This week's deck, as I mentioned before, has been out a while. Still,
the artist is one I like a lot: Antonella Platano. She also drew two of
my personal favourites - the Gay Tarot, and the Wheel of the Year Tarot
- as well as the Witches Tarot (Hip Witch) and the Universal Goddess Tarot (also fun decks).
In the Tarot of the 78 Doors (Lo Scarabeo, 2005),
the content of the cards is traditionally RWS, though the actual
imagery and symbolism are not. For instance, in the Lovers we have a
gypsy telling the fortune of a young man, as his lady love stands by.
Is she predicting a different choice for him, or helping confirm the
path he has chosen?
I also really like that the Knight of Cups in this
deck seems female (there is also one female Page, though not of Cups). This
Knight of Cups is a confident woman in blue armour, who
turns her horse to pass through the cloak of a waterfall, into a dark
cave. A cleansing outpouring of emotion, powerful though sometimes
superficial, and a willingness to face the depths of her unconscious.
The
Ace of Pentacles is another card I can get behind, though it wouldn't
be how I would choose to portray this card's energy. We have a jolly,
plump woman wearing a sumptuous, green dress and gold jewelry. She sits
before a fine house, to which she holds the keys. Suggestions, then,
of material plenty and a degree of luxury. For me, the Ace should hold a
little less actuality and a bit more potential. I also see Pentacles
as being about connecting with the physical, not just overindulging it.
Still, the symbolism is appropriate, especially if we see this as
someone just moving into a new house...
Finally, we have the
Three of Pentacles to represent the Minors. Plenty of craftsmanship
here, with a joiner making a variety of different yet beautiful doors.
Not so much of teamwork, though, unless you take a broader perspective:
what is a door without a house around it? :)
I really like Antonella's work too. She has a really sunshiny uplifting style in a lot of her work (thinking of the Wheel decks), but I love the slightly sultry palette in the Gay Tarot. I didn't realise she did this one. Thanks for the heads up.
ReplyDeleteIf you have the baby before I speak to you again, good luck and best wishes to you all!
Yes, sunshiny is an excellent description of it! :) Though, as you say, the Gay Tarot was quite different in that regard. The same interesting people, but in more muted tones, and with an edgy feel to it that is also wonderful.
DeleteThanks for the good wishes. Hopefully, he'll wait til after we move house to come out...
Perhaps the gypsy is tempting him: which one will he choose??? And I love the knight of cups!
ReplyDeleteI did wonder that, too, Ellen. I thought his girlfriend wouldn't stand by so calmly if that was the case, but then again she might not realise what was going on :D And yes, I think this is an excellent Knight of Cups - lots of layers!
Delete