The Witches Tarot Ellen Cannon Reed Pdf
The Witches Tarot is under active copyright. Llewellyn Worldwide is still in business, and the rights are held by Reed’s estate (she passed away in 2003). Uploading or downloading a full PDF without payment is copyright infringement. Reputable websites (like Archive.org) only host public domain works; this book does not become public domain for many decades.
Reed reinterprets the Fool’s Journey not as a Christian allegory of sin and redemption, but as a Wiccan initiation cycle. The Hanged Man, for example, is not about sacrifice or punishment, but about the self-suspension of the ego required to glimpse the Otherworld—a concept directly pulled from the Legend of the Descent of the Goddess.
Users accustomed to the Rider-Waite-Smith system will find significant differences in The Witches Tarot. Reed was not afraid to alter the "standard" iconography to fit her Qabalistic framework. the witches tarot ellen cannon reed pdf
1. The Major Arcana: While the order remains standard, the imagery shifts. For example, The Fool is not a carefree youth stepping off a cliff, but a blindfolded figure, representing the unknowable nature of the Divine before manifestation. The High Priestess sits between the pillars of severity and mercy but is depicted with tools specific to Wiccan practice.
2. The Minor Arcana: This is where the deck shines for students of esotericism. Reed replaces the "pip" cards (cards that just show cups or swords) with illustrated scenes, but the scenes are derived from the Golden Dawn meanings, which sometimes contradict the RWS meanings that most modern readers memorize. The Witches Tarot is under active copyright
3. Court Cards: The hierarchy is renamed to fit a magical structure: Page, Knight, Queen, King. However, their elemental associations are strictly enforced, representing specific personality types rooted in the elements of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth.
Unlike generic Tarot guides that attempt to be all things to all people, Reed's work is unapologetically specific. It is not merely a book about Tarot; it is a grimoire for the Wiccan practitioner. Here is what sets it apart: Reputable websites (like Archive
Note: The book is available digitally. The deck is harder to find in PDF form legally. However, you can often buy the deck used (without the book) and then buy the digital book. This is a fully legal workaround.
