ACE OF CUPS, STRENGTH & KNIGHT OF COINS REDUX in a Review of The Masonic Symbolic Tarot

I've had the Masonic Symbolic Tarot for probably 20 years and this might be only the third time I've sat with it for any length of time. But I wanted to share cards from a deck in my collection I'd not yet shared from and this deck fits that bill. I first went through all the cards and pulled those that immediately grabbed my attention. As the pips (the Ace through Ten of the Wands, Cups, Swords and Coins [Pentacles]) are non-illustrated I found them unintriguing. Except, and in a big way, the Ace of Cups:



Phew! What an intense and, at least to me, wee bit scary Ace of Cups. By the way, I actually like the snakes (snake?), it's that almost demonic hand that disturbs me. (It also resonates with a very recent dream of mine. Here's the dreamku I wrote on it: dispersed by power/radiating from my palms/demonic twister. Hm...) In a way, my response feels like the sort of fear felt at the beginning of a brand new journey we intuit will be an extremely important one. That comment might explain why I was drawn to this card, as I'm starting on a new path that will make some tremendous changes in my life if I continue along it. The intriguing thing about this deck's cups suit: both the Two of Cups and Three of Cups also have these odd hands on them, with the rest of the suit just plain suit symbols. None of the other three minor suits have anything comparable, i.e. all of the Ace through Ten of wands, swords and coins are basically plain suit symbols. I'm tempted to suggest its because the suit of cups represents intuition and it is via intuition that we grasp the deepest, highest, and most awesome awareness.

Here's the Ace of Cups in the Rider/Waite/Smith deck for comparison:

[To read my previous post on The Ace of Cups, click here.}

The deck is based on Freemasonry so that Masonic symbolism abounds in all of the cards, but especially the Majors. The Major Arcana are much more interesting than the Minors. Some being rather striking and powerful. For instance, here's The Strength card, followed by the Rider/Waite/Smith version for comparison (Click here for my previous post on Strength):





The Court cards are rather unexceptional, like the pips. Here's the Knight of Coins (Pentacles), followed by the Rider/Waite/Smith version for comparison (Click here for my previous post on the Knight of Pentacles):





BTW, as I drafted this post I realized the three cards I chose to use here can act as a three card reading: Ace of Cups = past; Strength = present; and Knight of Pentacles = future. I know what I got from this as a reading, what do you think? I'd be delighted to hear.

The accompanying booklet is not a typical Little White Book ("LWB"), as it has illustrations for the Majors, does attempt to teach a bit about Freemasony, and is somewhat larger than the ordinary LWB. But, it has very little information on the Minors and Courts, and then only in a general way. I.e., they are only addressed as categories (e.g. what water and cups are about in general but no specific information on each cup card itself). The deck is colorful with some gilding on the cards, is a good size (tall and slim), and of good card stock.

The upshot is I personally do not relate well to this deck, though as its structure is that of a traditional Tarot deck I could read with it. However, I can most definitely imagine it being "just the ticket" for a Free Mason, or someone versed in Freemasonry symbolism or interested in learning about it. It's art might also simply resonate better for others than it has for me.

I could not locate publication information for the deck in the LWB or on googling other than that it was published by Grimaud in 1987. The cover of the LWB says it is by Jean Beauchard, translated by Leon Shoolingin.

* * * *

Resource: The Masonic Symbolic Tarot on Acelectic.net.

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry and Roswila’s Taiga Tarot for taiga (illustrated tanka).****

STRENGTH (VIII or XI)

TODAY'S CARD is Strength (VIII or XI). This unique version is by Love Beth Drew and is used by permission.



For comparison, here's the Strength card in the Rider/ Waite/ Smith deck:



THE STRENGTH CARD: There's a difference among decks as to the number assigned to Strength, either VII or IX, though more often it is VIII. (If I recall accurately, there was a re-numbering from VIII to XI to accommodate astrological correspondences, "way back when.") I find either number works fine for me, and usually relate to the number on the Strength card in the deck I'm working with at the moment.

Strength is one of a "Female Trinity" I see in The Tarot, along with The High Priestess and The Empress. These three can be seen as the three aspects of The Great Goddess: The Maiden = The High Priestess (she's often said to be virginal, or "complete unto Herself"); The Mother = The Empress; and The Crone = Strength (it must take a lot of hard-earned wisdom to look a lion in the mouth, :-D). At any rate, I enjoy thinking of these three female cards in this way.

DIFFERENT TAKES ON STRENGTH:

Loss of nerve. But remember that courage isn't a feeling, it's an action (i.e., courage doesn't necessarily feel courageous).

Speak or not speak, do or not do, it doesn't matter. It's a waste of energy and time. This is not where you need to be focusing your energies right now.

A little aphorism I wrote about Strength when meditating on it ages ago:

when looking
a lion in the mouth,
hold still
and listen
very closely

I once used the Strength card as my entry visualization into light trance work. In this light trance I was "told" that this card is essentially a glyph of a reader in communication with the Tarot's collective voice. That all the cards offer a way, but Strength -- more than any other -- represents where/how the individual may hear The Tarot's voice.

* * * *

Resource:James Ricklef's site; he's a Certified Tarot Master and freelance writer; the author of several Tarot books; his website has articles about Tarot, some Tarot book and deck reviews, a daily Tarot affirmation, and more, like Tarot games and humor; it also includes some of his fiction and poetry. (I had one of his excellent articles up on my now defunct website.)

Please see the top of the sidebar for my background with the Tarot and a recommendation to beginners.

‘til next time, keep listening to and enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm for some articles about Tarot.****