AAutumnutumn 22014014 VVol.ol. 2 IIssuessue 1 IISSNSSN 22040-4328040-4328 TTARosARos OPHISTOPHIST INTERNATIONALINTERNATIONAL IInnovativennovative & IInspirednspired TTarotarot fforor AAllll PProfessionalsrofessionals & SStudentstudents

CCUSTOMUSTOM SSPREADSPREADS GGOLDENOLDEN DDAWNAWN 5500 EESSENTIALSSENTIAL DDECKSECKS Turn a Question into a Spread A New Dawn for Studies We List the Decks You Need! Tarosophist International

Volume 1 Issue 1

www.tarotassociation.net Photograph by Viona ielegems, fashion and styling Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony, Baba Studio - http://baba-store.com

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 1 CONTENTS We open the second volume of the magazine with this fi rst is- sue featuring the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot, along with prac- VOUME II. Issue 1, Autumn 2014 tical reading methods and our regular columns and articles. Photograph by Jenna Matlin by Photograph 06 THE ANSWER MAY BE IN THE QUESTION An innovative method of Tarosophy to turn any question or situation into a custom-spread for every Querent, using Clean Lanuage.

08 COLOUR MAGICK OF THE GOLDEN DAWN TEMPLE TAROT 19 How did the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn transform the WARM UP YOUR TAROT HOUSE! Tarot from European cartomancy to to a full-on magical system? Get your Tarot House going with these Tarot teaching games!

20 22 24 50 ESSENTIAL DECKS COLLECTABLE DECKS WHY LEARN KABBALAH? What are the fi fty decks that our pro- What makes a deck collectable? We dis- Seen as an essential part of the student fessional readers and students fi nd the cuss some of the rarer decks that may curriculum in magick, but by others as an most essential? Do you agree with our sometimes appear on auctions! unneccesary complication, what is Kab- list? balah and why learn anything about it?

2 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 Tarosophist International presents tarot, cartomancy & divination for readers, students, professionals, artists, designers, collectors & enthusiasts worldwide. All issues of the magazine are FREE to members of the Tarosophy Tarot Association at www.tarotassociation.net.

25 IN POETRY Marjorie Jensen looks at di erent poetic perspectives on the terrible tower. 30 THE STANDING WOMAN Dr. Ute Knecktys provides a creative spread based on the Queen of . 32 THE NEW WAVE OF TAROT We take a look at the new ways in which Tarot is being created and produced. 34 CITY MYSTIC TAROT : NYC Virginia Jester and Chris Hopkins share their new photographic deck. 36 THE KNAPP-HALL DECK Golden Dawn Temple Tarot (Wendrich ArtHouse) This classic decks gets a reworking! 44 37 TRENDING IN TAROT What are the trends in tarot and publish- TAROT SCENE WORLDWIDE ing news of this quarter? We visit Sphinx Tarot in London with an urban vibe! CREATE A PETITE LENOMAND 40 03 47 AUTHOR INTERVIEWS Katrinna Wynne shows us how to make our own Lenormand deck - and why we should. Tanya interviews Lenormand author, Rana George, and discovers why the Bear is the Bear is the Bear ...!

THE VIEW FROM TAROSOPHY TOWERS

THE MAGAZINE FOR TAROT When Tarot was fi rst created, it was only for the richest of families and as a showcase or pastime. What is it now?

When the Visconti family commis- may be that as this technology be- ioned a deck of tarot cards in around comes even more accessible, decks 1451, they would have not expected start to change. We have already to have shuffl ed them. The gold seen “variant” decks, decks with gilt-work and almost padded layers “extra” cards, even “booster packs”, of the cards would have been de- a concept taken from card-games. signed as a showcase only - a piece of what is now called sequential art. Furthermore, we may even see other concepts borrowed The idea of a print-on-demand deck from online gaming - or decks would have been a long way away which are only available online ... - in fact, such technology has only been available within the last decade.

So we have a huge rise in self-pub- “Be always on your guard; he who lished decks - particularly the Le- easily believes is easily deceived”. normand, which uses far simpler iconography and has only 36 cards, Les Amusemens des just under half that of a tarot deck. It Allemands, 1796. Night Sun Tarot (Lo Scarabeo, forthcoming 2014)

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 3 In future issues we will further round-up some of the latest tarot and oracle decks to be published, particularly by members of the Tarosophy Tarot Association. NEW DECKS

DECK REVIEWERS

MARCUS KATZ

Author of Tarosophy, Mar- cus prefers his decks to be unique, slightly off -the-beat- en path and loaded with THE GOLDEN DAWN TEMPLE TAROT featured in this issue, this deck by Nick Farrell and Harry & Nicola Wendrich is perfect symbolism. However, for all esoteric practitioners. his favourite go-to decks are presently the Tyldwick Tarot, the Lenormand (Orig- inal), the Psycards, and the YOU ADEPTI ARE IN THE PATH CBD Marseilles. If anything, a deck for every purpose! OF THE CHAMELEON ...

The Golden Dawn Temple Tarot off ers authentic colour sym- bolism and design according to the instructions of Book T of the Hermetic Order. The cards are larger sized and beautifully coloured, with GD-style Minor cards. A larger deck of the Ma- jors has been produced for Temple or contemplative usage. www.wendricharthouse.com

WHAT PROFITS IT DOTH SHINE, TALI GOODWIN HAD I NOT EYES TO SEE?

A little shy of being pinned down to any particular deck, From the artistic genius and esoteric Tali uses the Lenormand, research of Fabio Listrani, the Night the Marseilles and the Waite-Smith as her stand- Sun Tarot provides a truly occult by working decks. She is deck. The images of the Minors are presently using the Mar- coloured to indicate their elemental seille Cats Tarot as a teach- qualities at a glance, and the fi gures ing deck in workshops. in each support the Thoth-type symbolism inset in each card.

WIN YOUR OWN NIGHT SUN TAROT DECK!

With a surreal take on the Thoth deck, combining mechani- cal fi gures, occult symbolism, the I-Ching, and a dark tone, the Night Sun deck is an epic tarot now available from Lo Scarabeo.

Simply send us a brief paragraph of what you liked about the new style of Tarosophist International and we will choose one winner to receive a NIIGHT SUN Tarot deck !

Entries to [email protected] by 1st November 2014.

4 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 TAROT QUOTE OF THE TAROT BITES QUARTER

“Over the last 10 years, Lantz has done a lot of work for a number of companies, including D.C. Comics, but he said for people who are looking to get started in the sci-fi art world, tarot cards are a good way to gain recognition.”

Samantha Madison, The Sentinel Newspaper (May 21, 2014) - used with permission.

TAROT IN THE DECKS IN NEWS DEVELOPMENT This quarter, Tarot was prominently - statistically. He viewed her safest prediction as “meeting a woman with featured in the NEW YORK POST Our header for this section shows the face (September 28th, 2014) covering a brown or red hair”, which you may of the Queen of in the Tarot statistical analysis by Walt Hickey. think is quite a ‘specifi c’ prediction, Illuminati, but keep an eye out for the Tarot but is actually (statistically) quite Apokalypsis! Hickey, a writer for blog fi vethirtye- safe. ight.com, analysed statistics for New Tarot Apokalypsis York City with regard to relationships He viewed her prediction that he was thinking about leaving his job and compared them to a tarot read- A new deck in development from Erik C. as being the most bold, as he did ing he had in Union Square. Dunne and Kim Huggens builds on their not feel it likely nor did statistics for partnership which was forged in the last his demographic make it a common His conclusion, using statistics on re- months of the Tarot Illuminati project. lationships, job satisfaction, demon- change at this particular point in his life. graphics, etc., was that “You don’t go The deck is being designed in a close col- to a to accurately laboration and features mythic deities and The original research and write-up is predict your whole future; you go to Erik’s strong visual style. talk about what’s bugging you. The very interesting for all tarot readers, and quite open-minded in its view. bonus is that sometimes the reader The text written by Kim Huggens is in the is right”. fi rst-person format which proved so spec- You can discover the full article at: tacular for the full “Illuminati” guidebook. He also contrasted predictive state- http://fi vethirtyeight.com/features/ ments made by his reader against For more details type “Tarot Apokalypsis” tarot-card-prediction-statistics/ his own life and liklihood of events into your Facebook search bar.

A Tyldwick Lenormand?

Neil Lovell continues to experiment in his designs for a Lenormand deck, following his popular Tyldwick Tarot.

You can follow Neil’s online visual musings on Lenormand by typing in “Tyldwick Tarot” into your Facebook search bar.

Tarot of Everlasting Day

Work continues on this epic eight-year project to design three totally integrated tarot decks, at beginner, intermediate and advanced level. We are working on Court cards at present and you can view images on the Tarot Association facebook group.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 5 PRACTICAL READING THE ANSWER MAY BE IN THE QUESTION ... Photography by Matt Glover © 2014 Used with Permission www.mattgloverphotography.co.uk with Permission © 2014 Used Matt Glover by Photography

“Have patience with everything unresolved and try to love the questions themselves”. - Rilke

6 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 Using Questions as Spreads Let us assume the Querent has asked whether to take an early re- tirement. They have described their question and given a metaphor which represents how their worries are rushing about like a bull in a “The greatest good you can do for an- china shop. other is not just to share your riches, but to reveal to him his own”. We take the symbols of bull and china shop to quickly lay out a reading. - Benjamin Disraeli 1. The Bull cards. What is it that drives the client? [3 cards] In Tarosophy we talk about two important principles; incorpo- ration and utilisation. These are taken from the pioneering work 2. The China Shop card: What is it they will gain or lose from and approaches of Milton H. Erickson, father of modern hyp- taking early retirement? [3 cards around the Bull cards] notherapy. We also talk about Clean Language and metaphor. 3. The China Card: What will be broken by taking this step? [1 card] Clean language is a system of working with metaphors which was modelled by Lawley and Tompkins, based upon the work of the Or any other variant that may strike you at the time of the reading, or therapist David Grove (1950-2008). This system has been intro- as the Querent explains their question, or as the cards are laid down. duced into a diverse range of communications including the work of many teachers, trainers, coaches, researchers, and the police. Here are many such individual and unioque spreads that have arisen from this method: We have applied Clean Language to the process of explor- ing a question in tarot reading, incorporating the structure The Whirlpool Method of the question and utilizing it to create a custom spread. This spread speaks directly to the unconscious structure of The River Spread the situation as it is represented by the client in their own mind. As a result it is incredibly powerful on many levels. The Broken Glass Shards When someone expresses their question, it usually has an Crystal Baby emotional content, and this can be turned into a metaphor by a specialized but straight-forward series of “clean” questions. It Whilst the titles may be enigmatic or possibly evocative, each of only takes a minute, and then you have a precise metaphor of these readings provided a unique and complling experience for the question against which to design your spread in real-time. the querent. In some cases, the reading and the cards refl ected the metaphor even within the symbolism of the card images. The sequence of questions is as follows, with the essential In the case of the “broken glass shards” reading, we read more sequence highlighted in bold: into the light passing through the cards and the shadows, than any of the other symbols being presented. Querent: My question is X [including some emotional con- tent, such as “and I’m concerned that I may not make the right Be inclusive to your Querent’s own engagement to this process. choice”] In the “Whirlpool” method, two circles of cards had been laid out to represent how the Querent described the two choices they Reader: … and your concern. Where is your concern? were facing. We continued to expand the circles with cards, and then they sudddenly met in the middle. I said to the client, “I Querent: In my head [or Querent will gesture unconsciously wonder what happens now” and they replied, “well, we need to even if they say “I don’t really know”] lay out cards to show the interference between the two ripples”. Reader: … in your head. Is it outside or inside? In this approach, we are using our intermediate experience to be more responsive to the question in our divination rath- Querent: Inside, in my head. er than forcing it into a pre-determined spread. It also allows us to be more fl exible and promotes an active dialogue with Reader: … inside, in your head. I’m wondering how you’d best the deck and an engaging unique experience for the Querent. describe the shape or size of that? Further Reading Querent: Well, it’s just everywhere and it’s rushing about. This is Method 71 of 78 new methods for tarot included in Tarot Reader: … rushing about? And that’s like what? Twist by Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin, Forge Press, 2013. Avail- able in paperback from LULU press and Kindle from Amazon. Querent: It’s like a bull in a china shop, really. Havens, R. A. The Wisdom of Milton H. Erickson. Crown House So now you have a metaphor, the bull in a china shop! Publishing: Carmarthen, 2003. Sometimes this will arise even earlier in the question se- quence, so you can stop as soon as you have a metaphor. Lawley, J. & Tompkins, P. Metaphors in Mind. The Developing Company Press: London, 2003. You can frame the questions in any particular way, follow- ing the Querent’s own language. The faster you do it, and Short, D. , Erickson, B. A. & Erickson-Klein, R. Hope & Resiliency: the more you pay attention to their whole communication, Understanding the Psychotherapeutic Strategies of Milton H. including non-verbal gestures, the more noticeable it will Erickson M.D. Crown House Publishing: Carmarthen, 2005. be that the question suggests its own spread in response. Sullivan, W. & Rees, J. Clean Language: Revealing Metaphors and You can then apply the “Bull in the China Shop” as a reading method. Opening Minds. Crown House Publishing: Carmarthern, 2008. We will provide an example here, simply using cards to represent diff erent aspects of the metaphor in relationship to the question.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 7 FEATURED ARTICLE

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn took European Tarot decks and transformed them into a magical system THE of colour, symbolism and initiatory signifi cance. Nicola & Harry Wendrich present us an analysis of the colour sym- bolism of the Order and its use within their deck designed COLOUR MAGICK

