***Please note...this post is not meant to provoke an argument...it is simply offered as an alternative way of looking at the meanings present in this particular deck. Take what makes sense to you and ignore the rest. I am a strong believer that meaning is constructed through our exchanges with others (via conversations, writings, experiences) and as such that is what I offer through blogging. Take Care and Be Kind...!!!!
I have mentioned several times the multi-leveled meanings of the Fairy Tale Tarot cards. Honestly, I’m still in the process of discovering this aspect of the cards myself. The exploration is in the VERY early stages and, as such, it is difficult to explain but I’m going to take a “baby step” toward doing so. I think this is especially important to beginning card readers or those that want to explore deeper levels.
As I stated in an earlier post, I am actually a novice to tarot, so I am sure “expert” tarot readers might have an entirely different outlook. Here’s how I look at “reading cards”, whether it is tarot, oracle, playing cards or the Lenormand cards. You can get caught up in “meanings”, symbolism, and become quite scholarly about readings. Nothing wrong with that, it has a certain “richness” to it that is wonderfully attractive. But in the end, it doesn’t truly matter what the “traditional” or “right” meanings of the cards are.
What matters are the connections and meanings they have for the individual reader. That is not to say that a basic understanding is not necessary…it, of course, is quite essential. There is a wonderful history to the meanings and symbolism, and it is of value. However do not let “right” or “wrong” meanings limit the scope of the readings. In fact, decide for yourself the approach and meanings and that decision will determine the way the cards “read” for you. Meaning does not exist in a vacuum or in a piece of card stock. Meaning exists in our minds and even more so in our hearts and souls.
So now, back to the topic at hand…the multi-levels of meaning (and again this is just touching the surface). The Fairy Tale Tarot cards have been produced as a tarot deck and while not completely tied to traditional meanings they do coincide. So the deck is wonderfully expressive as a tarot deck. Now let’s add another “level”. The deck can be read as an oracle, with no knowledge of tarot, simply using the rich images on the cards. The reader can simply let the images “speak” to her; the intuitive feeling about the image will provide rich fodder for readings. You can add another level, by observing and using the symbolism present in the individual cards and combining this with the intuitive reading of the card. Then let’s add yet another level and that is the fairy tales themselves. Fairy tales have lessons to teach and these can be used to produce a reading using the fairy tale message. Then of course, all of these levels can be combined with any of the others to produce yet additional levels of meaning and interpretation.
WOW…see what I mean.... multi-leveled. The cool part is that there is potential for just about anybody (with a desire)...…even someone with limited knowledge of tarot and symbolism to read with this deck. They would simply use the images and/or the fairy tale messages.
Now I can hear it already…the arguments, at least…one.... being that to fully bond and provide the best readings possible, you should fully study and know all there is to know about tarot and/or symbolism…that argument is flawed, in my opinion. Here is why. Readings are produced from a person’s knowledge and beliefs about the cards. If readings are about intuitive knowledge and skill, then whatever “framework” the reader chooses, should work. That is not too belittle tarot/symbolism scholars…there is a richness there but it is not so much the readers scholarly knowledge but rather their intuitive skill that makes a reading flow. Plus with this particular deck the "scholarly research" has already been done by the author and is embedded in the deck.
Need I remind you that there are already multiple meanings for most divination methods; Cartomancy alone has hundreds of contradictory methods of reading and interpreting. One might propose that any deck could be read as I suggest, and to a certain extent that is correct. However the images of the Fairy Tale Tarot evoke strong primal messages. Maybe they are part archetype and part collective consciousness or maybe they are just wonderful artwork full of symbolism that speaks to us on a subconscious level. Regardless of the reason, the messages are there and along with the tales themselves, they provide more than enough understanding and insight to “speak” to varied readers with all levels of knowledge and experience.
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