Old English Tarot: 9 of Coins

In today's blog entry, Helen Howell continues her exploration of cards from the Old English Tarot by Maggie Kneen (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)

Old English Tarot

Nine of Coins

by Helen Howell

I really like the depiction on the Old English 9 of Coins and like its more traditional brother the Rider Waite, it shows us an image of comfort and accomplishment. We all know the Rider Waite image of the lady in the garden, surrounded by the nine coins and we know that this is an image of wealth.

The Old English image shows us a couple seated together and toasting each other with a drink.  A garland decorates the wall behind them and the flooring is a rich checker-board pattern. I like that unlike the Rider Waite card, we have a couple here, a symbol of sharing their wealth and good fortune, as opposed to the lady in her garden who is enjoying it all by herself.

The Old English suggests comfort and prosperity but what I like most about this imagery is that it may symbolise for us the essence of sharing, in other words it’s not just about accumulating wealth, it’s about what you do with it that counts. The couple seem to indicate to me that abundance is not just about money. In this image we see comfort, but we also see emotional prosperity along with physical wellbeing. What they have accomplished they now share together.

LWB: Accomplishment, foresight, prudence, material well-being, love of nature.

Reversed: Stagnation, carelessness, lack of determination or direction.