The Innsmouth Tarot, Part 6 - The Suit of Storms

The suit of Storms is the set of cards which govern and reveal the emotions of the world. It equates to the suit of Cups, or hearts, in a traditional card deck and is associated with the Ancient Greek element of water. As before, the court cards comprise various identities from the Cthulhu Cult legends as do the other suits, and the number cards all have their own individual meanings.

Again, unlike the Shadows suit, there remain extant cards in the sets that have been recovered. Because of this, known cards can be reproduced in new forms and not merely speculated upon. The grimoires which have been recovered also speak of the various cards and so they can be regenerated with a fair degree of accuracy; where no cards exist and no reference can be found, we have had to extrapolate upon the rest of the information that we have to hand.

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The Ace of Storms

The Kester Library set of cards contains only two of the aces used in the Innsmouth Tarot and this is the second of those (the other being the Ace of Flames). With these two cards we were able to extrapolate how the other aces would appear in the traditional deck.

The divinatory meaning of this card is Joy, Fertility, Opulence and Happiness. It stands for fulfilment and perfection. When inverted, it signifies change, erosion, instability, sterility and unrequited love.

The Two of Storms

Thunder and lightning work together to lend ferocity and empowerment to the storm. They form an ideal partnership and reflect the harmonious working of storm forces.

Likewise, this card represents an ideal working partnership of forces or natures of quite different aspects. This is a card of love and passion, and can signify the start of a new relationship, an engagement or marriage; in business, it betokens a powerful and dynamic working relationship. Upside-down, this card symbolises disunity; a failed or troubled relationship, false friendship, separation, or divorce.

The Three of Storms

When the storm concludes, the world is bathed by the healing balm of the Sun. In rituals for the worship of Dagon, the conclusion of the rite is signified by a blessing and an arm movement by the high priest called the gesture of the Sun Wheel. It is thought that the Kester Library set of cards provides a glimpse of what this gesture might entail, however the information is too scant for it to have formed the basis of this card’s imagery.

This card symbolises a period of healing, or solace after a loss. It speaks of the resolution of a problem; a conclusion and fulfilment. When inverted, it represents excessive pleasures, overabundance and gluttonous excess. It can signify redundancy, superfluity, a loss of prestige and delays.

The Four of Storms

The maelstrom is a colossal barrier to one’s progress. While drawing its victims into its fathomless depths, it forces them to fight constantly to win free, all the while viewing the calamity ahead.

The meaning of this card is weariness, aversion, disgust and disappointment. It speaks of unhappiness in one’s present position; a bitter experience of which one must win clear. Upside-down, it indicates new possibilities or new relationships; it reveals new approaches to old problems.

The Five of Storms

No wind, no current: the doldrums offer nothing in the way of forward movement or progress. The text of the Newburyport set card makes this notion clear.

The divinatory meaning of this card is partial loss and regret. It reveals friendship without real meaning, or marriage without real love. It speaks of an imperfection, or flaw, in one’s life. Alternatively, it can betoken an inheritance. When reversed, it signals a hopeful outlook, favourable expectations and new alliances.

The Six of Storms

The waterspout symbolises a transition from one state to another, specifically from water to the air. In this regard, it talks about memory and things of the past.

The meaning of this card is the influence of memory and past lives: it can speak of a sudden remembrance or re-emergence, nostalgia, or the discovery of things that were lost. It also references the transition from being a child to adulthood. When inverted, this card betokens the future: coming events and new opportunities; new vistas and horizons. It also talks of plans which might fail in their execution.

The Seven of Storms

Fata Morgana are visions which appear in the sky, of objects beyond the horizon, refracted by the light of the Sun to appear as if they are hovering overhead. In ancient days, mariners believed these mirages were the work of witches attempting to lure them overboard with visions of rich cities and floating castles. The legend of the Flying Dutchman is said to have begun due to an instance of one of these illusions, as the card from the Newburyport set indicates.

This card reveals unrealistic attitudes, overactive imaginations at work, daydreams and foolish whims. Inverted, it stands for desire and determination; strong willpower; a goal nearly attained.

The Eight of Storms

The typhoon thrashes everything with which it comes into contact. Anything insecurely anchored will come to ruin.

This card signifies disappointment and the cessation of plans: circumstances which force abandonment of one’s goals and purpose. It also indicates modesty or shyness. Upside-down, it heralds happiness; effort continued until full success is attained.

The Nine of Storms

Heavy rain falls to replenish supplies, to water crops and to soothe the parched soil. This card represents abundance, success, good health and material attainment. When reversed, the card speaks of a loss of well-being; mistakes, loss and imperfection. A misplaced truth or false freedom.

The Ten of Storms

The eye of the hurricane is a break in the discord of one’s life. It represents a momentary pause before re-entering the hurly-burly of existence.

The meaning of this card is happiness, joy and contentment; a time of pleasure, peace and love. Within the circle of one’s family it betokens balance and harmony. When inverted, this card stands for pettiness, unhappiness and rage. It signifies quarrels amid family members or friends and a possible loss of those relationships.

