Greetings Please Read

My name is Philip Lee-Dixon

I hold a doctorate in Religious Philosophy at the ULC, Modesto California. I have been reading tarot cards for about 35 years.

Through a gamer friend of mine I found the Dishonored Tarot Deck. Widely regarded as a novelty deck with no spiritual or divinitory meanings these were dispensed as a promotional tool for a video game called Dishonored, released in 2013 by Arkane Studios .  Because the deck does not follow the standard illustrations or style of the time honored deck(s) their use in tarot reading has been chided , mocked or ignored. I see no reason why these cards cannot be used in tarot reading. In fact they bring many variants not found in standard decks.

At this time I have found only one web site which contains any definitions or explanations . I invite you to read over the material at the wiki and familiarize yourself with the interpretation's listed there. I agree with some of their alignments and disagree with others.

Herein I will share my own thoughts and feelings concerning divination with these cards and how they might be used by serious readers.

I am not now nor have I ever been a gamer. But I know plenty of them, that's how I found the deck.
It should be noted that I have not played the game. Nor do I wish to at this time. I know nothing of these characters as they play out in the video game Dishonored.  It is my intention to simply interpret and assign  possible meanings to these cards based on the cards as they stand.

Tarot readings are powerful and persistent tools for divination. There are many ways to use these. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of books and websites which teach the art of tarot readings.  I use the Celtic Cross for full reading and a three card draw for simple questions. I have included no information on "How to read tarot" as there is nothing I can add to the material already out there- except to say practice. Painting, piano playing and card reading all require practice to become a maestro .

I strongly recommend Biddy Tarot for serious students. For those who want a quick demonstration of various spreads please try Facade.


I am presently disabling comments however you are free to email me with any thoughts, which I will publish with your permission. .


Thanks!


Philip Dixon-Lee

The Lesser Arcana

The standard tarot deck contains 56 members of the lesser arcana, each with a detailed illustration which is interpreted in a variety of ways depending on the position in the spread, the observation of the reader and the question at hand. The Dishonored Deck contains little to no symbolism in the lesser arcana. The hierarchy (Kings, Queens, Jacks and Commoners) all contain a portrait which corresponds to that card. The numerical cards, unlike the standard deck, contain no illustrations. To this end, below I have detailed by interpretations of the portraits in the hierarchy and some possible meanings. For the numericals cards I have relied on the interpretations gained from my experience and from standard , time honored interpretations which can be found in hundreds of books and dozens of websites. It must be noted that the Dishonored deck contains no numerical inversions. The standard deck relies on inverted or upright positioning to properly ascertain a divination. Since these cards are symmetrical there is no inverted meaning.I suggest that beginners learn from The Biddy Tarot website . I have found the systems and interpretations taught on this site and through many courses to be accurate and very "learnable".

The Suite of Swords

Military, uniformity, logic, reason, conformity, aggression, power, a show of force.

King of Swords. A nobleman with his hand hidden suggestion a Napoleonic pose, or perhaps a hidden agenda or weapon.  A card suggesting intellectual authority and logical, just prowess. The King of Swords demands detachment from emotional congress and rely strictly on procedure and logic. The King looks to the present.

Queen of Swords. A nobelwoman of Character looks to the past. Judgment is called for with emotion , look to the past for clues as to mistakes which might be made in the future or answers which can be used. Learn from previous mistakes or successes.

Jack of Swords. A servant of nobility. The Jack hides something behind her back. She watches those around her and holds great secrets. Something is being hidden. A person of lesser stature knows more than they let on.

Commoner of Swords. A middle class man. A messenger. News is forth coming. Probably not of a desirable nature.

One of swords. Raw power, victory, a solitary source of glory. Power and honor.

Deuce  of sword. Impossible task, blind ambition, one who cannot decide.

Three of swords. Heartache, despair. (Also- Science and things of great logic)

Four of sword.  Rest, contemplation, an end to struggles.

Five of swords. Aggression, anger, a great battle fought alone. Possibly victorious.

Six of swords. Travel is indicated. A serious change of life.

Seven of swords, Theft, betrayal, loss.

Eight of swords. A futile struggle. Isolation.

Nine of swords. Sleepless nights, worry, frustration

Ten of swords. Stabbed in the back and left to die. (one of the worst cards in the lesser arcana)

The Suite of Rats

Very different from the aligned standard Suite of Coins or Pentacles. The standard deck divination calls for interpretations dealing with money or material gain. Rats and Coins are very different. Rats live in colonies and share food. Rats help each other survive. Rats steal from other species.The suite of Rats deserves special interpretations which are different from the standard deck. The Rats are more about community, team, family and the well being of these structures than strict material gain and my interpretations are along those lines. It must be noted that starving rats will kill and eat a select member of their pack.

The Rat King. A man of power who looks clearly and distinctly at the present. He weighs the situation and measures it by the only standard he knows, that which is good for his people.

The Rat Queen. The queen of rats is blind, her eyes are closed. Like any rat she probably relies on her sense of smell and hearing to guide her. Her intuition is fierce, reliable and is used for the protection of her nest.  Heed any warning she might have. Chances are danger is afoot.

