The Mary-El Tarot

Nine years ago, writing in a post called Tarophilia, I focused on two cards in the Mary-El Tarot that I had found particularly fascinating: The Hierophant and the Three of Swords. After all these years, I considered purchasing the deck today, only to discover that those two cards (as well as two others) have been changed!

The Hierophant of the first edition was intriguing because of its cleverly disturbing imagery. Perhaps because it was so unpopular, the artist, Marie White, replaced it with a new card. 

The imagery in the second edition Hierophant does not make you draw back in shock. It may even draw you in. Nice touches are the two tablets and bronze serpents. The single key is more prominent in this edition (which key is it?) and I wonder if that's a bee hive on top of it. Once again the figure is female and I wonder why. Those would be some of the questions to explore if I purchase the second edition.

The new card is more accessible and should allow for positive as well as negative interpretations. I can reluctantly accept the revised Hierophant since it would allow the reader to explore more than just the shadow side of religious tradition. This card could grow on me.

The new Three of Swords, however, is deeply disappointing. In the first edition, the card was an original piece of art showing a bird's flight hampered by the three swords (wounds) he clings to-- or perhaps showing a bird that has caught the swords before they could pierce him. 

None of the Minor Arcana cards in the first edition are RWS clones, but in the new edition, the Three of Swords has reverted to the usual, silly imagery of a heart pierced by three swords. Boring and cliché! (Tarot creators, please note: it only worked for Pamela Colman Smith.) Red roses have been thrown into the mix as well, with a rose bud growing from the left auricle.

Two other cards have been changed. They are Judgment and The High Priestess. Judgment is now a more fiery Phoenix. It may be an improvement, but not an essential one. On the other hand, the new High Priestess is amazing! She may even compensate for the desecration of the original Three of Swords. 

The original High Priestess was odd, its disparate bits of symbolism never really forming a single, coherent image. The first edition High Prietsess was too slender to be a Willendorf Venus as obviously intended, her fingers were like tree branches growing downward (but not from heaven), her headdress exploded into stars, the sefirot drawn in their original circular form on her broad, flat, naked belly made her look like a wheel of fortune, and there was all sorts of oddness just above the sea at her feet. (Maybe the guidebook would have helped me understand and bond with the card.)

 

Overall, the first edition High Priestess was jarring without adding depth to the meaning of the card. This card was one of the reasons that I did not purchase the deck.

The new High Priestess card is brilliant nod to the RWS, but takes the imagery in a more powerful direction. 

As in the Rider-Waite-Smith deck, there are the two pillars of the Temple on either side of her, drawn in greater detail than in the RWS. A pomegranate curtain hangs between them behind her (screening a burning sun in a black sky). Her flowing robe, which begins as a veil over her head, merges into the reflective waters at her feet. 

What makes the image so much more powerful than the RWS, is that her hands caress and support Torah, the fire that burns within her. (Lo b'shamayim, it is not in the heavens.) The image connects the ancient tradition of Torah (black fire on white fire) with the more primal imagery of welcoming flames inside a sheltering cave.

This deck will remain on my wish list. Eventually, I may be extravagant and order a copy from the U.S. Before I decide, I'll have to review the images of the the Minor Arcana on her website and come to terms with the Aces and some of the courts. (Check out the sevens! And the decaying Queen of Pentacles!) 

I like that the Major Arcana cards seem to blend two concepts that have never been clear to me: "The Masculine" and "The Feminine."

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Early Ideas for A Tarot Deck

Over the years, several people have encouraged me to create my own tarot deck, but I always felt it was too big a task (too much to design, draw, and decide) not to mention unnecessary (there are already thousands of decks available). I’m no artist, and the idea of tackling seventy-eight cards felt impossible.

Recently, I started to reconsider the idea of creating a specifically Jewish tarot. I've experimented with a few designs using found photographs (not my own) and started to imagine how Jewish history, mysticism, and symbolism might reshape the traditional structure of the deck.

So far, I’ve created five Major Arcana cards and one Minor. Here are two of them:

The first is The Emperor, reimagined as Titus Flavius, the Roman emperor whom some see as the “inventor” of Christianity, a syncretistic theology designed to control the Jewish people. The second is The Hierophant, depicted as the Masculine Face of Shekhinah, inspired by my beloved Rabbi Berg, a figure of spiritual transmission and profound compassion.

Certain tarot writers raise more questions than answers, especially around sex and gender. One of my ongoing struggles with tarot thought is its use of the vague and puzzling language of “the Masculine” and “the Feminine.” What do those terms mean? Is there such a thing as a fixed, universal idea of maleness? I’ve never identified as particularly feminine—nor, for that matter, as a tomboy. If I were to generalize at all, it wouldn’t be toward some Platonic ideal of gender—it would be toward the messy, human truths: women have babies, men are slutty. But that's not archetypal. I’ve never viewed The Emperor and The Empress as male and female opposites. Energetically, The Emperor has always felt more aligned with The High Priestess as both are self-contained, inward, and silently commanding. The Empress seems to pair more naturally with The Hierophant, each of those figures offering forms of nourishment, guidance, and tradition.

