A faithful reproduction of the traditional Tarot 

based on the standard deck printed by
NICHOLAS CONVER, 1760
restored and adapted by
YOAV BEN-DOV, 2010

This booklet is intended to serve as a quick reference for reading the CBD Tarot de Marseille cards. It is based on the book "Tarot - the Open Reading" by Yoav Ben-Dov.
Some parts of the book, additional materials to read and download, updates, and information about the book and the cards appear at the website:
www.cbdtarot.com

Table of Contents

Opening the Deck
Tarot de Marseille
CBD Tarot de Marseille
The Deck Structure
Identifying the Cards
Shuffling the Deck
Reading the Cards
Minor Suit Domains
Aces and Court Cards
Quick Interpretations:
Major Suit
Coins
Cups
Wands
Swords
The Blank Card

Opening the Deck
When first opening the inner wrapping of the cards, it is recommended not to do it carelessly, but in a serene and calm setting and in a focused mind set.
To create a first encounter with a clear view of the various card types, the initial ordering of the cards in the CBD deck is different than the usual. Before shuffling the deck, you are invited to go over all the cards in the original order.
If you are going to use the cards for actual reading, a common practice is to take them out of the original mass-produced tuckbox, and keep them in a cloth wrapping, a bag and/or a box of your own choice. 

Tarot de Marseille
According to current historical research, Tarot cards originated in northern Italy around the 14th century. In the 17th-18th centuries card makers in France, and particularly in the city of Marseille, adopted a common model for the Tarot cards. This model, which evolved directly from the earliest Tarot decks, became the standard of the traditional Tarot. Widely known as the "Tarot de Marseille", it served as a basis for mystical interpretations of the Tarot symbols, and as the original inspiration for new decks which became popular during the 20th century.

CBD Tarot de Marseille
Among the different Tarot decks printed in Marseille, the one which became most influential and best appreciated was published in 1760 by Nicholas Conver. The CBD Tarot de Marseille (Conver - Ben Dov) was restored from copies of several printings of the Conver deck. The lines were copied on paper by the illustrator Leela Ganin using an ink nib. The drawing were scanned, cleaned, titled and colored by the graphic designer Nir Matarasso. Then I (YB) re-shaped the lines and colored areas, comparing them with scans of the original cards. The cards were finally printed in 2011 by Cartamundi in Turnhout, Belgium.

The Deck Structure
A deck of Tarot cards contains 78 cards. These can be divided into two parts. The first part is called the major suit. It consists of 22 cards with elaborate illustrations. The major suit cards are numbered consecutively, and have a specific name for each one. 
The remaining 56 cards are further divided into four suits. These are called the minor suits, and have a simpler design than the 22 majors. Each minor suit consists of 14 cards: one ace card, nine number cards (numbered 2 to 10), and four court cards: page, knight, queen and king.

Identifying the Cards
To identify the different cards, you can either look at their images on the cbdtarot.com website, or use the following guidelines:
Major suit: The illustrations are rich in symbolic detail. Each card carries a title and a Roman numeral (in long notation, so that 9 is VIIII and not IX). Two exceptions are card number 13 with no title, and The Fool card with no number. English names for the major suit cards are listed in the quick interpretations section.
Minor suits: Each minor suit is linked with a symbolic object which appears on all its cards. The objects are: coins, wands, cups, and swords.
The coins are depicted as decorated circles. The cups are goblets with hexagonal bases. The coins and the cups are colored yellow with small areas in red.
The wands are depicted either as green clubs, or as straight rods. The swords  are either regular (straight) swords with red or light blue blades, or rounded arches. 
The rod-shaped wands and the rounded swords appear only in the number cards. They are shown  as narrow stripes in red, light blue and black, with blades at both tips. The wands stripes are straight and cross over at the middle of the card. The swords stripes are rounded and cross over at two points – at the top of the card and at the bottom. 
The ace card of each minor suit shows a big and detailed image of the suit symbol, with no title or number.
The four court cards carry titles identifying their ranks: a page (titled VALET), a knight (CAVALIER), a queen (REYNE), and a king (ROY). The titles also indicate the suit: coins (DENIERS), wands (BATON), cups (COUPE), swords (EPEE).
Each number card shows the corresponding number of suit symbol icons, geometrically arranged and usually with floral decorations around. The number cards of three suits, excepting the Coins, also have their numbers written on both sides.

