The Innsmouth Tarot, Part 8 - The Suit of Stones

As part of the launch of the Innsmouth Tarot Project, the Miskatonic Folklore Field Study Unit is proud to announce that all of the original source materials will be put on display to the public at a special exhibition held at the Kester Library in Salem, Massachusetts. The exhibition will contain all of the chap-books and common-place books collected in the course of putting together the tarot card set, along with the original cards discovered beneath the Library’s floorboards and the set of cards and other artefacts on loan from the Newburyport Historical Society. A rare viewing of the original Ponape Scriptures will also feature as part of the event.

This exhibition – with accompanying lectures – will take place in mid-August and the Innsmouth Tarot cards will be available for sale in the gift shop. All proceeds from the event will go towards the ongoing restoration work at the Kester Library.

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The final suit of the Lesser Arcana is the suit of Stones which represents the physical underpinnings of existence, their manipulation and expression. It equates to the Pentacles, or diamonds, suit of traditional decks and is linked to the Ancient Greek element of earth.

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The Ace of Stones

The quintessence of physical power, the Ace stands for worldly capability and material wealth. When it arrives in a reading it is an omen of impending prosperity.

This card heralds the onset of bliss, ecstasy and physical contentment. It signifies attainment and wealth, the presence of gold or treasures and great wealth. In some instances, it foretells the discovery of important antiques, old coins, or a significant rock. When upside-down, it foretells of wealth that brings no pleasure, ill-gotten gains that are a burden, or corruption by money.

The Two of Stones

The hurled rock – emblematic of the sudden blow or the unexpected statement – is the catalyst from which rapid and turbulent change may spring. The thrown stone might be a pebble, or it might be a planet-sized object hurtling from the heavens – either way, when it strikes, nothing will be the same again.

The divinatory meaning of this card is the arrival of troubles, difficult situations arising, or a failure to launch. When inverted, it signifies literary ability or competence in handling difficult matters. It also indicates being forced to feign enjoyment or happiness.

The Three of Stones

The perfectly-cut, flawless gem speaks of great skill and competence. It is an harmonious combination of artistry, science and an accident of nature.

This card speaks of great skill in trade or work; the mastery and skilful deployment of the skills which define one’s daily occupation. It implies perfection as the end results of one’s efforts. When upside-down, it betokens sloppiness, poor-quality work and mediocre results. It also heralds money troubles.

The Four of Stones

A treasure chest might seem like a good way to protect one’s assets, but with it come attendant troubles such as secrecy, rumour and the possibility of forgetfulness. The promise of security is false and simply leads to other woes.

The meaning of this card is an obsession with money matters leading to inequities in one’s life. Miserliness; hoarding; gambling problems: nobody likes a skinflint. When inverted, the card reads as a warning about imminent issues which curtail the gaining of funds: obstacles, delays and suspense.

The Five of Stones

The high fortress wall protects and maintains. Sometimes we grow blind to its nurturing presence, only to realise its necessary purpose in our lives after it falls down.

Ruin is the meaning of this card: loss; an error in practise or judgement; the realisation of the importance of something only now that it has gone. It signifies the loss of material wealth or physical protection. When upside-down, it tells of the overcoming of ruin, or the reversal of a bad trend.

The Six of Stones

The gift of a tribute – whether given or received – is a mark of esteem and bestows honour upon both sides of the equation. The tithe is a mark of humility and a realisation of one’s place within a community: in essence, the offering says that one understands one’s place within a greater circumstance.

It’s no surprise, then, that this card tells of charity, or generosity, in one’s future dealings. Inverted, it speaks of the opposite – avarice, greed and miserliness; the inability to give of one’s self in an undertaking.

The Seven of Stones

The holey, or self-bored, stone is a symbol of luck throughout the world, common to many races and cultures, and so it is not unusual to find it as a feature of Deep One folklore. Such stones are rare and are dependent upon fairly peculiar combinations of eroding forces and mineral types – their discovery is always thought to be a good omen.

When found in a reading, the Seven of Stones indicates ingenuity in an undertaking. It talks of growth and success in business and gratifying outcomes stemming from hard work. Upside-down, it betokens anxiety and impatience; rushed decisions and bad calls.

The Eight of Stones

The weathered rock has stood for a long time in the elements and, while some edginess has been pared away, the stone has found its place within the environment and will endure as a result.

This card tells of apprenticeship – a long process of conditioning leading to a fortunate outcome. In many ways it speaks of the power of the individual to progress in their chosen field. When inverted, it reveals vanity, conceit and a lack of ambition through disillusionment.

The Nine of Stones

The carved stone is a hallmark of the artisan’s skill. With such skills, the artist can prosper through his efforts and ensure his material security in the world.

The card embodies the notion of working towards security and safety. It speaks of foresight and forward-planning, prudence, and the ability to make the right judgement when required. Upside-down, it foretells a loss of security, dangers approaching, waste of resources and coming storms.

The Ten of Stones

The seam of gold is a happy discovery and a hallmark of coming prosperity. However, the gold does not simply shake itself from its bedrock: the seam must be worked, and this promise of occupation and productivity is its own reward. It is an assurance of success and a safe future.

