 |
|
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Astrologer's Notes:
Ask Carrin Martin,
Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Martin Lass,
Astrologer
Glenn Perry,
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Erin Sullivan,
Astrologer
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Stellar Scopes
Daija de Mornay
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
The Weekly Horoscope
By Care
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
The BUT Doctor
Healing America's Real Crack Problem One Person at a Time
by Eddie Conner
Avant-Gardening:
Insights by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
Breaking Free:
Anne Brewer
Choices: The Art of Conscious Creation:
by Teri Harris Saa
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
"Letters from Heaven:" Spiritual Guidance from
the Hebrew Alphabet
by Avigayil Landsman
Memos From The
First Tabugian
Art Rosengarten, Ph.D.
The Path of Wisdom and Love
Dr. John Demartini,
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Pearls of Wisdom:
with Care
Feng Shui:
Wind & Water:
Carole J. Hyder
In Practice:
How to Create a Successful Holistic Practice- from Start to Success
by Shaun Brown,
CMT, BA BeWell Publications
Spirit in Work
by John Livesay,
Author
The Business of Tarot
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Pet Care:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Tarot:
Soulforest:
Tarot and Spirituality
Rachel Pollack,
Tarot Grand Master
Gateway to Tarot:
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master
Bonnie Cehovet's
Tarot Interviews
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Features:
Blessings & Messages
Crystals, Gemstones & Minerals by Kristi of MoonCave
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Other
Novel Moments
Opinion - Editorial
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"The Ancient Way of Chinese Medicine"
by Kevin O'Neil
Flower Essences
by Donna Cunningham
Living in Harmony-Astrology, Yoga & Ayurveda:
Venkat & Christine Machiraju
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
Tai Chi & Qigong
by Bill Douglas
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Tools for Heartful Living
by Jackie Woods,
Healer & Spiritual Teacher,
Adawehi Institute
Conscious Breathing
for Health and Self Transformation
by Dennis Lewis
The Directory
The Book Nook
Archives:
Past Issues
General Information:
Editorial Submission
Information:
Articles
Columns
Editorial Opinions
"Opinion - Editorial"
General Content
Event Calendars
Graphics & Photos
Editorial Deadlines
Advertising Promotion:
Advertising
Information &
Opportunities
About
The Meta Arts
Magazine
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tarot
Gateway To Tarot
|
|
|
by Bonnie Cehovet
Tarot Master
|
|
|
The Tarot world is a wonderful place to be - full of exciting people, in depth symbology, and an endless variety of opinions on this and that. All of this is certainly true of the Minchiate Tarot. There isn't a more exciting Tarot personality than the late Brian Williams - artist, historian, author and illustrator for this deck. The symbology in the Minchiate Tarot reaches back into the beginnings of Tarot, to the Renaissance era and its symbols and iconography. The artwork is stunningly simple line drawings colored in pale pastel coloring with more "white space" than one normally see in Tarot cards. IMHO, this is quite effective - but then I am on a one woman campaign to banish borders of all kinds from Tarot cards!
Of course, there are those who would tell you that this in "not" a Tarot deck. It has 96 cards, rather than the traditional 78. What Brian Williams has done here is to play the wizard - changing some of the major arcana (the High Priestess, the Empress and the Pope were removed from the deck), and adding cards for the elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth), the twelve signs of the zodiac and four additional virtues (Hope, Prudence, Faith and Charity) to the existing virtues (Justice, Fortitude (Strength) and Temperance).
We get not one, but two Emperors in this deck - the Eastern and the Western Emperors. It is interesting to compare these gentlemen. They are both featured in a seated position, with the Eastern Emperor looking to the left of the card (traditionally considered to be the past), and the Western Emperor looking straight out from the card (traditionally considered to be the present). The Eastern Emperor holds his scepter in his right hand and his globe in his left hand; the Western Emperor holds his scepter in his left hand and his globe in his right hand. The Western Emperor also features a griffin seated to the right of his chair, at his feet. Both emperors are mature but young men.
The Charioteer has been changed from a male figure to the nude figure of a nymph, while Time takes on the countenance of a Saturnine old man. The Tower shows a nude woman running from an open door, looking back at the flames - out of which appears a woman bearing a reflection of her own face, reaching out towards her. The final five trump cards in the Minchiate Tarot are called Le Aire (the Airs) - they are The Star, The Moon, The Sun, The World and Fame.
The Star shows a mounted King with a chalice. The Moon shows an astrologer, and the Sun a pair of courting lovers. Fame (Judgment) shows a female Goddess in place of the Angel Gabriel blowing his horn -a move back to more Pagan roots.
The court cards also show an interesting change - in that the "yin" suits of Cups and Coins (Pentacles/Disks) show Handmaidens in place of Pages. The Knights are portrayed as centaurs and griffins, and the pips show the suit symbols, often with small vignettes of animals underneath them (or in the middle of the card). The suit of Coins shows male and female faces within the suit symbol. (Interesting note: All of the human figures depicted in this deck appear to have been based upon two models - one male, and one female.)
The Minchiate Tarot is based on the historical foundations and archetypes of traditional Tarot, combined with the Minchiate card lineage that was developed in Florence in the mid 16th century. Unlike the traditional Minchiate that they were patterned after, the Minchiate Tarot by Brian Williams does include titles at the bottom of the cards - in both English and Italian. Can the cards be read with? Certainly! If anything, they add information to the reading, without the use of esoteric symbols and hidden agendas. The style of the cards is a gentle style, easily used for meditation and inner work, as well as ritual and ceremony. The Minchiate Tarot is Renaissance art brought forth into current times.