Shuffling the Deck
Each reader has his own favorite way of shuffling, and no single way fits all. My way of doing it is to take the cards out of their box, and to shuffle them gently face-down while I listen to the querent’s story. Then I hand the cards to the querent, still face-down, and ask him to shuffle the cards himself. Once this is done, the querent returns the cards to me still face-down. One by one I take the first cards from the back of the deck (that is, from the top side of the face-down pack), and arrange them on the table in the spread layout.

Reading the Cards
For almost all the types of queries, you can use a basic spread of three cards out of the 22 of the major suit. After shuffling the deck, the three cards are laid down in a row from left to right, and then read as a story which usually advances in this direction.
At a later stage, when you get to know them better, you may want to add the minor suit cards. This can be done gradually: first the aces, then the court cards, and finally the number cards which are the most challenging to study in detail.
To use the minor cards in a reading, you can extend the basic spread to a row with 7 cards, again from left to right. 
An alternative method is to use the minor cards as a background layer for the basic 3-card spread. To do this, you start with the first (left) position and pile the minor cards on top of each other as they appear out of the shuffled deck. You go on covering each card with the next one until a major card shows up. Then you pass to the second (center) position and do the same, and then to the third (right) position. Finally, you see 3 major cards that you read as a basic spread. Under each one of these major cards there is a pile of minor cards. These are read as background or additional information for the major card which covers them.

Minor Suit Domains
Each minor suit has its own specific character and domain of action. When cards of a specific suit appear in a reading, they can represent either an issue arising in its corresponding domain, or an attitude typical of its character.
Coins: body
Material and physical, practical and conservative.
Wands: desire
Passionate, outgoing, energetic, creative, conflictive.
Cups: Emotion
Sentimental, romantic, social, spiritual.
Swords: Intellect
Rational and verbal, decisive, aggressive.

Aces and Court Cards
An ace card expresses the beginning of a process or a new initiative. Also, an attitude or a significant factor expressing the character of the suit. 
A page can represent a person acting in a new and unknown field, or irresponsibility and immaturity.
A knight can symbolize a person advancing towards a goal, or being in service.
A queen can express achievements and realization, solidness and stability, conservatism and defensiveness.
A king can express power and control, a phase of maturity and experience, and readiness to move in a new direction.

Quick Interpretations
The following list of interpretations may be helpful as a quick reference in reading. If nothing comes to mind when you look at the card, you can use it as a starting point. But it should not limit you from finding your own meanings by looking at the card illustrations and interpreting them as a symbolic story.
To use inverse meanings, you should turn some of the cards around while shuffling them.  Many readers prefer to ignore card inversion. In such a case the “inverse” interpretations can be regarded as negative aspects of the cards, and integrated with the positive aspects. 

The Major Suit
Card 1 (I) LE BATELEUR – The Magician: The start of something. Beginner’s luck. Having various tools and means at our disposal. Use of supernatural forces. Creating reality with mind power. Training and acquisition of practical skills. Improvisation. Display or show for other people. 
Message: create a new reality.
Inverse: Trickery, sleight of hand, cheating. Showing off, pretending. Lack of self-awareness about body, sexuality, or basic motives. Near miss due to inexperience or inaccuracy.

Card 2 (II) LA PAPESSE – The Popess: Wisdom combining intellect and intuition. A spiritual mother. A woman hiding her strengths in a world of men. Modesty. Secrets, something hidden, mystery. Getting a hint of something which remains largely unknown. Impossible to give a definite answer now. 
Message: know how to set boundaries.
Inverse: Need to hide our true nature behind the conventions of normal society. Conservative approach to sex and the body. Emotional blockage.

Card 3 (III) L’IMPERATRICE – The Empress: Abundance, growth, productivity. Natural or human touch within an artificial framework. Emotional intelligence. Protection and care. Motherhood. A powerful female figure. Strong feminine identity. 
Message: act from the guts.
Inverse: Impulsive behavior, someone difficult to reason with. Over-protectiveness, excessive involvement in the life of others. Problems with a strong mother figure.

