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.

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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).****

TODAY'S CARD IS The Ace of Cups. The version below is from The Fairytale Tarot, designed by Karen Mahony, illustrated by Alex Ukolov, and artwork by Irena Trikova; published by Magic Realist Press:



For comparison, here's the Ace of Cups in the Rider/ Waite/ Smith deck:



THE ACE OF CUPS: Given my recent new creative project that I've been sharing here (The Taiga Tarot), I thought it was a good time to speak a little about the Ace of Cups. Not too long ago, after I'd drafted a review of a beautiful new art Tarot deck, I dreamed of three different versions of the Ace of Cups. I think that is a good example of how this card shows up around times of creative beginnings. This ace also tends to surface in times of great potential for love and other emotional abundance. I must admit it is one of the few cards in the Tarot that I've infrequently seen show up in a negative capacity. In fact, like The Star, its positive meaning(s) often radiate within a reading, affecting surrounding cards. I find attributing the story of the Ugly Duckling in The Fairytale Tarot to the Ace of Cups to be charming. The ultimate new beginning for the beleaguered ugly duckling as a beautiful swan is a wonderful image of potential realized. (The accompanying book covers this correspondence in depth, as it does with all of the cards and their fairytales.)

DIFFERENT OR LESS COMMON, EVEN QUIRKY MEANINGS FOR THE ACE OF CUPS (i.e. the below is not intended to be an exhaustive exploration of this card; a quick google will produce a wider variety of takes should you not be familiar with this card):

Can indicate an egotistical or self-centered person.

To positively effect your mood, take a shower whether you need one or not (it's worked for me!).

Rarely, but it can indicate a situation is approaching emotional overwhelm.

Watch the tendency to stay in the delightful early stages of creativity in order to avoid the next, grittier steps needed in order to manifest the idea.

An influx of many different sorts of creative energies or ideas. Keep notes so you can decide later what to pursue.

A time to be emotionally generous. The more you give, the more you have to give.

That sense of (or yearning for) mystical union with the All.

Aces in General: Can mean one needs to go back to the beginning to "pick up lost stitches," or start again from scratch. Can also simply suggest taking stock or a second look before taking any new action.

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Resource: The Transparent Tarot, "...uses clear sheets with symbolic elements that can be combined in layers, to make combined pictures and meanings," a deck-in-progress.

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

‘til next time, keep being open to creative energies 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.****