows their desire and follows it (as depicted in the 8 of Cups as he follows his “bliss”). It should be noted also that with wishes being fulfilled, a certain amount of caution needs to be followed. You may indeed get your wish!
10 of Cups: After the 9 of Cups, we see a happy family and a sky filled with fireworks. This card represents the emotional fulfilment of this suit. A great card for love and relationships.
The Page of Cups: Within his cup there jumps a fish, representing his fascination with the subject of love and his desire to know more. This can indicate the beginnings of a relationship, with the stars representing that giddiness felt in new romantic endeavours.
Knight of Cups: What a flamboyant young man! He’s all dressed up with the idea to impress. He is a charmer, but not necessarily in a bad way and is caught up in the ideas of romance without the depth that might come along in older years. (See the King of Cups for a bit of depth emotionally)
Queen of Cups: Her lovely blonde hair cascades down her side into the sea. She is surrounded by water symbols; mermaids, starfish, sea shells etc. She is an emotional woman, very intuitive, and much influenced by her surroundings. Possibly psychic abilities.
King of Cups : An emotional man but he has learned to keep it in check (think the Knight of Cups but has been jilted a few times). A bit slow in relationships and cautious; may hold his emotions back until he feels a bit safer. He has learned from experience you may well say.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS – PENTACLES
Ace of Pentacles : A melting coin peers from an orange cloud with a rainbow tail. This is the beginnings of, perhaps a money venture, or some other earthly pursuit. It is a good card for finance and prosperity. Can also indicate a gift, possibly even a ring if in a romantic sense.
2 of Pentacles : Balancing two coins, a figure stands in front of a backdrop of a tumultuous ocean. The waves behind him represent a rocky, ever shifting landscape of which he or she must navigate. The person balances the coins, which represents things like balancing accounts in a business, making sure that there’s enough money coming in to offset the money going out.
3 of Pentacles : A man works on the interior of a building, following the directions of the two figures beneath him. It is a public work, and so can indicate some success in show business or possibly some kind of public performance.
4 of Pentacles : A man in the city has let greed get the better of him. He is a reminder that hoarding wealth (actually, hoarding anything!) can suffocate our mental state, create stagnancy, and can hinder us spiritually. Letting go of things we don’t need (recycling, giving to a charity shop etc) or sharing our wealth (again financial aid to charities,) or even sharing our time (which is also a valuable and often overlooked resource) can work wonders for our own selves as well as others.
5 of Pentacles : We see what has become of the hoarder. A symbol of spiritual destitution, he walks by some sort of trippy psychedelic church along with another unfortunate “outcast”. It could be seen that through his miserly ways, he cut off all ties to people. When he finally lost it all, he had, or felt he had, no place and no person to turn to.
6 of Pentacles : Following on from the 5 of Pentacles, we see a merchant who has acquired money. Instead of hoarding it all to himself however, like the 4 of Pentacles, he has decided to give back. This figure has possibly even been through a very trying and difficult situation that has caused him to open his heart to the needs of others. The card also reminds us that there is no shame in accepting a helping hand. Life is a conglomeration of different roles we have to enact. One day we may be a millionaire, and the next we could lose every bit of it. Most people are not necessarily one particular thing through all of their life. Our own life decisions, and sometimes things that we have no control over, go on to create scenarios we hadn’t planned on. If you need help, don’t be too proud to accept it because one day you may be given the chance to also give back and when you do, you’ll want that person to accept your helping hand. Basically this is a card of charity and goodwill.
7 of Pentacles : A man stands over some trippy, peculiar plants. What on earth is he growing! Magical stars drift through the air, as he looks rather pleased with himself. A card of restful admiration. It is not the kind of rest like the four of Swords’ recuperation card. Rather, this rest is more the kind you might see a farmer doing when he’s leaning over his field gate admiring his crop. He’ll be back to work soon enough but he is admiring how far along the crop is coming. This card represents a lot of the labor involved in producing the product, as opposed to the 8 of Pentacles being the more refined part of the work.
8 of Pentacles : A man is creating works of art for the local festival where he hopes to sell them. All handcrafted! He enjoys his work as a creative artist and thankfully his patrons do too. Life is good! It is a card of work, but not the kind of gruelling thankless labor one might think of when they think of work. This is more like the enjoyment of having one’s own business. His works are on display because he is proud of them.
9 of Pentacles: A lady of leisure. After the work in the 7 and 8 of Pentacles, the figure is able to properly relax and enjoy the fruits of her labor (ok so the 7 and 8 depicted men, so it is not entirely literal in sequence). Because of the hard work and dedication towards her business, she is now able to rest. It could indicate retirement but doesn’t have to. The figure, however, can be considered a bit lonely and sometimes this may be down to lacking a social or family life. As is often the case for those driven by ambition, so much time might be spent studying or attending to their business that they have forgotten about the other aspects in life. To quote Hesiod “'moderation in all things is the best policy”
10 of Pentacles : All has turned out very well in the end. A card of family and having all of your earthly needs taken care of. This card is the fulfilment of the Ace at the beginning. You’ve stayed the course in your business idea and made your mark on the world. Congratulations!
Page of Pentacles : A young person has discovered a taste of the financial good life. Perhaps a student in the business sector, or even something as simple as their first paper or pizza delivery job, the discovery of a wage and the power and freedom that first pay cheque can bring. A great feeling, the young person starts to feel he or she is achieving something for their lives.
Knight of Pentacles : This is a young person who is beginning to get more interested in settling down and perhaps even getting a mortgage, or a raise at their job.
It should be noted that his horse is a workhorse, and represents a lot of dedication and hard work. This is a great card for financial questions. He is also considered to be quite “slow” at making decisions at times, but I feel that this might be more because he wants to get things right the first time...and so puts a bit more thought into things.
Queen of Pentacles : A woman who is usually interested in possessions, but can also be a woman interested in saving money. Materialistic with an earthbound personality. A very practical woman. Very good at taking care of family.
King of Pentacles : A man who has accomplished a lot in his life, especially financially. A shrewd businessman. A good provider that can take care of his family. He makes wise investments.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS – SWORDS
Ace of Swords : A card of communication. Can indicate arguments. A card of thoughts, ideas, and the wills of people. Seen sometimes as “getting to the heart of a matter”
2 of Swords : Keeping the peace even though you may have contradictory opinions. Holding back rather than causing a big argument. (Easily seen with political arguments, religious debates etc) For the sake of friendship, you just don’t want to get into a potentially volatile conversation. That’s understanding, and sometimes even prudent.
3 of Swords : All hell has broken loose. That conversation you were trying to avoid in the 2 of Swords? Yes, it’s spilled out into an all out war of words and ideas. This represents, we feel, a strike to the heart from harsh words. The kind of feeling you feel when you‘re in a verbal war with someone.
4 of Swords : A mental rest after the 3 of Swords’ argument. A break from all the drama and disagreement. Lie back and relax; you and your poor sanity have earned it.
5 of Swords : Leaving an argument that can never be won. What’s the point of arguing against someone that doesn’t even play by the rules, or resorts to name calling? The person you are arguing against has no real intention of seeing your point of view, so why bother keeping the argument going? Best leave them to their own problems. The person in the foreground has a hollow victory. They “think” they’ve won the argument, when in reality the other people have walked away because the “victor” couldn’t be reasoned with.
6 of Swords : Leaving a poisonous atmosphere and going to a much calmer area, and trying to find a better mental state. Can also indicate physical travel, especially by sea, or going on holiday near a watery area like an ocean, lake etc.
7 of Swords : A thief runs away with 5 swords while looking over his shoulder. Perhaps you are being plotted against. Be aware of enemies. Somebody could be undermining your plans.
8 of Swords : The figure is in a mental rut. Being so focused on one point of view, they can’t see any other solutions available. Change your way of thinking. Take the blindfold off! There is more solutions and options out there but you need to mentally break free of the fear.
9 of Swords : The nightmare card. Strong anxiety. Not necessarily something actually bad happening but rather the fear of something happening. So focused on something worrying that it can even enter your dreams (nightmares) or even have you sleepless.
10 Swords : Ruin. Mental breakdown. The 9 of Swords fully realised. The person has been more or less destroyed, mentally, possibly financially, and toxic beyond being saved. The end of the situation being discussed.
Page of Swords : Considered the enemy spy card. May be a rival (and even a spy in your circle of friends) but most likely someone who means you no good. Can also be a sign someone wants to steal your ideas. Generally a rival or jealous person. Don’t fret. Just keep calm and be on guard.
Knight of Swords : Pure action. Rushes right into battles and arguments before he or she can even figure out what’s going on. This person can upset situations that don’t really need to be upset just because they are too eager and get fired up. Quick to get into arguments.
Queen of Swords : A lonely or single woman, often with a sad past. A woman who uses her logic rather than feelings and emotions. Very clear ideas of right and wrong. Swords cards usually represent laws and judgments, so the court cards embody this especially.
King of Swords : Often a man in authority. Usually involved with rules, judgement etc. Think police, courtrooms, judges, prosecutors and lawyers.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS – WANDS
Ace of Wands : A sudden burst of energy, that feeling where you feel the need to move. Restlessness. The beginning of action. A get up and go feeling.
2 of Wands : Trying to figure out your place in the world and what you intend for yourself. When you set your intention you’ll want to follow through with it and get out into the world. Also making an investment in something.
3 of Wands : After the efforts of the 2 of Wands, the 3 is waiting for feedback from the universe. You want to see what manifests from your efforts now that you’ve taken action. What are those ships bringing to you?
4 of Wands : The 4 in each suit seems to represent rest. This card is no different. The feeling of returning home for a brief period of time. The two people can be seen welcoming you home. Can also represent marriage.
5 of Wands : Petty disagreements over things. It’s not serious, but can be taxing nonetheless. Could even be sparring with each other using sarcasm, making fun of each other. May also represent your competitors; people who aren’t really “enemies”, but gently battling each other.
6 of Wands : Victory and on top of your game. People look up to you. You are successful and most everyone will recognise it. You made it! Enjoy your place at the top but be prepared to fight for your right to stay there. That comes with the 7 of Wands.
7 of Wands : Fighting to stay on the top. Your victory can easily be taken away by a competitor. You need to fight for your place at the top.
8 of Wands : Fast movement. Wireless communication, electricity, phone calls and emails. Travel in planes. Any fast movement. A card of impulse and infatuation (think arrows of love).
9 of Wands : Now to stand guard! This card usually indicates that you have been wounded a bit. You’ve had to battle it out in the 5 of Wands and stay on top in the 7 of Wands. He has a head wound (covered by a headband) indicating his past struggles. He is now more ready than ever to defend his territory. Though more battle weary, he is more of a veteran in terms of defending himself when compared to the 7 of Wands.
10 of Wands : Can he make it to the finish line? His success has almost become an oppression to him. He has detractors, enemies, those who envy what he has. People want to steal his thunder.
Can also indicate that he’s starting to lose his energy and desire for the success. A great example is seeing a successful band have a few great albums. There often comes a point with that band where trying to constantly improve on past successes result in some burnout. Sometimes the new albums sound lacklustre; they’ve lost their edge compared to when they were hungry for recognition.
Page of Wands : Communicating messages back and forth. Possibly an announcement of a birth. Exploration and travel are things he has interest in, but the Knight which follows is usually the one that will pursue it in reality.
Knight of Wands : The traveller, especially to a foreign country, again seen with the pyramids in the backgrounds. Movement out into the world. Adventurer.
Queen of Wands : A woman with a strong fiery temperament. She enjoys starting projects and likes keeping herself busy. A good example might be flipping houses, or other creative ideas.
King of Wands : Energetic and physically involved in a lot of things. A country sort of gentleman who would probably have a hard time retiring. Still adventurous! Depending on his age and capability, he may watch things like the discovery channel, nature programmes etc without necessarily partaking in any of it.
The Trippin’ Squirrel : Represents the Querent and represents your will. You have a free will and you can do whatever you want to do. You can be as nutty as a Squirrel, it’s all good ;)
This card is included as a fun take on the more popular “Happy Squirrel” from “The Simpsons”, and not an actual “real” Tarot card as such found in regular decks.
0. The Fool : Stars fizzle from the fingertips of the young carefree flower child forming a rainbow. Preoccupied, he moves a little too close to the cliff, though his faithful companion warns him of the danger.
1. The Magician : A showman’s wand sends a trail of stars right across the card, indicating that he has a powerful energy about him. He has complete control over all the elements, as seen by the four elements upon his table; Pentacle (earth), Sword (air), Wand (fire) and Cup (water). According to A.E. Thierens, Waite tells us The Magician represents the querent, regardless of male or female.
2. The High Priestess : Atop her head rests an eye. It is the third eye, able to peer into situations normal eyes cannot. She brings with her a spiritual message in the form of a slightly hidden scroll. A.E Thierens suggests that though the Magician represents the querent of any sex, when the querent is female this card, The High Priestess, influences them more.
3. The Empress : A rainbow springs from the sky and becomes a river, flowing under the feet of the empress to water the plants in her garden. She is the “earth mother”, who represents spring and the birth of all living things upon the planet.
4. Emperor : A hippy father figure. He is a powerful force and usually represents the most dominating male force in one’s life (but not necessarily in a bad way). In other words he has more authority about him, and in a family setting would be the “man of the house” so to speak, or at work he might be a boss.
5. Hierophant / The Guru : This figure holds in his hand a dripping colourful heart, which represents his spiritual side. He represents spiritual love in this deck of cards, alongside being the go to person in matters of spiritual questions. His head can be found in the loftier pursuits of life, and this is represented by his seat upon the clouds. Inspired by the Maharishi.
6. The Lovers : Two lovers meet under an angelic being. Behind the female lies a tree reminiscent of the tree of knowledge while the male stands in front of the burning bush, which symbolises divine commands. A great card for matters of the heart and relationships.
7. The Chariot: According to Thierens, the Charioteer represents the Magician who by this stage has become a “conqueror”. He wears epaulettes; a smiling moon on his left shoulder, a frowning moon on his right. He represents the ability to manage conflicting feelings, desires etc. Can also represent travel.
8. Strength : A brightly dressed woman can be seen affectionately tickling the chin of a once ferocious lion. She has, with her feminine whiles, “tamed the beast”. The forces of nature, being conquered, are friendly to us. Inner strength and determination.
9. Hermit : In front of a backdrop of celestial lights and planets, the Hermit’s lamp glows, lighting his way. He is “mentally always alone” according to Thierens, and represents, in divination, guides, teachers etc. This card can represent a person pulling back, perhaps even “holding their tongue” until they think about things a little more. Also it can represent the most obvious thing; that the person in question is a bit of a recluse (nothing wrong with that I might add…many of us are!)
10. Wheel of Fortune : This is a card that for us, has always mainly represented that one’s luck is about to change or there is a chance of something happening, so much so that we’ve written it onto the card for extra emphasis. We have done this with a few cards (for example “love” on the Guru card and “wish” on the 9 of Cups). A general rule of thumb is that if your luck has been great, sadly it may be about to change. However if you’ve had a string of bad luck, this is a great card to receive.
11. Justice : An important card in the era of “social justice”, this card can represent a person who is the “avenger of wrongs”, but can also indicate court cases of all types ranging from civil marriage to prison.
12. Hanged Man: A man hangs upside down with both hands behind his back. This card can indicate that someone is sacrificing themselves, be it in a romantic relationship or even in business. Generally the card speaks of inaction. Though not a popular interpretation, this card can also indicate literal suicide. Thierens goes into this a little in the “General Book of Tarot” when referencing Judas Iscariot. Interestingly enough The Death card immediately follows the Hanged Man.
13. Death : Have you ever seen such a bright and happy depiction of Death before? Don’t let that fool you. It means generally an ending of things, but can of course mean a literal death, depending on the question asked. It’s popular to interpret this card as “transformation”, i.e the caterpillar becoming the butterfly, but we see transformation more as “Judgment” and so for us, this transformation idea is better represented in the Judgement card later. Generally an end of something.
14. Temperance: A representative of the sun, the angel has one foot in the celestial waters and the other on land. Beyond the rising yellow sun we see a rainbow. It is said that within the cups is the “liquor which holds life” A call for patient endurance. Angels represent messages from the heavens and being celestial in nature, only appear in the Major Arcana (the other examples being Lovers and Judgement and possibly the Devil card, biblically speaking) This angel reminds us to take a balanced approach to things.
15. The Devil : Speaking of the Devil, we again see a sort of angelic messenger. Even the Devil, the tempter, has a purpose. How can we test what we are made of without this character? In this card the two people are chained to a negative source. Notice the Devil’s torch of fire (lust) ignite the “tail” of the man. Take note that the very similar Lovers card (in terms of the visual appearance of man and woman) possess no tails. The tails speak of the animal nature. The card is very carnal and represents lust, addiction of all sorts, vices and problems.
16. The Tower: The lust and debauchery in the Devil card can only go on for so long, before things fall apart, often very abruptly. In the case of adultery, this could be the sudden breakdown of a marriage. This card can represent the sudden collapse of long standing beliefs.
17. The Star: The card of charisma and superstardom. She represents anything related to hopes and aspirations. This is always a good card to have in a reading. This card reminds us of the talents and creativity within each of us, if we should care to seek out what we’re good at.
18. The Moon : A card that represents not being able to see things clearly, so the things you “do” see sometimes are not actually truly as they appear. A good example is a child who “sees” monsters in the night, only to see in the morning it was a coat hanging in the corner. The darkness has made his mind race to all sorts of conclusions. Keep in mind that the moonlight is but a pale imitation of the sun’s light. This is a call to not jump to conclusions until you get a bit more of the picture. That being said, it can also represent hidden secrets, hidden feelings etc that may be real and tangible, but again, since they are hidden they may still remain unclear. This card can also relate to mental health, i.e the somewhat dated word “lunacy” coming from lunar.
19. The Sun : A happy baby sits on a horse beneath a very happy sun. A great card to receive in a reading. It can also represent sunny weather, holidays etc. Can also represent children and babies.
20. Judgement : This card will be familiar to those with a biblical background, particularly that of the New Testament’s Book of Revelation, though a belief in the resurrection is also looked forward to by many Jewish people, Muslims, and other faiths worldwide. Some are of the belief that the first mentions of resurrection can be found in the early writings Zoroaster. This card speaks of Judgement, yes, but also second chances too. In a symbolic sense, what is being conveyed here is that things are resurfacing, perhaps hidden secrets you fear being judged on. It’s something we will all face in life, in some form or another. It is not all bad, though, as it can also be a time for second chances, coming clean, letting go of a burden.
21. The World : A woman holds two wands in her hand. She is powerful and has come “full circle”. She is victorious and has “overcome”. A very positive card in all readings.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS - CUPS
Ace of Cups : An overflowing cup filled with various colors. It can represent a heart overflowing with love. Great card for romantic readings. Like all Aces, this is the beginning of its suit; This is the initial feeling / potential / beginning of the suit. In this case deep emotions of love.
2 of Cups: A very good card for love readings. Two people come together offering each other their cups (their hearts, similar to the overflowing cup in the Ace).
3 of Cups: A happy gathering of women celebrating. This card can also represent the news of a birth, or parties. A card of festivity. Let your hair down and enjoy yourself (you’ve probably earned it!)
4 of Cups: A man surrounded by trippy mushrooms. Three cups are in front of him. To his side another cup comes along from a spiritual source. He either ignores it or doesn’t see it. It’s a reminder to us to keep an open mind. Opportunities may be around the corner. Remind the client or enquirer that opportunities are trying to make their way into their lives but they may not be seeing it.
5 of Cups: A man is upset over three of his Cups (perhaps the three cups he had in front of him in the 4 of Cups) having fallen over. Their contents are spilled and lost. Why does he continue to concern himself with these three cups? Better to appreciate what you still have, than to lament the loss of what has gone from you.
6 of Cups: An adventure of the mind, a figure goes all the way back to his childhood through a series of mental images. As mentioned in the 5 of Cups, it is better to appreciate what you still have, rather than grieve over what is gone. In this case he still has his memories. Yes, the past is physically gone. He can’t physically or mentally become the child again, but the joyous memories of childhood can bring comfort still.
7 of Cups: A figure has come to the crossroads of choosing. What does one desire in life? Is it feasible? At the moment, whether it is achievable or not, is of no consequence. This is a card of daydreaming. There is no concrete plan to achieve any of it. Rather, it is an exercise of conjuring up the desires first. It can indicate also that your plans are unrealistic (assuming you have some in mind)
8 of Cups: A figure can be seen walking away from 8 Cups. He is walking away from an unhelpful situation. Above him a planet’s oceans spill into the sea nearby. Everything has a cause an effect. No one is ever truly isolated from the rest of the world and we must make hard decisions. To stay or to go?
9 of Cups: A genie appears from a lamp, symbolic of being granted wishes. This is the strongest card in the deck for depicting wishes and having them fulfilled (the 7 of Cups being dreams; a little bit different). This could be considered the fulfilment of the 7 of Cups after one follows their desire and follows it (as depicted in the 8 of Cups as he follows his “bliss”). It should be noted also that with wishes being fulfilled, a certain amount of caution needs to be followed. You may indeed get your wish!
10 of Cups: After the 9 of Cups, we see a happy family and a sky filled with fireworks. This card represents the emotional fulfilment of this suit. A great card for love and relationships.
The Page of Cups: Within his cup there jumps a fish, representing his fascination with the subject of love and his desire to know more. This can indicate the beginnings of a relationship, with the stars representing that giddiness felt in new romantic endeavours.
Knight of Cups: What a flamboyant young man! He’s all dressed up with the idea to impress. He is a charmer, but not necessarily in a bad way and is caught up in the ideas of romance without the depth that might come along in older years. (See the King of Cups for a bit of depth emotionally)
Queen of Cups: Her lovely blonde hair cascades down her side into the sea. She is surrounded by water symbols; mermaids, starfish, sea shells etc. She is an emotional woman, very intuitive, and much influenced by her surroundings. Possibly psychic abilities.
