STRENGTH (VII)

Original sketch for Strength (VIII) in The Marker Tarot

Closer to how Strength (VIII) will appear in The Marker Tarot

For comparison, Strength (VIII) in the well-known Rider/Waite/Smith deck

First, it's such fun to be back to work on The Marker Tarot.* Until Strength (VIII) (today's design) popped into my memory as I was starting off on a long walk, I'd not realized how much I'd missed this particular aspect of my journey with The Tarot. It was like having a friend of a great many years one hasn't seen in ages, suddenly appear on one's doorstep.

As to why this sudden visit from VIII? I'll be exploring that question for some time to come, I'm sure. But right now I can say it's to remind me I'm not the only person ever to have to continually learn how best to wrestle lovingly with a "lion within." A lion who is most dangerous when ignored and denied, and most powerful and life-giving when cared for and guided gently and compassionately. The hitch to all this? As Jung has been purported to have said "How does one find a lion that has swallowed you?"

At the end of my last post, on The Chariot, I mention that VIII is one of my favorite Tarot Majors, as well as Marker Tarot designs. Well, the former is still quite true. And the latter also. However, not without first doing a bit of fussing at it today. I kept trying to make more out of both the leminiscate/mobius strip and its relationship to the triangle. But I finally realized what works is the simplicity and have retained my original design.

Speaking of that triangle, BTW. I read somewhere many years ago in an unrelated context, that the triangle is the strongest of geometric forms. So it has always seemed a very appropriate and simple glyph for a card entitled "Strength."

The next card up will be The Hermit (IX). As I worked on this Marker Tarot (and it's predecessor whose designs underlie much of it, The Tactile Tarot) I would find my glyphs for IX and VIII becoming way too similar. That sense of inner/outer kept taking over them both. But, as you may see when I make the IX post, I've finally made a clear distinction between them. VIII stressing more the connecting to/taming the inner, and IX sharing the inner outwardly. Yeah, a picture sure is worth a thousand words, isn't it? I often feel hopeless to express anything fully in words, much less accurately. And that could be said to be the plight of the poet (something else I have pretensions of being): drawn to express what ultimately can't be. But The Hermit has a lovely way of expressing without words or even many times, intent: by simply living her/his life to the best of her/his ability.

*The other two decks I've got going are Roswila's Taiga Tarot (blog dedicated solely to the deck's designs), and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal (you can search for "Found Tarot" at the top left of this blog; the photo/cards for The Found Tarot are salted betwixt and between all sorts of other posts).

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For the full details (history of and ideas behind this deck's designs) please see this blogs' first post, The Fool.

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'til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot, in whatever forms it comes to you,





[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under "View my complete profile")**** SEE ALSO: Roswila's Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry; and Trying to Hold A Box of Light for digital photos only.

THE CHARIOT (VII)

Original sketch for THE CHARIOT (VII) in The Marker Tarot

Closer to how THE CHARIOT (VII) will appear in The Marker Tarot

For comparison, THE CHARIOT (VII) in the well-known Rider/Waite/Smith deck

As I mentioned at the end of my previous post about THE LOVERS (VI), today's card for "The Market Tarot,"* THE CHARIOT (VII) is another card I've never really "gotten next to." Even when the usually male Charioteer is female, it still tends not to generate more for me than "You go, Girl!" This may have to do, at least in part, with my personal over-focus on the inner world. As VII can be seen as action in the outer, material world. I.e., the choices made in the inner arena of VI are now being applied in the outer world in some concrete way.  This, of course, is the logical next step for The Fool, as s/he has developed enough to move beyond living inside, to exploring and building in the material realm. In fact, it's a necessary step out of the protective egg of the small self, into the risky but rich and vital material world.

Synchronistically, I'm presently having trouble being out in the concrete world (literally in the case of sidewalks :-D) both due to a physical problem and to a spate of more than usually intense emotional upheaval. But I have been sorely missing my almost daily very long walks (as much as two miles) on which I use my own version of a chariot: a wheeled  walker. When I saw my final drawing for VII finished and taped to the card (there are several previous versions), I laughed out loud. It looks a bit like The Fool (the circle) seated on a flying magic carpet! And that would be my wish now, as an injured toe prevents those long walks until it heals. Also, because it's such an effort to get anything accomplished in this world the more I age.  Ah, if "Pigs had wings ..." But they don't, and carpets and walkers can't fly either. Neither can the chariots of our bodies, pulled forward by our conscious and unconscious minds -- sometimes contrary, sometimes cooperating, sometimes utterly oblivious to each other.

Next card up will be STRENGTH (VIII), one of my favorite Majors (as well as one of my favorite Marker Tarot designs so far). THE CHARIOT/teer has become more active in the world, as well as more accomplished in staying "on the road" while still honoring inner processes. But VIII brings in an even deeper and higher challenge that can lead to further integration.

*The other two decks I've got going are Roswila's Taiga Tarot (blog dedicated solely to the deck's designs), and Roswila's Tarot Gallery & Journal (you can search for "Found Tarot" at the top left of this blog; the photo/cards for The Found Tarot are salted betwixt and between all sorts of other posts).

* * * *

For the full details (history of and ideas behind this deck's designs) please see this blogs' first post, The Fool.

* * * *

'til next time, keep enjoying The Tarot, in whatever forms it comes to you,





[aka: Patricia Kelly]
****If you wish to copy or use any of my writing, please email me for permission (under "View my complete profile")**** SEE ALSO: Roswila's Dream & Poetry Realm for Tarot poetry; and Trying to Hold A Box of Light for digital photos only.