Playing cards or divinatory cards like the Tarot of Marseille, here, in Sainte-Suzanne, in Mayenne, the history of cards begins on the banks of the river.
The history of playing cards and the water mills of Sainte-Suzanne
In Sainte-Suzanne, in the Mayenne region, the history of playing cards is intertwined with that of watermills. No fewer than 22 mill wheels – for flour, tanning, fulling, or papermaking – turned on the Erve River from the late 17th to the early 19th century. These mills, several of which were operated by the Provost family, sustained a significant portion of local craftsmanship.
The medieval town of Sainte-Suzanne boasted four mills specializing in the production of high-quality paper. This expertise resonated particularly strongly during the French Revolution: in 1792, the National Convention abolished privileges, temporarily authorizing the manufacture of playing cards in towns previously excluded. It was in this context that Provost, a papermaker and owner of several mills, designed his own deck of cards. He had a wooden block engraved, the original of which is still preserved at the Musée de l'Auditoire in Sainte-Suzanne.
Why are there Marseille tarot cards in the streets of Sainte-Suzanne?
In Sainte-Suzanne, the cards representing the arcana of the Tarot of Marseille are not there by chance! They pay homage to the exceptional work of Jean-Claude Flornoy, a craftsman and enthusiast based next to the paper mill, along the Erve River below Sainte-Suzanne. He devoted his life to reviving ancient tarots, notably that of Jean Noblet – the oldest known Tarot of Marseille, engraved around 1650. Through meticulous restoration and reproduction, Mr. Flornoy has brought these cards, laden with symbols, back to life, true witnesses of medieval thought.
To celebrate this unique heritage, local businesses and residents wanted to display nine signs throughout the village , inspired by the 22 major arcana of the Noblet tarot. These illustrations, scattered throughout the streets of the medieval town, form a small artistic and symbolic trail, a nod to history, medieval imagination, and the spirit of Sainte-Suzanne.
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The Empress
“Intelligence becomes creation.”
The Empress embodies creation, active intelligence, and the word in action. Seated on her throne, scepter in hand and crown on her head, she radiates confidence. She symbolizes fertile thought, communication, and the ability to bring ideas to life. She is creative energy at the service of the world. Surrounded by symbols of fertility and sovereignty, she embodies a lively mind, a force of proposition, and a gentle yet firm power. She doesn't just dream: she organizes, she produces, she transmits. The Empress is a figure of growth, expression, and fertile momentum.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Creativity, project in the making, good ideas and ability to make them happen.
Reversed card: Lack of clarity, creative block, excess control or illusions.
The star
“Have faith, the light always returns.”
Under a peaceful sky, a woman pours water from two jugs: one onto the ground, the other into the water. The Star symbolizes gentleness, faith, and kindness. It is a card of light, hope, and inner guidance. It recalls the simple beauty of nature and trust in life. After hardships, the Star soothes and restores meaning to the path.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Hope, serenity, healing, inspiration, protection.
Reversed card: Doubt, discouragement, loss of bearings, lack of confidence.
Le Soleil
“Light illuminates what the heart already knew.”
Two children play under a bright, radiant sun. This card is one of joy, clarity, and sharing. It heralds simple happiness, success, and human warmth. The sun illuminates everything that was in shadow. It symbolizes love, truth, and renewed confidence. It is a card of fulfillment and vital energy.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Joy, success, sincere love, vitality, harmony.
Reversed card: Overconfidence, naivety, pride, disillusionment.
The High Priestess
"This is not the time to act, but to understand."
The High Priestess, mysterious and silent, represents hidden knowledge, deep intuition, and inner knowing. Seated on her throne, an open book on her knees, she watches over the secrets of the soul and the universe. She does not act, she observes, she knows. She is the guardian of the unspoken, of patience, of inner gestation. She embodies feminine wisdom, reflection, and the connection with the invisible. Her veil, her calm posture, and her detached gaze invite us to listen to our inner voice rather than act hastily. The High Priestess waits for the right moment, for she knows that all things mature in silence before revealing themselves.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Intuition, inner wisdom, patience, and deep knowledge. A time for reflection, calm, and listening to yourself.
Reversed card: Secrets, confusion, or withdrawal. Difficulty hearing your inner voice or trusting your feelings.
The Hermit
“Light comes from silence.”
The Hermit walks alone, lantern in hand, searching for truth in the darkness. He represents wisdom, prudence, and introspection. His light slowly illuminates the path, a sign that sometimes we must slow down to better understand. This is the card of perspective, inner reflection, and knowledge acquired through experience. The Hermit does not flee the world: he learns to detach himself from it in order to better understand it.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Reflection, maturity, inner guidance. Beneficial period of introspection.
Reversed card: Isolation, fatigue, inner blockage, fear of change.
The House of God
“What falls frees what must grow.”
A tower collapses, struck by lightning. Two figures fall, but from this rupture springs light. The House of God symbolizes sudden upheavals, revelations, and truths that burst forth. What collapses is often what was meant to change. This card invites us to welcome unexpected transformations as liberations. After the storm, a new balance can emerge, stronger and truer.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Revelation, liberation, awakening, sudden but salutary change.
Reversed card: Shock, loss of bearings, crisis badly experienced, resistance to change.
La justice
“The truth restores balance.”
Justice embodies truth, balance, and responsibility. Sitting on her throne, sword in one hand and scales in the other, she symbolizes moral clarity and lucidity. She reminds us that every action has its consequences and that inner honesty always guides us toward balance. This card encourages us to make the right decision, to be honest, and to see things as they are, without being influenced by emotions. It teaches rigor and righteousness.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Justice served, clear decision, balance restored. Good handling of a delicate situation.
Reversed card: Injustice, imbalance, doubt, hasty or misguided judgment.
The hanged man
“Seeing differently is already moving forward.”
The Hanged Man, suspended upside down, appears imprisoned, but his face is peaceful. He symbolizes letting go, the pause needed to see things differently. Paradoxically, his stillness becomes a form of inner freedom. This card invites us to accept periods of waiting and to understand that a reversal of perspective can illuminate everything. It teaches patience, faith, and silent transformation.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: Pause, introspection, change of perspective, acceptance.
Reversed card: Blockage, useless sacrifice, stagnation, refusal of change.
The fool
“It’s all there. You just have to start.”
The Magician, also known as The Juggler , is the very first card of the tarot. He marks the beginning of the journey, the first step into life and action. A young, energetic figure, he stands before a wobbly three-legged table, a sign of a still fragile balance, as at the beginning of all things. Around him are dice, cups, a knife, a wand… These objects represent the talents, tools, and possibilities just waiting to emerge. He is at once creator, apprentice, and experimenter. His hat, shaped like a lemniscate (∞), symbolizes the infinity of possibilities. In one hand, he holds a wand, a sign of intuition and transformation; in the other, an acorn, a symbol of potential wisdom and growth. The Magician looks to the left, toward the past, as if he were preserving the memory of a spiritual world he has just left. He is incarnating for the first time, ready to shape his destiny in the material world.
✨ Meaning in a draw
Upright card: New beginnings, creativity, raw potential. Fresh ideas and promising first steps.
Reversed card: Illusion, hesitation, dispersion. Risk of hasty or ill-founded decisions.