King of Cups : An emotional man but he has learned to keep it in check (think the Knight of Cups but has been jilted a few times). A bit slow in relationships and cautious; may hold his emotions back until he feels a bit safer. He has learned from experience you may well say.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS – PENTACLES
Ace of Pentacles : A melting coin peers from an orange cloud with a rainbow tail. This is the beginnings of, perhaps a money venture, or some other earthly pursuit. It is a good card for finance and prosperity. Can also indicate a gift, possibly even a ring if in a romantic sense.
2 of Pentacles : Balancing two coins, a figure stands in front of a backdrop of a tumultuous ocean. The waves behind him represent a rocky, ever shifting landscape of which he or she must navigate. The person balances the coins, which represents things like balancing accounts in a business, making sure that there’s enough money coming in to offset the money going out.
3 of Pentacles : A man works on the interior of a building, following the directions of the two figures beneath him. It is a public work, and so can indicate some success in show business or possibly some kind of public performance.
4 of Pentacles : A man in the city has let greed get the better of him. He is a reminder that hoarding wealth (actually, hoarding anything!) can suffocate our mental state, create stagnancy, and can hinder us spiritually. Letting go of things we don’t need (recycling, giving to a charity shop etc) or sharing our wealth (again financial aid to charities,) or even sharing our time (which is also a valuable and often overlooked resource) can work wonders for our own selves as well as others.
5 of Pentacles : We see what has become of the hoarder. A symbol of spiritual destitution, he walks by some sort of trippy psychedelic church along with another unfortunate “outcast”. It could be seen that through his miserly ways, he cut off all ties to people. When he finally lost it all, he had, or felt he had, no place and no person to turn to.
6 of Pentacles : Following on from the 5 of Pentacles, we see a merchant who has acquired money. Instead of hoarding it all to himself however, like the 4 of Pentacles, he has decided to give back. This figure has possibly even been through a very trying and difficult situation that has caused him to open his heart to the needs of others. The card also reminds us that there is no shame in accepting a helping hand. Life is a conglomeration of different roles we have to enact. One day we may be a millionaire, and the next we could lose every bit of it. Most people are not necessarily one particular thing through all of their life. Our own life decisions, and sometimes things that we have no control over, go on to create scenarios we hadn’t planned on. If you need help, don’t be too proud to accept it because one day you may be given the chance to also give back and when you do, you’ll want that person to accept your helping hand. Basically this is a card of charity and goodwill.
7 of Pentacles : A man stands over some trippy, peculiar plants. What on earth is he growing! Magical stars drift through the air, as he looks rather pleased with himself. A card of restful admiration. It is not the kind of rest like the four of Swords’ recuperation card. Rather, this rest is more the kind you might see a farmer doing when he’s leaning over his field gate admiring his crop. He’ll be back to work soon enough but he is admiring how far along the crop is coming. This card represents a lot of the labor involved in producing the product, as opposed to the 8 of Pentacles being the more refined part of the work.
8 of Pentacles : A man is creating works of art for the local festival where he hopes to sell them. All handcrafted! He enjoys his work as a creative artist and thankfully his patrons do too. Life is good! It is a card of work, but not the kind of gruelling thankless labor one might think of when they think of work. This is more like the enjoyment of having one’s own business. His works are on display because he is proud of them.
9 of Pentacles: A lady of leisure. After the work in the 7 and 8 of Pentacles, the figure is able to properly relax and enjoy the fruits of her labor (ok so the 7 and 8 depicted men, so it is not entirely literal in sequence). Because of the hard work and dedication towards her business, she is now able to rest. It could indicate retirement but doesn’t have to. The figure, however, can be considered a bit lonely and sometimes this may be down to lacking a social or family life. As is often the case for those driven by ambition, so much time might be spent studying or attending to their business that they have forgotten about the other aspects in life. To quote Hesiod “'moderation in all things is the best policy”
10 of Pentacles : All has turned out very well in the end. A card of family and having all of your earthly needs taken care of. This card is the fulfilment of the Ace at the beginning. You’ve stayed the course in your business idea and made your mark on the world. Congratulations!
Page of Pentacles : A young person has discovered a taste of the financial good life. Perhaps a student in the business sector, or even something as simple as their first paper or pizza delivery job, the discovery of a wage and the power and freedom that first pay cheque can bring. A great feeling, the young person starts to feel he or she is achieving something for their lives.
Knight of Pentacles : This is a young person who is beginning to get more interested in settling down and perhaps even getting a mortgage, or a raise at their job.
It should be noted that his horse is a workhorse, and represents a lot of dedication and hard work. This is a great card for financial questions. He is also considered to be quite “slow” at making decisions at times, but I feel that this might be more because he wants to get things right the first time...and so puts a bit more thought into things.
Queen of Pentacles : A woman who is usually interested in possessions, but can also be a woman interested in saving money. Materialistic with an earthbound personality. A very practical woman. Very good at taking care of family.
King of Pentacles : A man who has accomplished a lot in his life, especially financially. A shrewd businessman. A good provider that can take care of his family. He makes wise investments.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS – SWORDS
Ace of Swords : A card of communication. Can indicate arguments. A card of thoughts, ideas, and the wills of people. Seen sometimes as “getting to the heart of a matter”
2 of Swords : Keeping the peace even though you may have contradictory opinions. Holding back rather than causing a big argument. (Easily seen with political arguments, religious debates etc) For the sake of friendship, you just don’t want to get into a potentially volatile conversation. That’s understanding, and sometimes even prudent.
3 of Swords : All hell has broken loose. That conversation you were trying to avoid in the 2 of Swords? Yes, it’s spilled out into an all out war of words and ideas. This represents, we feel, a strike to the heart from harsh words. The kind of feeling you feel when you‘re in a verbal war with someone.
4 of Swords : A mental rest after the 3 of Swords’ argument. A break from all the drama and disagreement. Lie back and relax; you and your poor sanity have earned it.
5 of Swords : Leaving an argument that can never be won. What’s the point of arguing against someone that doesn’t even play by the rules, or resorts to name calling? The person you are arguing against has no real intention of seeing your point of view, so why bother keeping the argument going? Best leave them to their own problems. The person in the foreground has a hollow victory. They “think” they’ve won the argument, when in reality the other people have walked away because the “victor” couldn’t be reasoned with.
6 of Swords : Leaving a poisonous atmosphere and going to a much calmer area, and trying to find a better mental state. Can also indicate physical travel, especially by sea, or going on holiday near a watery area like an ocean, lake etc.
7 of Swords : A thief runs away with 5 swords while looking over his shoulder. Perhaps you are being plotted against. Be aware of enemies. Somebody could be undermining your plans.
8 of Swords : The figure is in a mental rut. Being so focused on one point of view, they can’t see any other solutions available. Change your way of thinking. Take the blindfold off! There is more solutions and options out there but you need to mentally break free of the fear.
9 of Swords : The nightmare card. Strong anxiety. Not necessarily something actually bad happening but rather the fear of something happening. So focused on something worrying that it can even enter your dreams (nightmares) or even have you sleepless.
10 Swords : Ruin. Mental breakdown. The 9 of Swords fully realised. The person has been more or less destroyed, mentally, possibly financially, and toxic beyond being saved. The end of the situation being discussed.
Page of Swords : Considered the enemy spy card. May be a rival (and even a spy in your circle of friends) but most likely someone who means you no good. Can also be a sign someone wants to steal your ideas. Generally a rival or jealous person. Don’t fret. Just keep calm and be on guard.
Knight of Swords : Pure action. Rushes right into battles and arguments before he or she can even figure out what’s going on. This person can upset situations that don’t really need to be upset just because they are too eager and get fired up. Quick to get into arguments.
Queen of Swords : A lonely or single woman, often with a sad past. A woman who uses her logic rather than feelings and emotions. Very clear ideas of right and wrong. Swords cards usually represent laws and judgments, so the court cards embody this especially.
King of Swords : Often a man in authority. Usually involved with rules, judgement etc. Think police, courtrooms, judges, prosecutors and lawyers.
BLACK LIGHT TAROT - CARD MEANINGS – WANDS
Ace of Wands : A sudden burst of energy, that feeling where you feel the need to move. Restlessness. The beginning of action. A get up and go feeling.
2 of Wands : Trying to figure out your place in the world and what you intend for yourself. When you set your intention you’ll want to follow through with it and get out into the world. Also making an investment in something.
3 of Wands : After the efforts of the 2 of Wands, the 3 is waiting for feedback from the universe. You want to see what manifests from your efforts now that you’ve taken action. What are those ships bringing to you?
4 of Wands : The 4 in each suit seems to represent rest. This card is no different. The feeling of returning home for a brief period of time. The two people can be seen welcoming you home. Can also represent marriage.
5 of Wands : Petty disagreements over things. It’s not serious, but can be taxing nonetheless. Could even be sparring with each other using sarcasm, making fun of each other. May also represent your competitors; people who aren’t really “enemies”, but gently battling each other.
6 of Wands : Victory and on top of your game. People look up to you. You are successful and most everyone will recognise it. You made it! Enjoy your place at the top but be prepared to fight for your right to stay there. That comes with the 7 of Wands.
7 of Wands : Fighting to stay on the top. Your victory can easily be taken away by a competitor. You need to fight for your place at the top.
8 of Wands : Fast movement. Wireless communication, electricity, phone calls and emails. Travel in planes. Any fast movement. A card of impulse and infatuation (think arrows of love).
9 of Wands : Now to stand guard! This card usually indicates that you have been wounded a bit. You’ve had to battle it out in the 5 of Wands and stay on top in the 7 of Wands. He has a head wound (covered by a headband) indicating his past struggles. He is now more ready than ever to defend his territory. Though more battle weary, he is more of a veteran in terms of defending himself when compared to the 7 of Wands.
10 of Wands : Can he make it to the finish line? His success has almost become an oppression to him. He has detractors, enemies, those who envy what he has. People want to steal his thunder.
Can also indicate that he’s starting to lose his energy and desire for the success. A great example is seeing a successful band have a few great albums. There often comes a point with that band where trying to constantly improve on past successes result in some burnout. Sometimes the new albums sound lacklustre; they’ve lost their edge compared to when they were hungry for recognition.
Page of Wands : Communicating messages back and forth. Possibly an announcement of a birth. Exploration and travel are things he has interest in, but the Knight which follows is usually the one that will pursue it in reality.
Knight of Wands : The traveller, especially to a foreign country, again seen with the pyramids in the backgrounds. Movement out into the world. Adventurer.
Queen of Wands : A woman with a strong fiery temperament. She enjoys starting projects and likes keeping herself busy. A good example might be flipping houses, or other creative ideas.
King of Wands : Energetic and physically involved in a lot of things. A country sort of gentleman who would probably have a hard time retiring. Still adventurous! Depending on his age and capability, he may watch things like the discovery channel, nature programmes etc without necessarily partaking in any of it.
The Trippin’ Squirrel : Represents the Querent and represents your will. You have a free will and you can do whatever you want to do. You can be as nutty as a Squirrel, it’s all good ;)
This card is included as a fun take on the more popular “Happy Squirrel” from “The Simpsons”, and not an actual “real” Tarot card as such found in regular decks.
CARD MEANINGS FROM THE GROOVY WAITE
0. The Fool: A figure carrying a poppy in hand (symbolic of her opium high) enjoys her bliss a little too much as she walks close to the edge of cliff, unaware of the potential for danger. She wants to follow the stars that have appeared during her trip, but her faithful pooch warns her to be careful of the edge.
1. The Magician - A man, attuned to working with the elements and being able to use a little magic to shape his reality, points his wand into the heart of a rainbow. His entire body is surrounded by this bright rainbow, a positive field of protection. He wears a “Technicolor dream coat” as though to emphasis the point.
2. The High Priestess -– Cloaked in stars, and holding a divine message in her hand, she is surrounded by the moon and many stars, symbolising her as a heavenly figure. She is sometimes referred to as the Shikinah.
3. The Empress - This “earth mama”, enjoying her outdoor seat on a spring day, is the embodiment of fertility. The flowers in the foreground tell us the time is right for the living things to break forth from the ground.
4. Emperor - A father figure. Can also be one’s boss. Unlike some of the kings in the deck, the Emperor has a tougher exterior as the leader of a group of bikers. Usually the most powerful male figure in a person’s life.
5. Hierophant -The teacher of the deck, mainly in spiritual matters. He is surrounded in stars symbolising his mentally elevated position. He’s literally floating on a cloud!
6. The Lovers - Two flower children brought together through a love of music. Even the flowers below their feet feel the groove. Rays of bright color and stars emanate from the angel overhead, while rainbows appear behind both lovers. A happy card. Meeting that special someone in your life.
7. The Chariot - A long haired flower child holds a magic wand in hand. He represents balancing the different forces in your life, and will finally be able to take charge of his destiny. Moving forward.
8. Strength - A woman masters the taming of a lion, which symbolizes mastering the art of persuasion. Being able to discipline ones self, not to overreact to certain situations. There’s a saying “ you can catch more flies with honey than with
vinegar” and this would apply here. It’s easier to get what you want by being polite rather than by being rude.
9. The Hermit - inspired by Jimmy Page’s love of the iconic Hermit figure, the stairs behind the Hermit in this card is a nod to the song “stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin. His staff is also a nod to the biblical Moses, who had the ability to turn his wooden staff into a serpent, and back again. Only one who has sequestered himself a way in studies (thus becoming the hermit) might hope to achieve the near impossible. Inner reflection.
10. The Wheel of Fortune - A card that promises a change of some kind. If you are having a bad streak, then a good change may be just around the corner, and if you’ve had it good, then prepare for a little of the opposite. We would say generally this is a good card to see in a reading, based on the chances that a client is seeking a reading because of a problem in their life. In other words, their state might be currently in the negative, so seeing this card will be a positive.
11. Justice – As Asian woman holds a sword in one hand and the scales in the other. Usually refers to court appearances or matters of the law. Could literally be a judge. In the case of a non court situation, it could mean someone is getting what they deserve.
12. The Hanged Man - A man hangs upside down. He is in a state of suspension. He is not touching the ground at all, and therefore he is not taking part in the comings and goings of earth. He has taken a “time out” and is just watching the world go by. Sometimes an indication of being “stuck”; not knowing how to move forward, usually through no fault of your own.
13. Death - The Grim Reaper comes riding in on his horse. He stops by the river Styx. It can mean literal death. During the “groovy era”, the “peace symbol”, seen in Death’s flag, was used to convey “oneness”, “love”, “peace” and other ideas. In the case of the Death card, the symbol reverts back to it’s original meaning and origin; that of nuclear disarmament.
During the 50’s, the “campaign for nuclear disarmament” (CND) produced a symbol which represented their movement and goal of removing all nuclear weapons from Britain and other countries. While this symbol eventually became popularized as the “peace symbol”, the Death card reminds us of that very real possibility that nuclear war will bring about Death in a grand scale. On a lighter note Death can also mean the end of one chapter but the beginning of another. (That’s the meaning you might want to go with instead!)
14. Temperance – A Native American woman hovers amidst the stars, as though a figure within a vision quest. This card is a message to us that we should have a balance of that “rainbow feeling” that we’ve seen playing out over the course of the last few cards. Always strive to see the bright side of life and the best in people, but not to our detriment. In other words, stay level headed or you can be easily taken advantage of. A balance is key!
15. The Devil – A devil figure completely covered, from head to toe, in psychedelic body paint. The two flower children are chained to this “devil”, and are slaves to it, though visually they appear to be “free”, even happy. The Devil, of course, in this setting can be seen as addictive drugs or things which can cause you harm, even though you may feel like you are enjoying the ride. Anything that has a hold over you, especially in a negative way, should be analyzed. Has it gotten the better of you?
16. The Tower - Sudden calamity. We just can’t sugar coat this one! Usually a sudden revelation; accompanied by that shocking feeling you get when something takes you by surprise. An end to a situation.
17. The Star – “it’s the dawning of the age of Aquarius” can be heard throughout all of this card. (a song by the 5th Dimension). The figure pours pure color into the dark waters, bringing them to life. She is the figure of Aquarius, the water bearer. She is a good card to see in a reading. She represents Inspiration and hope for the future. Sometimes interpreted as a “superstar”, celebrity etc, or someone with great passion and charisma.
18. The Moon - The card depicts a full January moon, also known as the “Wolf Moon”, but unless used for readings based on timing, the wolf should be seen rather as a totem. The wolf hunts at night, nearly invisible to its prey, a reminder that all may not be what it seems. The Moon can represent lunacy, and things that are hidden from view.
19. The Sun - A little child with a head dress, his body painted blue, rides atop a pink haired horse with flowers in its hair. The Sun card is a card of joy, and can sometimes indicate child birth.
20. Judgement – An angel with a celestial costume drifts between worlds, a reminder that we are never truly alone. A dove of peace flies between her hands, a symbol of love and mercy, a heavenly reminder that we are forgiven for past deeds. All we need now is to forgive others likewise, including ourselves.
21. The World - A funky lady dances at the disco, the center of attention. She even has her on “star” which she walks upon. The world is her oyster; she has made it!
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – PENTACLES
Ace of Pentacles - A surreal, almost Salvador Dali-esque effect warps the clouds, coin and flowers. A good card; the beginning of money, opportunity etc, sometimes it can be a gift.
2 of Pentacles - A woman holds two pentacles in her hand, representing a juggling act with money. Maintaining the books, and keeping the business or household afloat. She stands beside a seashore, reminding her that the tide (money) goes out, but it always comes in. She knows she must “ride the waves” so to speak and that nothing is permanent.
3 of Pentacles - A young artist working at his groovy masterpiece consults his
clients. This is the stage where he is setting up his art business. He’s putting his skills to good use. The card can depict an art display, even having your work in galleries.
4 of Pentacles - Having left for the city and made a name for himself, the young artist has now made a reasonable some of money, and he’s scared of losing it. Holding on too much like this won’t allow him to grow. He needs to be able to share his wealth a little, thereby allowing others to share in the blessings that have been sent his way. This is a crucial moment of learning. If he doesn’t learn to give a little, he will eventually stagnate, not being able to move forward spiritually
5 of Pentacles - We see a vision of “what could be” if the artist in the 4 of Pentacles does not help others in their misfortune. Fate has taken his riches away. He walks alongside another poor unfortunate. (who knows...perhaps another person who has not learned to give during their time of abundance)
6 of Pentacles - The artist (from the 3,4 and 5 of pentacles) awakes from his Dickens-esque nightmare in the 5 of Pentacles, and learns to give to the misfortunate. Fate, in the form of a rainbow, has shone upon the dark haired man with his hands out, and he becomes blessed through the talented hands of the artist. Now that the heavens have smiled upon this scene, we see the result in the next scene.
7 of Pentacles - The artist has been given even more blessings. This is how the wheel of cause and effect works, the rules of karma. Perhaps it is even the “meaning” of life. The figure must tend this newfound blessing, water it every day and make it grow into a tree of abundance. A card of waiting patiently.
8 of Pentacles - Now to hone his craft even further. He has come a long way since the 3 of Pentacles. At this point he has created a great living for himself. In the background he has a wealthy estate and at some point he will retire there. Alongside sharing his gains; working at a steady pace and having a goal brings him riches tenfold.
9 of Pentacles - The artists’ soul mate enjoys the fruit of both their labours. She has her own bird in hand which she enjoys time with. She is surrounded in well earned wealth and has mastery over maintaining both their business and estate.
10 of Pentacles - The final outcome of a life of labor and greatness. A card of family, inheritance and the love of relatives. Like the 10 of Cups, where the family setting is that of emotional love and bliss, the 10 of Pentacles is the other side of that “coin” (pardon the pun); the financial side. This family has reached contentment and they want for nothing (at least materially)
Page of Pentacles - The young man receives his first glimpse of money and the potential for so much more. A feeling of a first pay check, or first promotion. An incentive to climb higher.
Knight of Pentacles - This is a knight that is a hard worker, but slow to jump into things, as indicated by the horse’s lack of movement. He takes his time and is a bit cautious. He sits atop a farm horse that is used for manual labor. Think of the great Clydesdale horses that were used to plough fields. Slow and steady, but strong! This knight is in it for the long haul and is dependable. Yet some will find his slow streak a tad irritating.
Queen of Pentacles - This queen is surrounded by exotic peacocks, a bird originally from India. Symbolically the peacock is said to represent nobility. They’ve come to see her as their surrogate mother. This Queen represents abundance, and she will always take care of her family, running her house efficiently.
King of Pentacles - The artist’s journey has come full circle. He holds in his hand a great wealth, but it is more than money. It is the knowledge of how to make money. All around him he sees what his talents have created. A wonderful kingdom, a groovy throne and a terrific grape themed shirt.
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – CUPS
Ace of Cups - Rainbow kissed water springs from a cup. The cup is also surrounded by this rainbow that encircles two birds. The birds symbolize the joy in celebrating differences. They remind us of the variety of life, the “spice” of life, without which our daily lives would be less interesting.
2 of Cups - That love in the Ace, manifests from the spirit, the heart, and culminates in finding love in the flesh. Two lovers come together in a psychedelic meeting. They are in the act of sharing each other’s cups; an act which symbolizes wanting to get to know each other more, to the point where they share each others stories, live each others anecdotes, and enjoy each others ideas.
3 of Cups - After that successful meeting of the lovers in the 2 of Cups, the blonde lady finally meets up with her friends. A time to reminisce and celebrate with those we feel most at ease with. Partying with friends.
4 of Cups - What the young man thought was love didn’t quite work out the way he thought it would. He’s given another chance, but he’s too busy looking at the past to see the potential for the future.
5 of Cups - He’s now gained two cups at this point, but is still looking at the three cups of the past. The past itself has been revealed in full, symbolized by the spilling of the cups’ contents. He needs to be able to get over the past. He needs to turn around and see that not all is lost. Melancholy.
