Interpretation : does it depend on the deck ?

[Diana]

Since I've joined this forum, I've participated in a number of interpretations of readings for people who've asked for insights.

Regardless of the deck that the people use, I rely on my Tarot of Marseilles interpretations, as the TdM is the only deck I've studied and have integrated and that I'm interested in.

But I've always worried a bit. How do my interpretations fit in with the classic RWS deck that most people use, as well as one of the hundreds of clones and RWS derived decks that exist. I think if it's a real RWS or a clone or a derived deck, there's not much difference in the interpretation.

For instance, take the the Ace of Swords. Or the Queen of Swords. I may wish to point out that the sword has a particular colour and that this is important to take note of. It could even be the key.

But what on earth can that bring to someone who, for instance, is using a Unicorn tarot or a Tarot of the Gnomes deck or something equally frivolous, or something a bit more "serious" such as the RWS ? Where the colour of the Sword is of no importance ?

How do we navigate with all these soon to be thousands of different interpretations of each card ?

If I tell someone - hey there's a handle on the Wheel of Fortune ? Why the heck aren't you turning it? There's no handle on the Wheel of Fortune in a Fairy tarot deck (I assume that there must be a number of Fairy decks out there). So they'll say "there's no handle here."

Everyone uses different decks. With different details on them. How can they be reconciled ?

Or can we just ignore the pictures altogether ?

When we interpret for others, should we be going hunting for the cards on the internet that people are using if they don't give a photo of their spread ?

I'm really puzzled about this.

It's particularly difficult when someone says for instance "I'm lying flat on the ground with swords plunged into my back" and I'll say "what are you talking about? That's not the meaning of this card - on the contrary !!"

I'm starting really to wonder it's even worth trying to interpret an RWS type deck (or Thoth) when one is using TdM interpretations. Are we just not confusing matters mightily ?

I'm really starting to doubt whether it's worth my giving my two cents if my interpretation can differ so much to the pictures of the spread being interpreted.

[Charlie Brown]

Well, I think it's 1) probably worth being upfront that your using a particular system and try to offer specific rather than general insights. It's probably worth it, also, to at least try to keep in mind some sense of the system. It's probably not helpful to call the 10 of Swords a positive card, but there is the sun rising in the background and there's plenty to talk about with the wheel. If you can only talk about it by going straight to the handle (I'm not saying that's the case) then you've developed a crutch in your own reading that you need to work through.

To put it in a different way, I think there's really only one tarot in the Platonic Essences sense of "one", and that stylistic divergences shouldn't keep you from commenting. That said, It would more helpful for others, and probably good learning for you, to try and comprehend the differences that underlie why and how they came up with their original interpretation.

[Diana]

Well, I think it's 1) probably worth being upfront that your using a particular system and try to offer specific rather than general insights. It's probably worth it, also, to at least try to keep in mind some sense of the system. It's probably not helpful to call the 10 of Swords a positive card, but there is the sun rising in the background and there's plenty to talk about with the wheel. If you can only talk about it by going straight to the handle (I'm not saying that's the case) then you've developed a crutch in your own reading that you need to work through.

To put it in a different way, I think there's really only one tarot in the Platonic Essences sense of "one", and that stylistic divergences shouldn't keep you from commenting. That said, It would more helpful for others, and probably good learning for you, to try and comprehend the differences that underlie why and how they came up with their original interpretation.

How wonderful. You can be so eloquent at times and it's really lovely.

I like that you speak of crutches. I was thinking during the night that what I'd really like to do is to attempt as far as possible to look at my cards as if I've NEVER seen them before. And that I have no idea of what they are supposed to signify. And then just write down all my thoughts on the cards and the feelings they evoke. To leave all my Tarot baggage for a while in the locker somewhere and start out all afresh. I wonder what this brand new "apprentice" would see. I was planning actually to start this soon.

This should contribute to remove those crutches you speak of I think.

I never get Temperance in readings for myself. Your advice when I read it really made me think of Temperance. She popped up in my head (I always get cards popping up in my head, I suppose we all do). Putting water in my wine doesn't always come easy to me when it comes to the Tarot. But I'm not as bad as I used to be (I got kicked out of AtF I think due in part to Temperance. I think the last straw was when I made a mention of pearls and swine.)

Yes, there is only one Tarot. How right you are to mention the Platonic Essence. We often land up somewhere with Plato when we speak of the Tarot I've noticed.

(But some of the tarot decks out there are not tarot. I can put loads of water in my wine. I can pour and measure all you like. But there are some decks out there which are really ridiculous and don't serve the tarot at all and even disserve it. But it doesn't matter. Those will not last long and won't be remembered. Just a false note in a symphony.)