The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Steinbrecher in his book The Inner Guide OF THE founded in 1888, formulated a structured Meditation, and proceeded to pictorial- system of magical study in the Western ly translate and incorporate the material Mystery Tradition, which included the received from the Inner Planes to build Kabbalah, Tarot, , Geomancy, upon the framework provided in the tradi- GOLDEN Enochian magic, and Hermeticism. Its tional GD documentation. We also found history as an Order is a complex and fas- that, at times, certain relevant informa- cinating story and while it ceased to ex- tion would be imparted in dreams. One DAWN ist under that name in 1903 (its members major theme which presented itself via spawning the organizations of the Stella dreams was the need to revise and up- Matutina and Alpha et Omega), the HOGD date the traditional Golden Dawn colour can be considered the original source of assignments to the Tree of Life diagram. TEMPLE several other Orders which have since There are diff erences in opinion in many been established to further the study areas of Golden Dawn Tarot assignments, and survival of these esoteric teachings. be it the naming and placement of Kings/ TAROT Knights/Princes, the subtleties of the co- In this 21st century, there exist branch- lour scales, even the assignment of the es upon branches throughout Keys to the Paths of the under many names. One such Order, Tree of Life themselves, and despite all appropriately, the modern-day Hermetic the debates and reasons put forward, it Order of the Golden Dawn, claims initia- is of our humble opinion that there is no tory lineage to the original Order through fi xed and hard rule regarding such things: the late Dr. Israel Regardie, who, along as was confi rmed when Harry enquired with Chic Cicero, resurrected this branch in meditation about W. Gray’s Tree of Life of the original Order in 1977, in Georgia, assignments in The Talking Tree, “The U.S.A., following its traditional teachings, diff erences do not matter in themselves grade structure and ethos. In 1997, Nick – that which is important when working Farrell visited Chic and Sandra Tabatha with the Tree of Life is one’s intention.” Cicero in the US, joined the Hermetic Or- der of the Golden Dawn, and proceeded to co-found a Temple of HOGD in the The Tree of Life and the UK, of which Harry Wendrich became a Golden Dawn Colour Scales. member in 2006. It is from within this The Golden Dawn Temple Tarot is available from www.wendricharthouse.com Order that the Golden Dawn Temple The Golden Dawn Colour Scales exist Tarot was birthed. [Also see side-box]. today in several forms. From Florence Farr’s colour tables of the late 1800’s, to The Golden Dawn Temple Tarot is a mod- those of Crowley and Regardie, to the While this project was underway, Nick ern deck resulting from the collaborative more modern colour tables suggested Farrell left the HOGD to set up The working of a triad. For the Major Arcana, by Pat and Chris Zalewski and Chic and Magical Order of the Aurora Aurea Nick brought his decades of experience Tabatha Cicero, each have their diff er- (MOAA) – a modern magical Or- and research of Golden Dawn ritual and ences, yet each carries the same inten- der which incorporates techniques symbolism to the table. The GD’s Book T tion: to evoke through colour, along with drawn from Golden Dawn, Whare was to be the basis for the symbolic struc- the other associated symbolisms, the Ra, and Dion Fortune’s tradition. ture of the although there inherent nature of each Path or Sephira. Harry Wendrich remained with the was to be some departure from that par- HOGD and thus the Golden Dawn ticular system when it came to the Court Each version shares certain fundamental Temple Tarot, from its publication, Cards. Harry painted the Major Arcana, criteria, laid out in a Golden Dawn docu- services Temples of more than one I painted the Minor Arcana, and we met ment entitled “Ritual W – Hodos Chame- Order: indeed, the deck’s inherent in the painting of the Court Cards. We lionis” (or “The Path of The Chameleon”). [1] traditional symbolism, colour magic, used meditations specifi cally developed Within the constraints of this article, let it and archetypal infl uence off ers in- to engage and communicate with the suffi ce for now to say that there are four struction, innovation and ritual use archetypal forms and forces within the Golden Dawn Colour Scales, consisting to a universal service of Temples and Tree of Life, as presented by Edwin C. of King Scale, Queen Scale, Prince Scale individual practitioners worldwide.

8 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 and Princess Scale, which correspond to But wait! Before proceeding any further, nine Blue was not discovered until 1935). the Four Worlds of Emanation, the Four we have to consider the nature of the It was certainly known about by a few: in Hebrew letters of the Divine Name Yod three primary colours. We come now to 1908, J. Arthur Hatt in his innovative work Heh Vav Heh, and the Four Elements Fire, one of the major components of the Gold- The Colorist published an accurate co- Water, Air and Earth, which in turn relate en Dawn Temple Tarot, which is the updat- lour wheel with Magenta as a primary to the Four Suits of Wands, Cups, Swords, ing of the traditional colour assignments colour and Red as a secondary colour. and Pentacles. The scales are laid out in in accordance with modern advances in However, the pigment Magenta was at a table of the 32 Paths of the Western colour theory and pigment production. that time only available in fugitive form i.e., Hermetic Tree of Life: the fi rst 10 of which it would fade in the light, and thus such equate to the 10 Sephiroth, and thus the The True Primary Colours knowledge, as indeed Hatt’s accurate co- Minor Arcana, as shown in the table below. lour wheel itself, would have been pretty We know, through the demonstration of much kept in the dark (pardon the pun). Referring mainly to Regardie’s and the computer printer cartridges if nothing else, Ciceros’ colour tables, the GD Temple that the three Primary Colours (i.e. colours REF: J. Arthur Hatt, The Colorist; Tarot was painted accordingly. I be- which cannot be mixed) are Magenta, Yel- republished 2010, Kessinger Publishing gan by painting the four Aces with their low and Cyan (Pthalocyanine Blue). I con- white backgrounds, and white fl ecked sider myself fortunate to have been shown Members of the Golden Dawn at that gold for Pentacles, using the traditional during my days as an art student that Ma- time would have most likely been fa- ritual colours for the elemental tools of genta mixed with Yellow produces Red, as, miliar with any of several colour wheel (Red and Yellow), Cup (Blue and sadly in this 21st century, Red is still mis- theories which inaccurately pinned Orange), Sword (Yellow and Violet) and takenly taught from primary schools to art Red as a primary colour, including: (the colours of Malkuth through colleges, as being a primary colour (fi g. 1). the four worlds, consisting of Black, Yel- low, Gold, Citrine, Russett, and Olive).

Upon completion of the four Aces I had a dream in which I was instructed by an to continue painting the remain- ing cards using only the three primary colours of Magenta, Yellow and Cyan, and White on my palette. In so doing, I would experience the generation of the full range of colour mixes throughout the Sephiroth from the magic of mixing colours from primaries. The process of Figure 1: Mixing Red from the Primaries Magenta and Yellow such mixing takes a considerably longer time than selecting a tube of pre-mixed However, when the Golden Dawn fi rst 1. 1666 Opticks by Isaac Newton: the fi rst paint, which, although convenient, denies published its colour theory over a centu- colour wheel, with seven segments of the the artist/magician a fuller attunement ry ago, the primary colour Magenta was light spectrum (in which magenta does to the density of each fi eld of conscious- unavailable as a non-fading pigment (Ma- not show up), based on the accurate ness represented within the Minor Arcana. genta only became available as a non-fu- observation that a prism splits white light gitive colour in the 1970’s, and Pthalocya- into the colours of the visible spectrum

KING SCALE QUEEN SCALE PRINCE SCALE PRINCESS SCALE WANDS CUPS SWORDS PENTACLES

Kether 1 (ACE) Brilliance White Brilliance White Brilliance White fl ecked gold Chokmah 2 Soft Blue Grey Bluish Mother of White fl ecked red, Pearl blue, yellow Binah 3 Crimson Black Dark Brown Grey fl ecked pink Chesed 4 Deep Violet Blue Deep Purple Deep azure fl ecked yellow Geburah 5 Orange Scarlet-red Bright Scarlet Red fl ecked black Tiphareth 6 Clear Pink Rose Yellow(gold) Rich Salmon Gold amber Netzach 7 Amber Emerald Bright yellow-green Olive fl ecked gold Hod 8 Violet-purple Orange Red russet Yellow-brown fl eck- ed white Yesod 9 Indigo Violet Very dark Purple Citrine fl ecked azure Malkuth 10 Yellow Citrine, olive, russet, Citrine, olive, russet, Black rayed yellow black black, fl ecked gold

Regardie, The Golden Dawn, 6th Edition; p. 95 - 99 Llewellyn Publications, 1989.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 9 (but which however does not translate 6. 1919 Die Farbenfi bel (Color Primer) of course, for his Real Color Wheel. into pigment). by Wilhelm Ostwald Die Farbenfi bel: a 24-segment colour wheel with Red, Yel- It becomes easier to see why so many 2. 1708 Traite de la Peinture in Migna- low, Blue, and Sea-Green in the quarters. colour theories were put forth, when ture, attributed to Claude Boutet: the we consider the pigments which were oldest example of the symmetrical 12- There are many more examples – actually available during the peri- hue artists colour wheel, but using Red, as late as 1961, Johannes Itten in his od in history that the theorists lived. Yellow, and Blue as the primaries. Farbkreis taught that Red, Yellow, and Blue were the three primaries. 1705: Prussian Blue became available

3. 1755 Tobias Myer: a colour triangle Thankfully, in 1996 Don Jusko in his Real 1826: Permanent Alizarin was discov- with primaries indicated as Red, Yellow, Color Wheel demonstrated how the co- ered and Blue. lours of light, crystals and pigments are joined, using the true primaries of Ma- 1860: Cobalt Violet was made 4. 1809:Zur Farbenlehre [Theory of Co- genta, Yellow, and Cyan. Using this in- lours] by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe: formation, we we re able to construct the 1909: Cadmium Red was made a double intersecting triangle depicting a 12-segment colour wheel, shown in fi g. 2. 6-segment colour wheel with no magen- 1935: Cyan Blue (Pathalocyanine) was ta or cyan. I am deeply indebted to Mr. Don Jusko, discovered, the true primary. Maui, Hawaii, artist and colour theo- 5. 1880 Ewald Hering: Six primary co- rist of our modern era, for information 1970s: Liquitex made a perfect trans- lours, coupled in three pairs: red–green, on his website www.realcolorwheel. parent magenta, called “Acra Violet”. yellow–blue, and white–black. com regarding colour discoveries and Nowadays, the correct name is Quina- theories throughout the ages, and cridone Magenta (code PR:122)

Figure 2: Wendrich 12-segment Colour Wheel with pigments.

10 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 Magenta & Cyan in the and depth and silence, and yet, it is the to Tiphereth, which the Ciceros short- Golden Dawn Colour Scales habitation of the Supernal Light. ened to Yellow, being the third prima- ry, with which we concur – . Regardie and the Ciceros attribute Given that I had dreamed about the [Illus. 5, p. 13] the Sephira of Binah with Black; Farr need to use the true primary colours and Zalewski call it Blackish Red in the painting of the Minor Arcana, it The beams of Chesed and of Tiphareth (the logic of which can be deduced seemed obvious that the fi rst area of meet in Netzach and thence in Net- when reading further); the Wendrich application would lay within the forma- zach arises a green, pure, brilliant, Scales name it Black, which is the co- tion of the colours of Queen Scale (in liquid, and gleaming like an emerald. lour produced when the three prima- which the Cups suit are painted and bor- ries are mixed together. This colour dered), because within the Queen Scale Farr and Regardie attributed Netzach predominates in the . table, the colouring of the Sephiroth in- with Emerald Green; the Ciceros re- cludes a formula based upon the mixing named it Green for clarity, with which Farr, Regardie and the Ciceros attribut- of primary colours to make secondary the Wendrich Scales concur – Seven ed Queen Scale Chokmah with Grey, colours, which are further mixed to pro- of Cups. It is the Green formed at the but as the (Pure) Soft Blue of King Scale duce the colours of Malkuth (see fi g. 3). mid-point of the mixing of Cyan with Chokmah is supposed to be mixed with The Path of the Chameleon eloquently Yellow – the true secondary colour (op- Grey of Binah to produce Blue pearl describes the colours of the Sephiroth posite Magenta on the colour wheel). grey, Mother of Pearl/Bluish Mother of in Queen Scale, and from these de- Pearl, we have in the Golden Dawn Tem- scriptions come the colour attributions. The beams of Geburah and Tiphareth ple Tarot attributed Mother of Pearl to meet in Hod and thence arises in Hod a Queen Scale Binah. Thus Soft Blue + brilliant pure and fl ashing orange tawny. Mother of Pearl = Bluish Mother of Pearl.

