Mystical Poop

Back in the dark ages when my family lived in an awful, cramped apartment in Bloomington, Indiana, my father learned how to read tarot cards. It was the late ‘60s—mysticism was big. The Beatle’s were buds with Timothy Leary; The Doors were keen on Aldous Huxley; David Bowie and Jimmy Page were into Aleister Crowley. Daddy would read them for his fellow Ph.D candidates and friends. It was a fun, mind sparking thing—not to be taken seriously.  

Even at the tender age of 12, I got that predicting the future, uncovering deep hidden truths, unlocking life’s enigmatic puzzles via cards, Ouija Boards, astrological dice and crystal balls was nonsensical, wishful crap. Fun? Intriguing? Sure, but foolishness nonetheless.

In my rabbit hole wanderings this morning, I found that tarot card reading isn’t necessarily and always a teevee psychic/fortune teller scam.

The aim of a tarot reading is to explore a question about the self. You pick cards to help you reflect on possible answers, interpreting the meaning of each in relation to what you asked. Keep in mind that tarot cards are tools for introspection, and for that reason it's best to keep questions open-ended. (source)

Sounds like it CAN be a useful way to get to know yourself more better—develop greater self-awareness and shit. Sort of like a card game version of psychotherapy.

I've always liked the cards—they’re thought inspiring and often beautiful.

At This is Colossal there’s a post up about an upcoming book from the German art book publisher, Taschen.

Compiling more than 500 cards, a new book sequences an incredibly diverse array of metaphysical decks from medieval to modern times. Tarot is arranged in order from the Major to the Minor Arcana and examines the meaning behind the varied illustrations, considering who created them and when. (source)

The Marigold Deck—Strength

I do believe I’ll need to invest in this.

The Major Arcana Tarot cards reveal messages about the big picture of your life and its long-term direction.
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The Wands cards are about action, initiative, and invention. They help to guide how you move through your life, advising when to move and when to hold back.
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The Cups cards represent your emotions, intuition, and relationships. They can guide you in love and help you understand and process your highest and lowest feelings.
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The Swords cards are all about challenges. They can tell you when conflict and heartache are looming and help you harness the strength of your own mind.
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The Pentacles cards are associated with your work, finances, and domestic life. They can answer questions about your personal goals and your money, family, and health.
(source)

My Major Arcana Cards? The Emperor and Death. How dismally unromantic.

Death and The Emperor have in common the qualities of polar absolutes: both are crystal clear in the definition of their function, territory and authority; neither can be moderated or softened in the performance of their duties; each balances the other perfectly — one deconstructs and wipes away, the other organizes and establishes. They are both utterly dependable.

The Emperor makes Death lawful, and gives him pride of place in the scheme of things. Death makes everything mutable, so that the law itself is constantly changing, adaptive and alive.
(source)

Here’s another idea—while I’m still less mobile than I’d like, maybe I can begin sketching out, doodling up my own deck of tarot cards. Who knows, once I’m consistently back on my feet, this could become my next series of painting.