The Tarot of the New Vision is a fascinating deck from the fine folks at Lo Scarabeo. This deck shows traditional Rider-Waite-Smith images from the back. Finally, a glimpse of what is going on behind the scenes.

On Tuesday, the blog entry was about making meanings and one of the suggestions was to consider what happened just before and what might happen just after the scene in the card. Well, add to that list: what is going on behind the scenes?

Since we are talking about seeing things from a different point of view, what better card to explore than the Hanged Man?

Wow. This really changed the energy and feel of the card for me. What are your thoughts?

Here are some observations from the deck designer, Giordano Berti.

The meanings of this figure are many and not immediately clear. It obviously does not express prudence, as someone affirmed. It is decidedly more accurate to talk of suffering—adding, however, that this condition could also derive from an individual coice. But who would accept torture like this? Soemone who is mad, maybe, or someone out of the ordinary. In fact, hanging from a pole reminds us of certain Shamanistic rituals aimed at taking the Initiated inot a higher dimension of being by putting him direct touch with supernatural entities.

Psychologically, the Hanged Man represents maturity due to the experience of a painful episode. In this case, the title of novice or “new plant” cannot be applied to the Hanged Man, as it is usually attributed to those who have just complete the initiation rite.

There are a lot of instances in life, which, by provoking deep suffering, open the mind to a greater awareness. Until this awareness is deep in your memory, it is necessary to carry on in search of yourself without waiting for the easing of the pain (which reduces mental clarity).

In everyday life, the Hanged Man could even represent a voluntary sacrifice for someone or for the benefit of something else; a symbolic crucifixion that is not always understood. It is probably concerns a temporary situation, not martyrdom. In fact, green fronds shoot out the tree’s branches—meaning that the sacrifice, whether accepted or not, has given back life to a situation that was languishing.

Here is the image of the classic RWS Hierophant next to the image from the Tarot of the New Vision (a deck that shows the cards from behind the traditional image):

The High Priestess easily transitioned from the Popess to her current incarnation and is, consequently, one of the cards that most readers relate to. Death often gets changed to Transformation. And even when it doesn’t, many readers are quick to diminish the negative and potentially scary aspects of this card: “It really means change, not physical death!” When the 10 of Swords shows up, we try to shift our querent’s focus to the rising sun in the background.

But not so with the Hierophant. When I discuss this card with my colleagues, their reactions are generally strong and negative. It is understandable. Many of us come to tarot after having bad experiences in organized religion, and a card called The Hierophant and looking like the Pope cannot help but evoke those feelings.

This month, we’re going to discuss The Hierophant, reflect on our feelings about it, look at how our feelings may get in the way of broader concepts and appreciation, and consider if and, if so, how The Hierophant needs to evolve as a tarot archetype.

This month will be all Hierophant all the time. Stick with me. It’s going to be really interesting. I promise.

Each Tuesday and Thursday, I’ll post different images of The Hierophant also known as Key V. Some images will be more traditional and some will be variations, with different names and images. For each one, we’ll consider how it is similar or different from traditional images, whether or not it “works,” and how it might change our interpretation if it came up in a reading.

I know all my readers will play nice. Because people react so strongly, let’s all be mindful of the feelings and opinions of others. Our goal here is to share, further our understanding of ourselves, others, and this card, and to grow.

Here are some questions to get the discussion started:

What is your initial response when The Hierophant turns up?

How do you interpret it in a reading for yourself?

How do you interpret it in a reading for someone else?

Does your feeling or interpretation change if using a deck that depicts The Hierophant as something other than a pope or renames the card?

How does your primary reading deck or current favorite deck portray or name this card?

Recently Melanie Marquis, author and assistant editor of the American Tarot Association’s Quarterly Journal, interviewed me for their fine publication. She asked me which cards in the tarot I thought were the darkest. I responded:

“For me personally, I’ll risk committing tarot sacrilege and say that I have issues with the High Priestess and The Moon. The way the High Priestess sits there with that “I know but I’m not telling” attitude and the whole “oh you know what you need to know” thing. Makes me want to scream! If I knew, I wouldn’t be doing a reading now, would I? Yep, I clearly have issues. The Moon drives me nuts, too. All that shadowy concealing/revealing/distorting light. And don’t forget the deepest, darkest fears rising from the waters. They should stay down there where I’ve repressed, er, stored them. Because they raise these intense, uncomfortable emotional reactions in me, I think that qualifies them as dark.”

In my readings for NaNoWriMo, my protagonist’s foil character card is the High Priestess. One of my reasons for participating in NaNoWriMo is to explore the cards on a different level, and it looks like my beloved Priestess is one of those cards. Part of my task this month is to imagine how this silent, calm woman speaks and acts. So, today I want to share three different images of the High Priestess and ask you what your thoughts are on them. Next week, we’ll further the discussion.

Here are the High Priestess cards from the Lo Scarabeo Tarot, the Tarot of the Elves, and the Tarot of the New Vision:

Scrying Debacle

As you may know, I’m not very adept at scrying with other media besides tarot and have been thinking of trying again. Funny how the universe works, because no sooner do I say that than an opportunity presents itself. I complained to my partner that the plot for my NaNoWriMo wasn’t clear. She suggested that I should scry for the plot, that the plot was bigger, broader, that it required something different.

I got it in my head that nothing but a black mirror or scrying mirror would do. I googled directions to make one, and started applying some black acrylic paint that I had on hand to a piece of glass from an unused picture frame. Yes, you read that correctly. Acrylic paint. After applying five coats, letting them dry carefully between each, I finally was ready to reassemble and scry. It was Sunday, a clear night with a huge, bright, beautiful full moon in Taurus. I was ready to receive divine inspiration. I picked up my mirror and noticed a kind of bubble in the paint and touched it gently. The paint kind of stuck to my finger and when I lifted it, the paint came off the mirror in one solid sheet.

Last night I used spray enamel to coat the glass and perhaps tonight I can give it another go. As you know, you’ll be able to read the results of my efforts here.

A Daring Approach to the Court Cards

The talented tarotist Catherine Chapman of Tarot Elements invited me to be a guest on her blog. I was honored and delighted, of course, as I’ve been a fan of her work for a while now. Do check it out; I particularly like her work with Elemental Dignities and her Signature Spread. Tomorrow, Friday, November 6, she’ll be running my post. I spent a lot of time this summer working on a new edition of Tarot for Beginners. Part of that work included figuring out the best way to teach court cards to absolute beginners. I share my conclusions with Catherine, and I’d love to know what you think. My approach may not be all that daring, but it does make for an intriguing headline, don’t you think?