The Renaissance Tarot

Discover our exclusive tarot deck

Psychic Science Renaissance Tarot

These new designs reflect the 15th century Italian Renaissance origins of the tarot and incorporate the themes and structure of the influential 17th century Tarot de Marseilles.


Psychic Science presents

RENAISSANCE TAROT

Standard tarot size, superior card stock
Presented in an elegant purple velvet bag


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(Actual cards are not watermarked)




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The Annotated Renaissance Tarot

As an aid to interpretation, the Renaissance Tarot is now available in an annotated edition. Each card in this edition includes four keywords, together with its principle and suggested advice for both upright and reversed orientations.


Like the original edition, the full 78-card deck is standard tarot size, printed on superior card stock, and presented in an elegant purple velvet bag.


The Annotated Renaissance Tarot
The Annotated Renaissance Tarot Layout




CYBER MONDAY WEEK SALE

25% off THE ANNOTATED RENAISSANCE TAROT *

FINAL DAY!

Enter code CYBERSALE at Printers Studio checkout


*   Maximum discount $120

Sale ends December 8th 2024






The Trumps

The 22 Renaissance Tarot Trumps are numbered according to the Tarot de Marseilles traditional sequence, but use the modern esoteric names for certain cards (e.g., the traditional 'Pope' is renamed 'Hierophant').


The following table is a guide to the interpretation of each trump, including typical indications when the card is upright and reversed.


INTERPRETING THE TRUMPS

# TITLE UPRIGHT REVERSED
0 THE FOOL INNOCENCE NAIVETY
I THE MAGICIAN ARTFULNESS INEPTNESS
II THE PRIESTESS WISDOM IGNORANCE
III THE EMPRESS SECURITY INSECURITY
IIII THE EMPEROR COMMAND TYRANNY
V THE HIEROPHANT FAITH DISBELIEF
VI THE LOVERS LOYALTY INFIDELITY
VII THE CHARIOT FORCEFULNESS AGGRESSION
VIII JUSTICE BALANCE IMBALANCE
VIIII THE HERMIT HUMILITY SECRETIVENESS
X THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE FORTUITY MISFORTUNE
XI STRENGTH ENDURANCE IMPOTENCE
XII THE HANGED MAN ATONEMENT PUNISHMENT
XIII DEATH TRANSFORMATION DEGENERATION
XIIII TEMPERANCE MODERATION SELF-DENIAL
XV THE DEVIL ENTRAPMENT DEPRAVITY
XVI THE TOWER ADVERSITY RECKLESSNESS
XVII THE STAR HOPEFULNESS DESPAIR
XVIII THE MOON REPOSE OBLIVION
XVIIII THE SUN JOYFULNESS JOYLESSNESS
XX JUDGEMENT REVIVAL HIBERNATION
XXI THE WORLD FULFILLMENT DISAPPOINTMENT

The Tarot Suits

Etteilla is believed to be the first person to propose that the four tarot suits are connected to the four classical elements of the Ancient Greeks. Etteilla associated Batons with Earth, Cups with Water, Swords with Air, and Coins with Fire.


In the teachings of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, the elemental associations for Cups and Swords remain the same, but those for Batons (or Wands) and Coins are reversed.


The Renaissance Tarot has adopted the Golden Dawn's attributions for the suits, which are now almost universally accepted by tarot users as being the most rational and meaningful.


SUITS & ELEMENTS

SUIT ELEMENT
WANDS FIRE
CUPS WATER
SWORDS AIR
COINS EARTH


The significance of these attributions for tarot interpretation is that each element is traditionally associated with different aspects of human experience. The elements are also directly correlated with the four functions of consciousness recognized in C.G. Jung's theory of psychological types.


ELEMENTS & ASSOCIATIONS

ELEMENT JUNG KEYWORD MEANING
FIRE INTUITION WILL Purpose, Intention, Drive
WATER FEELING HEART Emotions, Sentiments, Attachments
AIR THINKING HEAD Mind, Intellect, Rationality
EARTH SENSATION BODY Senses, Physicality, Material needs

The Pip Cards

The ten numbered cards in each suit represent different aspects of the corresponding elemental principle, or different ways in which the energy of that element is expressed.


These aspects or energies reflect the esoteric meanings traditionally attached to the ten numbers, which remain essentially the same for each suit. The number system used in the Renaissance Tarot derives from astrological, Kabbalistic, Neoplatonic, and related ideas found in 15th and 16th century Renaissance Magic. It is no coincidence that this was the very period when the tarot was spreading throughout Europe.


In this system, the ten numbers correspond to qualities associated with the classical planets (including Sun and Moon) and related astrological concepts.


ASTROLOGICAL NUMEROLOGY

# IMAGE KEYWORD MEANING
1 SOURCE POWER Seed, Essence
2 SKY EMERGENCE Appearance, Unveiling
3 SATURN SURENESS Steady, Controlled
4 JUPITER EXPANSION Large, Noble
5 MARS STRENGTH Combative, Energetic
6 SUN VITALITY Radiant, Optimistic
7 VENUS HARMONY Gentle, Loving
8 MERCURY DIVERSITY Quick, Versatile
9 MOON CHANGE Changeable, Instinctive
10 TERRA
(Earth)
REALIZATION Solid, Settled

The assignment of Sun, Moon and planets in this system is not abitrary, but directly reflects the relative speeds at which the planets move through the zodiac signs, as viewed from Earth (Saturn being the slowest, Moon the fastest, and Sun midway). This was the basis for the geocentric model of the celestial spheres developed by Ptolemy (c. 100 – c. 170 CE) and famously illustrated by Peter Apian in his 1524 book Cosmographia.


Ptolemaicsystem-small
A representation of the Celestial Spheres (Peter Apian 1524)


Ptolemaicsystem-small
A representation of the Celestial Spheres (Peter Apian 1524)


The numerical sequence (3-9) of the classical planets also corresponds directly with those in the series of planetary magic squares constructed by the Renaissance scholar and occultist Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa (1486-1535) whose highly influential Three Books Concerning Occult Philosophy were published in 1531 and 1533.





The Agrippa planetary magic squares
The Agrippa Magic Squares (1533)


The Court Cards

In the Renaissance Tarot, the four Court Cards in each suit represent expressions of four archetypal social roles - Father, Mother, Bachelor, and Youth (Child).


It is important to note that these roles can be adopted by anyone, irrespective of gender and age. The King, Queen, Knight and Page do not, therefore, only apply to (or necessarily imply) a male or female person, or to someone who is older or younger.


In some tarot spreads, one of the court cards (called the Significator) is removed from the deck at the beginning of the reading and placed face-up on the table. The Significator card is chosen based on the inquirer's personality, current role or situation.


THE COURT CARDS

CARD ARCHETYPE MEANING
KING FATHER Authority, Support
QUEEN MOTHER Provision, Nurture
KNIGHT BACHELOR Independence, Maturity
PAGE YOUTH (CHILD) Innocence, Potential

Interpreting the Suits

The Renaissance Tarot interprets each of the suited cards by combining the meaning attributed to its value with that of the element and associations of its suit. The following examples will help to explain how this is done.


  • The ACE OF WANDS combines the POWER represented by the ACE (Source) with the WILL (Purpose, Intention, Drive) represented by WANDS (Fire). It therefore indicates the principle of VOLITION and the power of the will.
  • The FOUR OF CUPS combines the EXPANSION represented by the FOUR (Jupiter) with the HEART (Emotions, Sentiments, Attachments) represented by CUPS (Water). It therefore indicates the principle of GENEROSITY and the expansion of emotional concern.
  • The EIGHT OF SWORDS combines the DIVERSITY represented by the EIGHT (Mercury) with the HEAD (Mind, Intellect, Rationality) represented by SWORDS (Air). It therefore indicates the principle of DEBATE and the diversity of opinions.
  • The QUEEN OF COINS combines the idea of PROVISION and NURTURING represented by the QUEEN (Mother) with the BODY (Senses, Physicality, Material needs) represented by COINS (Earth). It therefore indicates the role of CUSTODIAN and the manager of property.

If a suited card is reversed, this generally indicates the opposite of its upright meaning. For example, if the FOUR OF CUPS is reversed, this indicates a contraction of emotional concern.

The Wands

The following table is a guide to the interpretation of each card in the suit of Wands, including typical indications when the card is upright and reversed.


INTERPRETING THE WANDS

CARD PRINCIPLE UPRIGHT REVERSED
ACE
of WANDS
VOLITION Power
of the Will
Incapacity
of the Will
TWO
of WANDS
INTENTION Emergence
of Motive
Concealing
of Motive
THREE
of WANDS
RESOLVE Sureness
of Purpose
Uncertainty
of Purpose
FOUR
of WANDS
VISION Expansion
of View
Contraction
of View
FIVE
of WANDS
DRIVE Strength
of Endeavor
Weakness
of Endeavor
SIX
of WANDS
ENTHUSIASM Vitality
of Zeal
Dullness
of Zeal
SEVEN
of WANDS
CREATION Harmony
of Design
Disunity
of Design
EIGHT
of WANDS
CHOICE Diversity
of Objectives
Uniformity
of Objectives
NINE
of WANDS
RENEWAL Change
of Direction
Fixation
of Direction
TEN
of WANDS
SUCCESS Realization
of Goals
Failure
of Goals
PAGE
of WANDS
SERVANT Supporter
of Cause
Opponent
of Cause
KNIGHT
of WANDS
HERO Seeker
of Glory
Evader
of Glory
QUEEN
of WANDS
DEFENDER Protector
of Mission
Deserter
of Mission
KING
of WANDS
LEADER Source
of Guidance
Absence
of Guidance

The Cups

The following table is a guide to the interpretation of each card in the suit of Cups, including typical indications when the card is upright and reversed.


INTERPRETING THE CUPS

CARD PRINCIPLE UPRIGHT REVERSED
ACE
of CUPS
EMOTION Power
of the Heart
Incapacity
of the Heart
TWO
of CUPS
SENTIMENT Emergence
of Feelings
Concealing
of Feelings
THREE
of CUPS
AFFINITY Sureness
of Affection
Uncertainty
of Affection
FOUR
of CUPS
GENEROSITY Expansion
of Concern
Contraction
of Concern
FIVE
of CUPS
PASSION Strength
of Desire
Weakness
of Desire
SIX
of CUPS
COMPASSION Vitality
of Sympathy
Dullness
of Sympathy
SEVEN
of CUPS
DEVOTION Harmony
of Relations
Disunity
of Relations
EIGHT
of CUPS
ALLURE Diversity
of Attraction
Uniformity
of Attraction
NINE
of CUPS
CAPRICE Change
of Mood
Fixation
of Mood
TEN
of CUPS
FULFILLMENT Realization
of Hopes
Failure
of Hopes
PAGE
of CUPS
CHARMER Enchanter
of Hearts
Deceiver
of Hearts
KNIGHT
of CUPS
LOVER Wooer
of Beauty
Rejecter
of Beauty
QUEEN
of CUPS
CARER Pillar
of Support
Recipient
of Support
KING
of CUPS
BENEFACTOR Bringer
of Hope
Tormenter
of Hope

The Swords

The following table is a guide to the interpretation of each card in the suit of Swords, including typical indications when the card is upright and reversed.


INTERPRETING THE SWORDS

CARD PRINCIPLE UPRIGHT REVERSED
ACE
of SWORDS
THINKING Power
of the Mind
Incapacity
of the Mind
TWO
of SWORDS
UNDERSTANDING Emergence
of Insight
Concealing
of Insight
THREE
of SWORDS
RATIONALITY Sureness
of Reason
Uncertainty
of Reason
FOUR
of SWORDS
KNOWLEDGE Expansion
of Learning
Contraction
of Learning
FIVE
of SWORDS
INGENUITY Strength
of Intellect
Weakness
of Intellect
SIX
of SWORDS
ORIGINALITY Vitality
of Invention
Dullness
of Invention
SEVEN
of SWORDS
INTEGRITY Harmony
of Ideas
Disunity
of Ideas
EIGHT
of SWORDS
DEBATE Diversity
of Opinion
Uniformity
of Opinion
NINE
of SWORDS
REVISION Change
of Detail
Fixation
of Detail
TEN
of SWORDS
EXPRESSION Realization
of Belief
Failure
of Belief
PAGE
of SWORDS
STUDENT Seeker
of Knowledge
Suppressor
of Knowledge
KNIGHT
of SWORDS
MAVERICK Challenger
of Norms
Opposer
of Norms
QUEEN
of SWORDS
ADVOCATE Proponent
of Viewpoint
Opponent
of Viewpoint
KING
of SWORDS
MAGISTRATE Dispenser
of Justice
Fugitive
from Justice

The Coins

The following table is a guide to the interpretation of each card in the suit of Coins, including typical indications when the card is upright and reversed.


INTERPRETING THE COINS

CARD PRINCIPLE UPRIGHT REVERSED
ACE
of COINS
PERCEPTION Power
of the Senses
Incapacity
of the Senses
TWO
of COINS
OBSERVATION Emergence
of Information
Concealing
of Information
THREE
of COINS
INSPECTION Sureness
of Scrutiny
Uncertainty
of Scrutiny
FOUR
of COINS
PROSPERITY Expansion
of Assets
Contraction
of Assets
FIVE
of COINS
LABOR Strength
of Effort
Weakness
of Effort
SIX
of COINS
PRODUCTIVITY Vitality
of Construction
Dullness
of Construction
SEVEN
of COINS
COMFORT Harmony
of Being
Disunity
of Being
EIGHT
of COINS
SELECTION Diversity
of Preference
Uniformity
of Preference
NINE
of COINS
REACTION Change
of Response
Fixation
of Response
TEN
of COINS
PERFECTION Realization
of Excellence
Failure
of Excellence
PAGE
of COINS
LABORER Provider
of Services
Receiver
of Services
KNIGHT
of COINS
EXAMINER Tester
of Quality
Critic
of Quality
QUEEN
of COINS
CUSTODIAN Manager
of Property
Neglecter
of Property
KING
of COINS
ENTREPRENEUR Developer
of Business
Exploiter
of Business