6 of Cups - Time to return back to where he came from. The young man goes home and spends some quality time with his family. Nostalgia and longing for the old days again (possibly even a mid-life crisis, depending on the age). Melancholy from the 5 of Cups lingers in the form of a cat (Churchill referred to his depression as a “black dog” that haunted him from time to time)
7 of Cups - A card of dreams and decisions. Day dreaming. One card shows a guitar (music), another knee length boots (things), flowers (power…as in “flower power”), mushroom (psychedelic experiences), hearts (love), two hands (celebrating and cherishing difference) and a dove (peace)….the kind of things rattling around in every true hippy’s mind.
8 of Cups - Leaving a bad situation, or the past, behind. The man has suffered, mainly inwardly, in matters of love, and doesn’t feel at all grounded in familiarity (earth, the here and now, the present). He’s walking on an alien surface, somewhere he probably had no intention of being (it reminds me a little of the Ben Folds song “landed” when he sings “I’ve been on some other planet”) Could indicate a breakup “under the influence” of alcohol, or an altered state of consciousness while doing this.
9 of Cups - The card of wishes. Just like a cat with its nine lucky lives, you have a series of 9 cups in front of you; wishes that can be granted. The 7 of Cups was a card of daydreaming, but the 9 represents the granting of a more refined, more definite desire. You’ve possibly chosen from those multiple daydreams in the 7.
A great card in a reading
10 of Cups - The young man has finally found his true love. He’s made it. It was a journey, with life’s ups and downs, but he’s exactly where he belongs. A rainbow overhead highlights the beauty of the scene. The children are even getting along. At this moment, life is bliss.
Page of Cups - A young man discovers love. He’ll grow to be a bit of a ladies man, but at this stage he is learning, almost like the idea of putting his toe into the shore of love to test it out.
Knight of Cups - This knight is a flirt when it comes to love. A ladies man. He’ll even write you a few poems at first, and he will mean them. If all goes well he will evolve into the King of Cups…representing a love that matures; when looks fade, and the arguments of living together have been ironed out with understanding and a more dependable character. The Knight, meanwhile, will think he’s in love, but can be distracted.
Queen of Cups - This Queen dwells often in her mind, and is quite sentimental. Sometimes her partner might misinterpret this as being too needy. She needs to be careful because she’ll analyse things in minute detail thinking something’s “going on” when there is no obvious reason to suspect something wrong. On a positive note she has a very loving, caring and sensitive side to her.
King of Cups - This man has evolved from the page, then knight, and into a dependable, lovely man. He has a lot of emotions, and thinks a lot, but knows enough over the years to keep most of it to himself thereby keep the peace.
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – THE SWORDS
Ace of Swords - A rainbow splits in two at the mere touch of this sharp sword. The sword represents communication, and sometimes cutting through the niceties is in order. Neither a bad or good card, it just represents opening up dialogue. In business, you might say the wielder of the sword is “cutting to the chase” (.ie “enough with the sales pitch, let’s get down to business)
2 Swords - An Indian figure, taking on the visage of a Hindu god, covers her eyes with her extra hands. We see this as “turning a blind eye” to something that is not really necessary to create an issue out of. We might see, for example, a friend or loved one doing something that annoys us. It might be something that, if when confronted, causes an argument and so we can either “let it slide” or bring it up in conversation.
This card tells us that the thing bothering us might not be worth getting into an
argument over. It’s a card of “keeping the peace” or “holding your tongue” etc. Symbolically this is a period of peace before conflict, or a “calm before the storm” as the next card shows what happens when the confrontation occurs.
3 Swords - Harsh and cutting words that strike the heart. A devastating feeling after an argument, as the swords represent communication. The hands covered the eyes in the 2 of swords. In this card we see an eye with teardrops.
4 Swords - After the argument, this is a card of quiet alone time. Put on your favourite music and relax. It’s time to find some inner peace. In the card the figure merges as one with the rainbow symbolizing being one with the music or with nature, or even being at one with simply “being”.
5 Swords - This card is considered a hollow victory, mainly because the main person in the card wins the fight through deception, cheating etc. So the question is; how sweet can the victory really be? He holds 3 swords; reminding us that it was not a fair fight (the others have only one each). The others walk away because they have given up, not because they “lost” but because with all the dishonesty going on, the “battle” cannot really be won.
6 swords - Fleeing from a bad situation and moving into a better place. It could be leaving a bad financial situation for example. On the horizon are greener pastures.
7 of Swords - A thief runs off with 5 swords. This card is a warning to us to watch over our wares, and in our day this could even extend as far as online scams and identity theft etc. Might also indicate a psychic vampire is in your life zapping your energy. Keep your wits about you.
8 Swords - A feeling of being trapped. With the blindfold on, nothing is certain, and so she remains where she is. Sometimes situations are able to be overcome, but if we fear visiting that dentist, or surgery, or going on that first date, we will never be able to move on. With a beautiful dress like the one she’s wearing, she should be showing it off to everyone, but she’s too scared to move a muscle. A possible sign of Agoraphobia.
9 of Swords - The bad acid trip. The figure is experiencing nightmares and hallucinations. The captivating fear of the 8 of swords has spiralled out of control. Something really needs to be done about this.
10 Swords - The culmination of the 8 and 9 of swords has taken its toll. It appears as though the man is dead with all those swords in his back, but if we take those swords as sharp words, then this is more mental destruction. Intense grief and instability. Of the four “10s”, we see that the 10 of cups culminates in emotional bliss, 10 of Pentacles is inheritance and financial bliss, but the 10 of Swords and 10 Wands show undesirable end results, or burdens. In other words there seems to be two good cards and two “undesirable” cards, when reaching the end of each of the four suits (not counting the courts of course)
Page of Swords - A young man learns how to communicate. His words will sometimes be cutting as he learns what gets him in trouble and what doesn’t. He can be opinionated, and at this stage begins to explore the boundaries of what can be said and done. A would be revolutionary. You might find him out in the streets protesting for civil rights etc.
Knight of Swords - This knight charges right in; an even more opinionated, and even more determined version of the page of swords. Only this time, with his winged horse his words will get him in trouble in half the time. Very confrontational, he’s the shoot first ask questions later type of guy.
Queen of Swords - Opinionated, like the Knight of Swords, but has learned how to articulate what she wants to say better. She will choose her words more wisely, compared to the other two (knight and page) beneath her. Sometimes she can be lonely; perhaps even liking it that way, due to her independent streak. If she feels it is necessary, she will cut you down to size with that sword she calls a tongue.
King of Swords - A man of authority. Sometimes in a leadership role, his words get things done. He does not waste time with idle chit chat, preferring to make his words, and his time count. He sits on an elevated platform of clouds symbolizing his powerful position in society. Could be a judge, lawyer, a teacher etc.
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – THE WANDS
Ace of Wands - A spark of inspiration. Wands represent energy and fire, so imagine a little spark that can, if given enough oxygen, ignite an entire forest. This card represents the spark; often seen as the spark of inspiration. That feeling of having a spring in your step, that excitement of getting out of bed to continue with a great project you recently started.
2 of Wands - This man has big plans. He has the world in his hand which symbolizes his “plotting”. He has not acted yet. All he has is the inspiration to achieve his desire. Now is the time to formulate how it will come to pass.
3 of Wands - The man in the 2 of wands is now waiting on his ship to come in. He has worked towards a goal and is awaiting the result. A merchant card, perhaps he is awaiting a ship of goods, which he will then sell.
4 of Wands - A card of celebration which may also indicate a marriage. Two figures stand at the entrance of a castle to greet the guests. Hanging above the wands is a combination of roses and oranges, representing beauty and abundance.
5 of Wands - light arguing, sometimes play fighting. Two doves fly over head, above a rainbow, symbolizing that though these young men squabble, their bond of companionship is still strong. In other words disagreements may be ahead but they are not necessarily devastating unless surrounding cards indicate differently.
6 of Wands - Is this the victor of the previous skirmish? In any case, he is well respected and others follow him in the procession. His horse is beautifully adorned with patterned garments. Enjoy the victory. You’ve earned it.
7 of Wands - With every victory, there is a need to either stay on top or get moved out of the way. The man in this card has found success, but others are trying to knock him from his place. Some can defend their position by fighting back, while others can do it by becoming even more successful; beating their previous score, creating an even better music album, maybe an even more popular Tarot deck than the one they created last! Sometimes it is not about competing against others to stay on top, but about honing our craft. Maybe we study, come up with new ideas, develop new techniques etc.
8 Wands - fast delivery or communication. Think postal deliveries, mail etc. (can also relate to quick messages/communication of the digital era like emails, phone calls, texts etc).
9 Wands - Taking a defensive position. What makes this card different than the 7 since they are both standing their ground? The 8 of Wands gives us no real indication, but what we do know is that between then and now, the 9 of Wands traditionally has a bandage on his head, indicating an injury. Damaged ego perhaps? Has he endured the aftermath of the 7 of Wands? Did he sustain an injury from that? Regardless this card is about standing your ground, and readying yourself for a potential attack.
10 Wands - like the 10 of Swords, the 10 of Wands is a card of burden (a nice balance from the 2 positives; 10 of Cups and 10 of Pentacles). This card represents a heavy burden, represented by wands. This is what the situation looks like when the coming onslaught has exhausted the figure in the 9 of Wands. In a symbolic sense, the man is weighed down. In a relationship reading, this might imply that one partner is overburdened. The other partner may be advised to take on some of that burden to alleviate the situation.
Page of Wands - An adventurer, a traveller. He wants to explore the world. He has discovered that spark, that thirst for excitement, to live life to the full. Can indicate a messenger, or postman. This particular Page can be an indication of the birth of a child.
Knight of Wands - This Knight has a lot of energy. He is friendly, but like the Page of Wands, is always coming and going and isn’t likely to settle down, so may be unreliable depending on what you expect in terms of a relationship. Can be a bit unpredictable.
Queen of Wands - She is a friendly and honourable woman. Very pleasant to be around and enjoys being the life of the party. A cat enjoys its spot on her lap due to her endearing temperament. In her hand she holds a sunflower, picked from her country garden.
King of Wands - Sitting on a rock near Sedona, Arizona, this king enjoys the outdoors. Peyote grows near his feet, and a lizard runs a long beside him. He is
generally understood to be an honest, conscientious married man. Can denote news of some kind, much like the Page
BONUS CARD
Smokey - (Alternative Emperor) – Smokey the Bear represents the authority figure of the forest. In the case of a fiery argument or heated exchange based reading, the appearance of Smokey is a good omen; he manages fires, big and small!
A protector and friend to all creatures great and small, he is an environmentalist at heart. He looks after the wildlife and raises awareness of the dangers of being careless, especially out in nature.
Smokey is always a positive and optimistic card in the deck, regardless of the question or situation.
That about wraps up the Groovy Card meanings. Thank you so much for reading and we hope you enjoy the cards.
0. The Fool: A figure carrying a poppy in hand (symbolic of her opium high) enjoys her bliss a little too much as she walks close to the edge of cliff, unaware of the potential for danger. She wants to follow the stars that have appeared during her trip, but her faithful pooch warns her to be careful of the edge.
1. The Magician - A man, attuned to working with the elements and being able to use a little magic to shape his reality, points his wand into the heart of a rainbow. His entire body is surrounded by this bright rainbow, a positive field of protection. He wears a “Technicolor dream coat” as though to emphasis the point.
2. The High Priestess -– Cloaked in stars, and holding a divine message in her hand, she is surrounded by the moon and many stars, symbolising her as a heavenly figure. She is sometimes referred to as the Shikinah.
3. The Empress - This “earth mama”, enjoying her outdoor seat on a spring day, is the embodiment of fertility. The flowers in the foreground tell us the time is right for the living things to break forth from the ground.
4. Emperor - A father figure. Can also be one’s boss. Unlike some of the kings in the deck, the Emperor has a tougher exterior as the leader of a group of bikers. Usually the most powerful male figure in a person’s life.
5. Hierophant -The teacher of the deck, mainly in spiritual matters. He is surrounded in stars symbolising his mentally elevated position. He’s literally floating on a cloud!
6. The Lovers - Two flower children brought together through a love of music. Even the flowers below their feet feel the groove. Rays of bright color and stars emanate from the angel overhead, while rainbows appear behind both lovers. A happy card. Meeting that special someone in your life.
7. The Chariot - A long haired flower child holds a magic wand in hand. He represents balancing the different forces in your life, and will finally be able to take charge of his destiny. Moving forward.
8. Strength - A woman masters the taming of a lion, which symbolizes mastering the art of persuasion. Being able to discipline ones self, not to overreact to certain situations. There’s a saying “ you can catch more flies with honey than with
vinegar” and this would apply here. It’s easier to get what you want by being polite rather than by being rude.
9. The Hermit - inspired by Jimmy Page’s love of the iconic Hermit figure, the stairs behind the Hermit in this card is a nod to the song “stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin. His staff is also a nod to the biblical Moses, who had the ability to turn his wooden staff into a serpent, and back again. Only one who has sequestered himself a way in studies (thus becoming the hermit) might hope to achieve the near impossible. Inner reflection.
10. The Wheel of Fortune - A card that promises a change of some kind. If you are having a bad streak, then a good change may be just around the corner, and if you’ve had it good, then prepare for a little of the opposite. We would say generally this is a good card to see in a reading, based on the chances that a client is seeking a reading because of a problem in their life. In other words, their state might be currently in the negative, so seeing this card will be a positive.
11. Justice – As Asian woman holds a sword in one hand and the scales in the other. Usually refers to court appearances or matters of the law. Could literally be a judge. In the case of a non court situation, it could mean someone is getting what they deserve.
12. The Hanged Man - A man hangs upside down. He is in a state of suspension. He is not touching the ground at all, and therefore he is not taking part in the comings and goings of earth. He has taken a “time out” and is just watching the world go by. Sometimes an indication of being “stuck”; not knowing how to move forward, usually through no fault of your own.
13. Death - The Grim Reaper comes riding in on his horse. He stops by the river Styx. It can mean literal death. During the “groovy era”, the “peace symbol”, seen in Death’s flag, was used to convey “oneness”, “love”, “peace” and other ideas. In the case of the Death card, the symbol reverts back to it’s original meaning and origin; that of nuclear disarmament.
During the 50’s, the “campaign for nuclear disarmament” (CND) produced a symbol which represented their movement and goal of removing all nuclear weapons from Britain and other countries. While this symbol eventually became popularized as the “peace symbol”, the Death card reminds us of that very real possibility that nuclear war will bring about Death in a grand scale. On a lighter note Death can also mean the end of one chapter but the beginning of another. (That’s the meaning you might want to go with instead!)
14. Temperance – A Native American woman hovers amidst the stars, as though a figure within a vision quest. This card is a message to us that we should have a balance of that “rainbow feeling” that we’ve seen playing out over the course of the last few cards. Always strive to see the bright side of life and the best in people, but not to our detriment. In other words, stay level headed or you can be easily taken advantage of. A balance is key!
15. The Devil – A devil figure completely covered, from head to toe, in psychedelic body paint. The two flower children are chained to this “devil”, and are slaves to it, though visually they appear to be “free”, even happy. The Devil, of course, in this setting can be seen as addictive drugs or things which can cause you harm, even though you may feel like you are enjoying the ride. Anything that has a hold over you, especially in a negative way, should be analyzed. Has it gotten the better of you?
16. The Tower - Sudden calamity. We just can’t sugar coat this one! Usually a sudden revelation; accompanied by that shocking feeling you get when something takes you by surprise. An end to a situation.
17. The Star – “it’s the dawning of the age of Aquarius” can be heard throughout all of this card. (a song by the 5th Dimension). The figure pours pure color into the dark waters, bringing them to life. She is the figure of Aquarius, the water bearer. She is a good card to see in a reading. She represents Inspiration and hope for the future. Sometimes interpreted as a “superstar”, celebrity etc, or someone with great passion and charisma.
18. The Moon - The card depicts a full January moon, also known as the “Wolf Moon”, but unless used for readings based on timing, the wolf should be seen rather as a totem. The wolf hunts at night, nearly invisible to its prey, a reminder that all may not be what it seems. The Moon can represent lunacy, and things that are hidden from view.
19. The Sun - A little child with a head dress, his body painted blue, rides atop a pink haired horse with flowers in its hair. The Sun card is a card of joy, and can sometimes indicate child birth.
20. Judgement – An angel with a celestial costume drifts between worlds, a reminder that we are never truly alone. A dove of peace flies between her hands, a symbol of love and mercy, a heavenly reminder that we are forgiven for past deeds. All we need now is to forgive others likewise, including ourselves.
21. The World - A funky lady dances at the disco, the center of attention. She even has her on “star” which she walks upon. The world is her oyster; she has made it!
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – PENTACLES
Ace of Pentacles - A surreal, almost Salvador Dali-esque effect warps the clouds, coin and flowers. A good card; the beginning of money, opportunity etc, sometimes it can be a gift.
2 of Pentacles - A woman holds two pentacles in her hand, representing a juggling act with money. Maintaining the books, and keeping the business or household afloat. She stands beside a seashore, reminding her that the tide (money) goes out, but it always comes in. She knows she must “ride the waves” so to speak and that nothing is permanent.
3 of Pentacles - A young artist working at his groovy masterpiece consults his
clients. This is the stage where he is setting up his art business. He’s putting his skills to good use. The card can depict an art display, even having your work in galleries.
4 of Pentacles - Having left for the city and made a name for himself, the young artist has now made a reasonable some of money, and he’s scared of losing it. Holding on too much like this won’t allow him to grow. He needs to be able to share his wealth a little, thereby allowing others to share in the blessings that have been sent his way. This is a crucial moment of learning. If he doesn’t learn to give a little, he will eventually stagnate, not being able to move forward spiritually
5 of Pentacles - We see a vision of “what could be” if the artist in the 4 of Pentacles does not help others in their misfortune. Fate has taken his riches away. He walks alongside another poor unfortunate. (who knows...perhaps another person who has not learned to give during their time of abundance)
6 of Pentacles - The artist (from the 3,4 and 5 of pentacles) awakes from his Dickens-esque nightmare in the 5 of Pentacles, and learns to give to the misfortunate. Fate, in the form of a rainbow, has shone upon the dark haired man with his hands out, and he becomes blessed through the talented hands of the artist. Now that the heavens have smiled upon this scene, we see the result in the next scene.
7 of Pentacles - The artist has been given even more blessings. This is how the wheel of cause and effect works, the rules of karma. Perhaps it is even the “meaning” of life. The figure must tend this newfound blessing, water it every day and make it grow into a tree of abundance. A card of waiting patiently.
8 of Pentacles - Now to hone his craft even further. He has come a long way since the 3 of Pentacles. At this point he has created a great living for himself. In the background he has a wealthy estate and at some point he will retire there. Alongside sharing his gains; working at a steady pace and having a goal brings him riches tenfold.
9 of Pentacles - The artists’ soul mate enjoys the fruit of both their labours. She has her own bird in hand which she enjoys time with. She is surrounded in well earned wealth and has mastery over maintaining both their business and estate.
10 of Pentacles - The final outcome of a life of labor and greatness. A card of family, inheritance and the love of relatives. Like the 10 of Cups, where the family setting is that of emotional love and bliss, the 10 of Pentacles is the other side of that “coin” (pardon the pun); the financial side. This family has reached contentment and they want for nothing (at least materially)
Page of Pentacles - The young man receives his first glimpse of money and the potential for so much more. A feeling of a first pay check, or first promotion. An incentive to climb higher.
Knight of Pentacles - This is a knight that is a hard worker, but slow to jump into things, as indicated by the horse’s lack of movement. He takes his time and is a bit cautious. He sits atop a farm horse that is used for manual labor. Think of the great Clydesdale horses that were used to plough fields. Slow and steady, but strong! This knight is in it for the long haul and is dependable. Yet some will find his slow streak a tad irritating.
Queen of Pentacles - This queen is surrounded by exotic peacocks, a bird originally from India. Symbolically the peacock is said to represent nobility. They’ve come to see her as their surrogate mother. This Queen represents abundance, and she will always take care of her family, running her house efficiently.
King of Pentacles - The artist’s journey has come full circle. He holds in his hand a great wealth, but it is more than money. It is the knowledge of how to make money. All around him he sees what his talents have created. A wonderful kingdom, a groovy throne and a terrific grape themed shirt.
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – CUPS
Ace of Cups - Rainbow kissed water springs from a cup. The cup is also surrounded by this rainbow that encircles two birds. The birds symbolize the joy in celebrating differences. They remind us of the variety of life, the “spice” of life, without which our daily lives would be less interesting.
2 of Cups - That love in the Ace, manifests from the spirit, the heart, and culminates in finding love in the flesh. Two lovers come together in a psychedelic meeting. They are in the act of sharing each other’s cups; an act which symbolizes wanting to get to know each other more, to the point where they share each others stories, live each others anecdotes, and enjoy each others ideas.
3 of Cups - After that successful meeting of the lovers in the 2 of Cups, the blonde lady finally meets up with her friends. A time to reminisce and celebrate with those we feel most at ease with. Partying with friends.
4 of Cups - What the young man thought was love didn’t quite work out the way he thought it would. He’s given another chance, but he’s too busy looking at the past to see the potential for the future.
5 of Cups - He’s now gained two cups at this point, but is still looking at the three cups of the past. The past itself has been revealed in full, symbolized by the spilling of the cups’ contents. He needs to be able to get over the past. He needs to turn around and see that not all is lost. Melancholy.
6 of Cups - Time to return back to where he came from. The young man goes home and spends some quality time with his family. Nostalgia and longing for the old days again (possibly even a mid-life crisis, depending on the age). Melancholy from the 5 of Cups lingers in the form of a cat (Churchill referred to his depression as a “black dog” that haunted him from time to time)
7 of Cups - A card of dreams and decisions. Day dreaming. One card shows a guitar (music), another knee length boots (things), flowers (power…as in “flower power”), mushroom (psychedelic experiences), hearts (love), two hands (celebrating and cherishing difference) and a dove (peace)….the kind of things rattling around in every true hippy’s mind.
