Jay LeRoy art & design

The Cold & Lovely

2012-01-21T10:32:00.001-05:00

I was honestly surprised (and a little bit excited) when I found out that the band, The Cold & Lovely, really liked my art and was interested in working with me!

The band consists of Meghan Toohey (played guitar for The Weepies and worked with Margaret Cho, amongst others), Nicole Fiorentino (current bassist of Smashing Pumpkins) and Patty Schemel (Hole). Currently, they are raising funds in order to release their debut record and asked me to create an album cover for them! Also, 10% raised after their target amount is reached will go to Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles.

Just like with Kickstarter campaigns, those who want to pledge can choose what amount(s) to give and receive special "thank you" gifts. I'd like to mention that for a pledge of $40 you can receive a poster print of the album cover signed by the band *ahem*

Please support the band!

XVI. The Tower

2012-01-01T12:10:00.001-05:00

How the mighty have fallen.

This card, to me, has always been a warning against man's hubris. Bringing to mind the mythical Tower of Babel and a warning against humanity's ill-conceived plans to advance towards the higher realms.

Rider-Waite card

Quite simply, the Tower here is a reminder to be sincere in your endeavors. Whether one is ambitious for material gain or the pursuit of spiritual power, get your priorities in order before taking your first step. Literally and metaphorically, one cannot build anything without first securing a firm foundation and following a well-thought out plan. The Universe knows when you're in error - or too arrogant - and will correct Itself, that is, knock you back down a few pegs.

This is a very important lesson when doing any kind of spiritual or magical work. Start with the basics and allow yourself time to grow and develop.

Also, many interpret this card as a signifier that unexpected change is about to occur. It may seem like everything is crumbling around you, but look for the blessing in disguise. The Universe is removing self-erected obstacles in order for you to change course and rebuild something better.

I feel the imagery in this card is rather succinct and doesn't really need any further explanation from me.

XV. The Devil

2011-12-24T15:27:00.001-05:00

Another infamous card of the tarot.

And one with many different interpretations.

But here the Devil is the personification of the Shadow. That is, all the negative or embarrassing aspects of ourselves that we continually repress only to find it's not so easily ignored. Whether it be irrational fears, animalistic tendencies, hedonistic urges or unsavory fantasies, the Devil is everything civilized society deems improper but somehow finds its expression underground. And it's not just sexual repression, but bigotry and hatred, self-destruction and violent feelings towards others, too. Everything we dislike about ourselves, we project onto others. In this way, we perpetually empower the Shadow to retain its hold on us.

But in order to attain peace with one's self, and hopefully the world, we must all face our demons, so to speak. The longer we continue to repress things, the more the Shadow demands to be acknowledged, the more it persecutes us and the more monsters we flee from in our dreams. By embarking on the difficult process of examining our darkness and embracing it, we can begin to make peace with it and find that all of that negative energy can be transmuted into something better. When we finally stop projecting our Shadow onto others, that's when Life starts to get better.

(I was going to say that we should indulge the Shadow, to a degree, but that can be a dangerous pursuit. Each of us must take responsibility for our own actions and I certainly don't suggest anyone act out their violent tendencies!)

Yet, while the Devil is typically the personification of Evil itself, we must realize that "good" and "evil" are, as many may find to an unsettling degree, relative. Just because the majority believes in or behaves a certain way, that doesn't make it true or even just. Those who oppose such beliefs are deemed heretical and "bad" for society. The pariahs, no matter how right and good they may actually be, are cast in the Devil's role. They become the Shadow of society.

Rider-Waite card

Here the Devil is depicted in a dream. I imagine the dreamer is walking through dark corridors, rounds a corner and is confronted by this classic visage. Robed in black (darkness of night and ignorance of Self), the Shadow has the head of a goat, a typical Western image of evil. However, I used the head of Baphomet - actually a symbolic depiction of Western occult beliefs, not Satan - for a few reasons. The first being to play on the general misconception that Baphomet is Satan/The Devil. Next, to subtly remind the Fool about the union of opposites which Baphomet represents. Also, the occult mantra of "Know Thyself" - the good, the bad and everything in between. The flame of enlightenment above Baphomet's head has yet to be ignited, as the dreamer must first deal with his Shadow. The circle in the background is suggestive of the moon/nighttime and pertains to all of the negative superstitions about it while the smaller one on its forehead alludes to the third eye. Also, here the moon represents dreaming, which is when the Shadow tends to communicate with us more vividly.

The Devil can be a terrible adversary or he can be a helpful ally...

XIV. Balance

2011-12-23T11:45:00.002-05:00

This card reinforces the idea that apparent opposites are just polar extremes of a single condition. It reminds the Fool of the unity of all Creation while warning him not to be deceived by the illusion of "Other". Balance tells us to remember "We are One" and to see yourself reflected back in the face of another. But keep in mind that we are all One Being have multiple, simultaneous experiences.

Here, the figure represents the androgynous, yet paradoxically sexless, nature of the soul. The body is simply a vehicle of expression for the spirit. However, this figure also speaks about the fact that humans have both a "feminine" and "masculine" side. The degree to which these are expressed are typically dictated by culture, usually leaving the soul to feel stifled by restrictive social "norms". Furthermore, this relates back to the dual nature of being as discussed with the macrocosmic Magician/Priestess and the microcosmic Empress/Emperor couplings. Androgyny is also a symbol for the Philosopher's Stone, denoting the harmonious union of opposites. This is further alluded to by the peacock or "peacock's tail" stage of the Great Work.

