Easy as STU…

In this Tarot Notes series, I will be pulling a card for each letter of the alphabet. Each card will be from a different deck. To add to the cleverness, of course, the name of the deck will begin with the letter being used, if at all possible. (Deck attributions are provided at the end of this post.)

To read the blog post for the letters ABC, click HERE. 

For DEF, click HERE. 

For GHI, click HERE. 

For JKL, click HERE. 

For MNO, click HERE. 

For PQR, click HERE. 

Background image by Daniel Albany from Pixabay

S is for SIBYL. 

Well, why not? In Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery, The High Priestess is portrayed as the ancient pagan prophetess Sybil. Her open scroll “displays the symbol for consciousness in the center of the seven-pointed star and the circular anagram relating the words TAROT, ROTA, and ATOR.” In this case, “S” can also stand for Symbolism,  and the number Seven: for the Seven Virtues of Temperance, Strength, Justice, Prudence, Faith, Hope, and Charity.

T is for TYPHON.

Typhon is the character descending the wheel in the Thoth Tarot representation of the Wheel of Fortune card. According to Greek mythology, Typhon was a Titan (another “T”!), a terrifying, huge monster who had nothing but serpents below the waist. When the card is reversed, Typhon ascends to the top of the wheel, a representation of dark times and bad luck. We might also say “T” is for TEN, as seen in the ten-spoked wheel on this card. “T” might also represent “TIME,” as the position of the wheel changes, and Typhon rises and falls, with time.

U is for UNDERTAKING. 

The Ace of Wands is often seen as representing creation, a beginning, or the start of an undertaking. This card has appeared before in the ABC series, representing the letter P for “Potential.” This time we are using the Universal Waite Tarot. Synonyms for “undertaking” include enterprise, venture, project, campaign, scheme, plan, operation, endeavor, effort, task, assignment, charge, activity, pursuit, exploit, job, business, affair, procedure, proceeding, process, and transaction.

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S: The Tarot of the Sevenfold Mystery by Robert M. Place  (Hermes Publications)
T: Thoth Tarot by Aleister Crowley (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)
U: Universal Waite Tarot with drawings by Pamela Colman Smith and coloring by Mary Hanson-Roberts (U.S. Games Systems, Inc.)