When it shows up in a card spread, the seam indicates all of the best aspects of material wealth – safety and security; riches and comfort. When inverted, it signifies risk – a poor use of judgement; a bad tip; and untenable odds.

Yibb-Tstll – The Jack of Stones

Yibb-Tstll, also known as “Chuma” amongst some nomadic Saharan tribes, is the last of the three entities referred-to as the “Drowners”, after Bugg Shash and Nyogtha. As stated previously, it’s not known whether these beings are Great Old Ones in their own right or are perhaps some kind of symbiotic creatures – possibly parasitic – which derive some kind of benefit from association with those entities. Grimoire references, intercessory chants and ritual spells all link them inextricably to the major figures of the Deep One mythology, regardless of their purpose.

Yibb-Tstll is a major figure appearing in a rare work entitled the Cthaat Aquadingen and its related text, the Codex Dagonensis. It is linked to several retaliatory incantations designed to summon a toxic substance called “The Black” which, by inference, would seem to be Yibb-Tstll’s blood, a material considered to have an independent existence from its source. Some sources consider Yibb-Tstll to dwell only in dreams and this notion may hold some currency, considering the dream connections to Great Cthulhu.

When appearing in a card reading, Yibb-Tstll implies a need for study, deep reflection and concentration. This card stands for scholarship and a desire for learning and the new ideas which such effort engenders. The reverse meaning of this card is rebelliousness, the de-valuing of ideas. It stands for unrealistic thinking and the failure to recognise obvious facts. It heralds illogical thinking.

Ghatanothoa – The Knight of Stones

Ghatanathoa – sometimes called “Ghanta” – is the eldest child of Cthulhu spawned upon its first wife, Idh-Yaa. In the ancient – some would say mythical – kingdom of Mu, Ghatanothoa held primacy as the god of the main religion and its temples and priests were the wealthiest and most respected. Legends tells us that Ghatanathoa was brought to Earth by beings from an unknown planet named Yuggoth and installed beneath a mountain named Yaddith-Gho on Mu, from which locale it became an object of veneration. Details of what Ghatanothoa might look like are sketchy; in various texts it is only mentioned that it “is not good to look upon” with the implication that such an act might be deadly.

Ghatanothoa in a card reading indicates the presence of a steady and determined individual with the skills and dedication to see a task through to its conclusion. It stands for a methodical presence, imbued with perseverance, having the ability to see a task through to its conclusion. When upside-down, it speaks of limited vision; an adherence to dogma; stagnation and inertia; carelessness in completing tasks.

Idh-Yaa – The Queen of Stones

Idh-Yaa is conceived of as an enormous pale nematode-like creature hailing from a planet orbiting the distant (currently unidentified), double-star, Xoth. With Cthulhu, it produced Ghatanothoa, Zoth-Ommog, Ythogtha and Cthylla, but it is unknown whether it came to Earth with Cthulhu and its offspring, descending from the heavens as “cosmic pus”. References to Idh-Yaa are confined mainly to the Ponape Scriptures and some have interpreted its lack of prominence within Deep One worship as an indication that it is considered less of an entity and more of a generative principle.

When Idh-Yaa shows up in a card reading, it symbolises abundance and wealth, coupled with a sense of majesty and magnificence. It may indicate a highly accomplished moneyed person of great grace and dignity. When inverted, Idh-Yaa heralds a vicious and untrusting person; someone capable of great suspicion and vengeance. It may also betoken false prosperity suspense and a neglect of one’s responsibilities.

Cthulhu – The King of Stones

This avatar of the Great Old One Cthulhu is the one which is most often thought of. We have chosen to depict it as carved from green Chinese jade, as fitting for this suit of cards. The Kester Library set of cards is everything one would expect from this being.

The meaning of this card is loyalty and dependability. It signifies a person of great experience, a successful leader with business acumen, mathematical ability and high intelligence. When turned upside-down, it speaks of vice and corruption; the thought that the end justifies the means. It implies faithlessness.

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The Innsmouth Tarot is an inter-disciplinary production of the Miskatonic University, drawing on the talents of the faculty’s best minds in the fields of Anthropology, Folklore, English Literature and History. The team which researched, studied and produced the cards was headed by Dr. Rhonda Wilmarth, PhD.

The Innsmouth Tarot is being issued by The Miskatonic University Press in a single print run, comprising a deluxe version of only 100 copies presented in a gilt-decorated, white calf clamshell box, with a 96-page hardcover book of commentaries, interpretations, and a variety of divinatory spreads with which to practice. All 78 cards are printed on high quality, high-slip stock, edged in gilt. This deluxe version costs $150.

The standard version of The Innsmouth Tarot comprises 78 high-slip, gilt edged cards in a decorated cardboard mailer, including a pamphlet of card meanings and divinatory card spreads. The standard version of The Innsmouth Tarot costs $49.95.

The cards each display a unique ‘manta ray’ design on the verso.

Purchases can be made by contacting The Miskatonic University Press online and quoting your credit card number. Shipping charges are extra.

The Innsmouth Tarot – ISBN 0-85030-1718

The Innsmouth Tarot, Deluxe Version – ISBN 0-59527-3335