Card 4 (IIII) L’EMPEREUR – The Emperor: Practical and material achievements. Matters relating to the workplace or source of income. Authority and control, a commanding position. A protective father figure, patron or sponsor. Assertiveness. Military affairs. 
Message: show leadership and responsibility.
Inverse: Belligerence, violence, trying to solve things by brute force. Dictatorship. Possibility of sexual abuse. Difficulty in coping with a dominant father figure. Denial and hiding of inner weaknesses.

Card 5 (V) LE PAPE – The Pope: Teacher, instructor, or counselor. Education and knowledge, academic expertise. Organized religion, conventional medicine or psychology. Spiritual father. Consultation or treatment by a specialist. Marriage.
Message: respect knowledge and education.
Inverse: Excessive adhesion to conventions and outdated norms. Bureaucracy, an oppressive establishment. Hypocrisy, discrimination. Divorce.

Card 6 (VI) L’AMOVREVX – The Lover: Love, amorous relationship. Emotional entanglement. Need to make a choice, or to disengage oneself from past influences. Inclinations of the heart correspond to the will of heaven. Small steps actually taken are the visible signs of inner desire. 
Message: follow the path of the heart.
Inverse: Complex relationship between several people, e.g., a romantic triangle or a tension between mother and wife. Hesitation, quandary. Confusion as to one’s own feeling and will.

Card 7 (VII) LE CHARIOT – The Chariot: Victory or an achievement putting the querent in a strong and protected position. Ambition, energy, motivation to move forward. Public honor. Power and high status.
Message: dare and win.
Inverse: Inner weakness hidden behind external show-off. Arrogance, vanity. Over-protectiveness, emotional closure. Confusion about one’s goals. Losing the simple touch with people and reality.

Card 8 (VIII) LA JUSTICE – Justice: Law and order, legal and court issues. A fair and balanced judgment. A developed conscience. Rationality, reasoning by clear rules and common norms. Touch of grace and humanity beyond the objective considerations.
Message: act with reason and by the accepted norms.
Inverse: Petty accountability, a critical and judgmental attitude, guilt feelings. Repressive control of self and of others. Negative ideas blocking change and advance.

Card 9 (VIIII) L’HERMITE – The Hermit: A quest for truth or for spiritual understanding. Concentrating on a clear purpose. Caution, careful examination. Self-privation for the sake of a meaningful cause. Loyalty to principles, strong faith.
Message: look for the essence of things.
Inverse: A closed and reclusive attitude. Isolation, loneliness. Fixed ideas. Excessive caution and suspicion, a critical approach looking for defects. Hidden and denied desires.

Card 10 (X) L’A ROVE DE FORTVNE – The Wheel of Fortune: Change in circumstances and position. A rise after a fall. Gambling, putting faith in capricious luck. Life cycles, closure of circles. Adapting to the routine of everyday life. A hint to previous incarnations.
Message: accept life’s ups and downs.
Inverse: A decline after a period of rising. Danger lurks at the summit. Moving in a closed circle. Capricious mood changes. Feeling powerless to affect one’s situation.

Card 11 (XI) LA FORCE – The Force: Power and courage to face challenges. Controlled expression of creative urges, drives and desires. Mobilization of inner resources towards a common goal. Taking risks.
Message: take control of yourself.
Inverse: Need to keep things under control leads to constant tensions. A risk of losing one’s grip. Internal conflicts and unrealistic assessment of one’s own forces may lead to failure.

Card 12 (XII) LE PENDU – The Hanged Man: Seeing things from a unique point of view. Enduring difficulties for a worthy cause. A period of deep self examination. Passivity, acceptance of reality even if it is the opposite of what one expects.
Message: look at things from the opposite perspective.
Inverse: Isolation. Emotional stance of a victim. Inability to act. Denying one’s own unique qualities, striving to be “normal” at all costs. Living in one’s private and imaginary reality.

Card 13 (XIII) (untitled): The end of something whose time has come. Cutting off past influences or attachment to dominant figures. Giving up the superfluous and keeping only the essential. Disintegration of the old makes room for the new.
Message: give up what is over.
Inverse: Difficulty in coping with loss or change. Temporary difficulties, a trying challenge. Disintegration. Realization of a painful truth. Does not predict future death, but may reflect anxiety about dying or mourning over a loss which has already happened.

