Landscapes in tarot quiz: deserts, gardens, valleys
The Knight of Wands' desert, The Empress' garden, cypresses behind the King of Swords: name the Tayna cards by their landscapes and read the backdrop.
- 5 questions
- ≈ 2 min
- +5 bronze keys for a flawless run
What does the landscape on a tarot card say?
This quiz is about the backdrops of the Tayna deck: the deserts, gardens, valleys, villages and cathedrals behind the figures. A landscape is rarely just pretty scenery. It tells you what world the card lives in and what question it is asking. The questions check whether you can name a card from its background and whether you know what that background means.
In our deck the desert is the land of fire. The Knight of Wands charges across a golden desert toward mountains shaped like pyramids, and the desert hints at the risk: chasing fire, it is easy to forget water and rest. The Page of Wands stands on a ledge above a desert valley with a winding river, an unexplored country he cannot wait to wander.
Gardens and meadows speak of fertility and care. The Empress reclines on a throne in a blossoming garden beside a waterfall, under a large moon. Far behind the Queen of Pentacles you can see a village among the trees: the people her care feeds and protects.
Houses, camps and cathedrals
Sometimes a dwelling appears in the landscape. On the Ten of Cups a red-roofed house sits on a hill among cypresses, the place you want to come back to. Behind the man on the Seven of Swords lies a camp of tents, campfires and flags, the rules and agreements he is walking away from on his own. The Three of Pentacles shows no landscape at all, only the inside of a Gothic cathedral.
Cypresses run through almost the whole deck: they grow on The Empress, Strength, The Star, the Two and Ten of Cups, the Nine of Pentacles and behind the King of Swords. These trees tie the scenes into one world. In a reading it helps to notice where the figure stands: in a desert, in a garden or within the walls of a home.
Each run draws five questions from a pool of twelve, with the options shuffled every time. Answers are final, but you can replay as often as you like. Tayna keys are awarded for a run with no mistakes. Every explanation links to the card page with the full scene, so if a picture slips your mind, take a look and try again.
All questions and answers
Open after you play: the full question set with right answers and explanations.
1. Who charges across a golden desert toward mountains shaped like pyramids?
Right answer: Knight of Wands
The Knight of Wands races across the desert on a rearing horse; the desert hints at forgetting water and rest.
2. What does the red-roofed house on the hill mean on the Ten of Cups?
Right answer: A place you want to return to
The house among the cypresses is the place you want to come back to; the children's dance is joy passed on.
3. Who stands on a ledge above a desert valley with a winding river?
Right answer: Page of Wands
The Page of Wands stands above a desert valley: unexplored ground lies ahead, and he cannot wait to wander it.
4. Cypress trees appear on only one card in the Tayna deck.
Right answer: Myth
Cypresses grow on many cards: The Empress, Strength, The Star, the Two and Ten of Cups, the Nine of Pentacles.
5. Behind which king do cypresses and clouds rise?
Right answer: King of Swords
Cypresses and clouds rise behind the King of Swords, two white doves fly beside him and his sword stands upright.
6. What does the distant village among the trees mean on the Queen of Pentacles?
Right answer: The people her care feeds
The village is the people her care feeds and protects; the pentacle in her lap is what she tends every day.
7. Whose throne stands in a blossoming garden by a waterfall under a large moon?
Right answer: The Empress
The Empress reclines in a garden: wheat and lilies at her feet, fruit trees behind, a waterfall and a moon.
8. What lies behind the dancers on the Three of Cups?
Right answer: A lake, cypresses and lights
Behind the three dancers stretch a lake, cypresses and lights along the shore, under a night sky.
9. Which card shows no landscape, only the inside of a Gothic cathedral?
Right answer: Three of Pentacles
On the Three of Pentacles a craftsman works a column of a Gothic cathedral, with blue stained glass between columns.
10. The Queen of Swords' throne stands above the clouds. What does that height say?
Right answer: She sees all from her own height
The clouds are the element of air, thoughts kept in order. She views the world from her own height and draws her own conclusions.
11. On which card is there a camp of tents, campfires and flags behind the figure?
Right answer: Seven of Swords
The Seven of Swords man carries off five swords and glances back at the camp: rules he walks away from alone.
12. What can you see in the distance behind the woman on The Star?
Right answer: Dark mountains and cypresses
The Star kneels by a pool, dark mountains and cypresses rise far off, and an eight-pointed star shines above.