How to Go About Getting Your First Desk

Getting your first tarot deck can be an exciting journey! You have a few options:

1. **Local Metaphysical or Bookstores:** Many metaphysical shops or bookstores carry a variety of tarot decks. Visiting one of these stores allows you to physically examine the decks and choose the one that resonates with you.

2. **Online Retailers:** You can find a wide selection of tarot decks on websites like Amazon, eBay, and specialized online metaphysical shops. Reading reviews and checking the deck's images can help you make an informed choice.

3. **Artist's Websites:** Some tarot deck creators have their own websites where they sell their decks directly. This can be a great way to support the artist and sometimes even get signed or limited edition decks.

4. **Secondhand Shops or Websites:** You might also find tarot decks at thrift stores, flea markets, or secondhand websites. Just ensure that the deck is complete (78 cards) and in good condition.

When choosing a deck, consider its imagery, theme, and symbolism. It's essential to pick a deck that resonates with you and speaks to your intuition. Don't forget to also get a guidebook or study materials to help you learn the meanings of the cards and how to read them effectively.

How Does Tarot Relate to Lunar Cycles?

Sorry for the radio silence. I caught Covid after managing to avoid it all this time. Hope everyone is well and staying healthy in this crazy world.

The zodiac and tarot are two distinct systems that are often used in divination and astrology. While they have separate origins and symbolism, there are connections and associations between the two that can be explored. Here's what you need to know about the zodiac in relation to tarot:

1. Correspondences: In tarot, each card is associated with specific astrological correspondences, including zodiac signs. Major Arcana cards often represent archetypal energies and can be linked to astrological signs based on their symbolism. For example, The Emperor card is associated with Aries, The Chariot with Cancer, and Justice with Libra.

2. Elemental Associations: Both the zodiac signs and the tarot are often linked to the four classical elements: Fire, Earth, Air, and Water. Each zodiac sign is associated with a specific element, and the tarot suits (Wands, Pentacles, Swords, and Cups) are also connected to these elements. This connection allows for a deeper understanding of the energies present in readings.

3. Timing and Astrological Readings: Astrology and tarot can be combined to provide more detailed insights. Some tarot spreads incorporate astrological placements, such as using cards to represent the current planetary positions or specific zodiac signs. This can enhance the interpretation and provide a broader perspective on the influences at play.

4. Personal Birth Cards: Some tarot practitioners believe that your birth date can be used to determine a "personal birth card." This card is often derived by assigning a specific tarot card to each birth date in the calendar year. For instance, if you were born on March 21, your personal birth card might be The World (corresponding to the 21st card in the Major Arcana).

5. Tarot and Astrological Houses: Tarot can also be associated with astrological houses, which represent different areas of life. The houses, such as the First House (self), Seventh House (relationships), and Tenth House (career), can be linked to specific tarot cards or used as a framework for divinatory readings, providing insights into different aspects of a person's life.

It's important to note that the connections between tarot and the zodiac are not universally agreed upon. Different tarot traditions may have their own correspondences and interpretations. Ultimately, the interpretation and use of these systems together can vary based on personal beliefs and practices.

Intro to The Major Arcana

The Major Arcana is a key component of the Tarot deck, consisting of 22 cards that hold significant symbolic and spiritual meaning. Each card represents a major theme or archetype and is often associated with profound life experiences, personal growth, and spiritual development. The Major Arcana cards are numbered from 0 to 21 and typically do not have suits like the Minor Arcana. I'll go over each card in more depth in the future.

Here is a brief overview of the 22 cards in the Major Arcana and their general interpretations:

0. The Fool: Represents innocence, spontaneity, and new beginnings. It symbolizes taking a leap of faith and embracing the unknown.

1. The Magician: Signifies manifestation, personal power, and transformation. It suggests utilizing one's skills and resources to create positive change.

2. The High Priestess: Symbolizes intuition, wisdom, and hidden knowledge. It encourages deep introspection and trusting one's inner voice.

3. The Empress: Represents fertility, abundance, and nurturing energy. It signifies creativity, harmony, and a connection with nature.

4. The Emperor: Signifies authority, structure, and leadership. It represents the manifestation of power, stability, and rational thinking.