8 of Cups - Leaving a bad situation, or the past, behind. The man has suffered, mainly inwardly, in matters of love, and doesn’t feel at all grounded in familiarity (earth, the here and now, the present). He’s walking on an alien surface, somewhere he probably had no intention of being (it reminds me a little of the Ben Folds song “landed” when he sings “I’ve been on some other planet”) Could indicate a breakup “under the influence” of alcohol, or an altered state of consciousness while doing this.
9 of Cups - The card of wishes. Just like a cat with its nine lucky lives, you have a series of 9 cups in front of you; wishes that can be granted. The 7 of Cups was a card of daydreaming, but the 9 represents the granting of a more refined, more definite desire. You’ve possibly chosen from those multiple daydreams in the 7.
A great card in a reading
10 of Cups - The young man has finally found his true love. He’s made it. It was a journey, with life’s ups and downs, but he’s exactly where he belongs. A rainbow overhead highlights the beauty of the scene. The children are even getting along. At this moment, life is bliss.
Page of Cups - A young man discovers love. He’ll grow to be a bit of a ladies man, but at this stage he is learning, almost like the idea of putting his toe into the shore of love to test it out.
Knight of Cups - This knight is a flirt when it comes to love. A ladies man. He’ll even write you a few poems at first, and he will mean them. If all goes well he will evolve into the King of Cups…representing a love that matures; when looks fade, and the arguments of living together have been ironed out with understanding and a more dependable character. The Knight, meanwhile, will think he’s in love, but can be distracted.
Queen of Cups - This Queen dwells often in her mind, and is quite sentimental. Sometimes her partner might misinterpret this as being too needy. She needs to be careful because she’ll analyse things in minute detail thinking something’s “going on” when there is no obvious reason to suspect something wrong. On a positive note she has a very loving, caring and sensitive side to her.
King of Cups - This man has evolved from the page, then knight, and into a dependable, lovely man. He has a lot of emotions, and thinks a lot, but knows enough over the years to keep most of it to himself thereby keep the peace.
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – THE SWORDS
Ace of Swords - A rainbow splits in two at the mere touch of this sharp sword. The sword represents communication, and sometimes cutting through the niceties is in order. Neither a bad or good card, it just represents opening up dialogue. In business, you might say the wielder of the sword is “cutting to the chase” (.ie “enough with the sales pitch, let’s get down to business)
2 Swords - An Indian figure, taking on the visage of a Hindu god, covers her eyes with her extra hands. We see this as “turning a blind eye” to something that is not really necessary to create an issue out of. We might see, for example, a friend or loved one doing something that annoys us. It might be something that, if when confronted, causes an argument and so we can either “let it slide” or bring it up in conversation.
This card tells us that the thing bothering us might not be worth getting into an
argument over. It’s a card of “keeping the peace” or “holding your tongue” etc. Symbolically this is a period of peace before conflict, or a “calm before the storm” as the next card shows what happens when the confrontation occurs.
3 Swords - Harsh and cutting words that strike the heart. A devastating feeling after an argument, as the swords represent communication. The hands covered the eyes in the 2 of swords. In this card we see an eye with teardrops.
4 Swords - After the argument, this is a card of quiet alone time. Put on your favourite music and relax. It’s time to find some inner peace. In the card the figure merges as one with the rainbow symbolizing being one with the music or with nature, or even being at one with simply “being”.
5 Swords - This card is considered a hollow victory, mainly because the main person in the card wins the fight through deception, cheating etc. So the question is; how sweet can the victory really be? He holds 3 swords; reminding us that it was not a fair fight (the others have only one each). The others walk away because they have given up, not because they “lost” but because with all the dishonesty going on, the “battle” cannot really be won.
6 swords - Fleeing from a bad situation and moving into a better place. It could be leaving a bad financial situation for example. On the horizon are greener pastures.
7 of Swords - A thief runs off with 5 swords. This card is a warning to us to watch over our wares, and in our day this could even extend as far as online scams and identity theft etc. Might also indicate a psychic vampire is in your life zapping your energy. Keep your wits about you.
8 Swords - A feeling of being trapped. With the blindfold on, nothing is certain, and so she remains where she is. Sometimes situations are able to be overcome, but if we fear visiting that dentist, or surgery, or going on that first date, we will never be able to move on. With a beautiful dress like the one she’s wearing, she should be showing it off to everyone, but she’s too scared to move a muscle. A possible sign of Agoraphobia.
9 of Swords - The bad acid trip. The figure is experiencing nightmares and hallucinations. The captivating fear of the 8 of swords has spiralled out of control. Something really needs to be done about this.
10 Swords - The culmination of the 8 and 9 of swords has taken its toll. It appears as though the man is dead with all those swords in his back, but if we take those swords as sharp words, then this is more mental destruction. Intense grief and instability. Of the four “10s”, we see that the 10 of cups culminates in emotional bliss, 10 of Pentacles is inheritance and financial bliss, but the 10 of Swords and 10 Wands show undesirable end results, or burdens. In other words there seems to be two good cards and two “undesirable” cards, when reaching the end of each of the four suits (not counting the courts of course)
Page of Swords - A young man learns how to communicate. His words will sometimes be cutting as he learns what gets him in trouble and what doesn’t. He can be opinionated, and at this stage begins to explore the boundaries of what can be said and done. A would be revolutionary. You might find him out in the streets protesting for civil rights etc.
Knight of Swords - This knight charges right in; an even more opinionated, and even more determined version of the page of swords. Only this time, with his winged horse his words will get him in trouble in half the time. Very confrontational, he’s the shoot first ask questions later type of guy.
Queen of Swords - Opinionated, like the Knight of Swords, but has learned how to articulate what she wants to say better. She will choose her words more wisely, compared to the other two (knight and page) beneath her. Sometimes she can be lonely; perhaps even liking it that way, due to her independent streak. If she feels it is necessary, she will cut you down to size with that sword she calls a tongue.
King of Swords - A man of authority. Sometimes in a leadership role, his words get things done. He does not waste time with idle chit chat, preferring to make his words, and his time count. He sits on an elevated platform of clouds symbolizing his powerful position in society. Could be a judge, lawyer, a teacher etc.
GROOVY WAITE CARD MEANINGS – THE WANDS
Ace of Wands - A spark of inspiration. Wands represent energy and fire, so imagine a little spark that can, if given enough oxygen, ignite an entire forest. This card represents the spark; often seen as the spark of inspiration. That feeling of having a spring in your step, that excitement of getting out of bed to continue with a great project you recently started.
2 of Wands - This man has big plans. He has the world in his hand which symbolizes his “plotting”. He has not acted yet. All he has is the inspiration to achieve his desire. Now is the time to formulate how it will come to pass.
3 of Wands - The man in the 2 of wands is now waiting on his ship to come in. He has worked towards a goal and is awaiting the result. A merchant card, perhaps he is awaiting a ship of goods, which he will then sell.
4 of Wands - A card of celebration which may also indicate a marriage. Two figures stand at the entrance of a castle to greet the guests. Hanging above the wands is a combination of roses and oranges, representing beauty and abundance.
5 of Wands - light arguing, sometimes play fighting. Two doves fly over head, above a rainbow, symbolizing that though these young men squabble, their bond of companionship is still strong. In other words disagreements may be ahead but they are not necessarily devastating unless surrounding cards indicate differently.
6 of Wands - Is this the victor of the previous skirmish? In any case, he is well respected and others follow him in the procession. His horse is beautifully adorned with patterned garments. Enjoy the victory. You’ve earned it.
7 of Wands - With every victory, there is a need to either stay on top or get moved out of the way. The man in this card has found success, but others are trying to knock him from his place. Some can defend their position by fighting back, while others can do it by becoming even more successful; beating their previous score, creating an even better music album, maybe an even more popular Tarot deck than the one they created last! Sometimes it is not about competing against others to stay on top, but about honing our craft. Maybe we study, come up with new ideas, develop new techniques etc.
8 Wands - fast delivery or communication. Think postal deliveries, mail etc. (can also relate to quick messages/communication of the digital era like emails, phone calls, texts etc).
9 Wands - Taking a defensive position. What makes this card different than the 7 since they are both standing their ground? The 8 of Wands gives us no real indication, but what we do know is that between then and now, the 9 of Wands traditionally has a bandage on his head, indicating an injury. Damaged ego perhaps? Has he endured the aftermath of the 7 of Wands? Did he sustain an injury from that? Regardless this card is about standing your ground, and readying yourself for a potential attack.
10 Wands - like the 10 of Swords, the 10 of Wands is a card of burden (a nice balance from the 2 positives; 10 of Cups and 10 of Pentacles). This card represents a heavy burden, represented by wands. This is what the situation looks like when the coming onslaught has exhausted the figure in the 9 of Wands. In a symbolic sense, the man is weighed down. In a relationship reading, this might imply that one partner is overburdened. The other partner may be advised to take on some of that burden to alleviate the situation.
Page of Wands - An adventurer, a traveller. He wants to explore the world. He has discovered that spark, that thirst for excitement, to live life to the full. Can indicate a messenger, or postman. This particular Page can be an indication of the birth of a child.
Knight of Wands - This Knight has a lot of energy. He is friendly, but like the Page of Wands, is always coming and going and isn’t likely to settle down, so may be unreliable depending on what you expect in terms of a relationship. Can be a bit unpredictable.
Queen of Wands - She is a friendly and honourable woman. Very pleasant to be around and enjoys being the life of the party. A cat enjoys its spot on her lap due to her endearing temperament. In her hand she holds a sunflower, picked from her country garden.
King of Wands - Sitting on a rock near Sedona, Arizona, this king enjoys the outdoors. Peyote grows near his feet, and a lizard runs a long beside him. He is
generally understood to be an honest, conscientious married man. Can denote news of some kind, much like the Page
BONUS CARD
Smokey - (Alternative Emperor) – Smokey the Bear represents the authority figure of the forest. In the case of a fiery argument or heated exchange based reading, the appearance of Smokey is a good omen; he manages fires, big and small!
A protector and friend to all creatures great and small, he is an environmentalist at heart. He looks after the wildlife and raises awareness of the dangers of being careless, especially out in nature.
Smokey is always a positive and optimistic card in the deck, regardless of the question or situation.
That about wraps up the Groovy Card meanings. Thank you so much for reading and we hope you enjoy the cards.
WINTER WAITE TAROT (2018)
MAJORS
0. The Fool – Naïve but optimistic, the Fool ventures out into the snow, paying no heed to the potential for ice on the cliff edge. It’s good to see the best in things, but it would do you well to tread carefully.
1. The Magician – The snow whips up around the magician as he casts a spell. He represents the mastery of the elements; earth, water, fire and air. A showman!
2. The High Priestess – She represents secrets and what is hidden.
3. The Empress – She represents birth and fertility. The mother figure.
4. Emperor – Saint Nicolas depicted in his more modern day form Santa Claus. The man of the hour at Christmas time. Children from near and far have much reverence for this figure.
5. Hierophant – Saint Nicolas in his traditional garb. We sometimes forget that the sleigh riding Santa Claus was originally based on this saint. Among other things, Saint Nick was a patron saint of Children, and was known for his secret gift giving. The Hierophant in this case represents all things traditional at Christmas.
6. The lovers – Now that winter has fallen, the lovers don appropriate clothing. The lovers card represents a choice or partnership.
7. Chariot – Time to play on the snow. As of 2018, our version of the Chariot depicts children playing on a sled.
8. Strength – The lady tames nature. Like most animals, reindeers are skittish around potential predators. This card represents taming the deer with compassion.
9. The Hermit – The hermit ventures out into the snowstorm. The hermit represents the knowledge within.
10. The Wheel of Fortune – For the Winter Waite version of this card, we have replaced the 4 beasts (Ezekiel, Revelation) with something a little more whimsical. The Wheel is a peppermint Candy, with a cute little mouse on top. In our Christmas themed take on the deck, this card’s good luck is represented by candy, gingerbread houses etc. This card indicates that one’s fortune is about change, or good luck. Perhaps a Christmas bonus!
11. Justice – Saint Nicolas makes another appearance, stepping out of his Hierophant position, and into the role of a judge. His task is to decide which child has been naughty or nice. In one hand he holds a swirl lollipop, and in the other; a few lumps of coal.
12. The Hanged Man – Suspension of action. Inactivity.
13. Death – An ending of things, possibly a literal death but generally an end to something. In this case it could indicate an end to the year.
14. Temperance. - The lady walks beside a winter lake in her lovely burgundy gown. Owing to the frosty weather, her foot is no longer in the water. Like the lovers with their appropriate clothing, winter demands changes to how we interact with the environment. It is a good time of year to practice Temperance, especially for those who enjoy alcoholic beverages. Temperance should also be shown when navigating the perilous pitfalls of family get-togethers!
15. The Devil – In ancient lore, Krampus is known to visit the bad little kids, and has been depicted kidnapping them, sometimes putting them in chains, beating their backsides, and giving them lumps of coal instead of toys. The opposite of Saint Nick. We see the two children crying as they look upon their boring gifts. Krampus carries shackles in one hand and a whip made of birch wood in the other.
16. The Tower – A broken tower; burning, cold and dampened by the wintery weather. Whatever plans or dreams you once had, have most likely come to an end.
17. The Star – The winter weather has forced our once naked figure to wear her winter coat. She represents hope and aspirations.
18. The Moon – The wolf and the Dog have taken shelter in our Winter Wonderland, nowhere to be seen. The river has been frosted over with ice. Deer can be seen walking about the snowy landscape below the Moon. A card of hidden secrets and, at times, lunacy.
19. The Sun. – The Baby New Year (the look is inspired by Baby New Year from the Rankin/Bass children’s movie Rudolph’s Shiny New Year) is our child in the Sun card. The myth most associated with him is that he is a baby at the beginning of his year, but Baby New Year quickly ages until he is elderly like Father Time who he is often associated with.
20. Judgement – traditional Judgement card inspired by the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Our version takes place in winter. Judgement is often scary to many people, but Judgement, if mixed with correction and guidance, can be a welcome thing.
21. The World – The World represents completion. You made it. Happy Holidays. All the presents have been opened. The dishes are in the sink, the in-laws have gone home and the kids are fast asleep. Put your feet up and relax!
CUPS
Ace of cups – The mulled wine is overflowing. The ace of cups in the Winter Waite is much the same as the traditional card, except the addition of doves which represent peace and the wine overflowing from the cup. In the holiday context this represents the season of good cheer and peace on earth. Upright- Love of all kinds, agape, strong feelings, the overflow of the heart. Also. Liberality, compassion, the beginning of a romantic relationship or friendship. Good omen for matters of the heart.
2 of cups – The wine from the Ace of cups is received. Strong friendship, bond, sharing. In matters of love; compatible relationships, perhaps even a marriage is foretold. In this card mistletoe hangs overhead. This seasonal plant’s link to romance and the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in ancient Greece during the festival of Saturnalia the Roman pagan winter solstice festival. It shares with Christmas the traditions of gift giving, generosity to the poor, feasting, making ivy garlands and decorating trees. Ivy is associated with Bacchus hence the wine featured in some of the cups in the suit. The mistletoe relates to romance, fertility and in Ancient Rome peace.
3 of cups- This is the card of celebrations, parties, get-togethers and social encounters that involve a group. In a holiday reading this could represent an office party, Christmas party and celebrating the holiday with family and loved ones. Be careful with the eggnog!
4 of cups- Someone who feels bored, unmotivated or left out. When this card comes up in a holiday reading it could indicate that you or the client is feeling a bit discouraged or isolated during the festive season. This is especially so for people who suffer from loneliness during the holidays. They may feel a bit out of the loop or excluded from Christmas celebrations. The cup offered to the person suggests hope, if only the person could see that maybe a friendship or help is being offered. Encourage the client to look for the cup.
5 of cups - Feeling of regret, failure and disappointment. A negative way to approach the holidays. Also seasonal depression.
6 of cups- Feelings of nostalgia and past holidays. Feeling like a child again, perhaps reliving the season through your own children. Returning home for the holidays. Family members call over during this time of year.
7 of cups- Visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. Wishes, hopes and dreams that make Christmas magical. Such choices this time of year! Every kid has a list of desires but figuring out which ones will bring the most happiness is the task! The seven cups represent temporary pleasures. Can also mean guilty pleasures, lust and vain imaginings.
8 of cups- Turning away from bad habits of the previous year, looking forward to a New Year with all its resolutions and new beginnings.
9 of Cups- The wish card. All I want for Christmas is …..?
In our card A monk is surrounded by cups of mulled wine. In his hand he holds a plate filled with mince pies. A card which indicates dreams coming true. A moment of happy bliss.
10 of Cups- A feeling of shared joy with family and friends. In the card Christmas carollers sing happily and represents blessings and good times.
Page of cups- A young person brings a new outlook and inspiration into your life. He reminds us to enjoy those precious moments in life when all is well with the world.
Knight of cups- A seasonal affair. Finding love during the holidays. He personifies the "courtship" period in a relationship.
Queen of cups- A compassionate woman who brings with her nurturing, love and sensitivity. This is the person who just magically seems to know your hearts desire and how to make your Christmas dream come true.
King of cups- A man who is in control of showing his feelings but feels very deeply indeed. He is the one who will try his hardest to make sure the present he gets a person will be the best one of them all. Sometimes he misses but his heart is in the right place.
WANDS
Ace of wands- The hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Time to gather up the energy for the holiday shopping and errands. I always assign a certain restlessness to this card, an indication that it’s time to get up and go.
2 of wands – In the holiday context this card indicates planning. The countdown to Christmas has begun. It’s time to book the vacation if you’re travelling during the holiday. It’s time to plan the meals, gifts and parties.
3 of wands – The two is about the planning of the holiday. The three is about the footwork, making it all happen. Now is the time to go out there and contend with crowds, go shopping and get everything you need to make the seasonal festivities special.
4 of wands - Attending family celebrations. The holidays are the perfect time to visit and celebrate with family that you don’t see as much during the year.
5 of wands - Elves enjoying some light hearted play. The card depicts the conflict that naturally occurs during the busy part of the season. This could be a little strife caused at a sale or tit for tats with relatives during the holidays. The Christmas season causes some people a great deal of stress for many reasons; the days are shorter, the crowds are larger and people may, in some cases, be less patient while out.
6 of wands - Achievement, success and recognition by family and friends. In the holiday context this could mean you pulled off the perfect holiday with your great planning and holiday spirit.
7 of wands - Santa’s helper protects the gifts! Competition and struggle. Again in the context of Christmas this reminds me of the parents fighting and competing with each other for the desired toy of the year like in the movie Jingle All the Way.
8 of wands - Fast movement. I think of this card as either travelling or legwork. In any case you’re moving forward fast.
9 of wands - A shepherd watches his sheep by night. This card represents Problems and setbacks that need to be overcome. During the holiday many problems can come up that threaten to end the joy of the season; mixed up orders, gift returns, the special present cant be found anywhere and glitter all over the place. This card indicates the need to keep both your chin up and your holiday spirit in tact. It will soon be over and the New Year promises new beginnings and resolutions. You will survive. Lol
10 of wands - Feeling worn out and over burdened. Holiday burnout. Some of this could be avoided if you ask people for help.
Page of wands - An active young person who could possible help you with errands during the holiday.
Knight of Wands – Travelling and going on vacation. Movement by land.
Queen of wands - This woman is a great planner and loves to be the host at social gatherings. She’s very active and actually enjoys running errands, meeting people and going to events. She likes to be involved and on the move.
King of wands - This is a man who is in charge. An authority figure that may represent your boss, father or significant other. I think of him as Emperor lite.
PENTACLES
Ace of pentacles - This card represents money, gift and financial opportunities.
2 of pentacles - I look at this card as balancing the books. The amount of money coming in opposed to the amount of money going out. Keep it real folks. During the holiday season the temptation is to spend a lot of money especially to make our children and loved ones happy. People get into all kinds of credit debt. This card represents a healthy balance of what’s being earned and spent.
3 of pentacles. - The card of labour or it could be something like er, decorating the Christmas tree. It is a public display after all.
4 of pentacles - Saving. Economy , Thrift. Making a little go along way. Smart spending.
5 of pentacles- Poverty. Neediness. This card reminds us that some people don’t have a Christmas and the next card shows what to do to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves.
6 of pentacles- Generosity. Giving. Receiving gifts. This card epitomizes what the holiday season is about. It’s a season that speaks to our heart , our feeling of goodwill and generosity and to our sense of humanity. The six reminds us that if we’re doing well, we should share our wealth with those that have less.
7 of pentacles- Hard work. A holiday break.
8 of pentacles- Dedication, focus and mastery. Making decorations for the tree or holiday adornments.
9 of pentacles- An independent person enjoying their wealth. This card could represent a boss or a merchant. Perhaps even someone you know who’s alone during the season and is too proud to let people know about it. This reminds me of the person who has everything, or so people think, except a friend.
10 of pentacles- This card speaks to me of visiting parents and extended family over the holidays with the traditional exchange of gifts, feasting and good cheer. Home for the holidays.
Page of pentacles- I would say in this context, the querents child. A young person who is a student or undergoing a course of study.
Knight of pentacles- This is the worker bee. He’s patient and determined. He might seem a bit slow to move but he’s reliable.
Queen of pentacles - Mother. This is the queen who will bake the cookies and take care of the family. She is a homemaker.
King of pentacles- This is the patient knight all grown up. A fatherly figure, he’s managed to build a business and become quite successful due to his dedication to a task and determination. He provides for his family and takes care of those he loves and employs.
SWORDS
Ace of swords- The card represents the importance of having a clear mind and good judgement for success. Rationality.
