Tarot Review - Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea

September 4, 2007 2959 Comments
Tarot Review

The Funhouse examines a very colorful deck based on the Tree of Life and the ancient Cabala called the Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea. Using a reordered sequence of cards, this deck breaks away from the traditional numbering system of other Golden Dawn based decks and it provides deep insights into readings from it’s rich colors, symoblism and artwork.

Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea

Theme

Card Back

Based on traditions of the Golden Dawn and the Rider-Waite deck, the Navigators deck utilizes some familiar imagery and symbolism, but provides many new aspects uncommon to similar decks. It bases its structure on the Tree of Life (illustrated on the back of the deck). Using the 10 spheres and 22 connecting paths, the deck utilizes 32 Paths of Wisdom by which a person can come to understand themselves.

The deck places the pip cards in reverse order, meaning the tens are considered the lowest cards, rising up the sequence to the powerful Aces. Although you won’t really be able to tell a difference in how the cards are numbered.

The deck is designed to help teach a meditative path to self-knowledge. The suits represent the four different aspects of the psyche: Pentacles represent the five senses and their material environment; Swords represent the intellect and the ability of the rational mind to analyze situations; Cups, as usual, represent emotions which flow beneath rationalization and the Wands represent intuition and visionary power.

Imagery and Symbolism

The imagery used throughout the deck is bright and colorful, utilizing human figures on every card. Each card has numerous symbols and rich detail. The artwork has the feel of contruction paper cut-outs layered on top of each other, although the deck was actually created through painting. The human figures are tall, slender and simplified, looking very much like Egyptian hieroglyphics. Most of them have neutral expressions on their faces, and project their emotions and situations through their surroundings and their body positions.

The backgrounds on the cards consist of solid colors without gradients and use of rich, saturated rainbow colors. Much of the symbolism used throughout the deck appears very tiny. You may have to examine the cards closely to discover objects and symbols which are easy to overlook at first glance. The minor arcana cards all include appropriate depictions of pentacles, wands, swords and cups in the artwork.

Most of the imagery seems to come from a timeless era, ancient in feeling, but you will find some modern imagery, such as the computer used in the three of pentacles (see image below). This combination of influences throughout history make for a very unique and interesting design.

The Cards

Sample Cards

The back design (see above) is a depiction of the Cabalistic Tree of Life. The ten cards of the minor arcana represent the 10 circles on the tree and the 22 cards of the major arcana represent the 22 paths connecting the circles.

The cards measure 2.5″ x 4.25″. They are printed on very durable semi-glossy card stock and each card has rounded corners. The titles of each card lie in the white area below each image, with a relevant key word centered at the top of each card. The Major Arcana cards do not have any numbering on them. This is because the designers believe the traditional order of the Major Arcana doesn’t fit the orders indicated by the paths of the tree of life. Therefore, they removed the numbers so that the deck could be interpreted using both the traditional order and the new order.

Many of the Major Arcana cards have new names (see complete list below).

Booklet Descriptions

The 40-page booklet that accompanies the deck provides useful interpretations of each card. It doesn’t provide the usual list of short words and phrases. Instead it tells you (in the second person) what you might experience, feel or understand about the individual cards.

Here is an excerpt for the Three of Pentacles (pictured above):

Three of Pentacles Foundation
Old wisdom is being transformed and modernized. Look ahead to see what is happening in the world around you and focus your own vision on new endeavors and on updating your backlog of infomation. Your disposition will change if you discard old habits.

As you can see, the description doesn’t necessarily correlate to the imagery in the card and the bookelt doesn’t provide any descriptions of the artwork. So I recommend that users utilize the booklet only for getting acquainted with the cards and develop their own interpretations using the actual symbolism.

The booklet also includes a new spread called the 12-card Past-Present-Future Spread called the Web Spread.

Recommendation

I recommend this deck for people who like bright colors and rich symbolism. If you enjoy interpretations based on Cabala and the Tree of Life, this deck will certainly appeal to you. It may also appeal to those who want an alternative to a Crowley Thoth Deck. It may be a little too non-tranditional for some beginners to learn from. I found doing readings with this deck to be a little hit and miss. I tend to get decent readings, but the interpretations and artwork may not always provide enough information to tie all the cards in to a cohesive understanding.

