THE WHEEL OF FORTUNE IN THE TAIGA TAROT

As with the previous eight Taiga Tarot designs, The Wheel of Fortune (X) was dream-influenced. I'd worked on only the basic drawing a couple of days ago (based on images that came when working previously on the dream-prompted Sun card). Then I woke up yesterday morning chanting the last two lines for The Wheel of Fortune tanka and figured X was next:




[Note of 3-29-07: I will definitely re-draw this wheel (it's not centered itself :-D), and will probably edit the tanka, sometime soon.]

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry and Roswila’s Taiga Tarot for taiga (illustrated tanka).****

REVISION OF THE CAULDRON (XXII) IN THE TAIGA TAROT

I strongly suggest that you click here to read the previous post on The Cauldron first, as it has more background on this 23rd Major I designed. The Cauldron is a card new to The Tarot entirely, not just this Taiga Tarot. The previous post also shares meanings I've seen for it in readings over the years and the previous version of the Taiga Tarot design.

Additional Background on The Cauldron (XXII): My use of the word "cauldron" is largely poetic, as opposed to alchemical in meaning as in XIV of The Thoth and The Arthurian Tarots. (E.g., I often feel when gazing at the night sky that I'm peering into the cauldron of creation.) I think of XXII as being a process, a creative ferment, that lies beyond light/dark, pleasure/pain, etc. So that where dualities arise is in manifestation, and in our attempts to look at/understand/effect that process. In a way, I see The Cauldron as outside the circle of the 22 Majors, outside of time and manifestation. Or rather, as my attempt to represent that which I intuit (imagine?) to be beyond and outside, preceding and following, yet existing within. (Prose fails me here, poetry comes closer, and this Taiga Tarot design a wee bit closer yet.)

A friend suggested that the initial design needed the rim of The Cauldron showing, as taiga are supposed to stand alone, without explanations. But as I explained (:-D) to him, the card has never existed before, so has to be explained. However, I have put the rim in the design, as I do want to make these taiaga as close as possible to "true" taiga as I can. Here's the revision:




BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

THE CAULDRON (A New Major) IN THE TAIGA TAROT

The Cauldron (XXII) is not only a new Taiga Tarot* design, but a new twenty-third Major I conceptualized many years ago. The Cauldron design I post here was prompted by a dream, as all seven of the previous Taiga Tarot designs were. In the dream I was making a list of Tarot card names and became aware that only one was missing. As I woke and recalled the dream I immediately thought "The Cauldron! I've not been considering The Cauldron!"

The idea for XXII initially came to me after designing a one-day introductory Tarot workshop years ago. I subsequently was told by a Tarot buddy that it can happen when studying an esoteric subject for some time that one begins to feel something might be missing. For me there seemed to be not so much something missing, as a lot of room for another card between XXI and O, if one views the Majors in a clockwise circle, starting with O. I'd also been hearing a lot about quantum field theory at the time and struggling to understand it even a little bit. So, all of this combined -- along with who knows what else -- and The Cauldron precipitated after designing that Tarot workshop.

In my ideas for The Cauldron design I've always seen an actual cauldron. In The Taiga Tarot version below you are looking down into the cauldron and seeing the wavy web/net/field that I always envision filling it. There's more on XXII and the meanings I've found for it after the design:




Design: The Cauldron is that out of which everything arises, and that to which it all returns, to rise again in new forms. The wavy lines are meant to represent what underlies and connects, and is the source and goal of all creation.

