There’s a new Tarot book out this month by Dr. Roopa Patel called Experiencing Tarot: A Book of True Stories and Healing. From the looks of it though, it’s only available in India right now through Harper Collins.
Patel, an astrologer and Tarotologist, is perhaps the first Indian to write about Tarot for the Indian audience. She’s been doing it since 1995, through newspaper columns, magazine articles, TV, and the internet.
When she started with Tarot, there wasn’t a lot of research material available in India. And apparently there’s still not. To fill the gap, and clear up some of the misinformation surrounding the cards, Patel has stepped in to write her own book.
She takes a rational approach to her topic, looking at Tarot’s history, how it works, and how it connects to other new age sciences. It’s important to her that people understand how the cards can be used for both spiritual growth and alternative healing.
Illustrations by master miniaturists Amrit and Rabindra Singh, are an added bonus to Patel’s book.
The Singh Twins, soon to be honoured by Queen Elizabeth with the Member of the Order of British Empire, created the 22 original major arcana cards pictured in the book.
They said they didn’t know much about Tarot before this project, having connected it with the occult. But after researching, and actually working on the cards, they discovered they liked them and might even take Tarot forward into their next exhibition.
They’re thinking of using contemporary figures from show business and politics to highlight concepts in the cards. I really hope they do, I bet it would be amazing.
And I wish I knew where I could get a copy of the commemorative deck made to accompany the release of Experiencing Tarot. I’m going to try to hunt it down.
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Here’s an interview with the Singh Twins from 2009, shot and edited by Joe Eshwar.
Artist Roxi Sim Hermsen will be there, presenting her first show since 1999. And it’s a Tarot show called The Fool’s Journey.
After going on a very difficult journey herself through the last decade, contracting Lyme disease, and tragically losing both her son and her mother, it was art that helped her heal.
Inspired by the beauty of Granada, where she and her family moved for a while, she started painting, creating dozens of works featuring everything from goddesses to dolls from her grandmother’s collection.
Though she’d never really seen a Tarot deck, someone who saw her paintings suggested she make one. And letting the journey of discovery lead her, she did.
Her deck is called The Pearls of Wisdom, and is named for her mother Margaret. The Greek root of the name Margaret means pearl.
There are a lot of pearls in the images. And as an ode to her son Shea, lots of rainbows and crystals.
It’s a beautiful deck, lush, rich, and full of happiness. Despite the sadnesses she’s faced, Hermsen has clearly tapped into a deep source of joy.
All 78 original paintings will be on display this weekend, as well as two new ones. Get down to see them if you can.
In the off chance that you happen to be in St. Petersburg, Florida tonight and were looking for a Tarot oriented activity to attend, it’s your lucky day.
I wish I could post it on my site. In fact, I wish I could hang it in my house. But all I can do is point you all to this wonderful painting by Celeste Dupuy-Spencer called Tarot Reading.
It’s amazing, and looks like so many readings I’ve been part of. I’d like to know what deck they’re using.
And what about that blue-faced figure behind the reader? Is it a painting within a painting, or a spooky spirit helping or haunting the reading?
If you’re in the Montreal area, or heading to it, you might want to check out this art show.
Le Tarot de Montréal is an exhibition inspired by the Tarot de Marseille. Twenty-three artists participated, each creating a work on paper depicting their view of a specific symbol from the Tarot card given to them.
The artists and cards were paired based on the analogies and associations in the cards and the artistic approach of each particular artist.
The show opens tonight and runs to August 18, Mondays through Fridays, at the Peter B. Yeomans Cultural Centre in Dorval, Québec.
If everyone could read your thoughts, meeting someone new you’re attracted to could be an embarrassing situation. Especially if you’re feeling a little lusty.
Thinking of You, a short silent film directed by Becky Mezzanotte, looks at just this sort of circumstance.
It’s a kooky and idiotic love story with what might be described as a happy ending.
Telepathic communication can have its drawbacks, but at least it can let you know when other people might be thinking the same thing you are.
The show featured visionary art and imaginative paintings and animation surrounding the theme of prophetic dreams and oracles.
Not only was Stoneham’s artwork displayed, but also his own oracle, The Deck of the Avatar was put into service. Stoneham himself gave readings during the show.
In the video, he talks about his deck and how it grew out of his paintings, and how his paintings grow out of his visions and dreams.
The story of card #9, the Ghost, is especially haunting.