The Jack of Rats. A domestic of the Rat empire. She tends the needs of other rats. She looks to the present and does what is necessary to maintain her associates.

The Commoner of Rats. Looking to the future the Commoner keeps his arms folded. He is a follower. His intentions while valid and good, seldom lead to greater things above that of a common rat life.

One of Rats. The starts of a new relationship, project, community, religion/church, business. A new group coming together

Deuce of Rats. The balance of a relationship or partnership. One rat balances another rat.

Three of Rats: Teamwork.

Four of  Rats. Stability of the colony.

Five of Rats,  A rat which does not belong, one which is about to be eaten, A colony out of balance.

Six of Rats. Sharing of the feast, the common good.

Seven of Rats: Vigilance. One rat must guard the pack. Keep an eye out for predators or traps.

Eight of Rats: Knowledge of the working structure of the colony is to be learned. One who has attained this understanding.

Nine of Rats. A time of peace for the colony and prosperity.

Ten of Rats: The colony is established and is now ready to expand or to create another colony.

The Suite of Skulls

The Skull is the "Cups" of the Dishonored deck, an odd alignment at best but when we consider that the cups of the standard deck represent the vessels which carry our emotions, our thoughts and relationships consider that the skull is the vessel of our brain and inside our brain is contained all of our thoughts and emotions.

The King of Skulls is s decorated man of position, he looks to the future. He represents a person of emotional and intellectual control and balance. Prosperity through control.

The Queen of Skulls is an affluent woman of power who looks to the present. Slightly nodding to the past. She represents the use of emotion to gain prosperity. She might be a player who seeks to control others through their emotional needs.

The Jack of Skulls, A domestic who sternly observes the present. She is not happy with her condition but will not look towards the future nor will she learn from the past.

The Commoner of Skulls. A stocky man of determination, he carries an unidentified weapon and looks to the past. As all of the Commoners, he engages in the exchange of knowledge , gossip and information. He will bring bad news, usually from the past.

One of Skulls: Happiness, an overpowering amount of joy. Ecstasy.

Deuce of Skulls. Unified partnership. Two heads that think as one. The free exchange of ideas. (Authors note- with other decks this card frequently indicates homosexual desires or relationships)

Three of Skulls. Friendship, a menge e trois . (Authors note- With other decks this card carries a very feminine connotation and can indicate lesbian relationships

Four of Skulls. The offering of friendship or love which is ignored, a mind which is willfully not developing.

Five of Skulls. Loss, regret. All has been used up or taken.

Six of Skulls: Childish thoughts or actions, naivety.

Seven of Skulls: Dreams of success, illusions of grandeur. Visions but not reality.

Eight of Skulls: Withdrawal , a walking away when things are good, returning to a previous life.

Nine of Skulls: Fulfilment . If it were possible to reverse it might suggest gluttony.

Ten of Skulls: The happiness of a complete life or mission accomplished.

The Suite of Pistols

The Pistols represent the modern sword. They are a means of getting things done. The ammunition to cut through problems, the tools to possess in creating a new world. They are protection as well as offensive.

The King of Pistols. A well clad nobleman looks to the present and offers a coin. A man or situation which deals with money and finances. One of the few cards in the Dishonored deck which is directly associated with cash flow.

The Queen of Pistols . A commonly dressed Queen examines her jewelry. The gems are not especially brilliant indicating that the wealth of this card lies in taking stock of the value of what is in hand.

The Jack of Pistols. A slightly unkempt domestic looks toward the past. She is indicative  of a person who dwells upon the past and refuses to move on with life.

The Commoner of Pistols. An shabby man of chic taste yet low means. he drinks. A person who under-achieves , a drunkard. A person who holds tight to his addictions regardless of how much harm is done.

One of Pistols: New power, creation, begginnings.

Deuce of Pistols:. Plans are in balance or plans are out of balance, one must ascertain which by using other cards.

Three of Pistols: Plans delayed

Four of Pistols: Communication

Five of Pistols: Disagreement, strife, stress

Six of pistols: Public recognition

Seven of Pistols: One against many

Eight of Pistols: Problems coming from thin air, be expedient .

Nine of Pistols : Keep an eye out, watch-full, observant, paranoid

Ten of Pistols: The burden of life, of creation

The World

Aligned with but not to be confused with The World of the standard deck.

The twentieth card in the deck.

The World is a map of the territories where in the video game Dishonored is played. The standard deck representation involves mystical ancient symbolism which traces the roots of the beginning to the completion of the task or situation. In the standard deck The World means order or when inverted chaos which will never be resolved.

These same elements could be applied to the Dishonored version but it must be noted that The World pictured here is limited . In a past, present or future context it could mean a limited completion , in an inverted aspect it would mean that a person has fallen very short of a goal or given up on something.

The Empress

Aligned but not to be confused with the standard Empress Card.

The nineteenth card in the deck.

