The Sibylline Prophecies. 

The Sibyls occupy a conspicuous place in the traditions and history of ancient Greece and Rome. Their fame was spread abroad long before the beginning of the Christian era. The original Sibylline Books were closely-guarded oracular scrolls written by prophetic priestesses (the Sibylls) in the Etruscan and early Roman Era as far back as the 6th Century B.C.E. The High Priestess is the card of knowledge, and of female spiritual power, instinctual, and secret knowledge. She holds scrolls of arcane information, and she might reveal the secrets you need to know if you are ready to receive such information.

from Literatarot Oceania

www.museodeitarocchi.it/459.htm

Ronnie Wiblin

Mary first hears stories of Dickon from his sister Martha the housemaid of the Manor. She is entranced by tales of Dickon running wild on the moors all day, with birds and other animals as his playmates. Animals play a key element in this story, as powerful emissaries from the wild world; helpers to the children who are by degrees removed from it. There’s the robin, who first led Mistress Mary to the long buried key. Once the gate is unlocked the story of the garden and those who are touched by it unfolds. The neglected earth seeded with magic, soon thrives with attention. Dickon has a crow named Soot and the fox ‘Captain’ is never far from his side. He tells Mary that "Sometimes I think perhaps I'm a bird, or a fox, or a squirrel... and I don't know it.” This statement reveals Dickon as shaman, keeping deep ties to the naturalistic realms.

This quote from the book describes the garden’s transformation from gray and seemingly dead to green and vibrant:

“The garden had reached the time when every day and every night it seemed as if Magicians were passing through it drawing loveliness out of the earth and the boughs with wands.” 

I love the idea of Magicians “passing through” dreamily waving their wands, leaving sunlight, sound, color and scents of blooming roses in their wake. All those many Magicians are embodied in the character of Dickon, the original; the moorland version of Pan, with the power to charm both animals and people. Mary clearly thinks of him as a Magician and is strongly attracted to him. For all his sunny-ness and friendly ‘down to earth’ manner, he is a powerful force; magnetic and mysterious. Even though the garden is first discovered by Mary, it is hard to think of its re-incarnation without Dickon. Mary has the desire, and later Colin - the will. But it’s Dickon, with his woodland and moor-land knowledge of plants and animals, wind and weather that marshals all the forces of nature to channel the magical creative process.

Notes on the card: A still frame of Dickon Sowerby, the Yorkshire sun illuminating his straw hat, surrounded by an arbor of morning glories and his animal familiars…….

The 4 elements are represented on the card: earth and water, air (pale blue sky) and fire (sunlight). The coins suit is nicely illustrated in the actual story. Dickon buys seed packets at the seed house in Thwaite, Yorkshire, with the coins that Mary gives him. I named the establishment ‘Burnett’s seed house, in honor of the author, and chose the mysterious moonflower, sunflower, and of course ‘heather’ in honor of Dickon’s beloved wild moors. A leafy branch signifies wands. Mary once thought a dried woody plant was lifeless, but Dickon showed how green still flowed just beneath the surface of the bark:

He knelt and with his knife cut the lifeless-looking branch through, not far above the earth.

“There!” he said exultantly. “ I told thee so. There’s green in that wood yet. Look at it.”

The other 2 suits are imagined as part of the Secret Garden. The little rock fountain, flowing with pure spring water gathers in a little pool, representing the suit of cups.   Sword ferns peak out from the cracks among the rocks. Robin, fox and a tiny garden spider join Dickon, as well as Soot the crow portrayed as the keeper of the key to the Secret Garden gate.

Leslie Cochran

Viraaj is all of ten years old and the youngest in this project. He has been learning tarot. A student of standard five he loves everything magical and Tarot tops the list. According to him it is very interesting and easy to use. He has learnt how to meditate on it through the help of his mother and in his words, "Since then everyday is like living in a fairyland where there is only fun and happiness all around me. I think all schools must introduce Tarot to children with a little story for each card."

This Fool card depicts Tenali Raman - also called The King of Fools and is a character known from the classical literature Tenali Raman's Panch Kavyas. Tenali Raman was a Jester in the court of Krishnadeva Raja of the Vijaynagar kingdom. Tenali was a very clever and witty person who explained deep philosophies and solutions to problems in a very unique and funny way.

In one story a senior courtier retires from the court and this makes the kind very upset so that he too stops coming to the court. Observing this Tenali also stopped coming to the court and disappeared. Out of restlessness the king went to the bank of a river to enjoy the freshness of the water and he appreciated it so much that he came there repeatedly for three days. A sage who was watching him all these days came and asked the king why he was unhappy. The king relied the retirement of his courtiers was his concern. To this the sage said that everyday the king appreciated the flowing water whereas each day the water he had seen before had flowed away to be replaced by new, yet gave rise to the same feelings as the previous water. So the king realized that it is not the water which is beautiful but the beauty lies in the fact that the river keeps flowing, yet retains its freshness and clearness. Similarly those who retire from his court have not really gone. The coming and going of people in our lives is a natural, continuous process. But, their departure does not stop life as many new people fit into their shoes. The king was finally happy but happier to know that it was Tenali who was disguised as the sage. The card shows Tenali Raman with his feathered cap and gives the message that people in our life may come and go but the Fool will always remain happy.

From Literatarot Asia