Figure 4: Ace, Two, Three of Cups: Golden Dawn Temple Tarot

Tawny is an example of a colour descrip- The Sephira of Chesed, Geburah, tion used in times gone by but less com- Figure 3: Queen Scale Sephiroth and Tiphareth are written of thus: mon in this centur y. It is described as be- (Wendrich revision) ing a brownish-orange colour, from the In Chokmah is the Radix of blue and Anglo-Norman tauné associated with In Kether is the Divine White Brilliance, thence is there a blue colour pure and the brownish-yellow of tanned leather. the scintillation and corruscation of the primitive, and glistening with a spiritual The Orange tawny was shortened to Divine Glory that Light which lighteth Light which is refl ected unto Chesed... Orange in Regardie’s Colour Scales, the universe…. the colour formed by the mixing of Red The traditional GD colour attribution and Yellow. However, with the true Traditional GD Scales attribute the term for Chesed is Blue; we have updated primary Magenta now being mixed “White Brilliance” to Kether, with which this to Cyan, the true Primary, which af- with Yellow, we have in the Wendrich the Wendrich Scales concur. This fects the colouring of the . Scales attributed Hod with the co- placement equates to . lour of Cadmium Red, a very deep Or- In Binah is the Radix of Red, and therein ange bordering on Red, which we have In Chokmah is a cloud-like grey which is there a red colour, pure and scintil- termed Red-Orange (again, the true containeth various colours and is mixed lating and fl ashing with fl ame which is secondary colour, opposite Cyan on with them, like a transparent pearl- refl ected unto Geburah…. the colour wheel). This colour is pre- hued mist, yet radiating withal, as if dominant within the . behind it there were a brilliant glory…. Traditionally Red, we have updated The beams of Chesed and Geburah the attribution for Geburah to Ma- meet in Yesod and thence ariseth in Ye- In the Wendrich Scales we have at- genta, the true Primary, which a ects sod a brilliant deep violet-purple or puce, tributed Chokmah (Two of Cups) with the colouring of the Five of Cups. and thus is the third Triad completed. Mother of Pearl, which holds the pri- mary and secondary colours with- In Kether is the Radix of a Golden Glory Puce is another colour term which is in a silvery-grey holographic e ect. and thence is there a pure, primitive rarely used in modern language. The and sparkling, gleaming golden yellow French word for fl ea, Puce is a brown- In Binah is a thick darkness which yet which is refl ected unto Tiphareth…. ish purple, or a dark reddish-brown. It is veileth the Divine Glory in which all said to be the colour of the bloodstains colours are hidden, wherein is mystery Farr and Regardie attribute Yellow (gold) remaining on linen or bed-sheets, even

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 11 after being laundered, from a fl ea’s drop- point for the citrine colour was the cit- The Prince and Princess pings or after a fl ea has been crushed. ron fruit. However, it has since been Scales This is interesting, as pigments were of- used to describe the brownish-yellow ten obtained by the crushing of the bod- colour of the variety of quartz crystal The colours of the Sephiroth of Prince ies of insects – even today we have the which bears its name, and this colour Scale (in the backgrounds and bor- example of cochineal, an insect from is what we have found in the Wen- ders of the ) are formed which the crimson-coloured dye car- drich Scales to be the most accurate in a logical fashion by mixing those mine is derived (although I have found form of Citrine. This upper quadrant of of the King and Queen Scales, eg: no reference to puce pigment being ob- the Malkuth Square takes on the yel- tained from crushed fl eas!) The descrip- low-brown colour of wet sand, some- The Amber of King Scale (7 of Wands) tion of Puce illustrates how in the past thing like the pigment yellow ochre. mixed with the Green of Queen Scale a browning element came from the im- (7 of Cups) produces the Bright Yel- pure addition of Yellow to the assumed The Russet colour of the left-hand low-green of Prince Scale (7 of Swords): primary Red, which was then mixed quadrant we fi nd has a slightly less with Blue to make ‘a brownish purple’. yellow tone to it, as would be expect- Figure 8 (p. 14): In fact, with the absence of Magenta ed whenever Magenta replaces Red Amber + Green = Bright Yellow-green on one’s palette, it is impossible to mix in a mix. Such a colour exists in rocks the most vivid of purples and violets. with iron content, such as red ochre, Therefore, bringing Magenta and which takes its reddish colour from the Cyan into the Queen Scale also af- Regardie’s colour tables attribute Yesod mineral hematite, an anhydrous iron fects the colouring of some of the with the colour Violet. Violet, as will oxide. Signifi cantly, the left-hand posi- Swords cards, e ectively Five of be examined in the forth-coming book tion links this quadrant with the Sephira Swords, Eight of Swords, and the Nine A Sephirothic Odyssey, is a somewhat of Geburah and its attribution of Mars. and Ten of Swords, to a lesser de- problematic term, as there is much con- The term ‘Olive’ we fi nd to be quite mis- gree as we progress down the Tree. fusion as to its actual hue. We can safe- leading, with its additional description ly assume that Regardie mixed Red with of dark green. Even with the tradition- The origins of the Princess Scale a Blue which was not the true primary al colours, the mixing of Green with seem to be intuitive rather than ratio- Cyan, to make a colour which was at- Violet produces a colour which has nal. Sandra Tabatha Cicero, in her ar- tributed to Yesod. The Wendrich Scales more blue than green (after all, one is ticle, “The Chameleon’s Coat: Colour attribute Yesod with the colour Blue-vi- mixing Green (Blue + Yellow) with Vio- Theory in the Golden Dawn,” writes: olet (in pigment terms, Ultramarine let (Blue +Red), thus getting a double Blue, Red shade). It is the secondary portion of Blue in the mix. The resul- “I personally believe that the fl ecked colour directly opposite primary Yellow, tant colour, when making the correct colors of the Princess Scale are meant and may be seen in the Nine of Cups. primary substitutions, is something to portray the congealing or crystal- [Figure 6, p. 13]. very close to black, but of a bluish lizing of the energies from the three shade – the colour of sloe berries, the upper spiritual worlds coming into From the mixing of the three second- colour within mussel shells, the colour manifestation in the physical world of ary colours are the four colours of the of certain forms of slate when wet, but Assiah. It’s also been suggested that Malkuth Square derived. The Wendrich not the colour of any olive that I have the fl ecked colors are related to the Scales have altered the colour attri- seen, and certainly not green. How- colors of certain gemstones, musical butions of Geburah, Hod, and Yesod, ever, in Wikipedia we read that “…Slate notes, or some other correspondence.” so we can expect to fi nd further alter- (sometimes called olive) is an equal ations within the colours of Malkuth. mix of purple and green pigments.” The King Scale Conundrum From the rays of this Triad there appear John Lemos, 1920, “Color Charts for the three colours in Malkuth together with School Room”, in School Arts, vol. 19, pp Thus far we have examined the Mi- a fourth which is their synthesis. Thus 580–584 nor Arcana according to the colours from the orange tawny of Hod and the assigned to Paths 1 – 10 (we allocated green nature of Netzach, there goeth The Wendrich Scales rename the Olive the Court Cards the elemental colours forth a certain greenish ‘citrine’ colour, quadrant Slate, as Welsh Blue Slate, of Red for Wands, Blue for Cups, Yel- yet pure and translucent withal. From the when wet, holds this hue. Note, how- low for Swords, and as was noted ear- orange tawny of Hod mingled with the ever, that the colour of this quadrant lier, the Malkuth colours for Pentacles). puce of Yesod there goeth forth a cer- is not Grey, as it contains no white. tain red russet brown, ‘russet’yet gleam- We shall now turn our attention to Paths ing with a hidden fi re. From the green of The fi nal Black, the synthesis of all the 11 – 32, which equate to the 22 Paths Netzach and the puce of Yesod there colours, is a warm earthy Black, the which connect the Sephiroth – in Tarot goeth forth a certain other darkening deep brownish-black of soil, rich in de- terms, the Major Arcana. The colours green ‘Olive’ yet rich and glowing withal. composed matter – quite apt when we of all four scales may be found with- The synthesis of all these is a blackness consider that this lower quadrant “bor- in the relevant Majors Arcana Keys, which bordereth upon the Qlippoth. dereth upon the Qlippoth.” Indeed, we but it is in King Scale that we fi nd the have found that each of the colours predominant colours associated with All previous GD Colour Scales use the of the Malkuth square exist as co- these Paths. There are three main co- terms Citrine, Olive, Russet, and Black lours of the rocks and minerals of the lour formulae within the King Scale to describe the colours formed by the Earth herself (but not the greening of!) which, when Tarot cards are coloured mixing of the secondary colours in – appropriate for the Sephira of Earth accordingly, allows the reader to make their various combinations. Within the [Figure 7, p. 14]. astrological or elemental connections GD, Citrine is sometimes taken to be via the colour symbolism. For example: a greenish-yellow colour, and some- These four earthy colours are used times a yellow-brown. The fi rst record- in the , and also border • The Paths associated with the 12 Zodia- ed use of citrine as a colour in English the Court Cards of the Pentacles suit. cal signs of King Scale hold colours which was in 1386, and the original reference fi t to a colour wheel (albeit it an out-of-

12 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 Figure 5: Four, Five, Six of Cups: Golden Dawn Temple Tarot

Figure 6: Seven, Eight, Nine of Cups: Golden Dawn Temple Tarot

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 13 Figure 7: Malkuth Square Borders in Golden Dawn Temple Tarot

Figure 8: Amber + Green = Bright Yellow-green

14 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 date colour wheel). The Cicero Colour Scales bring great clarity to this pattern, as their King Scale colours are named accordingly:

[See table]

MAJOR ARCANA KEY ZODIACAL SIGN COLOUR Aries Red The Taurus Red-orange Gemini Orange Cancer Yellow-orange Leo Yellow Virgo Yellow-green Libra Green Scorpio Blue-green Sagittarius Blue Capricorn Blue-violet Aquarius Violet Pisces Red-violet

• The Paths of the Seven Planetary Signs in King Scale hold the colours of the rainbow or electro-magnetic spectrum of light through a prism:

MAJOR ARCANA KEY PLANETARY LINK COLOUR The Tower Mars Red The Sun Sun Orange The Magician Mercury Yellow Venus Green Moon Blue The Universe Saturn Indigo Wheel of Fortune Jupiter Violet

• The Paths associated with the three Primary Elements of Air, Fire, and Water, in King Scale also correspond to the three He- brew Mother letters. Here, the worded colour descriptions in the Regardie and Cicero Colour Scales illuminate a di erence in thought within the Golden Dawn across the board – should these three Paths tonally suggest the elemental colours of Air, Water and Fire? Or should they carry the three primary colours, according to their status as bearing the three Mother letters?

Regardie followed the colours almost as laid down by Florence Farr (who described as Glowing Scarlet-orange), illustrating the elemental nature of these cards:

Card Title Element Hebrew Colour The Spirit of Ether Air Aleph Bright pale yellow The Hanged The Spirit of the Water Mem Deep blue Man Mighty Waters Judgement The Spirit of the Fire Shin Glowing orange-scarlet Primal Fire

The Ciceros simplifi ed the colour names with the result of slight changes which place emphasis upon the primary nature rather than the tonal quality, thus:

The Fool = Yellow The Hanged Man = Blue Judgement = Red

In the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot, we coloured the borders of the Hanged Man and the Fool according to Regardie’s tables, but we used Magenta for the Spirit of the Primal Fire of the Judgement Key, rather than Glowing Scarlet-orange or Red. Initially, we felt reluctant to make such a drastic change to the established GD colour theory, feeling somewhat like novices standing in the shadow of Chiefs, which partly explains why, in our earlier publication of the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot Mediation Set (an A5 set of the Major Arcana with meditation guide) the Judgement border denotes Glowing Scarlet-Orange instead of Magenta (the other

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 15 reason being that at that time we had associated this card with Elemental Fire). Only in the fi nal days of completing the 80 paint- ings of this deck did the pressing point of placing Magenta in her rightful place as Primary for Judgement/Shin lead us to ask in meditation which colour should be used, and it was confi rmed that the Judgement Key should be coloured Magenta because its title ‘The Spirit of the Primal Fire’ refers to a Spiritual Fire in Man, otherwise known as the Kundalini, rather than Elemental Fire. So the colouring of the Judgement Key was modifi ed using computer software. (We did not, however, alter our colouring of the Fool or the Hanged Man.) The two images in Figure 9 show how great a part colour plays in the depiction of energy within a card.

Figure 9: Judgement Key: before and after [Golden Dawn Temple Tarot Meditation Set (left) and Deck (right)]

Introducing Magenta and Cyan as the true primaries a ects the colour wheel. Although it was necessary for a new colour wheel to be drawn up, from which accurate complementary colours could be deduced, we did not feel that this was the time to alter the colours attributed with Zodiacal signs. Such changes would require testing and meditation prior to application. Aries would become Magenta instead of Red, which would call for an Emperor card with a Magenta border colour, and this colour did not seem to fi t with the traditional symbolism incorporated within the Emperor Key. We opted instead to increase the amounts of Magenta in the two adjacent cards of the Emperor and the Moon, and highlight Magenta as the correct com- plementary colour to the Green of Venus, hence the Magenta-coloured dress worn by the Empress (fi g. 10). Additionally, the colours of text within the borders of the cards show the correct complementary/fl ashing colour to the main border colours.

Figure 10: The Emperor and The Empress, Golden Dawn Temple Tarot

16 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 The subject of the Golden Dawn Colour Theory is complex. In this article I have attempted to give an overview of some of the elements of the traditional GD framework, with an explanation of the subsequent modifi cations within the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot. The book A Sephirothic Odyssey: Painting the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot will further explore the subject of colour symbolism, along with the nature of the elemental make-up within the Court Cards, and an in-depth investigation into the Paths and Sephiroth of Tree of Life. In the meantime, it is our hope that the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot deck will inform and delight the reader with its inherent colour magic, touching the intuitive centres within and bringing something of great value from a remarkable study system into the lives of all who use it.

The Four Colour Scales (the 10 Sephiroth): Wendrich Revision:

KING SCALE QUEEN PRINCE PRINCESS SCALE SCALE SCALE WANDS CUPS SWORDS PENTACLES Kether 1 (ACE) Brilliance White White White fl ecked Brilliance Brilliance gold Chokmah 2 Soft Blue Mother of Bluish Mother White fl ecked Pearl of Pearl magenta, cyan, yellow Binah 3 Crimson Black Dark Brown Grey fl ecked pink Chesed 4 Deep Purple Cyan Deep Violet Deep azure fl ecked yellow Geburah 5 Orange Magenta Red Red fl ecked black Tiphareth 6 Clear Pink Yellow Salmon Gold Amber Rose (Lemon Yellow) Netzach 7 Amber Green Yellow-green Olive fl ecked gold Hod 8 Violet-purple Red-orange Russet Yellow-brown fl ecked white Yesod 9 Indigo Blue-violet Very dark Citrine (Ultramarine) Indigo fl ecked azure Malkuth 10 Yellow Citrine, slate, Citrine, slate, Black rayed russet, black russet, black, yellow fl ecked gold

Copyright © Nicola Wendrich, 2014 Images copyright © Wendrich artHouse 2014

The Golden Dawn Temple Tarot Deck and Meditation Set are available to purchase from www.wendricharthouse.com

Harry and Nicola Wendrich, A Sephirothic Odyssey: Painting the Golden Dawn Temple Tarot; to be published by Wendrich artHouse

Notes

[1] Regardie, The Golden Dawn, 6th Edition; p. 95 - 99 Llewellyn Publications, 1989.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 17 A NEW DAWN FOR TAROT.

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With 192 pages and images of the tarot drawn from the sketch books of the members, the book also includes previously unpub- lished work by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Florence Farr, in addition to new photographs of W. W. Westcott, and new discoveries of the tarot actually used by the founders of the Order.

