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| Devilfish |
 Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 8:20 pm |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
Posts: 19
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First of, let me talk about tarot for a bit and get way too defensive about it in the process. Many people seem to believe that tarot cards are used by gypsy stereotypes or "psychics" to predict the future (I blame screenwriters for this, damn you TV!) Pictures on paper usually can't do that. Instead, the tarot is a tool used for introspection. You look at an image and ponder its meaning as it relates to you, your past, present and future. The cards do have meanings, but when doing a reading, the real intention is to take a moment out of your busy day to sit down, let the images connect with you and discover new (and sometimes unsettling) things about yourself. It's a lot like meditation or prayer, guided by images and symbols.
It's a lot like The Path.
I collect tarot decks and immediately thought how much I wanted a deck based around The Path, because the images and implications of the story really speak to me. Since there isn't one available, I made one myself and I'm sharing it here in case others are interested. I tried to stay true to the horror nature of the game, the themes presented, and create something that even people who don't share my interpretation of the game can relate to. I hope I succeeded, but please tell me if you disagree!
Before I get to the cards, there's three things that need saying:
1. Like The Path itself, the interpretation of the images on the cards is extremely personal. I'll try and explain why I chose certain images for certain cards, but chances are this explanation will make no sense to you, because you play the game a different way than I do and see things I don't, and vice versa.
2. None of the images are mine! I don't own a single one of them. They are screenshots from my game and other people's games, artwork taken from this site, clipart from google image, even the font is a download. So let me repeat: I don't own any of this. All credit goes to the creators of the game. Consider this fanart.
3. English is not my first language. Please forgive any mistakes you may spot (although if you see them on the cards themselves, please let me know! I'd hate for them to have mistakes or typos in them after I worked so hard on them!)
Also, please excuse the Great Big Wall-o-Text. I have no webspace of my own to post this.
Update: done! You can download them in a handy-dandy .zip file now.
Complete (78 bmp files + back)
Parts:
Major Arcana
Cups
Pentacles
Wands
Swords
Also, this.
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There is a tale called The Fool's Journey. It's a story meant to help you remember the cards of the major arcana and the order they're in (and also what compelled me to draw a parallel between the game and tarot). I recommend you read it before looking at the cards and keep it open for reference. If you want to know more about tarot in general, have a look here.
The Fool
It's important to understand that the names of the cards aren't as black and white as you might think. "Fool" here does not mean moron or idiot. The number of the card is 0, the non-number before the real counting begins. The Fool stands for beginnings, the start of a journey. I guess it's no mystery why I chose a picture of Robin, the youngest, most innocent and least experienced of the sisters, chasing a bird off the path to represent this innocence.
The Magician / The High Priestess
The Magician and the High Priestess are a pair in this tale and represent the world in its masculine (structured, conscious) and it's feminine (mysterious, unknown) forms. Again, it's not a stretch to use the image of the path and the forest to represent this.
The Empress
The Empress is the mother figure to the fool, a guiding force, and also represents the bounty of nature, the nurturing side of the world, the caring hand that guides us. Not a a stretch to use the Girl in White for this card.
The Emperor
The father figure, authority, but not of an oppressive kind. In the tale, the Fool must learn the rules and understand them before he can go on his journey and benefit from what he encounters. Thus, little Robin learning how to walk the path. I like this one. The idea of the game developers being behind-the-scenes authority figures telling us what to do ("Stay on the path!" "Turn right!") tickles me somewhat.
The Hierophant
This was a difficult one. This is where my interpretation of the game really starts to influence the cards. The Hierophant symbolizes an introduction into a group with their own rules, conformity, but also compromise and learning the value in being part of something that is larger than you. To reach your goals, you must learn to compromise and ft in. The Fey Wolf always struck me as a guiding figure, a teacher (at least until the curtain drops). This image, for me, is a fine representation of being guided into a world with existing rules (in this case the art world) by an expert.
The Lovers
Again it's important to note that the titles of these cards are not meant to be taken literally. There's a lot of debate about what happens between Carmen and the woodsman, but that's not the point. The Lovers stands for sexual urges, the first time the Fool feels the need to reach out and (ahem) touch someone. It's about determining your values and morals, pushing your own boundaries (especially in a sexual way and in relation to others). I think most people can agree that this picture fits well with those principles.
The Chariot
This choice of picture has a lot to do with my personal interpretation of the game. To me, the girls see what they want to see in the forest. (Robin sees a syringe and calls it candy, for example). So the wolves take the form of something they want to find. In Robin's case, an actual cuddly wolf-person. So she isn't afraid (none of the girls are). She rides it with confidence, absolutely certain that her view of the world is right. That is what the Chariot stands for. (In the Fool's Journey: "His is the assured confidence of youth.") Being confident (sometimes overly confident) in the self, mastery of your inner world. Makes sense to use this picture then, especially because of the "riding" imagery.
