7 keys to unlock the Tarot de Marseille

28 SEPTEMBER 2016
Say youve just ventured your first few steps onto the Tarot de Marseille path. Perhaps youre coveting one of those
Top 9 decks or an Ancient Italian. But how to read Tarot de Marseille? Specially for The Queens Sword Paul
Richard worth decades of tarot & Marseille knowledge shares his secrets on how to become a TdM-expert in 7
ways!

The Tarot de Marseille (TdM), is a tarot of mystery, fascination, and unfailing wealth and power. It can seem
undecipherable, an enigma, a relic of a past, more primitive era. Yet nothing can be further from the truth.
After more than 20 years of using tarots based upon the Waite Colman-Smith (WCS, formerly known as
RWS), my tarot readings took a quantum leap in depth and power when I discovered the TdM. Here is some
of my wisdom gained over the years of playing with, studying, and using this eternal fountain of insight.
(Paul H. Richard)
KEY 1:
ZEN MIND
The first and most important step is simply to forget. Forget everything you know about tarot and start with a
beginners mind. The Tarot de Marseille started out as a deck of playing cards used for fun and pleasure. So
approach these cards playfully! Do not overload them with extra meanings, esoteric philosophies and
correspondences. Scholars agree the original cards were not encrusted with Kabbalah, astrology, hermetic
philosophy, alchemy, etc. They were, and still are, just images to stimulate your imagination, thoughts and deeper
unconscious processes.
The best approach is to treat the TdM as you would paintings in an art museum. The Majors are like Medieval and
Renaissance paintings, the Minors are like abstract, modern art paintings. Sure you could study the different art
periods, the artists, the culture with guidebooks or extended research. But art deserves first and foremost to be
appreciated with the eye, the mind, and the heart. Who cares ultimately what the expert says the painting means?
What does it say to you?! That is the meaning.There is no better expert than your own mind and heart for
interpreting these amazing images.
KEY 2:
STORY-TIME

Always use a minimum of 2 TdM cards, according to Paul Richard.

Always use a minimum of 2 cards. Cards never exist in isolation. It is the interaction between the 2 cards or more
from which we derive meaning. Many TdM readers use 3-5 cards in a straight line with no spread positions. Look at
them as if they were panels in a comic or story book. Ask yourself, What is happening in this story?. Note that.
Scan the cards quickly. What is the first emotion you feel? Note that.
What details capture your attention, especially odd things? Note that.
Note carefully any memories, emotions, thoughts, people, word associations, proverbs and sayings, that arise. No
matter how silly, inconsequential, or unrelated it seems note it well! Your unconscious and intuition use these
languages to convey meaning!
Make connections between these various elements and come up with a simple declarative statement rather than a
whole paragraphs worth of this card means this, and that card means that, and. It may be hard at first to sift
through all this information, but it will get simpler, if you stick with less said is more conveyed.
KEY 3:
A MAJOR STEP
Centuries of TdM readers, and a tradition that continues today for a vast majority of TdM readers is to read only
with the 22 Majors. Experts use it, and so can beginners. The Majors get quickly to the heart of the matter. They are
powerfully evocative. There is no question that cant be answered fully, and deeply, with only the 22 Majors.The
superstition that Majors are only for big spiritual major life things and Minors are for mundane, everyday minor
things is a mistake in understanding the true nature of the tarot.
Majors are quite frankly more accessible and immediate than the pip Minors. Their advice is more direct. Begin
there. As you grow more comfortable you can add in the pip Minors and Courts. Or do as many of us do use the
Majors for the spread, then use the Minors and the Courts laid upon each Major card that you want practical advice
and strategies for implementing.

An actual example: My child refuses to eat her sauerkraut. How can I encourage her to do so? Cards drawn:
Chariot, Papesse, Force, Wheel. Answer: Success will come from being patient and not forcing the issue. Study
new recipes to make enticing dishes from sauerkraut, and she will change her eating habits.
KEY4:
BY the NUMBERS

Ace of Batons (wands) Tarot de Marseille. Aces are 1: beginnings in numerology.