The halo behind the andgrogyne represents the colors of the astral plane upon which the soul may shed its human body and chose its own form of expression. The four rays symbolize both an influx and outpouring of universal energy.

Finally, the lush greenery of the background is representative of the material world in which the Fool journeys upon his quest while the castle suggests the alchemical Royal Couple (ie. the androgyne).

PS - I see this card as saying, "Hey! Relax a bit and try to find some equilibrium before you drive yourself nuts!"

A work in progress

2011-12-04T21:39:00.000-05:00

After holding on to this tin shrine for months, I've finally gotten around to working on it today.

Next, I'll be drawing something special to place inside. Stay tuned!

Teargarden

2011-12-01T18:26:00.001-05:00

Okay, how about a little break from the tarot cards?

This piece was inspired by the forthcoming Smashing Pumpkins' album "Oceania", which is supposed to be part of the "Teargarden by Kaleidyscope" project. Well, it's more so inspired by some of the live versions of the songs I heard at their NYC show back on October 18th.

It's also a thank you present for one of the band members who was kind enough to give three of us after party passes (and free tickets after I'd already bought them - but still, that was sweet!)

XIII. Death

2011-11-13T11:28:00.002-05:00

Change.

That's all this card is talking about.

Probably the most infamous card of the tarot, Death isn't exclusively about physical mortality but further solidifies the concept that the only constant is perpetual change. Also, I find it pointless to discuss people's fear of death and the unknown. It's pretty much a given that most people freak out about it. Whatever your fears or opinions, you project that into this image.

Anyway, the Fool has already been introduced to the fact that all of Creation is in flux. Mountains eroded down to hills, caterpillars transform into butterflies, stars are violently born then burn out and every living thing has its time upon the planet. All matter transforms from one state of being to another. Furthermore, Death is the great equalizer. Kings and commoners, rich and poor, celebrities and the rest of us are all the same to it. No matter how important you think you are, no matter how wealthy you are or how desperately you cling to life - you will die. Metaphorically we know that all things come to an end. Relationships, careers, mental and emotional states, etc. But from every ending comes a new beginning. Death is also the great facilitator.

Crowley-Thoth version

Death isn't usually a welcome friend but it has a job to do and it does it well. Yet, the Fool knows that all forms are simply illusions. Nothing actually "dies"- it just transmutes from one form to another.

Here we see a soul that has just shed one of its earthly bodies and returns once more to the spirit realm. Knowing that living vessels wear out, the soul wraps up this life's experience and prepares to reincarnate for its next lesson. The large skull is a fading reminder of its previous life, a gateway from one adventure to the next. There is also an alchemical theme to this card as the fires suggest a purging of gross matter so that the soul may be released. It is not the tormenting fire of Hell but a cleansing, purifying action of Spirit. I chose the eye to symbolize the idea that all souls are but extensions of the Supreme Power while the grid is once again the higher planes first seen in The Magician card.

I feel like Death is a subject that deserves an obligatory lengthy discussion but I also think that would do a disservice to the card. As mentioned above, no doubt everyone projects their own feelings into this topic. No, I don't want to die anytime soon, I still have a lot to do. But I accept Death and in doing so it gives me a surprising peace of mind and spirit.

XII. The Hanged Man

2011-11-11T15:13:00.002-05:00

This was a particularly challenging card to produce.

I didn't necessarily want to go with the iconic youth strung upside down by his foot. Nor did I want to fall back on the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ motif. But I don't think I succeeded in keeping away from a Christian connotation. Although, I think, perhaps, this is more in a Gnostic vein.

To further expand upon the lessons of Strength, the Fool now learns how to both submit to and transcend Ego.

As discussed with the previous card, the Fool must realize his place within the greater scheme of things. In order to do this he must free himself from the Demiruge, that is, his own ego. Now, we all have our own egos. This is the identity created by the experiences and conditioning unique to each body we inhabit. In this life, my ego is Jay. Jason, as his parents named him, has spent the last 30 years forming and refining a nucleus of identity by which he interprets and interacts with the world at large. This includes daily interaction with the identity/egos of other souls incarnated on this planet. He gets along with some and he doesn't care for others. Everyone is like that - on the surface.

Behind the mask of Ego, further back behind the layers of the Conscious/Subconscious mind and even further beyond the Unconscious resides the soul. That spark of divinity that has come down through the higher spheres to be enclosed within the material - like an gemstone concealed within the layers of an onion. This is the true Self - just one facet of the jewel of the great Source of All. But because the soul has come down through so many layers of denser and denser vibrations, it becomes overwhelmed by forms and experiences. The primordial connection with Source almost feels cut off or suppressed. Many souls may even become ignorant of it, having been caught up in the illusions of Maya. And it's because of this ignorance of origin that the domineering ego may develop. And because the ego cannot conceive of anything deeper/higher than itself, it believes this solipsist mistake. Just as the creative Demiurge believed himself to be God, the Ego believes itself to be the totality of Self.

