Guidebook for Dawn of Dreams Tarot
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The Dawn of Dreams Tarot introduces a unique floriography system. Floriography originated in ancient Greece, where flowers, leaves, and fruits carried symbolic meanings. For instance, Apollo was often depicted wearing a laurel wreath. Floriography flourished in early 19th-century France, particularly during the Art Nouveau period associated with Mucha. During that time, emotional expression was subtle and reserved, so young men and women used floriography as a medium for expressing emotions. Since floriography is a man-made creation, it avoids broad concepts like “I love you” or “Wishing you happiness” and instead uses keywords and mythological stories to interpret the energies of the cards.
0. The Fool
- Peach Blossom: Represents the “Peach Blossom Land,” symbolizing a utopia, the arrival of spring, and a fresh start. The number 0 in this card mirrors the spring at the beginning of the seasons, a time of renewal. The Fool burns with boundless enthusiasm for the new world, stepping confidently into the unknown.
- Rose: Represents passion, enthusiasm, and sincere affection.
- Rose: Symbolizes fervent energy, ardor, and love.
- Pomegranate: Represents fertility, reproduction, sacred knowledge, and the mysteries of resurrection and renewal, as inspired by its symbolism in the Rider-Waite deck.
- Wheat: Symbolizes life, abundance, and harvest. In this card, wheat stands for material prosperity and the joy of reaping life’s rewards.
- Pine and Cypress: Represent resilience and steadfastness, qualities deeply aligned with the Emperor’s leadership and perseverance.
- Wheat: Reflects both material and spiritual abundance.
- Tulip: Represents joy, affection, and passionate emotion.
- Various Flowers: The chariot is adorned with multiple types of flowers to symbolize an inexhaustible source of strength and energy that propels forward movement.
- Snowdrop: Represents resilience, inner strength, and the power to flourish in harsh conditions.
- Laurel Wreath: Symbolizes victory, pride, and self-confidence.
- Pasqueflower: Represents silence, profound wisdom, and spiritual solitude.
- Various Flowers: Includes cherry blossoms, lotuses, pomegranates, narcissus, chrysanthemums, and gardenias to represent the cycle of seasons and the passage of time.
- Black-eyed Susan: Represents fairness, justice, and the moral compass that guides judgment.
- Jacaranda: Symbolizes serenity, melancholy, and a hopeful waiting amidst despair.
- Bird of Paradise: Reflects a yearning for freedom and a release from constraints.
- Transformation without specific flowers: Death symbolizes self-sacrifice and renewal. The surrounding environment blooms with life and vitality, emphasizing that death is merely the key to new beginnings.
- Iris: Represents harmony, balance, and divine guidance.
- Poppy: Symbolizes ambition, desire, and destructive temptations.
- Bridal Wreath: Represents the beauty of endings and the bittersweet nature of destruction. As the last bloom of spring, it signifies finality and sorrow.
- Baby’s Breath: Represents romantic dreams, blessings, and hope for the future.
- Evening Primrose: Reflects silent allure and hidden attractions.
- Laurel: Represents freedom and the rejection of oppressive control.
- Sunflower: Embodies warmth, light, happiness, peace, and harmony.
- Starwort: Symbolizes humility, ordinariness, and the shared essence of all living beings.
- Lily: Represents purity, fulfillment, and the culmination of a journey.
Adam
- Rose: Represents enthusiasm, passion, and sincere love.
- Gerbera: Symbolizes cheerfulness, innocence, and a vibrant spirit.
Temptation
- Poppy: Represents ambition, desire, and inner corruption.
- Apple: The fruit of knowledge symbolizes temptation and the breaking of balance, leading to new beginnings.
- Iris: Represents balance, harmony, and spiritual insight.
- Ace of Wands: Rose – Enthusiasm, passion, and boldness.
- Two of Wands: Iris – Balance and harmony.
- Three of Wands: Rose – Bold aspirations and the pursuit of new horizons.
- Four of Wands: Sunflower – Warmth, joy, and celebration.
- Five of Wands: Poppy – Intense ambition and struggle.
- Six of Wands: Camellia – Perseverance, victory, and idealistic pursuit.
- Seven of Wands: Morning Glory – Challenges and the pursuit of recognition.
- Eight of Wands: Tulip – Excitement and fast-paced passion.
- Ten of Wands: Deadly Nightshade – Burdens, responsibilities, and duality of purpose.
- Page of Wands: Camellia, Trumpet Vine, Holly Berry – Growth, determination, and youthful ambition.
- Knight of Wands: Hibiscus – Resilience and steadfastness.
- King of Wands: African Tulip Tree – Strength, vitality, and leadership.
- Queen of Wands: Canna Lily – Elegance, willpower, and strength.
- Ace of Cups: Water Lily – Innocence, purity, and creation.
- Two of Cups: Alstroemeria – Joy, friendship, and connection.
- Three of Cups: Alstroemeria – Celebration and the growth of bonds.
- Five of Cups: Thorn – Pain, loss, and hardship.
- Six of Cups: Cypress Vine – Dependence, assistance, and harmony.
- Seven of Cups: Baby’s Breath – Dreams, blessings, and illusions.
- Eight of Cups: Daylily – Letting go, abandonment, and moving on.
- Nine of Cups: Laurel Wreath – Triumph, satisfaction, and pride.
- Ten of Cups: Lily – Harmony, fulfillment, and lasting happiness.
- Page of Cups: Water Lily, Forget-Me-Not, Anemone – Innocence, eternal love, and sensitivity.
- Knight of Cups: Narcissus – Romanticism, self-reflection, and passion.
- King of Cups: Cattail, Pansy – Calm amidst turbulence and deep contemplation.
- Queen of Cups: Freesia – Grace, empathy, and comfort.