5. The Hierophant: Symbolizes tradition, spirituality, and guidance. It represents seeking knowledge, embracing rituals, and adhering to established beliefs.

6. The Lovers: Represents love, relationships, and choices. It signifies union, harmony, and the need to make important decisions based on values and emotions.

7. The Chariot: Signifies willpower, determination, and triumph. It represents taking control of one's life and overcoming obstacles through focused effort.

8. Strength: Symbolizes inner strength, courage, and resilience. It represents taming one's passions and mastering challenges through gentleness and compassion.

9. The Hermit: Represents solitude, introspection, and inner guidance. It suggests taking time for self-reflection and seeking deeper spiritual understanding.

10. Wheel of Fortune: Signifies cycles, destiny, and change. It represents the ebb and flow of life, emphasizing the importance of adaptability.

11. Justice: Symbolizes fairness, balance, and moral integrity. It represents the need for truth, accountability, and making ethical decisions.

12. The Hanged Man: Represents surrender, sacrifice, and perspective. It suggests letting go of control, gaining new insights, and embracing a different viewpoint.

13. Death: Signifies transformation, rebirth, and endings. It represents profound change, letting go of the old to make way for the new.

14. Temperance: Symbolizes moderation, harmony, and balance. It suggests finding a middle ground and integrating opposing forces for overall well-being.

15. The Devil: Represents temptation, materialism, and self-limitation. It warns against unhealthy attachments and encourages breaking free from self-imposed limitations.

16. The Tower: Signifies upheaval, sudden change, and revelation. It represents the destruction of old structures and beliefs to make way for transformation.

17. The Star: Symbolizes hope, inspiration, and healing. It represents renewed faith, optimism, and finding guidance in challenging times.

18. The Moon: Represents intuition, emotions, and the subconscious mind. It signifies navigating through uncertainty and embracing the mysteries of life.

19. The Sun: Signifies vitality, joy, and success. It represents happiness, enlightenment, and a sense of fulfillment.

20. Judgment: Symbolizes rebirth, self-reflection, and inner calling. It suggests taking responsibility for one's actions and embracing personal transformation.

21. The World: Represents completion, integration, and wholeness. It symbolizes reaching a state of fulfillment, achieving goals, and embracing new possibilities.

These interpretations provide a general overview, but it's important to remember that Tarot readings are highly subjective and can vary based on the reader, context, and individual intuition.

Spreads #1

Tarot spreads are specific patterns or arrangements of tarot cards used to facilitate a reading and gain insights into different aspects of a person's life or a particular situation. Each spread has a unique design and purpose, and the positions of the cards within the spread correspond to different areas of inquiry or specific questions.

Here are some commonly used tarot spreads:

1. Celtic Cross: The Celtic Cross is one of the most well-known tarot spreads. It consists of ten cards and provides a comprehensive view of a situation, including past influences, present circumstances, and future outcomes.

2. Three-Card Spread: This simple spread involves three cards and is often used for quick, focused readings. The first card represents the past, the second card signifies the present, and the third card indicates the future or potential outcome.

3. Relationship Spread: As the name suggests, this spread is specifically designed to explore relationships. It typically involves multiple cards placed in specific positions to provide insights into the dynamics, challenges, and potential outcomes of a relationship.

4. Career Spread: This spread is used to gain clarity and guidance regarding career-related matters. It may involve cards that represent your current situation, strengths, challenges, potential opportunities, and advice for achieving your career goals.

5. Decision-Making Spread: When faced with an important decision, this spread can help you analyze the options and potential outcomes. It typically involves multiple cards representing different choices and factors influencing the decision-making process.

6. Past-Present-Future Spread: Similar to the three-card spread, this spread focuses on the past, present, and future aspects of a situation or inquiry. It provides a concise overview of the influences and potential outcomes across these three timeframes.

It's important to note that while these spreads are commonly used, there are numerous variations and custom spreads created by individual tarot readers. The interpretation of the cards within a spread relies on the reader's intuition, tarot knowledge, and the specific context of the reading. Tarot spreads can be a helpful tool for organizing the cards and delving deeper into specific aspects of a person's life or question.