2 of swords - Having to make a difficult choice and feeling unable to do it. This could mean saying no to the temptation of overextending yourself with that tempting credit offer during the holidays or whether or not to invite that problematic relative over for Christmas dinner. A hard choice needs to be made.
3 of swords - Sorrow and separation. Maybe the family’s broken or a divorce is on the horizon.
4 of swords - Illness or rest. Holidays can be very stressful and maybe for now you need to take it easy.
5 of swords- Feeling defeated. Tension with family and friends. Someone has taken advantage of you. Maybe you feel put upon during the holidays by family demands or you have given way more than you have received.
6 of swords- Moving toward calmer waters. This usually happens after you buy all the gifts and everything you need for the perfect Christmas day. The hustle and bustle settled down and now you can relax a bit.
7 of swords - Theft. Someone is stealing from you or taking something that doesn’t belong to them. Credit card fraud. Feeling ripped off.
8 of swords - Feeling trapped in a bad situation. Isolation. The feeling of not knowing what to do with a particular problem.
9 of swords - Worry and anxiety; Common at this time of year for many. Something’s keeping you up at night. It’s ok to ask for help.
10 of swords - Ruin of all kinds. Given the subject matter it could be financial or a relationship breaks down.
Page of swords - A curious youngster. It can also represent a spy or an envious person.
Knight of swords- A family member or friend who stirs things up. Also acting very quickly oftentimes without thinking. A troublemaker.
Queen of swords - A lonely single woman. One who may feel heartbroken and left out of things.
King of swords - A lawyer, judge or policeman. Also a man who uses his head over his heart. This card could warn of an encounter with the law or authorities over the holiday season. Intellectual. An idealistic intellectual figure, good with words and possibly interested in causes and political affairs, similar to the King of Swords. She may be a lonely single woman. One who may feel heartbroken and left out of things.
MAJORS
0. The Fool – Naïve but optimistic, the Fool ventures out into the snow, paying no heed to the potential for ice on the cliff edge. It’s good to see the best in things, but it would do you well to tread carefully.
1. The Magician – The snow whips up around the magician as he casts a spell. He represents the mastery of the elements; earth, water, fire and air. A showman!
2. The High Priestess – She represents secrets and what is hidden.
3. The Empress – She represents birth and fertility. The mother figure.
4. Emperor – Saint Nicolas depicted in his more modern day form Santa Claus. The man of the hour at Christmas time. Children from near and far have much reverence for this figure.
5. Hierophant – Saint Nicolas in his traditional garb. We sometimes forget that the sleigh riding Santa Claus was originally based on this saint. Among other things, Saint Nick was a patron saint of Children, and was known for his secret gift giving. The Hierophant in this case represents all things traditional at Christmas.
6. The lovers – Now that winter has fallen, the lovers don appropriate clothing. The lovers card represents a choice or partnership.
7. Chariot – Time to play on the snow. As of 2018, our version of the Chariot depicts children playing on a sled.
8. Strength – The lady tames nature. Like most animals, reindeers are skittish around potential predators. This card represents taming the deer with compassion.
9. The Hermit – The hermit ventures out into the snowstorm. The hermit represents the knowledge within.
10. The Wheel of Fortune – For the Winter Waite version of this card, we have replaced the 4 beasts (Ezekiel, Revelation) with something a little more whimsical. The Wheel is a peppermint Candy, with a cute little mouse on top. In our Christmas themed take on the deck, this card’s good luck is represented by candy, gingerbread houses etc. This card indicates that one’s fortune is about change, or good luck. Perhaps a Christmas bonus!
11. Justice – Saint Nicolas makes another appearance, stepping out of his Hierophant position, and into the role of a judge. His task is to decide which child has been naughty or nice. In one hand he holds a swirl lollipop, and in the other; a few lumps of coal.
12. The Hanged Man – Suspension of action. Inactivity.
13. Death – An ending of things, possibly a literal death but generally an end to something. In this case it could indicate an end to the year.
14. Temperance. - The lady walks beside a winter lake in her lovely burgundy gown. Owing to the frosty weather, her foot is no longer in the water. Like the lovers with their appropriate clothing, winter demands changes to how we interact with the environment. It is a good time of year to practice Temperance, especially for those who enjoy alcoholic beverages. Temperance should also be shown when navigating the perilous pitfalls of family get-togethers!
15. The Devil – In ancient lore, Krampus is known to visit the bad little kids, and has been depicted kidnapping them, sometimes putting them in chains, beating their backsides, and giving them lumps of coal instead of toys. The opposite of Saint Nick. We see the two children crying as they look upon their boring gifts. Krampus carries shackles in one hand and a whip made of birch wood in the other.
16. The Tower – A broken tower; burning, cold and dampened by the wintery weather. Whatever plans or dreams you once had, have most likely come to an end.
17. The Star – The winter weather has forced our once naked figure to wear her winter coat. She represents hope and aspirations.
18. The Moon – The wolf and the Dog have taken shelter in our Winter Wonderland, nowhere to be seen. The river has been frosted over with ice. Deer can be seen walking about the snowy landscape below the Moon. A card of hidden secrets and, at times, lunacy.
19. The Sun. – The Baby New Year (the look is inspired by Baby New Year from the Rankin/Bass children’s movie Rudolph’s Shiny New Year) is our child in the Sun card. The myth most associated with him is that he is a baby at the beginning of his year, but Baby New Year quickly ages until he is elderly like Father Time who he is often associated with.
20. Judgement – traditional Judgement card inspired by the Book of Revelation in the Bible. Our version takes place in winter. Judgement is often scary to many people, but Judgement, if mixed with correction and guidance, can be a welcome thing.
21. The World – The World represents completion. You made it. Happy Holidays. All the presents have been opened. The dishes are in the sink, the in-laws have gone home and the kids are fast asleep. Put your feet up and relax!
CUPS
Ace of cups – The mulled wine is overflowing. The ace of cups in the Winter Waite is much the same as the traditional card, except the addition of doves which represent peace and the wine overflowing from the cup. In the holiday context this represents the season of good cheer and peace on earth. Upright- Love of all kinds, agape, strong feelings, the overflow of the heart. Also. Liberality, compassion, the beginning of a romantic relationship or friendship. Good omen for matters of the heart.
2 of cups – The wine from the Ace of cups is received. Strong friendship, bond, sharing. In matters of love; compatible relationships, perhaps even a marriage is foretold. In this card mistletoe hangs overhead. This seasonal plant’s link to romance and the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe started in ancient Greece during the festival of Saturnalia the Roman pagan winter solstice festival. It shares with Christmas the traditions of gift giving, generosity to the poor, feasting, making ivy garlands and decorating trees. Ivy is associated with Bacchus hence the wine featured in some of the cups in the suit. The mistletoe relates to romance, fertility and in Ancient Rome peace.
3 of cups- This is the card of celebrations, parties, get-togethers and social encounters that involve a group. In a holiday reading this could represent an office party, Christmas party and celebrating the holiday with family and loved ones. Be careful with the eggnog!
4 of cups- Someone who feels bored, unmotivated or left out. When this card comes up in a holiday reading it could indicate that you or the client is feeling a bit discouraged or isolated during the festive season. This is especially so for people who suffer from loneliness during the holidays. They may feel a bit out of the loop or excluded from Christmas celebrations. The cup offered to the person suggests hope, if only the person could see that maybe a friendship or help is being offered. Encourage the client to look for the cup.
5 of cups - Feeling of regret, failure and disappointment. A negative way to approach the holidays. Also seasonal depression.
6 of cups- Feelings of nostalgia and past holidays. Feeling like a child again, perhaps reliving the season through your own children. Returning home for the holidays. Family members call over during this time of year.
7 of cups- Visions of sugar plums dancing in your head. Wishes, hopes and dreams that make Christmas magical. Such choices this time of year! Every kid has a list of desires but figuring out which ones will bring the most happiness is the task! The seven cups represent temporary pleasures. Can also mean guilty pleasures, lust and vain imaginings.
8 of cups- Turning away from bad habits of the previous year, looking forward to a New Year with all its resolutions and new beginnings.
9 of Cups- The wish card. All I want for Christmas is …..?
In our card A monk is surrounded by cups of mulled wine. In his hand he holds a plate filled with mince pies. A card which indicates dreams coming true. A moment of happy bliss.
10 of Cups- A feeling of shared joy with family and friends. In the card Christmas carollers sing happily and represents blessings and good times.
Page of cups- A young person brings a new outlook and inspiration into your life. He reminds us to enjoy those precious moments in life when all is well with the world.
Knight of cups- A seasonal affair. Finding love during the holidays. He personifies the "courtship" period in a relationship.
Queen of cups- A compassionate woman who brings with her nurturing, love and sensitivity. This is the person who just magically seems to know your hearts desire and how to make your Christmas dream come true.
King of cups- A man who is in control of showing his feelings but feels very deeply indeed. He is the one who will try his hardest to make sure the present he gets a person will be the best one of them all. Sometimes he misses but his heart is in the right place.
WANDS
Ace of wands- The hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Time to gather up the energy for the holiday shopping and errands. I always assign a certain restlessness to this card, an indication that it’s time to get up and go.
2 of wands – In the holiday context this card indicates planning. The countdown to Christmas has begun. It’s time to book the vacation if you’re travelling during the holiday. It’s time to plan the meals, gifts and parties.
3 of wands – The two is about the planning of the holiday. The three is about the footwork, making it all happen. Now is the time to go out there and contend with crowds, go shopping and get everything you need to make the seasonal festivities special.
4 of wands - Attending family celebrations. The holidays are the perfect time to visit and celebrate with family that you don’t see as much during the year.
5 of wands - Elves enjoying some light hearted play. The card depicts the conflict that naturally occurs during the busy part of the season. This could be a little strife caused at a sale or tit for tats with relatives during the holidays. The Christmas season causes some people a great deal of stress for many reasons; the days are shorter, the crowds are larger and people may, in some cases, be less patient while out.
6 of wands - Achievement, success and recognition by family and friends. In the holiday context this could mean you pulled off the perfect holiday with your great planning and holiday spirit.
7 of wands - Santa’s helper protects the gifts! Competition and struggle. Again in the context of Christmas this reminds me of the parents fighting and competing with each other for the desired toy of the year like in the movie Jingle All the Way.
8 of wands - Fast movement. I think of this card as either travelling or legwork. In any case you’re moving forward fast.
9 of wands - A shepherd watches his sheep by night. This card represents Problems and setbacks that need to be overcome. During the holiday many problems can come up that threaten to end the joy of the season; mixed up orders, gift returns, the special present cant be found anywhere and glitter all over the place. This card indicates the need to keep both your chin up and your holiday spirit in tact. It will soon be over and the New Year promises new beginnings and resolutions. You will survive. Lol
10 of wands - Feeling worn out and over burdened. Holiday burnout. Some of this could be avoided if you ask people for help.
Page of wands - An active young person who could possible help you with errands during the holiday.
Knight of Wands – Travelling and going on vacation. Movement by land.
Queen of wands - This woman is a great planner and loves to be the host at social gatherings. She’s very active and actually enjoys running errands, meeting people and going to events. She likes to be involved and on the move.
King of wands - This is a man who is in charge. An authority figure that may represent your boss, father or significant other. I think of him as Emperor lite.
PENTACLES
Ace of pentacles - This card represents money, gift and financial opportunities.
2 of pentacles - I look at this card as balancing the books. The amount of money coming in opposed to the amount of money going out. Keep it real folks. During the holiday season the temptation is to spend a lot of money especially to make our children and loved ones happy. People get into all kinds of credit debt. This card represents a healthy balance of what’s being earned and spent.
3 of pentacles. - The card of labour or it could be something like er, decorating the Christmas tree. It is a public display after all.
4 of pentacles - Saving. Economy , Thrift. Making a little go along way. Smart spending.
5 of pentacles- Poverty. Neediness. This card reminds us that some people don’t have a Christmas and the next card shows what to do to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves.
6 of pentacles- Generosity. Giving. Receiving gifts. This card epitomizes what the holiday season is about. It’s a season that speaks to our heart , our feeling of goodwill and generosity and to our sense of humanity. The six reminds us that if we’re doing well, we should share our wealth with those that have less.
7 of pentacles- Hard work. A holiday break.
8 of pentacles- Dedication, focus and mastery. Making decorations for the tree or holiday adornments.
9 of pentacles- An independent person enjoying their wealth. This card could represent a boss or a merchant. Perhaps even someone you know who’s alone during the season and is too proud to let people know about it. This reminds me of the person who has everything, or so people think, except a friend.
10 of pentacles- This card speaks to me of visiting parents and extended family over the holidays with the traditional exchange of gifts, feasting and good cheer. Home for the holidays.
Page of pentacles- I would say in this context, the querents child. A young person who is a student or undergoing a course of study.
Knight of pentacles- This is the worker bee. He’s patient and determined. He might seem a bit slow to move but he’s reliable.
Queen of pentacles - Mother. This is the queen who will bake the cookies and take care of the family. She is a homemaker.
King of pentacles- This is the patient knight all grown up. A fatherly figure, he’s managed to build a business and become quite successful due to his dedication to a task and determination. He provides for his family and takes care of those he loves and employs.
SWORDS
Ace of swords- The card represents the importance of having a clear mind and good judgement for success. Rationality.
2 of swords - Having to make a difficult choice and feeling unable to do it. This could mean saying no to the temptation of overextending yourself with that tempting credit offer during the holidays or whether or not to invite that problematic relative over for Christmas dinner. A hard choice needs to be made.
3 of swords - Sorrow and separation. Maybe the family’s broken or a divorce is on the horizon.
4 of swords - Illness or rest. Holidays can be very stressful and maybe for now you need to take it easy.
5 of swords- Feeling defeated. Tension with family and friends. Someone has taken advantage of you. Maybe you feel put upon during the holidays by family demands or you have given way more than you have received.
6 of swords- Moving toward calmer waters. This usually happens after you buy all the gifts and everything you need for the perfect Christmas day. The hustle and bustle settled down and now you can relax a bit.
7 of swords - Theft. Someone is stealing from you or taking something that doesn’t belong to them. Credit card fraud. Feeling ripped off.
8 of swords - Feeling trapped in a bad situation. Isolation. The feeling of not knowing what to do with a particular problem.
9 of swords - Worry and anxiety; Common at this time of year for many. Something’s keeping you up at night. It’s ok to ask for help.
10 of swords - Ruin of all kinds. Given the subject matter it could be financial or a relationship breaks down.
Page of swords - A curious youngster. It can also represent a spy or an envious person.
Knight of swords- A family member or friend who stirs things up. Also acting very quickly oftentimes without thinking. A troublemaker.
Queen of swords - A lonely single woman. One who may feel heartbroken and left out of things.
King of swords - A lawyer, judge or policeman. Also a man who uses his head over his heart. This card could warn of an encounter with the law or authorities over the holiday season. Intellectual. An idealistic intellectual figure, good with words and possibly interested in causes and political affairs, similar to the King of Swords. She may be a lonely single woman. One who may feel heartbroken and left out of things.
DEAD WAITE TAROT - MAJORS
The Fool : A bloodied figure holds a white lily, the symbol of death. As the path below him crumbles, his undead companion barks his bloody, rancid breath into the noontime air, a warning that this fool is in danger of dropping off out of existence.
The Magician : The Magician, usually known for keeping a few things to himself, has no place to hide; he’s literally spewing his guts for all the world to see. In the foreground both roses and lilies slowly die. What exactly is inside that Cup? Don’t ask!
The High Priestess. Another beauty! She’s sitting on her throne, and by the looks of the muscles deteriorating on her legs, she’ll be there for some time! Her guts pour out from her cavernous ribcage over a mysterious, ancient scroll. If you’ve ever poured your heart out over a heartfelt letter, or put your blood sweat and tears into a project, you might know the feeling.
The Empress: Morbid and not for the faint of heart, this is one of the more horrible cards but a zombie apocalypse is no walk in the park. Amidst the collapsed wheat, a stream of blood drips from the card. There’s a strange irony in that the Empress represents life, yet she has (almost) given birth to an undead young one. Reminiscent of that scene in Alien where an alien rips through people’s chests, a little arm peeks from the womb (or should that be tomb?)
The Emperor: A bearded man of power sits on a crumbling throne. It reminds me of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt”, specifically the line “my empire of dirt”. In this card The Emperor still reigns, but only in his own fading consciousness, like a once powerful father that has become weak. Maybe someone needs to whisper in his ear that it’s time to put the sceptre down…except that someone’s bitten it off.
The Hierophant: Haven’t you heard? The zombie apocalypse is no respecter of persons. Even the church is infected. During the first stage of the virus, the faithful will have flocked to church, hoping for answers, fervent in prayer. Be ye peasant or be ye pope, the zombie virus shall not be mocked!
The Lovers: Rotten apples lie at the tree of forbidden knowledge, while the granted knowledge (The burning bush) still burns brightly. The Angel, not being in a physical body, remains unaffected by the virus. The lovers below still recognise their love for each other as the dim light of their eyes fades. Soon they will unknow each other.
The Chariot: The city is in flames. A charioteer stares ahead, his lower jaw and tongue lost somewhere in time. Does he move left, or move right? Will his sickly sphinxes even respond to his will? Come to think of it, one of the wheels has fallen off the chariot. Unless it is fixed, he will be going around in circles.
Strength: An undead lion, looking a bit worse for wear, kneels a little under the palm of an undead lady who fancies herself as a bit of a lion tamer. His face covered in blood, the lion has just previously eaten an unsuspecting victim.
The Hermit: Judging by the brightness of the lamp, there’s still enough fuel to light his way for a little while, which means the hermit is a very recent addition to the ranks of the undead. A source of wisdom and mystical knowledge, this figure’s brilliant mind will, like the great library of Alexandria, fall away into nothingness.
Wheel of Fortune: Yeah right, Wheel of Misfortune you mean! Actually, not so. Yes, the virus has affected the wonderful world of Waite, but beyond the ravaged post-apocalyptic world there is still hope. As a zombie hoard shuffles along in formation in the background, in the foreground we see the spiritual world is very much alive; the cog wheels of existence are always turning, every second of every minute of every hour. Like the angel in The Lovers card, the spiritual beings are physically unaffected by the zombie virus.
Justice: Is there justice to be had in the wasteland? Let’s hope so. An undead figure dressed in judicial garb holds scales representing weighing of evidence when examining and judging a case in court. The sword represents the idea that justice can be very swift and final.
The Hanged Man: What a way do die! Hung out to dry, this zombie has been completely stripped of his innards by carrion birds. However what this zombie lacks in guts, he more than makes up for in physical endurance; his spine appears to be as strong as steel. Talk about hangin tough!
Death. Essentially this card is the “Genesis” card of the deck; we go back to where it all began. A king has become lunch under the feet of a sickly pale horse, a royal feast as it were. A bishop of the church pleads with the diseased horseman, looking into the very eyes of death itself for some small morsel of mercy. None is given. The green air indicates the virus may be airborne in nature. If you want to be hopeful with this card, tell the client there’s a sunrise in the background. That’s about it!
Temperance: The problem with zombies is that they cause more trouble that just biting people and making a buffet of your vitals, their blood can also contaminate streams and rivers and other water sources. In this scenario, we see dead fish near the opening of a stream. A horde of zombies fail to notice the spiritual being in the foreground. With two cups in hand, liquids are being mixed. Perhaps a cure is being sought?
The Devil: Like the two zombies in the Lovers card the figures in the Devil card stand looking at each other, only this time they’ve grown animalistic tails (a return to their animal nature). The woman’s tail has a cluster of grapes, the man’s tail (base nature) is set on fire by the Devil. They are prisoners of the fallen nature.
The Tower : Nowhere to go but down. The doors of the tower have been breached. The human occupants flee for their lives, hoping to escape with their essentials. They have no option but to leap out the window and hope for the best. Let’s face it, they’re zombie food. The best case scenario is that they can rebuild again IF they can somehow, miraculously, escape that horde of insanity and teeth below.
The Star: A bit of a tranquil card, or at least the best that could be hoped for in a deck like this. A woman barely hanging together pours blood into a pond and onto the land. Don’t ask why, just leave her be!
The Moon: Under the moonlight a wolf and a dog take down a zombie and in the process spill his guts into a river. Two more zombies come to shore. In the far distance, a horde of zombies pass by, almost unnoticed in the darkness of night. Even the moon feels ill!
The Sun: Remember what we said in the Hierophant that the zombie virus is not a respecter of persons. Here is a prime example. A not so happy kid on a horse is feeling a bit under the weather. The red eyes of the sun almost suggest he’s been pulling an all nighter.
Judgement: It was always difficult to create an entire deck based on death, without taking away from the original death type scenes. Just like the Death card, Judgement deals with a bit of a morbid scene (though originally meant as a blessing of course). The angel blows a trumpet and the dead (undead?) rise from their graves. It gets confusing!
The World: A crow has found its prize. A nice bouncy eyeball that it will take back to its nest and devour in the comfort of its own home. Tasty!
WANDS
Ace of Wands: A river of blood flows through a sea of green fields. In the distance lies a castle. Lord knows what has become of it. A zombie hand peeks from a cloud brandishing about the only form of life nearby; lush green leaves sprouting from a wand.
2 of Wands: A tatty clothed merchant looks at a shattered globe in his hand. In the distance, something disastrous must have taken place; the shoreline is bathed in blood.
3 of Wands: The dark night sky is lit up just barely with an orange glow from the burning cities on the horizon. A flock of crows fly above, almost hidden by the darkness. In the foreground a merchant, dressed a little worse for wear, waits for the ships to come in; important supplies for small pockets of survivors.
4 of Wands: A once happy snapshot in time, a woman wearing a wreath comes towards you, wanting brains instead of cake. There are no signs of tangible life here, just remnants of what was once a celebration near the castle. The fruit on the trees look like they could be salvageable though!