Othuum - The Jack of Storms

The figure of Othuum in the Deep Ones’ myth-cycle is nebulous and hard to pin down. It seems to be a servant of Cthulhu, coming to that entity’s defense when necessary; however certain texts refer to it as a “demon” which has all the expected negative connotations. Even the appearance of the being is vague, with some sources indicating that it has two legs and others four. All sources agree that it is susceptible to attacks by fire and so, a place in the Storms suit is appropriate.

There is a sense that Othuum exists in another dimension and serves Cthulhu from there, as the “Great Master Of Those Who Wait Without”. Certainly, sources talk of Othuum contacting individuals only through dreams and its nebulous description may have something to do with its extradimensional status.

This card stands for a studious and intent person, willing to offer services and effort towards a specific goal. It symbolises loyalty, reflection and deep thought. When turned upside-down it speaks of temporary distractions, deviations from the true course and susceptibility to outside forces.

Ubb - The Knight of Storms

Along with Deep Ones, Cthulhu is served by another race of beings known to us from the Ponape Scriptures as the “Yuggya”. These are a race of deep-dwelling slug-like creatures who burrow through the earth or swim the great depths of the oceans but who rarely emerge into the open air. It is not known from where they came or how they arrived on Earth, but it is likely that they arrived at the same time as their master, the Great Old One Cthulhu.

That these creatures are intelligent cannot be doubted, given that they actively serve Cthulhu and its offspring. The Deep One scriptures talk of Ubb, the leader of the Yuggya, and Deep One legends speak of communication and co-operation between the two races in service of their sleeping deity. It’s possible that certain tales of the Norse Kraken might have given rise to stories about Ubb.

The divinatory meaning of this card is the arrival of an opportunity: an invitation, proposal or challenge will soon appear. This could also take the form of an attraction, appeal, or inducement. Inverted, the card speaks of subtle trickery and artifice; a sly and cunning person, bent upon trickery, deception and fraud.

Nctosa - The Queen of Storms

Along with Nctolhu, Nctosa is one of the twin female entities sired by Cthulhu and now – according to legend – trapped within a huge storm on a distant planet, widely theorised to be Jupiter. Little is known about this enigmatic pair, but, like all of Cthulhu’s kin, they are said to have some dynamic role during the mythical “end times” of this planet.

This card symbolises a warm-hearted and fair person associated with the questioner. Usually female, this person is a good friend, known for their practical nature and honesty. It might signify one’s beloved in a romantic relationship. Upside-down, the card indicates faithlessness and dishonesty, possible immorality, dishonour and unreliability.

“The Father Of All Sharks” - The King of Storms

The third avatar of the Great Old One Cthulhu is a manifestation known as “The Father Of All Sharks”. It appears as a grotesquely oversized Great White Pointer Shark, traditionally as savage as it is gigantic. Interestingly, this creature may not be as mythical as its place in Deep One dogma might indicate.

In the Christian Bible’s Book of Job, a similar entity is referenced as Leviathan, an enormous undersea monster and companion horror to its land-based cousin Behemoth (B’moth?). Once more we are forced to recognise the possibility that the mythology of Deep One religious life has been alive in the world for, not hundreds, but thousands of years.

Cryptozoological researchers have posited for some time that a gigantic species of shark continues to thrive in the deeper oceans of the planet. They theorise that a relict species of a shark forebear – known from the fossil record as Megalodon – has somehow survived to the present day. They cite recent research of the migration patterns of Great White sharks in the waters south of Australia where several tagged and very large specimens have mysterious vanished after entering deep water in the Great Australian Bight. As well, this evocative image from a World War Two German film has been circulating the Internet in recent days and tends to lend support to such a theory having some basis in fact.

This card represents a responsible and professional man in the life of the questioner. This figure might be renowned in business, the law, the arts, religion or science, but whatever field they inhabit, they are reliable effective and kindly. When inverted, the card stands for petulance, a highly-strung nature; double-dealing, dishonesty and injustice. In certain circumstances it reveals a scandal, loss and ruin.

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Folklore doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is dependent upon the social life of the communities wherein it thrives and is nurtured. Past lore and present interpretations alter and change the structure of the mythology and much of the information is not written down or recorded in any medium. Most folklore is transmitted orally and, whenever a death occurs in the community, much that is precious vanishes with the deceased.

Book research can only take the student so far. The published work of those gone before –academics who entered the communities to speak with the natives and write down their legendry – can only take the researcher so far. At some point, they must step forth amongst the people and make contact with the lore-keepers in the community directly.

At the Miskatonic Folklore Field Study unit, we depend on a core group of keen interns, tasked with getting out into the field and meeting with the folklore generators of the New England nexus. They are selected for this delicate work, not only for their demonstrated academic rigour, but also for their interpersonal skills and powers of diplomacy and tact. A reasonable level of fitness is also required, as trudging through the back-roads of a New England summer can certainly take its toll!

Our Innsmouth Tarot project would not have been possible without the invaluable research conducted by Abigail Garrison and her diligent team, comprising Eliott Kwong, Emily Brookner, Zhao Zichang, and the twins, Indira and Persis Bhattercharjee.

To Be Continued...