In Readings: (BTW, I have added XXII to every working deck I have. I use a black marker to print the name and number on one of the end cards that always come with a deck.) The Cauldron says that the situation is very amenable right now to influence on the subtle planes -- via magic, ritual, affirmations, prayer, etc. It can also indicate that a situation can go either way, or that it's not clear yet whether it will even manifest or not. XXII can very gently whisper "patience, patience, patience," things will be clearer in time. Negatively aspected -- though I've found it rarely shows in a negative light -- it can be saying things are hanging by a thread, balanced on a razor's edge, ready to boil over, about to implode, etc. I'd say the over-riding sense I have of this card is that as unclear and uncertain as things may seem, we still can have input. But subtly and with an ear to what is being asked of us and what is trying to come through us. I.e., not just what we want, but how we fit into the much larger picture. It tends to be an encouraging card. The clay has not been shaped, the cloth not yet spun. If we quiet ourselves and act in subtle and responsive ways, a shy and delicate strand of manifestation may come to us.

* BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

THE MAGICIAN IN THE TAIGA TAROT

In my dream the night before last Elvis Presley was performing. A young, healthy Elvis, magically transforming into himself at various stages of his career. He and his band were all dressed in black. At the end of the performance, he went around brushing various lines, streaks, and spots of white on everyone, including himself. Okay, I mumbled to myself as I recorded the dream, "I'll work on you next, Magician," and proceeded to get up much earlier than I'd planned. :-)

In case this is your first visit here, I should mention that all six previous Taiga Tarot designs were in some way influenced by my dreams. And now here's the dream-Elvis-precipitated Magician (for background on The Taiga Tarot, see the bottom of this post):




BTW, I'm looking into getting a website (in addition to this blog) so these Taiga Tarot designs can be viewed more readily. It may take some time, unless my dreams start reorganizing my priorities, as well as prompting Tarot card designs. LOL!

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

THE EMPEROR IN THE TAIGA TAROT

As with the first five designs for The Taiga Tarot, the below design for The Emperor is a result of my dreams. Last night there was an adult authority/husband figure who made an observation that was central to the dream, and incredibly clarifying when I woke and worked with it. I had actually been considering The Empress or Judgment as my next card, based on images in the previous night's dreams. It was as I was mulling over III and XX that the above male figure I mentioned popped into my mind and I knew The Emperor was next. (As I thought more about the dream and The Emperor I remembered the male's statement in the dream referenced appropriate anger, which fits with Aries as the usual astrological correspondence for this card. Not to mention the far-reaching implications of the dream figure's rather protective statement.)

So, here's The Emperor, the next design in The Taiga Tarot (see the bottom of this post for more information on "taiga" and this deck):




It's becoming a bit of a challenge now that six designs have been influenced, directly or otherwise, by my dreams. I have to remind myself to remain as at ease as possible with my dreams, and not force Tarot meanings into the images. But rather wait on what reaches out toward me. Not unlike my earliest years working with my dreams once I recognized what treasures they could hold. Of course, I am quite curious to see how many of The Taiga Tarot designs will wind up being dream influenced. Whatever way they come through, however, I will be delighted to receive them.

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

THE SUN IN THE TAIGA TAROT

Well, it's still not time for Death, The Hermit, or The World card, as I mentioned in a couple of previous posts as "candidates" for the next Taiga Tarot design. The Sun appeared in a dream of the night before last. I saw lots of little astrology glyphs for the sun -- a circle with a dot in the center -- floating, rotating, flipping, and dancing in the air before me. I took that as a big clue as to which card to work on next. :-D The dream also influenced the design and text as it progressed, but not fully consciously. I saw the effects mostly after the initial draft was done. Now, with no further ado, here's The Sun:




Given my recent track record, I won't make any predictions as to which card will be posted here next. Though I can venture a pretty good guess that it will be, in some way, dream prompted.

BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT:

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

THE HIGH PRIESTESS IN THE TAIGA TAROT

In my previous post I said I'd be posting either Death, The Hermit, or The World card designs next. But The High Priestess (II) made Her presence known, subtly as is Her wont. I was writing haiku yesterday based on dreams* and noted a camel in a very recent dream. I don't remember ever dreaming about a camel before and then I recalled that the Hebrew letter often corresponded to II is "Gimel," which in noun form means "camel." So here's The High Priestess design that camel dream precipitated:




I'm planning on working on either Death, The Hermit, or The World card next, but who knows what The Tarot will prompt. :-D

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

THE STAR, WITH REVISED STRENGTH IN THE TAIGA TAROT

OK, I keep waiting for the designs to stop coming, or at least slow down. And they probably will do both along the way. However, I sure am enjoying this spurt of ideas.

