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The Buffy Tarot
There is going to be a Buffy Tarot game by Darkhose, I guess by now that's already old news. Here are some first glimpses at it.
I personally think the artwork is gorgeous and I'm very happy that they chose to make original artwork instead of just sticking halfway fitting pictures on the cards as it sometimes happens with theme tarot games. Also they tried to connect the Rider Waite symbolism with characters from the show. I love that, big time. Naturally I would do a hundred things differently since everyone has a different take on the cards and their meanings and on the characters.
The whole thing got my brain turning on where I would put each character and so on. Since I have to get it out of my system, here is my personal take on the thing. I'm using my interpretation of the Rider Waite cards and characters here so please feel free to say "argh, bullshit" and comment what you think about it. I linked the wiki pages for a more objective interpretation. The more opinions, the more interesting.
I personally think the artwork is gorgeous and I'm very happy that they chose to make original artwork instead of just sticking halfway fitting pictures on the cards as it sometimes happens with theme tarot games. Also they tried to connect the Rider Waite symbolism with characters from the show. I love that, big time. Naturally I would do a hundred things differently since everyone has a different take on the cards and their meanings and on the characters.
The whole thing got my brain turning on where I would put each character and so on. Since I have to get it out of my system, here is my personal take on the thing. I'm using my interpretation of the Rider Waite cards and characters here so please feel free to say "argh, bullshit" and comment what you think about it. I linked the wiki pages for a more objective interpretation. The more opinions, the more interesting.
0-The Fool symbolizes a vagabond and searcher. He is looking into the air dreaming, not seeing where he is walking, which is over a cliff. He is sometimes bitten by his own dog, hard to tell if that's another danger he's ignorant of or if the dog is trying to rescue him, so he is ignoring good advice here. The flower in his hand symbolizes striving for beauty.
I guess, Spike would be the obvious choice here. Fool for love and all. He's not exactly the wisest when his life-choices are concerned. He ignores all dangers and searches for an ideal of romance. The flower even fits with his poetry. Ever since season three, Spike had lost his place in the world and was a bit of a vagabond and searcher.
1-The Magician is usually a very omnipotent card. There are the four symbols of the minor Arcana on his desk, symbolizing that he is capable to balance all aspects of life. One of his hands is pointing up, one down, symbolizing heaven and earth, somewhat a balance between spirituality and real life. he has the infinity symbol over his head.
That's a hard one to fit into the Buffy verse. Non of them is omnipotent, they work as a group. Everyone incorporating different aspects. In the Buffy Tarot they chose Buffy as the magician, probably because she's the hero and the one who leads them. I'm not exactly happy with that choice but I can't think of something better. Giles maybe...
2-The high priestess symbolizes intuitive knowledge and spirituality. Her dress is flowing into water (usually emotion in tarot) and the moon is at her feet. I read somewhere that the scripture in her hands means secret knowledge.
I would put Drusilla on it. She fits perfectly.
On the other hand it's supposed to be a "good" card (as far as there are good and bad cards in tarot) , so if I had to pick a white hat to go on it, it would be Tara, maybe Willow.
3-The empress stands for a traditional female role model. Nurturing, beauty, bla, bla, bla (I'm not exactly a fan of the card)
Joyce would fit of course but from the vampire's perspective so would Darla. I think I'd pick Darla because she would also fit the negative aspects of the card (vane, controlling)
4-The emperor stands for Fathering, Authority, discipline, control, leadership. Another card I usually dislike (see me, totally biased, so write what you think, I'd really like to know)
Ok, I would definitely pick a villain for that card, since male authority is usually something bad in the buffyverse. Either Wilkins, Caleb or the Master. My favorite choice would be Angelus.
5- The hierophant would symbolize knowledge, tradition and organized religion.
Giles could work out, though that would not really credit the many aspects of his character. In the darker interpretation Caleb would fit.
6-The lovers: The meaning is rather obvious. the card just stands for love and most aspects of it. I used to see it more as the positive aspects of love though, with the sun on it and all. Like the working relationship, but of course it also means temptation etc.
In the Buffy tarot they chose Buffy and Angel as the lovers. They were THE big couple from the beginning but I would not put them on the card. In my interpretation all of Buffy's relationships are too angsty to fit the card. I would put Willow and Tara on it, since they had the happiest romance on the show.
7-The Chariot: Victory, Pride, Success
I don't really know what to do with the card. Buffy is a bit about the underdogs not about the traditional winner. After a bit of thinking, I'd say Riley would fit. He has that sunnyboy thing going for him.
8-Strength: It's inner strength mostly. The card has woman on it, petting a lion. She like the magician has the infinity symbol over her had.
That card is made for Buffy. Strong, protective but also good and with a lot of self control. One could draw a pylean vampire as the lion.
ETA: continued here
I guess, Spike would be the obvious choice here. Fool for love and all. He's not exactly the wisest when his life-choices are concerned. He ignores all dangers and searches for an ideal of romance. The flower even fits with his poetry. Ever since season three, Spike had lost his place in the world and was a bit of a vagabond and searcher.
1-The Magician is usually a very omnipotent card. There are the four symbols of the minor Arcana on his desk, symbolizing that he is capable to balance all aspects of life. One of his hands is pointing up, one down, symbolizing heaven and earth, somewhat a balance between spirituality and real life. he has the infinity symbol over his head.
That's a hard one to fit into the Buffy verse. Non of them is omnipotent, they work as a group. Everyone incorporating different aspects. In the Buffy Tarot they chose Buffy as the magician, probably because she's the hero and the one who leads them. I'm not exactly happy with that choice but I can't think of something better. Giles maybe...
