Lord of the Rings Tarot Deck.. DB's Creation~

OK after many attempts of creating my own deck and failed dismally.
Other than a Waterhouse Deck i created many years ago..
I havent really succeeded in creating another.
Until Now I hope.
For those who are Members of Aeclectic Tarot..
you may have seen me searching and asking many questions regarding the Lord of the Rings Tarot and Oracle.
They are already published and To be honest The images are much to be desired really.
and the positions of the Characters I really dont get.. Especially Gollum and Saruman.

Now we all know Gollum and his story.. He was once a Hobbit. He was seduced by the ring. so much so he killed his brother for it, and lived a life of seclusion and greeed so no-one else coudl get it.. Bilbo found Gollum underground By accident ( or was it?) and entertained Gollum with his quiz.. Gollum was always going to try killing Bilbo or the very least tricking him.. Bilbo got the ring..Then we have the adventures of Frod Baggins Bilbo's nephew.
Frodo Inherited the Ring.. Gollum again appears. Or released
Gollum now half the Hobbit he once was, forgetting his name Smeagal.. and Now Gollum.. Split personality waging war within , whether to do right by Frodo or kill him for the Ring..
Killing him wins only to lead Gollum to his death trying.

Now is the Passage of the Fool, As the Tarot deck depicts?? He definately is a fool for doing what he did..
But with traditional Fools journey in Mind.. Gollum just doesnt fit..


Here is a link to the Fools Journey.. http://www.learntarot.com/journey.htm

Gollum is definately not the Fool..and in the Oracle Gollum is depicted as the Unloved child.. we dont know that!! Not all mean nasty bad people were unloved as children.. their past doesnt always reflect their future.. Studying psychology there for a time.. it doesnt always fit.

I would say Bilbo or even Frodo Would be the fool...

Then in the Tarot Deck they have Saruman as the Heirophant..
Again this doesnt cut it for me..
Saruman is the White Wizard, he is the one who turns bad , he is after knowledge and power..anywhich way he can Building an army of Orcs, destrying all the Nature around him to create a fighting army..
the Heirophant is not that person.. Heirophant does not represent that..

Quote :

The child is trained in all the practices of his society and becomes part of a particular culture and worldview. He learns to identify with a group and discovers a sense of belonging. He enjoys learning the customs of his society and showing how well he can conform to them.

Heirophant would be say.. the king of the Elves.. Elrond.. because this is who Bilbo goes to when he retires and hands over the ring to Frodo.. This is who he in the Hobbit resonates with and learns so much from.. and at the end of the Lord of the Rings he ( Bilbo) sails off into the sunset with Frodo , Gandalf and Elrond .

I really am pedantic with this.. Only because i Have read this book that many times inside and out.. I have watched the Movie that many times, and again over the weekend just gone.. hence my renewed enthusiasm.LOL!
I have read the Hobbit also so many times its not funny..
I cannot find my original books.. So have just ordered them again!! Should get them next week.


I really am serious about creating a LOTR Tarot Deck!!
I know I cannot publish it, and i have no intentions ... I just want a LOTR deck that is true to its characters and Tarot.
I dont want to try to desparately fit images to Tarot cards.. I want each character and place from Both the Hobbit and LOTR to fit nicely and smoothly with each Tarot Meaning

Starting with Majors.

If you are also an avid LOTR and Hobbit fan You are more than welcome to join me in creating and discovering this deck.. It is also a journey to help discover Tarot on a different level.
So Please if you want to join in on the research , Image finding and creation of this deck..
Please do join on in.. all ideas are welcomed.

If you do join me please keep in mind copyright images..
Always put the url the image is at rather than posting the image up into the forum
It is painful But we dont want to breach Copyright laws.
This is another reason why this deck will only be for personal use for those who help create this deck.and not for publishing Unless we want to go as far as Paying for the images.. But i think that may cost too much.. Unless we can find Public Domain Images..If that is at all possible with this..


So i am going to start another Post just for the Positons of the Cards and assignment of Characters , landmark and scenes within the Hobbit and LOTR I will probably stick more to LOTR rather than Hobbit.. Buit i will incorporate Hobbit i Think.... I want the Fools Journey to be Shared by Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins.
Dont know how i will do this sharing.. < I will just let it unflod i think.

anyhoo here i Go!!








[quote]

OK here is some of my resouces so far.. only for more information and online information..
I do have the Movies I bought them last week.. and this week i have the Boooks on the way..
So they will be my resource material while i am not online.

