HEY EDDINGS FANS ON MY FLIST!
So I restarted 78degrees (which if you haven't checked out, you totally should). And I've started delving back into the tarot again. Part of this, of course, is that I've bought two new (very different) decks: the Manga tarot and the Dark Grimoire tarot.
The reason for the purchases had to do with what was lacking in my deck collection (yes, I have a collection), namely cards with a somewhat more 'dark' twist to them and something a little less traditionally European in imagery. I sort of realized this a couple of weeks ago when I brought out nearly every deck I own to read cards at a company party as part of the festivities. I was a little wary and thought that perhaps I'd be looked at askance while everyone went to do everything else, but I was surprised and delighted to find that most of my office was intrigued... and then most of my office came by for a reading, turning the 1 hour 'event' into a five hour marathon of readings. Having not dealt with my cards for a while, I was somewhat exhausted after a near full day of using nearly all of them at least once (and my throat hurt). The way I put it when I got home was: "...I think my third eye is wincing."
So this morning I picked up my favorite tarot book (this book, for anyone wondering, which is absolutely fabulous for anyone who wants to learn regardless of skill level) and started reading again. There were a few cards that had been puzzling me, a few meanings and symbols that were a bit fuzzy, and I wanted to freshen up.
It was as I got to the keyword descriptions of the Major Arcana that an image hit me like a shot, a picture from a book series that has literally shaped me in so many ways I can't even count. A story that's really, honestly, been with me since I was very young. A series that, when I bring it up to anyone who's read the books, brings up lives being changed, memories being made, friendships begun, an understanding... home. Comfort.
It was an image of young Garion atop a log on the river, eyes on a black, horse-riding figure in the distance.
I want to do a Belgariad tarot. Full pip cards, court cards, the whole shebang. I've started to assign characters/pictures to various cards, but
1. I'd love help figuring out the images/imagery from the fans (either of tarot or of the books) on my flist
2. ...anyone want to help with the illustration?
I don't know what'll come of it. Maybe, if it gets finished, I can find some small 'print your own' type thing on the internet and offer copies to folks. Mostly, I just want to do it. I want to imagine it and I want to make this something real.
The cards are supposed to be a guide, a helper on the journey, and I've heard of so many people who've had these characters assist them on their journeys besides even me that I can't quite let go of this crazy idea. So to get things started:
0 - Fool - Garion on the log
1 - The (Sorcerer) Magician - Belgarath (maybe making the tree grow in Vo Mimbre?)
2 - The High Priestess - Poledra
3 - Empress - Layla
4 - Emperor - Fulrach
5 - Hierophant - Relg / Gorim (not sure which)
6 - Lovers - Polgara and Durnik
7 - Chariot - Silk (driving the former turnip cart, in my head)
8 - Strength - Ce'Nedra (possibly leading the Armies of the West)
9 - Hermit - Aldur with Orb in hand
10 - Fortune - the Orb (sitting on Mrin Codex, if possible)
11 - Justice - Mandorallen
12 - Hanged Man - Barak (some thought to Zedar here, but not quite; this card can also be The Traitor, hence)
13 - Death - Zandramas (turning to stars, specifically)
14 - Temperance - Beldin (...no, I'm not kidding)
15 - Devil - Torak (...you totally didn't see THAT coming)
16 - Tower - Zedar (or Barak, depending on which one is chosen for 12) (also considering Ctuchik)
17 - Star - Horse
18 - Moon - Cyradis
19 - Sun - Zakath
20 - Judgment - Eriond and Geran (and Cyradis)
21 - The World - Garion holding Geran (who's playing with the Orb) and sitting outside of Polgara's cottage looking at the stars
Pentacles/Shields
King - Riva
Queen - Beldaran
Knight - Brand
Page - Gared/Garen (lalala Eddings typo, also not sure about this one)
Chalices/Cups
King - Anheg
Queen - Islena
Knight - Greldik
Page - Unrak
Wands/Staves
King - Rhodar
Queen - Porenn
Knight - Velvet
Page - Kheva
Swords
King - ChoHag
Queen - Sildar
Knight - Hettar
Page - Adara
...might reverse swords and staves. Not sure. Kind of like it as it is but there's something to be said for reversing them.
Opinions? Declarations of my insanity? Feedback? Help? For reference, the card meanings can be found here and I'd want to do scenes/events from the books for the pips, m'self.
