Diana said:
TL2: Referring to the above post, I do not see why a number 5 would indicate obstacles nor difficulties.
In looking back on this thread, I realize that my original post may have been misconstrued, most likely due to my own lack of clarity.
I am not suggesting that the number 5 means solely obstacles and difficulties. As you can see in
this post, I'm fully aware that the 5 can be considered positively as well as negatively. In fact, I believe each card can be considered equally positively or negatively, depending on one's viewpoint. In the case of the 5, I consider a basic meaning to be "challenges." Challenges can certainly be difficult experiences, but without them there would be no human progress or achievement.
In my post, I was addressing TL2's question about how a suit+number interpretation would differ from an RWS-inspired interpretation. I was attempting to show that the RWS illustrations could be seen as embodying suit+number interpretations for many of the cards, while some of the RWS cards are more difficult to fit into a suit+number explanation. In the RWS, obstacles and difficulties are shown in the 5's in all four suits. Thus, one could surmise that Waite and Smith, when they created the cards, saw the 5's in a negative light and created the images accordingly. This interpretation for the 5's would have made sense for them, since as members of the Golden Dawn they would have associated 5 with the fifth sephira, Gevurah (to this sephira I assigned the keyword "Correction" in the Tarot of Dreams Guidebook).
In short, I was trying to speculate on Waite and Smith's own numerological interpretations based on their deck, rather than giving my own interpretations.
Fulgour said:
Heartbreak and Sorrow? 
That sounds like a "book" interpretation
and not something that a
Reader would necessarily consider valid.
III Swords by Pamela Colman Smith "reads" more like
Loyalty.
Fulgour, I have been reading the Tarot for 25 years. I spent a year as one of two readers doing professional readings for the Aeclectic site (MeeWah was the other), and during that time I did many, many paid readings. I can assure you that when I read, I do not consult books. If I'm reading a scenic-pip deck, I interpret the images on the cards intuitively. If I'm reading a non-scenic-pip deck, I interpret the images on the trumps and courds intuitively, and for the pip cards I interpret the suit, number, and card design intuitively (as well as, of course, in the context of the question, the spread position, and neighboring cards).
In the case of the 3 of Swords, I think Waite and Smith's intended meaning is pretty clear and unambiguous. A heart with three swords thrust into it, set against clouds and rain, is a vivid and visceral image of heartbreak. I do think it is possible to interpret the card positively (for example, it could mean simply a lack of emotional content, the swords seen as similar to the international icon for "no," a circle with a line through it), but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Having said that, I firmly believe in anyone's right to use any meanings they wish if they find them useful, so if "Loyalty" is a useful meaning for you, then that's great.
I'd be interested (sincerely) in how you derive loyalty from the RWS 3 of Swords, if you'd care to share that, or if you've discussed it before, perhaps you could direct me to the post? I'm always interested in new ways to interpret the cards.
Just to make sure I'm being clear: if I were reading a Marseille or other non-scenic-pip deck, I would not interpret the 3 of Swords as heartbreak. Inspired by Gail Fairfield's books, I would say it could mean planning a communication. Hitting the "Preview" button when composing a post, for example, is one activity that could be symbolized by the 3 of Swords. Or, if one chooses to interpret Swords as defense (based on the suit object), it could mean planning a defense, for example signing a contract for pest control. Suit+number meanings, I have found, can be highly specific to everyday concerns, if one is creative about how one applies them.
I also want to emphasize that when using suit+number interpretations, there are no "right" or "wrong" meanings for the numbers, just as there are no "right" or "wrong" meanings for the cards. There are different sets of numerological meanings available, and it's simply a matter of which meanings one prefers. It also depends on what mode or kind of readings you're doing. For example, I've been looking at the Hedgewytchery playing-card meanings, inspired by a recent post of LittleBuddha's. These meanings are more prediction-oriented. In the Hedgewytchery system, 5's mean the body, which I think is also a valid and interesting interpretation.
-- Lee
P.S. Thanks Sulis, I as well am looking forward to my book!
