Tarot and Dragons: The Dragons Tarot Cards (2 of 2)

The other two cards that we felt a kinship with were the “Six of Cups” of the Minor Arcana and “The Star (XVII)” of the Major Arcana.  We regarded these two cards to be the bookends to the “Knight of Coins”.  Together, the three cards represent the whole of us and the nature of our relationship. 

The “Six of Cups” features several dragon boats (steered by humans) which are being led by dolphins.  In the moonlight, these boats are coming into an inlet.  This card evokes a sense of mutual assistance between humans and the others.  Since the humans have reached a major milestone on their trek, this card also exudes a sense of accomplishment.  I view this card as me on my voyage with my Guide leading me.  (I accept Peesey’s help in my life.)  Donaldson writes that the meaning of this card is “Lessons about sharing, giving, and receiving to be learned.”  He further indicates that the dolphins are only playing.  However in traditional lore, dolphins do lead sailors to safe harbor.  Therefore the meaning of the card that my Guide and I understood was “mutual assistance”. 

Meanwhile, “The Star (XVII)” reflects my Guide’s aspirations.  While watching a shooting star, an adult dragon spills water out into a pool formed by waterfalls.  Surrounding the pool are quartz crystals, (which for other cards, the author indicates that the crystals are “potent magic”).  Meanwhile, this dragon makes a wish on the star.  This is the card of my Guide’s future hopes since He aspires to be the best dragon he can be.  Peesey cannot do this alone, but needs my help to achieve his goal.  The author’s meaning for this card is “realization, hope, inspiration.”  Our sense of the card is the realization of our hopes and the inspiration to go further.

Since the Minor Arcana suit of Coins in “The Dragon Tarot” depicted forest scenes, my Guide related the best to them.  In contrast, He had problems with Wands, which was the element of Fire.  Meanwhile, I had problems with Swords (Air) but my Guide helped me with their meanings.  With “The Dragon Tarot”, most of our meditations resulted in being a little off in the cards’ meanings from what Donaldson intended them to be.  However, we felt that we understood what the dragons wanted us to know.

Works Used:

Caney, Mark, “The Dolphin Way Blog”, The Dolphin Way, http://www.dolphin-way.com/the-dolphin-way-blog/, 2012, .

----, “Dolphin Facts and Information”, Dolphins World, Bio-Expedition Publishing, 2011, http://www.dolphins-world.com/, .

Donaldson, Terry and Peter Pracownik, “The Dragon Tarot”, U.S. Games: Stamford (CT), 1996.

Tarot and Dragons: The Dragon Tarot Cards (1 of 2)

My Dragon Guide (Peesey) and I decided that we would meditate on “The Dragon Tarot” by Terry Donaldson and Peter Pracownik.  We both had bonded with this deck, which my Guide thought depicted the many aspects of his home.  Together, we meditated with the cards and began to understand what the various dragons were teaching us.

Our favorite card of this deck was the “Knight of Coins” of the Minor Arcana.  The dragon of this card stands at attention, holding his shield and lance, to guard against intruders to the forest.  My Guide saw this dragon as someone to aspire to become someday.  In this card, the sun rises over the leafless trees of the forest, indicating the need to remain alert for possible danger.  Meanwhile the mushrooms scattered about the dragon’s feet invites more maturity and wisdom.  (According to Donaldson, mushrooms indicate “needed discrimination”.)  Examining the card further, I found a small dragon sitting on the Knight’s back.  (I regarded this dragon to be me, in the role of Peesey’s friend and guide.)  Thus the “Knight of Coins” represents our partnership.

For the “Knight of Coins”, Donaldson in the guidebook writes, “a young Knight stands on duty”.  Then he adds, “A male who wishes to develop the work side of his life.”  This is what my Guide and I thought that the meaning was.  Peesey wants me to guide Him as He matures, while under his guidance, I learn how to protect myself.

In searching for what the small dragon symbolizes, I had to guess at the author’s intent.  Donaldson does not present a large and small dragon as equals.  The smaller dragons are usually younger ones, who are under the direction of the older and larger ones.  This does not seem to be the case in the “Knight of Coins” for the smaller dragon.  I decided the smaller dragon, in this case, was an equal partner of the larger one.  I see Peesey as the larger dragon who protects me, while I give Him guidance as the smaller one. 

Tarot and Dragons: The Dragon Tarot by Donaldson and Pracownik (2 of 2)

The difference between “The Dragon Tarot” and “The Celtic Dragon Tarot” (Conway and Hunt) is the role of humans amongst the dragons. Both decks are constructed for the seeker to go on a spiritual journey with dragons. However, “The Celtic Dragon Tarot” places greater emphasis on the activities of humans. Although a few cards feature only dragons, many of them stress human interaction with the various dragons. In fact, Conway writes that dragons act as our astral guardians. She writes, “…how wise and wonderful dragons can be. They are some of the best co-magicians….They can be good friends, powerful protectors, and wise teachers.” Moreover, she stresses that humans and dragons should work together as co-magicians.