But sometimes the spark flares up from deep within and sets the (metaphorical) body on fire! Somehow, someone or something somewhere acts as the bellows to inflame the soul and thus begins what can be a truly harrowing ordeal. When the fragile ego comes under attack from something "alien" then a great battle begins within. I tend to call this the Dark Night of the Soul.

The soul "awakens" and becomes aware that all of "solid" Creation is merely an illusion projected by the Great Mind (or "God"). And because the soul spark understands it is essentially "God" having a particular experience, it knows that nothing can hurt it - nothing is separate from it. Just as the Buddha sat still beneath the bodhi tree while demons and gods attacked him, so does the soul willing submit to the desperate attacks of ego. In doing so, the soul gains more power as the ego wears itself down, finally submitting to the fact that is just another illusory creation of a higher power. Now the soul has conquered the lower/animal self and can live more integrated with Creation. It realizes everything is Illusion which can be manipulated since each soul is "God" at work within Its own Creation.

In this card the individual is depicted as a faceless. Without a face the body is without ego and thus the figure could be anyone. The body is hung upside down in a nod to the typical depiction of the card but the head is obscured by a hexagon. Here, the six-pointed star has the alchemical symbolism of the union of opposites - Above and Below, spirit and matter mingling into one. This hints at the integration of ego with soul. Furthermore, the hexagon is also a symbol for the sun and by extension alludes to the concept of Christ Consciousness and Tipareth. For me, the swastikas further enhance the solar symbolism. The Demiurge/Ego is here represented by the three-headed serpent which suggests the lower/animal self. Yet, at the same time, it also alludes to the release of powerful kundalini energy. A halo of black and white bursts might allude to the tension between light and dark, good and evil, upper and lower while the colors in the background suggest the illusory prism of the astral plane.

I feel like there is so much more I could say about this card. But I'll leave it there...just things to think about...

XI. Strength

2011-11-03T19:58:00.002-04:00

This shows the explosive, dynamic energies of Creation. The internal combustion, the driving force of the cosmos. Every atomic particle smashing into one another. The nuclear fission at the heart of every star. The release of kinetic energy. The Big Bang.

The power and the strength of Life.

Rider-Waite version

Many may be more familiar with the Rider-Waite depiction of a serene woman calmly clutching the jaws of a lion. She radiates a quiet strength which can tame even the fiercest beast. But I wanted to depict something more exciting, more energetic and intense! Change isn't always withering decay. Sometimes it's a violent explosion! A sudden transformation leaving you surprised and awe-struck!

Sometimes we spend too much time navel-gazing and worrying about petty problems instead of looking up at the stars in amazement. We hear the pleasant chirping of sweet, little birds but don't watch them chase away hawks and be utter badasses. I think we (humanity) as whole tend to forget just how awesome Nature really is. How powerful it is. The Earth has been around for billions of years before our ancestors stood erect. Earth doesn't need us. We need the Earth. We do not have dominion over Nature. Furthermore, to say that someone or something is "unnatural" is a fallacy as nothing here can exist outside of Nature. We forget that we are part of Nature and we ignore that at our own peril.

This brings us to the lessons of the Strength card.

On one hand, it warns of humanity's hubris, symbolized by Samson wrestling with the lion. Instead of constantly battling Nature for what we believe to be "God-given sovereignty", we would do well to once again live more harmoniously with it. The phrase "Don't shit where you sleep." comes to mind - and that's what we've been doing to our planet for some time now.

However, there is a more sublime lesson, too. The Fool must learn that once we truly recognize our place within the cosmos - as part of it, not outside of it - we can begin to live more fully integrated with Creation in mind, body and soul. We can find that inner strength to tame our bestial egos, to conquer our fears and realize our very own power. To acknowledge that spark of divinity that is found in everything, everywhere and at all times.

It's this last lesson that is more overtly depicted in the card. If you notice, you'll see the grid of the matrix, the diamond pattern of the Magician's robe and the geometric crucible of the High Priestess. These are subtle reminders that we can interact with the higher powers and by doing so, we can affect change in the material universe. These all symbolize the higher faculties of human beings if we could just put aside ego, with it's enslaving phobias and ignorant conditioning. If we could just awaken our minds and hearts to realize how interconnected all of Creation really is, we could do and become so much more.

X. The Wheel

2011-11-01T12:28:00.003-04:00

Typically called "The Wheel of Fortune," this next card somewhat relates to the concepts previously discussed with VIII. Justice. I've decided to call it simply "The Wheel" because, to me, this never insinuated anything relating to worldly fortune. Here, The Wheel is a broader symbol of the illusory motion of Time.

Father Time AKA Saturn

By now the Fool is aware of the procession of linear time. He sees people age, things decay and consequences unfold. On the material plane this is the Saturnine wheel of earthly life. It's the turning calendar by which we count the days, months, years, centuries, millenia. The endless rising and setting of the sun, the cycle of the seasons. It's the clock we watch every day while longing for quittin' time. The clock that drags along during work hours then seems to speed up when we're having fun. It's by this wheel that we count our birthdays, noticing ourselves aging and all the while knowing that some day our time on Earth will run out. But don't let it depress you. All material things have their allotted lifespans. And because the Universe is ever in motion, everything is in a perpetual state of transformation. Change is the only constant and forms will break down in order to be reconstituted into new ones. Our souls know this. That is why they continually shed one body after another in their ages-old journey throughout Creation. For no one material form can last forever.

