Updated “Tarot Euphemisms” for the RWS Minor Arcana
AUTHOR’S NOTE: Several years ago I began collecting one-line “euphemisms” (imaginative circumlocutions) based on the cultural, social, historical and literary metaphors and analogies that I’ve come to use consistently with the Waite-Smith (and occasionally Thoth) minor cards when reading in public. Most of these are fanciful notions that popped into my head in the form of storytelling “tropes” while performing readings for clients; the rest are products of my fertile imagination. It has evolved some since the original version and will always be a “work-in-progress” as I find something “just a little better,” so I thought it would be worthwhile to re-post it with my latest impressions. I hope you find it entertaining, and perhaps useful in your own work.
RWS-Based Tarot Euphemisms
Ace of Wands — The “burr under the saddle” or “short fuse” card (aka the “Just do it already!” card)
Two of Wands — The “one foot in the past, one foot in the future” card (aka the “Hesitating Blues” card [16])
Three of Wands — The “patience is a virtue”card (aka the “No wine before its time” card [13])
Four of Wands — The “enlightened self-interest” card (aka the “bring home the bacon” card)
Five of Wands — The “collision of competing ambitions” card (aka the “fussing and fighting” card [3] [15])
Six of Wands — The “pride goeth before a fall” card (aka the “overconfidence” card)
Seven of Wands — The “fight fire with fire” card (aka the “from the frying pan into the fire” card)
Eight of Wands — The “no time like the present” card (aka the “don’t blink or you’ll miss it” card)
Nine of Wands — The “bloodied but unbowed” card (1) (aka the “last stand” card)
Ten of Wands — The “slouching toward salvation” card (aka the “lookin’ for a place to hide” card [2])
Ace of Cups — The “All You Need is Love” card (3) (aka the “Straight from the Heart” card [18])
Two of Cups — The “Got Love If You Want it” card (14) (aka the “give-and-take” card)
Three of Cups — The “three’s a crowd” card (aka the “lovers’ triangle” card)
Four of Cups — The “one big yawn” card (aka the “Oh no, not another one!” card)
Five of Cups — The “take the best and leave the rest” card (aka the “ashes of remorse” card)
Six of Cups — The “Neverland” card, where nobody grows up (aka the”don’t worry, be happy” card [4])
Seven of Cups — The “I’ll know it when I see it . . . maybe” card (aka the “creeping suspicion” card)
Eight of Cups — The “poisoned well” card (aka the “Total Eclipse of the Heart” card [19])
Nine of Cups — The “fat, dumb and happy” card (aka the “Mr. Creosote” card [12])
Ten of Cups — The “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” card (3) (aka the “family matters” card)
Ace of Swords — The “light-bulb moment” card (aka the “lightning-rod of inspiration” or “bright idea” card)
Two of Swords — The “turning a blind eye” or “horns of a dilemma” card (aka the “Just say no!” card)
Three of Swords — The “no pain, no gain” card (aka the “Shot Through the Heart” card [17])
Four of Swords — The “pause that refreshes” card (5) (aka the “lying down and avoiding” card [6])
Five of Swords — The “might makes right” card (aka the “kick in the pants” card)
Six of Swords — The “betwixt-and-between” card (aka the “unsettled mind” card)
Seven of Swords — The “false pretenses” card (aka the “gaming the system” card)
Eight of Swords — The “follow your heart, not your head” card (aka the “mental block” card)
Nine of Swords — The “feeling the pinch” card (aka the “it’s darkest right before the dawn” card)
Ten of Swords — The “feelin’ ‘bout half-past dead” card [2] (aka the “being pecked to death by chickens” card)
Ace of Pentacles — The “ace in the hole” card (aka the “golden opportunity” card)
Two of Pentacles — The “If You See A Chance, Take It” card (7) (aka the “tipping point” card)
Three of Pentacles — The “We Can Work It Out” card (3); (aka the “plan the work and work the plan” card)
Four of Pentacles — The “I, Me, Mine” card (3) (aka the “Size matters!” card)
Five of Pentacles — The “beggars can’t be choosers” card (aka the “Born Under a Bad Sign” card [8])
Six of Pentacles — The “embarrassment of riches” card (aka the “salving a guilty conscience” card)
Seven of Pentacles — The “unfinished business” card (aka the “You snooze, you lose” card)
Eight of Pentacles — The “perfectionist” card (aka the “nose to the grindstone” card)
Nine of Pentacles — The “Garden of Earthly Delights” card (9) (aka the “Hotel California”card [10])
Ten of Pentacles — The “Pangloss proposition” card (aka the “All is for the best in this best of all possible worlds” card [11])
References: (1) William Ernest Henley, from “Invictus;”(2) The Band, from “The Weight;” (3) the Beatles, various; (4) Bobby McFerrin; (5) Coca-Cola slogan; (6) Monty Python, from the “Australian Table Wines” sketch; (7) Steve Winwood; (8) Albert King; (9) Hieronymus Bosch; (10) The Eagles; (11) Voltaire; (12) Monty Python from “The Meaning of Life;” (13) Paul Masson Wine slogan; (14) Slim Harpo; (15) Canned Heat; (16) W.C. Handy; (17) Bon Jovi; (18) Bryan Adams; (19) Bonnie Tyler. Also various adages, homilies, platitudes and biblical aphorisms.
Originally published at http://parsifalswheeldivination.wordpress.com on July 16, 2024.