In the standard tarot deck The Empress is a powerful Earth - Mother figure who can signal the birth of a child or a new start in an "old " life. A rebirth into childhood with the wisdom of an ascended and virtuous being. A woman full of the power of the feminine .She is relaxed and peaceful.

The Dishonored Empress was clearly named for the standard deck card but in no way resembles the same woman. The Empress of this deck is clearly a woman who has much of the same qualities a of powerful female nature with none of the kindness or motherly affectations. She stands defiantly akimbo with a look of stern consternation on face.

In a present, past or future position she represents the woman in charge. She embodies the very nature of a "no-nonsense" attitude.

In an inverted aspect she could mean a slacker attitude full of nonsense, or she could mean the abuse of the power which she has attained. A woman of ill gotten gain.

The Lord Regent

Probably aligned with The Emperor

The number seventeen card in the deck.

The Lord Regent is represent by a well tailored man standing posed as if for a painting. He is clearly one who controls others and is in charge of a group/ cloister/ or situation. The qualities of The Emperor card have been debated and changed for hundred of years. In the standard Rider-Waite Tarot the Emperor sits on a throne and rules from on high, probably aloof to his people. He is well dressed. In the Haindl deck he is naked in the forest, a natural ruler who has nothing to hide.

In this deck a past or present position would indicate a person who is in charge, who controls the life or situation around the person or question at hand. So little imagery is used in the card that the interpretation of intent of The Lord Regent but be queried and determined.

It is safe to say that in the inverted position in any aspect (past ,present  or future) the Lord Regent would be indicative of the misuse of power . It would also indicate someone in power who has something to hide.

If a person in particular is not indicated through questioning the subject of the reading, then it is an easy assumption that an inverted Lord Regent means that there is a secret which is being withheld. Powerful information which is being hidden.

The Drowned Man

Not  to be confused with the Hanged Man

The number seventeen card in the deck.

A dashing young man stands proudly in full military regalia, his hand clutched his weapon in a symbolic pose.

Authors note:This card cannot be interpreted without first noting the difference between The Hanged Man of the standard deck and The Drowned Man. Obviously the Dishonored creative team had reason to name this card such, I would suspect that the character is drowned at some point (but as I noted earlier, I have not played the game as I do not want to base these interpretations on the game board but rather the images depicted on the card). The Hanged Man is a card of personal , physical or mental suffering to attain a higher goal. Students in their intense final years of study often see The Hanged Man show up on a spread. The imagery of The Drowned Man suggest no such suffering but has obviously achieved at least a modicum of success.

The card has it's most valuable interpretation when inverted. The Drowned Man inverted indicates a man (or woman) of some stature in business or other social construct who has for whatever reasons been subjected to intense work or personal overload. This person is drowning in sorrow, drowning in debt, drowning in loss ... The Drowned Man is a symbol of suffocation. Yet for whatever reasons The Drowned Man struggles to maintain the outward appearance of success and dashing. The serious implication of this, is this:

The need to keep up appearances is causing much of the struggle. In a past and present position The Drowned Man is trying hard to maintain an image but in failing to do so, causes failure which causes more stress...the vicious circle continues ad infinitum. Depending on it's position in a past or present mode the indications are so severe that immediate action is probably justified.

In an upright position The Drowned Man is a null card. The only such card in any deck. Upright the person or situation has achieved what they wish in life, maintain their appearances and are probably quite happy with where they are at or a situation is functioning normally with no problems nor grand flourishes . Upright , The Drowned Man is a card of grand banality .

The High Overseer

Possibly inspired by The Hierophant

The number sixteen card in the deck.

A fascinating representation which demands tenacious thought. The most complex card of the deck.The card is split along the diagonal showing two very distinct men but with only one name : The High Overseer. This calls into play more questions than answers and the reader will be forced to determine which of these answers is best suited to the spread.

In any position, in any aspect The Overseer is to be noted to be a watcher, one who observes.

On the top the Blue Overseer. A younger man , arms folded in defiant resolution looking to the left of the card ( in standard tarot readings, looking to the left is equal to looking at the past). He is in his "dress blues".
On the bottom The Red Overseer. A slightly older man again his arms folded looks to the right (and likewise a right looking card is said to look towards the future. The red Overseer has a weapon at his side.

Both are men of victory and as the name suggest both oversee a community or other group, perhaps even a city or country. Both have similar qualities but each are different.

The reader must ask:

Is this the same man? As per the spread is this card representing two aspects of the same person and if so what aspects are to be dealt with:
Is the Blue Overseer a man dealing with or obsessed with the past or his past accomplishments?
Is the Red Overseer a man disregarding the past and focusing on the future?
Is the Blue Overseer more concerned with conventionality and the Red Overseer more aggressive and determined?
Are these two different men? Are these actually two people involved in the same struggle ? Is it a partnership or is it an adversarial relationship?

The High Overseer is a card which cannot be thrown into a spread without very serious contemplation. For the person who is being read it indicates a serious use or misuse of power. This card has no true reverse aspect.

When reading a spread with the High Overseer present, ask questions! It will be the only way to determine which meaning the card has to the real world or the questions at hand.