On a higher level, this is the cycle of reincarnation. As the soul spark leaves one body behind it moves on to integrate itself into a newly developing one. This allows the soul to experience Life from a new angle, to learn new lessons and have experiences it wouldn't have been able to in the previous body.

The right angles of the background symbolize the world of matter in which we perceive the illusion of time. It is only within the material universe that linear time is perceived by the five senses and thus ceases to exist without such observation. Ever notice how you can hit the snooze button, fall back to sleep for several minutes yet dream something longer than all three Lord of The Rings movies back to back? Also, the black and white color scheme is more so an aesthetic choice to make the foreground pop a bit more.

Rider-Waite card

The Wheel itself is a technicolor eyeball, that is, the ever radiant, watchful eye of "God" observing all events simultaneously. The fiery orange background behind it once again represents the dynamic forces of Creation first mentioned in The Fool card. The braided ring symbolizes the material universe, along with the four braids vaguely suggesting the Four Worlds of the Qabalah. The angelic figures here symbolize the four quarters of the 24-hour day, the four seasons, four elements, four suits of the tarot...and, well, basically anything that has to do with 4's.

BBL

2011-10-09T14:02:00.001-04:00

For the next three weeks I'll be on vacation, so I probably won't be updating this blog during that time.

I'll pick back up in November with X. The Wheel.

IX. The Hermit

2011-10-02T12:38:00.004-04:00

Having been instructed by the Hierophant, along with other fellow initiates, the Fool ventures on and eventually comes across the unassuming figure of the Hermit. Where the Hierophant concerned himself with setting the Fool on a spiritual path, equipping him with the teachings of myriad spiritual schools, the Hermit further refines the Fool's path by turning him inward towards his own true Self, helping him to achieve a greater clarity and attunement with cosmic forces.

Sometimes he gives out swords, too.

I've always thought of the Hermit as the Hierophant who has deemed it necessary to pass on his mantle to the next teacher, in order that he can remove himself from communal duties to attend to his own further spiritual refinement. No longer the temple master but the lone wiseman atop the mountain. He imparts his wisdom to the Fool while leading the intrepid seeker into deeper communion with himself. By focusing inward, the Fool learns to transcend his earthly concerns, especially his Ego, and attunes once again to the higher planes with a more acute perception and receptivity. Like Yoda hidden amongst the swamps of Degobah, the Hermit resigns himself to the wilderness, affording him greater separation from the distracting affairs of society*.

Rider-Waite card

For this card I pretty much created a traditional looking Hermit with hooded robe. The abstract pattern on his cloak was more an aesthetic choice to play against the green background, which is representative of Nature. Although, the colors could also allude to the astral. The Hermit's iconic lantern is here depicted as a tiny sun shining within a ring of clouds with wings that seem to suggest that the light source is somehow alive and hovers around him. He doesn't carry it. The sun is symbolic of the soul spark within each of us, the piece of supernal Source that incarnates into the world of matter in order to experience Creation. It's this piece of Self which the Hermit intends refine within the Fool.

(*Don't lecture me on the reasons for Yoda's exile. I know. I remember Star Wars before they added CGI Jabba and the rebels partied only with Ewoks! And can we pretend that the prequels never happened?)

VIII. Justice

2011-10-01T20:42:00.009-04:00

"You get what you give."

"What goes around, comes around."

"Just deserts."

Cause and effect.

Karma.

Crowley/Thoth version

Many say that the sword-bearer is the administer of some kind of justice determined by a particular moral order of the Universe. Most refer to it as karma. Others consider the card as a metaphor for the relationship between cause and effect, entirely devoid of any moral basis.

I see Justice as being both.

On one hand, the Fool is taught that all actions have consequences. This is the purely scientific approach to the laws of natural phenomena. As high school students many of us were introduced to the Newtonian Laws of Motion, the Laws of Thermodynamics and the scientific methods in which to observe and document. This is "cause and effect" as understood solely through the perceptions of the five physical senses as well as further allusion to the idea that all of Creation is in motion. All this is what's symbolized by the orb upon which the figure stands.

Classical "Justice"

On the other hand, the moral component to this concept - which we tend to refer to as "karma" - is a subjective experience. And because this is subjective, there are any number of ethical interpretations that can be projected into any outcome. If I help someone in his time of need and then receive some type of reward, even if not directly from said person, some think it's "karma" paying me back for a good deed. If I'm rude to someone and in turn fall down the stairs, perhaps you think got what I deserved. Perhaps the Universe was doling out some punishment to fit my crime. Now, perhaps falling down the stairs was completely unrelated to the snide comment I made, but if I take it as a lesson to be nicer to people at the risk of my own personal safety, I've given meaning to the incident and perhaps become a better person for it. It's this perception of cause and affect that is represented by the upper orb.

The lower orb is the mundane, physical explanation while the upper orb is the intellectual interpretation while the beams intersecting one another symbolize who these two qualities are occurring at the same time. The figure holding the sword is meant to bring to mind the more classical depiction of Blind Justice. As for the rippling water in the background - it was really just an aesthetic choice, I don't really have any meaningful explanation for it right now!

Basically, the lesson here is that we tend to be our own judges and executioners. Some learn a moral lesson, others don't. Sometimes there is no apparent lesson and bad things do happen to good people. But everything happens for a reason, whether mundane or cosmic.

