Okay so today I dug out this super old Alchemy 1977 England tarot deck my grandad left me. Been sitting in a dusty box in the attic for ages, covered in weird stains and smelling kinda funky. Right, let’s figure out what these creepy pictures actually mean.
Getting Started Was a Mess
First off, just opening the box was a struggle. The lid was practically glued shut. Finally popped it open and wow, the cards felt weird – thin but tough, kinda plasticky? Not like modern ones. They slipped everywhere! Almost sent “The Tower” card flying off the table. Bloody hell.
Making Sense of the Weird Art
Settled down and pulled out the first card – “The Magician”. Looked nothing like the usual dude with the wand. This one had weird circles, a knife, a snake, a bird… all mashed together in dark, gloomy colours. Confusing as anything. Flipped through a few more: “The High Priestess” wasn’t some serene lady; she was surrounded by cryptic symbols on pillars.
Felt totally lost. How was I supposed to read this? Grabbed my notebook and just started scribbling down whatever came to mind:
- Colours Felt Heavy: Lots of dark blues, muddy greens, deep reds. Gave a serious, kinda mysterious vibe.
- Symbols Everywhere: Crescent moons, snakes, birds, eyes, keys… felt like trying to crack a secret code.
- Faces Looked Serious: Hardly any smiles! Everyone looked intense or lost in thought.
Actually Trying a Reading (And Stumbling)
Thought, why not try a simple past-present-future spread? Figured it couldn’t hurt. Shuffled the stiff cards awkwardly – definitely need to handle them more gently. Pulled three:
- The Hermit (Past): This guy was holding a lantern, but instead of light, it looked like… smoke? Weird. Made me think about feeling lost or looking back on something unclear.
- Seven of Swords (Present): Not one guy sneaking away with swords, but multiple figures grappling with shadows and mist! Immediately thought of confusion or hidden stuff messing things up.
- Judgement (Future): No angel blowing a trumpet here! More like a figure waking up underwater. Honestly? Kinda hopeful, like things finally clearing up after the murk.
Scribbled this mess in my notebook: “Past = foggy memories? Present = sneaky troubles / mind fog? Future = wake up call / clarity?” Not exactly elegant, but it felt… honest?
The “Aha!” Quick Tip Moment
Felt stuck again trying to connect them meaningfully. Then I remembered something stupidly simple: ignore the traditional meanings for a second. Just stare at the Alchemy version itself. What feelings do these specific images stir up? Forget the book definitions.
Looked at that murky “Judgement” card again. Underwater figure… waking up… pushing towards the light? Suddenly clicked: “Realisation breaking through the murk” felt way more powerful for this deck than “rebirth” or “judgement”. Way more personal.
What Worked (For Me, Anyway)
After wrestling with it, here’s what actually helped unlock a tiny bit of this deck’s secrets today:
- Forget the Standard Names: Seriously, the Alchemy “Magician” ain’t doing regular Magician things. Look at the symbols presented here.
- Focus on the Atmosphere: The dark colours, the serious faces, the layered details… this deck speaks in mood and symbol, not straightforward stories.
- Let Your Gut React First: Before rushing to a book or website, just stare. What emotion hits you? Confusion? Dread? Hope? That’s your starting point.
- Connect the Dots Visually: How does the mist in one card relate to the underwater scene in another? See the pictures talking to each other.
Finished feeling like I’d just cleaned off the top layer of grime. Still loads underneath, but at least I kinda get why they called it “Alchemy” now. It’s about transforming vague weirdness into something usable, one messy scribble at a time. Definitely need more practice though… that Seven of Swords still gives me the creeps.