Card 14 (XIIII) TEMPER-ANCE – Temperance: Reconciliation, compromise, relaxation of tensions. Integration of opposites. Ability to do the seemingly impossible. A slow process of distillation and improvement. Patience, perseverance. Self-improvement.
Message: find the golden mean.
Inverse: Going back and forth without making real progress. Losing patience with a lengthy process. Emotional preoccupation with oneself, pushing away others who might come to help.

Card 15 (XV) LE DIABLE – The Devil: A burst of creativity. Paradoxes and contradictions. Irony and mocking of common norms. Acting from desires, passions and impulses. Moving on from a past family trauma.
Message: express passion and desire.
Inverse: Temptation, attraction to the dark and forbidden. Exploitation, egotism, domination. Compulsive self-gratification. Senseless behavior has its price. Difficulty in detaching oneself from an unhealthy bond.
Card 16 (XVI) LA MAISON DIEV  – The Tower: Breaking up of solid structures. Getting free from confinement. Sudden breakthrough after long preparations. Sparkling sexual encounter. Success lies in simplicity and modesty.
Message: return to the solid ground of reality.
Inverse: Shock, collapse of projects or trusted structures. A fall from an apparently solid and secure position. Chaos, confusion, difficulty in understanding what is going on. Vanity and pride lead to failure.

Card 17 (XVII) LETOILLE – The Star: Openness, simplicity, return to nature. Purity, honesty. Showing yourself “as you are,” accepting one’s body and desires. Generosity. Luck from heaven. Intuitive feeling of guidance or energy coming from a higher plane.
Message: flow from a pure source.
Inverse: Naive optimism and wishful-thinking. Exposing oneself to danger or abuse. Difficulty in setting proper boundaries. Squandering, wastefulness.

Card 18 (XVIII) LA LUNE – The Moon: Deep emotions, perhaps related to a mother or feminine figure. A different experience of reality. Longing for the unreachable. Finding one’s hidden strengths. Occupation with the remote past. A hidden treasure.
Message: don’t be afraid to go deep down.
Inverse: Vague and disturbing feelings. Emotional difficulties, a period of depression. Danger lurking under the surface. Retreat, the road ahead is hard to find.

Card 19 (XVIIII) LE SOLEIL – The Sun: Light and warmth, abundance, blessings. Pleasant feeling, emotional or physical healing. Partnership, trust, sharing, brotherhood. Human touch. An ideal father figure. Matters relating to children. Setting limits in a moderate and non-oppressive way.
Message: find suitable partners.
Inverse: Living in a limited space, difficulty to face reality “in the open.” Immaturity, dependence on others. Someone or something too intense and energetic to feel comfortable with. An absent father.

Card 20 (XX) LE JUGEMENT – Judgment: Revelation, enlightenment, a new understanding. A turning point in a therapy process. Healing of a family relationship. Disclosure, secrets revealed, publicity. Birth of a baby or of a new thing.
Message: awaken to spiritual reality.
Inverse: Revelation of something that should have been kept hidden. Lack of privacy. Unpleasant realization. Problems related to child-parent relations. Too much noise and drama.
Card 21 (XXI) LE MONDE – The World: Completion of a process. Balanced activity and achievements in various domains. Contact with far places. Harmony and correspondence between different planes. Pregnancy, something new is about to be born. The Dance of Life.
Message: everything is perfect as it is.
Inverse: Life in a bubble, difficulty in sharing your world with others. Disconnection of inner feelings from external life. Preoccupation with oneself, idealized self-image, inability to move forward.

The Fool (unnumbered) LE MAT: Freedom from conventions and norms. Something or someone unique and exceptional. Options kept open. Giving up control, spontaneity. Uncertainty, attention to the here and now. Going on a trip.
Message: keep on the move.
Inverse: Difficulty in choosing and committing oneself to something stable. Restlessness. Lack of purpose. Getting lost. Foolish behavior. Eccentricity, lack of acceptance by the social environment. Difficulty in planning ahead. 

Coins
Ace of Coins: A good start in material things. Financial and physical stability. A practical perspective. A significant sum of money. Utilitarian approach. Greed. Something basic and unsophisticated.
Inverse: similar.

