Exploring Tarot: The Morgan-Greer Tarot

First published in the latter part of the 70’s and created by Bill Greer under the tutelage of Lloyd Morgan, the Morgan-Greer Tarot deck’s use of color intentionally evokes an emotional or intuitive response from the reader. The cards are beautiful and although based upon the Rider-Waite Tarot deck, they create an impression of their own. I love the deck. I use the Rider-Waite deck in the readings I do for Somewhat Daily Tarot and Rune, but honestly, the Morgan-Greer is more interesting to me. But there’s an antique feeling to the Rider-Waite that I like, so I chose it for that reason along with its traditional focus.

But today, I’m going to add the Morgan-Greer Tarot to my Exploring Tarot series. For the three-card reading, I drew The Hermit, The Sun, and the 9 of Swords so we have two cards from the Major Arcana followed by one from the suit of Swords representing Elemental Air. There are nines on either side of nineteen which reduces to ten and then to one or new beginnings. So it gives a sense of completion surrounding new beginnings.

Beginning with The Hermit, the ninth card of the Major Arcana, we see an older man with white hair and beard holding a lighted lantern in one hand and a staff in the other. Clothed in a brown hooded robe, he stands on a snowy precipice, night all around him, the lantern illuminating his way. The Hermit represents sage wisdom, retreat from the chaos of the world, and silent counsel. He asks, how do we give light to our world?

The Sun follows as the nineteenth card from the Major Arcana suggesting success and new beginnings. Two young people, a boy and girl face each other in front of large sunflowers while a brilliant orange sun shines forth. They represent a doorway of sorts into new experiences and freedom or a happy reunion filled with joy and contentment. Rebirth and awakening are the blessings from The Sun.

The final card present is the 9 of Swords, the only card from the Major Arcana in this reading. We began with two soul archetype influences of wisdom and awakening and now we see what we might be doing with that blessing. Two arms are crossed and bound at their wrists. A fiery sky sets the tone for the card, resonant and catalytic. Nine swords appear in four groupings above the individual. Given that Swords represents our intellect and communication, this card suggests that we may be bound by our own thought process. We may be engaging in negative self-talk or may be experiencing sorrow or grief. But typically, with the suit of Swords, we’re dealing with our own thought process, in this case, it’s interfering with our moving forward on something and preventing us from accessing the wisdom found within and achieving success and happiness.

I decided to get a little more information about the 9 of Swords and shuffled the deck again and pulled The Lovers, another card from the Major Arcana signaling balanced polarity. It would seem that Higher Self is really taking center stage today, asking us to remain balanced and awakened. The Lovers represents choice and how we see ourselves in others. It represents a surrender to the present moment and the integration of inner polarity. So this third soul archetype card reinforces the influences of both The Hermit and The Sun.

We have all we need when Higher Self informs the process. Conflict begins within, even when others are involved. We can, like The Hermit, rise above the fray, taking stock of the larger picture and allow for some clarity to take hold. We stand on the precipice of something new, and we should probably get out of our way so that we can embrace all it has to offer.

Blessed Be