It's all in how you look at it.

VII. The Chariot

2011-09-30T21:27:00.006-04:00

Nothing is actually at rest. As the Fool already learned, what appears to be inert and solid matter is merely energy vibrating at such low frequency as to merely appear static. All of Creation is in motion, from the tiniest subatomic particle to the largest galaxy spinning through the vacuum of space.

The Chariot is both a metaphor and a means of transport through the higher realms.

As a metaphor, the Chariot symbolizes the dynamism of all Creation. Nothing is at rest, everything is changing. And this is the one constant of Creation, that it is ever changing from one form to the next. All particles are motion, breaking down one form and coalescing into another. Constant and eternal transformation.

However, the Chariot is also a technology imparted by the Hierophant to the initiate Fool. Namely, it is the ability to deliberately project the astral body in order to traverse the spiritual planes. When one dreams it is not uncommon to leave this plane and enter another realm. But most of the time it's not a conscious decision and so dreams tend to seem more like nocturnal art house films and we are but the passive observer. Now, some (not including me, much to my chagrin) are able to deliberately become lucid in their dreams and interact with the Dreaming as they wish. This is one way in which the soul places consciousness into the astral body and travela around a higher plane. Now, there are others who can achieve this feat through meditation. This, I think, is what we would more commonly refer to as astral projection.

Crowley/Thoth version

Although, I should explain a bit - I have unintentionally gone lucid in my dreams about three times during my life. Really within the last five years, though I was unable to retain lucidity for too long. The last time I went lucid, it was only after clumsily making my way through the caves of Hell before finding a basement door to...well...an apartment I used to live in. After walking through and shutting the door, it felt as if I "woke up" in that world and it seemed every bit as real and solid as the one in which I'm typing this entry. However, I also believe I have unwittingly projected twice, during sleep, into the astral plane just "above" our material world. Some would say this is akin to the spirit world of the shamans. On both occasions I saw beings in my neighborhood that couldn't possibly exist here.

And now that you think I'm a wacko, I'm just giving an example of why I believe our consciousness isn't confined to our brains, much less the body as a whole. And thanks to the Hierophant, the Fool is now aware of this fact. Using this knowledge, he can rise higher through the spheres on the soul's journey back to Source.

I feel like I don't really need to explain the imagery. It's just a whimsical interpretation of the soul/consciousness seated within the astral body as it zooms through spiritual dimensions.

VI. The Lovers

2011-09-30T20:32:00.000-04:00

Yes, it's two dudes. Yes, I went there.

Why? Because I like to be provocative and this card is also a reaction against what I find to be an annoying trend within the larger occult community, that is, the heteronormative dogma of many systems. Now, I have no problem with male/female, god/goddess worship - do whatever you want. What irks me is just how close-minded many other occultists can be. There are times I come across practitioners who are just as obnoxious as fundamentalists of the "evil" organized religions they seem to just be reacting against. I just find it ironic that people who claim to be "expanding their consciousness" are so ignorant.

Anyway, while the Lovers are usually depicted as a nude heterosexual couple, to me, the whole point of the card is once again the coming together of opposites. In this case, it's about the relationships between souls in the guise of people.

It's my belief that we are all souls, or sparks of the Source, enveloped in temporary sheaths of matter, ie. bodies. As souls, we are sexless, or androgynous, if you like. When we begin incarnation into a developing fetus, it's more or less Nature that determines if we become male, female or hermaphrodite. Although, I do think we have some say in how we'd like to turn out. Once born, society begins to press upon us the gender expectations of man or woman. Even though there are many who do not - and will not - submit to such societal standards. It's ultimately up to the soul to determine its expression. And while our bodies do influence the types of experiences and lessons we learn, it's the soul that is really affected and will take that wisdom from one incarnation to the next.

So here the Fool has met the Lovers. Two different people who have fallen in love. Or, I should say, two souls that have found a mutual attraction to one another. Whether they are soul mates, twin flames or strangers coming together in sympathy. And while the card is, at it's core, about the joys love, it's also about how two people tend to balance each other out.

While there is the element of superficial attraction, what I find leads to lasting relationships between people is how well their energies sync up. Whether they be just friends or devoted lovers, it's how their souls sympathize and interact on the subtler, yet, higher levels.

Of course, one could write a whole book on the mysteries of love and still never really explain it. And since I've been unsuccessfully trying to write about this card for two days now, I'll just cop out and say that I'm finding it very difficult to put my ideas into words. I guess all I can say is that if you've ever fallen in love, then you just know.

V. The Hierophant

2011-09-29T19:45:00.001-04:00

After being educated in the mysteries of natural phenomena and worldly governance, the Fool now learns of the various spiritual schools. Instructing him in this endeavor is the Hierophant.

In this card we see two planes of energy, one superimposed over the other - the cold, gray concrete physical and the vibrantly prismatic astral. However, one of the lessons here is that which we perceive to be solid matter is really just energy vibrating at such a low frequency that it only appears inert. The seated, meditating figure of the Hierophant seems lifeless and inanimate. This is to symbolize the illusion of inertia. But his astral appearance overlays his physical body. And now we see his etheric form is really a brilliant and dazzling display of energy in sync with higher levels of consciousness.