5 of Wands: A few survivors joke around and share a few laughs, almost taunting the zombies before they bash their brains in. It is much debated as to where the game of golf first came into being…but now you know!
6 of Wands: How much victory can one have when one is a shell of his former self? At this point the only gratitude you get is from the deadheads.
7 of Wands: Battered and exhausted but still going strong. Is the figure fighting off zombies who want him for food or fighting off raiders who want his possessions?
8 of Wands: Arrows fly in a volley over a river tainted with blood. Towns in the distance burn against the backdrop of a blood red sky. A carrier pigeon has been sent out to make contact with another castle/community.
9 of Wands: A soldier who was once on guard is loyal to his post; a loyalty that has traversed through his transition into a poor undead soul.
10 Wands: Talk about tough! With half of his leg missing, his ribcage and skull exposed to the elements, this zombie will NOT be stopped! He’s on a mission and he intends to carry it out…let’s hope he remembers the actual purpose behind the mission, rather than just the journey itself.
Page of Wands : A zombie admires his staff. An adventurer, lover of different cultures and points of view. Unfortunately it’s all lost on him now. Poor bugger!
Knight of Wands: The horse is badly wounded as is his rider. He’s lost his way in the desert and that useless corpse on his back isn’t helping matters! As the horse wanders, his eyes go dim. Soon he will wander this ocean of sand, like some weary camel, for what will seem like an eternity.
Queen of Wands : The sunflower in her hand tells you everything you need to know! Even the cat can’t be saved from this scenario. Her heart beats in her exposed chest, thump, thump, thump. Her sons, the Page and Knight of Wands are lost to the ravaging winds of the desert, and even if they were to return, she would fail to recognise them.
King of Wands: As the book of Ecclesiastes tells us “all is vanity”. Once proud kings of the earth now walk as decaying road kill. All is vanity, including the unrealised dreams of fancy which, had these kings been given, would all amount to nothing in the end anyway. Most of their achievements are lost to the sands of time.
CUPS
Ace of Cups : a hand appears from a cloud with a cup of blood. A dove attempts to dip a Eucharist into the cup, but, alas, the bird’s wing is broken. In the distance a zombie seems to be emerging from the lake of blood…all rather lovely!
2 of Cups: 2 lovers exchange cups, an expression of their love, except…the man’s cup, and his arm, have fallen to the floor. Nonetheless he reaches for her cup. (The bloody cheek of it!) She doesn’t seem to mind too much. She probably forgets who he is in the first place.
3 of Cups: 3 almost undead-ish women have a party and, well, judging by their good cheer, they’re having one last drunken blowout before they turn!
4 of Cups: Could it be? A cure? From the Temperance angel that was described earlier? Maybe, but it seems lost on this zombie.
5 of Cups: A lone zombie mourns the loss of some of his “special” beverage. As the old saying goes “there’s plenty more fish in the sea”, but in this case “there’s plenty more blood in those people who are hiding in the castles”. The glass can always be half full if you will it to be.
6 of Cups: A return to innocence. Sometimes all one can do when they lose themselves, is to go back to a good memory. Even if the flowers don’t seem as bright as they used to be, and the soil has lost most of its soul, reliving a good memory is a cure for many an ailment.
7 of Cups: This is what sane rational desires look like when insanity has taken captive of one’s meat computer. A regular brain might wish for luxuries. A zombie’s nutty noggin, on the other hand, desires a lot of crazy stuff, mainly all food related for whatever reason.
8 of Cups: A lone survivor wanders inland, away from the shore. This man has seen enough to last him a lifetime. What kind of bloody carnage lies beyond the card, we don’t need to know. Suffice to say, it’s not pretty.
9 of Cups: A wish comes true. What poor soul had to lose a leg to fulfil this sick fantasy we’ll never know?
10 of Cups: What a disaster! What would have been a happy home in some half decent setting now burns in the distance. The zombie children devour a rat as though it were candy. An undead man tries to keep his wife from falling to the ground. Imagine your dreams almost coming true…almost, but leaving some nasty bitter aftertaste. Hey, you weren’t expecting a happily ever after style ending during a zombie apocalypse were you?
Page of Cups: A dead fish peers from a cup, its dead lifeless eyes staring blankly at this death ridden man. The zombie stares at the fish, almost with a child like innocence. He’s completely oblivious to the hip bone protruding from his right leg, and the cold wind whistling through his rib cage.
Knight of Cups : A badly eaten horse stops beside a clean crystal blue river. On top, a zombified knight sits with a cup in hand.
Queen of Cups : Covered in barnacles from the sea, this Queen seeks out her reflection on the side of her cup. Unlike most of the zombies in the world of Dead Waite, she still has some “awareness”. She knows she is transforming day by day. The bloody sores on her legs and arms, pecked raw by the crows whose keen sense of smell in regard to death, have bothered her now for days. Maggots have even shown their ugly head. The sound of the crashing sea waves gives her small comfort, but it is better than nothing.
The King of Cups: Like the Queen, the barnacles of the sea cling to him. His blood filled cup has fallen into his lap, the contents of which roll down his garments. On his little floating platform he is surrounded by piranhas. This zombie’s fate more or less lies in being eaten away over an extended period of time.
SWORDS
Ace of Swords: A rotting hand peers from the clouds holding a very battered, time ravaged sword. A wasteland lies below.
2 of Swords : This card puts a whole new spin on someone asking if they can “pick your brains”. The woman’s blindfold has dropped from her eyes, and her arm has fallen away from her body.
3 of Swords : 3 swords pierce a pulsating, zombified heart.
4 of Swords: While this scene appears to depict permanent rest, as in a zombie being killed, the vital organs being eaten by the crows are not essential to a zombie’s “undead” state. In other words, the crows have not killed this zombie by indulging in the intestines. Legend has it that in order to truly do away with a zombie you must destroy its brain.
5 of Swords : Even the undead have their fair share of petty show offs; you know the type. This is a hollow victory. Even if they physically could, the other two don’t want to get into a sword fighting contest over something trivial.
6 of Swords : A passage through hell. Let’s hope the boat doesn’t capsize. Three survivors make their way across an expanse of water, flanked on both sides by zombies in the water.
7 Swords : A thieving zombie really only proves one thing; this guy was a no good rotten thief in his former life. Why else would you be doing something as pointless as stealing swords when you’re a bloody zombie? The unconscious is our real captain. Few can understand it, but through repetition and routine people will do the strangest of things. It reminds me of the zombie shoppers going to the supermarket out of mere routine in Romero’s Dawn of The Dead
8 of Swords : All wrapped up and no place to go. The sun rises beyond a zombified woman. Perhaps she’s been tied up by a few survivors, before they fled the area. Her head has sustained injury and so too has her arm. Had she still retained her human mind, she may have used these swords nearby to cut the ties that bind her.
9 of Swords: A survivor awakes in the middle of the night. Outside he hears the roaring and wailing of a monstrous horde. They scrape their nails along the wooden boards, trying to pry their way in. How can one sleep peacefully with such a threat outside the door? Surely though the window of the room is secure with the wooden beams and swords?
10 of Swords : A figure lies dead on the ground as crows feast on his vitals. Whether this was a zombie or a human man it is not 100 percent clear. His neck, the only flesh revealed, has not turned green. In a zombie apocalypse, one might be forgiven for thinking that such a clear contrast between the living and the dead would unite all survivors, but rarely is anything as ideal as that. There are always opportunists, traitors and scavengers regardless of the feeling of comradery in such situations. It is anyone’s guess how 10 swords came to be lodged in his body; from his legs all the way up to his neck, but regardless of what happened, someone really wanted him dead!
Page of Swords: While this zombie is more or less a goner, he still retains some memory of a previous life where he was practicing his sword fighting skills. He will soon discard the blade, relying instead on his row of sharp teeth to carve out a life for himself as a raging, decaying, psychopath. I mean, wouldn’t you?
Knight of Swords: Charge!!! Though this horse has been through the war, it has not been infected by the virus, allowing it to gallop as quickly as regular horses. It could be argued it is trying to flee the rider.
Queen of Swords : The queen holds her hand in the air, the muscles and sinew hanging from the bones. For a second she thinks she sees a butterfly landing on her fingers, but there is nothing there. Though her sword has dulled some and her once majestic butterfly crown is barely hanging together, she sits as queen. In her mind, life has not changed. She is still the queen of her realm.
King of Swords : There is little that remains within the cavern of this poor soul’s chest. Over time the crows have picked his stomach apart like it were a piñata. Someone or something has hewn his forearm right from his body.
PENTACLES
Ace of Pentacles : white lilies are wilting in the foreground. Flies buzz around a rotting hand that comes from a cloud holding a damaged pentacle.
2 of Pentacles: in the background we see a sea of blood, with survivor ships trying to make their way to a port with their cargo in one piece (see the 3 of Wands). In the foreground a rotting figure juggles two pentacles.
3 of Pentacles : A craftsman sits down to have his lunch after a decent start to the morning. The city planners call by to see how he’s getting on and show him the plans. Well would you look at that…one bloody handprint on a piece of paper? That makes a lot of sense! It’s not like these planners are in their right state of mind. The craftsman has proceeded to decorate the hall with bloody hand prints. His other hand, along with his hammer both lay on the ground.
4 of Pentacles : This zombie has developed an obsession with his possessions. Behind him a city, once burning, now smoulders.
5 of Pentacles : The church has been ransacked. Shadowy figures shuffle about in the dim light inside. On closer inspection they are not survivors. Perhaps they were some of the faithful that thought church might be the best refuge. Unfortunately the church, throwing caution to the wind, granted everyone refuge, both the sick, and the healthy. I mean, that’s what Jesus would do right? At least they meant well. Now they are all just as dead as everyone else.
6 of Pentacles : A strange spectacle. A wealthy man, yet a man strong in faith, gives “money” to the impoverished. A strange spectacle because the virus has brought down the wealthy to the same level of paupers, but the rich man still believes his money is of value, and the poor still believe they are poor. Their roles are deeply rooted in the subconscious. The philanthropist has come from the ransacked church in the 5 of Pentacles. The wealthy man gives some meat instead of money, reminding us that though he still retains the role of philanthropist, he is clearly not in possession of money, either that or money itself has no real value anymore (That and he’s a zombie and not thinking clearly.)
7 of Pentacles : a farmer still sits waiting, tending his crops. Good luck. They’re gray, and starting to look a bit lifeless. Maybe he’s been watering it with some of that special water found in the Moon and Temperance card.
8 of Pentacles: That moment when you realise a hard working man has lost the plot entirely; A femur for a hammer and a sharpened bone for a chisel. That tells you all you need to know. At least he’s dedicated to his work!
9 of Pentacles : The falcon rests on the lady’s hand as she wanders through her garden. Surprisingly the falcon has not flown off. Perhaps its hood has been enough to keep it settled in her presence. She seems to recognise it; remember it almost, and has not considered it as a snack. Behind her a great crop of grapes grow on the vine. They don’t seem to have been affected by the changing world.
10 of Pentacles : Happy families! In the streets of a ruined city an old zombified man looks fondly at his dogs, which have brought him a little treat. The dogs are not infected at this point, thank heavens, nor do they appear to shrink from their master. A young boy nearby gets ready to bite into his Big Mac…wait, that’s not a…oh, never mind.
Page of Pentacles : A mesmerized zombie looks at a Pentacle he has found. Little does he know, these gold coins will have dropped in value at this point. The good thing about being a zombie, though, is that no matter how impoverished one gets, there will always be food.
Knight of Pentacles : A big Clydesdale horse looks out at a ploughed field. It has probably ploughed this field a few weeks previous. Scabby, rough blotches cover its hide. It’s sick but it has not been zombified. The knight, on the other hand, has a once fatal head wound. His ribcage is showing, and he has a wounded leg. What’s going through that mind of his? Is he lamenting the devaluation of his gold coin?
Queen of Pentacles : This queen sits in nature, admiring her slightly disfigured coin. A zombie rabbit sits nearby. She seems to be at peace, even though the horrible dystopian nightmare has taken its toll on her body.
King of Pentacles : While this king has been badly damaged, and he has more or less become a complete zombie, he roars his displeasure at the fall of his kingdom. He remembers, somewhat vaguely it must be said, a time when he was seen as an authority. His will was carried out by entire armies, and he was full of wealth and power. Had his old dusty tear ducts any vitality left, he might even shed a tear, lamenting the loss of his glory days.
BONUS CARDS (Originally Created for the Dead Waite Campaign)
The Scavenger : During such trying times when society has broken down and everyone seems to have gone crazy, it is good to have a stockpile of food and amenities that you can rely on until you can become accustomed to the new world. Not everyone will be so fortunate. As panic sweeps through the towns and cities, of a fear of running out of supplies, you too will have to decide what to grab, and what to leave behind, and the importance of wasting nothing. This card indicates that someone is not only resourceful, but is open to the many many opportunities in the environment around them. I see it more as someone picking over something that's already been picked over yet making use of things that others deemed scrap, rather than pilfering something of immediate and noticeable value. (the kind of things that would go missing from the shelf from the first wave of raiders). A scavenger might also have a much keener eye, picking up things that others may have missed.
Yet, there are pros and cons to everything. In a negative sense it would mean that one might need to protect themselves from theft. Think the 7 of Swords, for example. Keep an eye on your stuff! Someone might be chipping away at the foundations of your Kingdom.
The Lookout : Every decent fort needs one. Without a lookout, you will not see danger ahead of you, and so will have to think quickly when things go wrong, (Which life tends to do, just to keep us on our toes). Based on the Belvedere card from the Sibilla oracle deck.
Communication : Contact with the outside world is vital to form a wider community and a network of reliable contacts. In this medieval zombie setting, being fiercely independent can be a good thing, but condemning yourself to isolation has it's limitations.
In the card, an apocalyptic postal worker (not Kevin Costner lol) delivers a letter from one Kingdom to the other.
Similarly in our 8 of Wands card, carrier pigeons fly alongside arrows, carrying a message attached to their leg. In the old days, long before telephone, it was a great way of getting a message to someone from a distance.
Infected : Many people see the idea of Death as transition. What's more of a transition than passing over into the world of the zombie. Perhaps a better explanation is that feeling one might get when they are still consciously "with it", but "know" that people need to keep away them for their own safety. One might actively volunteer being quarantined for the greater good, especially if they have children. This noble, voluntary act is probably much more likely to happen when nearing the last stages of transition, where one might start “seeing” things that no one else sees, or having intense feelings of hate and rage; sure signs that something is going on upstairs that might need to be taken seriously!
Thankfully with the help of the medical world, most infections can be treated in our society, but some cannot. In a zombie setting, one might find it very useful to seek out a local pharmacy or hospital for supplies for certain ailments. Actual zombie bites, unless there is a cure on the near horizon, will probably prove fatal.
In a card reading, depending on the question, this card may prove quite interesting. Let’s say the question was “What’s wrong with my computer?”. If you pulled the infected card it would be pretty obvious. However I would caution both reader and client to be careful with medical type readings. If you feel something’s really wrong with you, seek medical advice from a doctor. Don’t be a zombie, use common sense! In such serious readings, these cards should really only be used for entertainment.
Survivor : You’re a survivor and at least one small part of you probably loves the thrill of the battle on top of it all. You’re holding up that zombie head like a trophy. Hell, you probably sew up your own wounds too without as much as a grimace. Ok, that might be going a bit far!
A survivor indicates that you’re willing to rough it and endure things that would break most other people under the pressure.
This could also indicate you have survived divorce, ill health, severe emotional trauma and lived to tell the tale. There is quite a lot of truth to the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. You are battle hardened. Occasionally some may say they wished to see a softer side to you, which is fair. Depending on the person, it might be good to show this side of you, but never resent your survivalist mentality. It has probably saved your life a few times.
The Fool : A bloodied figure holds a white lily, the symbol of death. As the path below him crumbles, his undead companion barks his bloody, rancid breath into the noontime air, a warning that this fool is in danger of dropping off out of existence.
The Magician : The Magician, usually known for keeping a few things to himself, has no place to hide; he’s literally spewing his guts for all the world to see. In the foreground both roses and lilies slowly die. What exactly is inside that Cup? Don’t ask!
The High Priestess. Another beauty! She’s sitting on her throne, and by the looks of the muscles deteriorating on her legs, she’ll be there for some time! Her guts pour out from her cavernous ribcage over a mysterious, ancient scroll. If you’ve ever poured your heart out over a heartfelt letter, or put your blood sweat and tears into a project, you might know the feeling.
The Empress: Morbid and not for the faint of heart, this is one of the more horrible cards but a zombie apocalypse is no walk in the park. Amidst the collapsed wheat, a stream of blood drips from the card. There’s a strange irony in that the Empress represents life, yet she has (almost) given birth to an undead young one. Reminiscent of that scene in Alien where an alien rips through people’s chests, a little arm peeks from the womb (or should that be tomb?)
The Emperor: A bearded man of power sits on a crumbling throne. It reminds me of the Nine Inch Nails song “Hurt”, specifically the line “my empire of dirt”. In this card The Emperor still reigns, but only in his own fading consciousness, like a once powerful father that has become weak. Maybe someone needs to whisper in his ear that it’s time to put the sceptre down…except that someone’s bitten it off.
The Hierophant: Haven’t you heard? The zombie apocalypse is no respecter of persons. Even the church is infected. During the first stage of the virus, the faithful will have flocked to church, hoping for answers, fervent in prayer. Be ye peasant or be ye pope, the zombie virus shall not be mocked!
The Lovers: Rotten apples lie at the tree of forbidden knowledge, while the granted knowledge (The burning bush) still burns brightly. The Angel, not being in a physical body, remains unaffected by the virus. The lovers below still recognise their love for each other as the dim light of their eyes fades. Soon they will unknow each other.
The Chariot: The city is in flames. A charioteer stares ahead, his lower jaw and tongue lost somewhere in time. Does he move left, or move right? Will his sickly sphinxes even respond to his will? Come to think of it, one of the wheels has fallen off the chariot. Unless it is fixed, he will be going around in circles.
Strength: An undead lion, looking a bit worse for wear, kneels a little under the palm of an undead lady who fancies herself as a bit of a lion tamer. His face covered in blood, the lion has just previously eaten an unsuspecting victim.
The Hermit: Judging by the brightness of the lamp, there’s still enough fuel to light his way for a little while, which means the hermit is a very recent addition to the ranks of the undead. A source of wisdom and mystical knowledge, this figure’s brilliant mind will, like the great library of Alexandria, fall away into nothingness.
Wheel of Fortune: Yeah right, Wheel of Misfortune you mean! Actually, not so. Yes, the virus has affected the wonderful world of Waite, but beyond the ravaged post-apocalyptic world there is still hope. As a zombie hoard shuffles along in formation in the background, in the foreground we see the spiritual world is very much alive; the cog wheels of existence are always turning, every second of every minute of every hour. Like the angel in The Lovers card, the spiritual beings are physically unaffected by the zombie virus.
Justice: Is there justice to be had in the wasteland? Let’s hope so. An undead figure dressed in judicial garb holds scales representing weighing of evidence when examining and judging a case in court. The sword represents the idea that justice can be very swift and final.
The Hanged Man: What a way do die! Hung out to dry, this zombie has been completely stripped of his innards by carrion birds. However what this zombie lacks in guts, he more than makes up for in physical endurance; his spine appears to be as strong as steel. Talk about hangin tough!
Death. Essentially this card is the “Genesis” card of the deck; we go back to where it all began. A king has become lunch under the feet of a sickly pale horse, a royal feast as it were. A bishop of the church pleads with the diseased horseman, looking into the very eyes of death itself for some small morsel of mercy. None is given. The green air indicates the virus may be airborne in nature. If you want to be hopeful with this card, tell the client there’s a sunrise in the background. That’s about it!
Temperance: The problem with zombies is that they cause more trouble that just biting people and making a buffet of your vitals, their blood can also contaminate streams and rivers and other water sources. In this scenario, we see dead fish near the opening of a stream. A horde of zombies fail to notice the spiritual being in the foreground. With two cups in hand, liquids are being mixed. Perhaps a cure is being sought?
The Devil: Like the two zombies in the Lovers card the figures in the Devil card stand looking at each other, only this time they’ve grown animalistic tails (a return to their animal nature). The woman’s tail has a cluster of grapes, the man’s tail (base nature) is set on fire by the Devil. They are prisoners of the fallen nature.
The Tower : Nowhere to go but down. The doors of the tower have been breached. The human occupants flee for their lives, hoping to escape with their essentials. They have no option but to leap out the window and hope for the best. Let’s face it, they’re zombie food. The best case scenario is that they can rebuild again IF they can somehow, miraculously, escape that horde of insanity and teeth below.
The Star: A bit of a tranquil card, or at least the best that could be hoped for in a deck like this. A woman barely hanging together pours blood into a pond and onto the land. Don’t ask why, just leave her be!
The Moon: Under the moonlight a wolf and a dog take down a zombie and in the process spill his guts into a river. Two more zombies come to shore. In the far distance, a horde of zombies pass by, almost unnoticed in the darkness of night. Even the moon feels ill!
The Sun: Remember what we said in the Hierophant that the zombie virus is not a respecter of persons. Here is a prime example. A not so happy kid on a horse is feeling a bit under the weather. The red eyes of the sun almost suggest he’s been pulling an all nighter.
Judgement: It was always difficult to create an entire deck based on death, without taking away from the original death type scenes. Just like the Death card, Judgement deals with a bit of a morbid scene (though originally meant as a blessing of course). The angel blows a trumpet and the dead (undead?) rise from their graves. It gets confusing!
The World: A crow has found its prize. A nice bouncy eyeball that it will take back to its nest and devour in the comfort of its own home. Tasty!
WANDS
Ace of Wands: A river of blood flows through a sea of green fields. In the distance lies a castle. Lord knows what has become of it. A zombie hand peeks from a cloud brandishing about the only form of life nearby; lush green leaves sprouting from a wand.