The court cards complicate this, too. In my readings, Kings and Queens don’t always pair neatly within their suits. I often find deeper harmony across suits: the King of Cups with the Queen of Pentacles, or the Queen of Swords with the Knight of Wands. While I’ve never loved renamed court cards (they are disorienting and seem gimmicky), but the Kabbalistic Tetrad of Father, Mother, Son, and Daughter, might provide a familiar structure with a meaningful Jewish note. The divine family could emphasize spiritual lineage rather than hierarchy.

I don’t know where this project is going, but I’m letting myself play with the idea. Even if it doesn’t become a full deck, perhaps it will be worthwhile simply to reimagine a few cards through a Jewish lens.

Tarot BlogHop MidFall/Samhain 2017

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This season's topic suggestion from Jay Cassels was too emotionally charged for me to work with publicly. So I decided to take a different approach. I turned to a tarot spread developed by Carolyn Cushing to gain insight into how best to navigate this season. This reading allowed me to explore what sacred path I should follow, which contemplative practices would aid me on my journey, and which attitudes and behaviors would be most beneficial in undertaking these practices at this time.

To perform this reading, I divided my tarot deck into three piles: one containing the Majors and the Aces, another containing the other Number cards, and the last one containing the People cards. I shuffled each pile separately and drew one card from each to answer the following questions:

from right to left: 

The Teacher, the Ten of Earth, and the Explorer of Air

from The Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert

1. What sacred path would best serve me this season?
The card drawn for this question was 5 - THE TEACHER. The image suggests embracing a mindset of continuous learning and growth. It encourages me to seek guidance by spending time contemplating nature, engaging in introspection, and learning to trust my insights. This season, the focus should be on personal development, embracing lessons from life experiences, and cultivating a deeper understanding of myself as well as a sense of oneness with creation.

2. What contemplative practice will help me move along this pathway?
The card drawn for this question was THE TEN OF EARTH, which symbolizes reflection on the cyclical changes of the seasons, ancestral wisdom, and my own legacy. It suggests engaging in practices that foster introspection and connection with my roots, both ancestral and experiential. Reflecting on the cyclical nature of life, honoring traditions, and contemplating the impact of my deeds on future generations can provide insights and a sense of purpose.

3. What attitudes and behaviors will be most helpful in undertaking this practice?
The card drawn for this final question was THE EXPLORER OF AIR, which represents curiosity, courage, and mental clarity. This season calls for achieving a mindset of openness to new perspectives and a willingness to explore different paths. By cultivating a sense of curiosity and embracing uncertainty, I will be able to navigate challenges with resilience and creativity. Focusing on my highest values and rising above negative thought patterns will be necessary to foster personal growth and self-awareness.

Since I chose to use The Gaian Tarot for this reading, it's no surprise that the reading emphasized spending time in nature as a way to experience this season. I've shifted from Carolyn's more mystical interpretations to more practical ones that can help me in personal development. This reading reminds me to reconnect with the natural world, learn from it, and trust in my own inner wisdom. Somehow, awareness of nature will go hand in hand with self awareness. I will reflect on how to develop resilience. As the season unfolds, I will keep these insights in mind and strive to walk the sacred path of learning and contemplation. 

If you ever find yourself wondering about the season ahead, perhaps a tarot reading like this one can provide you with the guidance and clarity you seek.

Click on the links below to read posts from other participants in the Tarot Blog Hop!

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Building Trust

Note: I lay out and read the cards from right to left.

You can conform to the rules of your community, hoping to gain the love and support of its members, or you can take the path the universe has set before you, hoping it leads to a good place where good people will come into your life.

Contemplative Tarot - Strength, Bindweed, and the Teacher

This week’s cards come from the Major Arcana. Each depicts a seated figure—Strength, Bindweed, and The Teacher. I invite you to use these archetypes as part of your contemplative practice, and I hope you’ll share your reflections in the comments.

I am afraid, but all around me, nature speaks,
and deep within me, understanding waits.
Ignite my strength and passion—
to embrace the sacred in all I pursue.
Teach me to recognize, and to follow, what is holy.
Strength reminds us that we are most powerful when we allow ourselves to feel. This card speaks to a courage that arises not from denial, but from acceptance and integration. The artist’s affirmation reads: “I face adversity with peaceful courage and inner fire.” In the structure of the Major Arcana, Strength lies on the second path of the Tarot Tableau, symbolizing duty, virtue, and spiritual maturity. It reflects the awakening of inner power and the gentle discipline that true strength requires.