2 of Coins: Duality. Two options or two elements. Collaborating while keeping distance. A winding road, advancing in complex ways. Recognition and acknowledgment.
Inverse: similar.

3 of Coins: Product. A partnership or an alliance bears fruit. First results of a project. Good prospects.
Inverse: Disappointment, a partnership or a project does not bear the expected fruits.

4 of Coins: Stability. Solid material assets. Tradition, reputation and honor. Time-tested reliability. Established social institutions.
Inverse: Conservatism, clinging to old and outdated patterns.

5 of Coins: Disruption. Something new appears and destabilizes existing structures. A new element gets attention, but also awakens resistance.
Inverse: similar.

6 of Coins: Expansion. Abundance of resources and possible ways to advance. A positive outlook, success. A good balance between stability and movement.
Inverse: similar.

7 of Coins: Acceptance. Something new is well received. Help and protection. Integrating into a system without losing one’s individuality.
Inverse: Lack of independence, need to rely on help and acceptance from others.

8 of Coins: Uniformity. A mechanical structure. Practical considerations prove efficient, but lack a human touch. Routine work. A slow and patient advance.
Inverse: similar.

9 of Coins: Motivation. Carving a niche for oneself in an existing system. Ambition. Endurance and independent thinking bear long-term fruits.
Inverse: similar.

10 of Coins: Abundance. Intensive activity in practical affairs. Material success and achievements. Some may be getting more than others.
Inverse: similar.

Page of Coins: A practical endeavor. Untapped potentials are within reach. Tangible success at the beginning. A solid material base for further advancement.
Inverse: hesitation, lack of clear purpose. Thinking in terms of past achievements misses present opportunities.

Knight of Coins: Advancement in a practical direction. A productive expression of creativity. A clear goal in sight.
Inverse: Constant pursuit of money, without reaching material stability. Passions and desires may interfere with practical plans.

Queen of Coins: Tangible assets, material and personal stability, a sober and realistic vision. Looking at things from a practical and pragmatic perspective.
Inverse: Conservatism, resistance to change, aiming only to preserve the existing assets. Looking at things only from the material perspective.

King of Coins: Confidence and security, a cautious but optimistic vision. Looking for new achievements while holding existing assets secure.
Inverse: Dissatisfaction with what one already has. Disregard of the good things in the present situation. A limited outlook.

Cups
Ace of Cups: The beginning of a love relationship. Expression of warm feelings. Romantic longing for something extraordinary. Emotional and spiritual growth.
Inverse: Emotional dryness, feeling oneself empty. Avoidance of intimacy, negative feelings, heartbreak.

2 of Cups: Partnership. A romantic relationship or a close personal alliance. Interpersonal dynamics based on social norms. Passion in a love relationship, which may turn against itself.
Inverse: A crisis in a couple relationship, disappointment with someone close to you.

3 of Cups: Birth. Something new brings joy and happiness. Caring for a child. Issues of child-parent relations. A common project motivated by feelings and not only by interests.
Inverse: Problems in relations with one’s parents, or with one’s child. A strong alliance of two persons leaves a third one outside.

4 of Cups: Family. A collective of people (family, community etc.) with a history and a sense of belonging. Commitment to a group, at the price of giving up personal interests.
Inverse: Problems and discord in the family or in a long-lasting community. A fixed social structure which doesn’t allow for adaptation or flexibility.
5 of Cups: Links. Popularity, relations with many people. Becoming the center of attention in a group. Relying on connections with other people to advance oneself or to overcome difficulties.
Inverse: Excessive preoccupation with social activity. Losing oneself in multiple superficial connections. Cultivating virtual instead of real contacts.

6 of Cups: Continuity. A long-term relationship. Repetition between different generations in the family. A stable personal alliance.
Inverse: Monotony, tedious repetition. Falling time and again into the same emotional traps.

7 of Cups: Individuality. A single person finding his place in a group. Contact with people in high positions. Exceptional qualities are appreciated.
Inverse: Problems of integration in a group or an organization. Being part of a collective, but feeling isolated and estranged.

8 of Cups: Involvement. Developing personal relationships within a group. A favorable human-relations environment. A feast or a family event.
Inverse: Interference of the environment in a couple’s relationships. Pressures from one’s family in romantic or personal matters.