Deck Information

  • Size of Cards: 2.5″ x 4.25″
  • Number of Cards: 78 Major: 22 Minor: 54
  • Major Arcana Titles: Fool, Magian, Arch Priestess, Empress, Emperor, Hierophant, Lovers, Chariot, Strength, Hermit, Fortune, Destiny, Suspension, Death, Art, Devil, Tower, Star, Moon, Sun, Aeon, Universe
  • Suits: Wands, Cups, Swords, Pentacles
  • Court Cards: Page, Knight, Queen, King
  • Included with Deck: Booklet with descriptive interpretations
  • Appeals to: Readers who enjoy exploring the Tree of Life, Cabala or who like vivid colors and rich symbolism
  • Deck Distributor: U.S. Games

Purchase or Read Reviews of the Navigators Tarot of the Mystic Sea and other Recommended Products

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Card Position 3 of the Celtic Cross Spread

August 13, 2007 7233 Comments
Tarot Information

In this series of articles on the positions of the Celtic Cross Spread. I will attempt to illuminate readers to the sometimes subtle distinctions between the meanings of the positions. I will post more information on other aspects of the Celtic Cross Spread later. In these articles I will use the term ’subject’ to refer to the person you give the reading to (which can by yourself or someone else). I will use the term ‘reader’ to indicate the person giving the reading (which will usually be yourself).


Celtic Cross position number 3 – UNDERLYING ENERGY, SUBCONSCIOUS INFLUENCES, WHAT LIES BELOW

Celtic Cross Spread

Card position 3 usually lies directly beneath the cross formed by cards 1 and 2. Therefore, it represents what lies below the main conflict of the spread. It informs the reader as to the influences coming from the subconcious level. These energies most likely don’t manifest in your subject’s mind, so this card can give you a bit of advice to give. You can tell your subject about some influences they may not have an awareness of.

If you visualize the spread as a novel or a movie, the third card represents the underlying motivation that drives the character to do certain things. The character doesn’t realize he/she operates from this influence. It may represent an event from the person’s past or some hidden away influence from the subconsious world.

After you have determined the conflict of the spread with cards 1 & 2, Card Position 3 will help you determine the personal influences that the subject manifests which may have led to the conflict or which may prevent him/her from progressing.

The third position could indicate any of the following:

  • An underlying motivation
  • A subconscious influence
  • Something hidden or suppressed
  • A gut feeling
  • A forgotten memory
  • A root cause

Court Card in the Third Position 

A court card in the third position will most often reflect a shadow personality of the subject. A personality traight the subject doesn’t realize he/she is exhibiting.

Conversely, a court card can represent another person whose influence on the matter at hand is secret or unknown to the subject.

Example:  A man asks about feeling stuck in his career path. You draw a Queen of Pentacles in the third position. This might represent a woman in his current career who has some sort of influence in holding him back (perhaps a supervisor or rival business owner). Or it could indicate that the man internalizes his business personality (indicated by the Queen) which may hold him back. You might suggest that he concentrate on speaking up or externalizing himself to others. Having more confidence or making new connections in order to counteract this subconscious influence.

Relationship to other positions

The number three card in the Celtic Cross spread relates to several other cards in the spread.

Vertical Axis - Cards 3, 1-2, and 5

The vertical line of cards represents the dimension of inner/outer or up/down. Position 3 starts on the inner point (the subconscious or gut feeling or instinct level) and progresses up through cards 1 & 2 (the conscious level) into card 5 (the superconscious or inspiriation level). Interpreting card 3 through this filter helps bring focus to your reading.

Relationship to Position 7 

The third card also has a very strong relationship with card position 7. They both indicate influences coming from within the subject. However, card 3 usually has a much more subtle influence and the subject usually doesn’t have any awareness of this influence. Card 7 indicates thought processes the subject has and is aware of.

Relationship to Position 9 

The third card relates to the ninth card because they both represent a secret or key that may help in giving advice to the subject. Card 9 usually indicates a desire, worry, fear, obstacle or a key to unifying the entire spread. Whereas, card 3 indicates a sub-influence that once the subject becomes aware of, they may suddenly make connections they hadn’t thought of before.

Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of the importance of card position 3.

Be sure to take a look at the previous entries:
Card Position 1
Card Position 2


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Card Position 2 of the Celtic Cross Spread

August 3, 2007 1 Comment
Tarot Information

In this series of articles on the positions of the Celtic Cross Spread. I will attempt to illuminate readers to the sometimes subtle distinctions between the meanings of the positions. I will post more information on other aspects of the Celtic Cross Spread later. In these articles I will use the term ’subject’ to refer to the person you give the reading to (which can by yourself or someone else). I will use the term ‘reader’ to indicate the person giving the reading (which will usually be yourself).


