What is Non-Traditional Tarot? | Tarot Beyond Tradition #1 

Love the format. When you were talking about the three of sword, Dawn said „three is a growth number“ and Tegan said „it’s about creativity“ I was thinking about how fun it would be if you two discussed numberology - which I also consider a nontraditional approach to tarot. Anyhow, looking forward to more of these videos!

This is such a great conversation! I have OCD and for me using non traditional tarots has been so much more beneficial than a fixed system. It allows me to explore my spirituality, but without having to operate within a prescribed system (which would exacerbate my more unhelpful thought patterns) 💚 looking forward to this series x

Using numerology to read the minors really expanded the meanings for me. Then when I brought Tarot of the Abyss into my collection I was over the moon to have the choice for the 3 and 10 of swords. I love what I call study decks re the Mary El, Dreams of Gaia, the Wildwood, Tarot of Vampires et el… yes some are based on RWS but really they go their own way and the guide book is an essential part of the deck. They certainly help to open up to more in depth meanings but ultimately they are not the same as say the Universal Waite and Darkness of Light. Loved this conversation. Thank you so much

I enjoyed this conversation very much and look forward to the next installment!

I have had such a strong pull to the tarot for years but I just haven’t gotten into like I feel I should. This video has made me think maybe it isn’t something wrong with me but I’ve just been approaching it wrong. This will be great to consider as we come into the next year. Thank you for helping to open this topic up more

This was an interesting conversation, thank you! So, to sum up my thoughts, my personal 2CW … So-called ‘traditional’ Tarot applies to the basic system structure: 78 cards (plus or minus a few over time) that include approximately 22 Major Arcana and 4 Suits of Pips and Courts. The Majors have remained a bit more settled in their meanings as ‘archetypes’, so might be viewed as leaning ‘traditional’ while the Pips and Courts have varied more and are less likely to be viewed in some way as ‘traditional’ in their meanings. Apart from the system structure, IMHO, the past six hundred years of interpretation and READING Tarot has likely always been ‘non-traditional’ - as seen in all the different deck artwork even prior to RWS -- and generally unique to each reader because, by its very nature, the deck (and cards) are the lens through which each of us reads individually and contextually. How do we know that common people 100-600 years ago weren’t also doing something similar to us and incorporating or integrating their Tarot into their daily lives more fully or how can we claim they had no personal gnosis? Just because every person didn’t write about it (i.e., lack of documentation) doesn’t mean it wasn’t happening. People are people and have always been imaginative, intuitive, and creative. The single new non-traditional aspect, to me, is simply the artistic variety (in Tarot as well as all the oracles available); this is a lovely luxury we have in our modern world but that variety doesn’t necessarily equate to greater insights when doing a Tarot reading. Just a Crone’s perspective.

One aspect of non-traditional decks to me is the time you need to invest in them as you are essentially learning a whole new system. I think of the Bosch Tarot or even Wildwood. When you invest time to learn a language you want to be able to speak it with others. If you spend time studying, for example, The Bosch Tarot with its 6 suits, you probably have few people to "speak" that system with. How much do you think the investment and lack of community plays into people using non-traditional decks? In some ways oracles are individual systems but there is usually a common way to use them. As tarot uses archetypes of human behavior, I'm curious how Tegan balances the commonality of archetypes with the way people uniquely exemplify that archetype. For example I would think a narcissist, which could be a King of Wands, could be immensely creative or have a need to make others feel inferior. Interesting discussion, thanks.

Hi Dawn and Tegan, I am back ......would be great to walk through decks that you both own and discuss what each of you sees in the card. Like how would you both translate that card into words. Eg: due to the colour in a particular card you may feel like this....which then brings this..... into the reading (Like Red today means passion for you, but in this particular card you would go with anger and explain why) Gosh I hope you understand where I am coming from. I have a small group of woman who meet up at my house and we meet fortnightly to discuss a particular deck. Its like a deep dive into that particular tarot deck. Sometimes the decks have different words on it for the majors etc. But we all bring to the table how we see that card or share how it makes us feel. We also use the guidebook sometimes if we feel the creator has easter eggs in there for us. But its always so interesting to hear each of our points of view etc. There were decks I had never really bonded with until I was lucky enough to see it through someone else lens. There were decks also that I never was able to connect with before or after...but at least I knew it was time to let them go. So I could replace them for something I did love more. Every one sees walk throughs which I just love watching. But to see others share back and fourth what or how they see it in a card in a shared space. It so exciting and refreshing. Again I would be guessing you ladies would be bringing your spin on it through numerology as well, so that would be exciting to me. Also the ladies who meet at my house to play tarot like this. We hardly ever get through a whole deck at any one time. As there is 4 to 6 of us at any one time. Tarot isn't meant to always be rushed so I wouldn't think you would have to try hard to rush through a deck for a sake of a video. But again. This is just an idea. And you wanted idea's so I thought I would share mine. But you do you like it always should be. Take Care....Terri from Australia 🇦🇺 🦘 💜 🙌

