feelings, and biases and hidden beliefs beneath the surface.
Reading cards
LVJ LENORMAND
CARDS
When I made this deck for fun a few years ago, I never expected
to be sending it through any kind of professional print process.
The project was about art, and symbolism, and making handmade cards
because it was a challenge. In fact, the idea of making a deck was
originally a smaller part of a larger project, which I can’t even recall at
this point. The Lenormand Deck gained a life and momentum of its own.|
When I approached the design of the artwork for the original set
of cards, as well as this one, I did so with a love and fascination
for emblematic art. I had previously been enamored with Alchemical
emblems and the rich, dreamlike, symbolic language that encoded the
ideas contained within the pictures. In my studies, I started to see Tarot
symbolism open up to me. I noticed just how much the Ryder Waite Deck
was heavily laden with all sorts of complex layers of imagery. I also
knew how difficult it could be to get through those layers to interpret
the meanings behind them because of the sheer complexity.
I wanted to design a deck that was still rich, beyond a simple picture
of the card title, but not quite as heady. I still wanted it to contain a
certain amount of complexity and have a mood and character to each
card, but also be more readily understandable so that someone without a
guidebook could still get a sense of what each card was trying to convey.
I also understood how pictures can communicate ideas to the subconscious
more immediately than words, and that no matter what “keywords” I tried
to build off of or imply, that there would always be images that resonate
with the subconscious mind differently than intended.
I keep this understanding in mind when I read cards, which, in truth,
is rare for me and something I only do for myself and in certain states
of mind. The way specific people relate to specific symbols will differ
across the board. This is why if you compare card interpretations from
different authors, you can get variations and insights that you may not
find elsewhere, or even have considered previously. This is also why,
apart from including my own reasoning for why I included the symbols I
chose, I only throw in a handful of basic and commonly used keywords.
The interpretations for these cards are in you already, though maybe not
so much consciously. You will see things in my designs that I don’t, or did
not originally intend, and they will likely mean something specific TO YOU.
I believe anyone who is interested in having a reading done for them
should learn how to do it for themselves first, especially if you go to an
outside source to have readings done. No one knows you like YOU. If you
really want information about a situation, you have to understand your own
Les Vieux Jours Lenormand
is about recognizing patterns. It’s about what images are triggers for you
or hold specific meanings for you personally. I’m not saying throw out your
guidebooks and totally disregard the keywords, but I am encouraging you
to find room for YOUR OWN insight. If you want to develop it, you have
to exercise it like any other muscle by digging into your own psyche.
Insight does not come from outside.
When it comes down to it, hard and fast rules about card reading end up
being mere dogma. Don’t let anyone tell you “It has to be done THIS way
or else.” Methods that demand a rigid approach to what is a fluid process
of discovery undermine the process and the results. What works for others,
may not work for you. Trying different approaches to find out what DOES
work for you is part of the process. Remember, this is about you. Feel
free to collect and explore different layout methods, rituals of shuffling
or dealing out the cards. Research other meanings, read various books.
Try everything. No one has a monopoly on your mind, and these cards
are a tool for focusing your mind, that’s all. It’s not so much the cards
that tell the story, it’s how your mind builds the story from what it
perceives to be in front of it.
Consider what is in these pages to be a springboard, a starting point on an
adventure. They are tools, and it is your job to wield them. It is not my
job to tell you how. I’m not here to list endless layouts, or card positions.
What I will tell you is how I came about my language of imagery for each
card. I did my best to convey some of the traditional meanings, but often
there are twists or juxtapositions that just sort of happened along the way.
Such is the way of art and the subconscious.
You may notice that some cards overlap in imagery, as some pictures
appear repeatedly in various cards; butterflies, for example, appear in
several cards, as do keys, and the moon. This I because I have developed
my own iconography in my art over time, and can also be attributed to
my study of Egyptian hieroglyphics, as well as emblems. These specific
repetitions form a sort of alphabet of meaning for me, and help to tie
together the cards to each other, though each is a separate work. They
are intended to be both decorative and carry extra symbolism, and I hope
that the recurrence of these pictures will help you to understand better the
complexities of my own art, as well as clue you in to how specific images
work in the context of an emblematic image. When you first go through the
card deck, you may want to play with this concept by grouping cards
together that have some related symbols, and seeing what kinds of
relationships you can form between them.
If you are a first time reader of cards, and feel a bit
lost, I’ve provided some links to get you started on my
lenormand page: http://www.lesvieuxjours.com/lenormand.
These should help provide a framework to get you going.
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INTERPRETATIONS
No. 1 The Cavalier - 9 M
KEYWORDS: News & messages on the way from afar,
foreign country, journey underway, a visit or return,
positive change, new opportunities, forward movement.
I liked the term Cavalier much better than Rider. The word itself
means horseman, but the connotation goes beyond that, describing a
gentlemanly figure of honor, a mounted soldier or knight. If you look
at The Gentleman in my deck, you can see that he is a Cavalier as well.
My Cavalier is still a messenger, but he is also a champion. I wanted
to get across the association with being an overland messenger, and the
element earth. The heraldic shield at right conveys several messages.