Taiga, for anyone not familiar with the word, are illustrated tanka, and tanka are five line poems. See this post for more details on The Taiga Tarot.

In the previous post I shared the design for The Strength card. I have since very slightly revised it. The word "cracking" was originally "breaking," and I have moved the entire design up a bit on the card, adjusted word spacing just a little, and added a comma after "beating":



[NOTE OF 4/07/07: This Strength card may be further revised. I came across a sketch for it that I did years ago for a different Tarot deck project, that I think I like more.]

I also said in the previous post I'd share The Star design next. Here it is:



This design is based on the meaning of the Hebrew word Tzaddi which is "fish hook" (in noun form). Tzaddi is often attributed to The Star card.

In my next post I'll be sharing either Death or The Hermit, or maybe The World. All three have begun to present themselves. If you are so inclined, I always appreciate feedback, but especially with a project like this.

BRIEF BACKGROUND ON THE TAIGA TAROT (Click here for additional background on the Taiga Tarot.):

When I decided the name of the deck would be The Taiga Tarot, I liked not only the alliteration but the resemblance of the word “taiga” to “tiger.” One of my power animals is the Siberian Tiger (and by extension, all tigers), which first appeared as three tiger kittens in a dream. What I had completely forgotten at the time was that the area of Siberia in which the tiger ranges is called “The Taiga”!

A “taiga” (briefly put) is an illustrated tanka. A “tanka” is a mood poem written in five lines, that usually references natural images and human emotions. Also, there is often a contrast or conclusion or response in the last two lines to the first three. I recognize that the tanka/taiga I’m developing for The Taiga Tarot are non-traditional. As with the dream haiku I write, I am not only attempting to bridge two things – with this deck, Tarot and taiga – but also bringing my own experimental slant to it all.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****

STRENGTH, WITH THE REVISED MOON CARD IN THE TAIGA TAROT

It's been delightful to get so many enthusiastic and helpful responses to the previous post introducing my new project, The Taiga Tarot, and sharing my Moon card design.

"Taiga" are, very simply put, illustrated tanka. Tanka are five line poems. I do not claim the tanka I've been writing are traditional. It would probably be more accurate to say they are experimental, incorporating elements of concrete poetry. (To the friend who noted the similarity to concrete poems, I said maybe we need a new form: conka. Forgive me. I cannot resist a bad pun.) Click here to read my introductory post that has more information on taiga and this deck-in-progress, and to see the initial version of The Moon card. I have since revised The Moon (XVIII), and here it is:




I believe the letters stand out better in this new version. I also like the overall crispness of it. It contrasts nicely to what we think of as the unclarity of moonlight vision (intuition, etc.).

Now, to introduce Strength (VIII):




For anyone not familiar with astrology, the figure on the card is the glyph for Leo. (Leo is often attributed to Strength, and is said to rule the heart.) As with The Moon card, I woke up in the middle of the night, grabbing for my dream note pad to get down the ideas I felt coming for the Strength card. I can't say I had been dreaming about this design, but it does seem some part of me was thinking about it as I slept.

The same night I began working on Strength, I also began to hear from The Star card. In my next post I'll be sharing The Star.

I'm really enjoying this dance of manifesting what's in my heart's eye, while responding to the restrictions and the surprise gifts of the physical tools (rusty drawing skills, pens, computer program, etc.) that I have at my disposal. I welcome feedback.

* * * *

‘til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot,

Roswila
[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”)**** SEE ALSO: Roswila’s Dream & Poetry Realm and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal.****