The Hierophant is the spiritual master upon this earthly plane. He is the wise, mystical priest or guru who knows every system of organized religion, every form of spiritual practice and leads initiates through any rites by which the Mysteries calls to them. He is the teacher who capably instructs groups or just one-on-one with eager students. He is found across all lands and all times, his form changing from one culture to the next.

I've already explained what his monotone color scheme represents and, to me, the meditating monk perfectly symbolized the intense spiritual concentration and mastery of the body I think the Hierophant should always have. He can practice what he preaches. He isn't a glorified storyteller like so many other religious authoritarians. He doesn't charge for the knowledge that isn't his to begin with, like so many televangelists, or "False Profits" as I call them. He is every bit the enlightened master.

And it's this degree of enlightenment that is also symbolized by the radiant colors behind him (as well as being the astral plane). We can see his chakras, from the solar plexus, up through the heart and throat with the third eye being represented by the two flaming eyes of spiritual sight and his crown projecting three beams of energy. I like to think one of the beams is his astral body being projected (or returning) to his physical form, one being an influx of divine knowledge and the other projecting that wisdom directly into the aura of an initiate.

Rider-Waite depiction

I didn't want to depict the Hierophant as a Pope-like figure, as he is in the Rider-Waite and many other decks. I feel that he is a non-denominational character that has appeared throughout all religions and spiritual systems, like a bodhisattva reincarnating as a saintly monk, a wise old witch, a decorated temple priest or even a naked tribal shaman. To me depicting him as a Pope limits his essence to that of only Christianity, when I believe he is a universal archetype.

Lastly, I want to add that the Hierophant can take male or female form. The Hierophant's power doesn't rely on "his/her" physical body but the developed level of "his/her" soul.

But this is not the only time that the Fool will be instructed in spiritual matters. In the near future, the Hermit will help him further refine this knowledge into wisdom.

IV. The Emperor

2011-09-29T11:13:00.004-04:00

What the Empress creates, the Emperor - with his power unchecked - tends to subjugate and destroy.

This is a rather cynical take on the next card in the tarot drama. His lesson for the Fool is a warning about the corrupting nature of earthly power. I think this is more of a critique of the pervasive and oppressing patriarchy which grips much of the world today as it has for most of human civilization.

The Rider-Waite version

I chose to personify the Emperor with Foyatier's Spartacus. Defiant, powerful and militaristic but the manacle on his wrist shows that even the greatest leaders are slaves to the intoxication of power. He enslaves the people but, so long as he continues to desire ever more control over the Earth, is himself a slave to a greater master. All that he deems inferior is repressed, all that he fancies is taken by force. He thinks he is entitled to everything in the heavens and Earth and will not stop until his appetites are satiated.

The phallus imagery is symbolic of masculinity gone too far. It's the insufferable machismo men are taught to embody lest they be deemed weak and "womanly." It's red and white, filled with blood and semen, but instead of using the creative male forces to procreate with the Empress, it's twisted into some kind of symbol for "manly" power. One testicle/orb is decorated with gold to represent the material treasures kings covet and horde while the other is cancerous and symbolizes how the creative abilities* of men have been perverted. This is the male quality not in tune with the female, a tragic imbalance that must be corrected if there is to be any hope for equilibrium.

* I don't mean solely reproductive abilities, but in a broader sense of men's potentiality and diversity.

I think it's rather obvious what the background means. African slaves packed tighter than sardines testify to the horrors of imperialism and war, not just by Western nations but anywhere and at any time that human beings subjugate each other.

Emperor & Empress in harmony

However, as mentioned above, this is both a statement and a warning. The Fool would do well to realize that earthly power is fleeting and those who try to hold on to it become not unlike Gollum forever obsessed with his "Precious". Those who don't understand this are slaves to their power, being its tool rather than mindfully using their resources for the benefits of themselves and the world. The Emperor must be in control of himself or else he transforms from benign ruler to repressive despot. He is not beyond redemption but must learn for himself the very same lesson he gives the Fool. Only in this way will the male and female powers once again find balance and begin to create even greater things.

III. The Empress

2011-09-28T18:31:00.003-04:00

As mentioned in the previous entry, the Magician and the High Priestess, together, symbolize the androgynous Great Parent, while the following cards - the Empress and the Emporer - depict the split, amidst Nature, into opposites of female and male, now more properly delineating the polarity.

The Empress demonstrates to the Fool how the abstract conception of forms upon the higher planes are birthed into physical realty. She is the Matrix of the Tangible Universe and through her the building blocks of existence arrange themselves into the myriad variations of matter. In her essence we find the multitude of mother goddesses birthing the heavens, the planets and all that dwell upon them.

To us, she is the Earth itself, the fertile rock orbiting the sun. Upon the surface, in the waters and the clouds, all life as we know it exists inside her body.

Here she stands amongst a beautiful, sunny garden. The warmth and moist air perfect for plant life. Every flower blossoming, every fruit ripening to feed all the life teeming around them. In this setting she begins to educate the Fool in the natural rhythms of the world - the seasons, migrations, reproduction, harvests and even the phases of the moon.

Venus of Willendorf

I chose to depict the Empress as a regal queen because, well, really the title "empress" just carries a royal and refined connotation to me. Initially I had intended to give her the head of the Venus of Willendorf to further emphasize the aspect of fertility goddess. But I didn't think it worked with the figure, so I chose to depict her face as a star. To be honest, I don't really know why...it just seemed...right. And finally, the beams shining from her "face" represent the male and female polarity of lifeforms, as both sexes are born of the Mother.