A New Dawn for Tarot also includes an image of possibly the only surviving original "tracing board" sized Tarot image used in the Orders initiation rituals.

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18 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 TAROT HOUSES HOW TO WARM UP YOUR TAROT HOUSE! With Tarosophy Tarot Houses opening worldwide, you may like to explore some of the many teaching methods that are unique to our approach. In these two sample exercises, we play warm-up games that quickly install powerful new ways of appreciating tarot.

1. Alphabet Keywords 2. Ace of Base

Choose a letter such as “A” or “M” and give it to all the House The Aces represent Seeds, they are the “nascent” energy of members, working individually or in small groups if you have a their element; the moment even before the “beginning” which is larger House. represented by the Two’s.

Get them to shuffl e their decks and select a card. So, have everyone take out their Aces from a deck. Lay them out in any order in a row of four cards – if you want a rule, place Give them 3-4 minutes to write down as many words as possi- the Ace of Pentacles to the left, then in order to the right, the ble beginning with the letter that would match the card. , Cups then Wands. [This is a Kabbalistic order up the four worlds and prepares people who may go on to learn For example, the letter “S” and the Queen of Wands: Stormy, the Opening of the Key method] Sultry, Sad, Stiff , Stuck-up, Sane … Then shuffl e the rest of the deck, (you can do this with a real You may wish to give a small prize to the person/group who question or situation), or do it as a group fi rst before breaking have the most words. everyone up into individuals or small groups.

Then pick another letter and ask them to pick another card, Lay out four cards, each one overlapping each Ace. So you coming up with new keywords for the new card and the new might draw the above the Ace of Pentacles, for letter. example.

Ask if there was any diff erence in doing it a second-time. Was it Read each pair in the same way, starting with the Ace. easier? Harder? Are some cards turning out to be more diffi cult than others (like a Major card) and so on. Ace of Pentacles: “The seed of my resources and health is to be found in … “ [choose one word or sentence for the other card, Now have them go back with the same letter chosen for the e.g. for the Three of Swords, it would be … “in separating myself second card and apply it to the fi rst card. from anxiety”].

You will then be able to show them that they can generate Ace of Swords: “The seed of my education and lessons in life keywords for any card starting with almost any letter of the right now is to be found in …” [describe pulled card overlapping alphabet. the Ace of Swords]

You can encourage them to provide an A-Z keyword list for a Ace of Cups: “The seed of my emotional growth is to be found particular card as homework inbetween one House gathering in …” and the next. For example, the Ace of Swords: Ace of Wands: “The seed of my ambition and way in the world A: Ace, Alert, Ambition (maybe), Attack is to be found in …” B: Bright, burning (maybe), biting C: Clarity, clear, clean From an esoteric point of view, these are the four elemental D … foundations of work, and here a single card denotes how we can work with each “tool”.

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TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 19 TAROT BEGINNERS

YOUR FIFTY ESSENTIAL TAROT DECKS CCOMPILEDOMPILED BBYY TTALIALI GGOODWINOODWIN | TTAROTAROT AASSOCIATIONSSOCIATION FFACEBOOKACEBOOK GGROUPROUP

Taking it Up a notch with Tarot Illuminati.

To become truly essential, a In this deck, we see the Waite-Smith Tarot deck has to work as a symbolism of Pentacle and Rabbit on the UNIQUE Queen of Pentacles given a luxurious and piece of unique sequential art vibrant treatment. These two symbols ACCESSIBLE were taken by Waite and Smith from the which is able to be read in a designs of the Order of the Golden Dawn CREATIVE which were only ever hand-drawn by creative fashion. members.

Tarot Illuminati, Erik C. Dunne.

The Magician, from If you ask any reader for their essential decks, decks and then we collated the results to- you are going to fi nd yourself quickly experi- gether. The results are as divserse as you encing what we call the diversity of divination! might expect, even though we clipped the li- ist at the most commonly mentioned top fi f- Every reader will tell you that if you’re ty. We could easily have made it the top one asking them, you really must have a hundred, or maybe two hundred and fi fty. Thoth deck - or a Waite-Smith deck - or

Tarot Obscura a Fairytale Deck suitable for younger We’ve grouped decks together into his- people - or a Marseille deck ... and be- torical decks, Lenormand, Oracle decks, fore long, you’ll wonder why you asked! etc., and realise that each of the categories could also have a Top Fifty. This list is in- So we gathered our Tarot Association tended to represent a fair collection of di- facebookers together and asked them - all verse decks, giving you a good idea of what 13,000 of them - to tell us their essential other readers may have on their tables.

01 WORKING 02 PERSONAL03 MAGICAL

Most readers have a working Some readers have a deck or In addition to working and per- deck that serves as their favou- two which they consider for per- sonal decks, some readers rite workhorse deck in readings sonal readings for themselves, have decks which they reserve for clients or friends and fami- but may not actively use when for meditation, contemplation, ly. This deck is often personally reading for others. This deck is dreamwork or magick. These meaningful to the reader and has sometimes refl ective of a private decks are often more abstract or a history unique to that reader. side of the reader and their life. loaded with esoteric symbolism.

20 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 50 ESSENTIAL DECKS

1. Waite-Smith Tarot by A. E. Waite & 19. Osho-Zen Tarot by Osho with illustra- 35. The Blue Owl (Blaue Eule) (US Games, Pamela Colman-Smith (US Games) – tions by Deva Padma (Newleaf, 1994) 2011) and in diff erent versions. produced in diff erent editions, such as Commemorative, Radiant and Original. 20. Housewives Tarot by Paul Kepple & 36. The Gilded Reverie Lenormand by Ciro Also small and large sizes. Jude Buff um (Quirk Books, 2004) Marchetti (U.S. Games Systems, 2013)

2. The Thoth Tarot by & 21. The Hermetic Tarot by Godfrey Dow- Experimental Decks Frieda Harris (US Games & Others) – pro- son duced in diff erent editions and sizes. 37. The Transparent Tarot by Emily Card- New On The Scene ing (Schiff er Books, 2008) 3. The Mythic Tarot by by Juliet Shar- man-Burke, Liz Greene and Giovanni 22. Tarot of the Zirkus Magi by Doug 38. The Tarot of the Nine Paths by Dr. Art Caselli (St. Martin’s Press, 2011) – original- Thornsjo (Duck Soup Productions, 2014) Rosengarten (Self-Published, n.d.) ly produced by a diff erent artist, the older version is now scarce. 23. Chrysalis Tarot by Toney Brooks & 39. Tarot in the Land of the Mystereum by Holly Sierra (US Games, 2014) Jordan Hoggard (Schiff er, 2011) 4. Deviant Moon by Patrick Valenza (US Games, 2008. Also borderless edition, 24. City Mystic Tarot: NYC by Virginia 40. The Voyager Tarot by James Wanless 2014) Jester & Chris Hopkins (Self-Published, & Ken Knutson (Fair Winds Press, 2008) 2014) 5. The Wildwood Tarot by Mark Ryan, 41. The Word of One Tarot by John Starr John Matthews, Will Worthington (Sterling Oracle Decks Cooke (1992) Ethos,2011) – a popular revisiting of the Greenwood Tarot, which is now extremely 25. The Psycards by Nick Hobson & Mag- Our Picks rare. gie Kneen (US Games, 2002) 42. Tarot of the Silicon Dawn by Egypt 6. The Druidcraft Tarot by Stephanie 26. The Philosopher’s Stone by De Es Urnash (Lo Scarabeo, 2011) – there is no Carr-Gomm and Will Worthington (St. (Currently out of print) other deck like this. Martin’s Press, 2005) – a popular pa- gan-themed deck. 27. Oracle of Visions by Ciro Marchetti 43. The Alice Tarot by Karen Mahony & (US Games, 2014) Alex Ukolov (Magic Realist Press, 2013) – 7. The Morgan Greer Tarot by Bill F. Greer head down the rabbit whole. (U.S Games, Inc., 2012) 28. The Oracle of Initiation by Mellissae Lucia (Self-published, tarot-sized edition, 44. Darkana Tarot by Dan Donche 8. The Golden Tarot Deck by Kat Black 2014) (Self-published, 2013) – Tarot with a (U. S Games Inc., 2004) – an incredible Grunge Vibe. collage work of art. Historic Decks 45. Sun and Moon Tarot by Vanessa 9. The Gaian Tarot by Joanna Powell Col- 29. Grand – produced in diff erent Decort (US Games, 2012) – Simple and bert (Llewellyn, 2011) versions, for example, The Book of Thoth: Profound. Etteilla Tarot (Lo Scarabeo, 2003). 10. The Gilded Tarot by Ciro Marchetti 46.. Tarot de St. Croix by Lisa de St. Croix (Llewellyn 2012) 30. Visconti Sforza Tarot – produced in (Devorah, 2014). diff erent versions, for example, the Vis- 11. The Steampunk Tarot by Barbara conti (Lo Scarabeo. 2000). 47. The Aquarian Tarot by David Palladi- Moore and Aly Fell (Llewellyn, 2012) ni (US Games, 1988) – or the later New Palladini Tarot (US Games, 1996) 12. Tarot Illuminati by Erik C. Dunne and 31. Sola Busca Tarot – produced in diff er- Kim Huggens (Lo Scarebeo, 2013) ent versions, for example, the Sola Busca by Wolfgang Mayer (1998), off ered by 48. The Burning Serpent Oracle by Rachel Giordano Berti. Pollack & Robert M. Place (Self-published, 13. The Enchanted Tarot Deck by Amy 2014) – a modern interpretation of an- Zerner and Monte Farber (Connections, tique oracular systems. 2009) 32. The Tarot – produced in dif- ferent versions, for example by Lo Scar- 49. Tarot by Dennis Fairchild (Running 14. The Mary-El Tarot by Marie White abeo, 2011. A deck of 97 cards running parallel to the development of Tarot. Press, 2002) – a mini-deck with simple (Schiff er, 2012) but universally accessible symbolism. Good for travel. 15. The Jungian Tarot Deck by Robert Marseilles decks Wang (Marcus Aurelius press, 2001) 33. The CBD Tarot de Marseille by Yoav 50. Revelations Tarot by Zach Wong (Llewellyn, 2012) for its take on rever- 16. The Lo Scarabeo Tarot by Mark McEl- Ben-Dov (2012). A version of the Conver (1760) deck with clean lines and colours. sals, or Tarot of the New Vision by Pietro roy (Llewellyn, 2007) Alligo, Raul Cestaro & Gianluca Cestaro Lenormand decks (Lo Scarabeo, 2003) for its reversal of 17. The Hanson-Roberts Tarot by Mary perspective on the Waite-Smith design. Hanson-Roberts (US Games, 2012) 34. The Original Lenormand (Forge Press, 18. Tyldwick Tarot by Neil Lovell (self-pub- 2012) – based on the original Game of lished, 2013) Hope located in the British Museum by Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 21 COLLECTORS WHAT MAKES A COLLECTIBLE DECK? From fi rst edition Pamela Colman-Smith decks to decks produced in limited editions of twenty-fi ve or less, there is much to tempt a collector of tarot. What makes a collectible deck, and what aspects should you consider when collecting tarot as a pastime?

WRITEN BY. MARCUS KATZ | PHOTOGRAPH BY. MARCUS

ASESSING The Thompson-Leng Deck (1935). This deck was produced and given away with a woman’s magazine so it is relatively scarce. The designs DECK VALUE are wonderully dated to the era, making it very collectable.

RARITY & HISTORICAL STORY 1 UNIQUENESS 2 WORTH 3 Whilst obvious, a deck which only A deck which is attached to a A back-story which adds to exists on the entire planet as one now-historical fi gure or transi- the richness of a deck will usu- or two physical decks will add to tion point of tarot, will acrue val- ally make it valuable. A spe- value. There are only 2-3 orgin- ue over time, such as the fi rst cifi c deck used by a famous al Waite-Smith decks anywhere! photographic deck, for example. actress in a fi lm, for example.

22 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 Are you a Collector? When you are running out of storage space for your decks, you are approach- The average number of decks ing collector-status, partic- owned by an engaged tarot COLLECTABLE DECKS ularly when you start stor- enthusiast - someone likely ing decks in sealed boxes! to be in online groups, attend courses and conventions, Tar- Collectors will also spend ot Houses and so on, is for- PAM-A VERSIONS many hours on Ebay and ty-four. Anything over that, other online forums and auc- you are likely to be a collector! tions looking for decks, and if there is just one deck - just The largest collections (see one deck - that you feel would below) have approaching make your life complete, yet 2,500 items, so that is the up- which remains totally out of per-end of collectable tarot. If your grasp, like a Holy Graal you have 100+ decks, you are - and even when you have most certainly a collector - it it, there is another ... then would take two years alone you are defi nitely a collector! to read with each deck, read- The fi rst 1909 and 1910 issues of the Waite-Smith Tarot ing a diff erent one every week! produced by Rider are extremely collectable. They have been variously termed PAM-A to PAM-D depending on BIG COLLECTORS the issue.

There are perhaps less than thing happen to their collector. TAROT OBSCURA ten very large collections of tarot in the world and virtu- There have also been fa- ally all of them are in private mous sales of parts of large collections. This means that collections, such as that by there is no one central re- Christies of the Stuart and positary of tarot items for re- Marilyn Kaplan collection in search or viewing purposes. June, 2006. So extensive were the items, the illustrated This has recently changed catalogue for the sale itself with the acquisition of the K. is a bit of a collectors item! Frank Jensen collection by Roskilde University. The Jen- Other collections remain pri- One of the limited edition Majors-only decks produced sen collection is one of the vate other than the occais- by Adam Mclean of Glasgow, the Tarot Obscura is out- largest in the world and in- onal photograph shared out of-print and was produced in only a few hundred cop- cludes many antique play- onto social media. The in- ies. Many of these decks are now rare & collectable. ing cards as well as tarot. It creasing number of decks is hoped that the University means that it is a very ex- TAROT OF INITIATION will make the collection avaiil- pensive proposition to have able to researchers in future. a “comprehensive” collec- tion, particularly with storage. Other collections are being sold off piecemeal or appear One trend may be to special- to have little plans for distribu- ise in collecting; for example, tion or inheritance should any- collecting all “pagan” decks.

