Los Angeles illustrator Ivan Minsloff and I have been working on a Tarot deck for quite some time now. We still have a ways to go, but in the process we decided to bring some of the cards to life even before the whole deck is complete.
Oddly enough, it’s not the Fool, or even the Magician who showed up first, but the Hermit, #9.
Our Hermit is a city dweller, wearing a trench coat and hoody. He’s been around a long time and knows well the soul of the city.
In one hand he carries a six-pointed star representing the occult mysteries that guide his way. And in the other he holds a staff. It’s both his wand and his cane.
I can barely wait to see him as part of the whole deck, but for now the Hermit is available as a 15 X 25 inch silk-screen limited edition poster print, signed and numbered by the artist. There are only 50 prints in the series.
If you’d like one for yourself, please let me know. Each print is $30 (CAD) plus $10 shipping. Payment can be made through PayPal.
The Moon moves into Virgo today and will be there until Thursday.
From a Tarot perspective, you might think of this transit as the High Priestess wearing the Hermit’s clothes. She’s putting on her cowl.
The Moon in Virgo, or High Priestess in the Hermit’s clothing, is a time for practical, quiet reflection. Seeking the advice of an expert, and listening carefully to what they have to say could be worthwhile.
Or maybe someone will be asking you for your advice.
Your home is more important now than the outside world. Start thinking how to make it more practical. You might not be ready to do the work just yet, but this is a great time to plan.
Emotionally, it’s a time of calm. Perfect for listening and reflecting rather than acting out in passion. Take your time. There’s no rush.
Study, organization, contemplation, solitude, emotional self-reflection. Don’t be afraid to be alone right now. There’s lot’s to do on your own.
This isn’t the day for action. It’s time to slow down and take a close look at what’s been going on. And if you can do it from a different perspective – great! Choose a comfortable place to relax and review what you’ve been up to. It might seem like a sacrifice, but it’s well worth it.
Are there patterns in your life that seem to be becoming more obvious than usual? This is a wonderful time to pay attention to how you’re life’s been going these last three months or so. Does it remind you of another time – maybe 12 years ago?
Look carefully at any people, places or things from your past (or that remind you of the past) that might unexpectedly appear. They might be highlighting particular areas in your life you’re repeating. Is it a repetition you’re happy with?
After you’ve done some review, start thinking about where you want to go next. Your old ways are almost over. Think about the new patterns you want to develop – you’ll be ready to start them soon enough. For now, relax, review and let yourself imagine?
The Page of Pentacles often represents someone who is learning a new trade, or going back to school. They’re practical, serious, and want to get things done.
As one of the pentacle cards, this Page is also very much concerned with the physical world, and those things that we experience through our five senses.
They exalt in what’s real, what they can see, feel, touch, taste, and smell.
The 7 year old pizza tosser in the video below seems to me to be a wonderful example of a young Page of Pentacles.
He’s leaning from his father and it’s a trade that involves all of the senses. Not to mention, he’s obviously taking it very seriously.
He’s fantastic! And he gets me wondering if that Page in the card has been holding a pizza all along.
The reckoning’s done and it’s finally time to dole out the rewards. Have you done your fair share? Are you ready to accept what’s due?
Success is coming to those who have done what they can to manifest their goals. It may seem like manna from heaven but look again – it’s more likely compensation for a job well done.
And don’t forget to thank those who have been helping you. We’re never alone in either our successes or our failures.
Since this is The Tarot Room, I thought we might seek out an obscure place in Tarot, and wondered if we could find something unfamiliar in the landscape of the very familiar RWS deck.
The card I randomly drew for this journey was the 6 of Swords, a very appropriate card.
It shows three people travelling by boat, perhaps on their way to an obscure place of their own.
Though the trio in the boat seems to be moving past them, I can’t help but notice the two islands in the background of the card.
I’ve never really considered these islands before. What a perfect obscure destination for today.
Since I can’t crawl into the image, I did the next best thing and pulled a card asking … what’s on the two islands pictured in the 6 of Swords?
The card I got was the 10 of Swords – pretty scary, we might not want to go there. The card shows a guy laying face down with ten swords in his back. There’s water behind him and dark clouds above.
Hmmm … not exactly what I expected. It looks like there’s been a murder of some sort on the island, or at least within the context of Tarot, the death of an idea. Swords represent ideas, thoughts, and ways of thinking.
The 10 of Swords specifically points to the end of a particular paradigm, or view of the world. When it appears, there’s no holding onto how you used to see things. The choice is only to move forward, with a new direction, and sense of purpose.
Not unlike the sense of direction and purpose exhibited by the three people in the boat. They know not to waste their time on distractions and won’t maroon themselves on the island.
Like the card they represent, they’re thinking is clear, balanced, and focused. They move steadily towards their goal while staying evenly afloat. Emotions and thoughts are in a comfortable union.
So it turns out that our obscure place might be obscure for a reason, and I for one don’t plan on going back. It taught me a little more about the 6 of Swords though, and for that alone, our Obscura voyage was worth the trip.
The Moon moves into Leo today and stays there until Monday.
Translated into Tarot cards, this transit would be like the High Priestess is wearing Strength’s clothing. She’s thrown off her heavy cape and is spending some time outside with her lion.
The Moon in Leo, or High Priestess in Strength’s clothing is potentially a time of emotional power. Something beautiful that’s usually under wraps can finally be revealed.
The silence is broken. Quiet wisdom and passion can be united. During this time, it might be difficult to keep your ideas to yourself. But why should you?
Try finding an outlet for plans you’ve been sitting on? This is an opportunity to shine if you’re not over-burdened by self-consciousness.
It might feel a little uncomfortable at first, but letting your wilder side out right now could be positive. The sun isn’t always shining. Take advantage of it when it does.
It’s a wonderful day to say thank you – to your family, friends, and even your enemies.
Nostalgia and happy memories might fill your head and it’s worth remembering all the love there is around you. Take pleasure in acknowledging it and grateful to extend it further.
Giving and receiving are two sides of the same joy. Take pleasure in both and don’t be shy to tell people how much they mean to you. You’ll probably be surprised by how much they love you back.
With close relationships, this is an especially important time to remember the history and strength of your time together. It’s these ties that have helped you through your most serious moments – both good and bad.
Don’t take them lightly, close friends really are special, and not as common as you might think.
If you’re someone who enjoys devilish art, especially in the form of pack of oversized cards, this Kickstarter project by Ariana Osborne might be just the thing for you.
Demons like Abraxas and Cerberus, Bael and Alastor. Very magical, and despite their grusomeness, quite beautiful.
Not only is she making an absolutely gorgeous deck, Osborne’s also put together a PDF featuring all the cards and a more detailed description of each demon.
Take a look at the video below to hear what the artist herself has to say about her project, and visit her Kickstarter page to see the gifts she’s offering to those who donate.
She’s already raised at least five times what she was looking for, so the Cartes Infernals is definitely going forward. It’s not too late though, to get in on the action yourself.
It’s a day to dissolve the fog and start looking at things with fresh and honest eyes. With a commitment to clarity, new ideas and a new sense of authority will be close on the horizon.
Take things in hand and energetically start slicing through any fuzziness you’ve not wanted to look past till now. Are you happy with what you’re seeing? If yes – go forward with strength. If not, figure out what you actually want, re-direct yourself towards it and go forward with strength.
In either case, you need to see things for what they really are before you can intelligently decide what your next step might be. This is no time to fool yourself. It’s a time to take charge, be realistic and be strong.