9 of Cups: Collectivity. A group or organization working harmoniously with everyone finding his proper place. Accepting one’s role in a social environment. Happiness, wishes coming true.
Inverse: A confusing social situation, difficulty in situating oneself within a complex environment.

10 of Cups: Leadership. A person with special qualities receives appreciation and high status. Assuming responsibility for others. Maintaining a superior position.
Inverse: A fallen leader, loss of popularity. Disappointment because of ingratitude by people one has helped.

Page of Cups: First and unsure steps in a romantic endeavor. Shyness. Sincere intentions. Trying to figure out one’s feelings.
Inverse: Over-absorption in one’s personal feelings, losing contact with others. Sloppiness in practical affairs.

Knight of Cups: A romantic gesture, offering one’s heart, courting. Openness, sincerity, a simple heart. A potential lover may appear.
Inverse: Superficial and unstable feelings. An over-optimistic but unrealistic attitude. An overt display of shallow or insincere feelings. 

Queen of Cups: A rich inner world which is kept hidden. Guarding one’s privacy or valuable assets. Strong feelings held under control.
Inverse: Closure, defensiveness. Distrust of others due to negative past experiences. Hiding one’s emotions under guise of rational criticism.

King of Cups: Emotional maturity, optimism, ability to overcome past injuries and look ahead. Openness to new things, but with prudence and caution. Closing one’s ear to voices from the past.
Inverse: Difficulty in overcoming an emotional blow. A pessimistic outlook caused by negative past experiences. 

Wands
Ace of Wands: Creative momentum. Active sexuality. Strong impulses, energy and drive. Life force. Beginning of growth. Dispersing one’s efforts in different directions.
Inverse: Lack of energy, restriction, repressed sexuality, a creative block.

2 of Wands: Crossroads. Several options or ways to choose from. Every course offers benefits. A brief encounter with someone going his own way. Blocking an opponent’s line of advance.
Inverse: similar.

3 of Wands: Direction. Moving forward after a moment of hesitation. Finding a middle path between two courses of action. Gaining an advantage by keeping neutrality between two conflicting sides.
Inverse: similar.

4 of Wands: Stalemate. A temporary stop in order to prepare for future advancement. Tensions at present, but good prospects in the long run. Making a move now is in nobody’s interest.
Inverse: similar.

5 of Wands: Overcoming. Getting over a weak opposition. Breakdown of an equilibrium. Focusing on the main objective. An initiative to make a winning move.
Inverse: With the covering part of the central wand below – walking into a complex situation, losing one’s edge.

6 of Wands: Collaboration. A strong alliance between two parties with different goals but common present interests. A taste for luxury made possible by favorable conditions.
Inverse: With the decorated flower at the bottom – excessive pursuit of luxury. Need to break up an alliance of opponents.
7 of Wands: Struggle. Someone putting up a fight against many opponents. Obstinacy, endurance, keeping one’s position in a conflict situation. A difficult combat with an uncertain outcome.
Inverse: similar.

8 of Wands: Regulation. It is possible to advance only by following the rules. Occupation with short-term goals while losing the long-term perspective. A roadblock.
Inverse: similar.

9 of Wands: Interruption. Difficulties and oppositions too hard to overcome. Giving up one’s projects to avoid conflict. Starting anew after a challenging period.
Inverse: similar.

10 of Wands: Loyalty. A partnership or an alliance endures hardships and succeeds in getting over them. Pure intentions and perseverance lead to success. Honoring one’s principles in spite of difficulties.
Inverse: similar. 

Page of Wands: A creative potential which still needs processing. Keeping a safe distance from events and waiting for the right moment.
Inverse: A task too heavy for the querent’s strength. Difficulty in controlling desires and urges. Immature approach to sexuality.

Knight of Wands: A change of direction, following one’s urges and passions. A temporary stop, but there is still energy and a desire to advance.
Inverse: Preoccupation with the satisfaction of one’s own desires. Problem in defining long-term goals. Submitting to temptation.

Queen of Wands: A feminine figure with a strong personality. Things connected with food and eating. Speaking softly while holding a big stick. A secure, well-defended position.
Inverse: Intimidation, menace. Using sexuality as a means of control. Problems with a strong mother figure. Fear of feminine power.

