A youth in a brightly embroidered tunic is out to see the world with his personal goods tied within a pack hanging off the staff he has balanced on his right shoulder. In his left hand he holds a white rose daintily. His small cap has a large feather bobbing behind him. The pack has an eagle’s head upon the face of it. The sun shines brightly behind him as he strides forward, looking up into the cloudless sky. His point of view blinds him to the cliff edge he is one step away from falling off of. A small dog is at his heels, apparently trying in vain to grasp the youth’s attention. The mountains in the distance are blanketed with snow. Continue reading The Fool
Tag Archives: 78 Tarot Cards
King of Pentacles
A king sits confidently on his throne set in a garden in his estate. He sits facing the viewer but is not looking forward. Instead his attention is directed towards the large pentacle his left hand is holding upon his left knee. Under his broad crown is a cap of maintenance. His right hand holds a short scepter topped with a large golden sphere. His robes are richly embroidered with a motive of grapevines, leaves, and fruit. So much so, that it appears he is lost in it! He is wearing armor under the extravagant covering, as seen by his left leg being propped upon a block carved to resemble the head of some beast. Foliage surrounds the throne and is overtaking the ramparts behind the throne. The motive of horned bull head and ripe grapes are carved into the armrests of the throne as well as the frame of the seat. The foliage obscures the distance on the left side of the card, but on the right side are visible the towers and parapets of a keep. Continue reading King of Pentacles
Ace of Cups
Over a calm body of water a great and brilliant right hand emerges from a short pillar of clouds in the right of this card. Held steady in the palm is a round chalice decorated with tiny adornments around the top of the stem. An ethereal dove descends from above, bearing a small disc inscribed with an equal armed cross and seeking to add this disc to the bowl of the chalice. Five streams of water emerge from the bowl of the chalice, two on one side, three on the other, flowing up then turning above the chalice rim to descend straight down to the body of water below. Drops of water surround the flow, but the water-lilies below are undisturbed. Continue reading Ace of Cups
7 of Swords
A man is clearly sneaking away from a distant encampment, traveling towards the viewer’s left. He carries five long swords against his shoulders by the blades and looks smugly over his left shoulder at the gaily adorned tents in the right of the card. Two more swords are planted in the ground behind him. Three men can barely be seen in silhouette in the left of the card. Presumably, they are ignorant of the thief’s heist and exaggerated getaway. Continue reading 7 of Swords
6 of Cups
In a European village setting, two young children stand among flowers. Both are bundled up against the cold, though the younger girl wears mittens while the boy does not. He is offering a chalice nearly half his size to the girl. She looks up at him in warmth. The chalice he holds, the chalice sitting on the low wall behind him, and the four chalices framing the bottom of the card all have flowering plants potted in them. On the corner of the low wall is engraved a shield with a plain “X” crossing the field. A home with windowed attic and a two-story tower stand in the background under the cloudless sky. Along the cobblestone path of the low wall, a man is seen receding in to the distance bearing a spear. Continue reading 6 of Cups
Justice
A woman is seated on a stone bench between two unremarkable pillars facing the viewer. She wears the vestments of her office, and a gold crown upon her head. The crown features a blue square over the forehead. Her cloak is fastened by a gold square with a red circle. In her left hand, she holds a set of free scales. The bowls are level and the scale measures as balanced. In her right hand, she holds a long sword fully upright. Her face is stern and fixing. A curtain is draped between the pillars behind her, completely obscuring the background. Continue reading Justice
The Lovers
On a barren landscape stand two trees, one green and lush with ripe fruit, another leafless with fruit appearing to be on fire. A snake is wound around the lush tree and before it stands a naked woman who is looking up at an apparition in the sky. A naked man stands before the leafless tree but his attention is on the woman. In the far background between the trees is a lone mountain peak, looking much like a dormant volcano. Above the trees is a barrier of clouds, from which emerges a winged angel. The wings appear to be feathered with flame, and the angel’s hair is also aflame. They raise their hands as if in proclamation. Above the angel the sun dominates the sky, with straight beams emanating from the orb. Continue reading The Lovers
The Tower
A tall tower rises from the highest point of a crag. Unremarkable in construction except for a golden dome for the roof, the tower is imposing against the darkened sky. However a jagged lightning bolt has struck the top of the tower, knocking the golden dome off completely and setting the upper floors on fire. Two figures have been ejected from the edifice, though it is unclear if they were thrown by the bolt or jumped. The are both head over heels, though the man is looking towards the ground in panic and horror, while the woman has resigned herself to her fate. The woman has managed to keep her crown despite her circumstances. Tongues of fire are seen between the thick clouds. Continue reading The Tower
5 of Pentacles
Snow falls heavily outside of cathedral. Lit from within, the stained glass window shown in the upper half of the card is seen clearly. An ornamentation displays five pentacles and is accented with flowers and alternating colors. The luxury of the view is lost on two beggars struggling through the ankle-deep snow. A woman shuffles past the window in torn clothing and without shoes. She holds her rags as tight as she can against the snowfall. Behind her a man struggles with crutches and rag-bound feet. He is seen glancing up at the window but his opinion is not readily seen on his face. A bell hanging from his neck announces he is a leper to all that hear. The pair are excluded from the warmth within the edifice. Continue reading 5 of Pentacles
5 of Swords
On a windswept plaza three men have been dueling. The winner stands with his body facing the viewer, but he is looking over his right shoulder at the two losers in this contest. He holds two longswords over his left shoulder and is in the process of picking up a third off the ground. Two other swords lay on the ground by his feet. His demeanor is smug and belittling. One of the other men is walking away from the contest with his robe slung over his shoulder. Further in the distance, the second man is facing the sea with his face in his hands. His body posture implies he is sobbing bitterly. The waters are choppy as if windblown, an implication shared by the streaks of clouds in the sky. Continue reading 5 of Swords