Regan was looking for a word for tarot she said was stretchy. It made me think of elastic, and neuroplasticity, so I thought Taroplasticity. I love guidebooks and books on tarot because it is simple yet so dynamic. Great discussion

I too read numerically but I know RWS traditional meanings and incorporate depending on the question and or situation but I feel like everyone adds their own spin to the tarot, and I’m sure when Marseille tarot decks started being used for “fortune telling” people made up their own meanings and stories to the cards and layouts and spreads so maybe from the beginning it’s always been non-traditional but then again is that traditional? And Dawn Michelle I believe overtime just from watching you for so many years your practice evolved in a way that you now consider non-traditional, i.e. gaming, journaling etc but then again tarot used to be a game ! So anyway, I’m just watching you and Tegan and just putting my thoughts out there as I’m watching! ❤

I loved this! ❤

I’m only part way through but I’m wondering how you think Lenormand fits in? It’s definitely old and based on playing cards, but not as typical as Tarot.

Hi Dawn and Tegan. I would truly love you both to catch up and speak about numerology and you thoughts on each number. I know RWS (self taught) and I also reading intuitively. I couldn't, no sorry, wasn't able to connect with the RWS version (original) where men were in robes and stocking from another time and era, and where most of the cards to me looked like there were so many lines in the artwork. Well...thats how my eyes saw it. I got excited when I first saw the Light Seers Tarot and the Everyday Witch Tarot hit the tarot world. Because for the first time my mind could go crazy and run in many direction due to the art work. Real people in real scenes and doing things I understood. This art style gave my mind, the opportunity to go more "free range" so to speak. I was like a chook running around in the card finding so many easter eggs (different ways of seeing things) It was magic. I know a little about numerology...eg. (1)-seed, (2) bond, (3) birthing of the bond etc. But thats just basic stuff. I would love to know more about your personal thoughts. How to stretch it further. Basic would be great to hear about from you both but also how you Play with it more. I love the topic you spoke about today. And I totally understand if its to personal for you to share your views on numerology. Thats fair. But I did want to ask....as it never hurt to ask. Loved this ladies. Thank you both so much for sharing your personal thoughts. I found it very interesting. Terri from Australia 🇦🇺 🦘 💜🙌

So glad I saw this and jumped in with gusto to hear this conversation. I am such a fan of both of you and as a newbie tarot reader you've unraveled some of my dis-ease about my approach to reading. As example, the recent "Good fortune Tarot" guide book has confounded me - somewhat, but as Dawn has extolled Barbara Moore's writings - I so wanted to be able to connect too. Now that I have heard Dawn explain how she "learned" tarot from the numbers and elements and not the RWS method I can approach Barbara Moore from that angle and with appreciation! Also follow Tegan's videos consistently -- as flora and fauna tarot and oracles make up the lion share (wink) of my decks. Some decks are like field guide flash cards in a way - but I also know generally the folklore/medicine characteristics attributed to the plants and animals depicted. I love to use the Brady deck or the Druid Craft oracles and get Rachel Pollack's or the Carr-Gomm's interpretations.

This is such a fantastic discussion, I can’t wait to see where this series goes!!!

my favorite series

Something Tegan said here really clicked with me! I also have the “tell me what to do and I will do it that way” mentality (I grew up as the most obedient child ever, lol) and when Tegan pointed out that tarot is an exercise in getting out of your comfort zone with that, I suddenly realized one of the major struggles I have. I keep feeling like I need to use the rote/traditional way of reading, so when the traditional way isn’t working for the matter at hand I feel like it’s just me being bad at tarot. But maybe I just need to let myself stray from the rigidity of “this is how I’m supposed to do it”.

Loved the discussion!

I LOVE THIS!! Can’t wait 🥰🤗

This conversation was fantastic, I can’t wait for more! ❤ After exploring different traditional tarot systems, I realized that all of them have this belief that their system is the “right” or “correct” system. But in reality, there is no correct system. I see tarot as a blank canvas and all the systems (traditional and non-traditional) are valid and correct. It just depends on what resonates with the reader. I also reflected on my most favorite decks are so non-traditional haha. Dreams of Gaia, Herbcrafters, Antique Anatomy etc. I seem to like the ones that break that traditional mode and go in their own way. Or feel totally open for the reader to insert their own flair into the meanings.

Loved this!!! ❤❤❤❤❤

I paid attention