#dixit

we were playing dixit (which if you don't know it is a very fun game, the cards are all unique random abstract-ish surreal-ish illustrations, and one person secretly picks one of their cards and declares a word/phrase that represents it, and then everyone else has to pick the card from their own hand that best matches that word/phrase, and then the aim is to guess which of the cards was the original choice)

toosicktopray, as is their wont, decided to troll me by describing their card with the phrase "plodding on" (it can be in your interest tactically to choose a reference that only a few people will get, so then i was second-guessing whether they'd have chosen a card that to all the normal people would make absolutely no sense :P)

and by complete fluke, SOMEONE ELSE decided to put down THIS card to match it...

I've been studying and reading Tarot for 10 years now. In that period I've collected different decks with different themes and I've managed to get a hold of different Fairy Tale themed Tarot decks. So I thought I'd share some of the ones depicting Cinderella and the different symbolic associations that each card is given in the context of the arcana.

First we have two cards from a deck called "Inner Child Cards" by Isha Lerner and Mark Lerner (and illustrated by Christopher Guilfoil). This was gifted to me by my spouse ✨

Here we have Cinderella taking the place of the moon. Some interesting elements from the card first. Here we see a depiction of what is clearly Grimm's Cinderella, we know this because of the tree giving the ball gown and the birds in it. We also can see her mother's grave at the base of the tree, next to a rabbit. Cinderella herself is shown wearing brown rags with a blue-ish headband, looking up at the tree (which is kind of in an autumnal season) and having a rose behind her back. At the base we can also see the gold slippers.

The Moon, very prominent here and basically lighting up the scene, represents the most pure form of intuition and magic in Tarot. It also represents something that is hidden or unknowable (literally the esoteric or occult itself). It's a card set between hope (The Star) and the purest light (The Sun). The last step of transition in the dark night of the soul. This showcases a more abstract and witchy "fairy godmother" presence of Cinderella. The focus is on her though, not on the tree. It highlights the autonomy of this Cinderella going to the ball, and her preparing to face one last night before entering the lightful part of her story. The rabbit (for example found in traditional depictions of the queen of pentacles) represents good fortune and fertility. This is a showcase of a Cinderella ready to believe more in herself, trusting her own strength and specially trusting her intuition. She herself is the one opening up the magic that will allow her freedom (a magic coming from her mother's lineage and grown out of her own tears, grief turning into hope). The rose (probably for her mother's grave) shows a sense of gratitude for what's been, while focusing on the dress, which has daisies (a flower of spring), going from the earthy colors of her rags, towards a connection with pink, blue and white in the ball gown, also colors of the earth but connected, once again, to spring.

Now we have the Fairy Godmother (the most recurring element of this story to be depicted in Tarot decks) in place of the High Priestess. This is interesting because this deck showcases both Grimm and Perrault's versions. She is not depicted as an old woman, but more of an ethereal presence, big in size, overlooking like an angel over the things she has transformed: mainly the pumpkin coach, with the prince's castle in the distance.

The High Priestess is usually refered to as the wisest card in Tarot. It also represents intuition, one that is less wild than the moon (but still to note, these two cards are closely connected, as can be seen by the Priestess moon hat in the Rider-Waite system), but more embodied into a human-like presence. The Priestess is a meditative presence that transmutates the waters of emotions and the moon into practical knowledge, much like pumpkins and mice (things associated with the countryside and underestimated) get turned into a coach and horses.

Now we have The Land of Stories Tarot, by Ling Zhong, Sha "Lisa" Li, Mimico & Ting Yang. In this one we have Cinderella herself as Temperance, in a very Disney inspired illustration, depicting birds and mice making her ball gown. She seems to be still in the kitchen of her house while this happens, with the broom behind her.

Temperance is at almost the very start of the dark night of the soul, it goes right after death and usually depicts an angel balancing water. A calming presence that encourages the soul after experiencing death and before facing what some might say are the most difficult cards. Likewise the mice and birds appear encouraging Cinderella, threading this blue ball gown by creating a comforting sense of community and the blue and white thread might be seen as a parallel to the water of the original card, which represents balance of emotions. Making this, almost, a dress made out of her balancing her emotions in order to face the uncertainty outside of her step family's home.

Now here's the most famous fairy tale Tarot deck, Lisa Hunt's "Fairy Tale Tarot". In this one, the fairy godmother is highlighted instead of Cinderella (despite her appearing in the back), as the Empress this time around. The setting is a pumpkin patch with the moon and the prince's castle on the back (recurring from the first deck, might represent the aspirational nature of where the journey is headed, as both the High Priestess and Empress are early cards in the Fool's Journey). It also shows birds, specifically doves like in Grimm's. The fairy godmother here is an elderly woman, wild and witchy looking. There's also a golden flower motif going on, very reminiscent of Grimm.

The Empress is the card that represents everything historically associated with feminity. Elements like the emotional landscape, fertility and motherhood are at the very front of this card's meaning. The Fairy Godmother is closely related to the figure of Cinderella's mother, in many versions being literally the ghost or angel of the mother herself. Cinderella taking this ghostly/transparent form in the background depicts what could be a depiction of lineage.

I also thought I'd briefly showcase arcana XI in the Rider-Waite system: Justice. In this case represented by The Goose Girl. Many people tend to thing about Donkeyskin or Tattercoats when thinking about other Cinderella-adjacent fairy tales, but I don't think The Goose Girls gets enough attention, with a very close plot to Cinderella in many ways. Here the main character is shown in her work rags, her royal identity hidden, while cleaning and feeding the geese. The symbolism of Justice comes from the unfair situation she's been put into and how the tale ends with her getting her rightful place.

Anyone who is interested in fairy tale theming and symbolism, should take a look at this deck. You can find all pictures of the deck for free in the official website if the deck. It also comes with a storybook doing a retelling of each fairy tale in Lisa Hunt's words with a list of meanings for each card.

Here we have the Tarot of the Divine, by Yoshi Yoshitani. The depiction here is of the Fairy Godmother, once more, this time in the place of the Magician. The fairy godmother here seems to be a slightly elderly woman with abundant blonde hair and a gown very reminiscent of how Cinderella's ball gown tend to be depicted, kind of creating an identity link between the two characters. Raised is her magic wand and below there's pumpkins and mice.

The magician is arcana number 1, depending on the school of thought either the first step of the soul's journey or when the soul starts to really put her elemental nature to work. This is card of creation, of an alchemical process of taking something and turning it into something else with a magic wand (at least the Rider-Waite interpretation, Marseille is a little different). Taking all of that into account is a symbol that speaks very directly.

Finally, this is not a Tarot card, but I thought I'd mention it as well. This is part of the Dixit Disney official expansion. Dixit is a french interpretation game (my favorite tabletop game along with DnD), so there's not supposed to be a clear meaning here, it's intentionally ambiguous. However the structure is very interesting. At the base we have pumpkin vines, making an emphasis on the origin of the symbol in relation to the earth. Out of it comes a golden pumpkin turning into the clock striking 12. Kind of telling us about the temporary nature of riches. But on top of this brief chance of hope, there's Jacques and Gus holding the glass slipper, showcasing how community holds up hope itself.

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I want to do a Part 2 of this post, mostly because of the Disney Villain's Tarot deck, which has many cards depicting Lady Tremaine and Lucifer in the suit of swords, which I believe deserves a smaller post of it's own.

Here is another reimagined card

And it always ALWAYS makes me think of Natasha. I can never think of anything else and always want to pick a phrase related to her but that usually means I’m loosing the round cause no one else gets it

am I crazy or is cleradin in my Dixit cards??