Tarot.

[matt_doyle]

A long time ago I made a post about Tarot and how, for the Hellion Prince, I had assembled a slightly changed deck.  Under the cut are my more detailed thoughts on the new trumps; and if you're a Tarot buff or a Hellion Prince reader I'd be happy to hear your thoughts as well, especially on how the changes would change a reading.  I've put all the in-universe details in context, so even if you haven't looked at Hellion Prince it should all make perfect sense to you.  I hope.

Okay, so what I'm looking for are some notes about how card readings would likely change, and how a card might be viewed differently. I especially/additionally like the keyword style description, for example, the Magician card in conventional readings is often said to mean:

 

Action — Consciousness — Concentration — Personal power

• Practicality — Energy — Creativity — Movement

• Precision — Conviction — Manipulation — Self confidence

• Being objective — Focusing — Determination — Initiative

 

Okay. So here are explanations about the cards' meanings in cultural context.

 

0 The Fool: Originally, this card would have had the same meaning as in traditional tarot. However, in the kingdom where this story is set, a member of the royal family several centuies ago very stupidly became undead and wound up serving as court jester ot an undead king. He's known as The Fool now, and his existence is liekly to make fortune-tellers view this card unfavorably, although it may be a situation similar to modern tarot and Death, where readers constantly tell worried querents “don't worry, it's not like THAT.”

 

1 The Mage-Lord: This kingdom is a magocracy, strogly believing that innate magical talent is the only quality worthy of elevating someone to the nobility.

 

2 The Jury: equitable gender roles in the Allotment made doubling up on High priestess & Hierophant seem unnecessary to me. As the High Priestess is meant to represent, among other things, wisdom, sound judgement, knowingness, and common sense, a jury seemed apropos. But I'm not sure how else it would change meanings.

 

3 The Consort: Like the Empress, but gender-neutral. Still the object of desire, though.

 

4 The Storm Queen: both a legendary figure and historial monarch, she's the best in-universe representation of absolute executive power, and tehrefore stands in for the emperor, but also has added volatility. As well, making some of the cards gender-neutral in implication means fewer cards to represent gender, and she is obviously and strongly representative of the female principle.

 

5 The Hierophant: effectively unchanged, except that the gender assignment of other cards going away makes this more strongly a male card.

 

6 The Lovers: unchanged.

 

7 Victory: an already-existing alternate name for the chariot, it obviously stresses that aspect but it not meant to change much beyond that.

 

8 Revolution: As this society is descended from political exiles, their perspective leads them to value upheaval and idealism more than continuity and rationality. It's as though Justice were inverted; and Revolution inverted would have similar meanings to justice.

 

9 The Pretender: This society places a strong value on inborn worth and inherent mysticism; and has specific taboos about mystical learning. Therefore, a wizard-like figure with knowledge derived from study is considered a false guide, a usurper. A very negative take on The Hermit.

 

10 Fortune: Unchanged.

 

11 Death: despite coming earlier in the mystic journey, the meaning of this card is basically unchanged.

 

12 The Unfallen: the Undead. Stands in for the hanged man. Irony, Reversal, the Unnatural are additional meanings.

 

13 The Wall. The kingdom this story is set in is surrounded by a wall which it is death to cross. Absolute boundaries, the proper place of things, transition. In some ways, takes on some of the meanings of Death in that it is a card signifying transformation.

 

14 Art: Aleister Crowley's substitution for Temperance. Ina culture that values magic and devalues the mundane, may also stand in for Strength in some ways, although in that aspect it might be called Finesse. Sorcery. Craft. Aesthetics.

 

15 The Demons: similar to The Devil, but this culture has no concept of a single arch-fiend, and therefore the card is plural ratehr than singular. The numerous vices in the world.

 

16 The Burning Ships: As the Tower. When these peoples' ancestors first came to this land, they burned their ships behind them. Hubris, irrevocable actions.

 

17 The True Heir: as the Star. Hope, discovery, renewal; the natural order set right after disaster and upheaval.

 

18 The Labyrinth: As the Moon. Represents the journey through the afterlife as well – in this world, the Misty Hells are a barricade souls must pass through on the way to heaven, and 'lost soul' has a very literal meaning.

 

19 The Great Book: mostly as the Sun. Divine knowledge, the place where the names of all the worthy dead are written. Non-temporal victory. Destiny. The highest and final level of personal achievement and/or familial significance.

 

20 The Winged Ones: Angels, saints, ancestors, forces of nature: the divine forces that bring and represent holy judgment. Exceot as noted here, as Judgment.

 

21 The Allotment: the other name of the kingdom inside the Wall. A more limited World – but with an emphasis on being the only part of the world that matters. The only part of the world one can go to without dying. Propriety, duty, what is appropriate in addition to fulfilment, wholeness, significance, etc.

 

Comments

[matt_doyle]

In the name of organized archiving; here is Jesse Toldness' awesome feedback:

0 The Fool: With what I know of the Allotment, the uncreated, the undefined is likely to be viewed as negative (ie that outside the 'Created' world is Faery, with all that implies). Likely viewed as insufficient preparation. Unreadiness. Errors made from impatience. A warning to those who would rush after glory unequipped.


1 The Mage-Lord: Potential for good or benefit (both latent and realized), raising or legitimizing something. Instinct. Troubleshooting, problem solving, safety. Along with the Mage's usual meanings.


2 the Jury: Normally like you listed, but when reversed it becomes the 'Hung Jury' and takes on the Secrets meaning of the High Priestess. Forces moving beneath the surface. Corruption, back-room deals and the subversion of the processes.


3 The Consort: When reversed, becomes the “Drone”, sterility, uselessness, the victory of appearance over substance. Of a process which comes to nothing.


5 The Hierophant: A sign of good fortune when it appears in conjunction with the Consort, called 'The Whole Man'. Considered a great oman, the coming of a great historical figure (usually male).


8 Revolution: Often considered the Fool Made Good, the gamble that paid off, New Beginnings, Cleaning Out the Rotten Old. Burning down the house and starting anew. Takes on many of the positive attributes of the original Fool card.


9 The Demons: Weakness. Both because of the plural nature of the fiends involved and because it can symbolize the numerous 'Demons' inside a person, or their own Weakness.


19 The Great Book: Right Knowledge, the opposite of the Pretender. Going through proper channels. When the system/universe works for you. Gifts. That which is Given, not Taken.