In this deck, this card is called “The Wisest” (printed on the actual card), while in the book, it is called “The Wise One.” The creator (who many of you know is Riccardo Minetti from Lo Scarabeo) says that this card is of a venerable and wise creature, the source of infinite, ancient, and wonderful memories, of experience and advice. He has learnt great things over time, and has fathomed the abyss of knowledge at length in order to learn. He also says that in this deck, the Wise One is the consort to the Seer (the High Priestess) and that they are the spiritual mother and father. The Seer is a custodian of wisdom and the Wise one answers and guides. To me, it sounds

You are so lucky today! Instead of just reading my babble about the Hierophant, you get a behind-the-scenes peek at the what goes into creating decks. The creator of The Pagan Tarot, Gina M. Pace, has very graciously shared her story behind this deck's Hierophant. It's a fascinating tale, and, Gina, I thank you so much for sharing it with us. Tarot cards, particularly the major arcana, have layers of meanings and it can be difficult for a card to evoke all possible meanings. Sometimes a deck’s theme shapes what aspect of the card is being portrayed. In general, I tend to shy away from the vilification of The Hierophant. However, sometimes it makes sense in the context of a deck. The

Yes, I know…everyone’s most favorite card, right? 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

Years ago, I read the 9 of Cups was related to the 9 of Hearts, which was considered the Wish Card in playing card fortune telling. So I’ve always thought of the 9 of Cups as the Wish Card. When it comes up, I get excited and act like I’ve just blown out the candles on a birthday cake and my wish is going to come true. More recently, I read in the Pictorial Key to the Tarot that the Ace of Pentacles was the most fortuitous card in the whole deck. I generally don’t put much stock in Arthur E. Waite (mostly because I cannot understand what he is trying to say), but I grabbed a hold of this meaning and have used it ever since. The suit of Pentacles is my favorite, after all, and the