Tarot Discussion Group, Card of the Week.

I recently did a side by side comparison of keywords, between the RWS and Thoth Decks. I found that there where only a handful of cards with significant differences. This card is one of them. The RWS deck, like Melanie's shows a farmer at his labor. In the Waite however, the farmer is taking pause. Leaning on his hoe, looking down. In a pose that would come as no surprise to anyone who has paused to catch his breath in the middle of a hard labor. In Mel's card the farmer is hard at work, but he looks content and the flowers, beautiful waterfall, and lush trees bespeak very fertile ground. Mel's card promises that as we sow, so shall we reap. (To quote a friend recently)

The Thoth card could not be more different. A gray on black monochrome. It depicts what appears to be blighted ferns. With the 7 Pentacles arrayed in a pattern called a Rubeus, according to the LWB. The disks are engraved, with images of Aries and Taurus. The image looks like an image out of Tolkiens Mirkwood. The cards notes reference the Astrological attribution, Saturn in Taurus. While the card is titled failure.

As noted, in the welcome notes too the Comparative Tarot group. Overtime as one studies different decks, one builds a catalog of visual images. So even when looking at say a Robin Wood deck, the Image of a Waite or Thoth deck might spring to mind if needed. The Thoth, card looks for all the world to me like a purposeful shadow of the Waite. A shadow, that it is best not to loose sight of while reading. For just as Mel's card promises us that as we sow, so shall we reap. The Crowley reminds us that in all matters of this world, fate has its say. Drought, or Blight can ruin a crop, no matter how hard working the farmer. Although we put forth our best effort, and strive for some measure of control in our lives, we are humble creatures when measured against creation. None of us is immune to the challenges of this material world. Quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Doug Flutey both have autistic sons. Comedian Richard Pryor wrestles with M.S. I pick these people because they are well known. They could be anyone regardless of station or birth. This is not to say that one should not put forth one's best efforts, and embrace a stifling fatalism. I think rather, that it is merely a reminder that despite our best efforts we may find ourselves faced with immense challenges.

Sevens are important cards in terms of numerology. To read this card correctly, I think its important to consider, the juxtaposition of cards. The Crowley card may be an appropriate reading of the Waite Reversed. Yet one should remember a Reversed card can have several possible meanings.

• A reversed card, may represent the shadow of the upright card.
• It may speak to opportunity waiting to be noticed, or acted upon.
• A shadow that still may be avoided.

Divination:Ingenuity, Hard Work, Growth, Progress, Treasure.

Reversed: Anxiety over finances, Bankruptcy, Imprudent Action ie Gambling, Blight.