Numbers have for millennia held deeper meanings. The numbers 1-10 of the Minors hold similar significance. Find a
numerology system that makes sense to you, that is easily memorized, e.g., 1 = beginnings, 2 = dialogue, 3 =
creativity, etc. Some systems are process oriented, as in 10 steps from idea to completion of a project. I developed
a system, inspired by the flowers and vines on the TdM Minors with Aces = Seeds to 10s = Plants releasing their
seeds for a new cycle to begin.
Finally the most popular TdM numerology system uses the first 10 Majors as archetypes for each of the 10
numbers. Thus Ace = Magician = create a new reality, 7 = Chariot = achieving success through mastery, etc.
All you need to do now is combine the suit meaning with the number meaning. Play with all the possibilities! One or
more of those possibilities will apply directly and clearly to the questions asked of the cards and its spread position.
KEY 5:
FENCED GARDENS
What to do about all these flowers, vines, and objects? Many TdM readers use straight numerology and suit
meanings to produce state-of-the-art, deep and transformational readings. Yet some like to add in the subtle
nuances of all those flowers and vines and geometric arrangements of coins, cups, swords, and batons to their
interpretation. This referred to as eye rhymes or the language of the birds by tarot masters such as Enrique
Enriquez.
Look closely at those patterns. Allow your imagination to play, just like you do when you make pictures out of fluffy
cloud formations. What does the arrangement of pips and florals remind you of? When I look at the 3 of Cups, I see
a flower bud enclosing the third cup and the stable ground of the other 2 cups; a plant starting to bud. Aha! Birth!
Maybe its a birth of a new direction, or a relationship springing from a stable foundation of 2 friends.
In the 4 of Swords I see a luxuriant plant in full bloom because it is safely protected behind a fence. Thus a stable
mind allows for abundant growth. In the 8 of coins, each separated by a wall of vines, I see office workers in their
separate orderly cubicles. Thus a hierarchical organization, or well invested resources.
KEY6:
NAVIGATIONAL ERRORS
 The biggest mistake that new TdM readers make, is to cut and paste WCS or other deck meanings onto the TdM
cards. This is especially dangerous with the pip Minors because of their abstract nature. Resist this temptation at all
costs! Or you will sacrifice one of the greatest values of the pip Minors their ability to go far above and beyond the
range of interpretations that a scenic minor gives. Most of you know the standard interpretations of the 9 of Swords
and the 5 of Cups in the Waite-Smith.
Look at how it expands under the TdM system:In the 9 of Swords the image alone speaks volumes a sword
breaks through a seemingly insurmountable impasse. 9S numerological is success and rewards, and swords are
thinking thus a creative and innovative breakthrough strategy, a successful team collaboration, etc.

In the 5 of Cups 5s are challenges, new avenues and possibilities that upset the stable control of the 4s. Cups are
emotions and relationships see all that abundant growth around the 5 cups a new stage of growth in the intimate
relationship, a flowering of new emotional abundance and fruitfulness following a challenging stage of growth.