About the Tarot

This deck of playing cards has been used since at least the mid-15th century for various card games such as Tarocchini across Europe. Over time, tarot cards evolved into a family of games, spreading to most of Europe from their Italian roots.

Working on the Hanged Man

In the late 18th century, French occultists made claims about the history and meaning of tarot cards, leading to the emergence of custom decks used in divination via tarot card reading and cartomancy. Today, there are two distinct types of tarot packs: those used for card games and those used for divination.

Like common playing cards, tarot cards have four suits that vary by region. Each suit has 14 cards, including ten pip cards numbered from one (or Ace) to ten, and four face cards (King, Queen, Knight, and Jack/Knave/Page). The tarot also has a separate 21-card trump suit and a single card known as the Fool. Depending on the game, the Fool may act as the top trump or may be played to avoid following suit. Tarot cards are still used throughout much of Europe to play conventional card games.

While early French occultists claimed that tarot cards had esoteric links to ancient Egypt, the Kabbalah, Indic Tantra, or the I Ching, scholarly research has established that tarot cards were invented in northern Italy in the mid-15th century. There is no historical evidence of any significant use of tarot cards for divination until the late 18th century.

In the occult tradition, tarot cards are referred to as 'arcana,' with the Fool and 21 trumps being termed the Major Arcana and the suit cards the Minor Arcana. The tarot cards, then known as tarocchi, first appeared in Ferrara and Milan in northern Italy, with a Fool and 21 trumps (then called trionfi) being added to the standard Italian pack of four suits: wands, coins, cups, and swords. Scholarship has established that the early European cards were probably based on the Egyptian Mamluk deck, which was invented in or before the 14th century following the invention of paper from Asia into Western Europe. By the late 1300s, Europeans were producing their own cards, with the earliest patterns being based on the Mamluk deck but with variations to the suit symbols and court cards.

The Deck Thus Far

So far I have made significant progress in creating The Fool (0) through Strength (8) tarot cards. Each card has been a unique challenge, but the most challenging one has undoubtedly been The Emperor. I have been struggling to capture the essence of this card, and the details are not coming out as I had envisioned. Despite this, I continue to work on The Emperor, pulling him off the wall and revisiting him every now and then when the inspiration strikes.

As you may already know, I recently sold the Strength card. Although my goal is to keep most of the Major Arcana together so that I can display them as a cohesive collection, I couldn't resist the opportunity to make a sale.

Moving forward, I plan to share more detailed information about each tarot card in the coming sessions. My aim is to create one post per week to document my progress and provide insight into my creative process. I am excited to continue this journey and see where it takes me.

So why the Phantasmagoria?

When I first heard the word "phantasmagoria," it immediately struck a chord with me. It perfectly describes the shifting scenes and optical illusions that I want to incorporate into my upcoming art project - a tarot deck. While I only have about a dozen cards completed so far, I'm excited to share my progress and vision with you.

phan·tas·ma·go·ri·a
/ˌfanˌtazməˈɡôrēə/
a sequence of real or imaginary images, like those in a dream.
"What happened next was a phantasmagoria of horror and mystery."

Even when you're awake, you might see something that feels like a phantasmagoria. It's like a magic trick, where things aren't always what they seem. And that's exactly what I want my tarot deck to evoke – a sense of wonder and mystery that takes you to another world.

Did you know that the word "phantasmagoria" was first used by a French dramatist in 1801 to describe a popular display of projected images known as a "magic lantern" show? It's amazing how words can have such a rich history and meaning.

As an artist, I bring a different perspective to phantasmagoria. My artwork is inspired by my dreams and imagination, as well as the world around me. While I only have a dozen cards completed for my tarot deck, each one is like a window into another world.

Creating a tarot deck has been a dream of mine for years, and I'm finally making it a reality. I'm carefully crafting each card to bring my vision to life - from the symbols and colors to the intricate details. My goal is to create a deck that not only serves as a tool for divination, but also as a work of art that you can appreciate and connect with.

Through my phantasmagoric tarot deck, I hope you can find a sense of wonder and inspiration. Each card is a journey into a world of magic and mystery, where anything is possible. And while I still have a ways to go in completing the deck, I'm excited to share my progress and vision with you every step of the way.