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The
Creation of Shadowscapes Tarot
by Stephanie Pui-Mun Law
During the creation of Shadowscapes Tarot,
the Major Arcana was easy to create, in terms of imagery and
motivation. The archetypes of the Majors are enticing to any artist,
imbued as they are with the collective subconscious of meaning, and
familiar to even those who know little or nothing of Tarot. "Death,"
"The Tower," "The Empress"...each of these conjures a host of ready
visual associations and metaphors just from hearing the name
alone.
The Minor Arcana was much harder. A number and a suit:
how to create meaning from something that seems random? How to motivate
myself artistically to not hold back, but to pour everything I have
within me into each card? It would be a shame to have created a body of
work I was proud of in the Major Arcana, and then to fall short when
coming to the rest of the deck.
I decided on one thing immediately. Just as I had done
with the Major Arcana, I would proceed with the cards in order. Aces
first, twos, threes, etc. By not allowing myself to skip ahead to what
might be perceived as the "fun" images, I forced my mind to look into
each card to find the meaning in it, to seek out its unique beauty, and
to determine how it intersected with my life experiences and personal
symbology.
After having come to this decision, I was surprised at how well it
worked. I suppose that should not have been unexpected, for the
popularity of the tarot and the fact that it has lasted and is so
ageless is because the meanings of the cards span the whole of the
human experience. If a single card is isolated, and one digs deep
enough into the soul, there is bound to be some connection that one
finds to what that card signifies. As a result, the journey of creating
the deck felt like an extended exercise in meditation, spanning the
four and a half years it took to complete the project.
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An
Interview
with Stephanie Pui-Mun Law, Artist of
Shadowscapes Tarot
by
Llewellyn
1. The art for Shadowscapes Tarot is breathtakingly beautiful.
From where did you draw inspiration when creating this deck? 
For the imagery in this deck, I drew a
lot from various myths around the world, weaving them together into my
own melded landscape. Much of my inspiration also comes from nature:
the flow and rhythms of the seasons, of growth, of the dance of life,
and the beauty in death and renewal. That aspect of nature is obvious
in the profusion of animals that appear in my cards, but also I like to
think more subtly in the overall flow and movement in each, and the
visual randomness that nature presents.
2.
You already have a following for your art; is most of your work similar
to that of the deck?
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the full interview.
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The Quest for the Divine Language
by Aaron Leitch
From the very advent of the spoken word
among humanity, language has been considered something sacred and
magickal, and remains so to this day. Still, priests and mystics have
begun to look into the past for sacred language for use in religious
rites. Eventually the belief has developed that all languages must
trace their roots to some original prototype. What is this original
language, traced back to God? Aaron Leitch, author of The Angelical Language, explains.
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The ABCs of Pagan Festivals
by Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson
The season of Pagan
festivals is upon us! From coast to coast, they stretch in grand array,
each with something unique to offer, so many to choose from within your
grasp. Bronwynn Forrest Torgerson, author of One Witch's Way, offers up a festival
alphabet to make your selection easier and ensure that you have the
experience your heart desires.
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10 Easy Steps to Psychic
Protection
by Richard Webster
When
most people think of psychic protection, they think about a deliberate
psychic attack, but everyone can benefit from psychic protection, as
everyone experiences various forms of negativity (such as anger,
jealousy, road rage, and stress) on a regular basis. Richard Webster,
author of Psychic Protection for Beginners,
details 10 easy ways that we can combat stress and negativity and
provide ourselves and our loved ones with psychic protection.
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Play with Your Cards
by Barbara Moore
Tarot decks were originally used to play a trick-taking card came
called Tarrochi. While the game is still played, particularly in
Europe, tarot cards are more often used for readings, with readers
approaching tarot more seriously and understanding the wisdom, advice,
and guidance that the cards provide. But that close connection between
cards (even tarot cards) and games cannot be overlooked, and can
actually be used to liven up your tarot practice. Here, tarot expert
Barbara Moore provides some fun ideas to play with your cards—and
experience the tarot anew.
Read More
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