Suit of Water (Cups)
In Denizens of Earth, the four minor suits are represented by their elemental names, fire, water, earth, air rather than the traditional tarot suit names, wands, cups, pentacles and swords. Below are two infographics which illustrate this. Additionally, in Rider-Waite decks the court cards are King, Queen, Knight and Page, in this deck those court cards are Father, Mother, Guardian and Child respectfully. For each of the minor cards, there is a brief explanation and then some keywords for your readings in bold.
father of water
o. vulgaris | Common Octopus
Octopus species are widespread and ancient people from the Greeks to the Hawaiians had stories about these animals. With their many limbs coming from a central place they have become a symbol of multi-tasking, and balance.
Equilibrium, diplomacy, all-encompassing.
mother of water
m. novaeangliae | Humpback Whale
There is so much that is fascinating about whales, and so much we don’t understand about them. Whales in specific regions sing their own song, so all North Atlantic humpback whales sing one song and in the Pacific they sing a different song. It’s been observed that over time the song slowly changes.
Emotional stability, intuition, compassion.
guardian of water
c. carcharias | Great White Shark
Great White’s are a misunderstood species. Although they do account for more human attacks than any other shark species, it’s more a public perception that they are especially dangerous. Most of their bites are “test bites” to see what a human is not a cold blooded attack.
Imagination, beauty, curiosity.
child of water
h. histstix | Spiny Seahorse
The first human depictions of what you might call a seahorse is from ancient Greece and shows Poseidon on a chariot pulled by seahorses. Though these look a lot more like a horse with a fish body, you can see they had elements of the actual animal.
Possibility, subconscious, opportunity.
ace.
r. chinensis | China Rose
Roses have been a symbol of beauty and love spanning over a variety of timeperoids and civilizations. Aphrodite, according to Greek legend, created red roses as she cried for her lover Adonis, her tears watered the ground and from there roses grew.
Love, compassion, beauty.
two.
a. psilostachya | Ragweed
Ragweed is often the culprit behind seasonal allergies, but the plant was long used medicinally by indigenous people. Ragweed makes a mild antiseptic for minor cuts, insect bites, and stings and when brewed into a tea can curb fever and nausea.
Duality, partnership, twofoldness.
three.
h. helix | English Ivy
English Ivy is invasive in the United States, it’s creeping stems weigh down trees, smother buildings and out compete native plants. Ivy is a lovely plant, but if you let it take over there is no room for anything else. Collaboration, codependency, interconnected.
four.
s. officinalis | Common Sage
Since ancient time sage has been used to ward off evil, increase fertility, improve snake bites and many more minor ailments. The Romans called sage "holy herb," and used it in their religious rituals.
Reevaluation, mending, reflection.
five.
r. graveolens | Rue
The bitter taste of Rue has led it to be associated with the verb rue, “to regret”. In literary works, it’s been called “herb-of-grace” and symbolizes regret.
Regret, disappointment, melancholy.
six.
l. angustifolia | English Lavender
The flowers and leaves of lavender are used as an herbal medicine to alleviate symptoms such as anxiety and difficulty falling asleep. It’s a favorite scent for anything made to be relaxing, Epsom salt baths, massage oil, lotions, eye pillows etc.
Purity, tranquility, nostalgia.
seven.
m. deliciosa | Monstera
Monstera or swiss cheese plant is a popular house plant for its beautiful big leaves, but it’s hard to grow in colder climates. In the tropics, it’s often grown outdoors where it can get up to nine feet tall.
Opportunities, self-deception, choices.
eight.
a. absinthium | Wormwood
Wormwood is a bitter plant used in creating absinthe. In his 1651 book, Nicholas Culpeper said wormwood was the key to understanding. Later commentators would describe this entry on wormwood as the rambling of a drunk and a stream of consciousness. Although biographer Benjamin Woolley has said that this could have been an allegory about bitterness as Culpeper had a history of opposing the powers of the day and had been wounded and imprisoned for it.
Escapism, disappointment, withdrawal.
nine.
h. macrophylla | Hydrangea
A tea made from hydrangea is used on kan-butsu-e (the Buddha bathing ceremony) in Japan. During the ceremony the tea is poured over a Buddha statue and given to the attendees. The legend goes that nine dragons poured “ambrosia” on Buddah the day he was born. Gratitude, fulfillment, recognition.
ten.
p. vulgaris | Primrose
The Victorians were particularly interested in the “language of flowers”, for them primrose meant young love, youth or a love you can’t live without.
First love, pure love, harmony.