Middle Earth Info
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle-earth


Maps
Middle Earth Map at the end of the Third age

A basic Middle Earth Map

Middle Earth


Characters
CatAgory of Characters

Google Image page for LOTR

Hobbit character guide

LOTR character guide and Images 1

LOTR Charaacter guide and Images 2

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/fellowship/characters.html


If you have any more to share please let me know and i can add them to this post

The Cards and allocated Characters, Places and scenes from both the Hobbit and LOTR

0 Fool, ~ Frodo Baggins

1 Magician, ~ Tom Bombadil

2 The High Preistess ~ Galadriel

3 The Empress ~ Arwen

4 The Emperor ~ Aragorn

5 The High Priest ~ Gandalf

6 The Lovers ~ Arwen and Aragorn

7 The Chariot ~ TreeBeard carrying Merry and Pippin

8 Strength ~ Samwise Gamgee

9 The Hermit ~ Bilbo Baggins

10 The wheel ~ The Ring!

11 Justice ~ Eowyn In Battle gear With Merry on her horse as well. Because they both embody The Council and Meaning of Justice.

12 The Hanged Man ~ Faramir

13 Death ~ Gandalf Facing Balrog on the bridge at Khazad-Dum (Moria)

14 Temperance ~ Merry and Pippin , Get the Ents to help destroy Isengard, after declaring it wasnt their war.

15 The Devil ~ Sauron


16 The Tower ~ The Two Towers

17 The Star ~ Rosie Cotton

18 The Moon ~ Gollum Or should i say Both of him Smeagal too! LOL!

19 The Sun ~ a Hobbits Home

20 Judgement ~ Gandalf the White

21 The World ~ The Map of Middle Earth ( Frodo's Journey)


Cups

Ace ~ Hobbits Mug
Two ~ Arwen and Aragorn
Three ~ The Toast by Frodo, Merry and Pippin at the end of The Return of the King , once back home in the Shire, Samwise is in background asking Rosie Cotton for a Dance.
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten ~ The Shire
Page or Princess ?
Knight
Queen
King ~ Elrond



Coins

Ace ~ ..LOTR Currency
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten ~ Gondor after Aragorn is Crowned.
Page or Princess ?
Knight
Queen
King ~ Gimli


Wands Or Staffs?

Ace ~ , Gandalf the Greys Staff
Two ~ Frodo looking at the Map of Mordor
Three~
Four ~ Wedding of Samwise and Rosie
Five ~ Fight between Gandalf and Saruman
Six ~ Aragorn Leading the Ghost Army into Gondor
Seven
Eight
Nine ~ Samwise rescuing Frodo from the Orcs
Ten ~ Frodo on the mounds at Mordor
Page or Princess?
Knight ~
Queen ~ Eowyn?
King ~ Theoden


Swords

Ace ~ The sword of Elendil
Two
Three ~ Eowyn and Aragorn
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine ~ Ringwraiths
Ten ~ Wormtongue
Page or Princess ?
Knight
Queen
King ~ Legolas

As i mentioned before My LOTR Book disappeared.
Well I ordered another one including the Hobbit this time.
They have both arrived. YAY!!

This is going to be a long journey , as i am going to need to re-read the books.
I have all three movies.. But obviously not the Hobbit..
I dont know whether it is out yet!
Gonna have to google about that one.

But the hardest part is re-reading the books and watching the movies.
With the Tarot deck in Mind..
the meanings not only of the Major in mind But all the little pips and courts in mind as I read..
I would love some help on this..
Is anyhone else up for the challenge..
There is no pressure , As this is going to be a LOOOONG project.
So any spare time you have , any input is going to be graciously appreciated.
This could take up to a year..

and again to remind myself why i am doing this..
Is because the 2 decks that are out. both Oracle and Tarot
Just not cutting it for me..
the Card Golem in Both have really spoilt it..
He is definatley not the FOOL... as far as Tarot menaings is concerned. Bilbo from the Hobbit or Frodo From the LOTR is!!
and he definately is not the unloved child.. He is/was A HOBBIT.. all Hobbit mummys are wholesome and loving... he is just a bad seed. I have him at he Moon at the moment unless i change my mind( LOL No pun intended) .. The moon when sitting at the base of the wand in the celtic cross always denotes to me someone who is not only mentally confused , but emotionally challenged.
Golem is Defianately Mentally challenged with his split personality. and Emotionally challenged when he first encountered the Ring, which led him to Kill his Brother for it.. I have never been able to put any other Main Keyword to the Moon card other than CONFUSION... Anyone else got another word?
I may even split the personalities, and Use Golem and Smeagal as two different people and yet linked..
See how clever i can be

The Ring is definately the Devil..I cant sway away from that one.. anyone who comes into contact or even close range , is tempted and seduced by the Ring. OUr devil card councils us to keep away from the want and steers us towards the need. The devil to me is GREED. The ring creates obsessiveness and brings out Greed.

and I think i need to swap over Frodo and Bilbo in the positions in my own deck..
Thinking about it!! Frodo defiantely is the Fool.. taking a blind leap of faith..Not knowing what challenges lay ahead of him but stepping forwards anyway.
and Bilbo was the hermit of the HObbits..Learned and learning through his adventures. But choosing to stay reclused.

