4. The Tarot Muertos
The Tarot Muertos builds on the classic Rider-Waite-Smith Tarot deck, using classic icons and similar concepts for ease of use and recognition. The addition of Dia de los Muertos symbolism adds a depth of spirit and powerful connection to the realm of family and the deceased, allowing even more layers of interpretation. The court & pip cards as well include zodiac symbols, bringing deeper meaning to the cards. To note, the Tarot Muertos has a decidedly female representation for many images, tapping into the power of the feminine in spirituality.
The Major Arcana:
The traditional imagery of Dia de los Muertos stands out in the Tarot Muertos: skulls, flower, and bones. The skulls and skeletons represent the connections between life and death as well as the journey beyond life, whether that be past, present, or future journeys.Some images in the Tarot Muertos deck make use of concepts from Mexican and Aztec culture, such as The Shaman (in place of The Hierophant from classic Rider-Waite-Smith tarot) and an Aztec styled Emperor (in place of the traditional Medieval Emperor card.) Also, there is a strong Catholic influence in modern Mexican culture that appears in some cards, such as The Magician holding a set of rosary beads.
Example:
Classics: [IMAGES: Death, Hanged Woman],
Mexican cultural: [Images: Shaman, Emperor]
The Minor Arcana:
The Tarot Muertos deck uses the 4 suits of Pentacles, Swords, Scepters and Grails. The classic Rider-Waite-Smith deck uses Pentacles, Swords, Wands, and Cups. The Tarot Muertos made two changes to the classic deck suits for good reason. The first, rather than Cups, Grails felt more ancient and ritual based, which is more in line with the Dia de los Muertos and Mexican traditions that are deeply rooted and religious in nature. The second difference is rather than Wands, Scepters feels more connected to the Aztec (Mexican) warrior. Stronger, with more male tones, and posessing a fighter's passion, the Scepter is a good match for this fire element suit of this deck.
Each suit consists of 10 pip cards, Ace-10, and 4 court cards: Daughter, Knight, Queen, and King. There are subtle variations from the Rider-Waite-Smith deck. Rider-Waite-Smith uses King, Queen, Knight, and Paige. Since Dia de los Muertos celebrates the family and family members & friends who have passed, in Tarot Muertos deck, the Queen is the Mother figure, and the King is the Father aspect. The Knight becomes the Warrior as a young male or a son. As the Paige represents someone who is young or inexperienced, immature, or not fully realized spiritually. In the Tarot Muertos realm of family, the Paige becomes the Daughter.
Example: The Aces show the symbol for each suit clearly.
[IMAGES: Ace/Grail, Ace/Swords, Ace/Scepters, Ace/Pentacles.]
Zodiac:
Since tarot is a tool of magic & spirit, the Tarot Muertos deck includes elemental clues and colors as well as the zodiac symbols to all the suit cards. This helps the reader easily identify which suit of cards they have pulled and are working with. This additional symbolism makes a more intuitive and powerful deck. The zodiac symbols are commonly known, though it is not necessary for people to learn astrology to use the deck.
Table by suit - (full found in odt - chap4-table)
.PSPIC eps/chap4-table.eps
(ED: text from table above for formating)
Grails/Cups = blue skull shaped Grail
Gift of purity of emotion, spiritual love meant to guide us
Color Blue, Element of Water
Zodiac: Pisces, Scorpio, Cancer attributes: emotional/ creative.
Scepters/Wands = Aztec/Mayan styled red Scepter
Gift is bestowed by human hands, the beginning of everything- the spark of life. Gift of will, inspiration, action, passion & courage.
Color Red, Element of Fire
Zodiac: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius attributes: firey & passionate
Pentacles = Green Pentacle
Gift of resources. Money, raw materials or time.
Color Green, Element of Earth,
Zodiac:Virgo, Capricorn, Taurus - attributes: practical down to earth
Swords = Mexican/Mayan style dagger (sword)
Gift of intellect, the rational mind. Powerful & dangerous
Color White, Element of Air
Zodiac: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius - attributes: intellectual, logical