Green stands for hope and loyal love. Brown does not exist in heraldry
as a color, but here stands for earth. The jagged line represents a city
wall, and its diagonal nature signifies defense.
No. 2 The Clover - 6 L
KEYWORDS: Good fortune, prosperity,
hope, positive opportunities, longevity.
This card design is a mash-up of Celtic and Chinese imagery. While the four
leaf clover is the focus of this card, I wanted to make clear the connection to
good fortune and auspiciousness as much as possible. The endless knot, one of
the eight auspicious symbols in Buddhism, is at the center of the clover. This
knot stands for long life and the interconnection of things (among other
meanings), and echoes the Celtic knotwork that is in the background. The two
fish relate to Chinese culture again in that they are symbols for wealth and
abundance, as well as indicating a successful partnership. The coins behind the
clover are symbols of good luck to draw prosperity as coins and tokens cross
culturally have been carried as charms for this purpose. The five Chinese bats
are considered very auspicious and symbolize wealth, health, love, virtue, and
long life. The Chinese longevity symbol which is sometimes pictured with the
bats, is at each corner of the card. While this card contains some overlapping
symbols as the Fish, this card is more about general luck in all realms of life.
As material prosperity is typically a kind of good fortune that many desire, it
makes sense to me that the Fish and Clover relate to each other in imagery.
No. 3 The Ship - 10 N
Keywords: Travel, overseas, wealth, exploration,
foreign places and people, distance, transition, transportation.
The Ship is a card of travel, and represents distance in the journey. Here we
see a tall ship off the African Coast on a map which is quite old and from the
earlier days of global exploration. There is a compass rose at bottom left, and
coins from many lands are scattered nearby. This card is one of the more self
explanatory in images: it indicates foreign lands, and the possibility of wealth
and discovery. It also speaks of these things in a philosophical and spiritual
sense. The ship becomes a vehicle that traverses many waters, some rough,
some smooth. Water often stands for emotional states. The notion of transition
between “states” is indicated as well, and while transitions are typically slow,
one must remain aware in case of the sudden storm, which can loom on the
horizon and move in quickly. Navigating unknown realms comes into play with
the symbol of the map and the idea of distant countries. The compass becomes
a moral compass, or a clear sense of direction.
No. 4 The House - K M
KEYWORDS: Stability, property, security,
fruitful projects, small business, domestic/local affairs.
I like to think of the house as an extension of the Dog card, the Master
returning to his home and companions. Framed by the flowers and fruits
of a dreamlike English garden, we see a well dressed man, who stands for
business affairs. The numbers and figures on the ground and in the sky also
hint at business matters. As the house is large, with well kept grounds and a
bountiful garden, we can see that this card is about concern for property and
projects. The stability here is more of a material stability, as opposed to the
spiritual stability of the Anchor card.
Les Vieux Jours Lenormand
No. 5 The Tree - 7 M
KEYWORDS: State of health, growth,
spiritual beliefs, nature, mind-body-spirit relationship, recovery.
The tree is a symbol of the connection between body and spirit, among
other things. Buddha is seen sitting at the base of the tree…or is the tree
growing out of his head? Either way, the tree speaks of enlightenment and
spirituality. The unicorn and the deer approaching from either side are figures
from an alchemical emblem that represents the soul and spirit joining the body.
The tree of life from Kabbalah is present in the background, and describes the
path to God. The tree reminds us that health is not merely just physical health,
but emotional, mental, and spiritual as well, since all these things are connected.
The tree is a symbol of the need for continuous growth on every level, of
branching outward and reaching further.
No. 6 The Clouds - K K
KEYWORDS: Thoughts, worries,
things obscured, difficulty understanding, uncertainty.
The King of Clubs is the corresponding card for the Clouds in a regular card
deck. Although he is not the “suicide king”, I felt that drawing this parallel
would help enhance the meaning of this card. The Suicide King position is used
when one is about to strike in a fight, but the conventional pictures of this pose
makes it appear that the King is actually running himself through with the
sword. Both these attitudes are some people’s reactions when faced with
problems and obstructions. How one views the King’s activity can give a clue
to how one approaches difficulties. The sword is also a symbol of thoughts and
of air in the tarot. The clouds here are thick, and form a sort of tunnel. While
there seem to be clouds at the end as well, they also show a bright spot upon
traversing through. The monsters on either side symbolize worrisome thoughts
that can attack the unsuspecting.
No. 7 The Snake - Q K
KEYWORDS: Manipulative people, intelligent women,
wisdom, deceit, jealousy, lies, disappointment.
The Snake card, though it seems negative, has a twofold nature as many
of the cards can have. The negativity comes in the form of a warning. The
positivity comes in the form of the discernment needed to heed that warning.
The inspiration for this card was “snake oil,” or the quackery that was passed
off as patent medicine back in Victorian times. We see this kind of thing today
in ads that try to sell us pills that melt off fat, or supplements that supposedly
do all kinds of wonders. The warning, then, is that there are people who wish to
manipulate us for their own gain. They may use propaganda, they may use
emotional words or images to trigger us, and they know where our buttons are.