MOST WANTED DECKS

It is diffi cult to tell what might tion team; the Light deck and Sometimes a deck may be relatively and entirely un- make a deck most desirable the Dark deck, were sold in known, and almost lost. A few copies may come up for and rare, but there are several limited quantities and went auction, often mislabelled or bundled with other decks decks that cause a froth when somewhat unrecognised at from house clearances. An example might be The Tarot they become listed in auctions the time. Since then, their de- of Initiation by Steven Marshall, Illus. Emmett Brennan. - other than those immediate- tail and beauty has been re- This version in our collection was coloured partly by ly rare due to being museum marked upon enough to make hand, making it a curious and unique collectors item. pieces or genuine antique them “most wanted” when works of art in themselves. they turn up for auction - rarely.

One such deck is the MAGNA There is presently a Mag- VERITAS deck by Boltcutter na Veritas deck on Ebay for Design. This deck, and two $999 at the time of this issue. others by the same produc-

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 23 An Illustration of the Tree of Life by Tarot The Tarot of the Secret Dawn can be overlaid onto the Kabbalistic Tree of Life, revealing universal patterns of corre- spondence and meaning.

The Tarot of the Secret Dawn (planned for Decem- ber 2014) by Janine Hall (art), Derek Bain (original re- search), Marcus Katz & Tali Goodwin (design and text).

This deck of 22 images has been con- structed from the instructions left in a se- cret paper written by an Adept of the orig- inal Golden Dawn - a paper which has lain undiscovered for a century in the Order archives.

The Path of Gimel, the Moon.

In this image below we see the Pharos or obe- lisk of seven stages, uniting Kether above and Tiphareth below. At each side are the Sephiroth of Geburah (the pentagram) and Chesed (Jupiter).

This card image corresponds to the High Priest- ess of the Tarot. Whilst this may not seem obvi- ous at fi rst glance, we should consider that the High Priestess embodies the hidden light of the divine (Kether) in consciousness (Tiphareth), i.e. intuition. In this vision of the path, the same aspect is seen as a Pharos, a lighthouse.

IS AM HIL IS DDOLORERE PERNATIA seri in exerovi duntia vent. Ilitatque dolecto enet lam accae nobitincid eatur.

Why Learn Kabbalah? Firstly, there is no neccessity to learn Kabbalah, the system of Jewish mys- ticism which has been integrated into over the last Meditation & Divination two centuries. Indeed, it is a comprehensive system in its own right, totally The deck images were scryed by independent of Tarot. a member of the Golden Dawn us- ing a technique known as “rising However, learning Kabbalah can provide a unique structure for the Tarot on the planes”. The booklet accom- through correspondence - which illuminates many aspects of the spiritual panying this new deck will con- path and patterns in everyday life. tain instructions on using the deck for pathworking, guided visualisa- The Tarot could be said to be an illustrated picture-book of the Tree of Life, tion, dream-work, magick and con- and Kabbalah, through the fact that both systems arise from the same templation - as well as divination. considerations of life both seen and unseen.

24 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 CARD BY CARD

THE TOWER FROM DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

Yeats, Piercy, & RWS Clones by Marjorie Jensen

WRITEN BY. MAJORIE JENSEN | TOWER IMAGE FROM PAM-A DECK IN PRIVATE COLLECTION

William Butler Yeats is at the nexus be- ent artistic perspectives in the classic Rid- tween poetry and Tarot. It’s intimidating er-Waite-Smith deck and its clones Tarot to write about Yeats because he is so fa- of the New Vision and The Goddess Tarot. mous—his lines about the “rough beast” slouching towards Bethlehem have been Yeats is known for being a symbol- quoted in a number of TV shows, movies, ist poet, and for using the symbol-lad- and books. For many scholars of literature, en Tarot in his poetry as well as in Gold- Yeats is the only recognizable member of en Dawn magic. In Yeats, The Tarot, and the Golden Dawn. And he is an inspiration to The Golden Dawn, Kathleen Raine asserts: contemporary poets such as Marge Piercy. For Yeats magic was not so much a One intimidating symbol that Yeats uses kind of poetry, as poetry a kind of mag- in his poetry is the Tower. He looks at it in ic, and the object of both alike was evo- “Blood and the Moon” from one perspec- cation of energies and knowledge from tive, and Marge Piercy looks at the same beyond normal consciousness. (31) symbol from a diff erent perspective in her poem “The tower struck by lightning re- He evokes these energies with symbols such The Tower from the Waite-Trinick Tarot versed; the overturning of the tower.” The as the Tower. His poem “Blood and the Moon” J. B. Trinick produced 22 Majors for use in change in poetic perspective between explicitly renders the act of symbol-making: A. E. Waite’s secret Order, the F.R.C. these works can be compared to the diff er-

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 25 I declare this tower is my symbol; I Tarot of the New Vision, created by Piet- eclecticism of the Golden Dawn and its declare ro Alligo with artwork by Raul and Gianlu- members who created the RWS deck. This winding, gyring, spiring treadmill ca Cestaro. Rather than move the Tow- of a stair is my ancestral stair er from vertical to horizontal (as Piercy Eclecticism is one way to join the person- does), the Tarot reader is moved 180 al and the universal. In the introduction The speaker is taking possession of degrees around the image. This reveals to Laying down the tower, Piercy writes: the symbol, making it personal. He the back of the burning structure and an enters into a lineage of symbol-mak- apple tree with a snake around the trunk. We must break through the old roles ers, and brings the Tower to his spe- to encounter our own meanings in cifi c time and place. In a dedication for The tree in the Tarot of the New Vision the symbols we experience … What the edition of The Winding Stair pub- is a Biblical allusion, visually referencing we use we must remake. Then we lished by Macmillan & Co, Yeats writes: the snake on the Tree of Knowledge in are not playing with dead dreams but Eden. The shift in perspective accentu- seeing ourselves more clearly, and I think that I was roused to write… ates the connection between the card’s more clearly becoming. The defeat- ‘Blood and the Moon’ by the as- falling man and woman and the fall of ed in history lose their names, their sassination of Kevin O’Higgins, Adam and Eve from paradise in Genesis. goddesses (118-119) the fi nest intellect in Irish public Furthermore, this allusion reminds the life, and, I think I may add, to some reader of another story from Genesis— Creating a deck based on the Rid- extent, my friend. (Finneran 462) the Tower of Babel. Both Yeats and Piercy er-Waite-Smith is a remaking—a way allude to Genesis 11: 1-9. Piercy writes: to “break through the old roles.” Kris He deals in both the universal and the Waldherr’s The Goddess Tarot re- individual; the word-magic includes a The Tower of Baffl e speaks makes the RWS by uncovering God- symbol that has been used for centu- bureaucratic and psychologese, desses from a wide variety of cultures. ries in the arts, and its use is inspired multiple choice, one in vain, one by a personal and political event. insane, one trite as rain. It can be argued that The Goddess Tarot is not a “clone” of the RWS. I am using the Marge Piercy uses the same symbol This refers to a modern incarnation term “clone” to mean a 78-card Tarot deck in her sequence of poems based on of the Biblical splitting of a single lan- with illustrated pips. Switching the num- a Celtic Cross Tarot spread; her per- guage—the creation of dictions for bu- bering of Strength/Justice points to other spective is articulated in the title of the reaucrats and psychologists. Both in infl uences for Waldherr’s deck but, over- collection: Laying down the tower. In Genesis and in the 1970s when Piercy all, the imagery of her deck (especially the this spread, the Tower card is reversed: fi rst published this poem, the language pips) most closely resembles the RWS. split arose from vanity or pride. Yeats, The Tower will fall if we pull together. in the 1930s, speaks to the same sin: The traditional Tower (XVI) is replaced Then the Tower reversed, symbol of with The Wawalak, or Oppression, in The tyranny and oppression, Blessed be this place, Goddess Tarot. The Wawalak is a pair of shall not be set upright. More blessed still this tower; Australian aboriginal sister goddesses. We are not turning things over A bloody, arrogant power In the accompanying book, Waldherr merely Rose out of the race summarizes their myth—after acciden- but we will lay the Tower on its side. Uttering it, mastering it tally polluting the sacred waterhole of We will make it a communal Yurlungur, the Great Rainbow Serpent, longhouse. The “arrogant power” is one built with with menstrual blood, the sisters and pride, and it rules through mastery of their children are swallowed by the ser- Piercy’s transformation of the tradition- language (utterances). Raine describes pent and eventually reborn (49-50). al symbology of the Tower shifts it from this as the hybris of Self over Soul, vertical to horizontal. This is a refl ection which results in being struck by “di- The Great Rainbow Serpent connects to of gender politics in shape; the mascu- vine lightning which reduces to ruin” the Biblical snake revealed by the shift line, phallic upright (or reversed) Tower all constructs (52-53). The Tower cards in perspective of the Tarot of the New is turned into a more feminine, vaginal in both the RWS deck and Tarot of the Vision; both clones bring a snake to the longhouse that holds life inside of it. The New Vision include this lightning strike. Tower. Janet and Stewart Farrar, in The speaker is not arguing for inversion or Witches’ Goddess, note that the “Great restoration of a structure but for a new However, the story of the Tower of Ba- Rainbow Snake” is in “some areas [of structure to be created out of the ruins. bel doesn’t explicitly mention lightning. Australia] female, in others male” (263). In the Bible, the Lord’s punishment is to: This kind of gender-shifting can be seen Like Yeats, Piercy makes her political in Piercy’s reimagining of the phallic Tow- motives explicit. In other lines of the confound the language of all the er symbol (snakes and towers both be- same poem, she condemns the mili- earth: and from thence did the Lord ing phallic) as a more vaginal longhouse. tary, the Rockefellers, and General Mo- scatter them abroad upon the face tors for their destruction of lives and of all the earth. (King James Version Drawing (down) pre-Christian God- the environment. The symbol of the Genesis 11:9) desses is a personal and political act Tower not only transcends her time for many women. Taking up ancient and place, but its reinvention is key The lightning in the RWS Tarot and its symbols of the Divine Feminine to to transformation within her time and clones is from another source (perhaps approach modern issues is a blend- place; it is both specifi c and universal. from the hand of Zeus who was a frequent ing of the universal and the individual. visitor in Yeats’ poetry). In other words, the A shift in perspective like the one be- lightning is part of a diff erent perspective. Both poetry and Tarot are vehicles in which tween Yeats and Piercy can be seen most Tarot historians such as Helen Farley as one can move around symbols and see literally in the Rider-Waite-Smith clone, well as Kathleen Raine have noted the them from diff erent perspectives. Yeats

26 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 27 would argue that the symbols themselves are the drivers. He wrote to Florence Farr:

symbols and formulae are powers, which act in their own right and with little consideration for our intentions, however excellent (Raine 31)

Poets and deck designers allow these powers to work through them. Readers can benefi t from seeing symbols from a wide variety of perspectives; learn- ing about these diff erent viewpoints will help reveal magical “knowledge from beyond normal consciousness.”

Works Cited.

Farrar, Janet, and Stewart Far- rar. The Witches’ Goddess. Custer: Phoenix Publishing, Inc., 1995. Print.

Piercy, Marge. Circles on the Wa- ter: Selected Poems. New York: Al- fred A. Knopf, Inc., 1982. Print.

Raine, Kathleen. Yeats, The Tar- ot, and The Golden Dawn. Dub- lin: The Dolmen Press, 1972. Print.

Waldherr, Kris. The Goddess Tarot. Stam- ford: U.S. Games Systems, 1999. Print.

Yeats, William Butler. The Collect- ed Poems of W.B. Yeats. Ed. Rich- ard Finneran. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1989. Print.

Marjorie Jensen is editing an anthology of poetry about Tarot. More information about the project can be found at: tarotpoetry.wordpress.com

28 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 Photograph by Viona ielegems, fashion and styling Alex Ukolov and Karen Mahony, Baba Studio - http://baba-store.com

MAY A FULL DECK OF POSSIBILITIES BE YOURS

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 29 NEW TAROT METHODS THE STANDING WOMAN SPREAD BY : DR. UTE KNECKTYS SYMBOLS ON THE CARD Dr. Ute Knecktys shares a spread inspired by the late 1 The wand in the right hand of the Queen Hajo Banzhoff ’s method of creating a spread from a 2 The fl ower in her left hand card image. 3 The head under the crown 4 The grey cape WRITEN BY. DR. UTE KNECKTYS | CARD: PAM-A WAITE-SMITH TAROT (1909) 5 The yellow dress 6 The base where the Queen puts her feet 7 The back-rest of her throne Looking at the Queen of Wands Simply select nine cards into the 8 “Snu es” the black cat you see her sitting on her throne. positions shown and relate them 9 The view in the distance of the Queen In spite of this I called this spread to the meanings I provide here. “Standing-Woman” because in our daily life a woman who stands up Using Di erent Meanings. SPREAD POSITIONS for her rights doesn’t have a throne to sit on as the Queen of Wands. In correspondence to diff ferent decks The wand in the right hand of the you can discover the opportunities Queen: But the women in our every-day-life for your own life: If, for example, you 1. This is the force which supports you. should be respected as a queen and might not agree the third card “au- if they are persons with dignity and thority” you should consider chang- sovereignty they will get the author- ing this! So, of course, this proce- The fl ower in her left hand: ity like a “standing” woman – like the dure is the same with all the cards. The things that will bring you most joy Queen of Wands. This new spread 2. and balance. can help to achieve authority as it is I have also provided an example showing the questioners place in life reading using the Waite-Smith Tarot and gives ideas/answers what to do as well as a short interpretation for The head under the crown: for getting the authority you could get. the questioner, fi rst keywords in the Your present authority to act. schedule and more in a little summary. 3. The grey cape: The protection you can gain against EXAMPLE READING 4. all external infl uences or opposition. 1: = atmosphere of Focus your activities, do not do too passion, adventure, new things. much and concentrate on your likes. 2: Ace of Cups = happiness, feelings The yellow dress: of joy. When you give precise off ers to 5. What you should show externally. 3: 10 of wands = warning: overload, your surrounding world (like family, you have to concentrate, to focus friends or colleagues…) you will be The base, where the Queen puts her your activities . protected from infl uences which are feet: 4: Page of Pentacles = give precise not good for you, for example jeal- 6. The support you can count upon ideas to your surrounding world. ousy, envy or similar resentments. always. 5: Wheel of Fortune = You are open for all new tasks. To other people you seem to be open “Snu es” the black cat: 6: = You can trust for all new ideas, for all new coming Your own abilities, which are already your own intellect. tasks - this may be very good, but 7. present and can be developed as you 7: = The for also be warned from being used! are ready. adventures. 8: 4 of Wands = Your background is The King of Swords shows that The back-rest of her throne: save and you are loved. you can trust your own intellect, 8. The support you can fall back upon in 9: The Emperor = You can materialize your own mind will lead you well. an emergency. your wishes and ideas . If you invite adventures and new ideas into your life, they can devel- The view in the distance of the Queen: The atmosphere of adventure or op to a good power especially in Where to set your future goal. passion supports you to fi nd your front of such a safe background. 9. own way in life while good feelings such as love, happiness or joy bring Perhaps you will write a book or you into balance. But take good you make an invention in time! The care of not overloading yourself in last card promises that your ideas mental and in practical meaning. will become reality – so go start!

