One aspect of the
Tarot that I enjoy is how elastic it is. Although the Tarot is a construct of
the Western Mystery Tradition, many Tarotists can devise fanciful decks based
on themes ranging from baseball to zombies. There are even decks that feature
multiple themes such as stories of dragons from African, Chinese, European, and
Meso-American cultures. This diversity of decks allows for the deeper
exploration of divination by the Tarot.
One
of my favorite decks is Stella Bennett’s “The
Star That Never Walks Around.” This dedicated Tarotist created a deck combining
her Native American heritage and her vision of the Tarot as the “Guide to
Wisdom.” (Her grandmother was of the Turtle Mountain Band of the Chippewa
Indians.) Her title for the deck, “The
Star That Never Walks Around” reflects both. (It is the Native Americans’
name for the Polar Star (Polaris).)
Demonstrating
her extensive knowledge of the Tarot, Bennett includes its astrological aspects
in her cards. For the Court Cards, she pairs each with their Sign. The “Knight
of Turtles (Pentacles)” is Capricorn, while the “Queen of Butterflies (Swords)”
is Virgo. In the Minor Arcana, she matches the suits’ elements with their
respective Zodiac Signs. Bennett writes for the “Three of Thunderbirds (Wands,
element of fire):” “Our warrior offers assistance, help, and strength to the
ram in distress. The ram represented by the Zodiac Sign Aries and can be
headstrong.”
Bennett
wrote that designing this deck was a spiritual experience for her. By drawing
the cards herself, Bennett could explore the Native American cultures of the
Plains, where she lived, more deeply. Each card depicted Native American
ceremonies and beliefs. She included ordinary events, since they also carried a
message from the Spirits. An example of this was the “Death Card (XIII)” of the
Major Arcana. It showed the graves of the men from Custer’s Last Stand next to
a platform Indian burial. Bennett wrote, “This card represents the death of the
old human spirit and the rebirth of the new spirit of the Grandfathers.”
Bennett’s infusion of the Tarot with
Native American cultures was something that I enjoyed. Whenever I used the deck
for readings, I would discover new meanings in her cards. She expanded my
knowledge of the Tarot.
However,
I felt uneasy in using this deck, since I read that Native Americans objected
to their portrayal in various media. Also, they complained that their cultures were
being mined for commercial, Neo-Pagan, or New Age uses. For me, the crux of the
issue became where on the “continuum between celebrating culture diversity and
cultural appropriation” laid Bennett’s deck? The answer would determine if I should
continue to use this deck.
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