The WCS meanings also do not apply to the Majors, e.g. the Magician. Notice he is not the high ceremonial magus
of the WCS, he is a street-performer, a con man, a trickster. It speaks to a skillful manipulation of reality, an
improvisation, talent. The Tower is not destruction and doom it is Gods House the medieval term for a hospital, a
place of healing. The image does not picture a tower falling but one whose crown is opened up to receive divine
illumination, surrounded by heavenly(?) beings descending from on high to help. It is healing illumination and
inspiration.
*BOOK TIPS*
Always begin with Yoav ben Dovs excellent Tarot: The Open Reading. It truly is the most accessible
and foundational TdM book on the market today.
Jean-Michel Davids Reading the Marseille Tarot will give you the history and the Medieval and
Renaissance culture, symbolism and iconography of the TdM.
A. Jodorowsky, The Way of Tarot, The Spiritual Teacher in the Cards while controversial creates a
spiritual basis for the entire deck as a whole and complete entity, with its own internal logic and
consistency.
KEY 7:
MAGIC KEY to SUCCESS
How do you navigate these different meanings? First, and most crucially, let the image simply speak to you.
Secondly solid, scholarly, well-researched books on the TdM will definitely help (see table).
Yet I still strongly advise no books or blogs or videos for 6 weeks starting out. The only way to be a truly great TdM
reader is to use the cards without your mind being clouded and cluttered by every expert opinion and keyword
dictionary.
Once you have developed a deep familiarity with your deck(s), then those authors I mentioned above, and teachers
like myself, will provide a great and enduring resource supplementing, not supplanting, your knowledge and
experience. Then their words will inspire, take you down new roads and avenues, broaden your understanding and
experience. But only if you first have the experience to broaden. Remember your clients come to you for your
wisdom and understanding, not mine, or any other tarot expert. You are the magic. You are the seventh and final
key!
B bi Universal Tarot of Marseille thuc chun Marseille, da theo b bi Thy S c sng to bi
Claude Burdel nm 1751, c phi mu li. Mt trong nhng du hiu ca mt b bi theo
phong cch Marseille l cc l bi nh s (pip cards) khng c m t chi tit. y l mt phong
cch bi vn tn ti rt ph bin Chu u.

Bn suit gm Staves, Chalices, Swords v Pentacles. Cc l court cards l King, Queen, Knight v
Knave. Cc l chnh (trump cards) vn theo tn truyn thng, vi Justice v tr s VIII v Strength
s XI.

B bi Marseille, thay v c s dng cho vic gii on, li c thy dng ch yu chi bi, c
trong hi trng c cc ln nh ring. Cc b bi Marseille tng c in t bn khc g, v gi
mt hnh thc ngh thut khim tn, n gin. Bursten nhn thy rng khi cc trng phi huyn
hc th k 10 khm ph c rng nim ca h c phn nh tr li h t nhng hnh nh trn
mt b bi tm thng dng chi bi, v l lc b bi Marseille c h quan tm nhn nhn.
Do , phong cch b bi ny gi c mc ph bin trong c vic chi bi cng nh tm im
cho cc nh huyn b.

Bursten tm hiu thy rng nhng hnh nh vn hon ton n gin cho nhng ngi chi bi th
k 15 th li thn b i vi nhng nh huyn hc th k 18 v 19. Thn b, nhng quen thuc mt
cch k l. Do vy, Marseille Tarot tr thnh mt phn trong cuc sng hng ngy (chi bi) cng
nh thnh ch th cho nghin cu trit hc v tm linh. Khi c s dng cho mc ch gii on, b
bi Marseille cho php chng ta xm nhp vo nhng ni quen thuc v tm linh ngun gc ca
Tarot nh chng ta bit ngy nay.

Sch hng dn nh i km (LWB) c dch sang 5 th ting: Anh, , Php, Ty Ban Nha v c.
C mt phn gii thiu v truyn thng Marseille, v tm quan trng ca chun ny trong th gii
Tarot. Trong gii thiu v cc l trong b n Chnh (Trumps), Bursten trnh ny quan im v hc
thuyt 3 X 7 tuy nhin mt s iu s khng d hiu ht c trong cun sch c kch c nh
ny. T kha ch c a cho cc l Trumps, theo sau l nh ngha cc l bi nh s t Ace n
Ten, v xp hng cc l court cards. Cng c thm v d gii ngha cc l bi theo thng tin v con
s trn v ngha ca suit.

Nhng ngha cho vic gii on cc l bi Trumps trong sch hng dn i km c xut pht t
lch s ca nhng hnh nh Tarot, v t nhng iu chng c th c ngha i vi mt ngi thuc
th k 15 n th k 17. i vi vic nghin cu su hn cc hnh nh ny, ti khuyn khch bn nn
mua phin bn The Marseille Tarot Companion ca Lee Bursten.