30 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 31 DECKS IN DEVELOPMENT THE NEW WAVE OF

Lux (light) + ferrous (to bear or carry) The Lux Ferous deck by Fiona Benjamin & Nghia Hoang aims to re-kindle the fi re between the divine and divination.

RELEASED IN SPRING 2016 The deck Majors show deities across human culture in both light & darkness.

YOUNG TAROSOPHIST OF THE YEAR Fiona was awarded Young Tarosophist of the Year 2013 for her approach to Tarot in unique circumstances.

MULTI-CULTURAL DESIGNS The deck draws on a variety of cultures and is drawn in a style bridging Eastern Manga with Western considerations.

FIONA IS BASED IN OKINAWA As the Tarot Reader of Okinawa she is one of the founders of the Ryukyu Open Circle and off ers readings. http://www.fi onabenjamin.com

32 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 LUX FEROUS TAROT BY FIONA BENJAMIN & NGHIA HOANG

FROM LUCIFER TO JOAN OF ARC.

The Lux Ferous deck draws on a wide range of classical myth and lore, from the fall of Lucifer in the Blasted Tower to the positioning of Joan or Arc on the Fool. Whilst not an obvious choice for the Fool archetype, on closer consideration the use of Joan is an inspired and exquisite decision; her visions led her to forsake herself for the divine plan; and she was ultimately pronounced “innocent” of heresy through a “nullifi cation trial”. These aspects of the myth of Joan of Arc accord with many writings on the Fool; a divinely inspired journeyer who is innocent of their own self in service of a higher cause.

THE HIGH PRIESTESS With both bow and book, the Dianic priestess embodies the three phases of the Moon.

For more information and to engage with this deck in development, check out: OLD TRADITIONS, https://www.facebook.com/luxferoustarot NEW VOICES

JOAN OF ARC AS THE FOOL The Ace of Pentacles in the Lux Ferous is drawn from The spirit of the young Joan is here utilised as the Fool. Fiona quotes; “I am not the biblical quote: afraid, I was born to do this” as her inspiration for this image. “Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.”

Rev 13:18

THE NEW WAVE DECKS ON FACEBOOK & SOCIAL MEDIA

Most new decks are now widely trailed on Facebook and other social media platforms. This is rapidly becom- ing a more engaged creative process, as fans of the deck in development get to not only ask questions but make suggestions! Many deck designers actively seek suggestions and become “crowd-informed” if not totally “crowd-created”.

The creators of the Lux Ferous have already used their platform to ask which card their fans would like to see next created, and poll whether the deck should be bordered or not.

The future of deck creaton is one of increasing collabo- ration between artist and audience.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 33 DECKS IN DEVELOPMENT CITY MYSTIC TAROT: NYC

“New York speaks a vibrant humming language that asks of one nothing short of full presence”. [Ginnie Jester]

PHOTOGRAPHY & WRITING BY GINNIE JESTER | GRAPHIC DESIGN BY CHRIS HOPKINS

The City Mystic Tarot: NY is a 78-card New York Public Library in Bryant Park. deck capturing the energy of New York City through b&w photography. In reading Strength, we are told “to It is a collaboration between Mag- become strong and radiant in heart, num Opus Tarot [Ginnie Jester] and and to heal heartache, heartbreak and Good Choice Designs [Chris Hopkins]. cowardice within ourselves. Strength asks us to seal up the cracks and fi ll In the Strength card we see the the vessel of the heart with bright, choice of landmarks used in depicting strong, beaming, radiant, pure love. the Fool’s Journey through the city; We learn to accept our shadow, and for the fi rst time must take personal The Fool is in front of The New School responsibility for healing our internal Dormitory, Kerry Hall. With its unusual wounds. It takes the heart of a lion to geometric windows situated within its overcome some of our most deep- brass siding, the building just north east ly ingrained fears, yet the Strength of Washington Square. Superimposed card tells us that we have matured to onto the building is the profi le of one the point when we have the where- the lion statues fl anking the entry to the withal and cadence to do just that.

34 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 The World, an Ultimate Pinnacle

The Fool’s journey reaches a culmination of fullness and actualization at Grand Central Terminal. For the fi rst time, we see the front of the Fool; the beauty of her face and detailed gestures is totally apparent to the witness. We see fl owing dress and the objects she holds: in her right hand a shield and olive branch paying homage to victory and triumph, in her left a crown of laurels her- alding glory- a fi ve-sectioned mural crown representa- tive of the fi ve boroughs. In all her distinction, she sits between the facade of the Empire State Building and Jules-Felix Coutan’s 1914 sculpture, Glory of Commerce. Hermes sits tall and proud in the center of this relief above a large and marvelous clock. To his right sits Hercules, to his left Minerva. An eagle nuzzles his knee. Together these three represent the American virtues of commerce, free trade, travel and patriotism all rolled into one relief. In the sky the outline of Richard Lip- old’s “Flight” sculpture which welcomes guests into the MetLife Building just behind Grand Central brings an air of magic into play. The architectural elements coalesce to create a sense of completion and achievement- a sentiment New York City is especially famous for.

Our Fool has journeyed far and wide, and has gleaned many insights along the path to maturity. In the World, she reaches the ultimate pinnacle of mature, self-actu- alized life experience, which is not to say that her wild- est dreams have come true in the exact manner she dreamt them, but in a manner that can be sustained within the limits and restrictions of physical life. She is not hindered by such limitations, but rather, she ma- tures and grows around them, with them, incorporating their presence into her fi nal product. In essence, we see success of the soul in human form: no small endeavor.

The World, in Readings

In readings, The World represents a certain kind of mastery- incorpo- rating self-mastery as well as mastery over one’s own environment. It is not total control that she seeks, rather it is right relationship with what she can control, and acceptance of what she cannot. Often in our lives we feel that things need to be exactly as we envision them when we are fi rst inspired by our Magician-like will and creativity. Through the process of maturation, acceptance, self-examination, and continued eff ort, we fi nd that we can actualize the potential we came into life with, however, we learn the absolute necessity to do so within our means and limitations. The World presents to us the essence of ultimate freedom; to do our very best with what we have, and to celebrate our accomplishments, successes, responsi- bilities, enlightenments and completions with true grace. With the World we can expect the highest acclaim possible. Our inner Fool has accepted an invitation extended to the soul. It has been through the process of maturation and has come home, to its full evolu- tion, attracting to us acclaim and reward for all the eff ort. Celebrate, and know that you are doing or have done the best you can in the situation at hand. At the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about!

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 35 REVISED & RE-ISSUED TAROT THE KNAPP-HALL BECOMES THE REVISED NEW ART TAROT First published in 1929, the classic Tarot developed by Manly P. Hall (1901-1990) and John Augustus Knapp (1853-1938) has been revised and re-issued by the Philosophical Research Society (PRS).

WRITEN BY. MARCUS KATZ | IMAGES COURTESY OF DR. YOLANDA ROBINSON/PRS

Classic Iconography The Knapp-Hall images are Our Review a timeless working of esoteric tarot, drawing from diverse sources.

Manly Palmer Hall and John Augustus Knapp shared not only an interest in esotericism but also a fervent creativity. Hall’s Secret Teaching of All Ages, whilst being academically variable, is a vast compendium of esoteric teaching. Knapp himself illustrated not only for Hall but for many works, including Etidorhpa (1895) by John Uri Lloyd, a strange tale of a journey into the centre of the earth, ripe with mystical symbology.

Their deck was originally published in 1929 and has since been revised by Ken Henson, Dr. Yolanda Robinson, and PRS archivist Ms. Edie Shapiro, issued as The Revised New Art Tarot. The original images have been re-centered, although the colouring has been sensitively left slightly “mis-registered” to preserve the authentic charm of the original deck.

Henson writes more about his revision work on the deck on his site at Ken Henson Art: http://www.artistkenhenson.com/p/knapphall-tarot.html

36 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 MANLY P. HALL AUTHOR OF SECRET TEACHINGS OF ALL AGES Hall’s magnum opus is surely the Secret Teachings of All Ages, a large compendi- um of extended essays on Kabbalah, Alchemy, Freemasonry, Secret Socities and the Mysteries of Antiquity.

In Secret Teachings of All Ages, Hall the ignorant, thus becoming play- quotes from previous authors such things - in many instances even in- as Waite, Papus, Court de Gebe- struments of Vice” (SToaA, p. CXXX). lin. He is also familiar with Paul Fos- ter Case’s work on the Tarot cards. He also repeats the idea that the cards came from Egypt via the gypsies - al- Hall does continue the idea that “the though there is still no evidence of this. tarot cards were entrusted by the il- Despite these assertions, com- lumined of the Myster- mon at the time, Hall’s work remains ies into the keeping of the foolish and a truly invaluable compendium.

A KEY TO THE MYSTERIES

The Knapp-Hall deck contains embedded symbolism developed by Hall to illustrate the correspondences of the card images to other systems.

THE FOOL’S SUPREME ADVENTURE

Writng in 1928, Hall was one of the vine Wisdom. If the zero card be con- fi rst to talk about what is now com- sidered as extraneous to the major monly known as the “Fool’s Journey”. trumps, this destroys the numerical analogy between these cards and the He wrote: Hebrew letters by leaving one letter without a Tarot correspondent. In this “If Le Mat be placed before the fi rst event it will be necessary to assign the card of the Tarot deck and the others missing letter to a hypothetical Tarot laid out in a horizontal line in sequence card called the elements, assumed to from left to right, it will be found that have been broken up to form the 56 the Fool is walking toward the oth- cards of the minor trumps. It is pos- er trumps as though about to pass sible that each of the major trumps through the various cards. Like the may be subject to a similar division.” spiritually hoodwinked and bound neophyte, Le Mat is about to enter Our Review upon the supreme adventure--that of passage through the gates of the Di-

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 37 TAROT FACTS

TRENDS IN TAROT One of the interesting trends seen in the Boswell Survey of 2014 was that more readers were experimenting with re- versed card meanings. In fact, less read- ers were sticking with upright-only read- ings, and occaisonly trying reversed cards.

It does not yet mean that reversals are making an appearance in every read- ing, but it is certainly a move towards more reversals being used in future!

58% of questions asked of tarot readers are about relationships PUBLISHING NEWS The growth of the Tarot industry has been unparalled 88% in recent years with more decks being published by of Tarot Readers established and independent designers than ever be- are Women. fore. We take a look at what may be fuelling this growth.

WRITEN BY. MARCUS KATZ | TALI GOODWIN

Whilst not tarot, there have been more form on social media to some extent. Lenormand decks published in the last two years than in the two hundred So it is with Tarot; where in both sit- DE-BORDERING years since a marketing ploy turned uations the permeability of indie and a German parlour game into Mlle. mass market publications has also CARDS Lenormand’s fortune-telling cards. grown. Several new decks have been One noticeable trend in the recent two years picked up from social media exposure has been the de-bordering of decks. This was This has been made possible by the and self-printing by larger publish- seen originally by a number of Youtubers and availability both of print-on-demand ers such as US Games Systems, Inc., picked up by a photo of a reader at a TarotCon companies and social networking. The Lo Scarabeo, Llewellyn and Schiff er. using a de-bordered Thoth deck. This led to a former removes the barrier for entry fl urry of de-borderectomies being carried out. for any deck - there needs be no ed- The access to information has ac- itor, quality check or prior assesment celerated, so there are fewer con- That this should become a trend is evidenced of likely sales before a deck is phys- straints to learning than before; it by recent mainstream publishers issuing ically produced. The latter removes is only a century ago that tarot was decks without borders, such as Tarot Illu- the barrier to distribution networks, as taught only to initiates of secret or- minati by Erik C. Dunne (pub. Lo Scarabeo). every deck creator can create a plat- ders. Contemporary authors have

38 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 BEST SELLERS

CATHOLIC MYSTICS, SHAKESPEARE & It may surprise you to learn that the best-selling tarot decks are all devel- oped from forms of Christian worldview.

Often the tarot world is seen as being infuse Doreen Virtue’s cards, they are on the fringe or somewhat rebelling all re-takes of what every Church-- against mainstream life. However, in goer will consider on a weekly basis. terms of its religious or philosophical background, it seems that its best-sell- The Waite-Smith deck is also made ers are fi rmly rooted in concepts that unconsciously accessible by Pa- are familiar to most in our cullture - mela Colman-Smith having drawn and this should come as no surprise. on the greatest story-teller of our language; Shakespeare, in many The best-selling decks are presently of the Minor cards. So the best-sell- the Waite-Smith Tarot and the Angel ing cards are not so occult after all Tarot cards by Doreen Virtue. In both - instead, they are popular precise- cases they are highly individualised ly because they are - at some level takes on western religious iconogra- - recognised instantly by everyone. phy; the symbols of the Devil, the Ace Production in London (1690 ) In this illustration we see many of the processes of Cups (with Dove), the Angels that and people involved in producing a card deck.

