Exploring Tarot ~ The Silver Witchcraft Tarot

Well, I have to say that the Silver Witchcraft Tarot deck is interesting. Barbara Moore is its creator and Franco Rivolli its artist. At first blush, it seems more simplistic than other decks, but every time I think such heresy a closer look tends to reveal far more than my initial impression. The deck itself is non-traditional and its glossy finish makes the cards appear almost as if they’re individual photographs. Ms. Moore changes the suit of Cups to Chalices, which I like and with Pentacles, she includes faint spidery threads on each card illustrating the underlying foundation or mycorrhiza of life. And it’s interesting that most tarot decks will include, for example, three swords somewhere on the 3 of Swords, Ms. Moore doesn’t do this as we’ll see with the 6 of Pentacles. Lastly, each of the cards from the Major Arcana has a platform of some kind on which to present the scene which is also different from other decks.

Earth dominates the reading with two cards from Pentacles and one from Wands. Six is the overall numerology indicating a  Higher Self influence.

But we begin with the Page of Wands where we see a red-robed woman, flames in each hand. She seems to pull her fiery energy from the sand below as it appears, like her hair, static-charged, swirling around her as a small energy being watches at her feet. She is the seeker, the student, the bearer of news. She is the unfulfilled promise and undeveloped potential, a free spirit who lives in the now.

On the 6 of Pentacles, two green-robed women stand by a white-flowered tree full of fruit. One woman uses her robe to collect the fruit she’s picked while the other woman reaches down to feed a rabbit passing by. A large golden pentacle is embedded in the tree above their heads from which soft threads emerge connecting the women, the rabbit, and the pentacle. I’ve never seen a deck that suggests this unified connection between all things in form and I really like it and using spidery threads suggests the strength of that unity. Generosity that’s unexpected but appreciated as well as a fair distribution of wealth are traditional interpretations of the 6 of Pentacles along with success and harmony.

The Kings and Queens in this deck are intense and the thrones on which each one sits is both individualistic and beautiful. Again, the threads are visible extending from the pentacle the King holds to the gnome strewing seeds at his feet. The silver crown on his head has a Celtic feel as does the throne on which he sits confident and resolute. He is a powerful ruler, responsible and self-disciplined.

I like that this reading assumes our unified presence. From that perspective, like the Page, we can accomplish anything. In unity, we succeed and we share that success. There’s no sense of the other in this reading. A connection exists between humans, animals, and the rest of the natural world. This reading is reaffirming and reminding us of that truth.

Oh…one last thing. I’ve started a Daily Tarot and Rune webcast over on the YouTube page. I also talked about a tea I created. We’ll see how that goes now that garden season is here.

Blessed Be