II. The High Priestess

2011-09-25T14:39:00.001-04:00

The Magician introduced the hero to the nature of duality and the secrets of the vibratory nature of energy. The High Priestess further initiates the Fool into the secrets of polarity and how it conceives of manifestation.

Magician/Priestess as androgyne

While also embodying the duality of the Masculine and Feminine powers, she is more so the receptacle of the creative function. She is the Matrix personified. The crucible into which the Magician implants his intent and the womb by which comes its expression. However, the Magician and the High Priestess, being archetypes on one of the highest planes of Creation, are, to me, really one and the same. I see them as two sides of a coin, that is, one symbolizing the Masculine/Active aspect of Creation and the other the Feminine/Passive. Working in tandem is what leads to the expression of the Great Work, just as Chokmah and Binah give birth to the lower worlds.They are the Great Father and Mother joined as one in an endless cycle of conception and birth.

The Rider-Waite card.

Behind her we once again see the powers of all Creation. These are the very same energies depicted in 0. The Fool. In the famous Rider-Waite deck, she resides before a veil blocking our view of these secret Mysteries. In my card there are two references to this veil of perception - the first being her robe itself, wrapping up the embodiment she represents. The second being the billowing darkness of ignorance behind her, wafting away like a celestial smoke screen to reveal the brilliance it once denied.

The stylized halo surrounding her hooded head symbolizes her receptivity to the actions of the Magician. That is, the primal substance out of which all intention is made manifest.

The beams projecting from the halo have a distinctly geometric pattern to them. This represents the concretization of thought into form. From the matrix of all potentiality comes the forms dreamed up by the active principle. This concept is further suggested by the three orbs, two of which also contain geomtric patterns, thus physical forms, while the third orb represents the dynamism of Creation in action, like the heat in an alchemical furnace or the nuclear fission in the heart of a star. Together, the three orbs also allude to the three supernal sephirot of the Tree of Life. Since the High Priestess is the womb of Creation, she is Binah (the 3rd sephira), the highest aspect of the Great Mother (the lower being the Empress.)

(Let me add that while I have studied Hermetic Qabalah, I do not necessarily conform to its traditional placement of the tarot upon the Tree of Life)

I. The Magician

2011-09-23T19:44:00.002-04:00

Working the grid of the creative matrix is the first archetype encountered by the Fool - the Magician.

A deliberately androgynous being, the Magician manipulates and embodies the powers of the Masculine and Feminine. However, it is because of this proactive interaction with Creation that I refer to the Magician in the masculine sense. He is the shaman-priest, the lone sorcerer, the cosmic alchemist and astral trickster.

His mastery of the powers is represented by the polarity wand floating just out his hand. Either side symbolizes illusory opposites while the shaft merely signifies that what we consider polar opposites are merely differing degrees of one concept. Hot and cold are but varying degrees of heat. Brightness and darkness are but the gradations of light. Love and hate are varying degrees of intense emotion. It is by this understanding that all perceptions are reconciled within the concepts themselves that the Magician begins to introduce the intrepid Fool into the Mysteries. The sphere below his hand represents the Great Work in which he's engaged.

Alejandro Jodorowsky as the Alchemist

The background grid symbolizes the matrix of all Creation. This is the grid by which the Egyptian creator god, Thoth, established the physical dimensions. In terms of the holographic universe theory, it is the implicate order. It can even be considered the astral plane from which our reality is but a projection. In fact, the colors immediately preceding the grid, and just behind the figure, are representational of the prismatic energies of the astral realm, as is his colored, diamond patterned robe (while also a further allusion to the aforementioned grid.) Additionally, the diamond shape suggests the solidification of energy into matter.

His collar, a downward-facing triangle, is symbolic of spirit coming down to earth. In this case, it shows what the Magician is doing - actively manipulating the higher powers to affect change in the lower, material plane.

The eye in his palm intimates the all-encompassing quality of consciousness. It speaks of the ability to take in information anywhere along the etheric body, or what's more commonly referred to as the aura. But we don't solely rely on the eyes to tell us everything - the body takes in information via the five senses. So, in a way, the eye in the hand is a metaphor for tactile perception. Additionally, the eye in his forehead represents the "third eye," and thus the chakra system.

http://deitchman.com/mcneillslides/

His face is a mask. Being a shaman, the Magician wears many masks and dons many costumes. Anywhere someone puts on ceremonial attire, surreal masks and becomes something other human, you'll find the Magician at work. The rainbow beams symbolize the in- and outpouring of cosmic power. His body is a circuit of energy demonstrating the Hermetic concept of "As above, so below" in the microcosm of his body. Further still, it represents the "feedback loop" by which all life in the lower realms are in sync with the higher realms.

Finally, the disembodied eye above him symbolizes the all-seeing eye of endless Mind, always and ever bearing witness to the Great Work.

0. The Fool

2011-09-22T16:00:00.002-04:00

Some consider the Fool the very first card of the trumps while others think of it as a "wild card" that really has no specific place amidst the major arcana. I see the Fool as both.