- Three of Swords: Thorn – Sorrow, heartbreak, and personal trials.
- Six of Swords: Buttercup – Healing, journey, and escape.
- Eight of Swords: Bird of Paradise – Longing for liberation and self-awareness.
- Page of Swords: Water Lily, Snowdrop – Curiosity, purity, and quiet resilience.
- Knight of Swords: Sweet Pea – Separation, departure, and decisiveness.
- King of Swords: Orchid – Rationality, sophistication, and emotional detachment.
- Queen of Swords: Lily – Wisdom, independence, and clarity.
- Four of Pentacles: Hyacinth – Jealousy, selfishness, and protection.
- Five of Pentacles: Cattail – Hardship, impermanence, and adaptability.
- Seven of Pentacles: Mulberry – Patience, reward, and perseverance.
- Page of Pentacles: Autumn Chrysanthemum – Refinement, integrity, and modesty.
- King of Pentacles: Mandrake – Nobility, authority, and the burden of power.
- Queen of Pentacles: Black Rose – Unique excellence, self-reliance, and inner beauty.
1. Snowdrop
Keywords: Rationality, Wisdom
The snowdrop is depicted hanging above the character’s head. While the Page of Swords has a budding sense of wisdom, they lack the composure and strategic planning needed to fully harness it. The space to grow and practice is necessary to eventually reach the “flower of rationality” above their head.
Related Cards: Page of Swords
2. Lily
Keywords: Purity, Happiness
The lily symbolizes purity and sanctity, creating a foundation for happiness and fulfillment. However, in the Ten of Cups, while the cups float in the air, the lily has fallen. This represents that without roots or a stable foundation, such happiness may only be an illusion—a fleeting “beautiful lie.”
In the Queen of Swords, the lily reflects her personality, likened to the moonlight—a cool, wise, and aloof figure akin to an ice queen.
Related Cards: The World, Queen of Swords, Ten of Cups
3. Hyacinth
Keywords: Jealousy, Stinginess, Selfishness
The hyacinth (originally “Hyacinthus”) is rooted in Greek mythology. Hyacinthus, a beautiful Greek youth, was adored by the Sun God Apollo. However, the West Wind God Zephyrus was consumed by jealousy over their bond. One day, when Apollo was teaching Hyacinthus to throw a discus, Zephyrus sent a gust of wind that redirected the discus, killing the youth. From the blood and Apollo’s tears grew the hyacinth.
In the Four of Pentacles, a snake fiercely guards its four precious gems, forbidding anyone from touching them. The hyacinth is placed before the gems, perhaps as a warning: “If you covet them, I will destroy them.”
Related Cards: Four of Pentacles
4. Gerbera
Keywords: Cheerfulness, Innocence
In Eden, Adam exists in a state of openness, determination, and passion. Before consuming the fruit of knowledge, Adam is as pure and radiant as the child on horseback in the Rider-Waite Sun card. The energy of the gerbera aligns closely with that of the sunflower, both emanating warmth and vitality.
Related Cards: The Sun, Justice, Four of Wands, Adam
5. Bird of Paradise
Keywords: Freedom, Liberation
Also known as the “paradise bird,” the flower resembles a bird about to take flight. Though it symbolizes freedom, in the cards, it appears in states of restriction and bondage, representing an inner longing for liberation.
Related Cards: The Hanged Man, Eight of Swords
6. Black Rose
Keywords: Unique and Singular
In nature, there are no naturally occurring black flowers. The black rose featured in the Queen of Pentacles required immense effort to cultivate. As such, the Queen of Pentacles is portrayed as a near-perfect woman, embodying unmatched grace and uniqueness.
Related Cards: Queen of Pentacles
7. Orchid
Keywords: Sophistication, Rationality
In the King of Swords card, orchids form the straps of his cloak. They highlight his calm, wise, and rational personality. Surrounding him are three different birds, representing messengers who deliver news and intelligence, symbolizing his strategic mastery and control over the situation.
Related Cards: King of Swords
8. Black-eyed Susan
Keywords: Justice, Fairness
In the Justice card, black-eyed Susans hang high in the sky, representing the impartial standards of justice and morality. The energy of this flower aligns closely with that of the sunflower, suggesting that happiness requires fairness and ethical judgment.
Related Cards: Justice
9. Buttercup
Keywords: Escape, Wandering
In Christian tradition, Saint Clarus, a Frankish prince, fled his uncle’s pursuit after his father’s death, renouncing his claim to the throne to become a monk. He devoted himself to helping the weak and the poor, and the buttercup became his commemorative flower.
In the Six of Swords, an eagle carries an injured snake to an unknown destination. Birds symbolize sharp intellect, while the snake represents innate desires. The image suggests that even in physical and mental exhaustion, as long as one retains willpower and discernment, they can endure the trials of exile without fear.
Related Cards: Six of Swords
10. Thorn
Keywords: Pain, Hurt
Thorns are not a specific plant but refer to any shrub with sharp spines. They wrap and pierce, creating inescapable challenges and suffering.
Related Cards: Three of Swords, Five of Cups
11. Pasqueflower
Keywords: Silence, Profundity
In 4th-century Palestine, Saint John was a hermit who barely spoke for nearly 70 years. The pasqueflower, dedicated to him, represents tranquility and deep insight. This flower’s silence and solitude resonate with the Hermit card.
Related Cards: The Hermit
12. Jacaranda
Keywords: Tranquility, Melancholy, Waiting in Despair
The jacaranda, with its downward-facing blossoms, reflects the Hanged Man’s melancholy and sense of despair. However, it doesn’t symbolize surrender or resignation but rather an unwavering hope for eventual freedom.
Related Cards: The Hanged Man