|
The cards above are from the 79-card deck, titled the Aquarian Tarot. The artist describes it as a ‘progressed’
Tarot, where the concepts from the two previous decks reach full development. The Trump descriptions for all three
decks are placed on the same pages of the accompanying book. This is to illustrate the underlying connections between
them, and to show the evolution of consciousness through the time span of several thousand years.
This deck really has some intriguing symbolism. It was born between 1962 and 1963, during which time a group of
friends had formed around John which channeled a series of detailed instructions for a Tarot, conceived specifically
for the new Aquarian Age. Virtually every design detail was specified, down to the colors. Assisted by Rosalind
Sharp, John used the instructions to create the cards and then published them as a limited edition in 1968. According
to the author, the Aquarian Tarot is meant to convey the messages of “freedom and release, a forward movement,
a deliberated change.”
There are no numbers on the Trumps, the titles have been renamed, and the imagery is non-traditional. But the intention
is to clarify the messages behind the traditional Trumps and to bring them to a new level. The Changer (above)
is our Magician. He has become more than the scientist and manipulator he plays in the Atlantean and
Medieval decks and has become the full power of the Mercurial mind, forever able to balance upon the ball instead
of playing with it. His right hand is extended palm upward with a flower, the left hand palm downward, dispensing
nourishment. The eagle on his shoulder is hooded, and its sharp claws have drawn blood. Spread before him are the
suits of this deck: the Stone (earth), the curved blade (air), the double-headed serpent (fire), and the pear (water).
Unity (above) takes the place of the Lovers card, whose more traditional meanings are explored in the other
two decks. Here, man and woman are joined as a revolving circle, signifying not only cooperation between partners
but the uniting of our own masculinity and femininity. The cycles of the moon move above. The two winged whales
within the circle represent Eros, conveying the idea that sex is “a depth-finding experience, with a light touch
of celebration and play at the same time.”
The Hermit is replaced by The Seeker (above), who leaves cloak and cane on the ground because they are no
longer needed. He walks the path by his inner sense, hands outstretched, and remains blindfolded so that he is
not distracted on the final steps of his journey. The lantern has become the spiritual mountain itself.
The card of the Devil becomes The Thinker (above). Signifying error, he finds himself stuck on the Tree
of Knowledge, believing he can ‘think’ his way free. The chains around his head are the rings of time, pulled at
one end by a man and woman and at the other end by a bleeding heart. If he didn’t sit brooding over his choices,
he would be free.
The Citadel, or Tower, simultaneously depicts the alignment of the world’s religions and the awakening of
the seven chakras. It signifies the citadel of power and authority within us, symbolized by sword and crown. The
symbol on the right shows the integration between a well-rooted base and the wings of enlightenment. The author,
in fact, says that the true Tower is our own body, and that the divine consciousness is contained within its walls.
The numeric cards do not have scenes, but arrange the suit symbols into geometric patterns.
More interesting are the court cards, such as the Pear-Page and Serpent Knight above, which use all
kinds of symbolic objects as part of the design. All the cards are printed on a very sturdy gloss stock, and the
printing maintains wonderfully brilliant colors. The scans above are a pretty close match to the original colors.
The only time I have ever noticed this package on store shelves was the one time that I bought it, but it is listed
on some of the major online bookstores as a special order item. I suspect that the publisher is a small
business with limited distribution, so it is likely that they have plenty of sets available at the time of this
writing.
|