2 of Wands: A tatty clothed merchant looks at a shattered globe in his hand. In the distance, something disastrous must have taken place; the shoreline is bathed in blood.
3 of Wands: The dark night sky is lit up just barely with an orange glow from the burning cities on the horizon. A flock of crows fly above, almost hidden by the darkness. In the foreground a merchant, dressed a little worse for wear, waits for the ships to come in; important supplies for small pockets of survivors.
4 of Wands: A once happy snapshot in time, a woman wearing a wreath comes towards you, wanting brains instead of cake. There are no signs of tangible life here, just remnants of what was once a celebration near the castle. The fruit on the trees look like they could be salvageable though!
5 of Wands: A few survivors joke around and share a few laughs, almost taunting the zombies before they bash their brains in. It is much debated as to where the game of golf first came into being…but now you know!
6 of Wands: How much victory can one have when one is a shell of his former self? At this point the only gratitude you get is from the deadheads.
7 of Wands: Battered and exhausted but still going strong. Is the figure fighting off zombies who want him for food or fighting off raiders who want his possessions?
8 of Wands: Arrows fly in a volley over a river tainted with blood. Towns in the distance burn against the backdrop of a blood red sky. A carrier pigeon has been sent out to make contact with another castle/community.
9 of Wands: A soldier who was once on guard is loyal to his post; a loyalty that has traversed through his transition into a poor undead soul.
10 Wands: Talk about tough! With half of his leg missing, his ribcage and skull exposed to the elements, this zombie will NOT be stopped! He’s on a mission and he intends to carry it out…let’s hope he remembers the actual purpose behind the mission, rather than just the journey itself.
Page of Wands : A zombie admires his staff. An adventurer, lover of different cultures and points of view. Unfortunately it’s all lost on him now. Poor bugger!
Knight of Wands: The horse is badly wounded as is his rider. He’s lost his way in the desert and that useless corpse on his back isn’t helping matters! As the horse wanders, his eyes go dim. Soon he will wander this ocean of sand, like some weary camel, for what will seem like an eternity.
Queen of Wands : The sunflower in her hand tells you everything you need to know! Even the cat can’t be saved from this scenario. Her heart beats in her exposed chest, thump, thump, thump. Her sons, the Page and Knight of Wands are lost to the ravaging winds of the desert, and even if they were to return, she would fail to recognise them.
King of Wands: As the book of Ecclesiastes tells us “all is vanity”. Once proud kings of the earth now walk as decaying road kill. All is vanity, including the unrealised dreams of fancy which, had these kings been given, would all amount to nothing in the end anyway. Most of their achievements are lost to the sands of time.
CUPS
Ace of Cups : a hand appears from a cloud with a cup of blood. A dove attempts to dip a Eucharist into the cup, but, alas, the bird’s wing is broken. In the distance a zombie seems to be emerging from the lake of blood…all rather lovely!
2 of Cups: 2 lovers exchange cups, an expression of their love, except…the man’s cup, and his arm, have fallen to the floor. Nonetheless he reaches for her cup. (The bloody cheek of it!) She doesn’t seem to mind too much. She probably forgets who he is in the first place.
3 of Cups: 3 almost undead-ish women have a party and, well, judging by their good cheer, they’re having one last drunken blowout before they turn!
4 of Cups: Could it be? A cure? From the Temperance angel that was described earlier? Maybe, but it seems lost on this zombie.
5 of Cups: A lone zombie mourns the loss of some of his “special” beverage. As the old saying goes “there’s plenty more fish in the sea”, but in this case “there’s plenty more blood in those people who are hiding in the castles”. The glass can always be half full if you will it to be.
6 of Cups: A return to innocence. Sometimes all one can do when they lose themselves, is to go back to a good memory. Even if the flowers don’t seem as bright as they used to be, and the soil has lost most of its soul, reliving a good memory is a cure for many an ailment.
7 of Cups: This is what sane rational desires look like when insanity has taken captive of one’s meat computer. A regular brain might wish for luxuries. A zombie’s nutty noggin, on the other hand, desires a lot of crazy stuff, mainly all food related for whatever reason.
8 of Cups: A lone survivor wanders inland, away from the shore. This man has seen enough to last him a lifetime. What kind of bloody carnage lies beyond the card, we don’t need to know. Suffice to say, it’s not pretty.
9 of Cups: A wish comes true. What poor soul had to lose a leg to fulfil this sick fantasy we’ll never know?
10 of Cups: What a disaster! What would have been a happy home in some half decent setting now burns in the distance. The zombie children devour a rat as though it were candy. An undead man tries to keep his wife from falling to the ground. Imagine your dreams almost coming true…almost, but leaving some nasty bitter aftertaste. Hey, you weren’t expecting a happily ever after style ending during a zombie apocalypse were you?
Page of Cups: A dead fish peers from a cup, its dead lifeless eyes staring blankly at this death ridden man. The zombie stares at the fish, almost with a child like innocence. He’s completely oblivious to the hip bone protruding from his right leg, and the cold wind whistling through his rib cage.
Knight of Cups : A badly eaten horse stops beside a clean crystal blue river. On top, a zombified knight sits with a cup in hand.
Queen of Cups : Covered in barnacles from the sea, this Queen seeks out her reflection on the side of her cup. Unlike most of the zombies in the world of Dead Waite, she still has some “awareness”. She knows she is transforming day by day. The bloody sores on her legs and arms, pecked raw by the crows whose keen sense of smell in regard to death, have bothered her now for days. Maggots have even shown their ugly head. The sound of the crashing sea waves gives her small comfort, but it is better than nothing.
The King of Cups: Like the Queen, the barnacles of the sea cling to him. His blood filled cup has fallen into his lap, the contents of which roll down his garments. On his little floating platform he is surrounded by piranhas. This zombie’s fate more or less lies in being eaten away over an extended period of time.
SWORDS
Ace of Swords: A rotting hand peers from the clouds holding a very battered, time ravaged sword. A wasteland lies below.
2 of Swords : This card puts a whole new spin on someone asking if they can “pick your brains”. The woman’s blindfold has dropped from her eyes, and her arm has fallen away from her body.
3 of Swords : 3 swords pierce a pulsating, zombified heart.
4 of Swords: While this scene appears to depict permanent rest, as in a zombie being killed, the vital organs being eaten by the crows are not essential to a zombie’s “undead” state. In other words, the crows have not killed this zombie by indulging in the intestines. Legend has it that in order to truly do away with a zombie you must destroy its brain.
5 of Swords : Even the undead have their fair share of petty show offs; you know the type. This is a hollow victory. Even if they physically could, the other two don’t want to get into a sword fighting contest over something trivial.
6 of Swords : A passage through hell. Let’s hope the boat doesn’t capsize. Three survivors make their way across an expanse of water, flanked on both sides by zombies in the water.
7 Swords : A thieving zombie really only proves one thing; this guy was a no good rotten thief in his former life. Why else would you be doing something as pointless as stealing swords when you’re a bloody zombie? The unconscious is our real captain. Few can understand it, but through repetition and routine people will do the strangest of things. It reminds me of the zombie shoppers going to the supermarket out of mere routine in Romero’s Dawn of The Dead
8 of Swords : All wrapped up and no place to go. The sun rises beyond a zombified woman. Perhaps she’s been tied up by a few survivors, before they fled the area. Her head has sustained injury and so too has her arm. Had she still retained her human mind, she may have used these swords nearby to cut the ties that bind her.
9 of Swords: A survivor awakes in the middle of the night. Outside he hears the roaring and wailing of a monstrous horde. They scrape their nails along the wooden boards, trying to pry their way in. How can one sleep peacefully with such a threat outside the door? Surely though the window of the room is secure with the wooden beams and swords?
10 of Swords : A figure lies dead on the ground as crows feast on his vitals. Whether this was a zombie or a human man it is not 100 percent clear. His neck, the only flesh revealed, has not turned green. In a zombie apocalypse, one might be forgiven for thinking that such a clear contrast between the living and the dead would unite all survivors, but rarely is anything as ideal as that. There are always opportunists, traitors and scavengers regardless of the feeling of comradery in such situations. It is anyone’s guess how 10 swords came to be lodged in his body; from his legs all the way up to his neck, but regardless of what happened, someone really wanted him dead!
Page of Swords: While this zombie is more or less a goner, he still retains some memory of a previous life where he was practicing his sword fighting skills. He will soon discard the blade, relying instead on his row of sharp teeth to carve out a life for himself as a raging, decaying, psychopath. I mean, wouldn’t you?
Knight of Swords: Charge!!! Though this horse has been through the war, it has not been infected by the virus, allowing it to gallop as quickly as regular horses. It could be argued it is trying to flee the rider.
Queen of Swords : The queen holds her hand in the air, the muscles and sinew hanging from the bones. For a second she thinks she sees a butterfly landing on her fingers, but there is nothing there. Though her sword has dulled some and her once majestic butterfly crown is barely hanging together, she sits as queen. In her mind, life has not changed. She is still the queen of her realm.
King of Swords : There is little that remains within the cavern of this poor soul’s chest. Over time the crows have picked his stomach apart like it were a piñata. Someone or something has hewn his forearm right from his body.
PENTACLES
Ace of Pentacles : white lilies are wilting in the foreground. Flies buzz around a rotting hand that comes from a cloud holding a damaged pentacle.
2 of Pentacles: in the background we see a sea of blood, with survivor ships trying to make their way to a port with their cargo in one piece (see the 3 of Wands). In the foreground a rotting figure juggles two pentacles.
3 of Pentacles : A craftsman sits down to have his lunch after a decent start to the morning. The city planners call by to see how he’s getting on and show him the plans. Well would you look at that…one bloody handprint on a piece of paper? That makes a lot of sense! It’s not like these planners are in their right state of mind. The craftsman has proceeded to decorate the hall with bloody hand prints. His other hand, along with his hammer both lay on the ground.
4 of Pentacles : This zombie has developed an obsession with his possessions. Behind him a city, once burning, now smoulders.
5 of Pentacles : The church has been ransacked. Shadowy figures shuffle about in the dim light inside. On closer inspection they are not survivors. Perhaps they were some of the faithful that thought church might be the best refuge. Unfortunately the church, throwing caution to the wind, granted everyone refuge, both the sick, and the healthy. I mean, that’s what Jesus would do right? At least they meant well. Now they are all just as dead as everyone else.
6 of Pentacles : A strange spectacle. A wealthy man, yet a man strong in faith, gives “money” to the impoverished. A strange spectacle because the virus has brought down the wealthy to the same level of paupers, but the rich man still believes his money is of value, and the poor still believe they are poor. Their roles are deeply rooted in the subconscious. The philanthropist has come from the ransacked church in the 5 of Pentacles. The wealthy man gives some meat instead of money, reminding us that though he still retains the role of philanthropist, he is clearly not in possession of money, either that or money itself has no real value anymore (That and he’s a zombie and not thinking clearly.)
7 of Pentacles : a farmer still sits waiting, tending his crops. Good luck. They’re gray, and starting to look a bit lifeless. Maybe he’s been watering it with some of that special water found in the Moon and Temperance card.
8 of Pentacles: That moment when you realise a hard working man has lost the plot entirely; A femur for a hammer and a sharpened bone for a chisel. That tells you all you need to know. At least he’s dedicated to his work!
9 of Pentacles : The falcon rests on the lady’s hand as she wanders through her garden. Surprisingly the falcon has not flown off. Perhaps its hood has been enough to keep it settled in her presence. She seems to recognise it; remember it almost, and has not considered it as a snack. Behind her a great crop of grapes grow on the vine. They don’t seem to have been affected by the changing world.
10 of Pentacles : Happy families! In the streets of a ruined city an old zombified man looks fondly at his dogs, which have brought him a little treat. The dogs are not infected at this point, thank heavens, nor do they appear to shrink from their master. A young boy nearby gets ready to bite into his Big Mac…wait, that’s not a…oh, never mind.
Page of Pentacles : A mesmerized zombie looks at a Pentacle he has found. Little does he know, these gold coins will have dropped in value at this point. The good thing about being a zombie, though, is that no matter how impoverished one gets, there will always be food.
Knight of Pentacles : A big Clydesdale horse looks out at a ploughed field. It has probably ploughed this field a few weeks previous. Scabby, rough blotches cover its hide. It’s sick but it has not been zombified. The knight, on the other hand, has a once fatal head wound. His ribcage is showing, and he has a wounded leg. What’s going through that mind of his? Is he lamenting the devaluation of his gold coin?
Queen of Pentacles : This queen sits in nature, admiring her slightly disfigured coin. A zombie rabbit sits nearby. She seems to be at peace, even though the horrible dystopian nightmare has taken its toll on her body.
King of Pentacles : While this king has been badly damaged, and he has more or less become a complete zombie, he roars his displeasure at the fall of his kingdom. He remembers, somewhat vaguely it must be said, a time when he was seen as an authority. His will was carried out by entire armies, and he was full of wealth and power. Had his old dusty tear ducts any vitality left, he might even shed a tear, lamenting the loss of his glory days.
BONUS CARDS (Originally Created for the Dead Waite Campaign)
The Scavenger : During such trying times when society has broken down and everyone seems to have gone crazy, it is good to have a stockpile of food and amenities that you can rely on until you can become accustomed to the new world. Not everyone will be so fortunate. As panic sweeps through the towns and cities, of a fear of running out of supplies, you too will have to decide what to grab, and what to leave behind, and the importance of wasting nothing. This card indicates that someone is not only resourceful, but is open to the many many opportunities in the environment around them. I see it more as someone picking over something that's already been picked over yet making use of things that others deemed scrap, rather than pilfering something of immediate and noticeable value. (the kind of things that would go missing from the shelf from the first wave of raiders). A scavenger might also have a much keener eye, picking up things that others may have missed.
Yet, there are pros and cons to everything. In a negative sense it would mean that one might need to protect themselves from theft. Think the 7 of Swords, for example. Keep an eye on your stuff! Someone might be chipping away at the foundations of your Kingdom.
The Lookout : Every decent fort needs one. Without a lookout, you will not see danger ahead of you, and so will have to think quickly when things go wrong, (Which life tends to do, just to keep us on our toes). Based on the Belvedere card from the Sibilla oracle deck.
Communication : Contact with the outside world is vital to form a wider community and a network of reliable contacts. In this medieval zombie setting, being fiercely independent can be a good thing, but condemning yourself to isolation has it's limitations.
In the card, an apocalyptic postal worker (not Kevin Costner lol) delivers a letter from one Kingdom to the other.
Similarly in our 8 of Wands card, carrier pigeons fly alongside arrows, carrying a message attached to their leg. In the old days, long before telephone, it was a great way of getting a message to someone from a distance.
Infected : Many people see the idea of Death as transition. What's more of a transition than passing over into the world of the zombie. Perhaps a better explanation is that feeling one might get when they are still consciously "with it", but "know" that people need to keep away them for their own safety. One might actively volunteer being quarantined for the greater good, especially if they have children. This noble, voluntary act is probably much more likely to happen when nearing the last stages of transition, where one might start “seeing” things that no one else sees, or having intense feelings of hate and rage; sure signs that something is going on upstairs that might need to be taken seriously!
Thankfully with the help of the medical world, most infections can be treated in our society, but some cannot. In a zombie setting, one might find it very useful to seek out a local pharmacy or hospital for supplies for certain ailments. Actual zombie bites, unless there is a cure on the near horizon, will probably prove fatal.
In a card reading, depending on the question, this card may prove quite interesting. Let’s say the question was “What’s wrong with my computer?”. If you pulled the infected card it would be pretty obvious. However I would caution both reader and client to be careful with medical type readings. If you feel something’s really wrong with you, seek medical advice from a doctor. Don’t be a zombie, use common sense! In such serious readings, these cards should really only be used for entertainment.
Survivor : You’re a survivor and at least one small part of you probably loves the thrill of the battle on top of it all. You’re holding up that zombie head like a trophy. Hell, you probably sew up your own wounds too without as much as a grimace. Ok, that might be going a bit far!
A survivor indicates that you’re willing to rough it and endure things that would break most other people under the pressure.
This could also indicate you have survived divorce, ill health, severe emotional trauma and lived to tell the tale. There is quite a lot of truth to the saying “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. You are battle hardened. Occasionally some may say they wished to see a softer side to you, which is fair. Depending on the person, it might be good to show this side of you, but never resent your survivalist mentality. It has probably saved your life a few times.
The original Waite Smith deck is so popular and has been talked about so exhaustively in print and online media that we felt it would be more appropriate to focus more on the changes found in the Trippin’ Waite for this printable PDF, with brief interpretations for those completely new to the original.
0. The Fool – Naïve but optimistic, the Fool carries a poppy flower in hand, and sets out on his magical trip. It’s good to see the best in things, but it would do you well to tread carefully.
1. The Magician - This figure represents the mastery of the elements; earth, water, fire and air. A bit of a showman! Doves fly overhead, seemingly appearing out of thin air. He wears a beautiful Indian themed cloak.
2. The High Priestess – Covered in a cloak of celestial light. The eye above her emphasises her use of intuition to guide her in situations. She is sometimes interpreted as the Shekhinah, the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God.
3. The Empress - Mother Nature. She represents birth and fertility. Rabbits bounce around and bees buzz around in her midst, both a familiar symbol for birth and reproduction.
4. Emperor - A hippie father figure who has probably enjoyed himself at Woodstock and is basking in his glory days. He usually represents the Querent’s father or male role model.
5. Hierophant -The Hierophant in this case represents the popular Indian Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who left an impression on many of the big music stars of the 60’s. He represents spiritual matters of all kinds.
6. The lovers – The Summer of Love. Two flower children, painted and naked under the watchful eye of a peaceful spirit, come together as one. The lovers card represents a choice or partnership.
7. Chariot - The choice of direction in your life is yours to make. The Chariot represents successfully managing conflicting desires and feelings. A journey. It also represents determination and strength as there is a lot of skill in driving a chariot. An eventual mastery of a situation through determination and hard work.
8. Strength - Inner strength. This card represents keeping your base animal instincts in check. Through compassion, the Lady, in her daisy patterned dress soothes the beast.
9. The Hermit - The hermit walks amidst the stars. He represents the knowledge within and his cloak gives him some privacy. He carries a staff to aid him in his walk. A card of inner reflection.
10. The Wheel of Fortune - A change of fortune. If your fortune has been great, it may soon turn, but if your fortune has been bad, it could be a sign you’re going to experience a nice change of events. At the four corners can be seen the heavenly creatures mentioned in biblical books like Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation. Generally a card with wonderful potential.
11. Justice – An Asian judge, garbed in tie dye, sits upon her lofty throne of clouds. A card of Karma, it reminds us that justice is impartial and that you will be dealt with fairly. What you put into a situation is exactly what you will get out of a situation. May also indicate court appearances, or civil marriages or divorce.
12. The Hanged Man - Suspension of action. Inactivity. This card is sometimes seen as self sacrifice for the moral good, or the welfare of others. The wings in this card represent a will to do something, but the inability to do so. He would gladly fly, but he is bound.
13. Death – An ending of things, possibly a literal death but generally an end to something.
14. Temperance. - A lady beside a stream pours rainbow water from one cup to another. On her head she wears a crown of daisies. Irisis grow behind her, a symbol of the Goddess Iris, who also is represented by the rainbow; a link between the heavens and earth.
15. The Devil - With his Nixonian salutes, The Devil lingers above a Vietnamese villager and an American G.I, both victims, it could be argued, of the war machine. We see in the background the napalm being dropped. For the G.I, the chains represent a forced draft into the military, and for the Vietnamese lady, the chains represent her being chained to an event that she has no say in. The Vietnam War played a big part in the late 60’s, and led to many anti-war protests.
16. The Tower – Inspired by Donovan’s “Atlantis”, The Tower represents ruin, sometimes sudden ruin, and a break down of long standing beliefs, perhaps being disillusioned. Towers take a long time to be built up, for example a loving relationship, and then seemingly out of nowhere, the whole thing comes crashing down.
17. The Star – She represents hope and aspirations. Above her head is a swirl of stars, a sign she is blessed. A card of inspiration.
18. The Moon – A wolf and dog bark at the moon, a river flowing between them from the hills. Touched by the moonlight, the waters flow out to the sea where a lobster comes to shore. A card of hidden secrets and, at times, lunacy, in the darkness it is harder to see things clearly. It can represent dreams and illusions which may appear very real but can be a bit vague.
19. The Sun – A card of joy and can indicate good weather and optimism. May also indicate a birth.
20. Judgement – A young angelic child plays his hypnotic music to once sleeping flower children. The card indicates that a situation in the past may be resurrected in some form, shaping your future. Sometimes in relationships this indicates a second chance. In terms of actual Judgement, the idea of being judged is often scary to many people, but true Judgement, if mixed with correction and guidance, can be a welcome thing.
21. The World – The World represents completion. You made it in whatever tasks you had set for yourself. Take time to enjoy your newfound success. Everything has come full circle.
Ace of Cups - Two doves of peace descend upon an overflowing cup. The card represents love of all kinds, agape, strong feelings and the overflow of the heart. Compassion and the beginning of a romantic relationship or friendship. Good omen for matters of the heart.
2 of Cups – Make love not war! Strong friendship, bond, sharing. In matters of love; compatible relationships, perhaps even a marriage is foretold.
3 of Cups - This is the card of celebrations, parties, get-togethers and social encounters that involve a group. May also indicate the celebration of a birth.
4 of Cups - A man with a flowery tunic and head band, sits with his arms folded, staring into space. Perhaps he is feeling unmotivated or left out. The cup offered to the person suggests hope, if only the person could see that maybe a friendship or help is being offered. Encourage the client to look for the cup.
5 of Cups - Woodstock is over. A sad folksinger stands looking at the knocked over cups left behind. Let’s hope that what was spilled wasn’t too expensive! A feeling of regret, failure and disappointment. There’s always other festivals and the music lives on.
