The Pictorial Key to the Tarot by Arthur Edward Waite (1911)
Strange chalices of vision, but the images are more especially those of the fantastic spirit.
Upright: Fairy favours, images of reflection, sentiment, imagination, things seen in the glass of contemplation; some attainment in these degrees, but nothing permanent or substantial is suggested.
Reversed: Desire, will, determination, project.
Leisa ReFalo says that "The cups contain strange objects. The represent among other things, the 7 planetary trumps and the 7 deadly sins"
- Head: Venus - Empress
- Ghost: Moon - High Priestess
- Snake: Mercury - The Magician
- Castle: Mars - The Tower
- Jewels: Jupiter - Wheel of Fortune
- Wreath: Saturn - The World
- Dragon: Sun - The Sun
My question. Why is there a skull on the cup that contains the laurel wreath? There is no victory over death? Saturn, as Father Time, is the true ruler of the world?
Waite was, among other things, a Christian mystic. Is this addition to the cup his?
But whether it was Waite or PCS - what does it mean?
Wikipedia offers this idea:
"The cups seem to offer:
* A snake - may represent animal passion and desire. Alternatively, some consider the snake to represent powerful transformative knowledge. The snake around The Magician's waist may offer insight into Waite's intention with this inclusion herein.
* A treasure horde - probably represents wealth and abundance.
* A human head - may represent a potential companion to the seeker (love).
* A castle or tower - may represent power and stability, or one's native land. (contrast with The Tower)
* A laurel wreath - most likely represents victory, honor and status. Note the skull-like shadow on the cup itself, which may point to the great dangers of vanity and pride (a deadly sin).
* A dragon - in keeping with the Christian imagery of the deck, it is more likely a symbol of evil, anger and envy, calamity. Today, dragons are mostly associated with fantasy, the supernatural, magic.
* A shrouded, glowing figurine - may represent the burning need for the conjurer's self-illumination."
I like the idea of the skull as a warning against vanity and pride. The Victor can become the Vanquished in a blink of the eye.
2 comments:
Some very interesting observations. The skull on the cup with the wreath reminds me of the Roman Triumph (you knew I was gonna work Romans in there somwhere, right?) where the Imperator is accompanied in his chariot by a slave whose job is to remind him he too is mortal.
Why the skull? Perhaps because you need an underlying structure if you are to have success or victory.
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