The Semiotics of Tarot
I am the manager of the Santa Barbara Tarot Circle. We have monthly in-person meetings in Santa Barbara for people interested in tarot and other card reading systems. We also provide space for other mantic and healing arts.
Our April 19, 2025 meeting featured Dr. Faithe Day speaking on the semiotics of tarot. Faithe introduced the definition of semiotics and gave an overview of Stuart Hall’s “Encoding/Decoding” method for reading tarot cards using semiotics in the 21st century. Faithe is a member of our group and a postmodern mystic, intuitive astrologer, and a practicing occultist. For details on her background and services visit TheProfessorPriestess.com
In Faithe’s words from her website:
Welcome to the Journey
As an eclectic spiritualist and Doctor of Philosophy, I am knowledgeable of a variety of cultural traditions and schools of thought, so I offer guidance on how to find the best practice for you based on your background and interests. By helping you learn how to balance protecting your energy with being open to receive abundance, I look forward to speaking words of light and love into your life and work, so that you can be the best version of yourself in this and all future timelines.
Semiotic theory is a wide subject. It is a study of signs and symbols, a way to understand anything i.e., language, images, culture society, etc. It is based on a variety of theories and philosophies that can be used to analyze media, culture, and society.
Faithe gave examples of these concepts as it relates to tarot. How did the history, culture and societal conventions that were present in England and Europe from the late 19th century to the early 20th century shape the Waite-Smith tarot? How has our current era and technology changed what the cards mean to us?
She gave examples of terms for different concepts of what a “sign” is. Is it a Sign or Signifier, the Signified, or a Referent? She gave an example of what these terms mean with reference to The Chariot card.
She also explained what the cultural critic and theorist Stuart Hall means by “Encoding and Decoding” in tarot readings. He proposes that there are three types of messages that are encoded by a creator: Dominant or the mainstream meaning, Negotiated – the mainstream meaning with the addition of a little something, and Oppositional – a rejection the dominant or mainstream meaning to create something else. Tarot readers may deal in one or all these viewpoints in their readings.
Visit Faithe’s website for more information – www.TheProfessorPriestess.com She offers an in-depth course online in The Semiotics of Tarot as well as other tarot and astrology services.
Would you like to attend the monthly in-person meetings of the Santa Barbara Tarot Circle? You can register at www.meetup.com/santabarbaratarotcircle/ or just let me know at [email protected]
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