Profile of a Deck: The Norse Tarot
Written by Astarte
The Norse Tarot is perhaps one of the most interesting decks available on the market. Rich in Viking mythology, this deck beautifully illustrates the saga of the gods of Valhalla in the Major Arcana and traditional Norse beliefs in the Minor Arcana.In looking at the artwork and images of this deck, one realizes how much there is to learn from it.
What sets apart the Norse Tarot from other decks are the cards of the Major Arcana. Each of the cards retains the same name found in most tarot decks, but they each represent a scene from the mythology of the Vikings, in chronological order. The Major Arcana begins with the Fool, represented by Balder, the Norse god of sun and light. Balder symbolised purity and innocence and was beloved by all the gods, much as the Fool represents innocence and frivolity. The next card, the Magician, is naturally portrayed by Odin, the Magician of the Gods.
The High Priestess is Odin's wife, Frigga, goddess of housewives and marriage and Odin's equal consort. Following is the Empress, portraying the leader of the Valkyries, Freya. Sister to Frey, she and the Valkyrs brought the fallen warriors of battles to the halls of Valhalla. The Emperor, Tyr, was the Norse god of War, equivalent to the Roman god Mars. When the gods decided to trick Fenrir, the wolf who would eat the sun at Ragnarok, into being tied up as a test of strength, Tyr placed his hand in Fenrir's mouth at the wolf's request. When Fenrir realised that he was tricked, he bit off Tyr's hand at the wrist. This story shows Tyr's resolve and integrity at keeping promises, knowing that he would lose something valuable to him to help the gods.
After the Emperor comes the High Priest, Frey, the Norse god of fertility and sister to Freya. The Lovers portrays the story of Freya and Brisingamen, the beautiful necklace creatdd by the dwarves and given to her as a gift. The Chariot is commanded by the most well-known of the Norse Gods, Thor. Weilding his hammer Mjolnir, he rides a chariot commanded by his two goats, Tanngniostr and Tanngrisnr. Justice is the next card, and it is represented by Forseti, the Norse god of fairness and justice. Following Justice comes the Hermit, which shows Heimdall on Bifrost, the Rainbow Bridge to Valhalla. He was the guardian of the entrance to Valhalla who would warn the gods at the coming of Ragnarok, the End of the World.
The tenth card of the Major Arcana is the Wheel of Fortune, aptly represented by the Norns, the goddesses of Fate. These were the Norse equivalent to the Fates of Roman mythology; they weave the lives of mankind, and even the gods could not escape their threads. After that is Strength, which shows the story of Fenrir the Wolf and Tyr, the god who lost his hand to him. The Hanged Man is represented by Odin hanging from the tree of Yggdrasil, searching for wisdom and finding it in the runes (see The Hanged Man in this month's newsletter). The Death card tells the story of the death of Balder. When it was realized that only the mistletoe could not kill Balder, Loki, the Norse god of mischief, sought out a sprig and gave it to Hodur, Balder's blind brother. While the gods were having fun tossing things at Balder, knowing they would not hurt him, Loki persuaded Hodur to toss the mistletoe, killing his brother. All of the gods mourned for the loss of their beloved god. Temperance continues this story; Balder goes to the underworld, and Frigga and Odin plead for someone to try and bring him back. Hel, the goddess of Nifleim, was a fair woman, and allowed that if every living thing grieved for Balder, he may return. Hermod, who was sent to retrieve Balder, returned with the joyful news.
However, Loki, the god of mischief and the one who would eventually cause the downfall of Valhalla, disguised himself as a giantess and vowed not to weep for Balder. Thus, the beloved of the gods never came back from Niflheim. The Devil card portrays his punishment: tied to a rock while a serpent dripped poison onto him for all eternity. His wife Sigyn caught the poison in a bowl, but every once in a while, she would have to empty it, causing Loki such great pain that it is said he causes earthquakes to occur with his writhing. The Tower is the next card, portraying the terrible Ragnarok, the Twilight of the Gods. The Giants converged on Valhalla, and Heimdall sounded his horn. Gods were slain in the battle and the world is destroyed. there is nothing left in the heavens.
However, all is not lost. The Star tells that a single man and woman were left, and they began the human race anew. With the Moon, there is the son of a god, Mani, to take the place of those destroyed in the battle of Ragnarok. The Sun emerges and wakes the man and woman; with Judgement, the sons of the gods meet and a new Valhalla emerges from the ashes of the old one. Finally, with the last card in the Major Arcana, Balder emerges on the World, clean and new, to lead the new gods and mankind.
This story is beautifully told in artwork through the Norse Tarot. Because of this, the deck is ideally suited to meditation and learning the saga of the Norse mythology. It is a treasure to own, and it is easy to get lost in the saga of the gods of Valhalla.
February's Card: The Hanged Man
Profile of a Deck: The Norse Tarot
Interview with Ellen Cannon Reed: Designer of the Witches' Tarot
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