2-The high priestess symbolizes intuitive knowledge and spirituality. Her dress is flowing into water (usually emotion in tarot) and the moon is at her feet. I read somewhere that the scripture in her hands means secret knowledge.
I would put Drusilla on it. She fits perfectly.
On the other hand it's supposed to be a "good" card (as far as there are good and bad cards in tarot) , so if I had to pick a white hat to go on it, it would be Tara, maybe Willow.
3-The empress stands for a traditional female role model. Nurturing, beauty, bla, bla, bla (I'm not exactly a fan of the card)
Joyce would fit of course but from the vampire's perspective so would Darla. I think I'd pick Darla because she would also fit the negative aspects of the card (vane, controlling)
4-The emperor stands for Fathering, Authority, discipline, control, leadership. Another card I usually dislike (see me, totally biased, so write what you think, I'd really like to know)
Ok, I would definitely pick a villain for that card, since male authority is usually something bad in the buffyverse. Either Wilkins, Caleb or the Master. My favorite choice would be Angelus.
5- The hierophant would symbolize knowledge, tradition and organized religion.
Giles could work out, though that would not really credit the many aspects of his character. In the darker interpretation Caleb would fit.
6-The lovers: The meaning is rather obvious. the card just stands for love and most aspects of it. I used to see it more as the positive aspects of love though, with the sun on it and all. Like the working relationship, but of course it also means temptation etc.
In the Buffy tarot they chose Buffy and Angel as the lovers. They were THE big couple from the beginning but I would not put them on the card. In my interpretation all of Buffy's relationships are too angsty to fit the card. I would put Willow and Tara on it, since they had the happiest romance on the show.
7-The Chariot: Victory, Pride, Success
I don't really know what to do with the card. Buffy is a bit about the underdogs not about the traditional winner. After a bit of thinking, I'd say Riley would fit. He has that sunnyboy thing going for him.
8-Strength: It's inner strength mostly. The card has woman on it, petting a lion. She like the magician has the infinity symbol over her had.
That card is made for Buffy. Strong, protective but also good and with a lot of self control. One could draw a pylean vampire as the lion.
ETA: continued here
no subject
I wonder if they'll have it on amazon..
I love your choices honey :) I wish we could have an Ats deck too.
kisses
no subject
I wonder if they'll have it on amazon..
Yes me too...I'm already mentally preparing myself for a long hunt for it in the online world.
I love your choices honey :) I wish we could have an Ats deck too.
I'm just writing the rest of the major arcana :)
Yeah, the concept would work great with Ats too.
no subject
For the Magician, Willow would work. She's become pretty darned omnipotent.
The Heirophant would have to be the Master, what with him trying to raise the Old Ones and all.
no subject
I'm not exactly happy with that one too. He doesn't fit the meaning very well. They focus only on the aspect that he struggles to balance his two natures, which he doesn't do all that much on the show. He's either one or the other. It's not a totally bad idea but I think there are better places for him.
For the Magician, Willow would work. She's become pretty darned omnipotent.
That's true, especially in the comics.
The Heirophant would have to be the Master, what with him trying to raise the Old Ones and all.
Oh yes! That would be great. I'd like to see a villain on this card.
no subject
The fool: "a dreamer and a searcher, striving for beauty, ignoring good advice and walking straight off a cliff"... to me, that's Willow as of early season 6.
The magician: with the balancing all four aspects of the minor Arcana and being omnipotent... that's ÜberBuffy from 'Primeval', embodying the Core Four to defeat Adam.
If The Lovers has to be a happy romance with no dark elements, then the only ones we've seen that fit are Riley/Sam and Willow/Kennedy. :-)
The others I agree on. For the Emperor you could also include Quentin Travers... otherwise, I think Wilkins is more of an authority figure than Angelus ever was, at least on 'Buffy' rather than 'Angel'.
For 'The Chariot', you could show one of the triumphant 'end of season' shots, such as Buffy's smile at the end of 'Chosen'? (And with the school bus as the actual chariot, even...)
no subject
Yay!! :) the whole fun about tarot is that barely two people look at it the same way.
to me, that's Willow as of early season 6.
Oh yes! That really was a period for her that would fit the fool. Maybe one could use that scene in Bronze with Amy.
The magician: with the balancing all four aspects of the minor Arcana and being omnipotent... that's ÜberBuffy from 'Primeval', embodying the Core Four to defeat Adam.
That's a moment, where she would fit the card very well.
As rahirah pointed out S7/S8 Willow might work too.
I think Wilkins is more of an authority figure than Angelus ever was, at least on 'Buffy' rather than 'Angel'.
They both had that father thing going for them, though in very different ways.
If The Lovers has to be a happy romance with no dark elements, then the only ones we've seen that fit are Riley/Sam and Willow/Kennedy. :-)
That's the mean part about the whedon verse :)
I didn't exactly mean flawless happy romance, more people with a deep connection that overcome their problems instead of letting them keep them apart. (and after the snake incident I'm not sure about Willow/Kennedy)
For 'The Chariot', you could show one of the triumphant 'end of season' shots, such as Buffy's smile at the end of 'Chosen'? (And with the school bus as the actual chariot, even...)
That's a very cool idea. I think I'll abandon Riley and go with yours :)
Tarot and pop culture
(Anonymous) 2008-06-06 05:58 am (UTC)(link)Re: Tarot and pop culture
I've got some theme tarot decks for comic books that I really love. I'll have to look for more on amazon france, I think.
Re: Tarot and pop culture
(Anonymous) 2008-07-03 02:30 am (UTC)(link)Re: Tarot and pop culture
I know my Asterix by heart, so thank you for the rec.