Marseille
Originally printed in France in 1751, the Marseille Tarot is a classic deck celebrated for its clear and straightforward imagery.
Enduring Style
Originally used for card games, Tarot cards gained widespread popularity in fortune-telling during the 19th century. The images on the classic Marseille deck trace back to the 18th century, engraved onto special woodblocks for printing. These blocks were utilized by printers for over a century across various editions, employing different combinations of paper and colours.
The Marseille deck follows the traditional Tarot structure, comprising 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana cards. Compared to modern decks, the Marseille cards may appear simplistic, featuring straightforward drawings. The numbered cards of the Minor Arcana are unadorned, displaying basic figures arranged in precise geometric patterns.
Abstract Images
The Marseille Tarot style may pose a challenge for those accustomed to illustrated decks, as it requires using intuition in a more abstract manner, independent of detailed imagery.
The geometric patterns and decorations on the cards can be inspiring, yet the structural elements of the deck hold greater significance. Odd-numbered cards are traditionally seen as 'active' (male), while even-numbered cards are 'reflective' (female).
Reading this way may be less immediate but remains effective. The abstract nature of the cards allows readers to break free from predefined meanings and arrive at personal, authentic interpretations.
In the Major Arcana, the Marseille Tarot reveals profound symbolism beneath its seemingly simple imagery of characters and actions. For instance, the Empress card portrays a woman who appears pregnant yet also bears a pronounced Adam's apple.
This is the essence of the Marseille Tarot - nothing is as straightforward as it seems. Each image conveys more than one concept, embodying the dualities of life: birth and death, good and evil, light and dark, day and night. These cards defy purely rational understanding; intuition is essential.
Choose a seemingly ordinary card. Study it closely and describe every detail in the picture, no matter how insignificant it may seem. Engage your imagination to weave a narrative starting from the card's design and answer the question: 'What do I see in this card?'
Tuning Into The Cards
Each Arcanum, whether illustrated or not, evokes suggestions, memories, and feelings. These serve as your starting point for imagination and interpretation.
This exercise encourages careful observation, stimulates intuition, and aids in understanding the meanings embedded in the Arcana.
Reading the Marseille Tarot requires no special preparation or hidden knowledge - simply allow yourself to be guided by the imagery of the Major Arcana and the structure of the Minor Arcana cards. Pay attention to the number's significance, the suit, arrangement of elements, and their shapes. The rest flows from pure intuition.
The Power of Colour
Colours imbue additional meanings into the Marseille Tarot deck cards:
White: Wisdom, purity, peace.
Black: Endings, finality, distinguishing characteristics.
Blue: Receptive energy, spirit, thought.
Red: Active energy, passion, creativity.
Yellow: Vital energy, divine intelligence.
Green: Nature, growth, creation.
Flesh: Humanity, physical reality.
Sky-blue: Air elements, clarity.
These colours enrich the symbolism within each card, offering deeper insights and interpretations during readings.
For further information on colours in tarot, please refer to 'Tarot Symbolism - Colours.'
Meaning of the Numbers
Both Major and Minor Arcana cards are marked with numbers that imbue each card with significance:
I - One: marks the beginning of a journey or the pinnacle of a hierarchy
II - Two: represents duality, the union of opposites which can lead to harmony or conflict
III - Three: symbolises creativity and the resolution of conflicts
IV - Four: signifies the materialisation of energies on the physical plane
V - Five: denotes transformation and the bridge between different realities
VI - Six: signifies harmony achieved through the blending of complementary elements
VII - Seven: represents wisdom and the ability to transcend personal limits
VIII - Eight: symbolises completion and inner harmony
IX - Nine: indicates growth and the aspiration to move forward
X - Ten: signifies attainment and the completion of a cycle, preparing for a new beginning
The Cups
The Pentacles
The Wands
The Swords