Bindweed calls us to release what restricts us. The vines that hold us in fear are often self-made, formed by outdated beliefs, shame, or inner judgment. The artist’s affirmation says: “I bring my life back into balance by breaking free of the fears that keep me trapped.” As the guardian of the final path in the Tarot Tableau, Bindweed signals the beginning of a spiritual ascent. It encourages us to shed illusions and reclaim our freedom on the path to illumination.

The Teacher offers wisdom, but with a reminder to choose our guides carefully. Discernment is essential when seeking spiritual counsel. The artist’s affirmation reads: “I receive my best teachings from nature.” Positioned on the first path of the Major Arcana, The Teacher speaks to the transformative power of experiencing the divine. Through connection with something greater than ourselves, we gain insights that ripple outward, shaping both our lives and the lives we touch.

I love hearing back from my readers, so please leave a comment.
I read each and every one!

The High Priestess and The Hierophant

The High Priestess is one of the most recognizable and well-liked cards in the tarot deck. The attractive image of a mysterious woman, gazing at us compassionately is appealing.

The High Priestess asks us to pause and listen to our own souls before we proceed on our journey. She has found her right path and knows we can, too. She is silent and doesn't try to impose her answers on us, because her ego doesn't require that she be a respected authority. As a guide, she is receptive to our needs rather than being authoritative.

The Rider-Waite deck places her between two pillars symbolic of hierarchical, organized religion. In contrast, the Gaian Tarot frees her from man-made structures and places her in Nature. The somatic experience of being outdoors and feeling Nature's rhythms helps us connect to our intuition and our souls. The Priestess knows that we can become our own best guides.

Another religious figure in the tarot is The Hierophant, who is also seated between two pillars. The personality of this guide is very different than that of the High Priestess. In the Robin Wood Tarot, he is a tall, corpulent man gazing down sternly at two young children. He is an authority figure in a negative sense of the word. Maintaining the hierarchy has become his paramount concern and he is unwilling to engage, in a meaningful way, those who turn to him for guidance. His arrogance has stunted his own spiritual growth and he doesn't expect to be held to the same standards of behavior that he imposes on others.

In the Gaian Tarot, Joanna Powell Colbert changed the name of this card from "The Hierophant" to "The Teacher." Joanna's teacher sits on the ground, inviting us to join him. (Or is it her?) A teacher cannot teach without understanding his or her students, without trying to be at their "level." The Gaian Tarot's Teacher wants to help, but does not believe that she is superior to her students.

At his best, The Hierophant may indicate the wisdom of tradition, the experience of previous generations, or practices that will help us grow. How can we know which teachers to trust with the profound, spiritual moments of our lives? Too often, we hear of narcissistic, religious leaders behaving in self-serving and unethical ways.

Each card in the deck signifies a range of qualities from negative to positive. The Hierophant card can represent anything from reliable guidance to spiritual tyranny. The High Priestess card can indicate the search for spiritual truths or aimless superficiality.

We may turn to traditional teachings or communities to avoid the self-reflection and inner work that the High Priestess asks of us. However, The Hierophant also reminds us that self-discipline and effort are part of the spiritual journey. When we are attracted to the less rigid forms of spirituality that the High Priestess implies, we may also abandon clear thinking and hard work as we pursue passing attractions to superficial fads.

When either of these cards appears in a reading, you are facing a transformative spiritual lesson. Be sure you are following your own path and attending to it diligently.

Tarophilia

All tarot enthusiasts are inclined to collect. I love my Gaian Tarot and Robin Wood Tarot decks, and yet I still surf the net looking at other tarot decks. 

I haven't purchased a new deck since the Gaian Tarot arrived on my doorstep three years ago. However, I am intrigued by a relatively new deck called the Mary-El Tarot by Marie White. Sometimes I wonder if this deck is more art than tarot. At other times, I see amazing ideas in the images the artist has created.

The Hierophant card shows malnourished children nursing from aged breasts. My first reaction was, "Gross! Who'd buy an ugly deck like that?" Moments later, I realized how brilliantly this image interprets The Hierophant or Pope card.

It reminds me of the title of an old, New England primer: Milk for Babes Drawn Out of the Breasts of Both Testaments and of a saying attributed to the Jesuits, "Give me the child until he is seven and I care not who has him thereafter." Brainwashed with their mother's milk! And yet un-loved and un-nurtured. What kind of world will these babies know? This is a very clever visual interpretation, especially because it makes me uneasy.

The Mary-El deck has pretty cards, too. (Pretty is good!) In the Three of Swords, a sweet bird caught the swords instead of letting them pierce her fair breast. Now she just has to be careful where she drops them.

What decks call to you? What card images do you find particularly compelling?