This new feature will be a long work in progress since it will showcase a labor of love: my new Terra Tarot Deck, one card at a time. The first card available for download is The Number 0 card of the Major Arcana: The Fool.

You can read about the meaning of this illustration as well as download a copy of the Fool at:

New Terra Tarot Deck : The Fool <img src="/images/graemlins/music.gif" alt="" />

Your Fool is really cool, I'm looking forward to the rest of them.

Thanks kindly Ann!

For your feedback and encouragement. It will be a long endeavor to get all of them done, that is for sure. <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Congrats on your new endeavor, June! :music:

Beautiful card. I love the vivid colors... greek (profile, temple) and celtic (greyhound) connections. One of the first things I noticed was that the Fool seems to almost be headed out of the card (his/her leading hand)-- the path is open, and could go anywhere!

I also like that he/she is not headed directly off the cliff, but is starting his/her path along the cliffs--not exactly 'safe', but not garaunteed to fall. Nice touch.

Those are my early impressions. Well done. Thanks for sharing.

Hi June,

I have a question about your Fool card: I just noticed that his left hand actually shows the outer portion of a hand, as if it were from a right hand grasping the stick. If it were the left hand, you'd see the fingers curling towards the onlooker. Was that intentional? <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

I had to really look at it, especially since you mentioned "back of the tunic" and "contorted". Hmm. I think I get it: we're seeing the back of this figure, and his head is twisted then?

Thanks Michael and Janet,

I enjoyed your feedback,....I was trying to convey the essence of whimsical trust and assuredness. Yes, you see his back Janet,...I was trying to make him look sort of twisted, but was not sure if I conveyed it well or not.

Yes, I had that confusion at first. But after I looked at it a few times (and reading June's description of the card, and of course knowing it is June) I realized it was intentional. I think our initial confusion goes well with the Fool--we don't know which way he/she is going; we don't have a clear idea of where the path is going, but we know we have started on a path.

Sometimes the most beneficial advertures start this way... the openess of "beginner's mind".

Ah, I see June. Your description of the card helped me see beyond the image. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Good observation about confusion/the nature of The Fool, Michael!

Hi June,

I've been admiring your card again and this time around I recognized the symbol for air on the Fool's bag. I've just recently read about these symbols being used in meditations to help one contact the spirits of air, earth, water and fire. What I read said they operate in the same manner as the Hindu Tattwas <img src="/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> . Can you tell me a little more about them, and why you used the symbol for air on this card.

Interesting Ann!

I am naturally drawn to alchemical symbols for some reason - sacred geometry too! I can see how they could easily be used for meditation etc.

The Fool is governed by air, and traditionally "should" have the air symbol embedded somewhere on the card, according to theorists like Crowley, etc.

I often use all four elemental symbols in my art work - I find them so simple yet powerful.

I'd love to read more - do you remember where you were reading about this and the Hindu symbols?

I found it in Ted Andrew's book, Enchantment of the Faerie Realm - Communicate with Nature Spirits & Elementals (Llewellyn), which uses guided meditations to open yourself to the elemental spirits. The section on the symbols is just a couple of pages in the Appendix B.

He uses a set of two symbols for each element, the second symbol being a smaller duplicate laid over the first, he calls the second symbol the spiritual or invisible symbol to the element. There is also a guided meditation for using the symbols.

His writings combine a wide range of traditions and cultures, but have what I feel is a decidedly shamanic and/or celtic slant. I hope you like it.

Oh!

I love Ted Andrew's writings,...I have several of his books. His crystal ball and bowls book is very unique...also his shamanic writings, psychic touch, power animals, etc.

Thanks for sharing this!!

I was very impressed with your card "The Fool" Its very vibrant and striking. I look forward to seeing more of your deck.

www.amethystscreations.com

Thanks so much Amethyst!

I appreciate your great feedback!

The Magician/Magus is "in the works".

Excellent - try this for size:

I had been working on its other brothers and sisters since Sept. '04.

I love it Kashchei!

Thanks so much for sharing. It does take time to do each card, doesn't it? Longer than I had planned, actually!

Yes I know....in fact, THIS project is taking WAY TOO LONG....but at least I have managed to shape almost HALF the Minor Arcana (Court Cards - Place, Gift, Speaker and Knower - excluded), and ALL the Major Arcana cards are in.
YET, using Aleister Crowley's configurations for the 36 Minor Arcana Cards from Deuce to Ten is difficult to regurgitate in the form of japanned images <<shakes fist at Crowley:-why the forking hell must it be so danged difficult!?>>

The second card of the Terra Tarot deck has been published: the Ace of Swords.

You can view the card and download a copy at: