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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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

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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



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