We asked hundreds of pro- fessional readers about their preferences for “Waite-Smith” clone decks or decks that dif- fered widely from this model.

“When you are looking at a tar- ot deck to purchase, do you consider whether it is similar to the Waite-Smith Tarot design?”

For example, would you ex- pect the deck to show the 3 of Swords as a Heart pierced with three Swords - or not mind if it was something totally diff erent?

[Source: Boswell Survey 2014]

specialised in developing the training of tarot to ensure rap- en Dawn merged the streams of European cartomancy into id acquisition of basic skills and methods. This in turn has a kabbalistic and hermetic fusion for their members. Now, led to those new to tarot developing new ideas and in- we see NLP, psychotherapy, Jung, Astrology, and many sights in an increasingly confi dent manner, unbound by other sensibilities brought into Tarot on an hourly basis. the rules of the past yet growing in their fertile foundation. The study and practice of Tarot is in the midst of an ex- A new interest in the history of tarot - and a teaching that citing acceleration, where a new alchemy is arising; from has made that history relevant and accessible - has led to the synthesis of symbols fuelled by a networking nev- a re-cycling and development of new techniques from his- er before possible will arise new forms, new methods and toric methods. A similar phase took place when the Gold- new traditions. The future of Tarot has never been brighter.

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 39 VOCATIONPRACTICAL/LENORMAND CREATE A PERSONAL PETITE LENORMAND DECK KATRINA WYNNE, M.A.

The original Lenormandand decksdecks werewere modelled on a Germanan SalonSalon card-card- game, the Game of Hopeope, designeddesigned by J. K. Hechtel in 1799-1800.99-1800. TheThe copy in the British Museum,useum, reproduced by Tarot PProfessionalsrofessionals as the Original Lenormandrmand, isis hand-hand- cut and hand-coloured,ed, likelylikely byby a member of a family - perhapsperhaps oonene of the children. In thiss article,article, Katrina Wynne takes uuss bbackack ttoo oourur hand-made days to shareshare ‘creating‘creating your own Lenormandd deck’.deck’.

40 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONALONAL IIII.1.11 Working with Petit Lenormand cards is indelible, smear-proof pen MAKING A PHOTOGRAPHIC PETITE a popular and eff ective way to ad- LENORMAND DECK dress personal questions and issues. Directions: It has caught on like wildfi re in the To create your own photo illustrated English-speaking world lately. deck here are two ideas. 1. Make sure all 52 cards are in your From Australia, England, and the Amer- deck, then, remove the numbered cards, One option, posted in various forms on icas, new innovations and “improve- two through fi ve, from each suit (total the internet, begins with collecting im- ments” upon this established systems 16 cards). This should leave you with 36 ages from magazines, old photographs, have appeared. Various opinions cards, including the ace, six through 10, internet graphics, etc, to represent each express this trend may be benefi cial or and three court cards for each suit. of the Petite Lenormand card symbols. detrimental. In the social networking Be sure to only use public domain imag- world of Lenormand cards, there are 2. Arrange your 36 playing cards in the es that are free from copyright. continuous discussions and debates order of the display shown above. about the value of holding to tradition A second option is to use your own pho- versus updating classic systems. 3. Mark each card front in numerical se- tographs. This is an easy way to avoid quence with its corresponding number, “1 copyright issues concerned with found I lean towards the school of thought that – 36”, based on the displayed chart. For images. I decided to experiment with the says, let’s learn the language and mean- example, Ace of Clubs is number “25”. photo application technique, but put a ing of the traditional system fi rst, then diff erent spin on this style. Each image notice if there is more information that 4. You may also wish to write the name in my personalized Lenormand deck is coming through your relationship with of the corresponding card symbol for is a photo of me, by me, or both. I only the cards as you practice and commune. each card. If you are feeling artistic, draw use this deck for my personal readings, Each one of us is a channel of Divine an image instead of the name for each experiencing powerful connections with wisdom, but it is key to understand the symbol. Example, Ace of Clubs symbol my own psyche. traditional grammar and vernacular is a “Ring”. before creating a new dialect. I share a few images on the following I suggest that you test your pen and ar- page from this personal deck. In this spirit, my solitary practice with the tistic hand on one of the discarded cards Lenormand cards guided me to create fi rst. Once you feel confi dent about your Supplies: 1) 52-card playing card deck, 2) a personalized deck. My project was tool and style, have fun creating your 36 photographs of Lenormand symbols, inspired by several posts on Facebook playing card Lenny deck. 3) small cutting tool, 4) quick drying craft giving various directions on how to cre- cement, 5) optional…indelible, smear- ate a simple Lenormand deck - with or Drawing your deck proof pen (gold or silver ink looks great), without pictures. It has been especially 6) optional…laminating pockets (busi- inspiring for me to see the creative ways Camelia Elias, a dynamic writer, pro- ness card size) and laminating machine. weblog contributors, such as Donna- fessor, and cartomancer, showed me a leigh’s Tarot, Mary K. Greer’s Tarot Blog, Petite Lenormand deck she drew in less Directions: and Camelia Elia’s Tarofl exions, have than an hour. She described the inspi- approached this topic. ration for this idea in her Tarotfl exions 1. Make sure all 52 cards are in your weblog post, NEW LENORMAND DECK: deck, then, remove the numbered cards, I would like to share four styles of cre- A HELIUM POET, and graciously gave two through fi ve, from each suit (total ating personal Petite Lenormand decks me permission to share this with you, on 16 cards) leaving you with 36 cards, in- with you. the following page. cluding the ace, six through 10, and three court cards for each suit. MAKING A BASIC PETITE Supplies: 1) 36 pre-cut card stock or pur- LENORMAND DECK chased cards, 2) indelible, smear-proof 2. Arrange your 36 playing cards in the pens, red & black order of the display shown previously. To create the most basic Petite Lenor- mand, fi nd a new or used 52-card play- Directions: 3. Print each photograph slightly smaller ing deck. What makes the Lenormand than the dimensions of its playing card. “Petite” is that it only has 36 cards. Each card has a playing card assignment, a 1. Mark each card front in numerical sequence with your pen, “1 – 36”. 4. Cut out a small corner, usually the top number, 1 – 36, and a single symbol, left, to reveal the playing card symbol. such as a person, animal, thing, or nature. 2. Arrange the 36 cards in alignment with the display shown above. 5. Attach the photo to its correspond- Over the page you will see a simple ing playing card with small dots of craft table to use with your projects. [Ed. For cement. Center the image making sure your own copy of this table, feel free to 3. Draw a simple image for each card symbol. Your graphics can be literal or the playing card symbol is completely contact Katrina through her listing at the visible. Allow it to dry (see next page for end of this article]. abstract. It is important that you create an image that you can easily read and an unlaminated draft Clouds card). understand. Try experimenting with these two simple 6. Draw the corresponding number of techniques to create a basic deck… the Lenormand card over part of your 4. Incorporate the playing card assign- image. Example, the number “25” for the Playing Card Drawing ment for each card into the drawing, if “Ring”. (Numbering this deck is optional. you wish. Can be done before or after laminating.) Supplies: 1) 52-card playing card deck, 2)

TTAROSOPHISTARA OSOPPHIISTT IINTERNATIONALNTERNATIIONNALL III.1I 1 202014014 | 41 7. Center the card inside the laminate pocket and run it through the laminating machine.

When you have fi nished your custom Petite Lenormand deck, I recommend that you fi nd a special box or container for its home. Knowing you have invested your time and energy applying personal vision to your Lenormand deck will enhance its power in your readings.

Have fun!!

Katrina Wynne, personal Lenormand Deck

Camelia Elias, A Helium Poet, 2013

Credits and Appreciation

Camelia Elias’ Tarofl exions weblog article (August 7, 2013): http://tarofl exions.wordpress.com/2013/08/07/new-lenormand-deck-a-helium-poet/

Katrina Wynne’s My Sacred Journey weblog article (October 27, 2012): https://mysacredjourney.wordpress.com/2012/10/27/creating-your-own-lenormand-deck/

42 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 43 TAROT SCENE WORLDWIDE

As for how we set up Sphinx Tarot Readings LDN it’s an evolution! One of us is a professional photographer and ongoing story, one that has just begun. We’re experienced can take alluring photos for use on our website, anoth- readers individually, but as a group we’re completely fresh er has great business skills, and I’m an artist and can cre- and new. Our website, facebook page and Twitter ac- ate visual catchphrases such as the cheeky Sphinx that count have all existed for less than a month. I don’t think already adorns our website and social media profi les. that any of us realized how much work goes into starting a business venture before we launched headfi rst into this What do you feel you want to add to the tarot world? one, so I consider it more than fortunate that we all pos- sess various skills, beyond tarot card reading, that we Our central vision is to make spirituality accessible, tangible can contribute toward the Sphinx’s further growth and and relevant to everyone; we want to take tarot to a new level

44 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 SPHINX TAROT IN LONDON: URBAN VIBE

The readers of Sphinx Tarot aim Who and what are Sphinx Tarot, how did the young and the old, that inspired us you set it up, and what is it that you do? to give birth to something new: Sphinx to provide a No-Nonsense Spir- Tarot Readings! Starting this august ituality in an accessible way, We’re fi ve very distinct personalities but we’ll be hosting monthly tarot card read- we have our profound passion for tarot ing events in central London (locations particularly to a younger audi- and spiritual development in common. may vary) where those who fi nd them- ence. We hear from reader Lu- We’d often linger on after the study selves in need of some sound spiri- cius who describes the aims group meetings had ended, discussing tual advice can simply pop in and get these topics for hours. In lieu of these what they bargain for, and much more. of the group and its ambition. conversations we soon remarked upon the spectacular lack of tarot card read- We want to make it a complete and ing events in London - there are none! empowering experience for the peo- There are established tarot card readers ple that show up. But we’ve also out there, who either practice private- thought of those who may not be able ly or have set up shop somewhere. It to make it to our events in person, so was this complete lack of urban tarot we’ll be off ering readings via email or card reading events geared equally Skype through our website as well. towards the lay person and the adept,

of comprehensibility! I’ve found that a lot of people, particularly subjective answers to these questions from the querent’s sub- younger people in their twenties and thirties, feel alienated, as conscious mind, or from their Inner Self if you will. That this is a general rule, by the excess layers mysticism that more often possible is miraculous in and of itself; the art of tarot card read- than not surrounds spiritual arts and practices, including tarot ing doesn’t have to be wrapped in a whole lot of mysticism, card reading. Every man and every woman throughout history pomposity and theater in order to be impressive and useful. have been looking for the answers to various manifestations of the same few, essential questions: ‘Who and what am i? One of the many ambitions that we have with Sphinx Tarot is What is my path and my purpose? How is this romance going to off er an alternative to the stereotype of the middle-aged, tur- to pan out?’ The 78 cards of the tarot are, in essence, powerful ban-wearing-and-crystal-ball-gazing tarot card reader and the tools with which the skilled reader may be able to extract the New Age hippie that seeks him out. Not that there’s anything

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 45 wrong with either middle-aged, turban-wearing-and-crystal-ball Why are you inspired by Ancient Egypt? gazing tarot card readers or New Age hippies, in fact they’re generally speaking lovely and quite harmless, but it’s important The Sphinx is a mythological creature found in both Ancient to awaken more people, particularly younger people who may Egyptian, Byzantene and Greek mythology and is universal- experience some resistance towards pursuing spirituality, to the ly known as a guardian of higher knowledge - we fi nd that truth that spirituality is not just for a certain stereotype, it is for ev- very appropriate for what we’re doing. Of course much of eryone, and it doesn’t have to be airy-fairy or complicated at all. the symbology that you can see in the that Aleister Crowley designed hails from Ancient Egypt. We’re What my friends and I propose to do at our events and at least two Thelemites in our group and we both have the through our website is to strip tarot card reading, and spiri- Thoth as our go-to tarot deck. It also can’t be denied that tuality itself, of all unnecessary clutter and mystical mumbo the Sphinx is simply a powerful and graceful symbol to use. jumbo (without in any way disregarding or denying its occult properties, in which I personally totally believe), and deliv- What’s more, the Sphinx subtly hints at the fact that we, de- er the messages that we read in the cards to our querents in spite our contemporary approach, are rooted in esoteric tradi- ways that are practical and easy to understand. We want to tion; despite our youth we’re all experienced tarot card read- reach young people especially and inspire them to become ers, each in our own right. Some of us have studied the tarot truly enthusiastic about their own spiritual development! since childhood, and it’s true for all of us that when we read and relay the messages of the cards, we know what we’re Our passion is contagious. I believe the fact that we’re young talking about. We know our stuff . And we’re extremely pas- gives us a unique approach - a modern edge, if you will. sionate about sharing what we have access to - the time- less, ageless wisdom of the tarot - with our contemporaries! What is your ethos?

We’re all about empowering the querent by helping them to gain a deeper understanding themselves, of their fears and de- sires, their strengths and weakness; their paths. We will at all times guard our querents’ privacy and respect them completely by keeping anything they may tell us confi dential, and by lis- tening and engaging with them without any judgement. Our focus is to bring the essence and the truth that we perceive in the cards across - we seek to deliver all relevant messages with complete honesty. We want to blow people away (in a very pos- itive sense). We want to inspire people and make them strong by giving them the understanding that they need so they can master their own fates. We want to spread joy and illumination, and we want to see people walk in their own power! No less.

Coming from the understanding of the future as an ever-chang- ing parable that largely depends on the choices that are made in the present, we don’t claim to be able to forsee the future with any accuracy. We also will never tell a querent what to do, or which choice to make in any given situation; we’ll instead empower the querent by shedding as much light as we can on his or her specifi c situation and help them get the best possible ground- ing so that they’ll be in the best possible position from which to make their own powerful, proactive decisions going forward.