Manipulative people are, like the Fox, clever and good talkers and actors. They
want to sell you something, whether it’s a physical product, or an idea, or a lie.
This collage is full of ads that claim extraordinary things, but all of them are
stained or spotted. The phrenology head symbolizes the mental arena at which
these games are often staged, but also that one’s own mind is something worth
bolstering against outrageous claims. Disappointment happens when one buys
into these false promises. Snakes appear on the card in both the negative and
positive sense: the snake coming out of a bottle instead of an elixir; the snake
charming woman standing on a cobra as an example of self control. Even the
snake writhing around the advertisements frames a message to beware- that is,
to be alert to what is being done or said to cause us to behave in a certain way.
The snake headed woman and the snake charmer symbolize intelligent women.
Intelligence can be used to good purpose, as well as bad intent.
No. 8 The Coffin - 9 L
KEYWORDS: Completion, illness, loss, an end to
a situation, death or change, release, sadness, depression.
The Coffin in this card is standing up on end for a reason. It poses as more of a
doorway for he who enters, not so much as a box in which one is buried. It is
flanked by mourners who are showing that they feel an obvious sense of loss.
One is human, seated and looking down away from the coffin, not seeing that
inside is the Goddess Nut- The sky goddess in Egyptian Mythology- and the
glowing light that is expanding into the stars above. The other mourner is a
ghost, an image of the past, and weeps for things unfinished. She too is not
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 able to see the light within the doorway of the coffin. The background
seems a desolate desert, but is crowned with bright stars. Certainly, there
is grief here, but also, there is change and promise of more to come.
Whether one sees simply a linear end or a change of path depends on
perspective.
No. 9 The Flowers - Q N
KEYWORDS: A gift, happiness, love, femininity, beauty, healing, invitation.
We see a bouquet on a wooden table, along with some paper greetings such
as a valentine, an invitation, and a Japanese print of a lady reading a letter.
Attributing flowers with meaning goes back to Japan, where this practice
is called Hanakotoba. The Victorians, in their fervor for Japanese culture,
popularized messages coded as flowers. Pink and white roses (happiness and
innocence), and yellow daisies (faith) are among the many blossoms that make
up this bouquet. The geisha reinforces the feminine nature to this card, as well
as the reception of a gift from an admirer. More flowers frame the children
holding bouquets on the lacy valentine, another symbol of a gift given in love.
No. 10 The Scythe - J L
KEYWORDS: Accidents, sudden change or end to situation, break up,
severing of ties, hurtful actions, surgery, separation, rejection, cutting away.
The Scythe at first glance seems like a painful card. Any sort of swift change
as this card implies can be shocking at the very least, if not painful, though
whether it is a heartrending loss or the quick ripping off of a band-aid depends
on the mind and the situation. The figure at center, who is a reaper dressed as
a gentleman, is also behaving per his attire by bowing and gesturing graciously,
or perhaps mockingly. We can see a little of Baron Samedi in him, the Baron
being a figure associated with Death, but also one with a sense of humor and
perspective. The reaper is trying (not very well) to hide his scythe, making his
actions almost laughable, as well as transparent. The man and woman at front
are not laughing; in fact, they are not even looking at him, as they are absorbed
in their own feelings of loss and pain. They don’t even notice each other, and
are thusly separated from everything except their own suffering. The reaper
seems to have come between them…or did he? Is he motioning to their end,
or to something else beyond it? In the background, we see imagery of inner
anatomy- hinting at surgery, medical matters, and also emotional pain as at
center there is a heart pierced with six swords. Warning signs of explosions and
corrosive materials are present as well, symbolizing the volatility, accidents,
and hurt that can present themselves in both physical and emotional situations.
No. 11 The Whip - J K
KEYWORDS: Conflict, arguments, fights,
abuse, physical activity, anger, sexuality.
There is obviously some friction between the two men at the center of this
card. The red glow and overlapping words denote their heated argument, which
grows in volume as shown by the musical notations floating in the midst of
their speech. The Sforzando notation stands for the crack of the whip, as it
indicates a sudden, forceful accent. This verbal fight is moments away from
something physical. The pointing hands at the bottom aren’t just there to draw
attention to the title; they are the opposite sides of an issue accusing one
another. The Whip, while noted to be a card of conflict, anger, and even abuse,
is also a card of passion and physical activity. In the background we see still
movie frames of a woman exercising, and also two men on either side lifting
weights. These images suggest repeated, even rhythmic actions. There are camps
who say the Whip is the card of sexuality because of this. But some also say the
Lilies card is the traditional one of sexuality. I say both cards are viable, but the
quality of the encounter will be different. Use whichever card appeals to you
more in this sense.
No. 12 The Birds - 7 L
KEYWORDS: Thoughts, communication, short trips,
chatty people, messages, conversations, problems, couples.