SO 1 and 9 are going to be swapped.


Another project to help me allocate scenes and characters to the cards, as I re read the books.
Is Major Main Keywords to all cards..
I do have my own.. But i am all ear to expand.. The more keywords and emaings to the Tarot cards will help allocate characters.
Please dont refer me to more books. I have lots of reading to do anyway.

Help would be much appreciated by you all.. PLEASE!!

I like what you got so far!

But I am going to make a case for Tom Bombadil being the Magician and Gandalf being the High Priest.

Tom Bombadill is a master of his domain. He is a mystery, even to Tolkien! And I must admit I am a little bored by the very serious magicians. When the magician seems so studious and serious it feels more forced, and magic and manifestation of what you want should come more naturally, and Tom is a perfect candidate in that respect.

Spark Notes wrote:

Tom Bombadil - A jovial, mysterious, and powerful being who dances around his small realm, singing songs in doggerel. Tom is extremely old, perhaps immortal, and his origins are unknown. He has great power and is deeply connected to the earth, but he is unconcerned with the world outside his realm.

Also,

Wikipedia wrote:

Frodo spends two nights in Tom Bombadil's house, each night dreaming a different dream, which are implied to be either clairvoyant or prophetic. The first night he dreams of fearful things, including Gandalf's imprisonment atop Orthanc in Isengard. The second night he dreams of a song that "seemed to come like a pale light behind a grey rain-curtain, and growing stronger to turn the veil all to glass and silver, until at last it was rolled back, and a far green country opened before him under a swift sunrise." Whether he derives these visions from Bombadil's numinous presence or is simply the only hobbit to display oracular foresight is never addressed.

I like to believe that it was the influence of Tom or possibly his Wife and river spirit Goldberry (The River woman's Daughter). Plus:

Wikipedia wrote:

Behind Bombadil's simple façade are hints of great knowledge and power, though limited to his own domain.

And:

Wikipedia wrote:

"The later poem "Bombadil Goes Boating" anchors Bombadil in Middle-earth, featuring a journey down the Withywindle to the Brandywine river, where Hobbits ("Little Folk I know there") live at Hays-End. Bombadil is challenged by various river-residents on his journey, including birds, otters, and hobbits, but charms them all with his voice, ending his journey at the farm of Farmer Maggot, where he drinks ale and dances with the family. At the end of the poem, the charmed birds and otters work together to bring Bombadil's boat home.

Also, Tom refers to himself as Master and Eldest. When Galadriel responds to Frodo about who Tom is, she merely replies "He is" which ties in nicely with the inifinity sign shown above the magician. The Magician to me is about a natural magic, one that flows easily and comes from nature itself. It is about manipulating energy, it is bringing about manifestations. It is also speaks of willpower which Tom Bombadill has a significant amount of (the ring has no power over him, he overcomes all those in his domain) and all the while he is not doing this from a spiritual perspective like the High priestess. He lives in the world and controls it. Quabbalistically the infinity signs also refers to 8, ogdoad, the land of milk and honey and the number of Christ. Tom lives in his own world and a very lush one at that. With Galadriel's response of "He is" it is almost remiscent of Yahweh being "All that is".

In case you can't tell Tom is my favorite character in the whole book! Haha! If you want a quick overview of each character, plot and themes try sparknotes! Link or you can just use wikipedia and search each character you want to use to get a more in-depth view of the character by itself.

Image of Tom (Haha you know you love it!):

Spoiler:

As for Gandalf, well the High priest (or hierophant) is one who is more structured in there knowledge. He teaches the fool, Frodo, and helps Frodo develop his own power and beliefs. A role model of wisdom and learning to Frodo.

I know I don't have much for Gandalf, but I spent so much time on Tom I feel a little wore out haha!

Another suggestion:

For the Three of Cups, perhaps you could show the four hobbits (Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin) at the Prancing Pony having a drink, though one of them is having such a good time they lost theirs resulting in only three chalices and a good time! =)

Hope this helps you.

oOO!!! Thanks so much Peppered Frog
as you can see i totally forgot about Tom Bombardil
Silly me.. Yes he would make the perfect magician.


I like the idea of the 3 of cups.

I have added to link you suggested.

As you can see i really do need to re-read the books..
They seem to have much more detail than the Movies.

Like i remember reading about the runes of power upon the doors In LOTR
and yet i dont recall them in the Movie.
Runes are definately going to have a place in this deck.



Thanks again pepperfrog..
Much appreciated!!