Strength
A difficult one. In a game as dark and bleak as The Path, it's hard to come up with images that illustrate these overly positive cards. The Strength Card stand for the courage to overcome challenges, not through physical force but through qualities like patience and tolerance. To me, Scarlet exemplifies this. The image of the laundry really drove home for me how much she is bound to her sisters, the laundry representing all the tedious tasks she has taken upon herself, and how strong she is to do so and give up her dreams in the process. Again, a very personal interpretation of the game.
The Hermit
A solitary figure who is looking for answers and doesn't ask for help in that search. Ruby seemed like an obvious choice here and I don't think it requires much of an explanation She is driven, despite her tendency to drift toward apathy. This image of her being still, alone and in deep thought really drives home the idea of the Hermit for me.
The Wheel of Fortune
The Fool's Journey talks about the Wheel of Fortune in terms of destiny, visions, turning points and movement. The image of Robin having a "vision" of her destiny at Grandma's house, the transformation that awaits her, all while playing in the cart, seems to fit this rather well.
Justice
This was the one I had the most trouble with. Justice is about the principle of responsibility, of realizing that actions have consequences and making decisions based on that knowledge. It's definitely a theme in the game, but finding an image to represent this was hard. But the image of a girl at the gate of Grandma's House after having been in the woods seems right. Ruby now has a choice. Go back into the woods, where she knows there are truths to discover, or go to the safety of the house.
"Will he remain true to his insights, or will he slip back into an easier, more unaware existence that closes off further growth?"
Hanged Man
This one, however, was easy. Again it goes back to my interpretation of Scarlet's story. The Hanged Man seems like a martyr, a victim, but in reality being bound gave him valuable insights. (Compare to the Norse story of Odin and the tree). However, in the end the strings must be cut for change to occur. The Hanged Man is not a victim. He is learning through suffering.
Death
Oh boy. You'd think this one would be easy, what with all the death in this game. But in tarot, death doesn't stand for the end. Ir represents transformation. It's still not a very positive card. It's the death of cherished beliefs, of treasured parts of the self, and this death is painful. Ruby seemed like the obvious girl to represent this. The graveyard seemed like the right place. The image of the cross (especially since it is white) reminds us of the fact that death is painful and leaves deep wounds, but there is life beyond it.
Temperance
Who better to represent the virtue of Temperance than Rose? Temperance in the tarot stands for inner peace. In the Fool's Journey, he has mastered his inner self. He doesn't know how to interact with the world in a meaningful way yet, but he does have the inner strength and knowledge of the self to do so. Rose is very calm, serene, graceful and introspective, which to me made her the obvious choice for the image of Temperance.
The Devil
I can't stress this enough: don't take these names too literally. I'm not saying Grandma is Satan. The Devil represents (among other things) ignorance, choosing to stay in the dark and fearing the unknown. So why the picture of Grandma? Because the girls only see her if they refuse to do what they must and stray into the woods. Also, in my interpretation of the game, this isn't Grandma at all. It's the wolf posing as Grandma, like in the original fairytale, and the girls are unaware of this because they chose not to learn and stay ignorant of the dangers and truth that were waiting for them.
The Tower
In the Fool's Journey, the Tower is where insights and truth are forced on him in a very violent, direct way. The Tower stands for revelation through sudden, painful change. Using Grandma's House to represent this seemed like a no-brainer.
The Star
Serene calm, hope and inspiration. Another very positive, bright card that is difficult to link to images in the game. But this part of the tale is what made me chose this picture: "He is filled with joy and his one wish is to share it generously with the rest of the world. His heart is open, and his love pours out freely." Carmen, who so very much wishes to share her love, at peace in the woods. It seems right.
The Moon
Another no-brainer, at least for me. The moons represents illusions, the stimulation of the imagination and is strongly connected to the spiritual aspect of nature. But on the other hand, in his emotional state, the Fool is unable to recognize the danger of being led astray by illusions and dreams without rational thought. Need I say more?
The Sun
Illuminating the hidden places, a symbol of vitality, enlightenment and "vibrant energy and enthusiasm". Who better to represent this than sunny, quick Ginger? The image of the sunlight piercing through the trees and illuminating the white tree in the otherwise dark graveyard is a very clear image of what the Sun is about.
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Up until now I've tried to choose images that everyone who played the game (or even those who didn't) can relate to, but the last two steps are tied so closely to my personal interpretation of the story that it may seem completely insane to you. But that's the nature of this game, and of the tarot. So, let me explain: in my interpretation, The Path is about the journey from girl to woman, and the Girl in White is the one who learns from these experiences (since she is always present to see the Reds learn and grow, and they may very well be aspects of her). This is her journey. So, you know, keep that in mind when reading about the last two cards.
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Judgement
This is where the tale starts wrapping up. The journey is almost over and the Fool has learned almost everything there is to learn. He has been reborn, absolved, he has learned from his mistakes and conquered his demons. He now has all the tools he needs to become a complete person. The Girl in White (again, in my imagination) has slain the wolf that threatened to devour parts of her and these parts are transformed, as represented by the Reds returning to the room.
The World
So this new person, who is no longer a Fool, is free to go into the world with confidence in herself, knowing that she can conquer anything on her path and that she has all the virtues and knowledge she needs to face the world and stand tall in the face of adversity. She has come full circle. This time, when she walks the path, she can do so as a complete person who is at peace with herself and the world she lives in.