There are seven different kinds of birds present in this card; a raven, a phoenix,
an owl, a pigeon, a dove, a hawk and a swan. All except for the pigeon have
appeared in Alchemical bestiaries and have a specific meaning, aside from any
they might have culturally. Pages of symbolism can be written about the
Raven alone, aside from its being a very intelligent bird that can be taught to
Les Vieux Jours Lenormand
speak, and being connected with characters like Morrigan, Odin, and Trickster.
I bring these three up as they relate most to the card’s meanings in the realm
of thoughts, memories, prophecies, problems, and riddles. Owls, like Ravens,
are somewhat of a double edged sword symbolically, as on one hand they
are associated with Athena and wisdom, but also death and ill omen in other
cultures. The phoenix, in most regards, symbolizes rebirth or renewal. Hawks
tend to be attributed with being messengers, protectors, and having excellent
vision. Doves and pigeons are closely related, and again are message bearers and
associated with peace. Swans are the only water birds here, and despite the fact
that swans can be quite mean, they are symbols of love and fidelity. All these
attributes when woven together can present depth to this card, for which the
main meanings are communication and thought. The background of the card is
collaged with letters, documents, and a rotary phone dial. The medieval couple
is going hunting with a hawk, and their presence and attitude towards each
other reinforces loving communication, as well as the aspect of ‘two’ here.
No. 13 The Child - J N
KEYWORDS: Child orbaby, early stages, trust,
learning, play, immature, pregnancy, curiosity.
The Child was designed with spring colors and themes (such as the eggs
and flowers), to echo the ideas of beginnings and early development. We see
Alice from Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, chatting with the enigmatic
Cheshire Cat. I considered Alice to be an excellent symbol of childhood -
curious as well as playful. Even Alice’s other acquaintance, the caterpillar is
here. He is both a symbol of an early stage of life of a butterfly, but also the
one who asks her repeatedly “WHO ARE YOU?,” a question that prompts
discovery. The girl in the bonnet, apart from being the title of the card, also
represents the delight and joy of being young in a world full of so much to
discover. Those who are fans of Neil Gaiman may notice her eyes are two
different colors.
No. 14 The Fox - 9 K
Keywords: Distrust, treachery, conniving/two faced people,
cleverness, intrigue, need for caution, employment.
This was the last card I designed, the one I struggled over the most, and now
one of my favorites in the whole deck. The Fox, I think is the card that comes
closest to the spirit of the Alchemical emblems, and this is in part because it
was inspired by one of Alciato’s emblems of a fox that has entered a theatre
storeroom and is examining a mask. At first glance, the fox thinks it looks so
lifelike and real, but once it is touched, the Fox realizes that the mask is not
alive after all. This card stresses how appearances deceive. My fox is also
holding a mask, but he is posing as a human actor onstage. The two figures at
front are theatre characters from Commedia Del Arte. Commedia personas are
characterized as masked archetypes, such as Pantalone and Il Capitano seen
here. Pantalone’s character is a rich but stingy old man who is always scheming,
and trying to keep his daughter and her lover separate. Il Capitano is a military
type, who weaves elaborate lies about his heroic feats (of which he has done
none, since he is a coward), and is opportunistic and greedy. That both of them
seem to be scheming in the front row should come as no surprise. Deception,
whether done with ill intent or to entertain takes skill and cleverness, which is
why the scene is taking place in a theatre. Actors or show people who are
succeed at deceiving and astonishing the audience have worked hard at their
craft, and so this card can stand for those who are sharp witted, no matter their
intent. It is no mistake that there is a lyre on stage, as well as a liar, and a
chessboard. The chess game echoes the idea of skill and wit, as the pieces are
arranged in a Zugzwang situation. Whichever piece moves, loses the game-
emphasizing caution and restraint.
No. 15 The Bear - 10 K
KEYWORDS: Male, powerful people, authority figures,
parents, strength, boldness, government, finances, protection.
This card presents us a view of a wall in a castle, covered in symbols of
authority, heritage, and history. Naturally, there are swords on the wall, being
symbols of strength, force, and thought, but also protection. The coat of arms
features a bear studded with stars as Ursa Major, on a red field with three coins
and a crown. In Heraldry, a bear is a symbol of fierce protection. Red or gules,
in blazoning, stands for warriors or military strength. The coins represent
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finances, and being gold in heraldry they can also mean generosity. The crown
is am emblem of government but also hints at wealth. The portraits below the
coat of arms, flanking the bear picture are obviously nobles; one a young lord,
the other a more matronly type. As the bear can represent authority figures,
it can also stand for parents, and while it is typically thought of as a more
masculine card, it can also stand for a mother figure.
No. 16 The Stars - 6 M
KEYWORDS: Hope, imagination, vision, night, sleep,
dreams, subconscious, dreams coming true, positivity.