First, he is the main character on the hero's journey through the archetypal experiences of the tarot drama. As with all stories, we start at the beginning. Yet, despite the seemingly linear events of this journey, the Fool can move around, in and out of each supernal sphere of influence as needed or directed.

Though I must mention that while the Fool is depicted as male, really, to me the Fool represents both men and women. As mentioned below, the figure is symbolic of the androgynous soul. However, since the card is depicting an active principle at work, I've stuck with the typical "masculine" portrayal.

The renowned Rider-Waite depiction.

Initially, I had conceived of the Fool as a fetus inside the womb of the creative matrix. I did find several images that I could combine to depict the great Mother carrying the infant hero but that felt too restrictive to the restlessness of the card. The Fool's journey is an active one. It's self-propelled as the soul desires to pass through one experience, one lifetime to another.

Here we see a soul leaving the cosmic womb. Stretching out his arms and ignorant of the great leap he is about to take. He's infectiously optimistic, innocent, and obviously naive. Raging behind him are the dynamic energies of Creation. This is the supernal crucible from which all forms emanate and to which all return. As soul, he is a spark of the Ultimate Source (or "God" if you'd like) coming down through the levels of Creation to incarnate in the lowest plane - that is, our physical universe. And it is within this world that he, representing all souls, learns the lessons and gains the knowledge by which he dispels the ignorance of the material in order to find his way back to the supernal.

Around him a ring of angels, or in this case signifying archetypal forces, creates a portal through which the Fool makes his fateful leap. These are the archetypal forces of Creation that the Fool will meet along his journey through the tarot, each imparting their lessons and influences upon him. Also, the ring is a giant "zero," the number of the Fool. This is an allusion to transcendent nothing, or Ain of Qabalah. Where no thing exists. The ineffable source of All.

The darkness around the portal is both symbolic of the world of solidified Matter as well as the churning forces of Creation. The primordial waters are disturbed as a new form is brought forth from the abyss of potentiality. In this way, it is paradoxical, representing both gross solids and divine liquids. Opposites, polarities and contradictions are a significant characteristic throughout this deck. But let it at least be a reminder that consciousness is both "human" and "divine." Or, if you like, that which is above is like that which is below (and vice versa).

So the soul, personified by the Fool, makes its way down the ladder of Creation to the gross reality furthest away from Source. Once incarnated into a physical vessel of expression, it begins its journey though a brand new lifetime. Like a child going out into the world, he has no real sense of responsibility or knowledge of how things actually work. But that doesn't mean he lacks a sense of adventure.

Oh, and if you're wondering why I didn't include his satchel and canine adversary, well, who really carries a hobo stick these days? Also, the Fool is like an infant - we all enter the world naked, kicking and with nothing.

R.M. Tarot collage project

2011-09-21T19:03:00.002-04:00

The 22 trump cards comprising the major arcana

I never intended to create the R.M. Tarot.

In fact, I had no intentions of creating a tarot deck in the first place. Well, actually, for a while people had been suggesting that I make one, but I just brushed off it off. Too much work. Too much time. Etc., etc., etc.

But sometimes...things just happen. And sometimes, as I'm sure other artists know all too well, projects take on a life of their own and soon you find yourself a slave to x-acto knives and glue sticks.

The first tarot card I unwittingly pieced together on an artist trading card was The High Priestess. Then came The Magician. By the time I created the third one (The Tower) I figured it'd be fun to make a project of the 22 trumps. Of course, then the Aces came to mind followed by the court cards. Then I finally just resigned myself to the fact that I'm making a whole deck regardless of whether or not I want to spend hours thumbing through source material.

I'll mention now that the Thoth tarot, created by Aleister Crowley and painted by Frieda Harris, has had the most significant affect on my understanding of the system. Those familiar with the deck may recognize my placement of certain trumps, naming of the court cards as well as ordering of the minor suits. I began learning tarot using the ubiquitous and obligatory Rider-Waite deck. But I only really began to appreciate the complexity of the tarot once I delved into the Western Mystery Tradition, which in turn led me to the Thoth tarot.

However, my intention with this collage project is not to rehash either deck (that's been done way too much already!) but to create imagery that I feel captures the essence of each card as I understand it. Obviously, we'll have differing notions about the meanings and representations. That's fine. Tarot isn't a concrete system like some people think. After all, how can it be static when it's based on the fluidity of symbols? Symbols have no singular definition but are open to the subjective interpretation of each living mind. These cards are the symbols I resonate with most.

Finally, let me add that I do not believe the tarot originated in the woo woo temples of ancient Atlantis and has been secretly passed down through the ages by imaginary Rosicrucian gypsy Wiccans since time immemorial. It seems like someone merely forgot to leave us the instructions for a medieval picture game. However, I won't deny the divining, meditative and spiritual systems that have evolved alongside it. It's the mythos and air of mystery that intrigued me to begin with. And, yes, I do read the cards now and again - and I will claim that many of the situations I saw in the spreads have come true. But that's a whole other discussion!

As time goes on I will discuss each card, explaining my thoughts about the symbolism and the ideas behind their creation. I'll start with the major arcana this week and then I'll talk about the minor suits as I finish them. I invite you to leave your comments, too.

Also, I'd like to mention that you can purchase prints of the above image via my DeviantART page. The poster is available in two sizes (9"x12" and 18"x24") and is available in glossy, matte or lustre.