Trong phn gii thiu v cc l bi Trumps, Bursten trnh by v hc thuyt 3 X 7, da trn hc

thuyt ca Plato v linh ln c chia lm ba phn: Phn c (Soul of Desire), Phn Ch (Soul of Will)
v Phn L (Soul of Reason). Cc l Trumps t I VII i din cho Phn c, Trumps VIII XIV i
din cho Phn Ch, v Trumps XV XXI i din cho Phn L.

Cc l bi t I V i din cho nhng sc mnh t nhin. Trong l The Lover, la chn c u tin
cao hn cho c hnh. L bi The Chariot th hin Phn Ch v tr ngi iu khin, dn dt. Cc l
bi t VIII XIV th hin cch chng ta hc hi pht trin cht lng ca Justice, Strength v
Temperance. Cc l bi t XV XXI hm hnh thc theo ui s ham mun v danh ting s khng
a chng ta n vi mc tiu.

Trong l bi The Tower, n sng thing ling p n, gii phng chng ta khi Phn c v Phn Ch.
L bi Star, Moon v Sun th hin vic tm kim ci p nh mt hnh trnh tm kim nh sng chn
l. Death v thi gian b nh bi trong l Judgement. Trong l bi The World, chng ta hn hoan
mng chin thng thi gian v ci cht.

Trong sch hng dn nh LWB, nhng ngha c lp khng c a cho cc l bi nh s. Thay

vo , ngha chung c a cho cc con s (t Ace n Ten) v xp hng (King, Queen, Knight
v Knave). gii gii on cc l bi trong mt tri bi, cc reader c xut kt hp ngha
con s vi ngha ca suit.

Cc suit c xc nh theo cc kha cnh trong tri nghim ca con ngi. T kha cho mi suit l:
Staves sng to, Cups tng tc, Swords bo v, v Coins ginh ly.

Cc l bi nh s (Pip card) i din cho cc hnh ng, suy ngh v cm gic vn c tri nghim
hng ngy. Ti thc s thch cch nhng con s c xc nh. Aces l Khi im cho mi th. Two,
c hai. Three, ang c k hoch. Four, Khin n xy ra. Five, Th thch bn thn. Six,
Duy tr, tip tc. Seven, i su vo vn . Eight, chuyn gia hiu qu. Nine, Bn xng ng.
Ten, ri.

Cc l bi hi ng court card c xc nh nh nhng m hnh i din cho hnh vi con ngi,

khng theo gii tnh (nh King c th i din cho mt ngi nam hoc ngi n, Queen c th i
din cho mt ngi n hoc ngi nam).

Theo sch hng dn:

King: Vic kim sot. S dng th lc v uy tn p t ch ngi khc. Queen: Can m. Thc
hin mi th theo cch tinh t, ha nh. S dng kh nng thuyt phc thay cho v
lc. Knight: Tp trung. Suy ngh c lp. Xc nh. Knave: Hc hi. T m. Quan tm.

Khng c nhng tri bi c nh. Trong phn gii bi, Bursten khuyn ngi gii bi phiu theo
trng thi kinh nghim v kh nng linh hot ca mnh, cng nh cho php ngi c theo i theo
trc gic.
Cc l bi c kch thc 2 5/8 x 4 3/4 inches (~ 7 x 12 cm), vi cht lng giy tt, cng cp v
bng. Mt sau l bi c mt ng vin en inch (~ 0.6 cm), vi nn v hnh trang tr ging
chic l, mu vng bn trong. Bn s khng th bit c l bi rt ra l xui hay ngc.

Mt trc l bi c mt ng vin trng tng t. Cc l Trumps trnh by s gia pha trn cng
l bi, theo ch s La M, vi tn l bi (bng ting Anh, , Php v c) bn gc l bi.