As in Tarot, the Stars stand for hope, among other positive attributes. In this
card, the Egyptian sky goddess Nut is present. Nut is often shown as a lovely
woman stretching out her arms and legs to form the vast expanse of sky, her
skin or dress studded with stars. The Imperishable stars are mentioned in one of
the pyramid texts, as the stars that never set – The north star being one that the
Egyptians used as a guide to build the pyramids themselves, and one which
was also associated with eternity. The myriad of star representations in this
card speak of many opportunities and possibilities available, so long as we are
looking. (Can you find the Lady amongst the stars in this collage?) The power
of imagination allows us to not only see those possibilities, but to implement
them. This card is about rising above a situation, having a vision that carries one
forward. Stars are a map by which to navigate, as the explorers once did (thusly
the armillary sphere), except that we navigate our dreams with them. Whether
you see this in terms of night and sleep, or in terms of making wishes come
true, both are applicable. We ourselves can be stars (the face in the star) as
guiding lights for others. If we are brave enough to go forward with our own
dreams and plans, we become an example for others who look to us as we would
look to the stars.
No. 17 The Stork - Q M
KEYWORDS: Change of home, travel,
birth of a child, momentous occasions, family.
The Stork is a persisting symbol of birth and family because of their habit
of building large nests to which they frequently return, as well as their
storied monogamous tendencies. The stork carrying a baby idea comes from
Scandinavian mythos, where parents told their children that storks dropped
newborns down the chimneys of expectant parents. (Storks often nested on
rooftops in Europe, not just in trees.) These birds are also representative of
fertility and luck. Here, we have a more Japanese take on the Stork, but it still
retains some of the same connotations. The Stork is flying over a map of a
Japanese village with a harbor, returning to its nest. The idea of travel or
migration is also hinted at by the train ticket. Obviously the nest full of
eggs can stand for birth, children, or family. The two birds above the nest
are a Japanese crest. Crests in Japanese culture are like heraldic shields in the
European tradition, in that they are an emblem used to indentify a family or
clan.
No. 18 The Dog - 10 M
KEYWORDS: Good friend, loyalty, trust,
honesty, companion, dependable, faithful.
A very straightforward card, the Dog is waiting on the lawn for his master to
come home, and has brought a toy in anticipation. There is a sense of security
here, in that not only is the dog awaiting the master but so is a sunny day at his
beautiful home. This speaks of the comfort and peace that a trusted friend can
bring. A friend IS home. There is also a sense of pining and expectation on the
Dog’s part. He stands alert and waiting for his companion, staring down some
road waiting for his return.
No. 19 The Tower - 6 N
Keywords: Institutions, alienation, course of life,,
something from the past, protection.
My version of the tower comes from my own unsettling dreams about towers,
as well as the tower in tarot. There is an impersonal quality about the tower
that made me portray it this way. The tower is a high place, difficult to access,
where one can retreat from the world. This can make it a protective structure,
but it can also cause alienation from that which is outside. Towers in
Les Vieux Jours Lenormand
architecture were used as fortifications in defense against invaders; one could
see if enemies were approaching from afar. Tall buildings can be imposing of
their own accord, and those who approach them can feel intimidated by their
sheer height. There is a physical separation between that which in is the tower,
and that which is outside. This is a card of institutions like government,
churches, etc., whose buildings often incorporate towers. These institutions
may also feel faceless or impersonal. There is a cloaked figure standing outside
the gate surrounding the tower grounds, which in turn are cloaked in fog. This
is a suggestion of things or people which are hidden, isolated, or estranged. The
lightning is derived from tarot depictions and the presence of the moon hints at
cycles.
No. 20 The Garden - 8 N
KEYWORDS: Social event, party, meeting place,
the public, creativity, environment, support system.
At the time this system of cards was created, the garden was a setting where
families and friends gathered on regular occasions, or where trysts occurred, or
where weddings and parties were held. This is why this card was designed with
inhabitants in period clothing circa the turn of the 19th century. The modern
mind doesn’t equate a garden with a social setting anymore, more often now
those activities take place in a coffee house or living room in front of the TV.
In this garden, we see some people walking, or milling about amongst the
flowers and trees. The lady in the pink gown at the front of the card is busy
watering the plants, thusly conveying a sense of nurturing and care for the
environment. Those who take up gardening, as she is doing, often do so as a
creative outlet, as well as a way to be outdoors. Planting an attractive landscape
takes time and creative power to arrange the flowers and plants in a pleasing
manner. Weddings still are booked in outdoor gardens to this day, so the idea
of attributing a party setting to this card still fits.
No. 21 The Mountain - 8 K
KEYWORDS: Obstacles, negative persons,
an imposing situation, enemies, foreign affairs.
The Mountain is a card of struggle and challenge. Some people view mountains
as blockages, others cannot wait to conquer them. This mountain looms against
a brilliant starry sky whose heights can be reached only by scaling the literal
debris that seems to be making it such an obstacle. The trash at the base of the
mountain and the unpleasant looking faces on the rusty steel stand for the
thoughts, people, and events that can often make a difficult journey even harder
to start. When faced with a large task, negative voices, whether from within or
without, may try to discourage such a journey and make it sound foolish or
sure to fail. The negativity itself cannot ascend, so it stays rooted and unmoving
at the base of the mountain. For those who can see this and get past the starting
obstacles, the climb over rough rocks is possible, although challenging. The
castle at the top of the mountain is in ruins, reminding us that the castle itself is
not the destination – the real goal is the view beyond. The mountain can seem
imposing if viewed as one great obstacle, but if the journey up is broken down
into manageable pieces, then the climb is less intimidating.