DB xx

I am also unable to find the images i want.. that are in public Domain..
There are a few.. But not enough to cover a deck.
There are also scenes that i visualise whilst reading the books.. and know are in the Movie as well.. It is not possible to retreive those images over the net, as they dont exist in still shots.
I could use my Movie program software to grab the still shots.. or
Depends on how i feel. I may Give it a go and start sketching the entire deck.

I was thinking today, and for some reason my mind wandered back to this topic.

Death, while the ringwraiths fit I am not sure they fit as well as something else could. I think a picture depicting Gandalf versus the Balrog would be more appropriate, or Gandalf the White.

The Balrog dies in battle, and so does Gandalf. BUT Gandalf comes back, is resurrected and with more power and knowledge than before. This ties in nicely with the themes of transformation. Releasing the old way of doing things for a more positive and efficient way.

Oh! The ringwraiths. I think you should definitely show mention of them in with the ring on the Devil card. They are after all the slaves. The ones who fell completely into temptation and shackled themselves to it.

Just some thoughts.

Just Lost my entire friggin post. Arrggggg!!!

What i was saying is!! Cutting way shorter LOL!

I just love your idea for the Death Card..
I was also thinking about the Balrog scene and Gandalf's ressurection..
and thinking that Judgment would be a good card too.
I dont mind carying on the scene,and using it for two cards.. But with death , I dont know how to depict the scene and have Balrog and Gandalf on the bridge or Depict the plummet to death..as they both fall to the bottom. Hmmm lots to think about! Actually the more i think about it.. I really like the scene where Gandalf has just stopped on the Bridge , turned around to face the Balrog.slams his wand on the Bridge and Challenges the Balrog to keep coming.
For the Death Card that image would be really appropriate. That image also covers the Council of the Death card, Urging people to shed their fears and face their demons to be rid of them once and for all.. Death also talks about having done in a past sense, and moving forwards.. Like a snake shedding its skin. In death we are shedding unwanted things about ourselves and in our lives that are just not wanted or serve any purpose.


I really like Judgement for Gandalf the White. Maybe walking out of the dwarfs underground home Khazad-dum as Gandalf the White.

I have changed teh Devil card and the Wheel card.

The Devil is now Sauron
and the wheel is the ring.

The wheel denotes our path of fate and destiny. While the cycles of change in everyones life is part of life. and the essence of Spiritual reality lay within this change in lifes ups and downs. This card symbolises the Forces of Fate and somewhat Destiny.
THe ring was made with a path in mind. It had its Fate already mapped out.
It would always try to be revealed to Sauron, it was programed to always try to find its way home.
with it , The ring also changed many others lives, Once in possession of the ring or even near the ring, their paths were changed forever, as were the lifes lesson to go with it.. the Journey to destroy the ring profoundly changed many lives, Many lifes lessons and changes in views were abound. As the wheel turns, Life continues to change and mould us, due to our choices along the way our destiny is shaped..

The Devil is actually Sauron, HE is the Puppet master... Everyone , Including the Ring are under his spell.
Everyone being promised power and glory if they follow.
Including Saruman turning his once beautiful Isengard into wastelands.
Just in the hope of Pleasing Sauron in return for Power, and glory.

Worked on this a bit last night.
Started reading the fellowship of the Ring Again for the umpteenth time.
and also was using the books as reference also, reading bits and pieces to make sure i have characters and scenes in the right places for the meanings of Tarot.
I am also working with a Tarot book.. and going by the spiritual meanings and the council of the Tarot , rather than the Traditional/physical meaning.. I do have both to compare with, so dont stray too far from traditional meaning.
But really like the Spiritual meanings and to work with what that card councils if someone gets it.
Its how i read !
I love the Druidcraft image set up.. Not that i will be copying at all. But getting a few idea of how to present my characters.
I dont know whether i am a good enough sketcher/drawer to pull this off..
But i will give it a go!
MY Gran was hovering all day yesterday, especially when i was working on this deck.
It was so nice to feel her around and know i am on the right track.
I also considering there are already "Two Lord of the Rings" Decks out there.
One Tarot and the other Oracle. I thought i would call this Deck.
"The Deck from Middle Earth" Or something like that. Or just plain "Middle Earth Tarot"
If they had a Deck of Tarot in Middle Earth , What would it look like?
I was inspired by a man who was actually employed to make the coinage for the film. He had to come up with a design, going by, what if Middle Earth truly existed, what would it look like.
Hence the Ace of Coins, It is one of his designs. Obviously i will have to change it a bit.
I also am going have to study the writing of Middle Earth, I already know the Runes..
So I can pull all this together and create an awesome deck, That I wished i had made two of, when the first one wears out.

Not hundresd Percent sure if this is working for me just yet..
But here is a rough sketch of The Fool!!