Inception Tarot

[tarotception]

ABOUT THE DECKS

This site was created for the Inception fandom Insearchtion challenge at insearchtion.livejournal.com.  

We originally created a website to house the project, but thought having a tumblr might make liking/reblogging easier.

Browse Deck 1

Browse Deck 2

These decks were created by Team (Number to be revealed after the challenge).  Regarding the way these decks were created, all team members had input in assigning a character/item to each card. Given that the characters and the cards both lend themselves to multiple interpretations, we developed the idea of having two decks, one from Cobb's point of view that was framed strongly within the narrative of the film, and another that was framed from the meta-narrative/audience POV, with Fischer as the fool.  

The two decks each have a slightly different reading of both the cards and the film, so that you as the user can pick which interpretation you like the best--just like Inception! ;)

Credits:

The Tarot card template is modified from a basic template by FarArden, which you can download here.

The "INCEPTION" font used in Deck Two is by Brucelovesyou.  Download it here.

Backgrounds for both decks are modified from Inception stills. Some Inception screencaps were taken from dreamingalittlebigger.

Inception is of course the property of Christopher Nolan and Warner Bros., and no infringement is intended.

[tarotception]

Wake Up - Deck 1: Cards 0 - VII.

Title Card

0. The Fool

I. The Magician

II. - The High Priestess

III. - The Empress

IV. The Emperor

V. The Hierophant

VI. The Lovers

VII. The Chariot

[tarotception]

Deck 1: Cards VIII - XVI.

VIII. Strength

IX. The Hermit

X. The Wheel of Fortune

XI. Justice

XII. The Hanged Man

XIII. Death

XIV. Temperance

XV. The Devil

XVI. The Tower

[tarotception]

Deck 1: Cards XVII - XXI.

XVII. The Star

XVIII. The Moon

XIX. The Sun

XX. Judgement

XXI. The World

[tarotception]

GO TO SLEEP - Deck 2: Cards 0 - VII.

Title Card

0. The Fool

I. The Magician

II. - The High Priestess

III. - The Empress

IV. The Emperor

V. The Hierophant

VI. The Lovers

VII. The Chariot

[tarotception]

Deck 2: Cards VIII - XVI.

VIII. Strength

IX. The Hermit

X. The Wheel of Fortune

XI. Justice

XII. The Hanged Man

XIII. Death

XIV. Temperance

XV. The Devil

XVI. The Tower

[tarotception]

Deck 2: Cards XVII - XXI.

XVII. The Star

XVIII. The Moon

XIX. The Sun

XX. Judgement

XXI. The World

[tarotception]

    Dissatisfied with the current direction of your life?  

    Searching for deeper meanings to everyday events?  

    Do you feel pressured you into accepting versions of yourself and the world around you that don't match with what you know in your heart to be true--or what you really want?

   Maybe you need to WAKE UP.

[tarotception]

0. The Fool:

Meanings: the protagonist of the journey, new beginnings, naivete, vagabond/wanderer

   Naive and directionless, the Fool sets out on a difficult journey to enlightenment, with plenty of optimism and courage to light the way.  

   Robert Fischer's journey to self-knowledge is more fraught than even he understands, but with his hopeful nature and good heart, the workings of fate will always be in his favor.

[tarotception]

I. The Magician:

Meanings:  creativity, personal power, energy, resourcefulness, focus, determination 

     With the power to turn dreams into fertile adventure-scapes, Yusuf is a Magician with a full arsenal of wizardly potions at his disposal.  

     Though he mostly prefers to stay in his lab and work his wonders there, his power is a formidable, even a dangerous, force to be reckoned with.  And when he agrees to go with you in the field, it's only a matter of time before the real excitement begins.

[tarotception]

II. The High Priestess:

Meanings: wisdom, intuition, the revealing of secrets, sound judgment, mysticism, feminine mystery

  The High Priestess' job is to look upon her subjects with perspicacity, and compassion. Ariadne is clear-eyed, kind, and rational, and her instinct for solving puzzles and ferretting out the secrets of the human heart enable her to see past the lies and the mystery, into the heart of dreamsharing. She alone can see the way forward.  She alone has the true wisdom that allows her team to attain Inception.

[tarotception]

III. The Empress:

Meanings: Earth Mother: Nurturing, Fruitfulness, abundance, comfort, power, life

   From the little we know of Mal when she was alive, she embodies the image of the nurturing,  compassionate and wise earth mother. Fecundity and gentleness are hers, as is an intimate knowledge of human nature and the natural rhythms of the earth. Kind, empowered and beautiful, she rules the hearts and minds of all who knew her.

[tarotception]

IV. The Emperor:

Meanings: control, command, authority, leadership, stability, discipline, tradition

Few people are true masters of theirs and other people's fates, but Saito is one of them. As ruler of his own empire, the Proclus Global corporation, Saito commands respect from all who meet him and exudes power.  But he also has the innate compassion and understanding of human nature, that enables him to be not just a powerful businessman, but a great leader. 

[tarotception]

V. The Hierophant:

Meanings: knowledge, orthodoxy, power, social institutions

    Using his intuition and his keen understanding of human nature, the officiant of the dream den immediately sees into the heart of Cobb's despair, and shares with us the key to dreaming: reality is in the heart of the beholder--and who are we to say otherwise?

[tarotception]

VI. The Lovers:

Meanings: love, passion, connection, purity, gemini

    Sometimes known as the Twins, the Lovers is a card of purity, innocence, and love.  Often connected with Adam and Eve before the fall of Eden, this card can represent a naive, even childlike faith.  In addition to their innocence and uncorruptible goodness, James and Philippa represent deep faith, harmony, love, and a connection to family.

[tarotception]

VII. The Chariot:

Meanings: conquest, ego, victory, battle, struggle, journey, transition, energy, connection

  The Chariot is a card connected with deep mystery, denoting an unknowable path.  The PASIV holds the key to the wonders of dreamshare, and all the adventures within.  Through this device, all of the battles of the mind are waged, and all the victories won could prove truly life-changing.

[tarotception]

VIII. Strength:

Meanings: strength, self-control, compassion, fortitude

    Physically strong as well as emotionally fortified against the mental and emotional duress of partnering with Cobb, Arthur is the cornerstone of the Inception job.  The hotel layer, in which he holds the defense line all by himself, is a metaphor for the job he does of single-handedly holding the team together emotionally in the face of the wide variety of challenges they face. Whether it's training Ariadne, galvanizing Eames, or being the logistical backbone of the team when everything falls apart, Arthur exemplifies not only physical power, but self-discipline, werewithal, and the truest strength of all: goodness.