No. 22 The Roads - Q L
KEYOWRDS: Choices, direction, decisions, travel, new alternatives, plans.
The Roads is one of my favorite cards. In the background, we see an antique
map of New Orleans with its grid of streets. In the foreground we see an odd
figure navigating the streets on some sort of cycle with a telescope mounted on
it, to get a better view of what’s ahead. The Roads is about planning ahead as
much as making decisions and is also about personal movement. There is a train
ticket near the top of the card (a means to get around), but it does little good
without direction (compass). The word “Mystery” (an old New Orleans street
name done in the classic blue and white tiles) reminds us that sometimes we
aren’t privy to the precise details of our choices or destinations. Other times,
we may have our goal in mind, but are not sure how to find our way to said goal
(maze at the lower left). Nonetheless, we are asked to analyze as best we can
our next move with what we can see ahead (hand with calipers, telescope
bicyclist).
No. 23 The Mice - 7 K
KEYWORDS: Theft, loss of something physical,
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 plans going awry, hidden problems, agility, feeling invaded.
Mice, historically and today, are considered pests by most people. There are
those who keep them as pets, and these sorts of people are naturally not going
to be as negative about these little creatures. Thusly, my approach to this card is
more comical and whimsical as opposed to the darker take this card usually
gets. These mice, while obviously stealing fruit and taking stock of kitchen
goods to hoard in their nest, are also merely doing what is in their nature to do-
survive. The mouse in the center is clearly the leader and had planned this
kitchen assault, directing the other mice to their tasks. While this card still
stands for theft and loss, and behind the scenes problems, it also has the adding
meaning of agility. Mental agility is a quality needed to plan ahead, to execute a
plan, and to cope with plans that fall through. This card borrows some of its
spirit from a Robert Burns poem about a mouse he discovers while plowing his
field. “The best laid schemes of mice and men go often askew.” The stress and
obstacles that come along with making any sort of plans are hinted at here.
No. 24 The Heart - J M
KEYWORDS: Emotions, love, joy, contentment,
passion, romance, generosity, nurturing.
This was the first card I designed when working on this new deck. The heart
has been considered the poetic seat of emotions since at least ancient Egypt,
whose glyph for heart is actually a pottery vessel. In this card, a Mexican Style
sacred heart is literally on fire in the center. In Catholicism, the sacred heart is
one of the more beloved and yet strange images of God’s love. Both Jesus and
Mary are shown with glowing hearts on fire, Mary’s pierced with swords, and
Jesus’ surrounded by thorns. These images are telling; despite the pains of life,
love can overcome. The curious and sultry bride behind the heart speaks of
passion and beauty. The “relationship” theme continues in the presence of the
Alchemical Red King and White Queen as they offer each over flowers, but
this is not a wedding as much as a meeting, or offering of love. The real
“wedding” is consummated in the Ring card. The butterflies are present as an
indication of the transformation that love can provide, as well as symbols of
joy.
No. 25 The Ring - A K
KEYWORDS: Partnership, marriage, reconciliation,
joining, contract, proposal, gift, reunion.
While the Ring card is rife with Alchemical symbolism, it should still be
understandable on sight as to its meaning. This is a card of joining, and of
partners. We see several opposites coming together; man and woman, fire and
water, sun and moon. This is an emblem of the Alchemical wedding, or
conjunction phase of the great work, where opposites reconcile. The
implication of a romantic wedding is here, with the medieval figures of courtly
love kissing at center (Troilus and Criseyde). The Ouroborus has many
implications, such as infinity and wholeness, as well as integration and
assimilation of opposites, as is shown here.
No. 26 The Book - 10 L
Keywords: Secrets, study, intellectual pursuit, mystery,
intelligent people, education, that which is still hidden.
The book card features both an open and a closed book. The closed book is
indicative of those things which are secret and unlearned. You will notice
repeated images of the brain or the mind here. Note the phrenology head at top
left, the brain at lower right, and even the brain shape of the classical labyrinth
at the lower right. The labyrinth is here to remind that learning is very much a
journey, and while the path is not always clear, the goal is reachable if one stays
on it. There is somewhat illegible text on the page of the open book (part of
Beowolf, a hero’s story), and it lies beneath two crossed keys. These images are
representative of layers of mysteries that will only be understood when
decoded, or translated at the proper time. The two keys make an allusion to the
Hierophant of the Tarot and St. Peter, and are symbols of spiritual knowledge,
as well as secrets. The checker on the phrenology head has a crown on it to
indicate mental accomplishment. The metal tag with “10” engraved on it refers
to the card in a regular deck, (10 of diamonds) as well as the number ten itself.
Ten is a number of completion, and fulfillment, among other meanings. The x
shape of the keys echoes the Roman numeral.
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No. 27 The Letter - 7 N
KEYWORDS: News, mail, invitation,
communication by written word, documents, awards.