Meanwhile, “The Dragon Tarot” is dragon-centric, and in fact humans are absent from the cards. Instead, Donaldson takes people to meet the dragons in their homeland. He writes, “The Dragon is there to tease us, to provoke us, to stimulate us to a higher plane of being, to force us to look within.”  As I see it, the dragons will challenge humans and be their guides, but not necessarily be their co-magicians. The dragons will meet humans but only on their own terms and at their own choosing. Some will be indifferent to people, whilst others will be friendly towards them.

What is important in “The Dragon Tarot” is taking the Journey to the Tree of Life to gain wholeness. The author writes, “What is not important is being ‘right’ or ‘correct’. What is important is enjoying the experience of traveling in your Journey.” Unlike Conway who stresses the correct spiritual process, Donaldson celebrates the wonder of being in the presence of dragons, as they go about their daily lives.

In deciding between the two decks, I would choose “The Dragon Tarot” over “The Celtic Dragon Tarot”. The dragons of the former are alive and separate from us whilst the dragons of the latter seem to be elusive and imaginary. In addition, Conway stresses how dragons can be called upon to help us to do whatever. She writes, “Because of the ancient wisdom of dragons, they are also valuable to call upon when performing any type of divination.” Perhaps Conway does not mean this, but she seems to imply that dragons can be our cosmic bellhops. In contrast, Donaldson presents dragons who are independent of humans, and who chose what they wish to do.

Since I have a strong visual side, the artwork of Tarot cards is also important to me.  The artwork of Lisa Hunt for me seems to be sketchy and misty for me.  Meanwhile, the art of Peter Pracownik is more full-bodied and interesting. His dragons are approachable and real. Moreover, I can obtain more meaning from Pracownik’s images that I could that from Hunt’s.

Lastly since I had such a strong reaction to the cards of “The Dragon Tarot” and not “The Celtic Dragon Tarot”, I would choose the former. Rarely I have reacted so strongly to a Tarot deck, and want to explore this further. Since the card images of this deck act as portals to Dragonland, I can see myself going through them with the Fool acting as my guide. I could gain a lot from using “The Dragon Tarot”.

Works Used:

Bartlett, Sarah, “The Tarot Bible”, Sterling: New York, 2006.

Conway, D.J. and Lisa Hunt, “The Celtic Dragon Tarot”, Llewellyn: St. Paul (MN), 2005.

Donaldson, Terry and Peter Pracownik, “The Dragon Tarot”, U.S. Games: Stamford (CT), 1996.

Fontana, David, “The Essential Guide to the Tarot”, Watkins Publishing: London, 2011.

Tarot and Dragons: The Dragon Tarot by Donaldson and Pracownik (1 of 2)

 “The Dragon Tarot” (Terry Donaldson and Peter Pracownik, U.S. Games: Stamford (CT), 1996.)

After reviewing the cards of the “The Dragon Tarot”, two of the cards - The Fool (0) of the Major Arcana and the Ace of Wands of Minor Arcana - drew me to them. Normally when I review a Tarot deck, I usually pick The Fool (0) and the 10 of Swords, since they deal with beginnings and endings. With these particular cards, I can usually tell the author’s intent for their deck. However in the case of “The Dragon Tarot”, The Fool (0) and Ace of Wands seem to have spoken to me on an elemental level.

In “The Dragon Tarot”, I see The Fool (0) and the Ace of Wands as bookends. They both feature dragons who are accomplished in what they do – the Fool is the gambler who plays the odds, while the Ace of Wands is a careful thinker who tests everything first. I seem them as the id and ego respectively.  The Fool, who is interested in people, and the Ace of Wands, who is interested in ideas join together to be the ying and yang of life.

I realized that I have a personal interest in these two cards. They represent my two lives – before and after my traumatic brain injury. Prior to my injury, I was the dragon of the Ace of Wands. In my lab surrounded by my books, papers, and test tubes, I explored the magickal world of nature and science. The dragon of The Fool (0) is the present me, who leaves life up to chance, and goes with the flow.

Moreover, I see in the dragon who represents the Fool, a lively, funny, and compassionate guide ready for anything. Armed with his jester wand and dice, this dragon is both guide and gatekeeper for me. The bubbles behind him and the Uranus sigil at the bottom inform me that this dragon is also knowledgeable, original, and eccentric, much like myself. I feel comfortable going on a journey with this dragon.  Donaldson writes, “I am the Fool, here to mark your entry into Dragonland….Come on, tell me a joke, and let’s hear some real wisdom.” Since the divinatory meaning of this card is “a new chapter in your life”, I feel that this Fool can lead me to the Ace of Wands.

The divinatory meaning for the Ace of Wands is “a new enterprise”. Although I cannot be that particular dragon again, I can become a new version of him in my life. The Big Dipper on his wall will guide me to the true North of myself. I see this dragon as a guide for the new direction of my life.  For example in my therapy, I test each new activity and work to include it into my new brain.