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That's it for the major arcana. I hope that someone gets something out of this, even if it's just some better understanding of tarot. I haven't made the minor arcana yet, but I fully intend to do so. If anyone's interested, let me know and I'll post those as well.
Also, if you want to print these cards for your own use (assuming the creators allow this, so ASK FIRST!), they're standard tarot card size. I made a backside for them as well.
These were created with GIMP 2. If you're interested in the (layered) .xcf files, maybe to insert your own screenshots and images if you don't agree with mine, send me a PM and I'll send them to you. |
Last edited by Devilfish on Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:36 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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| marinlabyrinth |
| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:28 am |
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Joined: 24 Feb 2010
Posts: 15
Location: Berkeley
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| what part was the still of "The Hermit" from?? |
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 4:06 am |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
Posts: 19
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| There's a clearing in the forest. I think it only appears in the darkest part of the forest, but I'm not sure. That's how I found it, going into the woods behind grandma's house and following the rays of sunlight in the darkness. It's not a hotspot (as in, there's no overlay), but if you let go some girls lie down there and have a bit of a monologue. I don't really know who does it. Tried it with Scarlet and she refused. |
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 7:53 am |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
Posts: 19
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Minor Arcana: Swords (fire)
(The four suits of the minor arcana are linked to the elements. There's some debate about whether the swords are linked to air or fire. Personally I prefer fire, hence the icon in the top left corner.)
Ace
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Page
Knight
Queen
King
Back
A little more info about the individual cards and their meaning. Again, I tried to pick images that fit the traditional meaning of the cards, but some of it relies on my personal interpretation. |
Last edited by Devilfish on Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 12:24 am |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
Posts: 19
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 3:31 am |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Sat Jul 09, 2011 6:06 am |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
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| Michael |
| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:18 am |
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Site Administrator
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 8065
Location: Gent, Belgium
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You're crazy! 
Thank you for the fanart! |
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| Michael |
| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:19 am |
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Site Administrator
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 8065
Location: Gent, Belgium
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| Please zip all cards up in an archive, so we can download the entire set at once. |
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| Auriea |
| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 11:22 am |
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Site Administrator
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
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Location: at your fingertips
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wow! y'know I like tarot decks  i need to look at more of the images but an impressive amount of work has gone into this. really neat!  |
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Sun Jul 10, 2011 6:24 pm |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
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Michael wrote: You're crazy!
You, sir, are partially responsible for The Path. You are in no position to judge anyone's mental health 
Michael wrote: Thank you for the fanart!
Thank you for this game.
Michael wrote: Please zip all cards up in an archive, so we can download the entire set at once.
Oh, good point! Forgot about that.
Complete (78 bmp files + back)
Parts:
Major Arcana
Cups
Pentacles
Wands
Swords
Auriea wrote: wow! y'know I like tarot decks i need to look at more of the images but an impressive amount of work has gone into this. really neat!
Tarot decks are fun. 78 works of art for cheap and they're useful too. It wasn't that much work, and I wish they'd turned out a little prettier so I'm probably going to keep fiddling with them, but it was a lot of fun to do. I'm glad someone likes them though, that's always a nice bonus.
Bedankt voor dit "spel". Ik zal u op de feesten eens een Duvel trakteren |
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| distancel |
| Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2011 1:45 pm |
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Joined: 15 Jul 2011
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Location: Australia
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Wow!! These are so amazing. I wish I could have them on actual cards. I have a couple of decks of tarot cards myself as I find them really interesting. My favourite deck is one I have that incorporates mythical stories into the cards. I also have an animal Tarot deck which is very beautiful.
But anyway, that's far from the point, these are awesome!! I am downloading the full pack so that I can look at them some more ^_^.
Did you ever see the musical episode of Xena? (Yes this is a random question, bear with me). Well, all the costumes in that and some of the scenes, were from the tarot. That was what started my obsession I think lol. Yeah Xena is cool. I'm terribly over tired. Good day. |
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| Devilfish |
| Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:29 am |
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Joined: 03 Jul 2011
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Thank you very much! I'm glad someone besides me is getting some use out of these
When I was done with these I thought it was a shame I couldn't have them as an actual, physical deck, so I found this site. I haven't tried it yet (still waiting for the mail), but I was planning on posting the results here once I do.
I never saw that episode, no. Xena was that show I always wanted to get into but somehow never did. It looks like a lot of fun, but I just never got around to it. Will check it out though! |
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| Michael |
| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:48 am |
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Site Administrator
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 8065
Location: Gent, Belgium
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Devilfish wrote: Michael wrote: You're crazy!
You, sir, are partially responsible for The Path. You are in no position to judge anyone's mental health
Haha! |
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| Michael |
| Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2011 10:50 am |
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Site Administrator
Joined: 07 Jun 2002
Posts: 8065
Location: Gent, Belgium
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Devilfish wrote:
Bedankt voor dit "spel". Ik zal u op de feesten eens een Duvel trakteren
We zijn niet zo'n feestbeesten.
Ben jij van Gent? |
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