Does your desk look like this, covered with mail and documents of all kinds?
Few of us write actual letters without a computer these days, but written
correspondence is still poignant to us. While the focus of the card is on the
letter at center, there are indications as to what type of correspondence it might
be around the desk. An invitation to a ball, a declaration of friendship, a calling
card, a business document…all these things are represented by items here. It is
fair to note that Mercury the messenger is on one of the antique stamps on the
letter. The foreign stamps and even the train ticket are here to show the
distance from which a message may be coming, and the presence of the pen and
pencils denote the written word as opposed to a message by voice.
No. 28 The Gentleman - A M
KEYWORDS: A man, male, masculinity,
logic, words, numbers, conscious mind.
The Gentleman was designed with alchemical symbolism in mind. In Alchemy,
the masculine principle is often represented by several different symbols which
may seem incongruous and esoteric at first, but make sense the more one
encounters them. The color red, the lion, and the sun, are all symbols of the
masculine. The red garb of the Gentleman is also a hint at the Red King of
alchemy, who weds the White Queen (The Lady). Apart from these ideas,
there is a chart of numbers, written language and diagrams - all things that are
associated with the conscious mind and left brained thinking. The sun is also a
symbol for these things. The Gentleman is finely dressed, but armed, hinting at
associations with the God Mars or Ares (another figure in Alchemical
literature), a forceful God of the Military. His quality of strength is indicated
by the presence of the lion. The Gentleman hearkens back to the Cavalier,
and is a person of honor, grace, and fortitude.
No. 29 The Lady - A N
KEYWORDS: A woman, female, femininity,
dreams, creativity, visions, subconscious mind, intuition.
If the Gentleman of my deck is the Red King, Then the Lady is the
White Queen. She is feminine, but not in a sugary way. From an Alchemical
standpoint, this card strays slightly from the usual symbolism, but not from
the spirit. The feminine nature is sometimes described in Alchemy as
“volatile”, meaning apt to change, more fluid, hard to nail down. The
subconscious mind is well represented here, with its symbolic weirdness.
It seems as such because the conscious and unconscious minds do not speak the
same languages or make the same connections. This card speaks of emotions
(water), cycles (moon), the creative spirit (the guitar fish), and hidden secrets
that are only hidden insofar as we do not fully comprehend them (the key with
eyeball and wings). Again, the butterflies are here as a symbol of the ephemeral,
and the transformative. The weird, oracular mirror portal behind the Lady is
the door to our own subconscious and all the mysterious machinery behind
the scenes that we don’t have access to when we are conscious.
No. 30 The Lilies - K N
KEYWORDS: Maturity, contentment, peace, support,
business, work, experience, male support figure, sexual matters.
Lilies have been revered and pictured in art for centuries. It has been a
symbol of nobility, fertility, innocence, and death. The lily, being noted for it
historical connections to abundance and fertility, is likely why this card tends
to have sexual matters attributed to it. While I myself saw something different
in it, I feel that this meaning should not go unmentioned. On the subject of
nobility, we see the Fleur De Lis as a repeated motif here. A symbol of France,
this image is a kind of stylized lily that has appeared as an insignia of royalty
and as a charge in heraldry (where it stands for purity and light, yet again) In
the banner at top left, I used it as a heraldic device with the crown and spade to
denote the playing card it is associated with, as well as the presence of a male
support figure. The theme of support and nurturing is continued by the woman
with the baby bird on her finger. The woman is young but acting in a motherly
manner, echoing a subtle maturity. The scene itself radiates a peace and
contentment, with a light shining down on the Lily bouquet.
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No. 31 The Sun - A L
KEYWORDS: Optimism, success, conscious mind, strength,
confidence, energy, power, good health, masculinity,
warmth, positive transformation, ego, burnout.
The Sun here is at the center of a mandala, made up of an eight-spoked wheel
and an antique astronomy diagram. The wheel, Dharmachakra, is a Buddhist
symbol. The translation from Tibetan for it is the “Wheel of transformation”
or the “Wheel of law.” The eight spokes represent the noble eightfold path
of Buddhism. The astronomy diagram shows the sun illuminating the earth at
different times of year. The sun, in many traditions, symbolizes the conscious
mind, enlightenment, vitality, and self assurance. It is a star whose power and
energy are generated from within and are projected outward, providing warmth
and sustaining life processes on the earth. The sun has long been associated with
masculine energy, and in line with this we see the presence of some Egyptian
symbols - the lion and the scarab. The scarab was a hieroglyph that stood for
“becoming.” A scarab headed aspect of the solar deity was called Khepri,
who was a patron god not only of the sun, but resurrection, as well.. The
lions pictured represent strength, but also form an Egyptian pictogram of
the mountains between which the sun sets in the west. Sekhmet, the lion
headed daughter of the sun God, features in a myth where she nearly wiped out
humanity when Ra, her father, sent her out to punish them. The story speaks
of the destruction that can occur when extreme energy and power are not kept
in check.
No. 32 The Moon - 8 M
KEYWORDS: Subconscious, cycles, female, dreams, psyche, honors,
fantasies, emotions, intuition, delusion, vacillating, artistic, night.