The Minchiate Tarot is not overlaid with esoteric or occult symbols or theory. It is a very straightforward deck, one that allowed me to see things that I had never contemplated, such as the Virtues, and their place in Tarot. It is magickal to see the twelve signs of the zodiac represented as themselves - much easier and more straightforward than trying to match them with a Tarot card - Trump, Pip or Court Card.
The Minchiate Tarot is a deck that allows the reader to open their intuitive eyes to a greater extent, the result of which is readings with more depth and clarity. Reading through Brian's definition of the numerological meanings is also expansive.
He defines the Aces as unity, power, and new beginnings. He goes on to note that he sees Aces as a positive number, and notes that they can be overwhelming.
Two's are seen as duality and polarity, and are seen as favorable, with the exception of Two of Coins, which is seen as new difficulties or worries.
Three's are seen as a spiritual number - all of them being favorable, with the exception of the Three of Swords being seen as inauspicious.
Four's are seen as the number of space and matter (i.e. the four worlds, the four elements etc). The Four of Swords and the Four of Staves (Wands) are seen as being favorable, with the Four of Cups and the Four of Coins as being unfavorable.
The meaning of the number five in the Minchiate Tarot closely follows the Golden Dawn tradition, in which they are seen as fairly unfavorable cards.
The Six's are seen as being fruitful, and is positive for all of the suits, with the exception of the Cups.
The number Seven is seen as a magickal number, the sum of the spiritual Three and the material Four. The Seven's are favorable in all of the suits except for the Cups.
The number Eight carries mixed connotations: it is negative for the Swords, slightly negative for the Cups, and positive for the Staves (Wands) and Coins.
The number Nine carries a connotation of grace, with the suits of Cups and Coins being favorable, and the suits of Staves and Swords being unfavorable.
The number Ten is considered a number of completion. It is favorable in the suits of Cups and Coins, and unfavorable in the suits of Staves and Swords.
In the book that accompanies the Minchiate Tarot, Brian presents three spreads: the traditional Celtic Cross spread; the Twelve Houses spread, which is his version of the Astrological spread and Tom Tadfor Little's version of the Tetrakytes spread. The last spread, the Tetrakytes spread, is the one that I am going to share here. It is a marvelous spread that makes best use of an extended deck such as the Minchiate Tarot.
10
9 8
7 6 5
4 3 2 1
Triad: The Material World
Card #1: Fire - This represents the Seeker's creative energies and initiative. The answers the questions of What do I want? and How am I going to achieve it? for the Seeker.
Card #2: Air - This represents the Seeker's thoughts and strategies. This answers the questions of how the Seeker sees things, and what plans is he/she formulating.
Card #3: Water - This represents the Seeker's feelings and moods. This answers the Seeker's questions of how they are feeling about the situation, and how they are reacting to it.
Card #4: Earth - This involves practical matters and daily routines. This answers the question of what keeps the Seeker grounded.
Triad: The Spiritual Forces
Card #5: Creator - This represents "how" things are being brought into being. This answers the question of what is the energy behind the Seeker's desires and plans - what is driving them in new directions.
Card #6: Sustainer - This is what keeps the Seeker balanced in the midst of change. This answers the question of what is keeping the Seeker in balance.
Card #7: Destroyer - This represents how the Seeker is releasing old things (habits and thoughts). This answers the question of what is blocking the Seeker, what is reducing their options and why they are being thwarted when they try to break loose.
Dyad: The Essential Principles
Card #8: Light - This represents yang energy, the thesis and positive assertion. This answers the question of what ideas are presenting themselves to the Seeker. What is trying to come into being - what needs to be acknowledged.
Card #9: Darkness - This represents yin energy, the antithesis, the complementary reply. This answers the question of how the universe is responding to the Seeker, and what information is being hidden.
Monad: The Theme
Card #10: This card represents the hidden unity behind the cards of the Dyad. It reveals the theme of the Seeker's issue.
This should give you a great start with this deck. It is meant for meditation, contemplation and ritual work in my book, but it can also be used for general readings. The differences between the Minchiate Tarot and more mainstream decks, such as the Rider-Waite or Thoth Tarot's, are there, and they are there for a reason. Just think of it as "spiced up" Tarot.
If you have any questions, or suggestions for future columns, please contact me at: Crystalgate@aol.com.
May your paths be well lit and well traveled.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Master, and Reiki Master/Teacher.
|
 |
Bonnie Cehovet is a Tarot Master, professional Tarot reader and Reiki Master/Teacher.
Bonnie has been reading the Tarot professionally for over ten years. She has served in various capacities with the American Tarot Association, including Secretary and Web Assistant For Links. She is currently Certification Director and Secretary for the American Board For Tarot Certification. Bonnie is also a founding member of the World Tarot Network.
Bonnie has had her work published in the ATA newsletter, in Geraldine Amaral's "Celebrating The Tarot" print newsletter, on the World Tarot Network and other internet sites. She is editor for her own monthly newsletter "Gateway To Tarot" (Yahoo Groups).
www.tarot.thecrystalgate.
com |
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory!
|
|
|
|
|