Celtic Cross position number 2 – CROSSING ENERGY, OPPOSING FORCE, LATERAL MOVEMENT, SUPPORTING ENERGY, DEFINING ASPECT

Celtic Cross Spread

At the center of the spread crossing card number 1 (the subject), lies card number 2. It represents energy that is either working against or possibly supporting card number 1. Even if the energies represented by the first two cards seem similar, the second card often represents an obstacle to overcome or an opposing force.

If you visualize the spread as a novel or a movie, the second card represents the conflict or antagonist of the story. By comparing cards 1 and 2, you should have a clear picture of the central struggle your subject faces right now. If no struggle or obstacle feels evident, then the opposing forces may be working together to create the same overriding energy.

If you think of the whole of human emotion as if it were a flat map. All 78 energies of the tarot run vertically and horizontally similar to the longitude and latitude markings of a globe. The first two cards of this spread give you a marker on the map which tells you where the subject is right now. Other dimensions of the subject’s situation (such as time) can be derived from other cards in the spread. Read more on this “dimensional” concept in my previous post Imagining the Celtic Cross Spread in 5 Dimensions.

The second position could indicate any of the following:

  • An opposing force.
  • A conflict your subject faces or an obstacle they must overcome
  • A supporting or clarifying energy.
  • Another way of looking at the subject.
  • A defining element, which sheds more light on the subject.
  • A crossing or lateral movement. Energy that flows against your main objective

Court Card in the Second Position 

A court card in the second position will sometimes represent a person in the subject’s life who is at odds with them or doesn’t see the situation the same. This person may be working against the subject (in regard to the question they asked).

Conversely, a court card can represent an aspect of the subject’s personality which is working against his/her intentions. A personality flaw that may be getting in the way or impeding progress.

Example:  A woman asks about the state of her marriage. You draw the Sun card for position one and the Queen of Cups in position two. This could indicate that the woman generally sees her relationship clearly and with an optimistic slant, but her personality suggests to others that she isn’t happy or she may be projecting a moodiness which works against the sunny energy. Conversely, the Queen of Cups can represent the other person in her relationship. Perhaps your subject’s sunny optimism makes her partner moody or difficult to be around.

When you don’t have a clear idea of the situation from card number one, card number two should shed some light on the matter. If you think of the cards as a general conflict in a story, you will be able to inquire with your subject to narrow down what that conflict may be.

Relationship to other positions

The number two card in the Celtic Cross spread relates to most of the other cards in the spread. Since it is closely tied to the subject of the reading, you will refer to Cards one and two as a single unit as you progress throughout the spread. Since card two mostly represents something you need to overcome or work through in order to progress, you will refer back to it as the main objective to address in the spread.

The Spokes of the Wheel - Relationship to Positions 3-6

I like to look at the central card as the hub of the wheel in the Celtic Cross spread. It represents the NOW. Examine the horizontal line of cards from left to right (past present future). The cards in the middle represents the present state in that sequence of time events. Examine the vertical line of cards, from bottom to top (unconscious, conscious and super conscious). The cards in the middle represents what the subject is aware of in the situation—what’s on his/her mind right now. You can and should interpret the cards in relation to both of these directional spokes of the center wheel.

Relationship to Position 1 

The first card also has a very strong relationship with card position 1. The two cards represent the central conflict or obstacle. These two intersecting energies cross in space/time right now and create the atmosphere the subject feels most right now. They should almost be treated as a unit.

Relationship to Position 8 

The second card ties in closely with card 8. Card 8 usually represents the subjects environment, external forces and what others think about the subject. Card 2 has similar properties in that it deals with opposing or outside forces. Comparing these two cards for similarities and differences can shed light on the subject’s question. When they differ, usually card 2 represents an influencing aspect and card 8 represents emotions and thoughts of others or the general environment that the influencing forces of card 2 operate in.

Relationship to Position 9 

Position 9 represents hopes, fears, desires or a general key to any puzzling elements of the spread. This relates to card 2 as these aspects (fears, desires) can work against the subject or possibly work for the subject (hopes, key).

Relationship to Position 10
Since Position 10 represents the outcome if things continue as they have, you can inform your subject that whatever obstacle number 2 represents, they must overcome it in order to alter the outcome of position 10.

Hopefully you have a clearer understanding of the importance of card position 2. Check out previous posts for other positions.


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