Like the Lady, the Moon is a fanciful, dream-like scene as it reflects the ever
changing contents of the psyche, moods, and thoughts. We see the moon in
both its full and new phase simultaneously. This represents the emotional and
psychological extremes of which we are we are capable, and also that sometimes
our minds can simultaneously hold thoughts that seem contrary to each other.
Between the moons, we see a vessel surmounted by an eye. These objects
together speak of the act of receiving- the cup receives liquid, the eye receives
signals it sends to the brain. The crown stands for the sovereignty of the mind
over the insight it receives, and the reverence with which it will treat said
insight. The flying apsara to the left and the Asian fairy to the right are flying
towards the central eye, as if to honor it as well. Flying apsaras can be likened
somewhat to the Greek muses, as in eastern cultures they are represented as
lovely heavenly maidens playing musical instruments. They can also be thought
of as fairies. These spirits symbolize that which is ephemeral, dreamlike and
creative.
No. 33 The Keys - 8 L
KEYWORDS: Solutions, new beginnings,
openings, overcoming, clues, success.
This card is unique in that not only are we viewing keys and objects locked by
keys through a keyhole, but we are viewing these things from the perspective
of a key itself. Anyone who has momentarily lost their keys knows what a
frustration it is to not be able to access something. This card is about gaining
access, and understanding that there are always various solutions to problems
and riddles, if only approached from the right perspective. Every lock in this
card- the door, the box, has a key, many of which are in plain sight. The
mystery of what the keys unlock is still to be discovered, as both the door
and boxes are unopened. WE are also the keys to solving our own difficulties
and overcoming our own obstacles. No one is holding the keys for us here.
It is up to us to make decisions and move forward.
No. 34 The Fish - K L
KEYWORDS: Fortune, money, luck, excess,
luxury, alcohol, dreams, emotions beneath the surface.
In this card, we are looking into a koi pond where coins are resting at the
bottom. Koi ponds are relaxing, meditative places that are usually part of a
luxurious setting. There are five fish in this pond, five being a very auspicious
number in Buddhist culture (five elements, five senses, five wisdoms, etc.) Koi
symbolize wealth, but also harmony, strength and perseverance. The fish can
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also stand for those things that swim beneath the surface of consciousness,
such as dreams and desires. The lotus, another important Asian motif, is shown
floating on the surface of the pond near a lily. The lotus, as it appears in
Buddhist art, is representative of the spiritual journey as it grows up from the
mud, through the water and toward the sun. The coins at the bottom of the
pond have been tossed in by those who have been “making wishes” for good
fortune or dreams they wish to come true. There are eight, another important
number in Chinese culture specifically, which stands for prosperity and
business success. A symbol for longevity is also seen here at the top left.
Although the Clover has some of these same symbols present, the Fish is more
about wealth, both material and spiritual.
No. 35 The Anchor - 9 N
KEYWORDS: Security, persistence, stability,
determination, home port, unchanging amidst chaos, support.
This card was harder for me to design, in that it wanted to be more uncluttered
in its imagery. (I typically incorporate layers of complicated images in my
work.) Because of the Japanese flavor to it, and the emphasis on nature and
animals, it turned out having a very zen quality, and a strong balance in the
composition which I think is important for a card that speaks of stability.
There is chaos present in this card, in the waves of the background and the
angry looking octopus near the bottom right, but they remain as background
when one focuses on the images in the foreground. The shelled animals such as
the turtle and nautilus represent security and persistence. The turtle specifically,
is associated with longevity in Japanese culture, and in Hindu mythology
a turtle carries the world on his back. The pillars on either side of the anchor
are Djed pillars, Egyptian symbols of stability and the backbone of Osiris.
The anchor itself has a fish coiled around it. While the fish is usually
considered a wiggling water creature that often symbolizes emotions, in
this case the image conveys emotions having a grounding force. On the
flip side, it can also be interpreted as being clingy.
No. 36 The Cross - 6 K
KEYWORDS: Suffering, religion, misfortune, guilt, despair,
need for comfort, pain, burden to bear, unanswered questions.
The Cross has some obvious Christian implications, but it’s more than that.
We see a nun holding a symbol of her own pain in her hands. The pierced heart
is a very Catholic symbol, relating to Mary and conveying sorrow and pain.
The sorrow is being caused by swords, which symbolize thoughts. The desire
and need for hope is present here. The fact that we see a nun, normally an
icon of strong faith who is feeling pain and having doubt, hints that even the
strongest among us are not immune to moments of despair. It is how we
deal with these moments that truly make a difference. This is an image of
introspection, as the woman is looking into her own heart. It is also a card of
things hidden, or not readily understood. The palmistry hand is a symbol of
fate, but we must remember that our fate is still in our own hands, and not
subject totally to outside forces. The Cross itself glows, and an angel is
emanating from it. It becomes a symbol of the higher mind, a clearer
perspective, a view above what is dark and ponderous and painful, and
one that can only be attained when the burden has been transformed.
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