6 of Cups - Feelings of nostalgia. A young kid gives a cup filled with flowers to his grandma. This card represents feeling like a child again.
7 of Cups - Wishes, hopes and dreams. The seven cups represent temporary pleasures. Can also mean guilty pleasures, lust and vain imaginings.
8 of Cups - A flowery clad figures walks away from a previous situation that wasn’t working out and looking forward to better and brighter prospects.
9 of Cups - The genie is here, to grant your wishes. An optimistic card, but be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. A card which indicates dreams coming true.
10 of Cups - A beautiful log cabin lies in the distance as a family enjoys a stroll along their golden path. A feeling of shared joy with family and friends. A card that represents blessings and good times.
Page of Cups - A goldfish jumps from a young man’s cup. He is a messenger of love, and reminds us to enjoy those precious moments in life when all is well with the world. Possible news of a birth.
Knight of Cups - A seasonal affair. He personifies the "courtship" period in a relationship. A young man who may be interested in the Querent.
Queen of Cups - A compassionate woman who brings with her; nurturing, love and sensitivity. This is the person who just magically seems to know your hearts desire and may have intuitive, psychic abilities.
King of Cups - A man who is in control of showing his feelings but feels very deeply indeed. The type of man who will admire from a distance and may be slow to show his feelings.
Ace of Wands - The impulse to get up and do something. Get active. A feeling of restlessness. The first spark of putting something into action, or “getting the ball rolling” so to speak.
2 of Wands – Planning. There’s a great saying “failing to plan is planning to fail”. Part of planning includes visualisation.
3 of Wands – The card of waiting. All that planning in the 2 of Wands should soon be paying off. You’re waiting for your ships to come in. In an artistic or craft sense, perhaps you’re awaiting a shipment of goods that you’ve ordered of your work, that you will resell. For a farmer, it could be seeing his produce being brought in from the field after the harvest.
4 of Wands - Family celebrations. Things related to the house and home. Can indicate weddings or christenings.
5 of Wands - Disagreements in a group, and petty arguments. These fairies find themselves in a minor squabble on top of a brightly coloured daisy. 2 doves pass by; an indication that sometimes conflicts can be resolved easier than we think.
6 of Wands - A victorious figure draped in a butterfly motif cloak rides in on horseback. This card indicates achievement, success and recognition by family and friends.
7 of Wands - Competition and struggle. Defence and trying to stay on top of a situation. Bees buzz around this little fairy as he stands his ground.
8 of Wands - Fast movement. I think of this card as either travelling or legwork. In any case you’re moving forward fast.
9 of Wands - This card represents problems and setbacks that need to be overcome. This card indicates the need to get your defences up and be watchful.
10 of Wands - Feeling worn out and over burdened. Some of this could be avoided if you ask people for help. Have faith, you can make it!
Page of Wands - An active young person who likes to explore.
Knight of Wands – Travelling. Movement by land. Like the other male figures in the court cards, he appears to be wearing an outfit patterned with the symbol of Ouroboros, an ancient symbol first traced to Egypt (which probably explains the pyramids found in the original Wands court cards)
Queen of Wands - This woman is a great planner and loves to be the host at social gatherings. She’s very active and actually enjoys running errands, meeting people and going to events. She likes to be involved and on the move. She holds a sunflower and her black cat sits lovingly by her side.
King of Wands - This is a man who is in charge. An authority figure that may represent your boss, father or significant other. I think of him as Emperor lite. A salamander, often associated with fire, can be seen close to his throne in the foreground.
Ace of Pentacles - This card represents money, a gift or financial opportunities.
2 of Pentacles - I look at this card as balancing the books. The amount of money coming in opposed to the amount of money going out. This card represents a healthy balance of what’s being earned and spent.
3 of Pentacles - The card of labour, especially work to be displayed in public. Could be a group effort or project.
4 of Pentacles - A figure clings tightly to his money. A card of saving, economy and thrift. Making a little go along way. Smart spending. This person will carefully shop around for the best prices, and most likely has a big saving’s account.
5 of Pentacles - Poverty. Neediness. This card reminds us that some people don’t have enough and the next card shows what to do to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves. Also the card of illness and disability.
6 of Pentacles- Generosity. Giving. Receiving gifts. The six reminds us that if we’re doing well, we should share our wealth with those that have less.
7 of Pentacles- Hard work. A man in tie dye tunic with red lens coke bottle glasses tends a special plant, the fruits of which he hopes to enjoy someday. He waits for his crop to grow up strong.
8 of Pentacles- Our Bob Dylanesque craftsman works hard at creating souvenir “peace” pentacles, and hopes one day to make a living from his skills. A card of dedication, focus and mastery.
9 of Pentacles - An independent person enjoying their wealth. This card could represent a boss or a merchant. This reminds me of the person who has everything, or so people think, except a friend.
10 of Pentacles - An old man attends his Dalmatians, while in the background a younger family with their child stand around conversing with each other. This is a card relating to the family and retirement. It can also represent a house or an estate.
Page of Pentacles - I would say in this context, the card may represent the Querent’s child. A young person who is a student or undergoing a course of study. Like the Knight, he wears the leaf print of a particular healing plant on his clothing.
Knight of Pentacles - This is the worker bee. He’s patient and determined. He might seem a bit slow to move but he’s reliable. On his helmet and on the horses head, can be seen oak leaves. Oak trees symbolize endurance and strength and in mythology, was an important tree to figures like Zeus and Thor.
Queen of Pentacles - Mother figure. This is the queen who will bake the cookies and take care of the family. She is a homemaker. In the foreground we can see rabbits, and a hummingbird close to her throne scouts for some delicious nectar. Not far from her throne she grows some fine quality mushrooms.
King of Pentacles - This is the patient knight all grown up. A fatherly figure, he’s managed to build a business and become quite successful due to his dedication to a task and his determination. He provides for his family and takes care of those he loves and employs. The pattern on his clothing is made up of grapes, which represent abundance.
Ace of Swords - This card represents the importance of having a clear mind and good judgement for success. Rationality. It could also be a sign that finding one’s success may prove to be a challenging journey.
2 of Swords - Having to make a difficult choice and feeling unable to do it. A hard choice needs to be made.
3 of Swords - Sharp words that hurt the heart. Sorrow and separation. Maybe the family’s broken or a divorce is on the horizon. Don’t let your heart become too cold as it can be hard to come back from. If it is possible, reach out to someone.
4 of Swords - A time to relax and rest, sometimes after an argument. Kick back and listen to some music. Unwind mentally.
5 of Swords - Feeling defeated. Tension with family and friends. Someone has taken advantage of you. Also, something that is achieved or won unfairly.
6 of Swords - Moving toward calmer waters, the ferryman sails across the sea, bringing his fare to a better place. Escaping from a bad situation.
7 of Swords - Theft. Someone is stealing from you or taking something that doesn’t belong to them.
8 of Swords - Feeling trapped in a bad situation. Isolation. The feeling of not knowing what to do with a particular problem.
9 of Swords - A bad trip! Worry and anxiety. Something is keeping you up at night. The card of nightmares and sometimes imaginary fears...in some cases you may be working yourself up into a frenzy without really needing to.
10 of Swords - Ruin of all kinds. Given the subject matter it could be financial or a relationship breaks down. While this is a devastating card, remind the client that with every ending there is a chance for a new beginning. The sun rises in the background to remind us that even though things are dark, it will not be that way forever.
Page of Swords - A curious youngster. It can also represent a spy or an envious person. A curious mind with a thirst for knowledge.
Knight of Swords - A family member or friend who stirs things up. Also acting very quickly, oftentimes without thinking. Can sometimes be a troublemaker.
Queen of Swords - An idealistic intellectual figure, good with words and possibly interested in causes and political affairs, similar to the King of Swords. She may be a lonely single woman. One who may feel heartbroken and left out of things.
King of Swords - This figure may be an intellectual, teacher, lawyer, judge or policeman. Also a man who uses his head over his heart. This card could warn of an encounter with the law or authorities. He’s more interested in your ideas than anything else.
0. The Fool – Naïve but optimistic, the Fool carries a poppy flower in hand, and sets out on his magical trip. It’s good to see the best in things, but it would do you well to tread carefully.
1. The Magician - This figure represents the mastery of the elements; earth, water, fire and air. A bit of a showman! Doves fly overhead, seemingly appearing out of thin air. He wears a beautiful Indian themed cloak.
2. The High Priestess – Covered in a cloak of celestial light. The eye above her emphasises her use of intuition to guide her in situations. She is sometimes interpreted as the Shekhinah, the English transliteration of a Hebrew word meaning "dwelling" or "settling" and denotes the dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God.
3. The Empress - Mother Nature. She represents birth and fertility. Rabbits bounce around and bees buzz around in her midst, both a familiar symbol for birth and reproduction.
4. Emperor - A hippie father figure who has probably enjoyed himself at Woodstock and is basking in his glory days. He usually represents the Querent’s father or male role model.
5. Hierophant -The Hierophant in this case represents the popular Indian Guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, who left an impression on many of the big music stars of the 60’s. He represents spiritual matters of all kinds.
6. The lovers – The Summer of Love. Two flower children, painted and naked under the watchful eye of a peaceful spirit, come together as one. The lovers card represents a choice or partnership.
7. Chariot - The choice of direction in your life is yours to make. The Chariot represents successfully managing conflicting desires and feelings. A journey. It also represents determination and strength as there is a lot of skill in driving a chariot. An eventual mastery of a situation through determination and hard work.
8. Strength - Inner strength. This card represents keeping your base animal instincts in check. Through compassion, the Lady, in her daisy patterned dress soothes the beast.
9. The Hermit - The hermit walks amidst the stars. He represents the knowledge within and his cloak gives him some privacy. He carries a staff to aid him in his walk. A card of inner reflection.
10. The Wheel of Fortune - A change of fortune. If your fortune has been great, it may soon turn, but if your fortune has been bad, it could be a sign you’re going to experience a nice change of events. At the four corners can be seen the heavenly creatures mentioned in biblical books like Ezekiel and the Book of Revelation. Generally a card with wonderful potential.
11. Justice – An Asian judge, garbed in tie dye, sits upon her lofty throne of clouds. A card of Karma, it reminds us that justice is impartial and that you will be dealt with fairly. What you put into a situation is exactly what you will get out of a situation. May also indicate court appearances, or civil marriages or divorce.
12. The Hanged Man - Suspension of action. Inactivity. This card is sometimes seen as self sacrifice for the moral good, or the welfare of others. The wings in this card represent a will to do something, but the inability to do so. He would gladly fly, but he is bound.
13. Death – An ending of things, possibly a literal death but generally an end to something.
14. Temperance. - A lady beside a stream pours rainbow water from one cup to another. On her head she wears a crown of daisies. Irisis grow behind her, a symbol of the Goddess Iris, who also is represented by the rainbow; a link between the heavens and earth.
15. The Devil - With his Nixonian salutes, The Devil lingers above a Vietnamese villager and an American G.I, both victims, it could be argued, of the war machine. We see in the background the napalm being dropped. For the G.I, the chains represent a forced draft into the military, and for the Vietnamese lady, the chains represent her being chained to an event that she has no say in. The Vietnam War played a big part in the late 60’s, and led to many anti-war protests.
16. The Tower – Inspired by Donovan’s “Atlantis”, The Tower represents ruin, sometimes sudden ruin, and a break down of long standing beliefs, perhaps being disillusioned. Towers take a long time to be built up, for example a loving relationship, and then seemingly out of nowhere, the whole thing comes crashing down.
17. The Star – She represents hope and aspirations. Above her head is a swirl of stars, a sign she is blessed. A card of inspiration.
18. The Moon – A wolf and dog bark at the moon, a river flowing between them from the hills. Touched by the moonlight, the waters flow out to the sea where a lobster comes to shore. A card of hidden secrets and, at times, lunacy, in the darkness it is harder to see things clearly. It can represent dreams and illusions which may appear very real but can be a bit vague.
19. The Sun – A card of joy and can indicate good weather and optimism. May also indicate a birth.
20. Judgement – A young angelic child plays his hypnotic music to once sleeping flower children. The card indicates that a situation in the past may be resurrected in some form, shaping your future. Sometimes in relationships this indicates a second chance. In terms of actual Judgement, the idea of being judged is often scary to many people, but true Judgement, if mixed with correction and guidance, can be a welcome thing.
21. The World – The World represents completion. You made it in whatever tasks you had set for yourself. Take time to enjoy your newfound success. Everything has come full circle.
Ace of Cups - Two doves of peace descend upon an overflowing cup. The card represents love of all kinds, agape, strong feelings and the overflow of the heart. Compassion and the beginning of a romantic relationship or friendship. Good omen for matters of the heart.
2 of Cups – Make love not war! Strong friendship, bond, sharing. In matters of love; compatible relationships, perhaps even a marriage is foretold.
3 of Cups - This is the card of celebrations, parties, get-togethers and social encounters that involve a group. May also indicate the celebration of a birth.
4 of Cups - A man with a flowery tunic and head band, sits with his arms folded, staring into space. Perhaps he is feeling unmotivated or left out. The cup offered to the person suggests hope, if only the person could see that maybe a friendship or help is being offered. Encourage the client to look for the cup.
5 of Cups - Woodstock is over. A sad folksinger stands looking at the knocked over cups left behind. Let’s hope that what was spilled wasn’t too expensive! A feeling of regret, failure and disappointment. There’s always other festivals and the music lives on.
6 of Cups - Feelings of nostalgia. A young kid gives a cup filled with flowers to his grandma. This card represents feeling like a child again.
7 of Cups - Wishes, hopes and dreams. The seven cups represent temporary pleasures. Can also mean guilty pleasures, lust and vain imaginings.
8 of Cups - A flowery clad figures walks away from a previous situation that wasn’t working out and looking forward to better and brighter prospects.
9 of Cups - The genie is here, to grant your wishes. An optimistic card, but be careful what you wish for, you might just get it. A card which indicates dreams coming true.
10 of Cups - A beautiful log cabin lies in the distance as a family enjoys a stroll along their golden path. A feeling of shared joy with family and friends. A card that represents blessings and good times.
Page of Cups - A goldfish jumps from a young man’s cup. He is a messenger of love, and reminds us to enjoy those precious moments in life when all is well with the world. Possible news of a birth.
Knight of Cups - A seasonal affair. He personifies the "courtship" period in a relationship. A young man who may be interested in the Querent.
Queen of Cups - A compassionate woman who brings with her; nurturing, love and sensitivity. This is the person who just magically seems to know your hearts desire and may have intuitive, psychic abilities.
King of Cups - A man who is in control of showing his feelings but feels very deeply indeed. The type of man who will admire from a distance and may be slow to show his feelings.
Ace of Wands - The impulse to get up and do something. Get active. A feeling of restlessness. The first spark of putting something into action, or “getting the ball rolling” so to speak.
2 of Wands – Planning. There’s a great saying “failing to plan is planning to fail”. Part of planning includes visualisation.
3 of Wands – The card of waiting. All that planning in the 2 of Wands should soon be paying off. You’re waiting for your ships to come in. In an artistic or craft sense, perhaps you’re awaiting a shipment of goods that you’ve ordered of your work, that you will resell. For a farmer, it could be seeing his produce being brought in from the field after the harvest.
4 of Wands - Family celebrations. Things related to the house and home. Can indicate weddings or christenings.
5 of Wands - Disagreements in a group, and petty arguments. These fairies find themselves in a minor squabble on top of a brightly coloured daisy. 2 doves pass by; an indication that sometimes conflicts can be resolved easier than we think.
6 of Wands - A victorious figure draped in a butterfly motif cloak rides in on horseback. This card indicates achievement, success and recognition by family and friends.
7 of Wands - Competition and struggle. Defence and trying to stay on top of a situation. Bees buzz around this little fairy as he stands his ground.
8 of Wands - Fast movement. I think of this card as either travelling or legwork. In any case you’re moving forward fast.
9 of Wands - This card represents problems and setbacks that need to be overcome. This card indicates the need to get your defences up and be watchful.
10 of Wands - Feeling worn out and over burdened. Some of this could be avoided if you ask people for help. Have faith, you can make it!
Page of Wands - An active young person who likes to explore.
Knight of Wands – Travelling. Movement by land. Like the other male figures in the court cards, he appears to be wearing an outfit patterned with the symbol of Ouroboros, an ancient symbol first traced to Egypt (which probably explains the pyramids found in the original Wands court cards)
Queen of Wands - This woman is a great planner and loves to be the host at social gatherings. She’s very active and actually enjoys running errands, meeting people and going to events. She likes to be involved and on the move. She holds a sunflower and her black cat sits lovingly by her side.
King of Wands - This is a man who is in charge. An authority figure that may represent your boss, father or significant other. I think of him as Emperor lite. A salamander, often associated with fire, can be seen close to his throne in the foreground.
Ace of Pentacles - This card represents money, a gift or financial opportunities.
2 of Pentacles - I look at this card as balancing the books. The amount of money coming in opposed to the amount of money going out. This card represents a healthy balance of what’s being earned and spent.
3 of Pentacles - The card of labour, especially work to be displayed in public. Could be a group effort or project.
4 of Pentacles - A figure clings tightly to his money. A card of saving, economy and thrift. Making a little go along way. Smart spending. This person will carefully shop around for the best prices, and most likely has a big saving’s account.
5 of Pentacles - Poverty. Neediness. This card reminds us that some people don’t have enough and the next card shows what to do to help others who are less fortunate than ourselves. Also the card of illness and disability.
6 of Pentacles- Generosity. Giving. Receiving gifts. The six reminds us that if we’re doing well, we should share our wealth with those that have less.
7 of Pentacles- Hard work. A man in tie dye tunic with red lens coke bottle glasses tends a special plant, the fruits of which he hopes to enjoy someday. He waits for his crop to grow up strong.
8 of Pentacles- Our Bob Dylanesque craftsman works hard at creating souvenir “peace” pentacles, and hopes one day to make a living from his skills. A card of dedication, focus and mastery.
9 of Pentacles - An independent person enjoying their wealth. This card could represent a boss or a merchant. This reminds me of the person who has everything, or so people think, except a friend.
10 of Pentacles - An old man attends his Dalmatians, while in the background a younger family with their child stand around conversing with each other. This is a card relating to the family and retirement. It can also represent a house or an estate.
Page of Pentacles - I would say in this context, the card may represent the Querent’s child. A young person who is a student or undergoing a course of study. Like the Knight, he wears the leaf print of a particular healing plant on his clothing.
Knight of Pentacles - This is the worker bee. He’s patient and determined. He might seem a bit slow to move but he’s reliable. On his helmet and on the horses head, can be seen oak leaves. Oak trees symbolize endurance and strength and in mythology, was an important tree to figures like Zeus and Thor.
Queen of Pentacles - Mother figure. This is the queen who will bake the cookies and take care of the family. She is a homemaker. In the foreground we can see rabbits, and a hummingbird close to her throne scouts for some delicious nectar. Not far from her throne she grows some fine quality mushrooms.
King of Pentacles - This is the patient knight all grown up. A fatherly figure, he’s managed to build a business and become quite successful due to his dedication to a task and his determination. He provides for his family and takes care of those he loves and employs. The pattern on his clothing is made up of grapes, which represent abundance.
Ace of Swords - This card represents the importance of having a clear mind and good judgement for success. Rationality. It could also be a sign that finding one’s success may prove to be a challenging journey.
2 of Swords - Having to make a difficult choice and feeling unable to do it. A hard choice needs to be made.
3 of Swords - Sharp words that hurt the heart. Sorrow and separation. Maybe the family’s broken or a divorce is on the horizon. Don’t let your heart become too cold as it can be hard to come back from. If it is possible, reach out to someone.
4 of Swords - A time to relax and rest, sometimes after an argument. Kick back and listen to some music. Unwind mentally.
5 of Swords - Feeling defeated. Tension with family and friends. Someone has taken advantage of you. Also, something that is achieved or won unfairly.
6 of Swords - Moving toward calmer waters, the ferryman sails across the sea, bringing his fare to a better place. Escaping from a bad situation.
7 of Swords - Theft. Someone is stealing from you or taking something that doesn’t belong to them.
8 of Swords - Feeling trapped in a bad situation. Isolation. The feeling of not knowing what to do with a particular problem.
9 of Swords - A bad trip! Worry and anxiety. Something is keeping you up at night. The card of nightmares and sometimes imaginary fears...in some cases you may be working yourself up into a frenzy without really needing to.
10 of Swords - Ruin of all kinds. Given the subject matter it could be financial or a relationship breaks down. While this is a devastating card, remind the client that with every ending there is a chance for a new beginning. The sun rises in the background to remind us that even though things are dark, it will not be that way forever.
Page of Swords - A curious youngster. It can also represent a spy or an envious person. A curious mind with a thirst for knowledge.
Knight of Swords - A family member or friend who stirs things up. Also acting very quickly, oftentimes without thinking. Can sometimes be a troublemaker.
Queen of Swords - An idealistic intellectual figure, good with words and possibly interested in causes and political affairs, similar to the King of Swords. She may be a lonely single woman. One who may feel heartbroken and left out of things.
King of Swords - This figure may be an intellectual, teacher, lawyer, judge or policeman. Also a man who uses his head over his heart. This card could warn of an encounter with the law or authorities. He’s more interested in your ideas than anything else.
DIRECT PDF DOWNLOAD FILES (same as the linked versions at the top)
| winterlenormand-compressed.pdf |
| trippincardmeanings-compress.pdf |
| winterwaite-compressed.pdf |
| goodvibespread.pdf |
| musicaffirmationsmeanings-compressed.pdf |
| deadwaitehorror.pdf |
| thegroovytarotmeanings.pdf |
| blacklighttarotcardmeanings.pdf |
| psychedelicspacetarotmeanings.pdf |
| halloweentarot-compressed.pdf |
| springtarot-compressed.pdf |