Pagan or not?

Lenah

I just shuffled my Tarot of the Pagan Cats deck and drew 28 cards from the top of the stack. Out of those 28 cards, fully 20 of them had some sort of magickal symbology, including signs for the elements, and also including pentacles. So just a quick look shows that there is quite a bit of magickly-oriented symbology. Now, whether that symbology is specifically "Pagan" or not, I don't know, but just off the top of my head I don't think that if you pulled 28 cards from, say, the Rider-Waite deck, you'd be likely to find 20 of those 28 cards showing an occult symbol, regardless of whether the symbols seemed Pagan or just occult/magickal. To me, when I look through this deck, it has a very, very magickal, occult energy to it. But not in a heavy way like the Haindl or the Thoth. I would not call the Tarot of Pagan Cats a "Pagan" deck because there really isn't reference to Pagan Gods, other than a statue of the Goddess on one card and maybe a very few other things like that. But I WOULD DEFINITELY call it a "witchy" deck because it has a witchy feel to it. It also has some qabalistic symbolism.
Really, it's a great deck. I've been collecting tarots and studying occult symbology since '96 and this is one of my very favorite.
 

nisaba

<smile> I personally think that the RW deck is *loaded* with magical symbolism, all over the place.

An the Pentacle, as well as being a Pagan symbol is also one of the Seals of Solomon, making it sacred to Jews, Christians and Moslems as well.

How would you separate "witchy" from "Pagan"? To me, a Witch is a specialist form of Pagan. To me, what is non-denominational is being a user of magic or a magician: people from all cultures and all times, including Christians and yes even including atheists, can be users of magic.

This has the possibility to turn into an interesting discussion ...
 

Carla

Well. I don't like cats but this deck is starting to sound intriguing.

ETA. Nope. Went and looked at images. They make my nose itch. I'm up for a dog tarot, though!
 

Flaxen

Carla said:
I'm up for a dog tarot, though!
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I would love one of those too! What is it about the plethora of cat decks? I like cats but can't dogs get a look-in too?

Back on topic, I think the RWS is loaded with symbols too, they just may not be as obvious as the pentacles.
 

brightcrazystar

http://www.aeclectic.net/tarot/cards/white-cats/index.shtml

I love The Fool in this cat deck. it's a dog being grabbed by a kitten. aww

I still think this deck {White Cats} is genius, cause so many people's childhood energy is wrapped up in animals acting like humans from cartoons. It might disarm them enough to hit the sweetspot of reading clarity.
 

Lillie

Lenah said:
I just shuffled my Tarot of the Pagan Cats deck and drew 28 cards from the top of the stack. Out of those 28 cards, fully 20 of them had some sort of magickal symbology, including signs for the elements, and also including pentacles. So just a quick look shows that there is quite a bit of magickly-oriented symbology. Now, whether that symbology is specifically "Pagan" or not, I don't know, but just off the top of my head I don't think that if you pulled 28 cards from, say, the Rider-Waite deck, you'd be likely to find 20 of those 28 cards showing an occult symbol, regardless of whether the symbols seemed Pagan or just occult/magickal. To me, when I look through this deck, it has a very, very magickal, occult energy to it. But not in a heavy way like the Haindl or the Thoth. I would not call the Tarot of Pagan Cats a "Pagan" deck because there really isn't reference to Pagan Gods, other than a statue of the Goddess on one card and maybe a very few other things like that. But I WOULD DEFINITELY call it a "witchy" deck because it has a witchy feel to it. It also has some qabalistic symbolism.
Really, it's a great deck. I've been collecting tarots and studying occult symbology since '96 and this is one of my very favorite.
Click to expand...

It really depends on how you define 'pagan'.
A lot of people would call anything magical 'pagan'.

Personally (and this is just my personal opinion), I feel that statues of goddesses have very little to do with paganism. Neo paganism, perhaps. But paganism in it's original meaning, no.

Pagan is defined as 'a person holding religious beliefs other than those of the main world religions' in the Concise Oxford.
The root of the word comes from Latin meaning 'rustic' or 'villager', and became synonymous with 'Heathen' (ie. non Christian) during the middle ages.

So all magical beliefs including ceremonial magic could come under this definition, as would all folk beliefs such as witchcraft. And as you say both of these are well represented in this deck.

Great deck though, isn't it?
 

GryffinSong

gregory said:
There are a few - though not that easy to find:


the Sedillot Tarot du Chien
...
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O.M.G. That's an Italian greyhound as the ace of cups (I have five of the little darlin's). Must. Have.

Gah, my kingdom for this deck!!! LOL
 

nisaba

Flaxen said:
I would love one of those too! What is it about the plethora of cat decks? I like cats but can't dogs get a look-in too?
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Ever lived with a cat? They are very much themselves, and very much a part of the world, but they are constantly drifting between the worlds, also. Kinda like Tarot. Where dogs are unashamedly physical 100% of the time.

Well, you have to be, if sniffing other people's bums is a part of your lifestyle. (Who was that Western Australian politician, again?)
 
Tarot of Transformation "Defacing" Decks