King of Wands: A mature attitude to urges and desires. Controlled creativity. Prodding oneself to make a move forward. Investing present assets in future projects.
Inverse: Plans to move forward are frustrated by self-defeating acts. Hesitation, conflicts, tendency to make things too heavy and complex.

Swords
Ace of Swords: A planned initiative. Rational and logical thinking, sharpness of mind. A conclusive decision. Readiness to fight. Ambition, competitiveness. A victory with stable achievements.
Inverse: Negative and unproductive thoughts. Misconceptions, delusions. Self-defeat. Injury.

2 of Swords: Boundaries. Limits that protect and define something which is in development. Making full use of the present situation. Preparations for future advancement. A clear view encompassing the overall situation.
Inverse: similar.

3 of Swords: Victory. Overcoming a weak opposition. Cutting through a quandary and going forward in a clear direction. A third party intervenes and wins over two weakened opponents.
Inverse: A failure, defeat from a weaker opponent. An unsuccessful attempt to make a decisive move.

4 of Swords: Restriction. A limited space for development and maneuver. Trying to push against constraints. Potentials to grow once the present limitations become less solid.
Inverse: Confinement and blocking, lack of motivation or energy to break out of a limited situation.
5 of Swords: Breakthrough. A forward thrust overcoming the existing limits. Keeping up spirits in a tight situation. Doing things in one’s own way.
Inverse: A failed initiative to change the situation. Stubbornness leading nowhere. Oppressing factors cannot be removed now.

6 of Swords: Adaptation. Accepting limitations and adapting oneself to them. Respecting the present order. Compromising in order to make the best of the existing situation.
Inverse: Resignation, surrender, giving up the ambition to change things for the better. Lack of fighting spirit.

7 of Swords: Sharpness. A focused and determined attitude. Concentrating on a clear goal and doing what it takes to reach it. Winning a fight with the odds evenly balanced.
Inverse: A narrow and over-concentrated vision. Investing one’s efforts and resources in a lost cause.

8 of Swords: Defenses. Putting up shields and blocks. Psychological defense mechanisms. A need to be in total control. A well-guarded treasure. Entering another’s domain with permission.
Inverse: similar.

9 of Swords: Courage. Winning a fight against a superior force. Pure intentions. Putting imperfect means to good use.
Inverse: Losing against a stronger opponent. Sloppiness, imperfect preparations for a challenge.

10 of Swords: Exhaustion. A complex situation with many conflicting interests. A long battle without a clear outcome. Need to find an ally who will attack the problem from a different direction.
Inverse: Immobility. Impossible to move now. Feeling attacked from different sides. A painful and humiliating defeat.

Page of Swords: Preparation for a future challenge. Looking for a compromise between reason and strong desires. Hesitating to use one’s power.
Inverse: Confusion, negative and inhibiting thoughts, self-defeat. Sloppy use of one’s own tools may cause damage.

Knight of Swords: Energy and resources to advance, still looking for the right direction. Hovering above practical constraints. Determination and perseverance.
Inverse: Trying to force one’s misguided views, insisting on a wrong direction. Losing touch with the ground.

Queen of Swords: A secure and protected position. Defending one’s territory. Preparation of something that shouldn’t be exposed yet.
Inverse: Defensiveness and rigidity. Suspicion and fixed ideas block advancement and preclude new connections.

King of Swords: A determination to break from the past, a strong will. Feeling equipped to deal with uncertainty. Wisdom and intellectual maturity.
Inverse: A divided heart, a need to cut off from something to which one is still attached. Over-calculating in a vain attempt to overcome uncertainty. 

The Blank Card
Besides the "logo" card with the deck details, the CBD Tarot de Marseille deck contains an extra "blank frame" card. It is not a part of the traditional deck, and you can experience and invent your own way of using it. Some suggestions:
Separated from the deck, the blank card can be used as an object for concentration and focusing, both before and after the reading. 
Shuffled together with the deck, if the blank card appears in the reading it can signify that you are given a "carte blanche" - everything is open and possible. In this case you can also try to cover it with another card that you choose deliberately.

Dr. Yoav Ben-Dov
www.cbdtarot.com

c 2013 By Yoav Ben-Dov, some rights reserved

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