Tarot of the Saints A Gnostic Christian Tarot

by Robert M. Place

I received this deck in the mail on September 14, the day George W. Bush declared a national day of prayer and remembrance. I was shaken up that day, not only by the recent tragedy, the concern for family and friends in NYC, or the very real possibility of war that faced us all. I was shaken up by an emotional response I had to watching the days' services at the National Cathedral. I was moved by the words of Jew, Christian, Muslim. But something else took place, ... an instinctual urge to return to the religion of my early childhood.

I have never rejected Christianity. In fact, for quite a few years I was deep in study of ancient Christianity, Judaism, and Gnosticism; and Biblical language. Over time I simply moved away from it, as I delved into other religions. What I came to fully realize through the study of so many different traditions, is that they are all reaching for the same light, the same spirit. With this in mind, I can look at Christianity fairly and openly. Although I already understood that the repression and narrow-mindedness of some people, as well as the history of persecution, are not just reflections of the faith, I saw this again more distinctly through this receptive study of other religions. I can quietly roam the depths of Christianity, and find true mysticism and spirit there, again.

Tarot of the Saints is a perfect starting (or re-starting) point for this. Robert M. Place, with intelligence and skill, presents to us the great people of Christianity, those humans who gave their lives to a quest for God, and discovered the soul of God him/her/it-self. These are the men and women who endured torture, saw visions, performed miracles. They are the ones whose experiences so strongly embodied a Christian ideal, they were canonized as saints.

Who are the saints? Even though I grew up in a large Italian, Catholic family, I never had much familiarity with more than just a few of the saints. But it is easy for me to recognize their significance, their potency as symbols and guides. There are thousands of recognized saints, and they fit extremely well into the tarot. Their places within this set seem natural, almost as if the tarot were designed around their stories.

This set is a bit more academic than many others. Its research is obvious, both in the writing and in the extensive bibliography. The book opens with a discussion on the origin of the tarot that is comprehensive and interesting. It continues into a discussion of Christian mystics, Gnostics, and saints, that is equally comprehensive and interesting. The history nut in me loved these two chapters, and appreciated the more scholarly (though still very accessible) approach. The book then delves into the mystical nature of tarot, validating its place in history and in modern times.

The first reading I did with this deck was impressive. It was a few days after I received the set. The feelings I had had on the 14th about reconsidering Christianity had faded, or mellowed, a bit. It wasn't on my mind. But the reading drew them up again, placed them beneath a spotlight. Reading through the interpretations, I realized just how on target and effective this set can be for self-discovery, and for divination. The cards, and their written meanings, hit my personal experiences right on the head.

Each Major Arcana card receives three pages or so of explanation, historical fact (or legend), symbolism, and interpretation. These are, again, comprehensive and interesting. The court cards, which are Squire, Knight, Queen, and King, are adequately explained in one or two pages. The number cards, which usually have scenes, only receive a small paragraph of interpretation. This, I think, is one of the only weak points of the set. Beginners may have a hard time learning a full range of possible interpretations because of this limitation.

The cards are very finely illustrated. Normally I would not like this kind of artwork. It is literal, realistic, very straightforward. But the lines and shadowing give the images more than just visual form. The images, like the words in the book, succeed at being both scholarly and intuitive, teaching as well as moving.

Format of the Book:

Chapter 1 - The Origin of the Tarot
An Eighteenth-Century Savant
The Facts About Cards
The Birth of the Tarot
Writing with Symbols
A Parade of Hieroglyphics

Chapter 2 - Mystics, Gnostics, nd Saints
Mystics
Gnostics
Saints

Chapter 3 - A Mystical Interpretation of the Tarot
The Tetractys
Three Stages
The Trumps
The World

Chapter 4 - A Parade of Saints
St. Francis - The Fool
I - St. Nicholas - The Magician
II St. Mary Magdalen - The Papesse
III - St. Helena - The Empress
IV - St. Constantine - The Emperor
V - St. Peter - The Pope
VI - St. Valentine and The Lovers
VII - St. Christopher - The Chariot
VIII - St. Michael - Justice
IX - St. Anthony of Egypt - The Hermit
X - St. Catherine - Wheel of Fortune
XI - St. Jerome - Strength
XII - St. Blandina - The Hanged One
XIII - St. Stephen - Martyrdom
XIV - St. Benedict - Temperance
XV - St. Margaret and The Devil
XVI - St. Barbara - The Tower
XVII - St. Therese - The Star
XVIII - St. Mary - The Moon
XIX - Christ - The Sun
XX - St. Gabriel - Judgement
XXI - St. Sophia - The World

Chapter 5 - The Fourfold World
The Four Humors
Personality Types
The Qualities of Numbers

Chapter 6 - The Minor Suits
Suit of Cups
Suit of Swords
Suit of Coins
Suit of Staffs

Chapter 7 - Divination
The Three-Card Sentence
The Relationship Spread
The Personality Cross
Meditation

Notes
Bibliography
Index

St. Genevieve - Queen of Staffs:

St. Genevieve, the young shepherdess, stands with her crook and her lamb. Genevieve was a shepherdess born in Nanterre, France, in 422 who became a nun at the age of fifteen. When she was young, her mother went blind as a result of slapping her daughter in anger. Genevieve cured her with her tears. When her mother died, Genevieve became a nun and moved to Paris. In the Parisian nunnery, she became known for her mystic visions. In one trance, Genevieve prophesied disasters and invasions that would befall the city. Not accepting fate, she became determined to use her powers to protect the city. When Paris was besieged by the Franks under the command of Childeric, Genevieve headed a convoy along the river bringing food and supplies into the city. Later she used her courage and powers of persuasion to win Childeric's respect and gained the release of prisoners. She also foresaw the coming of Attila and the Huns, but through fasting and prayer Genevieve brought God's protection to the city and Attila changed direction before reaching Paris.

St. Genevieve's relics have continually been used to protect France from epidemics and disasters. The most famous cure attributed to her was during the ergo epidemic in 1129. Her shrine, however, was destroyed during the French Revolution.

St. Genevieve is the patron of Paris and is called on for protection from plague, fever, and disaster. Her feast day is January 3.

This card can represent both simple rustic passion, and great refinement and beauty. It also represents nurturing and protection.

review copyright N. Levine 2001 - art copyright R. M. Place 2001

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