RW DESCRIPTION: Lots of clear blue
sky holds a shining rainbow with ten golden chalices. The rainbow
spreads over a green and peaceful country landscape, with a
red-roofed home, trees and stream. In the foreground, a family enjoys
the scene. Mr. has his arm around Mrs., and their free arms are
extended in an expansive gesture. Two children, presumably theirs,
frolic beside them.
FIRST THING THAT STRUCK ME: Are those
kids really dancing, or fighting? Looks like they may be kicking each
other. While the parents say, I'll take this half and you take that
half.
SYMBOLISM: The rainbow shows that the
spectrum is complete, everything necessary is present. Also, rainbows
come as clouds are dispersing, rather than gathering. Things are
(literally) looking up.
COMPARISONS TO OTHER CARDS: Minor
version of the World card.
UPRIGHT MEANINGS: "Contentment,
repose of the entire heart; the perfection of that state; also
perfection of human love and friendship; if with several
picture-cards, a person who is taking charge of the Querent's
interests; also the town, village or country inhabited by the
Querent. For a male Querent, a good marriage and one beyond his
expectations." <Waite> True happiness and complete
contentment, pleasure, delight, surge of joy, radiating
love and positive emotion, fullness of heart, domestic
bliss, emotional well-being, satisfying relationships, being
understood. Satiety, fulfillment, abundance, completeness,
balance of all areas of life, success in professional and
family matters, attainment of the heart's desires, all things good
coming to your hand, achievement of desire shared by others, sharing
joy with friends and family. Appreciation, counting your blessings,
revelling in good fortune, assessing one's bounty, recognizing
valuable qualities in a situation.
Connecting with the Divine, relationship with spirit, attunement,
peace, harmony, serenity. Ease, relaxation,
establishing personal environment, new house, a secure and happy
home, comfort zone, vacation, holiday, family event or
gathering, hospitality, fellowship and family. Bonding and
closeness within family, good family life, a wonderful
marriage, commitment to others, true and proven friendship,
companionship, popularity, reputation, esteem, honor.
ALSO: House-warming party; playtime after homework/chores are
finished, the lifting of depression, breakthroughs in therapy.
REVERSED MEANINGS: "Repose of the
false heart, indignation, violence. Sorrow; also a serious
quarrel." <Waite> Emotional turbulence, unrequited love,
post-climactic crash, a tough search for happiness, malaise,
depression, boredom, rut, not recognizing or appreciating the
happiness life is offering, restlessness in a secure and rewarding
environment, dissatisfaction, over-satiation, "everybody loves your
life but you." An unhappy home environment, broken marriages or
engagements, sorrow and loss of peace within the family, bitterness
between relatives, uncomfortable relations, loss of
friendship, betrayal, hidden anger or deceit in a relationship,
pettiness, differences of opinion, harsh words between friends
and family, family disagreement or quarrel, opposition,
strife.
ALSO: Not meeting one's domestic
responsibilities; lack of appreciation, credit or authority in the
home; valuing the material rewards over the inner satisfaction of
achievement; loss of one's home; staying with family will create a
strain.
BIBLICAL: And the bow shall be in the
cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting
covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that [is]
upon the earth. <Genesis 9:16>
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that
make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I
will also glorify them, and they shall not be small. <Jeremiah
30:19>
And there ye shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice
in all that ye put your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein
the LORD thy God hath blessed thee.<Deuteronomy 12:7>
HISTORICAL: Noah and family at
landfall.
FICTIONAL: King Arthur and Co. at
Camelot.
MYTHOLOGICAL: Pot of gold at the end of
the rainbow.
ANIMAL: bluebird, swan
HERBS/PLANTS/FLOWERS/TREES:
Heavily-laden, fruit-bearing trees and plants. Roses. Four-leaf
clover.
LANDSCAPE/LOCATION: countryside
TIME/SEASON: the entrance to spring
STONES: shiny diamonds
SCENTS: The smell of the earth after a
rain shower; the smell of the earth getting warmed in spring.
OCCUPATIONS: public relations,
marketing; vacation industry (Disney!); real estate; family
services
PEOPLE OR SITUATIONS IN MY LIFE: Moving
back into my newly-remodeled home.
THIS CARD IN MY LIFE: Benefits of middle
age: authority in decision-making, power of determination, security
of place, pride of accomplishment, joy of ownership, love of family,
and humility of being so blessed. "My family's home. My family is
home."
