I have finished three more cards for the Tarot Deck I am making and I’m working on IV: Emporer. So far I have made The Magician, High Priestess and The Empress. I chose to use Odin as The Magician, A völva as The High Priestess & Freya The Empress. I will talk about why I chose these and the symbolism on the cards as well as talk about Rider Waite Symbolism.
The Magician
Symbolism in Rider-Waite
In the Rider-Waite version of the card, there is alot of visual symbolism. Some examples include: Flowers for manifesting ideas and aspirations, a hand poiunting to universe and another pointing at the earth for “As Above, So Below” concept, the Infinity Symbol for unlimited potential, a pentagram as symbol of the elements, and a red cloak to showcate experience and knowledge.
Odin as The Magician
Odin is perfect to prepresent The Magician considering his backstory, In Odin’s story, he gouges out an eye and drops it into Mimir’s Well in order to have cosmic insight, prophecy, and knowledge of hidden truths. This is denoted by his eye patch. I alsohave runes surrounding him because he also sacrficed himself and hung himself bleeding from Yggrasil for nine freezing days and nights without food or water in order to gain the sacred knowledge of the runes. He also has two ravens, Huginn (Thought) & Muninn (Memory) that represent knowledge and experience. They are his eyes and ears flying across the Nine Realms and granting him immense wisdom and knowledge. He himself symbolizes manifestation and aspiration, because in the stories he stops at nothing to manifest his aspirations for sacred knowledge and cosmic insight. I also represent the elements on this card, The sun represents fire, rocky cliff represents earth, turbulent waters represent water and show that there is wind that represents air.
The High Priestess
Symbolism in Rider-Waite
She sits in front of a veil that separates the realm of the divine and the physical world, the letter B represents Boaz and the letter J Jachin which is symbolism of equalibrium like yin and yang. Her headdress represents the three phases of the moon honoring the triple goddess, she holds scrolls, and has a crescent mood at her feet. This represents having a foundation of intiuition.
The High Priestess as a Völva
She wears a veil over her eyes that represents her vision beyond the veil into the divine realm. Her tatoos, rune belt, and bone headdress represent her connection to shamanism and esoteric knowledge. Also, Volva’s are known for being Seers using intutiiton and divine connection to guide others including Jarls. Her staff allows her to weave fate and perform rituals.
The Empress
Symbolism in Rider-Waite
Some of the Symbolism includes, Scepter to symbolize Power and Guidance, Red Bedding symbolizes creativity and sensuality, Venus Symbol represents using power and love to shield others, crowned by 12 zodiac stars, foliage to symbolize connection to nature, Pattern on dress symbolizes abundance and fertility, wheat also symbolizes abundance and providing for others.
Freya as The Empress
She has her staff to symbolize power and guidance, her violet dress symbolizes divine connection, inner peace and goddess energy. She has a red jewal in her crown as a nod to the red of creativity and sensuality, but she also also a known goddess of love and fertility. She is in nature and surrounded by flowers, woods and water symbolizing her connection to nature and fertility. The flowers and her golden hair is also a nod to fertility and abundance. Her cats also represent femininity, fertility, and protectiion.
