From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Greenwood tarot deck
Greenwood tarot deck
The Greenwood Tarot is a tarot deck created by British
actor/swordsman Mark Ryan and artist Chesca Potter. It
Minor Arcana
incorporates Pre-Celtic symbolism (symbols and themes
of pre-metalworking cultures before the migration of the Suits
Celts to Europe). Like a standard tarot deck, the Green- The four suits in the Greenwood Tarot are: Wands, Cups,
wood Tarot is 78 cards, organized in 4 suits, with 22 Major Arrows and Stones. The first two are the same as the
Arcana. The suits are similar to the standard deck. The standard tarot, the latter replace Swords and Coins/Pen-
minor cards all have overt titles printed on them. The tacles with more pre-Bronze Age symbols. As with the
court cards are all symbolic European animals. A few standard deck, the suits represent Fire, Water, Air, and
of the Major Arcana have been re-ordered, renamed, or Earth respectively. Following the Wheel of the Year sym-
combined, but all of the familiar figures and themes are bolism ,they also represent Spring, Summer, Autumn,
present. and Winter respectively.
Court Cards
Major Arcana
As with the standard tarot, each suit has 4 ’court’ cards:
The Major Arcana in the Greenwood Tarot is based on Page, Knight, Queen, and King. In the Greenwood Tarot,
the standard tarot deck. All 22 cards are represented, al- these cards are represented by some of the many animals
though the order has been changed to reflect a new nar- that were symbolically significant to the pre-Celtic cul-
rative journey, several names have been changed, and tures of Europe.
the attributes of The Hanged Man have been reallocated
Wands Cups Arrows Stones
between two of the cards.
The resulting progression now traces the path of the Ace Spark of Life Breath of Waters of Foundation
innocent from ancient roots through growth, power, fall, Life Life
death, passage, and transcendence. To some extent, the 2 Decision Injustice Attraction Challenge
journey also traces the Wheel of the Year’s progression
through the seasons, a theme that was addressed explic- 3 Fulfilment Jealousy Joy Creativity
itly by the deck’s creators. 4 Celebration Rest Boredom Protection
• 0 - The Fool (0 - The Fool)
5 Power Frustration Ecstacy Endurance
• 1 - The Ancestor (V - The Hierophant)
• 2 - The Star (XVII - The Star) 6 Harvest Transition Reunion Exploitation
• 3 - The Archer (VII - The Chariot) 7 Clearance Insecurity Mourning Healing
• 4 - Justice (XI - Justice)
• 5 - The Lovers (VI - The Lovers) 8 Hearthfire Struggle Rebirth Skill
• 6 - Balance (XIV - Temperance) 9 Respect Dedication Generosity Tradition
• 7 - The Greenman (IV - The Emperor)
10 Responsibility Instruction Happiness Home
• 8 - The Greenwoman (III - The Empress)
• 9 - The Blasted Oak (XVI - The Tower/XII - The Page Stoat Woodpecker Kingfisher Wren
Hanged Man) Knight Fox Hawk Salmon Wolf
• 10 - Strength (VIII - Strength)
Queen Hare White Hart Heron Bear
• 11 - Reflection (Related to XII - The Hanged Man)
• 12 - The Wheel (X - Wheel of Fortune) King Adder Lynx Reindeer Horse
• 13 - The Guardian (XV - The Devil)
• 14 - Death (XIII - Death)
• 15 - The Hermit (IX - The Hermit) Wheel of the Year
• 16 - Judgement (XX - Judgement) Another innovation unique to the Greenwood Tarot was
• 17 - The Seer (II - The High Priestess) the realization by the co-creators that the cards of the
• 18 - The Moon (XVIII - The Moon) classic Tarot could not only be rearranged to tell a trans-
• 19 - The Shaman (I - The Magician) formative narrative, but that the themes also fit into the
• 20 - The Sun (XIX - The Sun) cyclic myths of the turning of the seasons, or Wheel of
• 21 - The World Tree (XXI - The World/ The Universe) the Year.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Greenwood tarot deck
Included with the deck was a chart that depicted a ary 2nd (Imbolc), or we have to wait through ’six weeks
wheel of the 8 solar festivals, with the Court cards ar- more winter’ (Vernal Equinox).
rayed around the outside according to the season asso-
ciated with their suit. The Major Arcana were stationed
in pairs at each festival, with The Fool and the final 5
Publication status
trumps in the center of the wheel. Each festival, starting The Greenwood Tarot is currently out of print. Copies are
with Imbolc was associated with a number, in that case occasionally seen on eBay, but there is no reliable source
Aces. Each festival in turn was associated with the next of decks. Inquiries to the co-creators usually result in po-
number, the 9’s and 10’s being connected with The Seer lite apologies amounting to there being no motion to-
and The Shaman, respectively, in the center. ward re-publication in the foreseeable future.
Each element (Fire, Air, Water, Earth), and therefore This, despite the Greenwood Tarot receiving numer-
season in this system, is centered on a solstice/equinox ous positive reviews, long-term and universally glowing
solar festival. This is the most Celtic element of this ’pre- fan loyalty, and eBay sales fetching sometimes almost
Celtic’ deck. The seasons of the Greenwood Tarot peak on $300 for an unopened deck.
the equinox/solstice, rather than start at them. They be-
gin instead at the Cross-quarter days, six weeks before
the start of the modern/solar season. The difference be-
References
tween these two reckonings of the seasons is still felt to-
day in Groundhog’s Day, when divination of the ground- External links
hog’s behavior determines whether Spring starts Febru-
• The Wildwood Tarot
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Categories:
• Tarot decks
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