There are a few more things that we don’t do, such as of- fering medical, legal or economic advice, because we’re not qualifi ed to do so. Our job is to take care of the psycho- logical and namely the spiritual side of things. We specif- ically will not try to foresee physical death, as that’s just as tricky, and even less ethical, than foreseeing the future.

Because you never know what will come up in a read- ing - sometimes a tarot card reading can be a quite pro- found, challenging experience - we’ve decided to not do readings for young people under the age of eighteen.

Finally, we won’t do readings for or about people who are not present for the reading and have given their explicit consent to being read in the cards. In eff ect this means that we may sometimes have to help the querent to reformulate their ques- tion so that, for example, ‘What is my boyfriend doing behind my back?’ becomes the more respectful and illuminating, ‘What do I need to know about my relationship with my boyfriend?’ We make no exceptions to these simple rules, be- cause we want to remain respectful of both the people that come to us for readings and the people that don’t.

46 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 AUTHOR INTERVIEWS

RANA GEORGE has been using Lenormand cards for thirty years and is the author of The Essential Lenormand.

THE ESSENTIAL LENORMAND One of the few books in English to explore the reading of the Lenormand cards. THE BEAR IS

INTERVIEWER THE BEAR IS THE Tanya R. Pineda INTERVIEWEE Rana George BEAR LOCATION TEXAS, US.

Tanya R. Pineda interviews Rana George, author of The PUBLICATION Essential Lenormand (Llewellyn, 2014). THE ESSENTIAL LENORMAND PUBLISHER LLEWELLYN, 2014

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 47 THE KEY IS ME LENORMAND Interview & Deck by Tanya R. Pineda, who presently bi-locates with her family between the beautiful Hudson Valley and Poconos (Pa). Tattoo http://100LotusPainting.bigcartel.com artist, mother, painter, writer, lover of creativity, divination and nature. She is also author/artist of self published The Key Is Me Lenormand.

Tanya: Rana, now that your long awaited book is out, has you recommend in your book to practice, practice, prac- your daily life changed a lot? tice, what one else would you suggest for someone new to, and baffl ed by your 36 lil BFF’s (Best Friends Forever) Rana: No not at all, still with my family and taking care of aka the Lenormand? my boys. It was during the writing of the book when the change was major, I was like a hermit and my family my Rana: Other than practice, practice, practice...would be to kids suff ered because of that. But now, fi nally it feels like keep it simple, don’t read too much into it. And the most everything we all went through was worth it. important thing: make it fun! Because, when it turns into a study and homework people get bored or frustrated so Tanya: Your book was so eagerly anticipated and fantasti- make sure to keep it fun, fun, fun! cally received.This must be very exciting, but also intense for you and your family. What do you fi nd to be the best Tanya: You share so many heartfelt and very personal and most challenging aspects of becoming a best-selling stories in your book, I was really moved by them and author? they also helped me to remember new layers to the card meanings. What has the response been to this unique Rana: Well fi rst it is very rewarding, and the feeling is “Wow!”... aspect of your book? I am still trying to wrap my head around it. I am so happy that it was well received. I really poured my heart and soul into Rana: Thank you so much for your kind words. At fi rst I that book, so to see all the great reviews and praise is really was worried because I was putting my all in it and getting an honor. too personal. I felt very transparent and that scared me a little. However, the response was overwhelmingly positive, Tanya: I was one of the many that couldn’t wait for your I keep getting emails on how my stories helped people. book to come out. Before it was available, Lenormand still The cool thing has been reading each diff erent story that felt like this secret cartomancy code I couldn’t quite crack! people have shared with me, and how diff erent each one Now that I’ve read it, other books on the subject, and ex- was from the other. Also, the way they touched each plored some of the wonderful resources you’ve suggest- person in so many diff erent aspects of their lives. I found ed, Im fi nally feeling more confi dent each day with my this fascinating. readings. Besides the totally down to earth suggestion

48 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 VOCATION Tanya: Many of our readers have been that matter, the bear will always bring messages from people telling me how reading tarot for years, and might be cu- strength confi dence and power even if much they are benefi ting from these rious about the Lenormand but hesitate the the bear was depicted lounging. So podcasts. It was an awesome fun time, I at the thought of learning a whole new yes keep it simple, read only the cards loved doing them and I so enjoyed shar- system. As someone who learned Le- as what they represent regardless of ing that fascinating tool with Donnaleigh normand fi rst, and then integrated tarot what is going on in the imagery. This is and the world. into your personal practice, is there an why I like cards that show the symbols exercise or spread you could suggest to they are supposed to depict clearly My favorite would be when we where integrate and get to know them? Or do solely. When cards have more than one talking about celebrities and how the you suggest learning them separately symbol the eye become confused and cards description, we had a blast. and then merging? “tarotizing” start seeping in which turns Lenormand from a strong clear system I can ever thank Donnaleigh enough for Rana: It is important to learn it separately, to something totally diff erent. providing this beacon or lighthouse of as in anything. First you need to get the knowledge. basics down and fi gure out how all the Tanya: Many of us in the cartomancy cards work together. Learn the individual community do psychic fairs and new Tanya: Any plans to do more in the cards and how they blend together to age shows, or read online/by phone etc. future? make clear statements. It is important Do you have any suggestions on how to to see and feel how Lenormand gets most concisely and precisely work with Rana: You never know there is always a incorporated into every day life then we Lenormand in these public situations? possibility. can marry the two fabulous systems For example, someone might want a “full together. reading” or Grand Tableau but time is at Tanya: Both you and your son Ryder such a premium, how do you give your have created and collaborated on Le- Make sure at the beginning to journal best readings in short time slots? Or do normand decks, could you tell us more everything, journaling is a key to really you primarily do longer readings? about that and where we can see and grasping the meanings and how every purchase them? Please add anything card will connect with each of us on a Rana: Lenormand works great in these else about special signed copies or personel level. Journaling makes it a situations. I just answer their questions unique editions/upcoming decks if unique experience to every person be- with the quick small spreads. Usually you’d like here. cause the card will speak to that person that is enough and the clients leave hap- the language they need to understand. py. For those kinds of spreads we need Rana: Well yes and no, I don’t know if This is where your gut feeling and intu- questions though to focus the reading, I can call it collaboration with my son, ition comes in. not like the Grand tableau were you can because really it was all him. When my jump in without any information at all. son Ryder was 8 1/2 he wanted to make Tanya: Excellent advice - thank you! Just remember, to take their questions me a gift. He is my artistic boy and he Do you remember a poignant moment and rephrase it in a more specifi c and loves to draw, so he started drawing in your own personal learning where the concise way to get the clear answer out his version of the Lenormand cards for cards “clicked” for you, or was it a gradu- of the cards. The question is half the me. When I saw the fi rst 20 cards, I was al evolution of understanding? reading it is as important as the answer. amazed and promised him that if he did all 36 cards I would print it for him. He Rana: It wasn’t like that for me, because Tanya: Great point about how signifi cant did and he called it Ryder’s Lenormand, they were in my hands since I was a kid. the phrasing of the questions can be! he even included cards with his mean- I never looked at them as something I ings, it was sold as a bundle of a deck needed to learn. It was more like a tool Rana: Absolutely the phrasing of the and it’s mini, he also decorated each I used to get help clarify the answers. questions cuts down the time of trying and every bag, they went very quick. At Later the tool evolved and I picked up to fi nd an answer and takes you straight the moment I don’t have any plans on new things. Of course, there is a trial and to the point. The fascinating aspect reprinting, maybe much later down the error factor that is very important and it about Lenormand is that it is so clear road but not anytime soon. only comes from lot of experience, time and precise, but you need to know how and practice. to ask the question. Asking a vague or an open ended question will give you a My fi rst collaboration, was with Edmund Tanya: I have seen comments from vague and a totally unclear answer. Take Zebrowski when he came to me to Lenormand enthusiasts to not “tarotize” the time to focus the mind on what you make a Lenormand deck using Pamela Lenormand imagery and interpretation. need the cards to tell you. Again this Colman Smith’s art work since he owned Could you explain a bit about that, and comes from having a strong rapport with a Pamela B. That was a super fun time how to avoid this sometimes automatic the cards and practice. where we had to comb through each of or tricky pitfall for newbies to the deck? her cards and work to try to fi nd a Lenor- mand symbol, fl ipping the cards to the Tanya: I really enjoy the blogradio shows left, to the right or upside down to see if Rana: I believe “tarotizing” simply refers you have done with Donnaleigh, are to reading too much into the cards, as we can make an anchor or a snake. This there any episodes that are your favou- is how the Mlle Lenormand Outstanding in the color of the fl ower, the expression rites? of the person, the way a leaf has fallen Pixie’s Lenormand came to life. etc.. This goes back to keeping it simple. Rana: I am so glad to hear that, Donna- In Lenormand and for me personally My last collaboration was with Ciro leigh is an amazing genuine person and Marchetti and the Gilded Reverie the image is not what I am reading it she has a strong platform which through is the card the symbol. The Bear is the Lenormand. Working with Ciro is like it we sprinkled out seeds of Lenormand working with the genius of Michelan- bear is the bear, it doesn’t matter if the together. I am always getting emails and bear was sleeping, eating or reading for gelo on a comic steroid pill. I will never

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 49 forget where he almost gave me a heart Tarosophy TarotCon in Dallas in October. attack, the day I opened my email to see the Mice card with the depiction of And I am super-excited for my upcom- the computer mouse device instead of ing workshop in Australia with TarotCon the animal/ rodent. I was mortifi ed until I Australia next April! found out that it was one if his jokes. On The Essential Lenormand: Tanya: (laughing) Sounds like you have worked with some incredible characters! Reading this beautiful book is like fi nally Before your book came out I wanted to having a conversation with someone who ask you a bazillion questions! Now that really ‘gets’ Lenormand. Rana George it is, I understand that you have not been knows these cards like a dear old trusted in contact with your mentor who shared friend. She very generously introduces us the gift of this precious deck that has to Lenormand. Page by page, she guides guided you and so many others through us card by card into this incredible sys- the years. If you could ask him just one tem’s many layered depths. This book is more thing, what might it be? equally helpful to anyone just learning about Lenormand for the fi rst time, or Rana: Oh wow, if I could get a hold of those who have been exploring for years!” him I would badger him with many ques- tions or just sit and listen to his wisdom. The questions would be more on a spiritual level, on tips or advice on how to handle certain energies and paranormal situations. Oh that would be absolutely amazing to get to talk to him now with me all grown up, I mean I used to sit and listen to him like a sponge when I was a kid, I would probably do the same thing. I am grateful that the universe has blessed me, and is still blessing me with many more mentors like him on this journey we call life.

Tanya: Aw that sounds fantastic, I hope you are blessed with a reunion and time for many more questions in the future! Tanya: If you could travel back in time for a reading with Mlle Lenormand herself, what would you ask or hope to discov- er?

Rana: Oh it would be a privilege to watch her use her craft and see how she mes- merized her clients. I would love to sit in on one of her readings to the empress Josephine and see the mighty Napo- leon walking in and getting upset. Wow, what a treat to actually see her handle Napoleon Bonaparte in his rage. I would most defi nitely sneak into her salon to discover all her arsenal, many tools and trade secrets and would enjoy getting caught by her. It would be amazing to sit with her and talk to her period.

Tanya: Anything else you would like to add? How can people reach you?

Rana: It is very easy to contact me through my website

www.ranageorge.com

Tanya: Any upcoming Events?

Rana: I have events in August, then the

50 | TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 CONTRIBUTORS Marjorie Jensen

Nicola & Harry Wendrich Arcana: The Tarot Poetry Anthology will be a collection of poetry by famous Tarot writers as Wendrich arthouse at http://wendrichart- well as undiscovered voices in the communi- house.com/ ty, from translations of 16th century tarocchi appropriati to modern verse. The anthology will Yolanda Robinson be published by Minor Arcana Press in 2015. http://www.transformationtarot.com/ http://tarotpoetry.wordpress.com/

& Revised Art Tarot deck Virginia Jester & Chris Hopkins http://prs.org/wpcms/campus-store/the-re- http://www.ginniejester.com/ vised-new-art-tarot/ Tanya Pinky Pineda Sphinx Tarot http://www.100lotuspainting.bigcartel.com/ London based Tarot readers with modern edge product/the-key-is-me-lenormand-style-divi- and ancient wisdom. nation-deck http://www.sphinxtarot.com/ Rana George

Katrina Wynne has her M.A in Counseling Psy- www.ranageorge.com chology. She is a Forest Mystic who resides on the Oregon Coast. Katrina has studied all The Tarosophy Tarot Association things metaphysical for over 40 years, combin- ing her psycho-spiritual perspective with eso- For more information about the Tarosophy Tar- teric tools, such as the Petite Lenormand. ot Association and membership benefi ts, see:

Information about Katrina’s classes, private www.tarotassociation.net sessions, and publications can be found on her website: http://TarotCounseling.org.

You can visit her weblog at: http://MySacred- Journey.org.

Additional information is shared through her podcast, Oracle Soup, co-produced with Gina Thies: http://OracleSoup.org

Katrina Wynne’s “Basic Petite Lenormand Symbols” table is available by sending her your request by email: mail@TarotCounseling. org

Dr. Ute Knecktys

TAROSOPHIST INTERNATIONAL II.1 2014 | 51 Illus. Courage by Janine Hall.

We would like to thank all contributors for making this issue outstanding, and dedicate it to all those creating Tarot and presenting it to the world as a means of insight into our own lives, the world around us and the connection between those two apparently separate aspects.

The World is Bound by Invisible Knots - You either Speak with Honey on your Lips from the Book of Clouds, Echoing the Voice of Living Fire in the Trembling Darkness, or you Do Not.

There are no half-way Oracles.

All content © Tarot Professionals Ltd, 2014 and respective authors. All rights reserved. Transmission or reproduction in any medium prohibited. Tarot Professionals Ltd is a registered company. Tarosophy® World Tarot Week®, TarotCon® and Tarot House® are registered Trademarks. World Tarot Day™ is asserted as a trademark by Den Elder and used with permission.

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