FAVORITE REPRESENTATION: Rider Waite
- Halloween Tarot Ten of Ghosts
by Kipling West- Description: Mom, Dad, Junior and Junette are all costumed in the tall grass. While the kids dance together, the parents are enjoying the decorative strings of ghost lights. A large full moon in a starry sky smiles down on them all, and the black cat is hanging out too. It's not really clear whether this is a party or whether the folks are taking the kids trick-or-treating, and have come across a decorated place.
- This card reminds me of man's need for holidays and traditions. As the year darkens at Halloween, we move into "holiday season." The darker it gets, the bigger the holiday we need, until we have our big solstice bang. Then we have a few weeks to get ready for our Carnivals. (It's all kind of bookended in my mind since my daughter wears her Halloween costume for Fasnacht.) Imagine if we were trapped with our families all winter with nothing to do! What fun, when mom and dad dress up too! Something everyone can enjoy together, arm in arm, hand in hand.
- The Ghosts represent ancestors, and it seems they have passed along all the things which enable this family to enjoy their celebration--life, family, security, prosperity and especially the traditions. Ghosts of holidays past. The parents are the spirits of holidays present, as they make it happen for the family. And the children experience the joy that they will carry forward as wonderful memories into the future. Perhaps the strings of ghost lights are hanging from the family tree?
- Ancestral Path Ten of Cups
by Julie Cuccia-Watts- Lancelot, Arthur, Guinevere and Morgan stand at the mainland end of a bridge leading to many-towered Camelot. The caste is all shiny and new, with a bit of what looks to be the full moon shining behind it. Ten chalice-bearing purple pennants fly from tops of towers. Although it is a night sky, there is a huge rainbow. The castle is on a small island with apparently only this bridge as access. On the shore side, a small tree drops apples near our heroes.
- Remember that old "Camelot" musical, when Guinevere came over the rise and saw Camelot for the first time? Remember the song? "A man's home is his castle." To me, this card represents the feeling I had the day we moved out of my father-in-law's basement and back to our "new" house. While the guys started unloading the truck, I ran inside. In the middle of the living room, I fell to my knees with a prayer of thanksgiving. The head cabinetmaker came to talk to me, and I was so choked up, and I tried to apologize for it. He said, "Nevermind the tears. It's quite common." There's nothing like it, to come in before the first scratch is on the counter, or the first ding in the floor. Joy of ownership, pride of accomplishment, and humility of being so blessed. My family's home. My family is home.
- Rider Waite Ten of Cups
by Pamela Coleman Smith- What this card represents to me is my comfort zone. I don't know who coined that phrase; I think it was a motivational speaker. As in: "You've got to get out of your comfort zone!" Pul-eeze! I worked all my life for my comfort zone! I'm there! Stretched out on the couch with a cold drink, wrapped in Mom's afghan, watching Stephane Lambiel bust out in tears as he's proclaimed the next-best skater after Plushinko--what could be better?
- The family in this card is not dressed for a big party or holiday. They are not crowned and jeweled. Just regular folk enjoying the day and each other's company. The sun peeks out after the rain, creating the rainbow. So this family can finally get out of the house, they have a little free time, the parents can enjoy the scenery and the kids can let loose. They are healthy and vital, and their work is done for now. They don't have to go to Disneyworld; they don't have to go further than their own back yard. "There's no place like home!"
- There's an element of ownership to it, too. Our kids, our house, our town, our success, whatever. It's the place where *I* can decide how things are going to be. Like today, the electrician came to hang the wall lamps in the bathroom. As he got out his measuring stick and started talking to my husband about "usual placement" x number of centimeters high, etc., I picked up the lamp and held it in front of my face. "This is how high I want it," I told them. They were a bit taken aback, considering that it would be extra work to route the wires lower. But this is my house, and I'm paying. Naturally, I didn't have the final word. My husband asked if we couldn't make it 2cm higher. "I'm not the only one who lives here," I told him. I've had to make a lot of compromises for my family (in bliss, in comfort, lamp height, ...), but I wouldn't want to live here without them.
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This page contains excerpts from my original contributions to
Comparative
Tarot, an
online Tarot discussion group.
Ten of Cups IMHO page created February 24, 2006.
http://www.moonchild.ch/Tarot/minors/cups/c10/c10imho.html
