The Wheel of fortune, shown here with a token reference to the Marseilles. The eternal cycle of contrasting fates and fortune. Each a combination of our own influence and choices but ultimately determined by luck, fate and circumstance.

The hare; an indication of things to come, I will rule. The lion; the present I am ruling. The monkey; possibly a mocking realization of the temporal nature of our previous state, I did rule. And finally the abstract empty fourth non state, I have no rule.

Internal conflict, fighting among ourselves, lack of common ground.

A general treatment has been applied to all the aces, namely, in each case there is an overall scene of their elements, which in this deck and suite is: Swords/Air.

The composition of each card consists of a variety of creatures that share the corresponding environment. I did not intend any specific symbolism to the various creatures I've included, although you are welcome to provide your own. But there is nevertheless a general rationale behind them, namely to compliments the traits, gender and the general role of the main characters.

I couldn't resist the Romeo and Juliet portrayal, even though it results in a rather “romantic novel book cover” kind of feel.

The cranes are a symbolic flourish, as a pair they are known to mate for life.

A general treatment has been applied to all the aces, namely, in each case there is an overall scene of their elements, which in this deck and suite is: Cups/Water.

The composition of each card consists of a variety of creatures that share the corresponding environment. I did not intend any specific symbolism to the various creatures I've included, although you are welcome to provide your own. But there is nevertheless a general rationale behind them, namely to compliments the traits, gender and the general role of the main characters.

Between the Marseilles and the RWS, there is a significant discrepancy in how the Fool is depicted. The dog (or cat as suggested in some decks) is clearly attack- ing the Fool in the Marseilles. This might suggest the Fool is a traveling but unwelcome stranger. A social out-cast either by choice, mental or physical deficiencies, and presumably poverty. The Marseilles fool’s journey would have been a far cry from the more decoratively

dressed character we see in Pamela Colman's scene. In her RWS, the dog seems less intimidating, and so we are told, might in fact be his pet, willingly accompanying his

owner as he leaps innocently off the cliff. I would imagine the Marseilles depiction to be the more accurate of the two, but nevertheless, I have mixed and matched.

This Grand Luxe Fool is “foolishly” but decently dressed, his headdress is decorated with symbolic representations of the arcanas, along with a Shakespearean flourish. King Lear's Fool summarizes the somewhat unique and ironic position the Fool had, probably the only member of court that safely had the ear of the king and the ability to laugh at him....

A general treatment has been applied to all the court cards, namely, in each case there is an overall scene of their elements, which in this deck and suite is: Swords/Air.

The composition of each card consists of the main character, King, Queen, Knight, and Page along with a variety of creatures that share the corresponding environment. I did not intend any specific symbolism to the various creatures I've included, although you are welcome to provide your own. But there is nevertheless a general rationale behind them, namely to compliments the traits, gender and the general role of the main characters.

In this card a choice was made, a risk was taken, an effort was put in. Now we can only wait and hope the results are worthwhile. In the horizon we see (or dream we see) our ship come in. In its hold are our rewards (hopefully)

A woman holds a hooded falcon. We can assume she is a woman of means, she is well dressed (albeit flamboyantly) and falconry is a sport of the privileged economic class. But her demeanor is sober, falconry is not merely a entertaining pastime, but a symbolic metaphor for personal restraint and control over one’s own natural and wilder instincts.

Coming together. Joining forces. Reaching an agreement. I don’t see this as a romantic relationship, but it could certainly be as a personal one. It could also be a business partnership. Or simply a shared understand- ing, having something in common. A coming together of previously opposing factors in whatever form, racial, political, religious, social..... the world needs this card.....