Cc l bi nh s (Pip cards) trnh by s bng ch s La M pha di cng l bi. Cc l Court

cards trnh by tn v suit (bng ting Anh, , Php v c) bn gc ca l bi.
Hnh nh trong b bi Marseille c hn rt nhiu so vi nhng b bi khc. y, chng ta s thy
the Fool ang i trn mt di t bng phng, khng c vch vc, ang quay nhn pha bn phi ca
l bi. L bi the High Priestess ang cm cun sch bng hai tay, v khng c g vit trn . The
Emperor ang vt chn ch ng vi chn phi. The Wheel of Fortune m t ba loi ng vt trn
u mi con i mt ci vng min. Death r rng Grim Reaper, mt b xng bit i, cm li
hi trong tay. Bn di mt t l nhng ci u, tay v chn ang tri ln. Temperance mc mt
chic m hai mu xanh v , ng nghim trn mt t, c ang nc gia hai ci bnh.

Cc l bi nh s (Pip cards) khng c m t, thay vo l vic s dng cc biu tng ca

suit. Mu nn ca mi suit phn bit vi nhau: mu xanh sng i vi Staves, hng nht vi
Chalices, xanh lam nht vi Swords v vng nht vi Pentacles.

The Two of Chalices kh c o, trong mt phn t bn di cng l bi c mt biu tng ch C

v ch B mi bn. Mi Knaves u ang di chuyn, mi Knight u ci mt con nga, Queen v
King th lun ngi.

Cc l bi Swords s l (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) u c mt thanh kim thng, vi nhng thanh kim cn li

bt cp v un cong vo nhau. Ten of Swords trnh by bn cp kim cong vi hai thanh kim thng
xuyn dc l bi.

Cc hnh nh trong b bi Universal Tarot of Marseille c phi mu li cho mt hiu qu tuyt

vi. Sch hng dn i km ca Lee Bursten l mt cch tip cn tt vi nhng g bn khng mong
i c trong cun sch LWB nh. Cng trnh ca ng tht s ni bt (nu bn l mt ngi hm
m nhng tuyt tc ca Ciro Marchetti nh Tarot of Dreams, th bn s hiu c nhng g Lee
Bursten th hin trong cun sch companion ca ng y). ng trnh by mt s quan im tin
b vi cch s dng cc l bi Pips v court cards.

B bi ny c th d dng tip cn bi cc reader mi cp kinh nghim, t ngi mi bt u

n chuyn nghip. Ti rt khuyn khch bn nn c thm phn gii thch v thuyt 3 X 7 dnh cho
cc l bi Trumps.
 Major Arcana
1. The Juggler signifies MALE INQUIRER.
2. The High Priestess signifies FEMALE INQUIRER.
3. The Empress signifies ACTION. INITIATIVE.
4. The Emperor signifies WILL
5. The Pope signifies INSPIRATION.
6. The Lovers signifies LOVE.
7. The Chariot signifies TRIUMPH. PROVIDENTIAL PROTECTION.
8. Justice signifies JUSTICE.
9. The Hermit signifies PRUDENCE.
10. The Wheel of Fortune signifies FORTUNE. DESTINY.
11. Strength signifies STRENGTH. FORTITUDE.
12. The Hanged Man signifies TRIALS. SACRIFICE.
13. Death signifies DEATH.
14. Temperance signifies TEMPERANCE. ECONOMY.
15. The Devil signifies IMMENSE FORCE. ILLNESS.
16. The Lightning-struck Tower signifies RUIN. DECEPTION.
17. The Stars signifies HOPE.
18. The Moon signifies HIDDEN ENEMIES. DANGER.
19. The Sun signifies MATERIAL HAPPINESS. LUCKY MARRIAGE.
20. The Judgment signifies CHANGE OF POSITION.
21. The Foolish Man signifies INCONSIDERATE ACTIONS. MADNESS.
22. The Universe signifies ASSURED SUCCESS.SCEPTRES.

Minor Arcana
SCEPTRES: Creation. Enterprise. Agriculture.
KING. The King of Sceptres symbolizes a dark man, a friend. He generally represents a married man,
the father of a family.
QUEEN. A dark woman, a friend. Represents a serious woman, a very good counsellor, often the
mother of a family.
KNIGHT. A dark young man, a friend.
KNAVE. A dark child, a friend. Also represents a message from a near relation.
ACE OF SCEPTRES. Commencement of an Enterprise.
TWO. Opposition to the commencement of the Enterprise.
The Enterprise is commenced when an unexpected obstacle suddenly prevents its execution.
THREE. Realization of the commencement of the Enterprise.
The basis of the work is now definitely established, and the undertaking can be fearlessly continued.
FOUR. Obstacles to the Enterprise.
Nothing can be accomplished without obstacles. We therefore now find them appearing, and must
prepare ourselves to overcome them.