BTW, feel free to send this around to anyone who might be interested. I'm all up for discussion, etc.
The reason for the purchases had to do with what was lacking in my deck collection (yes, I have a collection), namely cards with a somewhat more 'dark' twist to them and something a little less traditionally European in imagery. I sort of realized this a couple of weeks ago when I brought out nearly every deck I own to read cards at a company party as part of the festivities. I was a little wary and thought that perhaps I'd be looked at askance while everyone went to do everything else, but I was surprised and delighted to find that most of my office was intrigued... and then most of my office came by for a reading, turning the 1 hour 'event' into a five hour marathon of readings. Having not dealt with my cards for a while, I was somewhat exhausted after a near full day of using nearly all of them at least once (and my throat hurt). The way I put it when I got home was: "...I think my third eye is wincing."
So this morning I picked up my favorite tarot book (this book, for anyone wondering, which is absolutely fabulous for anyone who wants to learn regardless of skill level) and started reading again. There were a few cards that had been puzzling me, a few meanings and symbols that were a bit fuzzy, and I wanted to freshen up.
It was as I got to the keyword descriptions of the Major Arcana that an image hit me like a shot, a picture from a book series that has literally shaped me in so many ways I can't even count. A story that's really, honestly, been with me since I was very young. A series that, when I bring it up to anyone who's read the books, brings up lives being changed, memories being made, friendships begun, an understanding... home. Comfort.
It was an image of young Garion atop a log on the river, eyes on a black, horse-riding figure in the distance.
I want to do a Belgariad tarot. Full pip cards, court cards, the whole shebang. I've started to assign characters/pictures to various cards, but
1. I'd love help figuring out the images/imagery from the fans (either of tarot or of the books) on my flist
2. ...anyone want to help with the illustration?
I don't know what'll come of it. Maybe, if it gets finished, I can find some small 'print your own' type thing on the internet and offer copies to folks. Mostly, I just want to do it. I want to imagine it and I want to make this something real.
The cards are supposed to be a guide, a helper on the journey, and I've heard of so many people who've had these characters assist them on their journeys besides even me that I can't quite let go of this crazy idea. So to get things started:
0 - Fool - Garion on the log
1 - The (Sorcerer) Magician - Belgarath (maybe making the tree grow in Vo Mimbre?)
2 - The High Priestess - Poledra
3 - Empress - Layla
4 - Emperor - Fulrach
5 - Hierophant - Relg / Gorim (not sure which)
6 - Lovers - Polgara and Durnik
7 - Chariot - Silk (driving the former turnip cart, in my head)
8 - Strength - Ce'Nedra (possibly leading the Armies of the West)
9 - Hermit - Aldur with Orb in hand
10 - Fortune - the Orb (sitting on Mrin Codex, if possible)
11 - Justice - Mandorallen
12 - Hanged Man - Barak (some thought to Zedar here, but not quite; this card can also be The Traitor, hence)
13 - Death - Zandramas (turning to stars, specifically)
14 - Temperance - Beldin (...no, I'm not kidding)
15 - Devil - Torak (...you totally didn't see THAT coming)
16 - Tower - Zedar (or Barak, depending on which one is chosen for 12) (also considering Ctuchik)
17 - Star - Horse
18 - Moon - Cyradis
19 - Sun - Zakath
20 - Judgment - Eriond and Geran (and Cyradis)
21 - The World - Garion holding Geran (who's playing with the Orb) and sitting outside of Polgara's cottage looking at the stars
Pentacles/Shields
King - Riva
Queen - Beldaran
Knight - Brand
Page - Gared/Garen (lalala Eddings typo, also not sure about this one)
Chalices/Cups
King - Anheg
Queen - Islena
Knight - Greldik
Page - Unrak
Wands/Staves
King - Rhodar
Queen - Porenn
Knight - Velvet
Page - Kheva
Swords
King - ChoHag
Queen - Sildar
Knight - Hettar
Page - Adara
...might reverse swords and staves. Not sure. Kind of like it as it is but there's something to be said for reversing them.
Opinions? Declarations of my insanity? Feedback? Help? For reference, the card meanings can be found here and I'd want to do scenes/events from the books for the pips, m'self.
BTW, feel free to send this around to anyone who might be interested. I'm all up for discussion, etc.