FIVE. Opposition to the obstacles. Victory after surmounting them.

SIX. Realization of the opposition.
At last the obstacles succeed. Failure of the Enterprise in the midst of its execution.
SEVEN. Certain success to the Enterprise.
EIGHT. Opposition to its success. The Enterprise will only partially succeed.
NINE. Realization of success. Success is continued.
TEN. Uncertainty in the management of the Enterprise.

CUPS.Preservation. Love. Instruction.

KING OF CUPS. A fair man, a friend. This card also represents a barrister, judge, or ecclesiastic. It
symbolizes a Bachelor.
QUEEN OF CUPS. A fair woman, a friend. The woman loved. The Mistress.
KNIGHT OF CUPS. A young fair man, a friend. The young man loved. The Lover.
KNAVE OF CUPS. A fair child. A messenger. Birth.
ACE OF CUPS. Commencement of a love affair.
TWO. Opposition to this commencement. Unimportant obstacles raised by one of the lovers.
THREE. Realization of this commencement. The love is mutual.
FOUR. Serious obstacles to the love. They arise from other persons, not from the lovers.
FIVE. Opposition to the obstacles. Victory over the obstacles after a struggle.
SIX. The obstacles triumph. Love destroyed in the midst of happiness. Widowhood.
SEVEN. Success assured to the lovers.
EIGHT. Partial failure of love. Love only partially succeeds.
NINE. Motherhood.
TEN. Uncertainty in the management of the love affair.

SWORDS.Transformation. Hatred. War.

KING OF SWORDS. A dark, bad man. He is a soldier, a powerful enemy, who must be distrusted.
QUEEN OF SWORDS. A dark wicked woman. The card also indicates her actions, gossip and
calumnies.
KNIGHT. A young, dark man, an enemy. He is also a spy.
KNAVE. A child, an enemy. Bad news. Delay.
The figures generally indicate opposition raised outside the house.
ACE OF SWORDS. Commencement of enmity.
TWO. Opposition to this commencement. The enmity does not last.
THREE. Realization of the enmity. Hatred.
FOUR. Opposition to the hatred. Success against the enemy.
FIVE. Opposition to this opposition. The enemy triumphs at the moment one fancies the victory is
secured.
SIX. Equilibrium of the opposition. The enemy is rendered powerless at last.
SEVEN. Success assured to the enemy.
EIGHT. Partial opposition to this success. The enemy only partially triumphs.
NINE. Certain duration of the hatred.
TEN. Uncertainty in the enmity.

PENTACLES.Development. Money. Trade.

KING OF PENTACLES. A fair man, inimical or indifferent.
QUEEN OF PENTACLES. A fair woman, indifferent, or inimical.
KNIGHT. A young, fair man. A stranger. An arrival.
KNAVE. A fair child. A messenger. A letter.
The figures of the Pentacles are inverse to those of the Sceptres and Cups, and indicate all that
comes from outside, from the country or abroad.
ACE OF PENTACLES. Commencement of fortune. Inheritance. Gifts. Economy, etc., etc.
TWO. Opposition to this commencement. Difficulty in well establishing the first landmarks of good
fortune.
THREE. Realization of this commencement of fortune. A small sum.
FOUR. Opposition of fortune. Loss of money.
FIVE. Opposition to this opposition. A success coming which will balance the low.
SIX. Realization of the opposition. Ruin.
SEVEN. Success assured. A large fortune.
EIGHT. Partial success. Great loss of money at the moment apparently of definitely securing the
fortune.
NINE. Equilibrium of Equilibrium. A durable fortune.
TEN. Uncertainty in the fortune. Great success and great reverses.